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302 comments
1 b_sharp  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 5:40:28pm

I lasted til the cats.

2 Charles Johnson  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 5:40:35pm

It’s kind of amazing how contagious yawning is. A subconscious response to a visual cue. I wonder what evolutionary purpose it serves?

3 jaunte  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 5:40:58pm

Had me at hippo.

4 chadu  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 5:42:09pm

re: #3 jaunte

Yup, I was fine until the hippo.

5 Hercules Grytpype-Thynneghazi  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 5:43:03pm

I was yawning just waiting for the damn video to load. Vimeo is very, very slow for me.

My favorite book as a child was Dr. Seuss’s Sleep Book:

A yawn is quite catching, you see, like a cough.
It takes just one yawn to set other yawns off.
Now the news has come in that some friends of Van Vleck’s
Are yawning so wide you can look down their necks.
At this moment, right now, under seven more noses
Great yawns are in blossom. They’re blooming like roses!”

6 chadu  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 5:43:17pm

Do we even know what a yawn does?
What’s its purpose?

7 b_sharp  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 5:44:38pm

re: #6 chadu

Do we even know what a yawn does?
What’s its purpose?

Boost oxygen to stay awake.

8 calochortus  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 5:46:11pm

re: #6 chadu

One of life’s great mysteries. Social cue so everyone goes back to the cave as a group and doesn’t get ambushed? Cooling the brain? God’s little joke on humans?

9 PhillyPretzel  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 5:46:39pm

re: #1 b_sharp

Me too. I loved it when the two tabbies yawned almost at the same time.

10 Hercules Grytpype-Thynneghazi  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 5:46:55pm

re: #6 chadu

Do we even know what a yawn does?
What’s its purpose?

Wikipedia:

There are a number of theories that attempt to explain why animals and people yawn. It is likely that there are a number of triggers for the behavior. However, there are a few theories that attempt to explain the primary evolutionary reason for the yawn. None of them has been empirically substantiated.

11 A Mom Anon  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 5:47:23pm

The dog trainer I hired to help with our rescue mutt told me once that sometimes yawns are a stress reliever for dogs. In my dog’s case, it’s when she’s trying very hard to focus and behave and she hears or sees another dog. She wants to bark and raise hell, but instead she lets out a huge yawn with lots of noise.

Maybe yawns are contagious because they represent relaxation and that stress release? Because we want/need that and our brains just react?

12 wrenchwench  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 5:52:16pm

I’m already yawning and I can’t see the video. I’ll catch it at home, then take a nap.

Image: h0B273D6D.jpg

Later, lizards.

13 Skandal  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 5:53:49pm

According to one evolutionary theory I heard regarding yawning, when we get tired and, thus, more defenceless humans would yawn thereby baring one’s teeth in order to show potential enemies we are able to defend ourselves despite our tired condition.

14 calochortus  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 5:56:28pm

Dinner awaits…

15 Mongo only pawn... in game of life.  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 6:01:37pm

re: #7 b_sharp

Boost oxygen to stay awake.

If staying awake involves not closing your eyes an old trick is to put a ball cap on backwards and pull down in front to eyebrow level. Then pull bill of cap downwards in back until eyelids cannot close. Eyes may roll either up or down to back of head depending on circumstances, but eyes will not shut. Got me thru the last 100 miles of 700/800 mile 16/18 hour days. Of course I was fine the next day after I stopped shaking and my eyes stopping going large and small and large and small. And I parked perfectly. All drug free! I yawned at the picture without even starting the video.

16 chadu  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 6:02:41pm

re: #8 calochortus


Most of your answers make sense.


*YAWN*

17 Dark_Falcon  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 6:06:28pm

re: #12 wrenchwench

I’m already yawning and I can’t see the video. I’ll catch it at home, then take a nap.

Image: h0B273D6D.jpg

Later, lizards.

Cute little spikeball, isn’t he?

18 Charles Johnson  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 6:10:48pm

re: #12 wrenchwench

I’m already yawning and I can’t see the video. I’ll catch it at home, then take a nap.

Image: h0B273D6D.jpg

Later, lizards.

It’s a mammal thing.

19 Charles Johnson  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 6:11:33pm

Did dinosaurs yawn?

20 Kragar (Antichrist )  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 6:13:44pm

I made it till I saw the word yawn.

21 chadu  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 6:15:08pm

re: #18 Charles Johnson

It’s a mammal thing.

I call for t-shirts!

“I yawn; it’s a mammal thing.”

22 chadu  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 6:15:59pm

re: #19 Charles Johnson

If they did, they’re ruining mammals’ turf!

23 Gus  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 6:16:10pm
24 b_sharp  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 6:32:40pm

re: #20 Kragar (Antichrist )

I made it till I saw the word yawn.

Only when watching Celebrity Survivor.

25 Gus  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 6:34:48pm

re: #24 b_sharp

Only when watching Celebrity Survivor.

AKA, “who’s that?”

26 Kragar (Antichrist )  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 6:40:58pm

re: #24 b_sharp

Only when watching Celebrity Survivor.

I stopped watching when I realized all of them were all going to live.

27 Gus  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 6:58:35pm

U F O Sighted In Argentina

28 b_sharp  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 6:59:37pm

re: #27 Gus

U F O Sighted In Argentina

[Embedded content]

Unidentified farting object?

29 prairiefire  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 7:00:06pm

re: #2 Charles Johnson

It’s kind of amazing how contagious yawning is. A subconscious response to a visual cue. I wonder what evolutionary purpose it serves?

Well, sleep is incredibly important, and often overlooked.

30 Gus  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 7:00:14pm

Goats Goating Around

31 Dark_Falcon  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 7:09:39pm

re: #28 b_sharp

Unidentified farting object?

No, just more proof that Gus is a Peronist Progressive.

///

32 TedStriker  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 7:13:15pm

re: #28 b_sharp

Unidentified farting object?

33 b_sharp  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 7:13:22pm

re: #19 Charles Johnson

Did dinosaurs yawn?

Only when watching Celebrity Survivor.

(I just realized I answered the wrong comment)

34 Gus  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 7:14:35pm

re: #31 Dark_Falcon

No, just more proof that Gus is a Peronist Progressive.

///

That was yesterday. Today, I’m with a different political party. Day after that? Only the future will tell.

//

35 sattv4u2  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 7:17:11pm

re: #34 Gus

That was yesterday. Today, I’m with a different political party. Day after that? Only the future will tell.

//

Party Pooper!

36 Bubblehead II  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 7:20:07pm

//// Down Ding! I thought this place was a no yawning zone.

Charles, Lizards, May you have a good night.

Random Video.

Night Lizards.

37 sattv4u2  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 7:20:14pm

re: #33 b_sharp

(I just realized I answered the wrong comment)

And to compound the problem, you gave the wrong answer!!!
/

38 Kronocide  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 7:24:38pm

Oh great. On one of my private professional forums the buys are ‘debating’ speaker burn in. I’m going to be in the trouble.

39 b_sharp  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 7:28:20pm

re: #37 sattv4u2


(I just realized I answered the wrong comment)

And to compound the problem, you gave the wrong answer!!!
/

That’s to be expected.

40 b_sharp  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 7:29:02pm

re: #38 Kronocide

Oh great. On one of my private professional forums the buys are ‘debating’ speaker burn in. I’m going to be in the trouble.

Speaker burn in?

41 Gus  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 7:29:28pm

Yikes, watching a video. Some parts of Detroit look like a war zone. So many abandoned homes, apartment buildings, crumbling buildings.

42 Lidane  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 7:36:03pm

I made it all the way through the video without yawning. Then I got to the comments with everyone saying when they yawned. My resolve broke.

Ah well. :)

43 sattv4u2  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 7:37:28pm

re: #41 Gus

Yike, watching a video. Some parts of Detroit look like a war zone. So many abandoned homes, apartment buildings, crumbling buildings.

And Akron, and Cleveland, and ,,,

It’s really depressing. It hasn’t been called The Rust Belt for decades for nothing!!

44 b_sharp  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 7:38:58pm

Excuse me, I have to Drupal.

45 Gus  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 7:40:29pm

re: #43 sattv4u2

And Akron, and Cleveland, and ,,,

It’s really depressing. It hasn’t been called The Rust Belt for decades for nothing!!

Yeah, I used to live in New Jersey and would go by some of the cities. I was in South Jersey. Trenton was a trip. I couldn’t believe how run down and crazy it was in some places. Never saw its equal in Denver or San Francisco. It’s just amazing how we as society has allowed this to happen. The utter deterioration of communities and the families that fell in the cracks.

46 sattv4u2  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 7:41:26pm

re: #44 b_sharp

Excuse me, I have to Drupal.

Is that RuPauls brother??

47 sattv4u2  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 7:43:03pm

re: #45 Gus

Yeah, I used to live in New Jersey and would go by some of the cities. I was in South Jersey. Trenton was a trip. I couldn’t believe how run down and crazy it was in some places. Never saw its equal in Denver or San Francisco. It’s just amazing how we as society has allowed this to happen. The utter deterioration of communities and the families that fell in the cracks.

I spent a lot of time in the Bayonne/ Newark/ Elizabeth area in the early 80’s. I hear ya!

48 Gus  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 7:44:38pm

re: #47 sattv4u2

I spent a lot of time in the Bayonne/ Newark/ Elizabeth area in the early 80’s. I hear ya!

I spent a month in Trenton. My brother’s house. Nice house and the immediate area was OK. But, I had to get around. Very depressing.

49 chadu  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 7:46:26pm

Hedgehog yawns.

50 Kronocide  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 7:46:44pm

re: #40 b_sharp

Speaker burn in?

The idea that speakers need to be played for long periods of time at specific levels of sound or with specific sounds to maximize their sound qualities. It’s myth.

It’s funny when engineering types suddenly have faith.

51 sattv4u2  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 7:46:46pm

re: #48 Gus

I spent a month in Trenton. My brother’s house. Nice house and the immediate area was OK. But, I had to get around. Very depressing.

Your brother was depressed because you stayed with him a month?
Well, can you BLAME him!?!?!

//

52 chadu  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 7:49:09pm

re: #23 Gus

Reading Atlas Shrugged was like punching myself in the face.

53 sattv4u2  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 7:49:40pm

re: #52 chadu

Reading Atlas Shrugged was like punching myself in the face.

I think you should read it again while we watch!!
//

54 Gus  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 7:50:37pm

OBAMA’S ON VACATION!!

//

55 chadu  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 7:51:48pm

re: #53 sattv4u2

I’ll do it for $2 dollars a page!

56 Dark_Falcon  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 7:52:45pm

re: #45 Gus

Yeah, I used to live in New Jersey and would go by some of the cities. I was in South Jersey. Trenton was a trip. I couldn’t believe how run down and crazy it was in some places. Never saw its equal in Denver or San Francisco. It’s just amazing how we as society has allowed this to happen. The utter deterioration of communities and the families that fell in the cracks.

