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| 2008/7/23-28 [Uncategorized] UID:50657 Activity:nil |
7/23 No wonder no one recognized Karadzic:
link:preview.tinyurl.com/65spbv (boston.com jpg) |
| 2008/7/23-28 [Politics/Domestic/Election, Politics/Domestic/President/Bush] UID:50658 Activity:nil |
7/23 When did the National Enquirer start reporting stories that are true?
\_ Oh even the Weekly World News included the odd true story. (In
the WWW news' case, usually as a 1 paragraph blurb.)
\_ Quite a while actually. They even win real awards every now
and then. Of course they also do tons of crap as well.
\_ You mean the "SEN. JOHN EDWARDS CAUGHT WITH MISTRESS AND LOVE
CHILD!" story? Or the "BUSH BOOZE CRISES" one?
\_ i hope its not true. you have to pretty incredibly awe
inspiring worthy of study and fodder for comedy show jokes
for the next 10 years to have an affair when you are a
mainstream presidential candidate. they always get caught. |
| 2008/7/23-28 [Reference/History/WW2/Germany, Politics/Domestic/Election] UID:50659 Activity:moderate |
7/23 See, I told you he was HITLER!
http://preview.tinyurl.com/6dv7mr
\_ I thought Obama was a Marxist. Is he Hitler, too?
Obamarxhitler just doesn't have the same ring as Bushitler, does it?
\_ Obama == Socialist ~ National Socialist == Nazi == Hitler
\_ Socialist >>> Bush Reagan Capitalist > McCain
Therefore, Obama >>> McCain
\_ This is too long for a soundbite, you need a way to say
this in a snappier fashion.
\_ I orignially posted about Obama's choice to speak in front of the
victory column. My intention wasn't to imply the Obama was Hitler,
just that he was incredibly arrogant and aften tone deaf. I expect
this sort nonsense from Bush, but you'd think the more 'humble' Obama
would, I don't know, ask a German where he should have a speech in
Germany.
just that he was incredibly arrogant and often tone deaf. I expect
this sort nonsense from Bush, but you'd think the more 'humble'
Obama would, I don't know, ask a German where he should have a
speech in Germany.
\_ You know he was denied his original speaking location, right?
Perhaps the Obama campaign should have you as a consultant,
since you obviously have his best interest at heart. He should
dress up in a fighter suit, pad his codpiece, land on a
aircraft carrier, and give a speech to a cheering throng
under a "Mission Accomplished" banner like a good Republican
fake war hero instead? Where was your outrage at the fascist
overtones then?
\_ 1. Yes his original location was the Brandenburg Gate. Which
was a jaw-droppingly arrogant, and insulting, first choice.
He can't ask a German?
\_ "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!"
\_ Ummm... Yes? Said a standing President? Your point?
\_ So it is okay when Reagan does it, but not when
Obama does? Got it. I see where you are coming
from, thanks.
\_ Was it a campaign stop for Reagan too? Reagan
wasn't invited to speak there? Oh. You have
no idea what you're talking about? Got it. I
see where you are coming from, thanks.
\_ "Milk Strike ends at Brandenberg Gate"
http://preview.tinyurl.com/5a7oee
"Fulan Gong Rally at Brandenberg Gate"
http://preview.tinyurl.com/5afy56
It gets used for all kinds of things. Are
you German or something? I don't think you
know what you are talking about, you are
just parrotting some right wing talking
just parotting some right wing talking
points you heard somewhere.
\_ see below.
\_ Why can't the presumptive president use the same
location?
\_ Hey Germans, I think this hugely important
landmark, usually reserved only for visiting
heads of state, would make a nice campaign
speech backdrop, how that sound to you?
speech backdrop, how's that sound to you?
\_ Sounds to me like exactly the kind of
thing that a Harvard educated elitist
would think was a good idea.
\_ It actually gets used almost daily by
various sorts of protestors and the like.
