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| 2008/7/16-23 [Science/GlobalWarming] UID:50586 Activity:nil |
7/15 In the past with rising energy costs->crisis and financial
difficulties, what were some of the industries that did well
and can we put our investment in those industries?
\- gas theft |
| 2008/7/16-23 [Politics/Domestic/SocialSecurity, Finance/Investment] UID:50587 Activity:nil |
7/15 My mom's fixed annuity is maturing and we're wondering what we
should be doing with it. She's 70 and we gotta put the money
where it is safe (no stock market, no 401k). What are some good
choices to make now, considering that the US economy is failing
and the banking industry is fubar?
\_ I would buy another fixed annuity with enough of it so that
annuity + SS = bare bones enough to live off of, put half the
rest into a CA Muni ladder (or bond fund, if you have less than
$1/4M to do this right) and buy an index fund with the rest.
She is still too young to get 100% out of the market. What is
wrong with an annuity?
\_ I thought if you have over $3000 then you're not eligible
for SS? Or is that something else?
\_ I think this is related to SSI (Supplemental Security
Income) for low income, not the Retirement SS. SSI allows
a higher paycheck from the government.
\_ No, even Warren Buffett gets SS. It is for everyone who
has contributed for at least five years. Maybe you are
thinking of the bankruptcy code. I think you are allowed
to keep a car worth $3000 in a bankruptcy.
\_ Ok so I tried to Google for Social Security but it seems
complex, is there a SS for Dummies web site? Thanks!
\_ http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761561113_2/Social_Security.html
Courtesy of Bill Gates |
| 2008/7/16-23 [Politics/Domestic/President/Reagan, Politics/Foreign/MiddleEast/Iraq] UID:50588 Activity:moderate |
7/15 Provisions to tighten regulation over Fannie and Freddy. Whatever
happened to GWB and Reagan's FREE MARKET economy and the
new OWNERSHIP SOCIETY???
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25686589/page/2
\_ The macs are gov't partnerships with business--what has that to do
with free market?
\_ Plenty! Previous sarcastic poster, the free market/ownership
society doesn't work very well if we are in a global
depression. I think everyone recognizes this.
\_ "Everyone?" Really, even the motd.libertarians? If so,
this would be a mighty sea change. Is this true, libertarians?
\_ official libertarian nutjob position: the free market would
work perfectly in a global depression, if only the
government would stop meddling. -tom
\_ No, I think a global depression is a natural
phenomenon and a healthy thing. Why would you want to
stop it?
\_ You obviously haven't studied the 1930s where
people were starving on the streets while the
capitalists lived off of nice steaks everyday.
I wish you'd get laid off by JPL one day. Your
f***ing IT job is worthless at JPL, FYI.
fucking IT job is worthless at JPL, FYI.
\_ And how the government's random lumbering economic
policies made that very depression longer?
\_ I think monetary policy is a good thing for social
reasons but can result in a suboptimal economic
result. BTW, you have no idea what I do at JPL.
Hint: I don't work under the CIO.
I'm glad I've upset you, though. I always
wanted my own following bitch. --dim
\_ And you haven't studied the Soviet Union. This
kind of comparison is pointless and stupid.
\_ and of course it's healthy because it proves the
strength of the free market! -tom
\_ One nice thing about the free market is that
it will course correct itself. Certainly it
is preferred to a planned economy. The free
market would have never given us Iraq. It
took an inept government you trust completely
to do that kind of economic damage.
\_ "that's not starvation and famine, it's the
free market course correcting itself!" -tom
\_ Imagine if every dollar spent in Iraq
had been spent by the free market
rather than Big Government.
\_ Iraq was and is a major clusterfuck,
but that's irrelevant to the question
of whether global depression is
"healthy." Stop trying to change the
subject. -tom
\_ Actually, it's not irrelevant.
Do you trust the free market to
allocate resources or do you
trust Big Government to do so?
In the former case you sometimes
have market corrections. In the
latter case you have Iraq. Which
one results in a healthier economy
long-term? Which one is morally
superior?
\_ I believe in a mixed economy, as
do all non-whackjobs. Some things
are better allocated centrally
and some by a market system.
Morality is a pretty personal
thing, but I believe in a mixed
economy morally as well, since
both extremes cause huge amounts
of human sufferring, when tried.
\_ Your dichotomy is false. War is
not a function of "Big Government";
it's largely a function of
resources. Let's say that
current trends continue, and oil
and food prices continue to go
through the roof. Poorer countries
like those in Latin America will
be more heavily impacted than
the U.S. The real free market
solution to the problem would
be for the Latinos to move to
the wealthy U.S. The libertarian
nutjob solution is to build a
bigger wall, because "a primary
function of government is to
protect property rights."