It’s less “fell through the cracks” than “lost their social order”. Detroit’s 1967 race riots scared many white residents into leaving the city and Detroit’s first black mayor made matters worse with a hostile policy towards non-blacks. The resultant ‘white flight’ gutted the city’s population tax base while the hammering the US auto industry took beginning in the 1970’s largely eliminated its commercial tax base. That plus the other effects of bad government made terminal decline inevitable.

57 chadu  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 7:53:26pm

re: #54 Gus

Oh, is he back in Hawaii? Going home is a different type of vacation, believe me.

58 sattv4u2  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 7:53:51pm

re: #55 chadu

I’ll do it for $2 dollars a page!

Okay, but you’re gonna owe us a lot of money!!

59 chadu  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 7:55:44pm

re: #56 Dark_Falcon

I disagree with your characterizations, but your result is right, from what I know.

60 Gus  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 7:56:20pm

re: #57 chadu

Oh, is he back in Hawaii? Going home is a different type of vacation, believe me.

Just Florida for the weekend. FLOTUS and the kids went somewhere else. It’s Presidents Day weekend and the White House is empty anyway. Fox News is concerned.

61 chadu  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 7:57:14pm

re: #58 sattv4u2

How, whut?

Two bucks a page and you have me in debt to start with?

62 chadu  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 7:58:29pm

re: #60 Gus

Thanks, Gus. Always the sane one with the facts.

FISTBUMP

63 sattv4u2  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 7:58:42pm

re: #61 chadu

How, whut?

Two bucks a page and you have me in debt to start with?

Oh. I thought you were offering US two bucks per page to watch you read, then punch yourself in the face!!

64 Gus  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 8:00:34pm

re: #62 chadu

Thanks, Gus. Always the sane one with the facts.

FISTBUMP

That made me laugh. :D

65 Kronocide  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 8:01:29pm

re: #60 Gus

They’re chumming.

66 chadu  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 8:02:56pm

re: #63 sattv4u2

Oh. I thought you were offering US two bucks per page to watch you read, then punch yourself in the face!!

No, no, self-abuse costs, mon ami!

You and Gus should come over to the TR Zombie/Golem page. I want to have perfectly rational discussions about a stupid thing. (Hey, it;s the weekend.)

67 sattv4u2  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 8:05:08pm

re: #66 chadu

No, no, self-abuse costs, mon ami!

You and Gus should come over to the TR Zombie/Golem page. I want to have perfectly rational discussions about a stupid thing. (Hey, it;s the weekend.)

You’ll have to decide whether you want me and Gus, or a rational discussion!

68 Gus  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 8:13:24pm

re: #67 sattv4u2

You’ll have to decide whether you want me and Gus, or a rational discussion!

I never argue with people about politics in the meat world. Have a friend that gets occasionally 9/11 truthy on me but I usually respond with “you don’t really believe that do you?” He’s a yeller. Typically, I just nod my head even when they say some of the craziest things. Internet is the internet. Occasionally I’ll get stupid in any direction.

69 sattv4u2  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 8:24:10pm

re: #68 Gus

I never argue with people about politics in the meat world. Have a friend that gets occasionally 9/11 truthy on me but I usually respond with “you don’t really believe that do you?” He’s a yeller. Typically, I just nod my head even when they say some of the craziest things. Internet is the internet. Occasionally I’ll get stupid in any direction.

heh

Had a very close long time friend start screaming, SCREAMING at me because I wouldn’t tell him who I voted for in the 2004 Pres. election (him, Kerry)

70 chadu  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 8:24:10pm

re: #67 sattv4u2

You’ll have to decide whether you want me and Gus, or a rational discussion!

“Rational” discussion as I’m talking about the pros and cons of making ex-Presidents Zombies or animating statues of them.

Yeah, go for it. Give me the cost-benefit between zombie and golem.

71 sattv4u2  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 8:25:31pm

re: #70 chadu

“Rational” discussion as I’m talking about the pros and cons of making ex-Presidents Zombies or animating statues of them.

Yeah, go for it. Give me the cost-benefit between zombie and golem.

I’d really love to, but I think I have to rearrange my sock drawer tonight!

72 Targetpractice  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 8:25:52pm

re: #68 Gus

I never argue with people about politics in the meat world. Have a friend that gets occasionally 9/11 truthy on me but I usually respond with “you don’t really believe that do you?” He’s a yeller. Typically, I just nod my head even when they say some of the craziest things. Internet is the internet. Occasionally I’ll get stupid in any direction.

One of the regulars at my shop is the very model of a 1%er, from being a rich business owner to thinking that helping the poor means throwing them to churches for charity. He’s run twice for elected office, once for the US Senate, another time for state legislature. First time he failed to get past the primary, second time he lost the election. He comes into the shop almost daily, and when I was a Bush stooge, I used to nod along with what he was saying. Now, it’s gotten so awkward, because he still thinks we’re on the same wavelength.

73 freetoken  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 8:29:52pm

Working scientist lays the smackdown on the IDiots:

The Discovery Institute feels sorry for my students

74 Gus  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 8:30:29pm

re: #69 sattv4u2

heh

Had a very close long time friend start screaming, SCREAMING at me because I wouldn’t tell him who I voted for in the 2004 Pres. election (him, Kerry)

I don’t get the screaming bit. A lot of people will do that. I can encounter some of the biggest haters out there but won’t start screaming at them since I usually think to myself “fuck this guy” and never see him again. Did encounter one nut that called Bush Hitler and I challenged him on that and he totally flipped out.

75 freetoken  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 8:35:13pm

Decaying from the inside:

Pope Benedict XVI’s leaked documents show fractured Vatican full of rivalries


Dan Brown would be proud.

76 chadu  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 8:35:45pm

Goodnight Lizardim. I sleep now.

77 Mattand  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 8:39:35pm

re: #70 chadu

“Rational” discussion as I’m talking about the pros and cons of making ex-Presidents Zombies or animating statues of them.

Yeah, go for it. Give me the cost-benefit between zombie and golem.

I would imagine it would be impossible to make a golem out of Nixon. What with Tricky Dick being an anti-semite and what not.

78 freetoken  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 9:02:36pm

“Foxtrot” from Shostakovich’s “Suite № 1 for Jazz Orchestra”:

79 freetoken  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 9:05:15pm

Music can be most malleable:

80 Targetpractice  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 9:06:12pm

Find myself wanting to download an old game from GOG that I haven’t played in forever. Says it’s compatible with Win7, but I’m not sure I wanna pay $10 just to find out otherwise.

81 prairiefire  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 9:10:46pm

re: #79 freetoken

Music can be most malleable:

[Embedded content]

Hello! Hope you are well. Have you been harvesting?

82 wrenchwench  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 9:11:51pm

re: #19 Charles Johnson

Did dinosaurs yawn?

Maybe.

Image: h494A5565.jpg

83 freetoken  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 9:16:17pm

re: #81 prairiefire

Have you been harvesting?

Souls?

84 wrenchwench  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 9:22:59pm
85 freetoken  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 9:23:27pm

Our main event tonight: Nikolai Kornev and chorus with a recent (as far as these things go) recording of Tchaikovsky’s opus 41, his interpretation of the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom:

86 wrenchwench  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 9:35:17pm
87 TedStriker  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 9:40:05pm

re: #86 wrenchwench

Image: h626FD2F2.jpg

Awwwwww…

*head explodes from cuteness overload*

88 LWNJ  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 9:49:12pm

re: #80 Targetpractice

Find myself wanting to download an old game from GOG that I haven’t played in forever. Says it’s compatible with Win7, but I’m not sure I wanna pay $10 just to find out otherwise.

Have you checked the gog forums? If there’s an incompatibility, they’ll probably discuss it there.

89 LWNJ  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 10:33:19pm

Did this video put EVERYONE to sleep?

90 Amory Blaine  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 10:34:23pm

I beat Far Cry 3 last week. Pretty good game. Currently playing Hitman 3 Absolution, meh. Also replaying The Witcher 2. Waiting for Metro: Last Light. Tomb Radier and the Stick of Truth also.

Anyone play Borderlands 2?

91 Lidane  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 10:37:44pm

Just finished watching Iron Sky on Netflix:

It’s a completely ridiculous low-budget, cheesy movie. And an object lesson on why we should never, ever elect Sarah Palin to anything. Heh. Still, it’s only an hour and a half long. It’s not bad.

92 Amory Blaine  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 10:38:24pm

re: #91 Lidane

Funny movie. I liked it too.

93 Amory Blaine  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 10:39:32pm

I also saw a decent movie filmed in Iceland called Black’s Game. Good action/drug gang movie.

94 Lidane  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 10:39:39pm

re: #90 Amory Blaine

Anyone play Borderlands 2?

I’ve watched my boyfriend play it a little. I still can’t decide if I like that little Claptrap or if I just enjoy his suffering. Haha.

95 Gus  Sat, Feb 16, 2013 11:59:41pm
96 prairiefire  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 12:03:22am

re: #83 freetoken

Souls?

You are not quite that gruesome! As I understand it, local landscaping of sub-tropical trees, laden with fruit provides ample fuel for long walks.

97 Gus  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 12:04:14am
98 Gus  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 12:05:01am

Couldn’t sleep. Watched The Office. Don’t worry. I’ll BEHAVE MYSELF! :D

99 Shvaughn  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 12:09:47am

re: #98 Gus

Couldn’t sleep. Watched The Office. Don’t worry. I’ll BEHAVE MYSELF! :D

Hey Gus, sorry to read that you’ve been having a stressful life lately. Hope things get better for you soon!

100 Gus  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 12:11:49am

re: #99 Shvaughn

Hey Gus, sorry to read that you’ve been having a stressful life lately. Hope things get better for you soon!

Thanks. Hope so too and that’s up to me.

101 OtterQueen  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 12:12:09am

re: #73 freetoken

Working scientist lays the smackdown on the IDiots:

The Discovery Institute feels sorry for my students

Holy crap. That was good reading. Thanks!

102 Kragar (Antichrist )  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 1:24:34am

Finally finished the whole Dawnguard DLC, heading to do the Dragonborn DLC tomorrow. Maybe after that, I’ll get around to checking Bleakfalls Barrow.

103 dragonath  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 5:14:09am

re: #45 Gus

Trenton makes, the world takes!

104 Glenn Beck's Grand Unifying Theory of Obdicut  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 5:20:45am

My own brother is blowing me off during a visit to NYC. I’m going to get to see him for a couple hours this afternoon, that’s all. I wonder if I did something to annoy him?

Ah well. I had a great time with my young cousin, instead.

105 Dark_Falcon  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 5:21:22am

re: #103 dragonath

Trenton makes, the world takes!

Trenton doesn’t make much anymore, though in being the capital of the Garden State it does current possess the man who might change that, that man being Chris Christie.