Who told you otherwise?
\_ Sorry, I wasn't clear and overstepped
there. Obviously context is important.
The Gate is a public area, I didn't mean
to imply it was sealed up or something.
But there's a huge difference between
a bunch of German protestors and a
foreign pol giving a speech there. The
latter comes with HUGE political
implications.
\_ 2 weeks ago if someone had said
Obama was having a speech at
the Brandenberg Gate you would have
not be blathering this bullshit.
However, you read a bunch of blogs
flinging shit at Obama desperatly
trying to make "gaff prone elist"
stick and suddenly it is OBVIOUS
HOW ELITIST AND TONE DEAF Obama
was. Jesus H. Motherfucking Christ
you are so damn perdictable. -!pp
\_ Predictable? I predicted your
petty pointless frothing before
I posted this. You accusations
are false, but I don't feel any
need to discuss with a gibbering
monkey. Good day.
\_ You are fooling noone.
\_ So who exactly would have been
offended by Obama's speach at
the Brandenburg gate?
\_ HITLER
\_ Bush's attack poodle, Merkel.
2. "I expect this sort of nonsense from Bush..." Can you read?
\_ Anyone running for the office of President of the United
States is arrogant, almost by definition. The closest thing
we ever say to humility in that office was Carter, and you
can see where that got us.
\_ Ok, true. But I don't think a little bit of sensitivity
to our allies is wildly unrealistic.
\_ he's so fucking insensitive that every German TV
network covered his speech and 200,000 people came
network covered his speech and 20,000 people came
out to see him speak. What an asshole. -tom
\_ HILTER drew large german crowds
OBAMA draws large german crowds
HITLER == OBAMA qed
\_ Who the hell is Melissa Clouthier, and why would I want to read her
blog? |
| 2008/7/23-28 [Politics/Foreign/Asia/China, Politics/Foreign/Europe] UID:50660 Activity:nil |
7/23 "Are You Satisfied? The World's Most Optimistic Countries"
http://www.citizensugar.com/1805531
The US is on par with France -- in a bad way.
\_ We used to rank higher, before Bush got hold of the economy. |
| 2008/7/23-28 [Reference/Tax, Finance/Shopping] UID:50661 Activity:high |
7/23 So tom, how does it feel to be rich? You're in the top 10% you know.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121659695380368965.html
\_ Where are the numbers for all the other taxes we pay, like
payroll, sales, etc? Oh yeah, just ignore all the facts that
don't advance your pro-inherited wealth ideology.
\_ So, how does it feel to be an anonymous coward? -tom
\_ I'm not pro-tax by any means, but isn't it pathetic that the
top 1% of the country earns double what the bottom 50% does? It
would not necessarily be positive even if the chart showed the top
1% paying 99% of the taxes if they also earn 99% of the income
leaving the other 99% to fight over crumbs. Also, I'd like to see a
similar chart which shows after-tax income.
\_ Why is it pathetic?
\_ No! The standard of living has improved for every segment
\_ You think this is a Good Thing?
\_ No. I just don't find it very surprising. The bottom 50%
are economically rather useless. Supply and demand...
why would a single diamond be worth more than a ton of
normal rocks?
\_ I have more respect more American workers than that.
I could see if you said bottom 10%, but bottom HALF?
\_ Everyone in the bottom half is "below average".
And "average" isn't very good in this country
(or any other country, really). I'm not saying
they're worthless. But they aren't rare snowflakes
and they're probably not even trying that hard to
improve themselves, as long as they have their
food + home + sex.
\_ I actually think American workers have a
strong work ethic and are among the best in
the world. It's interesting that when foreign
management employs US workers they can
achieve amazing results that US management cannot.
I am not prepared to write-off millions of US
workers. Those workers made us the economic
engine we are today and by continually
outsourcing, placing low expectations on them, and
taking advantage of them, we are getting what we
deserve. I'd rather have 10 poorly educated
American workers with a work ethic over 10
over-educated Europeans workers who whine all
the time and expect lots of time off. BTW,
average and median are two different things.