Obviously the situation is
untenable; the "free" market
will cause a war due to resource
scarcity. Rwanda, Somalia are
not the result of Big Government.
-tom
\_ Actually, I would say their
governments are most to blame.
\_ of course you would. -tom
\_ So you blame the
citizenry? Way to go!
\_ you really enjoy
putting words in
other people's mouths,
but you're not very
good at it. -tom
\_ Look, Tom. What
other option is
there? Either
it's the fault
of the gov't or
the citizenry.
Care to name
your mysterious
3rd party? Zuul?
\_ Maybe you should put
more words into your
own mouth instead
of being so evasive.
If not the gov't or
the citizens then
who? Zuul?
I think it is primarily _/
the afteraffects of
colonialism, which for
this discussion was
perpetrated by both
government and market
actors. -!tom
\_ I would have to say colonialism is almost
exclusively perpetuated by governments.
Even the East India Company was basically a
front for government interests. However,
\- this is mostly not a meaningful
statement but is mostly wrong
before the East India Act.
\_ Well it is 100% correct
after the Act and "mostly
wrong" means "partly
right". I think it's
debatable. Certainly EIC
wasn't your basic corporation.
\- "ObLandWarAsia"
I think what you want to look
into is "mercantilism".
somewhat interesting note in re:
your somewhat humorous first
sentence: at one point coca cola
was more or less going to buy
the country formerly known as
British Honduras [slight exag-
geration ... it was pretty much
going to be privatized].
In re: below ... you may want to
read about how belgian colonialism
int the congo changed when it went
from being a personal possession
of the king to a state colony.
I think there's more blame to direct at the
current corrupt and petty governments.
I think Africa, as a whole, would
benefit more from being run by corporate
interests than corrupt governments. In
fact, corporate investment in Africa is
probably the the easiest path to salvation
probably the easiest path to salvation
just like it is in Afghanistan, Iraq,
and other troubled regions. To really
mess things up you need to get
governments involved.
governments involved. Governments are
irrational.
\_ I love this line of argument:
1) Assert that free markets produce
optimal results.
2) Conclude that anywhere sub-optimal
conditions exist, it is the fault
of the government, by point 1. QED.
Soon followed by:
3) To explain the existence of the
sub-optimal condition, reverse-
engineer an untestable hypothesis,
usually based on government's
response to the sub-optimal
condition (i.e., "we wouldn't have
gun crime if it weren't for gun
control" or "the banking crisis is
caused by FDIC insurance encouraging
banks to take more risks.")
-tom
\_ I notice you still haven't
defined your position. Why am I
not surprised.
\_ What position? I certainly
feel that someone who uses
a machete to kill a person
whose family he knows, must
be significantly culpable for
that act. -tom
\_ Governments are irrational? Only somone who
has never worked in the private sector could
say such a thing. Do you think businesses
are rational?
has never worked in the private sector
could say such a thing. Do you think
businesses are rational?
\_ Ones that manage to compete are, yes.
\_ Do you think that the military
is irrational and poorly run?
\_ It's one of the best examples
of an irrational and poorly run
government entity. |
| 2008/7/16 [Recreation/Dating] UID:50589 Activity:nil |
7/16 You all remember Amazon Amanda from BODacious magazine, right? If you
haven't got the mag, you owe yourself a kick in the ass. Here's why:
Amanda measures as follows: she stands at an Amazonian 6'3, wears a
44" DD cup bra, and tips the scales at a solid 365 pounds. What I
didn't mention, is that she has a bear-huggable 43" waist, and her
hips measure a stunning 63 inches. Like I said, she's one big girl!
Size + shape = Yummilicious! |
| 2008/7/16-23 [Uncategorized] UID:50590 Activity:nil |
7/16 On my iPhone, when I start up my Google Maps I can barely
zoom in/out. It's slow. I'm thinking maybe other apps are
running in the background or something? Anyone have a similar
problem? BTW it's not the network because I tried this with
WIFI, E, and 3G.