106 sattv4u2  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 5:32:27am

re: #104 Glenn Beck’s Grand Unifying Theory of Obdicut

My own brother is blowing me off during a visit to NYC. I’m going to get to see him for a couple hours this afternoon, that’s all. I wonder if I did something to annoy him?

Ah well. I had a great time with my young cousin, instead.

Were you otherwise close prior to this visit? I know that my older sister and I have always been cordial, but never in each others social circles.

Also, is his visit to NYC for business or pleasure? If the former he may have time constraints (I know when I have to go back to New England for business I’ve at times had zero time for old friends/ family visits)

107 Glenn Beck's Grand Unifying Theory of Obdicut  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 5:36:33am

re: #106 sattv4u2

We’re very close, he’s just super-casual about scheduling stuff and tends to get annoyed at little things and not tell me until a month after. Whatevs, no big.

108 Dark_Falcon  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 5:38:45am

re: #106 sattv4u2

Were you otherwise close prior to this visit? I know that my older sister and I have always been cordial, but never in each others social circles.

Also, is his visit to NYC for business or pleasure? If the former he may have time constraints (I know when I have to go back to New England for business I’ve at times had zero time for old friends/ family visits)

My dad didn’t let that become a barrier the one time a business trip of his took him near where members of his family were living. He cleared off time to see them, though that meant paying his own return airfare. Family came first. Though it should be noted that my dad was making enough money to do that at the time.

109 Vicious Babushka  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 5:38:57am

I watched “7 Psychopaths” last night. It was not as funny as I expected it to be.

So what’s a good movie that’s out on Netflix or Amazon Prime?

110 chadu  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 5:42:05am

re: #77 Mattand

I would imagine it would be impossible to make a golem out of Nixon. What with Tricky Dick being an anti-semite and what not.

That is an interesting question. I leave it to be answered by the Semites in the audience.

111 Vicious Babushka  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 5:46:11am

re: #110 chadu

That is an interesting question. I leave it to be answered by the Semites in the audience.

Golem is definitely better than zombie. Worst problem with zombies is they can eat you. Worst problem with golem is they get out of control and keep repeating the last command you gave them.

Any good programmer can control a golem.

112 chadu  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 5:46:24am

re: #101 OtterQueen

Agreed. (And an Inigo Montoya quote! BONUS!)

113 sattv4u2  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 5:46:45am

re: #107 Glenn Beck’s Grand Unifying Theory of Obdicut

We’re very close, he’s just super-casual about scheduling stuff and tends to get annoyed at little things and not tell me until a month after. Whatevs, no big.

Eh, then maybe he’ll be calling later in the visit to get together again while he’s there. My younger sister is like that. Spur of the moment/ whimsical scheduling

114 chadu  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 5:47:34am

re: #111 Vicious Babushka

Intriguing. So it’s a GOTO problem?

115 Vicious Babushka  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 5:48:58am

re: #114 chadu

Intriguing. So it’s a GOTO problem?

It’s an endless loop problem. Who uses GOTO anymore?

116 chadu  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 5:49:44am

Oh, crap. I missed something: instead of a zombie or golem TR, we could build a ROBOT TR, guys!

What could possibly go wrong?

117 Vicious Babushka  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 5:50:08am

My very first job was cleaning up some other programmers old FORTRAN code and getting rid of any GOTO’s that I found.

118 Dark_Falcon  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 5:50:09am

re: #111 Vicious Babushka

Golem is definitely better than zombie. Worst problem with zombies is they can eat you. Worst problem with golem is they get out of control and keep repeating the last command you gave them.

Any good programmer can control a golem.

The only problem is the lack of a good programming manual. I hear tell there a place in the Zionist Mall that has copies of the book, but they’ll only sell it under the counter.

///Having fun with the theme while giving your site a plug.

119 Dark_Falcon  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 5:54:52am

re: #116 chadu

Oh, crap. I missed something: instead of a zombie or golem TR, we could build a ROBOT TR, guys!

What could possibly go wrong?

His personality isn’t compatible with the 3rd Law of Robotics. The risk-taking aspect of the Roosevelt personality cannot really be simulated within the limitations of the 3rd Law text: “A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Laws.”

120 chadu  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 5:55:19am

re: #117 Vicious Babushka

My very first job was cleaning up some other programmers old FORTRAN code and getting rid of any GOTO’s that I found.

Oh, G-d. FORTRAN told me I was not cut out to be an engineer of any stripe. (Well, that and getting a D in the same Calculus course I had in HS.)

121 Vicious Babushka  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 5:55:30am

re: #118 Dark_Falcon

The only problem is the lack of a good programming manual. I hear tell there a place in the Zionist Mall that has copies of the book, but they’ll only sell it under the counter.

///Having fun with the theme while giving your site a plug.

We tell everyone interested that it’s just a folk tale, nothing to see really, just move along.

122 chadu  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 5:56:23am

re: #119 Dark_Falcon

Agreed. Dude killed a cougar with a knife. Definitely a violation of the Third Law.

123 chadu  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 5:57:50am

re: #121 Vicious Babushka

I’ve read Kavalier and Clay; I know the secret.

124 Vicious Babushka  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 5:57:55am

Hmmm, we do sell this. Set of audio lectures. You will probably fall asleep before learning the Seekrit of Programming a Golem.

125 NJDhockeyfan  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 5:57:59am

re: #95 Gus

Panama Red - New Riders of the Purple Sage

[Embedded content]

Thanks! A friend of mine and myself hung out with those guys at a small bar in Ct one night :)

Good morning lizards!

126 chadu  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 5:59:30am

re: #124 Vicious Babushka

That… looks kinda interesting. BOOKMARKED!

127 lawhawk  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 6:01:10am

re: #47 sattv4u2

I went to Newark yesterday, seeing the Newark Museum (a real gem), and then did dinner in the Ironbound.

So, I asked Newark Mayor Cory Booker for advice on where to go. Next thing I know, I’ve got him responding and dozens of suggestions from his followers (just track my twitter from last night).

Oh, and I really expect him to be next Senator replacing the lamentable Lautenberg.

128 chadu  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 6:02:46am

re: #127 lawhawk

So, what’s your read on Booker?

129 NJDhockeyfan  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 6:03:32am
130 Vicious Babushka  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 6:04:03am

At the end of the Golem stories, Rabbi Loewe “kills” the Golem by removing the ROM chip.

In order to re-animate the Golem, you have to find that original ROM chip, or figure out the coding and hardware configuration to re-create it. Instructions are embedded in the Talmud and the Zohar. (25 volumes of Talmud, 5 of Zohar, go knock yourself out).

131 Vicious Babushka  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 6:05:05am

Talmud & Zohar are written most in Aramaic.

132 NJDhockeyfan  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 6:05:09am

re: #127 lawhawk

I went to Newark yesterday, seeing the Newark Museum (a real gem), and then did dinner in the Ironbound.

So, I asked Newark Mayor Cory Booker for advice on where to go. Next thing I know, I’ve got him responding and dozens of suggestions from his followers (just track my twitter from last night).

Oh, and I really expect him to be next Senator replacing the lamentable Lautenberg.

I hear they have a great hockey team there too.

133 chadu  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 6:06:08am

Since we started talking about a robot TR, I’ve been analyzing him to fit him into the Monkey, Ninja, Pirate, Robot schema (I wrote the book/game on that).

“Was TR more a Ninja or a Pirate?” was really the only contentious point.

I have deliberated, within myself, and come to the conclusion that Teddy is a Pirate.

Opinions?

134 Vicious Babushka  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 6:06:10am

Time to visit the swimming pool.

135 dragonath  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 6:06:49am

I hope Booker has managed to weaken the Sharpe James machine. The city really has improved.

136 chadu  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 6:07:42am

re: #130 Vicious Babushka

I guess the question is if “erasing/changing” the word on it’s forehead, or removing the tablet under it’s tongue, is enough.

137 lawhawk  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 6:08:14am

re: #128 chadu

He’s genuine and really cares about Newark and the state. He gets that there are big problems facing the city and state and that it takes working across party lines to get things done. Some might see him as a shameless promoter, but I take that as doing what it takes to raise the profile of Newark and improving lives of folks who elected him. He takes the crime and violence personally - you could see it in that recent presser when a video surfaced showing a guy being stripped naked in Newark and beaten and robbed.

He also can make fun of himself and his persona as seen in a comedic video he shot with Gov. Christie that was for the state’s equivalent to the WH Correspondent’s Dinner.

138 chadu  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 6:08:37am

re: #131 Vicious Babushka

I speak all human languages fluently, in a loud voice.

139 chadu  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 6:09:53am

re: #137 lawhawk

Coolio! Good for NJ!

Virginia mayors and Congresscritters aren’t so fine, mostly.

140 lawhawk  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 6:10:01am

re: #132 NJDhockeyfan

They didn’t show it last night (losing to the Islanders), but they’re still ahead in the conference. The Prudential Center is a great place to see the Devils play. Last night Seton Hall lost to Syracuse at the Rock.

141 NJDhockeyfan  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 6:12:56am

re: #140 lawhawk

They didn’t show it last night (losing to the Islanders), but they’re still ahead in the conference. The Prudential Center is a great place to see the Devils play. Last night Seton Hall lost to Syracuse at the Rock.

I want to see a game there one day. The last time I saw a home game was at the Meadowlands.

142 Dark_Falcon  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 6:13:22am

re: #135 dragonath

I hope Booker has managed to weaken the Sharpe James machine. The city really has improved.

He has and in that he has the state government’s support. Even though cleaning out the slime risks strengthening rivals, Gov. Christie has supported such efforts, knowing them to be the best way forward for New Jersey.

Say what you like about Christie and Booker, both are firmly committed to their jobs and value proper governance over political gamesmanship. Would that all our nation’s governors and mayors were so dedicated.

143 lawhawk  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 6:26:08am

As bad as Trenton is, and Newark has been, Camden is worse than the them - combined. In the shadows of Philly, it’s the epitome of an urban wasteland and inability to rise out of those ashes due to rampant crime, corruption, and failed policy at the local, state, and federal levels. Yet, Camden has one of the better aquariums in the region - and a great place to take kids because of its approachability and size.

144 sattv4u2  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 6:31:44am

re: #143 lawhawk

Camden has one of the better aquariums in the region - and a great place to take kids because of its approachability and size.

“Daddy. What kind of fish is that?”

“That’s not a fish sweety. It’s just a Camden resident who drinks like one!”

145 lawhawk  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 6:33:07am

re: #142 Dark_Falcon

Say what you like about Christie and Booker, both are firmly committed to their jobs and value proper governance over political gamesmanship. Would that all our nation’s governors and mayors were so dedicated.

Christie’s policies are all over the map. While he’s shown himself to be pretty good in dealing with natural disasters, his actions in the recovery efforts aren’t nearly as good.

