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View Poll Results: How is Obama doing? (poll started 6/6) | |||
Great - above my expectations | 18 | 6.87% | |
Good - met most of my expectations | 66 | 25.19% | |
Average - so so, disappointed a little | 64 | 24.43% | |
Bad - sold us out | 101 | 38.55% | |
Trout - don't know yet | 13 | 4.96% | |
Voters: 262. You may not vote on this poll |
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12-14-2014, 06:39 PM | #24551 |
College Benchwarmer
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: SF
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Despite the long history of abuse, and these current revelations, I'm no where near my limit..
Oops, sorry, thought this was the NFL thread |
12-14-2014, 07:12 PM | #24552 | |
Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Behind Enemy Lines in Athens, GA
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Quote:
It's a huge indictment of our collective intelligence that so many worry about copperheads & rattlesnakes so much.
__________________
"I lit another cigarette. Unless I specifically inform you to the contrary, I am always lighting another cigarette." - from a novel by Martin Amis |
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12-14-2014, 08:46 PM | #24553 |
Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Newburgh, NY
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Who would Jesus torture?
__________________
To love someone is to strive to accept that person exactly the way he or she is, right here and now.. - Mr. Rogers |
12-15-2014, 01:54 PM | #24554 |
College Benchwarmer
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: SF
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I show my high school Government class "The Fog of War" and have them answer the question: Is it acceptable to do evil in order to achieve a greater good? Here are some of their answers over the years:
(Engaging in evil to achieve a good) is a simple matter of healthy selfishness. Sometimes, to save the maximum amount of lives, you need to kill a lot of people If we can justify (doing evil) as maximizing our efficiency, then we can also justify a terrorist suicide bomber sacrificing his life to kill more of the enemy, because there is essentially no difference in the rationality of the two. The Girl Scouts can’t fight Communism with bake sales, so I simply don’t see any other way than to fight destruction with destruction. It is more important for us to protect our citizens and our rights than to protect foreign civilians and their rights. Killing one person is the same as killing a million since one life already means nothing. |
12-15-2014, 02:31 PM | #24555 | |
College Starter
Join Date: Oct 2000
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Quote:
i'm curious why you've saved these among the many responses you've received over the years. do you regard these as the most chilling, most misguided, most insightful, or some other superlative?
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12-15-2014, 02:55 PM | #24556 | |
College Benchwarmer
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: SF
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Quote:
These represent many similar responses I get each time. I have a power point that I update each year and then show the students. By now there are only a couple original statements I need to add. EDIT: This is not a complete list, there are lots of other, more mild amd pragmatic ones. I more or less wanted to show some extremes, in light of the current torture discussion. Last edited by AENeuman : 12-15-2014 at 03:05 PM. |
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12-15-2014, 05:02 PM | #24557 | |
Head Coach
Join Date: Oct 2005
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Not sure how much it'll hurt us but Russia is in deep doo-doo. Fracking 1, Russia 0.
Russia heading for crash as ruble plummets - Dec. 15, 2014 Quote:
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12-15-2014, 05:18 PM | #24558 |
Death Herald
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Le stelle la notte sono grandi e luminose nel cuore profondo del Texas
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Fracking is in trouble as well. It is Saudi Arabia that is keeping the price-per-barrel low. The low price is also making fracking unprofitable, and the stock prices of several fracking stocks have cratered recently.
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Thinkin' of a master plan 'Cuz ain't nuthin' but sweat inside my hand So I dig into my pocket, all my money is spent So I dig deeper but still comin' up with lint |
12-15-2014, 05:59 PM | #24559 |
Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Back in Houston!
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Same with oil sands in Canada. Our low oil prices right now are a byproduct of trying to crush competition.
SI
__________________
Houston Hippopotami, III.3: 20th Anniversary Thread - All former HT players are encouraged to check it out! Janos: "Only America could produce an imbecile of your caliber!" Freakazoid: "That's because we make lots of things better than other people!" |
12-15-2014, 06:29 PM | #24560 | |
Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Decatur, GA
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The Economist explaination (it also says frackers are in trouble):
Quote:
__________________
"A prayer for the wild at heart, kept in cages" -Tennessee Williams |
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12-17-2014, 10:17 AM | #24561 | |
Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Newburgh, NY
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Didn't see this coming:
Quote:
__________________
To love someone is to strive to accept that person exactly the way he or she is, right here and now.. - Mr. Rogers |
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12-17-2014, 10:18 AM | #24562 |
Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Massachusetts
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12-17-2014, 12:05 PM | #24563 |
"Dutch"
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Tampa, FL
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I am looking forward to that! Good news and it takes a lame duck prez and some courage to do this. Hopefully it gets done. I'm not condoning their overly socialist state, but its time to put a close on those old political rivalries.
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12-17-2014, 12:07 PM | #24564 |
"Dutch"
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Tampa, FL
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12-17-2014, 12:11 PM | #24565 |
"Dutch"
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Tampa, FL
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...and best of all...Cuban cigars for everybody!