The other thing is, on my 3G, my GPS receiver never kicks in
even though I'm outside. What's up? |
| 2008/7/16-23 [Politics/Domestic/Gay] UID:50591 Activity:nil |
7/16 http://sendables.jibjab.com Once again JibJab amuses me. But will lefties be able to laugh at Obama? \_ Obama riding colorful GAY unicorn. GAY GAY GAY!!! \_SHUN the unbeliever! SHUN! \_ Pretty funny. |
| 2008/7/16-23 [Uncategorized] UID:50592 Activity:nil |
7/16 Russia discovers oil and will be drilling it in....two months?!?
http://preview.tinyurl.com/5wvbmd
\_ Yes, because there were no other concerns with ANWR, Perry. |
| 2008/7/16-23 [Science/GlobalWarming] UID:50593 Activity:nil |
7/16 China burned 1.9 billion metric tons of coal in 2004. By 2020, predicts
the China Coal Industry Development Research Center, it will burn 2.9
billion tons a year. That increment alone will send as much carbon
dioxide into the atmosphere as 3 billion Ford Expeditions, each driven
15,000 miles a year. This puts into sobering perspective the meager
efforts of the U.S. to stave off global warming by improving gas
mileage.
\_ 1. China's energy consumption per capita is about 1/7 of United
States.
\_ And, unfortunately, they're making every effort to be like us.
2. the reason why we are in such mess is because 150 years of
pollution by the industrized nation such as USA and UK and others.
So, you are telling me that G7 were the culprit of climate change
but you want China/India/Brazile to curb their emission for sake of
humanity while US/UK/France/Germany keep their Ford Expeditions?
\_ Gas is $11US in Germany. I bet they don't drive a lot of Ford
Expeditions.
\_ Um, no. I was quoting this because in order to solve something
we need to understand it. -op
\_ obviously you don't understand it. Industrialized Nations
are the cause of this problems, this includes United States.
If you want to solve the problem, you need to have a sense
of fairness or they will simply ignored it. The fact is
globally, if United States cut emission by half, it would
slow down the climate change crisis by a huge deal. but it
requires sacrafices, like paying $10/gallon gas, and see
natural gas and electric bills 3-4times of what you are paying
today. Would you willing to make such sacrfice? of course
not. You want to have 4-5 children to have that traditional
sense of a family. You want to keep you 5000 ft2 house while
there are only you and your wife live in it. You want to
keep your Ford Expedition. and if oil price is high, you
no longer oppose US government intervention to drive down
the oil price, i.e. relax the emission standards for power
plants and refinaries, and you no longer oppose US government
to invade another oil-rich nation to secure petro sources.
In the end, there are two things we need to look at when
we are looking at climate change issues. 1. population,
2. energy consumption per capita. In that sense, China's
one-child policy has been one of the greatest environmental
policy ever being implemented in the world in the 20th
century. talking about sacrafices.. you really think
given the choice Chinese only want one child per family?
IF industrialized nations are TRUELY care about emission,
all one has to do is impose a fixed carbon tax rate at the
consumption level. We can even divert some of these
carbon tax to United Nation to enforce it. Why consumer
level instead of producer level? because if we impose tax
at the producer level, again, China will be end up paying
bulk of the carbon tax for manufacturing good consumed by
USA and rest of the industrialized nations. Consumers
have to feel the pain, or there will be no changes in
behavior. Once carbon tax made energy-intesive product/
activities expensive, people will 1. curb the activities,
2. figure out ways to achieve the same thing without much
energy consumption.
That will be another dot-com. And innovative economy such
as United States will be the one reap the bulk of the
benefits.
\_ How about instead just taxing the hell out of any extraction
of hydrocarbons from the ground. The oil pumpers / coal
miners / gas miners can pass their costs on, thus
encouraging less usage. Why make exceptions for who its
for, G7 or China or whatever, they all need to pay for
the dumping of carbon into the atmosphere.
\_ Why doesn't China use nukular?
\_ Because buying oil from Sudan is cheaper and the PRC has no
moral compunctions.
\- as opposed to the US buying oil from say SANI ABACHA.
\_ Surely a more modern example is available to you, Partha.
\_ China is aggressively building nuclear power plant and hydro-
electric plants. Energy shortage in China is a lot more severe
than those of United States and other Industrialized country,
which outsourced much of the energy-intensive activities to
China at first place.
\_ Yes. But if we start investing on green technologies early and
patent everything, China will have little choice but to pay $$$ to
buy from us when they realize they have to go green or when they're
forced to go green by some international treaty. One argument in
the US against investing on green technologies is that the
investment is not worth the saving. But if we can sell the
resulting technologies or the products to populus countries like
China and India that are behind in the game, the argument no longer
holds.
\_ or, we'll waste tons of resources implementing our own,
high-tech sustainable programs, but they'll continue to use
cheap fossil fuels, and we'll all have to suffer through the
same crappy environment. Doesn't help to clean up our own acts
when everyone else is still pissin' in the pool.