He’s failed when it comes to NJ Transit and their mass flooding of equipment (giving key executives a pass when they should have been canned for knowingly leaving hundreds of railcars in flood zones that means that the rail network is still operating on reduced schedules). He’s shown a willingness to use out-of-state services (Ash-Britt) to do disaster recovery that costs far more than other recovery services b/c of connections rather than skill/need.

And he’s prone to bombastic excess when a softer touch would work.

That doesn’t get into his waffling on climate change and pandering to the know-nothings in the GOP.

146 Glenn Beck's Grand Unifying Theory of Obdicut  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 6:33:26am

re: #144 sattv4u2

Only saltwater fish actually drink. True story.

147 sattv4u2  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 6:35:48am

re: #146 Glenn Beck’s Grand Unifying Theory of Obdicut

Only saltwater fish actually drink. True story.

Yeah, but except for margaritas I don’t like my alcohol with a lot of salt !

148 Dark_Falcon  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 6:43:20am

re: #145 lawhawk

Christie can be bombastic at times, I agree, but his anger is born out of his desire to get the job done. It can’t really be separated from that drive, and it is that drive that makes him effective.

As for his use of connected firms: Christie does that to keep favor within the party and maintain his political funding base. New Jersey is an expensive state to run media campaigns in and his reelection campaign will need to spend millions. He also needs to keep the Super PACs onside.

149 dragonath  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 6:52:13am

re: #148 Dark_Falcon

It’s interesting to see you defend cronyism when you routinely crucify Chicago pols for doing the same thing.

150 Achilles Tang  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 6:53:39am

re: #129 NJDhockeyfan

More meteor sightings…

Russian meteorite followed by claimed sightings in Cuba and California

People are looking up more than usual is all.

151 sattv4u2  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 6:58:18am

K Kiddies

The long quiet drive home beckons

152 Dark_Falcon  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 7:29:10am

re: #149 dragonath

It’s interesting to see you defend cronyism when you routinely crucify Chicago pols for doing the same thing.

There’s a difference between hiring people within your circle to do a job you really intend them to do (even if at higher cost), and hiring people to do a job your never intend them to actually do.

153 Mattand  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 7:44:23am

re: #148 Dark_Falcon

Christie can be bombastic at times, I agree, but his anger is born out of his desire to get the job done. It can’t really be separated from that drive, and it is that drive that makes him effective.

As for his use of connected firms: Christie does that to keep favor within the party and maintain his political funding base. New Jersey is an expensive state to run media campaigns in and his reelection campaign will need to spend millions. He also needs to keep the Super PACs onside.

His anger and drive are trying to get a 10% income tax cut passed here, with no explanation as to how to pay for it.

I would imagine his anger and drive will try to pay for said tax cut on the backs of people who can’t afford it.

In other words typical GOP bullshit.

As I’ve said before, he’s doing all he can for NJ in the wake of Sandy, to the point of being labeled a traitor for being bipartisan. I really do laud him for that.

At the end of the day, however, he still subscribes to many GOP policies that don’t work. It’s a bit of “Change the tone, not the policy” that many Republicans are clinging to. The only good thing is that he doesn’t seem to have that nasty misogynist/racist streak embraced/tolerated in the GOP today.

154 Vicious Babushka  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 7:50:42am

re: #136 chadu

I guess the question is if “erasing/changing” the word on it’s forehead, or removing the tablet under it’s tongue, is enough.

“erasing/changing”=deleting or modifying the code
“removing the tablet”=taking out the memory chip

It’s gotta be in FORTRAN, that’s so old, it was the code G-D used to program the Universe. :)

155 Dark_Falcon  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 7:51:23am

re: #153 Mattand

Cutting taxes is a way to make New jersey more attractive to high income individuals and businesses. More taxpayers can make up for lower tax rates, as can the reduction of waste and duplication of government function.

156 Mattand  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 7:55:55am

re: #155 Dark_Falcon

Cutting taxes is a way to make New jersey more attractive to high income individuals and businesses. More taxpayers can make up for lower tax rates, as can the reduction of waste and duplication of government function.

And trickle-down-economics works like a charm.

Until Christie presents how he would pay for this other than hoping more people show up here, it’s typical GOP pandering.

157 Gus  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 8:05:35am

It’s difficult to run a country, state, county, and city while at the same time trying to run the world.

158 dragonath  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 8:07:18am

re: #152 Dark_Falcon

Not every state is like Illinois. however, that article shows the peril of privatizing municipal duties- a symptom of a much larger disease

There are about a thousand different reasons that make New Jersey more attractive to people than just low taxes. By your metric, Texas should be the most attractive state in the Union.

159 Gus  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 8:12:09am

A nation swimming in cash with budget shortfalls at every corner. Too early to drink.

160 Gus  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 8:12:41am

Bamboozled.

161 dragonath  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 8:13:32am

Oh yeah, here’s a free iPhone app for all the Jersey lizards. The public services in New Jersey are a refreshing change from the wholesale budget cuts being levied over at the PA Fish and Game Service.

NJ Fish, Hunting & Wildlife Guide- Pocket Ranger®

162 Dark_Falcon  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 8:16:41am

re: #158 dragonath

Not every state is like Illinois. however, that article shows the peril of privatizing municipal duties- a symptom of a much larger disease

There are about a thousand different reasons that make New Jersey more attractive to people than just low taxes. By your metric, Texas should be the most attractive state in the Union.

That wasn’t a metric, it was a angle. I didn’t say it was the only one, all I said was that there were valid reasons for a high tax state like New Jersey to seek a tax cut.

163 Mattand  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 8:17:18am

re: #159 Gus

re: #160 Gus

You okay? Reads like Allan Ginsburg has taken over your keyboard.

164 Gus  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 8:18:13am

re: #163 Mattand

re: #160 Gus

You okay? Reads like Allan Ginsburg has taken over your keyboard.

A little pooped but OK. Mother tooth naked at last! Or was that teeth?

165 Gus  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 8:18:46am

Wait. That was Robert Bly. The Teeth Mother Naked at Last.

166 Dark_Falcon  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 8:19:23am

re: #158 dragonath

Not every state is like Illinois. however, that article shows the peril of privatizing municipal duties- a symptom of a much larger disease

There are about a thousand different reasons that make New Jersey more attractive to people than just low taxes. By your metric, Texas should be the most attractive state in the Union.

I’d object to the point on privatisation, as I feel that private firms can be used successfully in services like garbage collection and road repair. But for other things like parking meters (Chicago is currently suffering from an extremely bad privatization deal on those), though, should remain under government employ.

167 Vicious Babushka  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 8:22:32am

re: #164 Gus

A little pooped but OK. Mother tooth naked at last! Or was that teeth?

Too much Vicodin?

168 Dark_Falcon  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 8:26:11am

re: #167 Vicious Babushka

Too much Vicodin?

It’s Gus. He’s silly by nature. It’s a part of his charm.

169 dragonath  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 8:26:17am

re: #162 Dark_Falcon

It’s an angle, but I don’t think it’s a very good one. We’re talking about preserving livability standards in a high population density state, something that lowering the tax rates alone cannot accomplish.

170 Gus  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 8:26:45am

re: #167 Vicious Babushka

Too much Vicodin?

Ran out of that a while back. Nah, just thinking to myself. Had some thoughts but just typed a bunch of words. The thoughts were about government, Democrats, Republicans, people, corporations and how the dialogue of today’s society seems to revolve solely on government.

171 Gus  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 8:29:30am

Breaking. People are mad at Melissa Harris-Perry.

172 Dark_Falcon  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 8:30:23am

re: #170 Gus

Ran out of that a while back. Nah, just thinking to myself. Had some thoughts but just typed a bunch of words. The thoughts were about government, Democrats, Republicans, people, corporations and how the dialogue of today’s society seems to revolve solely on government.

That’s because government has gotten so intrusive. It needs to be pruned back in places.

173 William Barnett-Lewis  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 8:30:47am

re: #166 Dark_Falcon

I’d object to the point on privatisation, as I feel that private firms can be used successfully in services like garbage collection and road repair. But for other things like parking meters (Chicago is currently suffering from an extremely bad privatization deal on those), though, should remain under government employ.

It has been my experience, here in Wisconsin over several decades and many governors, that Privatization=rip off the public. Every time it happened service quality decreased and cost increased.

It’s rather like knowing that when a contract for road construction is let only the Republican companies ever win the bids and never pay penalties for being late & over budget.

174 Gus  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 8:32:46am

re: #172 Dark_Falcon

That’s because government has gotten so intrusive. It needs to be pruned back in places.

Yeah, but that’s, what’s the word… That becomes politics which boils down to “vote for this government by electing my candidate to cut government.” Kind of like anti-big-government-government.

175 Dark_Falcon  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 8:34:56am

re: #173 William Barnett-Lewis

It has been my experience, here in Wisconsin over several decades and many governors, that Privatization=rip off the public. Every time it happened service quality decreased and cost increased.

It’s rather like knowing that when a contract for road construction is let only the Republican companies ever win the bids and never pay penalties for being late & over budget.

How was it when the Dems controlled the governors mansion? Because I can tell you that where I live it’s only companies owned by Democratic donors who “ever win the bids and never pay penalties for being late and over budget.”

I think the real answer to that problem is some type of non-partisan oversight, although who would watch that watchman is the difficult part.

176 dragonath  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 8:35:21am

I find it kind of depressing how quickly things wither on the vine without government involvement. It kind of broke my heart to see a local landmark become choked with weeds after a major flood.

I suppose in the Ayn Rand philosophy, doing altruistic things to improve the livability of a community is verboten too.

We’re stuck between two poles of st00pid.

177 Gus  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 8:35:36am

re: #172 Dark_Falcon

That’s because government has gotten so intrusive. It needs to be pruned back in places.

Maybe what I meant to say was politics rather than government. It’s not “big government” but “big politics instead.” Who knows. I am rambling.

178 Dark_Falcon  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 8:37:03am

re: #176 dragonath

I find it kind of depressing how quickly things wither on the vine without government involvement. It kind of broke my heart to see a local landmark become choked with weeds after a major flood.

I suppose in the Ayn Rand philosophy, doing altruistic things to improve the livability of a community is verboten too.

We’re stuck between two poles of st00pid.

Rand hated altruism and both The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged savage it as a concept.

179 Lidane  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 8:37:19am
180 dragonath  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 8:37:59am

re: #175 Dark_Falcon

Be glad Chicago outsourced their stuff to a bunch of local chumps, and not to some international corporation.

181 Lidane  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 8:44:55am

Agreed. These people are deranged. And Graham is a shameless coward. He’s so desperate to avoid a primary from the right that he’s parroting all their incoherent gibberish.

182 Gus  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 8:46:23am

Vote for me; get a new car.

