Texsox

And just think as THE Leader of Australia, he's about the 1,348 most powerful person in the world

QUOTE(Alpha Dog @ Nov 25, 2007 -> 05:02 PM) Probably half those 3 million don't pay taxes, or almost nothing, so you can double your savings to almost $70! But another 25,000,000 tourists and suburbanites pay sales taxes, so now it works out to about $1.50!

QUOTE(BigEdWalsh @ Nov 25, 2007 -> 01:50 PM) Back to back Led Zeppelin! Song Remains The Same - Led Zeppelin Same Old Song and Dance - Aerosmith

QUOTE(The Critic @ Nov 23, 2007 -> 12:10 PM) I don't do Black Friday, but my wife and her Mom picked up a bunch of stuff for the Secret Santa thing we're doing for an underprivileged family. They got toys for the son, gifts for the Mom and Dad, clothes for all three, plus food and sundries, all for under 150 bucks. If you really cared you would have froze your ass off at Black Friday sales and brought home twice as much stuff. But I guess underprivileged kids don't deserve your best efforts. Oops, sorry, I thought you were John Edwards or Al Gore.

a few 2GB USB drives for $12.88

I will agree that the few thousand professional philosophers will pick a fellow professional as the best of our generation. But who is having the greatest impact today and on the greatest number of people? Clearly it will not be someone publishing only for academics. To have any impact, and therefor something beyond theoretical value, it has to be in the hands of the common man. Why does almost every American poet give props to Whitman? Because he not only wrote great poetry, he also made poetry accessible.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Nov 25, 2007 -> 01:29 PM) Its nice in theory, but the repairs to the mass transit infastructure was pegged a something like $6 billion recently. It wouldn't even make a dent in what is needed. That is a great point, with a population of three million, even a 100 million dollar naming deal would be less than $35 per person. Hardly much of a tax savings.

^^^^^^ What he said.

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Nov 25, 2007 -> 01:35 PM) Not a bad laugh! But responding to that seriously -- plenty of people know about modern philosophers. Academics, students, those with a significant interest in contemporary philosophy. I don't count myself a student of philosophy. I prefer poetry for concise, vague insight. The last philosopher I really became acquainted with was Leo Strauss, whose ideas I was espousing at work without knowing it and my boss, who is big on the Greeks, said, "Oh, you should check out Strauss!" so I did. He's alright. He's also in my general realm: politics. He's known by some as the forefather of neoconservatism but I disagree with that, though that's a whole nother story. Anyway, I'm just saying -- lots of philosophers exist and know about each other. I mean, did the average person know about Hobbes and Nietzsche when they lived? Does the average person know? That sort of intellectual discourse isn't made for Vanity magazine or websites but there are a lot of people involved and knowledgebale about it. Maybe I'll ask one of my Professors about philosophers of today on Friday, since this is a guy I met by chance who I talk baseball with since he's completely crazy about the game and I am as well. (we also talk a little politics and a little life.) That's all I've got on the subject. Like I said excellent points, but millions more will be exposed to the philosophy of Thom Yorke and he will have a greater impact than someone writing a dusty academic tome that will be read by dozens.

All very good points, but if no one knows about them, do they exist? Isn't there some criteria about impact? If all they have done is write a couple books that no one reads, can they pass the test of time.

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Nov 25, 2007 -> 12:45 PM) Tex, Did you really just say that infomercials, websites and Robbins are today's philosophers? Please elaborate. Gregory Pratt No, I said that the philosophers of our day would have a website, perhaps an infomercial, a viral video on youtube, a myspace account, etc. Those are the popular forms of communications today. I don't think it would be to tough to apply most definitions of philosophy to Robbins. However, his philosophy probably will not extend past his life. I also am not saying his philosophy is good, valid, rational, or anything else. But even a poor philosopher is still a philosopher, just like the guy who dgraduates last from medical school is still called Doctor. Or as was penned four decades ago And the people bowed and prayed To the neon god they made And the sign flashed out its warning In the words that it was forming And the sign said "The words of the prophets are written on the subway walls"

QUOTE(BigEdWalsh @ Nov 25, 2007 -> 11:53 AM) Happy Christmas (War Is Over) - John Lennon Great choice Big Ed The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting Over an Open Fire) - Nate King Cole and others

QUOTE(DrunkBomber @ Nov 25, 2007 -> 11:47 AM) Well, I think the issue was that he wrote the book while he was married, about how to have a perfect marriage and started marketing it right after he got divorced. So, it couldnt have been anything like, "learn from my mistakes" it was more "well look how happy I am." At least thats what I read. I would never have thought of him for that subject. he was probably reading every book he could to help his own marriage and decided to make all the research pay off, funny, she probably received a percentage of the profits.

QUOTE(BigEdWalsh @ Nov 25, 2007 -> 11:38 AM) We Gotta All Get Together - Paul Revere and the Raiders Happy Together - Turtles

I've always thought of Boone's Farm as more a mixed drink than "wine". They are too sweet for me now but I'm thinking of picking some up for a retro party.

QUOTE(kapkomet @ Nov 25, 2007 -> 11:14 AM) Second, none of the major economic powerhouses (either current or building up to) has signed on Kyoto? Now why is that? Because money is everything.

