StrangeSox

that statement isn't limited to government entities.

We are ruled by the stupidest f***ing people on the planet.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Mar 13, 2013 -> 09:48 AM) I don't disagree, but there's still not a reason for the gangs to exist other than tradition. It's not about protecting turf to sell drugs like 20 years ago. So older kids create hostility and the younger kids are incorporated into it and it becomes a cycle. So what did you think about the information on where the guns are coming from in Part II?

Yeah that logic gets you out of all sorts of things e.g. drunk driving.

In Cyprus, the government is essentially confiscating 10% of all savings accounts in the country to bail out the banks. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/17/business...tml?hp&_r=0 If I had money in any European bank, I'd be heading there first thing tomorrow morning. Not sure how this doesn't set off bank runs throughout the EU.

CPAC has been hilarious. Rubio's speech that conservatives don't need ideas, they already have one: America! and also how scientists and liberals are the true bigots because it's been scientifically proven that life begins at conception. Oh, and somehow not mentioned immigration at all? Trump's bizarre rambling and huge insecurity complex speech. This talk on racial outreach that quickly devolved into racism thanks to white supremacists arriving

lollinois

google tracks let you set your sampling rate but a dedicated device is probably better if you really want to log that stuff.

Have you tried using google tracks/mytracks? It works decently for hiking.

That doesn't explain issues like marriage equality, nor does it really make it any better. As soon as they've been personally affected, now they see why this one particular thing is very important. But they can't ever seem to expand that to situations other people face that they might not. If anything, bringing up taxes only makes it worse, because then that means they recognize these other problems as real problems but still don't give a s*** and only agree with funding for their problems. That seems even more narcissistic than simply not recognizing those other problems as legitimate.

Republican Sen. Rob Portman now supports marriage equality after his son came out. Mark Schmitt has some comments on what he calls "Miss America Compassion" that we seem to regularly get from conservatives: They never seem to care about or understand an issue until it directly and personally affects them, and even then, the new-found compassion remains limited to that one specific thing.

It has to do with distribution http://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/2012/05/1...ise-gas-prices/

The oil is going to be exported regardless, no way around a huge, inevitably going to leak pipeline

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Mar 13, 2013 -> 05:47 PM) I see, so you don't need the defense department, that's why my this one fails. You'll defend yourself! Alpha is right that the enforcement power of the state, whether it's tax laws or a speeding ticket, ultimately derives from a monopoly on the use of force and, in modern times, at the end of the barrel of a gun. I was really just poking fun at duke's boring libertarian rhetoric since it seems to neglect where property rights, the most important thing for a libertarian, come from.

QUOTE (Alpha Dog @ Mar 13, 2013 -> 05:44 PM) I won't pay for services that I don't need, so your point doesn't quite work. I don't go into Walmart and pay for the groceries of the person in the next aisle or for check cashing services when I pay with cash. Your analogy doesn't work. You are usually better than that. Given that Walmart's business model is strongly reliant on government aid spending...

QUOTE (Alpha Dog @ Mar 13, 2013 -> 04:45 PM) Don't pay up, and that's what happens. Yes, I'm aware that the state has a monopoly on the use of violence. Since I'm not an anarchist but could be described as a social democrat, I accept the existence of the state and seek to use this power for the good of the greatest number of people.

QUOTE (DukeNukeEm @ Mar 13, 2013 -> 04:21 PM) You wanted a first New World Pope? You get some nice little New World baggage. I didn't and don't really care who the pope is, but I'd imagine there's numerous LA cardinals who don't have that sort of baggage.

QUOTE (DukeNukeEm @ Mar 13, 2013 -> 04:24 PM) No, its pretty simple. If you want more government you can pay for it, if you dont have enough money tough s*** but its wrong for the government to rob people at gunpoint. There's your link, go nuts. Well fortunately for me we live in a functional democracy with taxation powers so I will keep literally robbing you at gunpoint for all of your monies.

new pope played a supportive role for Argentina's military junta in the late-70's that killed or "disappeared" thousands. http://americasouthandnorth.wordpress.com/...pe-francisco-i/

Nah, you can't structure public policy via charity payments. You don't have to agree that taxes should be higher in general or that any particular group or type of income etc. should be taxed more, but don't trot out that awful "here's the IRS donation link :smug:" argument.

QUOTE (Alpha Dog @ Mar 13, 2013 -> 01:52 PM) In reality we all know that while they may feel they are not paying enough, they won't voluntarily pay more unless they can get everyone to pay more. Yes, that's how public policy works.

eh it seemed more like people went with it out of necessity--you walk to school with your group of people from your block because if you go it alone, you're going to be in trouble. That's why they said you don't "join" a gang anymore than you join "being German" or "being raised Catholic;" it's something you're born into.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Mar 12, 2013 -> 06:40 PM) I love irony. ...irony?

I listened to part I. Thought the comments from the school officials and the police that it doesn't even make sense to say you "join" a gang these days were interesting.

the "Dow 36,000!" guys have a heck of an article in Bloomberg: http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/...-was-right.html “Sure, if you count the tech bubble, 9/11, and the world-wide financial collapse of 2008, our predictions look incredibly stupid, but we’d be right if those hadn’t happened!”