183 dragonath  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 8:47:00am

re: #178 Dark_Falcon

Rand hated altruism and both The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged savage it as a concept.

Random acts of coolness are the things make life worth living. I don’t think Rand had a very good sense of absurdity, being absurd herself.

184 Dark_Falcon  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 8:47:17am

re: #181 Lidane

How is that pathological? We’re wading in red ink, and scuttling an expensive new program would help balance the books.

185 Dark_Falcon  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 8:48:00am

re: #183 dragonath

Random acts of coolness are the things make life worth living. I don’t think Rand had a very good sense of absurdity, being absurd herself.

I’d agree with that, in both parts.

186 Lidane  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 8:49:53am

re: #184 Dark_Falcon

How is that pathological? We’re wading in red ink, and scuttling an expensive new program would help balance the books.

How about listening to the Pentagon for once and scuttling all the bloated, wasteful programs they don’t want and don’t need?

Whining about Obamacare is pathological because it’s just pandering to the tebagger morons.

187 William Barnett-Lewis  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 8:50:28am

re: #175 Dark_Falcon

How was it when the Dems controlled the governors mansion? Because I can tell you that where I live it’s only companies owned by Democratic donors who “ever win the bids and never pay penalties for being late and over budget.”

I think the real answer to that problem is some type of non-partisan oversight, although who would watch that watchman is the difficult part.

Only the republican firms ever get road contracts. If a Democratic governor tries otherwise, “problems” happen.

188 William Barnett-Lewis  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 8:51:39am

re: #186 Lidane

How about listening to the Pentagon for once and scuttling all the bloated, wasteful programs they don’t want and don’t need?

Whining about Obamacare is pathological because it’s just pandering to the tebagger morons.

QFT.

189 Lidane  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 8:52:48am

Speaking of pathological:

190 Mattand  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 8:57:39am

re: #176 dragonath

I find it kind of depressing how quickly things wither on the vine without government involvement. It kind of broke my heart to see a local landmark become choked with weeds after a major flood.

I suppose in the Ayn Rand philosophy, doing altruistic things to improve the livability of a community is verboten too.

We’re stuck between two poles of st00pid.

I don’t think this is quite right. I think the idea behind Objectivism is that you shouldn’t feel guilty about being selfish and only worrying about yourself. I don’t think it prohibits/discourages charity, only that it shouldn’t be forced on an individual. If you want to give, fine.

Having said that, the reason you see government intervene a lot in charity is because most businesses/people don’t, or they keep it to the bare minimum.

191 Gus  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 8:58:44am

re: #190 Mattand

I don’t think this is quite right. I think the idea behind Objectivism is that you shouldn’t feel guilty about being selfish and only worrying about yourself. I don’t think it prohibits/discourages charity, only that it shouldn’t be forced on an individual. If you want to give, fine.

Having said that, the reason you see government intervene a lot in charity is because most businesses/people don’t, or they keep it to the bare minimum.

The Wal-Mart effect.

192 Iwouldprefernotto  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 9:00:04am

re: #184 Dark_Falcon

How is that pathological? We’re wading in red ink, and scuttling an expensive new program would help balance the books.

No it wouldn’t. ACA is budget neutral. Republicans have no plan to help bring down healthcare costs. If you want to eliminate an expensive program try Medicare part D. Let insurance companies bargain with big pharma, just like the VA does. Plenty of places to save money, the ACA is not one of them.

193 Mattand  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 9:00:23am

re: #184 Dark_Falcon

How is that pathological? We’re wading in red ink, and scuttling an expensive new program would help balance the books.

Seriously, ACA/Obamacare is a done deal. Get the eff over it.

And it needs to be pointed out again that the personal mandate was a conservative/Republican idea until the scary black man said “Let’s try this, then.”

194 Gus  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 9:03:29am

Calvanism!

195 Lidane  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 9:07:13am

re: #193 Mattand

Seriously, ACA/Obamacare is a done deal. Get the eff over it.

And it needs to be pointed out again that the personal mandate was a conservative/Republican idea until the scary black man said “Let’s try this, then.”

EXACTLY. Obamacare is virtually indistinguishable from the health care reform plans the GOP was pushing before Barack Obama got elected. Funny how it suddenly became ZOMG SOSHULIST TYRANEE when a Democratic POTUS got it passed.

196 sattv4u2  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 9:11:32am

re: #194 Gus

Calvanism!

Coupled with Hobbesism!!

Image: calvin-and-hobbes-e1328550590232.jpg

197 Gus  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 9:13:58am

re: #196 sattv4u2

Coupled with Hobbesism!!

Image: calvin-and-hobbes-e1328550590232.jpg

Coolidge!

198 sattv4u2  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 9:15:51am

re: #197 Gus

Coolidge!

porridge!

199 Dark_Falcon  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 9:16:20am

re: #192 anonymous gun expert

No it wouldn’t. ACA is budget neutral. Republicans have no plan to help bring down healthcare costs. If you want to eliminate an expensive program try Medicare part D. Let insurance companies bargain with big pharma, just like the VA does. Plenty of places to save money, the ACA is not one of them.

If you think Obamacare is really budget neutral I’ve got some nice bottomland to sell you. Just don’t ask me what its at the bottom of.

200 Gus  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 9:16:55am

re: #198 sattv4u2

porridge!

The he man woman haters club! //

201 allegro  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 9:17:13am

re: #199 Dark_Falcon

If you think Obamacare is really budget neutral I’ve got some nice bottomland to sell you. Just don’t ask me what its at the bottom of.

Please cite your claim. Thanks!

202 sattv4u2  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 9:18:02am

re: #200 Gus

The he man woman haters club! //

Spank me

wait ,, thats not right

SPANKY!!

There!!
/

203 Lidane  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 9:18:05am

re: #199 Dark_Falcon

If you think Obamacare is really budget neutral I’ve got some nice bottomland to sell you. Just don’t ask me what its at the bottom of.

And if you think that cutting Obamacare would somehow be the miracle cure to salvage the economy, I’ve got oceanfront land in Nebraska to sell you.

204 Lidane  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 9:21:11am

The latest outrage on the nutter right:

And yet, record profits with no tax burden = GOP economics.

205 Mattand  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 9:25:00am

re: #204 Lidane

The latest outrage on the nutter right:

And yet, record profits with no tax burden = GOP economics.

Seriously. I thought the whole point of Tea Bag/GOP governance was government so small you can drown it in the bathtub.

Cutting off revenue is one way to do it.

206 Iwouldprefernotto  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 9:26:48am

re: #199 Dark_Falcon

If you think Obamacare is really budget neutral I’ve got some nice bottomland to sell you. Just don’t ask me what its at the bottom of.

So you only quote the CBO when it says what you agree with?

207 Dark_Falcon  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 9:27:27am

re: #203 Lidane

And if you think that cutting Obamacare would somehow be the miracle cure to salvage the economy, I’ve got oceanfront land in Nebraska to sell you.

Miracle cure? Of course not. The real cost driver is programs like Medicare and Social Security, which can’t be abolished without creating havoc. They can, however, be reformed.

208 A Mom Anon  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 9:28:01am

re: #184 Dark_Falcon

I thought we had budget problems before the ACA was passed. Medicare Part D could be thrown out and an allowance made for insurance companies to strike deals with the pharma companies and that would save a ton of money.

Congress could also scuttle several defense projects that the Pentagon have called useless and wasteful. That would save billions right there.

I seriously have no idea why people think money spent on health and education is wasteful and that it’s prudent to make people suffer.

209 Dark_Falcon  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 9:29:07am

re: #206 anonymous gun expert

So you only quote the CBO when it says what you agree with?

The CBO is the sock puppet of Congress. It can only analyze the numbers Congress gives it.

210 Lidane  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 9:30:19am

re: #207 Dark_Falcon

Miracle cure? Of course not. The real cost driver is programs like Medicare and Social Security, which can’t be abolished without creating havoc. They can, however, be reformed.

So there’s no waste in the defense budget at all?

Funny how you’re only pointing at social programs.

211 A Mom Anon  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 9:30:48am

re: #207 Dark_Falcon

Raise the cap on income taxed for Social Security to the first 200K and there wouldn’t be a problem with it.

212 Dark_Falcon  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 9:31:13am

re: #210 Lidane

So there’s no waste in the defense budget at all?

Funny how you’re only pointing at social programs.

Stop trying to put words in my mouth.

213 allegro  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 9:31:51am

re: #211 A Mom Anon

Raise the cap on income taxed for Social Security to the first 200K and there wouldn’t be a problem with it.

Funny how that never seems to enter the list of options. It’s always raising the retirement age or cutting benefits.

214 allegro  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 9:32:32am

re: #212 Dark_Falcon

Stop trying to put words in my mouth.

I’m still waiting for facts to support your ACA claims. Got any?

215 sattv4u2  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 9:33:12am

re: #210 Lidane

So there’s no waste in the defense budget at all?

he said that ,, where???

216 A Mom Anon  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 9:33:28am

re: #212 Dark_Falcon

Step away from the social programs for a moment and give some other examples of where cuts could be made that would help bring the budget under control. I’m sure you also understand that there simply have to be ways to raise more revenue in this plan as well.

217 Lidane  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 9:33:53am

re: #212 Dark_Falcon

Stop trying to put words in my mouth.

I’m just wondering why you’re ignoring the point that we could listen to the Pentagon and scuttle a bunch of obsolete, bloated, wasteful programs that they don’t want and don’t need and save billions.

Yes, Medicare and SS have ample room for reform. But they’re not the only targets. Focusing on them and on Obamacare to the exclusion of very real waste in defense spending is ridiculous.

218 sattv4u2  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 9:34:47am

re: #213 allegro

Funny how that never seems to enter the list of options. It’s always raising the retirement age or cutting benefits.

Both could/ should be done

Means test (although I think the rate should be higher than 200K for a married couple) AND slowly raise the start age

219 allegro  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 9:36:14am

re: #218 sattv4u2

Both could/ should be done

Means test (although I think the rate should be higher than 200K for a married couple) AND slowly raise the start age

Raising the start age is wrong, IMO. It punishes those who work physical jobs who simply can’t do them until they’re 70. It also reduces the jobs for younger workers who need them.

220 sattv4u2  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 9:36:23am

re: #217 Lidane

we could listen to the Pentagon and scuttle a bunch of obsolete, bloated, wasteful programs that they don’t want and don’t need and save billions.

Why are those programs in the Pentagons budget? Who put them there? Who’s in charge of overseeing them?

221 sattv4u2  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 9:37:05am

re: #219 allegro

Raising the start age is wrong, IMO. It punishes those who work physical jobs who simply can’t do them until they’re 70. It also reduces the jobs for younger workers who need them.

Hence ,, “AND slowly

222 allegro  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 9:37:17am

re: #220 sattv4u2


we could listen to the Pentagon and scuttle a bunch of obsolete, bloated, wasteful programs that they don’t want and don’t need and save billions.