I am not sure that 50% of US workers are
actually "below average".
\_ Spoken like a dumb patriot.
\_ Spoken like someone who knows how hard
Americans work. Check out average
work-weeks.
\_ They are the bottom 50% lowest paid people.
Why do you think they have a strong work
ethic? Who knows what they do? Anyway,
there may be a lot of part time workers in
those statistics -- part time working parents,
or school kids with jobs. The top 50%
makes 88% and 12% for the bottom.
Without more data to go on, I don't see a
reason to get too excited. And I'm not
going to do a bunch of research right now.
\_ 1. I've actually been in the workplace
and seen that salary does not
correlate to work ethic
2. Just look at the statistics for
number of hours worked per week
3. If you don't see a problem with half
the country making 12% of the income
then there's no hope for you anyway.
You got yours, right?
\_ 1. Work ethic isn't good enough. You
can work hard but if you're stupid
or otherwise not valuable it does
not mean jack. There are billions
of people on Earth and merely
working N hours isn't very valuable.
\_ I beg to differ. If you're willing
to work hard there's a lot of
inherent value in that even if
you're stupid. Someone has to
build roads, harvest crops, work
the cash register, and so on.
\_ But anybody can work that cash
register. That's the point.
There is no scarcity of bodies
willing to do unskilled work
for a few bucks. Therefore
the value is low. Supply and
demand.
\_ Anybody can work it. Not
everyone has the work
ethic to show up on time
and do it for 8 hours
per day 250 days per year.
You can't say "well that's
without value". It is wasting
\_ If it had real value it
wouldn't be underpaid. duh
\_ You don't really
believe this do you?
The price pressures are
external to the US
markets. Think of
how much $$$ we could
save by outsourcing our
management for
lower-paid foreign
management instead
of saying that a
person making $9/hour
is overpaid because
someone in India can do
the job for $1/hour.
We could save more
by cutting that 88%
of earners versus
putting more pressure
on the 12% half.
\_ The companies are
run/owned by these
88%. You can't cut
them. The entire
point is they are
not drones being
told what to do by
somebody higher up.
They are the top.
Responsibility.
What world do you live in
which is full of fuckups
who can't even show up
to an easy job? Working
\_ The real world. I
can tell you never
managed low-level
employees before.
the Safeway cash register
is air conditioned and
they can take breaks.
You don't need one person
to do it 250 days a year
either, there are shifts.
\_ You need *someone*
there 250 days per year
when they say they
are going to be there.
Compare to Europe where
such employees make
more to do less.
\_ Why Europe? Try
a country without
a generous benefits
which make work
effectively
unnecessary.
a valuable resource in a
menial task that could be
doing something less menial
if big business realized it
and took advantage of
it. This is what US
management overlooks and
foreign management does not.
They know how valuable it is,
because they don't have that.
Addendum: Have you noticed
that as salaries have fallen
(due to global competition
and outsourcing) that jobs
that "anyone can do" are
being done poorly? I had to
call AT&T and I was ready to
praise God when I finally was
transferred to a CSR in
Atlanta versus an "anyone" in
India and the Philippines.
But supposedly this American
is overpaid and needs to
be outsourced when earning
her share of 12% of the
income in the country. BS.
\_ No I haven't noticed
that. AT&T does not give
a shit about CSRs because
you're still their
customer and their
competition also has crap
CSRs. I pick low price vs
good CSRs every time. You
should pay extra for your
precious CSRs. Also: you
are assuming that CSR is
bottom 50% -- unfounded.
But hey, they need no
education and only need
to be able to communicate.
You have a weird worldview
if you think that alone
deserves top-50% income.
\_ It doesn't deserve
top-50% income.
What it deserves
is more than 12%
of the pie.
\_ Why? They mostly
are living just
fine, and better
than billions.