\_ Fallacious: environmental effects do not occur globally
instanteously. Less air pollution in the US _will_ result in
cleaner air in US despite lack of reciprocity on part of PRC.
\_ Your argument fu is very weak.
\_ oh and china has been soo good at respecting things like
patents and other intellectual property rights. If they
want to use the technology, they'll implement it.
\_ Hey, if it saves Manhattan from drowning, we will probably
all be better off for it, too. |
| 2008/7/16-23 [Computer/SW/WWW/Browsers] UID:50594 Activity:nil |
7/16 Safari >>> Firefox 3.0
F*** Firefox. -x Firefox
\_ stabbing self in eye is so enjoyable. |
| 2008/7/16-23 [Politics/Domestic/President/Bush, Finance/Investment] UID:50595 Activity:nil |
7/16 Yes let's start making interest rate super low and make it super easy
to get loans so that every American can own a home! Go for it
Greenspan, and keep it up Bernanke. "We're creating...an ownership
society in this country, where more Americans than ever will be able
to open up their door where they live and say, welcome to my house,
welcome to my piece of property," Bush said in October 2004.
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20080218/klein
http://www.tompaine.com/articles/what_ownership_society.php
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B03E6DE153FF933A15751C1A9659C8B63
Please don't f***ing paste your f***ing CATO links here, thank you.
\_ All of that started in 1996.
\_ It is all Bill Clinton's fault.
\_ related to the carbon emission thread above. This is the perfect
time for US to curb consumer behaviors. we can now impose
heavy taxes on housing that has sq.feet per person larger than a
a preset limit, *AND* we can impose rules on developers that mediem
house size to a fixed sq feet. China has similiar regulation
already in place to curb large houses. Time for US to do something
similiar. |
| 2008/7/16 [Politics/Domestic/Gay] UID:50596 Activity:nil |
7/16 Gay Boy wishes for a planet full of unicorns. Planet Unicorn,
Heeeey! Dim, this is stupid to you, so don't view it and don't
you F***ING delete it. F*** off.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQJD1ura7G4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOmtg9CTwjY&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qiW1tiKmJQ&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyXxHjslgmk&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YE4Mk70ljl4&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-HsBzpbfmY&feature=user
\_ Charlie, hey Charlie!
\_ SHUN!
\_ I've deleted one link and it was that dumb Japanese blinking
girl you foisted on us that no one in their right mind wanted
to see judging by the comments on the site. I don't make it a
habit of deleting links. You must mean emarkp. --dim
\_ I think you've got me confused with someone else. -emarkp
\_ Maybe. You aren't the one that deletes the anti-Mormon threads?
\_ Nope. It's typically better to let the idiots who post such
things be exposed. -emarkp
\_ My apologies then.
\_ I'm going to replace the gay bay unicorn eye blinking links
with fat porn if this keeps up.
\_ Ashley has been bulking up! If this keeps up how huge will she get?
link:preview.tinyurl.com/6rfwbn
link:preview.tinyurl.com/65r3qf
http://preview.tinyurl.com/69j4yb |
| 2008/7/16-23 [Politics/Domestic/911, Politics/Foreign/Europe] UID:50597 Activity:nil |
7/16 http://wonkette.com/401074/your-first-exciting-batch-of-paultardpalooza-photos my favorite is the guy with the giant "READ ATLAS SHRUGGED" sign \_ When I first saw that sign I parsed "READ" as the word that sounded the same as "RED". I thought sign dude was just bragging that he managed to finish the whole damn book. \_ This is some funny shit. |
| 2008/7/16-23 [Consumer/CellPhone, Computer/Companies/Apple] UID:50598 Activity:nil |
7/16 Love fobs? Or should I say, FOBs? Here's your chance to meet
FOBs via your iPhone. Just download the iFob application!
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=449803 |
| 2008/7/16-23 [Politics/Domestic/HateGroups] UID:50599 Activity:nil |
7/16 How did I miss this? Keith John Sampson was accused of racial
harassment for reading an anti-KKK history book
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25680655 (AP)
http://www.thefire.org/index.php/article/9490.html (WSJ op-ed, funny)
\_ When did we as a nation reach a point where "I can candidly say
that we regret this situation took place" works as an apology?
What the hell's wrong with, "We acted incorrectly, and we
apologize."? |
| 2008/7/16-23 [Politics/Domestic, Politics/Domestic/Crime] UID:50600 Activity:nil |
7/16 Wow, quite a few errors in the dissent re: the DC gun law
http://www.gopusa.com/commentary/guest/2008/dth_0715p.shtml
\_ Wow, quite a few gun nuts need to get a life.