Why are those programs in the Pentagons budget? Who put them there? Who’s in charge of overseeing them?

Defense industries who are profiting from them and their lobbyists who buy Congress to pass the measures.

223 Dark_Falcon  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 9:37:38am

re: #217 Lidane

I’m just wondering why you’re ignoring the point that we could listen to the Pentagon and scuttle a bunch of obsolete, bloated, wasteful programs that they don’t want and don’t need and save billions.

Yes, Medicare and SS have ample room for reform. But they’re not the only targets. Focusing on them and on Obamacare to the exclusion of very real waste in defense spending is ridiculous.

There actually aren’t that many such programs these days. And I don’t favor further base consolidation. Being too concentrated is too great a risk in the modern world.

224 allegro  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 9:37:41am

re: #221 sattv4u2

Hence ,, “AND slowly

How does slowly help?

225 sattv4u2  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 9:38:45am

re: #222 allegro

Defense industries who are profiting from them and their lobbyists who buy Congress to pass the measures.

So the problem lies in Congress. And for the record, it’s not just this (repub led) congress. It’s been a systemic problem for decades

BINGO ,,we have a winner

226 allegro  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 9:40:01am

re: #225 sattv4u2

So the problem lies in Congress. And for the record, it’s not just this (repub led) congress. It’s been a systemic problem for decades

BINGO ,,we have a winner

Which does not address the fact that there are billions of dollars in the defense budget that can be cut. Bingo.

227 sattv4u2  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 9:40:04am

re: #224 allegro

How does slowly help?

Doesn’t put that undue strain on openings for younger workers you were worried about
Doesn’t add much on to older workers nearing that age you were worried about

228 sattv4u2  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 9:41:31am

re: #226 allegro

Which does not address the fact that there are billions of dollars in the defense budget that can be cut. Bingo.

So go to the source of the problem to get it down
Demand of your rep he shows you (his district) what/where/how/when (s)he is proposing as a cut

229 sattv4u2  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 9:43:09am

See
We send these people to Washington and then (for the most part) we don’t follow up on them. We figure we elected them so they are there doing what they campaigned on

230 allegro  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 9:43:34am

re: #227 sattv4u2

Doesn’t put that undue strain on openings for younger workers you were worried about
Doesn’t add much on to older workers nearing that age you were worried about

It does both regardless of the speed. It screws today’s younger workers as they approach a reasonable retirement age.

231 sattv4u2  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 9:45:00am

re: #230 allegro

It does both regardless of the speed. It screws today’s younger workers as they approach a reasonable retirement age.

It can be rolled back SLOWLY if/when we approach solvency

If not, they won’t have to worry about it being there anyway 40 years from now

232 Gus  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 9:45:15am

re: #229 sattv4u2

See
We send these people to Washington and then (for the most part) we don’t follow up on them. We figure we elected them so they are there doing what they campaigned on

If you Tweet hard enough congress will listen!

//

233 A Mom Anon  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 9:46:23am

re: #225 sattv4u2

There’s also a problem with how the defense contracting system is set up. One project has multiple parts spread over many states. So when a project is cancelled or ends there’s an effect over many areas rather than one or two. Those job losses or cutbacks then translate into something that can be used to threaten someone’s terms in office, or make a villain out of a particular party or person. Hence the continuation of what can be bad, obsolete or simply unusable weapons, planes, transport vehicles etc.

My understanding is that there is also an off the books budget that Defense has that no one knows the amount of or what it’s spent on. I get that some of that is a National Security matter, but it would be interesting to at least know the amount of money being unaccounted for.

234 sattv4u2  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 9:51:56am

re: #233 A Mom Anon

then translate into something that can be used to threaten someone’s terms in office, or make a villain out of a particular party or person.

And therein the problem lies

EVERYONE says Congress is doing a shitty job! (just look at their approval rating over the last decade or so)
BUT ,,, the problem isn’t “our” guy, it’s all those other schlubbs. If only all those other districts would vote their guy out, we’d be okay!! !

(iirc, it’s about an 85% return rate to congress)

235 dragonath  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 9:52:30am

It’s pretty amazing how much resistance there is to funding Social Security, which contributes to people’s well being, than to the military, which has never run a surplus. Social Security running a deficit is treated like the end of the world.

It was bad enough talking to Republicans during the campaign who were convinced Obama held back their annual cost-of-living “raise”.

236 Dark_Falcon  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 9:52:42am

re: #233 A Mom Anon

There’s also a problem with how the defense contracting system is set up. One project has multiple parts spread over many states. So when a project is cancelled or ends there’s an effect over many areas rather than one or two. Those job losses or cutbacks then translate into something that can be used to threaten someone’s terms in office, or make a villain out of a particular party or person. Hence the continuation of what can be bad, obsolete or simply unusable weapons, planes, transport vehicles etc.

My understanding is that there is also an off the books budget that Defense has that no one knows the amount of or what it’s spent on. I get that some of that is a National Security matter, but it would be interesting to at least know the amount of money being unaccounted for.

About contracting, you are entirely right. I’ve been talking about that here for years, but I also know from my time selling defense conferences how unlikely the kind of reform that would really fix things is. Congress has a vested interest in the current system and Congress writes the laws.

237 Gus  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 9:53:18am

Don’t say Eisenhower didn’t warn ya’.

238 A Mom Anon  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 9:56:43am

re: #234 sattv4u2

I’m less than thrilled with my guy,lol. Not just party differences either, he’s gone into crazy town when he used to be at least somewhat open to bipartisan ideas. His constituent services leave a lot to be desired too. He runs unopposed every two years so there’s not even a choice to vote for anyone else. The last guy to run against him, maybe 8 yrs ago, was so over ran with GOP money the second he announced he was running that he never stood a chance in this bright red district.

239 sattv4u2  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 10:00:09am

re: #238 A Mom Anon

was so over ran with GOP money the second he announced he was running that he never stood a chance in this bright red district.

It’s a two way street
Districts are targeted (flooded) with money from both sides making it (nearly) impossible for the other to gain ground

Like you, I’m in Georgia

Unlike you, I used to live in Massachusetts and saw the other side of it many times

240 Glenn Beck's Grand Unifying Theory of Obdicut  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 10:02:29am

re: #199 Dark_Falcon

If you think Obamacare is really budget neutral I’ve got some nice bottomland to sell you. Just don’t ask me what its at the bottom of.

Actually, the ACA saves money, Dark.

Why do you think otherwise?

241 Kronocide  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 10:03:11am

re: #155 Dark_Falcon

Cutting taxes is a way to make New jersey more attractive to high income individuals and businesses. More taxpayers can make up for lower tax rates, as can the reduction of waste and duplication of government function.

So has this ever been proven out through actual math? It’s an article of faith oft repeated by conservatives.

Less taxes = more tax revenue

Because I’m running numbers on a spread sheet and it does not hold true unless you wildly inflate the population numbers.

242 A Mom Anon  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 10:04:50am

re: #239 sattv4u2

Personally, if K Street shut down tomorrow, I would not shed a tear. IMO that’s the country’s heart of darkness. Lobbying Congress should NEVER involve an exchange of money or services for a vote. EVER. It should be illegal with severe penalties attached. House members spend an average of 30 hours a week dialing for dollars and going to fundraisers. Combine that with the long and frequent breaks they take, throw in the current hostile environment and it’s not really a shock that little if anything gets done.

243 sattv4u2  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 10:06:57am

re: #242 A Mom Anon
re: #242 A Mom Anon


Lobbying Congress should NEVER involve an exchange of money or services for a vote

Agree

244 allegro  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 10:08:40am

re: #242 A Mom Anon

Personally, if K Street shut down tomorrow, I would not shed a tear. IMO that’s the country’s heart of darkness. Lobbying Congress should NEVER involve an exchange of money or services for a vote. EVER. It should be illegal with severe penalties attached. House members spend an average of 30 hours a week dialing for dollars and going to fundraisers. Combine that with the long and frequent breaks they take, throw in the current hostile environment and it’s not really a shock that little if anything gets done.

That’s why I think the first area of reform should be severe campaign finance reform with absolute top limits on allowable expenditures and the elimination of corporate financing. The corruption is out of control.

245 sattv4u2  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 10:14:11am

re: #244 allegro

That’s why I think the first area of reform should be severe campaign finance reform with absolute top limits on allowable expenditures and the elimination of corporate financing. The corruption is out of control.

And PACS and unions and ,,,,

You can’t just draw a line one place without someone wanting the same line drawn another

(NOTE: I am NOT saying corporate financing isn’t out of control, but so are some of the others)

246 sattv4u2  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 10:15:50am

re: #237 Gus

Don’t say Eisenhower didn’t warn ya’.

I once heard him yell

FORE

Does that count??

247 A Mom Anon  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 10:16:26am

re: #244 allegro

As a public service for basically owning the public airwaves TV and radio networks should have to donate a certain amount of time for candidates within a strict time frame during election seasons. If they find that too odious then NO political ads should be allowed. Debates and stuff should be commercial free anyway.

Citizens United needs to go, so does corporate financing of anything related to politics. How you get there though, when Congress knows it effects their personal bottom lines (and jobs after politics) is going to be nearly impossible unless millions of us mobilize and make the fuckers nervous.

248 FemNaziBitch  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 10:19:36am

Hey all!

I started reading (listening to) AntiFragile last night. The author is so irritating I’m having a hard time focusing on the topic. At one point he is trying to make a point about entrepreneurship and the examples he chooses are a cab driver (male) a prostitute.

If the book wasn’t on the U of Chicago Booth School author tour list, I wouldn’t bother finishing it. The author claims to be a humanist and not affiliated with any political party, but I see a lot of fodder for the Fox News Crew.

How is your day going?

249 allegro  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 10:21:55am

re: #247 A Mom Anon

As a public service for basically owning the public airwaves TV and radio networks should have to donate a certain amount of time for candidates within a strict time frame during election seasons. If they find that too odious then NO political ads should be allowed. Debates and stuff should be commercial free anyway.

Citizens United needs to go, so does corporate financing of anything related to politics. How you get there though, when Congress knows it effects their personal bottom lines (and jobs after politics) is going to be nearly impossible unless millions of us mobilize and make the fuckers nervous.

Absolutely agree. Like healthcare, politics and public service should not be a for-profit industry.

250 dragonath  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 10:22:07am

If the Social Security retirement age gets changed, I’d imagine there would be a push towards mandatory minimum employment leave - which I’d expect to be opposed by the usual suspects.

Even China has mandatory vacation laws. Germany, the biggest economy in Europe, has 4 weeks.

251 Kronocide  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 10:23:40am

re: #241 Kronocide

So has this ever been proven out through actual math? It’s an article of faith oft repeated by conservatives.

Less taxes = more tax revenue

Because I’m running numbers on a spread sheet and it does not hold true unless you wildly inflate the population numbers.