2. see above
3. It's not half the country, it's half
the income tax filers. Did you go
to school? I don't remember everyone
having a strong work ethic. We're in
a globalized economy where people's
simple jobs of the past are more
cheaply done by foreigners who are
cheaper and more motivated. That said
most people in this country still live
very well even with low wages.
\_ So your argument is that there
are a lot of retirees and students
skewing the statistics? I find that
hard to believe. Regardless, those
people need to survive, too.
Just because someone is retired
doesn't mean their income can go to
zero.
\_ We haven't talked about their
income going to 0. We've talked
about their share of the income
pie. The pie is pretty huge.
\_ All the more disgusting that
the top 5% get most of it.
\_ They create most of it.
\_ You don't really
believe that do you?
Are they valuable?
Yes. Are they
generating value-added
commensurate with
income? No. How many
CEOs rake in millions
while their companies
(and share price) go
into the toilet?
http://tinyurl.com/8n8ro
I would argue McNealy
gets a pass for what
he's done for the
company, but maybe
not. Do companies pay
for past success or
present results?
\_ But look at the
long term growth.
Long term economic
growth is phenomenal
and all the drones
benefit from this.
The drones do not benefit from _/
this. The average wage for American
workers has not gone up since
the 70s. For workers with no
college degree, it has actually
gone down.
\_ I don't think wages tell the whole story. Would you
rather live with an average wage in an average town
in 1975 or now?
Does that wage figure include "supplemental
compensation" like health insurance, retirement
plans, and social security payments made by
employers? Or the quality of health care? Or
technological advancements such as cell phones
and PCs?
This report is interesting:
http://www.bea.gov/scb/pdf/2008/07%20July/D-Pages/0708dpg_d.pdf
Check out "Supplements to wages and salaries" as a
percentage of national income.
And consider:
Population went from 200M to 300M since 1970,
and the global economy is much more competitive.
\_ The gains have almost entirely gone to the top:
http://elsa.berkeley.edu/~saez/saez-UStopincomes-2006prel.pdf
Look at the chart labled "Real Annual Income
Growth by Groups" I don't think that increases
in the cost of health insurance really should be
considered as increases in the standard of
living, though perhaps I would feel differently
if I was in bad health.
\_ Well, ok. But the population size has grown
tremendously and a huge number are foreign
born. The economy has accommodated them
and still grown. By 2050, 1 in 5 of the US
population is projected to be hispanic.
This part is interesting:
"The evidence suggests that top incomes
earners today are not "rentiers" deriving
their incomes from past wealth but rather are
"working rich," highly paid employees or new
entrepreneurs"
Massive immigration and global competition
depressed wage growth for the lower groups.
Jobs that are more independent of this type
of competition see big gains, like doctors.
The best thing for the lower classes here
would be to improve conditions in Mexico
and have a lower population growth there.
I guess this brings us back to the
global inequality/barbarians in Rome theory.
\_ I am in agreement with you.
\_ No! The standard of living has improved in every segment
of wealth and it's none of your business to implement
progressive tax, that's COMMUNISM!!! -libertarian
\_ I said I'm not pro-tax. I don't necessarily think raising
taxes solves any problems. It just seems to make
government larger. It doesn't really help anyone.
However, what other ways can we address this inequality?
\_ Inequality has never been a problem throughout the
history of empires. The Roman emperors knew that long
time ago. As long as the populace has bread (beer+pizza)
and circus (football, plasma), there will never be
issues for the governing party.
\_ So how did that whole Rome thing work out for them?
\_ It worked quite well for a very, very long time.
The US is a young nation in comparison.
\_ How can you say inequality was not a problem with
a straight face when it caused the entire
Western civilization to collapse into
centuries of Dark Ages?
\_ My point is as long as people have bread
and circuses there will not be a problem.
panem et circenses.
\_ My point is that your point is wrong,
because Rome fell and set the world
back at least 500 years, if not more,
as a result. So clearly there were some
problems.