QUOTE(DrunkBomber @ Nov 25, 2007 -> 11:01 AM) Maybe the one you went to was a little different. It sounds like you went there to get an edge and not to find answers to all lifes problems and some people really go for those reasons. Im not sure about all the other guys, I know that Robbins is a con artist. He literally pretends to want to help people and ultimately breaks down their self esteem and makes them think that before they got there everything they were doing was wrong and there is only one way to fix it. He literally tries to make them think they can change the outcomes of things with their minds. I normally wouldnt think twice about something like this but members of my family went and they were certified crazy people after. Ill see them doing stuff like visualizing checks coming in the mail because Robbins told them if you do that unexpected checks will come without actually doing anything. It even got to the point where my own family was attacking me for not sharing in some of these beliefs and claiming my negative attitude was preventing their success because TR told them others negative energy will hurt your progress. By negative energy, they mean, working for checks instead of visualizing them. Then, when the checks dont come, you have a reason to go back, or buy the next set of CDs to listen to. As far as the stuff like walking on coals, its like everyone said, its something that anyone can do with a short explanation on how to do it safely. Its just a gimmick and a ploy. If he really wanted to help people, he should help them learn time management, budgeting, work ethic, self confidence (and no, he absolutely does not preach this, its the opposite, he makes you feel like your a piece of s*** until youre finished with his "training") Also, Im not sure if its been mentioned in this thread, but the guy was hard core selling a book on how to make personal relationships work WHILE he was going through a divorce. Actually I've been to many, Zig Zigler, if you are into sales, is great. Dennis Waitley is very entertaining, I graduated form the Dale Carnegie 13 weeks public speaking class, and also attended their Sales Advantage Classes. Recently Gorbachev was very inspirational. Yes, anyone can walk on fire, that is the entire point. Most people do not believe they can. In fact they have people telling them why they cannot be successful. So they pay people to make them feel good about themselves. They also pay for plastic surgery, beauty make overs, watch Jerry Springer, Oprah, Dr. Phil, Dr. Laura, Rush, Hannity, O'Reilly and hundreds of others. As far as time management, etc. Been to a few of those as well. It is impossible to teach all of those in the same seminar at the same time. I've watched the rocks, gravel, pebbles, sand, and water at least half a dozen times, each time learning something new. And finally, I know a lot more about relationships having gone through a divorce than I did before. I'm certain everyone here will probably tell you the same. You really learn something when it is broken and you have to fix it. I'm not saying he had anything usefull to add, but just because someone failed doesn't make them less of a teacher or mean they have nothing to teach you. The smartest people I know all look for things to learn from everyone they meet. As I mentioned earlier my most recent was Gorbachev, I think there is a lot we could learn about politics from him, but he had a failure or two.

QUOTE(DBAH0 @ Nov 24, 2007 -> 06:43 PM) Shows how spaced out I've been on here when I haven't checked this thread for a week or so. I was taught to get on one knee and then struggle up. I might try to pop up motion instead. We teach "popping" up. It takes a couple tries to find the sweet spot, but if you are athletic, it seems easier. We practice on the beach until people get the hang of it.

QUOTE(BigEdWalsh @ Nov 25, 2007 -> 10:31 AM) Time Has Come Today - Chambers Brothers Come Together - The Beatles

QUOTE(santo=dorf @ Nov 25, 2007 -> 10:32 AM) Um what? The Bartender got me drunk. Vegas and other casinos offers a chance to improve my wealth with me knowing the consequences of my risks and actions. Lotteries are a scam which is why I avoid them. Wasting money for a services that delivers is not a scam. Wasting money for a service that doesn't work and having someone lie to you about it is a scam. Those would be scams. Looking over the list of the best selling books of all time, so many titles are self help, including the book in the #1 spot. There are a great many people looking to better their lives. This approach would not work for you, so you reject it for everyone. You probably could not learn from anyone on how they achieved their success, or strategies that have worked for others. That's cool. Other people like to study what has made other people successful. Part of that studying is attending lectures given by speakers on this topic. No doubt there are some scams out there, but there have been medical scams by Medical Doctors since the beginning, but I doubt you wil call all Doctors scam artists. But maybe you would.

QUOTE(DrunkBomber @ Nov 25, 2007 -> 10:23 AM) Youve went to this or something like this havent you? Im not asking to be an ass, but this is very similar to the answers I got from my family members after they went. Sure have. Not Robbins, I was more into the sales seminars. To me it was like taking additional classes. While my competition was singing the latest rap song, watching ER, and hanging out at the bars, I was trying to get better. I didn't see much of a difference between a college professor scamming me on Shakespeare or Behaviorism and Dale Carnegie scamming me about my public speaking skills. There are a lot of misconceptions about who is in these classes. I never saw the deranged, suicidal, misfits that many people believe are there. It was almost always suits getting into company paid for cars, who paid for the seminar on their expense accounts.

What flavors is Boone's Farm offering now? Back when I was swigging from their bottles it was Tickle Pink, Apple, and something else.

Another thought. For better or worst, these are the modern day Philosophers. It would be easy to hear y'all calling Plato or Aristotle scam artists in their day. And please, I am not comparing them in terms of impact or brilliance, just pointing out that infomercials and web sites are the ways today to philosophize. They are caring on in that tradition. I do not know who history will judge as the great philosopher of our day, but I'll bet he has a web site and is making a profit in some way.

QUOTE(santo=dorf @ Nov 25, 2007 -> 10:00 AM) Then who exactly is going? People who don't have problems and like to waste money? What a f***ing scam artist. People who are looking for an edge over their competition. People go to golf pros to improve their game. Tennis pros. Some of these guys are sales pros, some offer a nice motivational lift, a boost of confidence. For some it's great entertainment. People waste their money in a variety of ways, look at Vegas. How many people blew half their paychecks at bars last night? If we're going to call someone a f***ing scam artist, how about Vegas, state lotteries, and every bartender in North America?