Which is funny, because a higher rate brings in more tax revenue even with less people. A lot less… equivalent to the amount of people it would take to bring in more revenue with a lower tax rate.

Maths. Loves me some maths.

252 allegro  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 10:23:55am

re: #250 dragonath

If the Social Security retirement age gets changed, I’d imagine there would be a push towards mandatory minimum employment leave - which I’d expect to be opposed by the usual suspects.

Even China has mandatory vacation laws. Germany, the biggest economy in Europe, has 4 weeks.

We don’t even have mandatory paid sick leave allowance. Mandatory vacation would appear to be a pipe dream of unfathomable proportions at present.

253 dragonath  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 10:26:40am

re: #252 allegro

I was appalled that a local iron foundry only gives their workers two one and a half weeks of vacation after 10 years.

And that place was unionized!

254 LWNJ  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 10:31:13am

re: #154 Vicious Babushka

“erasing/changing”=deleting or modifying the code
“removing the tablet”=taking out the memory chip

It’s gotta be in FORTRAN, that’s so old, it was the code G-D used to program the Universe. :)

HERESY! The universe was programmed in pure machine code, a symphony of zeroes and ones.

255 FemNaziBitch  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 10:31:16am

re: #253 dragonath

I was appalled that a local iron foundry only gives their workers two one and a half weeks of vacation after 10 years.

And that place was unionized!

Because employers will be generous to their employees if the government will get out of of the way

256 Dark_Falcon  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 10:31:35am

re: #253 dragonath

I was appalled that a local iron foundry only gives their workers two one and a half weeks of vacation after 10 years.

And that place was unionized!

Given the competition such foundries often face, their unions don’t fight for vacation time, because they know that the foundry can ill afford to have a lot of people absent. They’ll fight for health benefits and retirement, fight like Hell. But many such unions know that they and their bosses are in the same boat in terms of productivity: They need to run as fast as they can to stay in one place.

257 Kronocide  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 10:31:38am

Meteor explodes, Pope resigns, Beiber buys $10k worth of Chinese food… coincidence?

258 Dark_Falcon  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 10:32:35am

re: #247 A Mom Anon

As a public service for basically owning the public airwaves TV and radio networks should have to donate a certain amount of time for candidates within a strict time frame during election seasons. If they find that too odious then NO political ads should be allowed. Debates and stuff should be commercial free anyway.

Citizens United needs to go, so does corporate financing of anything related to politics. How you get there though, when Congress knows it effects their personal bottom lines (and jobs after politics) is going to be nearly impossible unless millions of us mobilize and make the fuckers nervous.

Political ads cannot be banned like that. It would violate the 1st Amendment.

259 Gus  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 10:34:37am

re: #258 Dark_Falcon

Political ads cannot be banned like that. It would violate the 1st Amendment.

Aye.

260 Glenn Beck's Grand Unifying Theory of Obdicut  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 10:36:59am

re: #241 Kronocide

So has this ever been proven out through actual math? It’s an article of faith oft repeated by conservatives.

Less taxes = more tax revenue

Because I’m running numbers on a spread sheet and it does not hold true unless you wildly inflate the population numbers.

It also handwaves how hard it is to cut out waste and duplication. Another word for duplication is redundancy. New York City doesn’t have, it turns out, a lot of redundancy in its flood control systems, but it does in its flood repair systems. The result of that was that a lot of damage got done, but it got fixed pretty damn quickly.

The problem is fixing that long-term will take flood protection, not flood repair. To do serious flood protection just New York and parts of New Jersey would probably cost a huge amount— like $50 billion dollars if it’s done expertly, maybe more like $150 billion to account for the risks of a project that big. But the economic damage from Sandy was at about $70 billion. It’s obviously worth it. But the cost of doing something goes on the budget, and the cost of doing nothing doesn’t.

That’s how the GOP tricks people into thinking that cutting budgets is fiscally responsible. They pretend that these costs, from disasters and the like, that could be prevented by government action, aren’t accountable. If you spend fifty billion to fix a problem, they’ll yell and scream even if the problem costs the nation a hundred billion, because the cost is born by the nation, not the government.

It’s a very bizarre worldview that I’ve never really been able to understand.

261 Dark_Falcon  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 10:38:09am

re: #259 Gus

Aye.

I was going to reply but I’m out of time. So I’ll just say “thanks”.

BBL

262 Iwouldprefernotto  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 10:38:56am

re: #260 Glenn Beck’s Grand Unifying Theory of Obdicut

It also handwaves how hard it is to cut out waste and duplication. Another word for duplication is redundancy. New York City doesn’t have, it turns out, a lot of redundancy in its flood control systems, but it does in its flood repair systems. The result of that was that a lot of damage got done, but it got fixed pretty damn quickly.

The problem is fixing that long-term will take flood protection, not flood reduction. To do serious flood protection just New York and parts of New Jersey would probably cost a huge amount— like $50 billion dollars if it’s done expertly, maybe more like $150 billion to account for the risks of a project that big. But the economic damage from Sandy was at about $70 billion. It’s obviously worth it. But the cost of doing something goes on the budget, and the cost of doing nothing doesn’t.

That’s how the GOP tricks people into thinking that cutting budgets is fiscally responsible. They pretend that these costs, from disasters and the like, that could be prevented by government action, aren’t accountable. If you spend fifty billion to fix a problem, they’ll yell and scream even if the problem costs the nation a hundred billion, because the cost is born by the nation, not the government.

It’s a very bizarre worldview that I’ve never really been able to understand.

re: #260 Glenn Beck’s Grand Unifying Theory of Obdicut

It also handwaves how hard it is to cut out waste and duplication. Another word for duplication is redundancy. New York City doesn’t have, it turns out, a lot of redundancy in its flood control systems, but it does in its flood repair systems. The result of that was that a lot of damage got done, but it got fixed pretty damn quickly.

The problem is fixing that long-term will take flood protection, not flood reduction. To do serious flood protection just New York and parts of New Jersey would probably cost a huge amount— like $50 billion dollars if it’s done expertly, maybe more like $150 billion to account for the risks of a project that big. But the economic damage from Sandy was at about $70 billion. It’s obviously worth it. But the cost of doing something goes on the budget, and the cost of doing nothing doesn’t.

That’s how the GOP tricks people into thinking that cutting budgets is fiscally responsible. They pretend that these costs, from disasters and the like, that could be prevented by government action, aren’t accountable. If you spend fifty billion to fix a problem, they’ll yell and scream even if the problem costs the nation a hundred billion, because the cost is born by the nation, not the government.

It’s a very bizarre worldview that I’ve never really been able to understand.

It’s the same with healthcare. We don’t want to provide health insurance, but we pay (a higher cost) when people use the emergency room.

263 sattv4u2  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 10:40:38am

re: #259 Gus

POP Aye.

264 William Barnett-Lewis  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 10:40:55am

re: #258 Dark_Falcon

Political ads cannot be banned like that. It would violate the 1st Amendment.

Only if you accept the fantasy that corporations are people and have rights. Tell you what, I’ll believe corporations are people the day Texas executes one.

265 dragonath  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 10:41:21am

re: #256 Dark_Falcon

Well I guess they didn’t run “fast” enough. The foundry liquidated its union workers and moved its production to Mexico.

How much do you know about a foundry? People lost their jobs operating the high speed grinders, hammering the sprues off hot castings, and making formaldehyde sand molds all day long, many of them being at the job for the last 10 or 20 years.

266 sattv4u2  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 10:41:53am

re: #264 William Barnett-Lewis

see #245

267 sattv4u2  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 10:42:17am

Grilled Cheese and Tomato
YUM!

268 Iwouldprefernotto  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 10:43:41am

OT. I will no longer be known as anonymous gun expert. It’s too much of a burden. Thanks in advance for your understanding.

269 sattv4u2  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 10:45:17am

re: #268 Iwouldprefernotto

OT. I will no longer be known as anonymous gun expert. It’s too much of a burden. Thanks in advance for your understanding.

????

270 dragonath  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 10:47:08am

re: #247 A Mom Anon

You can thank that clown, James Buckley, for setting the precedent that led to unlimited amounts of private money in public campaigns.

By the way, that guy was William Buckley’s brother.

271 Shiplord Kirel  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 10:48:02am

Outrageous Outrage, Obama playing golf again, freepers take note:

Report: Obama Golfing With Tiger Woods

Tiger swings both ways! Who knew?

He’s (“he” is presumably Tiger) just doing it to save his ass when the commies move in full force. He has a “can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em” attitude.

Yet, Ted Cruz has warned us that the Obama-commie-UN conspiracy is plotting to take over our golf courses. Maybe Tiger is lobbying for an exemption.

Historic day? As in a serial sex addict and marxist US president get together to play golf at the expense of the american taxpayer, to the tune of millions of dollars?

“Millions?” WTF? Where does this yokel think are they playing? The Moon?

I don’t suppose any GOP president ever took time out to play golf or relax.

Oh, wait.

I frankly don’t want a 20 hour a day workaholic with his finger on the nuclear trigger, lest he go nuts and decide to press it.

272 sattv4u2  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 10:48:08am

re: #268 Iwouldprefernotto

re: #269 sattv4u2

????

I mean, I’m not questioning nor disagreeing that you want/ need to do it,, BUT,,, ,IF you are a “gun expert” and there are a couple of dozen people chatting here at any given time and the topic is guns, wouldn’t your expertise be a welcome addition??

273 FemNaziBitch  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 10:49:04am

re: #271 Shiplord Kirel

Outrageous Outrage, Obama playing golf again, freepers take note:

Report: Obama Golfing With Tiger Woods

Yet, Ted Cruz has warned us that the Obama-commie UN conspiracy is plotting to take over our golf courses. Maybe Tiger is lobbying for an exemption.

“Millions?” WTF? Where does this yokel think are they playing? The Moon?

I don’t suppose any GOP president ever took time out to play golf or relax.

Oh, wait.

I frankly don’t want a 20 hour a day workaholic with his finger on the nuclear trigger, lest he go nuts and decide to press it.

I learned a long time ago that a lot of WORK is conducted on the golf course.

274 FemNaziBitch  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 10:49:39am

re: #272 sattv4u2

re: #269 sattv4u2

I mean, I’m not questioning nor disagreeing that you want/ need to do it,, BUT,,, ,IF you are a “gun expert” and there are a couple of dozen people chatting here at any given time and the topic is guns, wouldn’t your expertise be a welcome addition??

he would prefer not to.

275 Targetpractice  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 10:50:27am

re: #271 Shiplord Kirel

Outrageous Outrage, Obama playing golf again, freepers take note:

Report: Obama Golfing With Tiger Woods

Yet, Ted Cruz has warned us that the Obama-commie UN conspiracy is plotting to take over our golf courses. Maybe Tiger is lobbying for an exemption.