\_ Your notion that Rome's fall was the
fault just of "inequality" is silly.
There was no one single thing. There
were huge tribal migrations, plagues,
climate changes (hey hey), cultural
turbulence with Christianity and then
Islam etc. Rome kept going in the east
anyway... if the world was set back
then that probably goes back to the
fall of the Republic and onset of
Christianity.
\_ Especially since early Rome was not
especially egalitarian, with slaves,
very restricted citizenship rights,
etc., but it flourished just fine.
\_ Actually, inequality was probably
the greatest contributor. Why?
Because the barbarians wanted
what Rome had and because Rome
consumed more resources than it
could honestly produce sustainably
except through conquest (sound
familiar?). It was only late
in the game that the Romans
started to grant citizenship
to foreigners in an effort to
prevent a total collapse as it
became more and more difficult
to defend the far-flung Empire
from people ticked off at their
inequitable treatment so that
wealthy Romans could have
gold-plated toilets. Inequality
here doesn't refer to classes
within Roman citizenry as much as
it does inequality between Romans
and the rest of the world,
including occupied territories and
Roman residents never granted
citizenship.
\_ And here I thought it was the Barbarians
that sacked Rome.
\_ I can only shake my head in disbelief at
this statement.
\_ What, you think the Romans sacked
themselves? It was the Visigoths, in
410.
\_ Forest for the trees, dude. |
| 2008/7/23-28 [Politics/Domestic/California, Reference/Tax] UID:50662 Activity:nil |
7/23 DNC: gas tax dodgers
http://www.9news.com/news/local/article.aspx?storyid=96282 |
| 2008/7/23-28 [Finance/Shopping] UID:50663 Activity:nil |
7/23 Sometimes Fedex is actually cheaper (huge boxes) and sometimes
USPS is cheaper. Media (book/CD) in particular is the cheapest
with USPS but many items I sell on eBay are not CDs/books. UPS
has rarely been cheap for me. This is all very confusing and
eating up my profit margins. Is there a site that'll help me
find out which service would be cheaper for the different types
of packages I send out?
\_ I'm curious about this as well. I was just checking all 3 sites
for every package.
\_ Just add shipping as a cost borne by the purchaser on EBay. |
| 2008/7/23-28 [Reference/Tax] UID:50664 Activity:nil |
7/23 Your taxes will be going up significantly next year.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7MCohPgkXo
\_ Does this mean Roth 401K (taxed now, no tax when withdraw) is
a better deal than traditional IRA and traditional 401K where
you're not taxed now but taxed later?
\_ It is pretty funny that all the talking heads applauding
deregulation over the last 5 years are now all complaining
that the government didn't act soon enough.
\_ Didn't act soon enough in what way? |
| 2008/7/23-28 [Science/Biology] UID:50665 Activity:nil |
7/23 Dinosaur evolutionary tree:
http://preview.tinyurl.com/6putsk [new scientist]
\_ You mean intelligently designed tree. |
| 2008/7/23-28 [Reference/RealEstate] UID:50666 Activity:low |
7/23 San Diego wants to be a sanctuary city, a foreclosure sanctuary,
that is:
http://preview.tinyurl.com/5f9lpv
\_ Wow, that's an interesting idea. I think I'll go buy 10 houses
in San Diego!
\- "Bang Fax", one step beyind JingleMail
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/07/23/national/main4287473.shtml
\_ Does life insurance cover suicide? Doh!?
And will the house be haunted now?
\_ I just don't get this, why shoot yourself? Why not go down,
guns blazing, defending your property?
\_ Because not everyone is a violent psychopath?