\_ <img src="read_ayn_rand.jpg"> |
| 2008/7/16-23 [Reference/RealEstate, Politics/Domestic/California/Prop] UID:50601 Activity:kinda low |
7/16 Support air-drying laundry. Save energy.
http://www.laundrylist.org
\_ I just learned that a friend's home owner's association has a rule
against drying laundry outside, even in your backyard. I'm still
flabbergasted by this.
\_ Why? Some won't even let you keep your garage door open
longer than it takes to put your car in.
\_ Most HOA's do. This is one of many activities associated with
poor folks, that are perceieved as lowering property values.
\_ Banning this in front yards I can understand. But backyards?
\_ Banning this in frontyards I can understand. But backyards?
\_ Some HOAs don't even let you keep your garage door open for
longer than it takes to park your car.
\_ Is this for lowering auto theft rate? If not, I'd think
leaving doors open on garages with Porsches and Mercedes
inside would raise property values.
\_ No, it's because the inside of garages is usually
cluttered with junk. BTW, my old neighbor used to park his
new Porsche on his lawn. Talk about conflicting statements.
\_ So, I figure a lack of HOA add $20,000 or so to the value of
the house. Any opinions?
\_ I don't know, but a lack of HOA fees probably adds value.
\_ depends on HOA amount... but do some math
\_ Rule #632 why you should never buy a condo - stuffy HOAs
telling you what to do.
\_ HOA is not limited to condos.
\_ Don't most new suburban developments these days have
HOAs?
\_ Yes it is very true. Take a look at the Rosedale
Community in Azusa. You have 2 HOAs. One is the North
HOA at $150, and the other one is the South HOA at
about $150. Then there is Mello-Roos that jacks your
property tax to about 1.75%, because the state of
CA no longer can pay for new schools in that new
area. We're talking about "cheap" homes between
$450K to $750K.
http://www.rosedaleazusa.com/community
New SFH today have HOAs in addition to Mello-Roos.
I'm talking about S Cal. N Cal doesn't seem to have
that type of shit, presumably because it's regulated
growth so no need to rebuild schools/pipes/wires.
\_ ^regulated growth^farther from Mexico^
\_ what does Mehico have anything to do with this?
\_ Rub your two brain cells together and you
will figure it out.
\_ I get it, you think IMMIGRANTS cause all
the problems that S Cal has. Yes immigrants
are bad GO BACK HOME IMMIGRANTS!
\_ ILLEGAL immigrants are hard to plan
for and regulate. |
| 2008/7/16-17 [Science/GlobalWarming] UID:50602 Activity:nil 60%like:50566 |
7/14 Where does oil in the sea come from? (63% fatty tuna)
http://www.noia.org/website/article.asp?id=129
\_ Do you want to have sex with Dirk Pitt too?
\_ Wow, you say that like adding over half again as much through
man made sources isn't alarming. Especially considering how
natural seeps are generally in stable locations. Hey look,
deforestation isn't a problem because look over there! Deserts!
\_ non sequitur. Note that transporting oil is more cause than
drilling.
\_ Cars kill more people than illegal handguns, so obviously
we shouldn't worry about illegal handguns.
\_ I know a jerk-ass who advocates dumping his motor oil down the
drain since there is already so much oil the bay already.
F*** both of you.
Fuck both of you.
\_ Call the cops on that idiot. -!pp
\_ Agreed. !pp && !op
\_ I don't advocate throwing more oil in the ocean. What's your
problem? -op |
| 2008/7/16-23 [Politics/Domestic/California/Arnold, Politics/Domestic/Crime] UID:50603 Activity:nil |
7/16 Another stupid argument for an armed citizenry
http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives2/2008/07/021014.php
\_ Hey lefites, if you disagree, feel free to comment, but don't change
my text. -op
\_ Hey lefty censors, stop editing my post. -op
\_ Ok so if the father arms, great. What if 8 men are armed as
well? Then you end up with a dead father and a raped
daughter. Fucking trigger happy Conservatives.
\_i guess liberals like bending over..
\_ I guess yermom is a liberal then
\_ Who needs weapons when you have KUNG FU!
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_9913246 |
| 2008/7/16-23 [Uncategorized] UID:50604 Activity:nil |
7/16 HezBoLALALALALALALALALALALALALALALLALALALA
\_ What's up with this extra 'L'? |
| 5/17 |