“Millions?” WTF? Where does this yokel think are they playing? The Moon?

I don’t suppose any GOP president ever took time out to play golf or relax.

Oh, wait.

I frankly don’t want a 20 hour a day workaholic with his finger on the nuclear trigger, lest he go nuts and decide to press it.

It’s simply unconscionable that Obama would take time off to play golf when work could be getting done. Unlike the workaholic Congress, who’s out for 10 days for President’s Day.

///

276 allegro  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 10:50:42am

re: #273 FemNaziBitch

Also why is it assumed that the taxpayers are picking up the tab?

277 A Mom Anon  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 10:51:17am

re: #258 Dark_Falcon

It’s not banning anything. Let me rephrase that a little. I’m just saying that if a tv or radio station doesn’t want to provide free air time during election season because of financial concerns, then tough. Don’t run the ads then. It’s not banning speech. On the contrary, it might force candidates to participate and face the people they want to elect them. There were elections and politicians before there was tv and radio. And somehow we managed. Too much time and money is being spent on ads which simply pollutes the process. Remove the money and make media owners do an actual public service by giving up some free air time to all sides in the elections process if you’re going to use media.

278 sattv4u2  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 10:52:15am

re: #274 FemNaziBitch

he would prefer not to.

lol

279 Gus  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 10:52:32am

Corporations represent an organization of people starting from the CEO all the way down to the employees of that corporation. The success of that corporation is vital for said employees of that corporation. Think of it as a nation state. AIPAC representing Israel and thus Israelis. Unions representing their workers. GM representing their corporate executives, shareholders, and UAW workers interests. You can’t single out any single organization because of your own personal ideology.

280 sattv4u2  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 10:53:30am

re: #279 Gus

Corporations represent an organization of people starting from the CEO all the way down to the employees of that corporation. The success of that corporation is vital for said employees of that corporation. Think of it as a nation state. AIPAC representing Israel and thus Israelis. Unions representing their workers. GM representing their corporate executives, shareholders, and UAW workers interests. You can’t single out any single organization because of your own personal ideology.

hence #245

281 Gus  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 11:00:10am

re: #280 sattv4u2

hence #245

Yep. All that’s required is transparency. Most of the time it’s pretty obvious who is funding a particular political ad. If they’re hidden in mega PACs that’s a different story. I’m sure people wouldn’t complain if Siemens was funding political ads in favor of wind farms or Tesla (if it ever goes into the black) for more electric car infrastructure.

282 Glenn Beck's Grand Unifying Theory of Obdicut  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 11:00:59am

re: #279 Gus

Corporations represent an organization of people starting from the CEO all the way down to the employees of that corporation. The success of that corporation is vital for said employees of that corporation. Think of it as a nation state. AIPAC representing Israel and thus Israelis. Unions representing their workers. GM representing their corporate executives, shareholders, and UAW workers interests. You can’t single out any single organization because of your own personal ideology.

Corporations are not like nation states and if you treat them as though they are, they will act like it, and that would actually be really fucking terrible.

283 A Mom Anon  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 11:01:52am

re: #279 Gus

Here’s the problem though, those corporations usually aren’t lobbying Congress for anything other than tax breaks and lax rules for their industry. With less than 15 percent of workers in this country belonging to unions, I don’t see the power they have as opposed to even a couple of decades ago. I’m not discriminating here, I think all big money lobbying interests need to GO. Take the profit motive out of the whole process and watch to see how many of our”devoted public servants” keep running for office.

I’m not unrealistic, there have always been backroom deals and money under the table. It is totally out of control now and there need to be some VERY strict rules that cut off the money hose, at least to even the playing field somewhat.

284 Glenn Beck's Grand Unifying Theory of Obdicut  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 11:01:54am

re: #282 Glenn Beck’s Grand Unifying Theory of Obdicut

EA had no right to speak for me or claim that it was when I was an employee of EA. I did a job of work; they paid me for it. I wasn’t a citizen of EA, I had no buy-in to decision-making at EA, it was a contractual relationship.

285 FemNaziBitch  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 11:02:55am

re: #282 Glenn Beck’s Grand Unifying Theory of Obdicut

Corporations are not like nation states and if you treat them as though they are, they will act like it, and that would actually be really fucking terrible.

Unfortunately, Corporations seem to be the only entities that have a sort of global citizenship. At least the really big ones. They have contacts, employees and loyalties (profits) in many countries.

It’s a strange thing.

286 Gus  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 11:05:34am

The success of a corporation is vital to the interests of its employees.

287 Glenn Beck's Grand Unifying Theory of Obdicut  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 11:06:57am

re: #285 FemNaziBitch

The whole ‘culture’ thing at corporations has always freaked me out. Some companies have a natural culture from the people who started it or some aspect of the business, an organic culture that grows out of the way people there work. But most companies don’t have that, instead, they look at these companies that have genuine cultures and they think “We should have that”, and instead of doing the hard job of trying to figure out how to get it to happen organically, they try to top-down announce what the culture is, and come up with stupid acronyms, and have dumb slogans, and they pretend everyone takes it seriously and that it’s all working fine and if you question this whole culture thing, well, obviously you’re not a good fit for the culture.

The difference between working at a company with a real, actual feel to it, a culture, and a fake-ass one is extreme. It’s so much less stressful and less bullshit at the ones that are genuine.

But it’s always amazing how much corporations can get workers to sacrifice on behalf of the company when they’ve made a contract establishing how much they should be allowed to sacrifice. But companies coerce extra hours out of workers all the time, it’s basically the norm these days.

288 Gus  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 11:07:00am

The success of General Motors was vital to the interests of the people of Detroit.

289 Iwouldprefernotto  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 11:07:34am

re: #272 sattv4u2

re: #269 sattv4u2

I mean, I’m not questioning nor disagreeing that you want/ need to do it,, BUT,,, ,IF you are a “gun expert” and there are a couple of dozen people chatting here at any given time and the topic is guns, wouldn’t your expertise be a welcome addition??

Sorry. I changed my name because someone on the right was quoting an “anonymous gun expert” in articles about the recent shootings. It was in fun. I think all the gun experts are mostly full of shit. You can spend the entire day defining what an assault weapon is and what constitutes a high capacity magazine, but in the meantime citizens are being slaughtered by these weapons and too many experts are defending them and not willing to even consider reasonable regulations.

/rant

290 Glenn Beck's Grand Unifying Theory of Obdicut  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 11:08:11am

re: #286 Gus

The success of a corporation is vital to the interests of its employees.

That’s not always true, though, Gus. It’s not true if there are other healthy corporations around to take advantage of the failure of that company. If company B goes under because their executives spent all the money on coke, and then Company A can hire those workers and gain market share. This happens all the time when a company goes out of business and has a lot of valuable employees— they get scooped up. A company going out of business does not destroy the demand for whatever it was in business for.

291 William Barnett-Lewis  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 11:09:54am

re: #280 sattv4u2

hence #245

Fine. End all non-individual donations with a maximum of $100 per person to all candidates per campaign period. Make public financing required.

But stop the BS that corporations have any rights whatsoever.

292 Glenn Beck's Grand Unifying Theory of Obdicut  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 11:10:06am

re: #288 Gus

The success of General Motors was vital to the interests of the people of Detroit.

The success of the automobile industry was vital, not the success of general motors in particular. The bailout was because the crisis was industry-wide.

293 Gus  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 11:10:29am

re: #290 Glenn Beck’s Grand Unifying Theory of Obdicut

That’s not true, though, Gus. It’s not true if there are other healthy corporations around to take advantage of the failure of that company. If company B goes under because their executives spent all the money on coke, and then Company A can hire those workers and gain market share. This happens all the time when a company goes out of business and has a lot of valuable employees— they get scooped up. A company going out of business does not destroy the demand for whatever it was in business for.

Unions can do the same thing and have. Corporate cannibalism is a different argument. If “corporations can do evil” at some points then we can’t see things without a biased view.

294 Gus  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 11:11:44am

re: #292 Glenn Beck’s Grand Unifying Theory of Obdicut

The success of the automobile industry was vital, not the success of general motors in particular. The bailout was because the crisis was industry-wide.

An “industry” which is made up of other smaller “corporations” and businesses. All the way down the line.

295 chadu  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 11:12:54am

re: #154 Vicious Babushka

Nah, I think G-d coded the universe in BASIC. That’s why it’s so buggy.

296 Glenn Beck's Grand Unifying Theory of Obdicut  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 11:13:44am

re: #293 Gus

Unions can do the same thing and have. Corporate cannibalism is a different argument. If “corporations can do evil” at some points then we can’t see things without a biased view.

Nothing in my above post was about corporations doing evil. At all. And unions have their own set of problems, in some cases similar to, in others different, than corporations. Some of the regulation of them should be the same, some should be different. And unions can definitely have far too much political power— in California, the prison guards union is one of the main barriers to progress on prison reform. They have far too much power and they are not even representing their members interests, they’re representing their elite-high paid member’s interests.

297 Gus  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 11:13:45am

Break time. BBL

298 Glenn Beck's Grand Unifying Theory of Obdicut  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 11:19:56am

re: #294 Gus

An “industry” which is made up of other smaller “corporations” and businesses. All the way down the line.

Yes. That was part of my point— an individual company going out of business is not a huge deal. It is only a huge deal if there are very few businesses competing with each other, or the problem is industry-wide. The former is normally a problem with lack of regulation allowing monopolies to develop and strangle the workplace, and the latter usually requires government help to shore up the industry. In a healthy economy, a place can go out of business because it’s badly run and the workers and customers will be accommodated by a healthy business.

Like, in San Francisco, restaurants go out of business all the time. When they do, the waiters and bartenders and restaurant managers find a new job— often with the new restaurant opening in the same spot. It can suck a bit, but the corporation is not the job— that’s the main reason I’m pushing back on you on this, is because to me it seems like you’re crediting the corporation for the existence of the job; the demand exists with or without that particular corporation.

299 FemNaziBitch  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 11:20:51am

bbl

300 Feline Fearless Leader  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 2:30:03pm

re: #254 LWNJ

HERESY! The universe was programmed in pure machine code, a symphony of zeroes and ones.

It’s COBOL all the way down if you follow the right Holy Book.
;)

301 jamesfirecat  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 2:46:41pm

re: #172 Dark_Falcon

That’s because government has gotten so intrusive. It needs to be pruned back in places.

Name them.

302 jamesfirecat  Sun, Feb 17, 2013 2:48:42pm

re: #184 Dark_Falcon

How is that pathological? We’re wading in red ink, and scuttling an expensive new program would help balance the books.

Because in the long run Obamacare saves money rather than costing us money because we will not have as many people getting treated at EC rooms who can not pay for it.

Also it is pathological because it makes it seem as if the GOP’s standard answer to everything is kill Obamacare the house has passed how many bills along those lines recently?


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