\_ Better to shoot yourself? |
| 2008/7/23-28 [Computer/HW] UID:50667 Activity:nil |
7/23 Translate server error:
http://www.boingboing.net/2008/07/15/chinese-restaurant-c.html |
| 2008/7/23-28 [Politics/Foreign/MiddleEast/Iraq] UID:50668 Activity:nil |
7/23 McCain, always has been a critic of the Iraq War, always has been
a critic of Bush's failures in the war.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ieHwOm4ljA |
| 2008/7/23-28 [Politics/Domestic/Election] UID:50669 Activity:nil |
7/23 Obama claims that the Banking Committee is "his" committee?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjzb61wfyN0
\_ Well, he is the president!
\_ Weak sauce. He was referring to provisions he offered last year
to the Iran Sanctions Bill:
http://obama.senate.gov/press/080717-senate_banking
\_ Okay, so when he said "we just passed" he meant the Senate (fair
enough), what did he mean when he emphasized "my committee"?
\_ He misspoke: he meant that "his" provisions had been passed
by the Banking Committee.
\_ I'll take a few minor flubs by Obama over Angry McCain's current
bout of doozies.
\_ Articulate Harvard educated elitists aren't allowed to flub.
Cranky ex-POWs, however, can say whatever they want.
\_ Quick, to the Iraq/Pakistan boarder!
\_ Yeah! That plays loud music and is like, 2 months behind
on his rent!
\_ Quick, to the Iraq/Pakistan border! |
| 2008/7/23-28 [Politics/Domestic/President/Bush] UID:50670 Activity:nil |
7/23 Bob Novak: [bodily orifice]:
http://preview.tinyurl.com/5nyb6s (CBS News)
\_ Another Compassionate Conservative. Bush will probably pardon
him, too.
\_ This really is the model, isn't it? "I didn't see him!
I wasn't running away, really! And why are you blocking
my car with your bike? I haven't done anything wrong!" |
| 2008/7/23-28 [Transportation/Car] UID:50671 Activity:nil |
7/23 Are all traffic engineers imbeciles or is it just the Silicon
Valley? I was at an intersection where the green light was
letting cars through 2 seconds at a time on an 8-lane street
but letting cars through a minute at a time for a 4-lane street.
\_ Pretty much all imbeciles. In my city there's a road that has
two lights in close succession - maybe 20 feet from each other.
For years they were set so that they turned red and green
together and you could go on your way. Someone had the bright idea
to set them so that when the first one turns green the other one
stays red for a couple of minutes longer which makes traffic
pile up into the intersection. Brilliant!
\- non-idiot: http://www.ce.utexas.edu/prof/kockelman
\_ Yes. Just look at 110 freeway in Southern Cal. The 10/110
junction is idiotically designed. Also look at the 405 and
101 junction. Why the hell they placed exits and entrances
the way they are now, and why they can't do anything about
it to fix the problem, is just idiotic. A friend of mine
had a dad who worked at Rockwell and was laid off in the 80s
and hired as a CalTrans engineer in the 90s said CalTrans was
very laid back and they don't really care about anything except
to follow legal and civil engineering rules. They know absolutely
nothing about operations research or flow optimizations.
\- i thought LA was supposed to be the well-run traffic system ...
although i guess operations is different from design.
when i have spoken to "transit people" [not engineers], i dont
seem to get very good answers to "why do the carpool hours
not make sense" "why is the echchange from MajorFwyA to MajorFwyB
which is not in an especually crowded area one lane" "why was
the cost estimate for the new bay bridge that far off" "why have
they been closing a lane of the lower bay bridge for part of the
day for say 5years now?" etc. i do understand that the avg
traffic engineer may have very few degrees of freedom to
fix stuff liek this. maybe their lives are something out of
The Wire|The Sopranos.
\_ Wait, I thought commuting by auto was far superior than by
public transit. How can this be, if everyone designing the
freeways is so incompetent? Perhaps they should hire DBAs
from the private sector to do all their engineering for them.
\_ The same morons are the ones designing public transit.
\_ The only decent traffic engineers I know of are the ones working for
NJDOT. The NJ turnpike is amazing. |
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