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12-17-2014, 12:24 PM | #24566 |
Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Massachusetts
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Bah. "General tourism still not allowed"
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12-17-2014, 12:38 PM | #24567 |
"Dutch"
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Tampa, FL
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Baby steps.
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12-17-2014, 12:41 PM | #24568 |
Grizzled Veteran
Join Date: Nov 2013
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I forget, why don't we trade with Cuba when we trade with former enemies such as Japan and dictatorships such as Saudi Arabia?
__________________
"I am God's prophet, and I need an attorney" |
12-17-2014, 12:45 PM | #24569 |
General Manager
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: The Mountains
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If you want to go to Cuba, now's probably the best time, before the inevitable opening up to U.S. tourism. It's a little tricky and carries some risk (financial risk, you won't be locked up or anything), but lots of Americans make unlicensed trips there through other countries.
Last edited by molson : 12-17-2014 at 12:48 PM. |
12-17-2014, 12:46 PM | #24570 |
Coordinator
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Chicagoland
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Obama has now opened up meaningful talks with both Cuba and Iran. It'll be an interesting legacy, that's for sure.
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12-17-2014, 12:55 PM | #24571 | |
Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Behind Enemy Lines in Athens, GA
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From one good socialist to another, not a huge surprise that this p.o.s. would do something like that.
More hopeful news from the story however Quote:
__________________
"I lit another cigarette. Unless I specifically inform you to the contrary, I am always lighting another cigarette." - from a novel by Martin Amis Last edited by JonInMiddleGA : 12-17-2014 at 12:55 PM. |
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12-17-2014, 12:57 PM | #24572 | |
Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Massachusetts
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Quote:
Yeah, my sister did it through Mexico when she was in Ecuador. |
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12-17-2014, 01:13 PM | #24573 | |
"Dutch"
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Tampa, FL
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Quote:
Because Castro fucked us after we helped him get to power is the basic answer....and the free Cuban citizens in America hated him for it...much, much more personal than Saudi or Japan. Goes back to the geography related disasters discussions. |
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12-17-2014, 01:14 PM | #24574 |
Coordinator
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Chicagoland
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12-17-2014, 01:34 PM | #24575 |
Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Newburgh, NY
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__________________
To love someone is to strive to accept that person exactly the way he or she is, right here and now.. - Mr. Rogers |
12-17-2014, 02:20 PM | #24576 |
Head Coach
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Colorado Springs
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I just want local cigar shops to carry Cohibas.
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12-17-2014, 02:30 PM | #24577 | |
Grizzled Veteran
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: San Jose, CA
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Quote:
It just shows that education means nothing when put in the hands of someone who thinks they are eternally right about everything.
__________________
Look into the mind of a crazy man (NSFW) http://www.whitepowerupdate.wordpress.com |
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12-17-2014, 02:37 PM | #24578 | |
Grizzled Veteran
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: St. Paul, MN
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Quote:
December 17, 2014 1:14 PM Cuba (the Energy Drink Company) Soars 140% on Cuba (the Country) News Shares of Cuba Beverage, an energy-drink company with sales of $9,961 last quarter, are soaring Wednesday in what appears to be the latest example of a company’s stock being affected by news events that are completely unrelated to its business. |
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12-17-2014, 02:38 PM | #24579 |
Coordinator
Join Date: Oct 2000
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12-17-2014, 02:53 PM | #24580 |
Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Decatur, GA
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re: Cuba
About damned time. There is nothing that spreads American (realpolitik) interests more than American led capitalism taking over an economy.
__________________
"A prayer for the wild at heart, kept in cages" -Tennessee Williams |
12-17-2014, 03:12 PM | #24581 |
Pro Starter
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Cary, NC
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Yeah we needed to open up relations with Cuba ages ago - the whole embargo thing is a Cold War leftover that has basically zero real world necessity in this day and age. Of course it's still a nightmare politically.
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12-17-2014, 05:47 PM | #24582 | ||
Coordinator
Join Date: Apr 2005
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Quote:
It also makes things with Russia and Putin very interesting-whose economy and currency are just in a free-fall right now. I'm not an Obama fan at all, but I think this was a brilliant cheese move by him (maybe could of negotiated a little tougher, but I'll let it go). The timing of this is a little interesting, however. Quote:
For all of their props over the cigars, does Cuba have a good rum culture? Last edited by Galaxy : 12-17-2014 at 05:49 PM. |
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12-17-2014, 07:21 PM | #24583 |
Head Coach
Join Date: Oct 2005
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Wonder what Fidel is thinking now?
Regardless, I'm glad Obama did this regardless of the political implications. |
12-18-2014, 08:42 PM | #24584 |
"Dutch"
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Tampa, FL
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Several 'high-value' ISIS leaders killed in Iraq, Pentagon officials say | Fox News
ISIS leadership is getting worked over these last couple of weeks. It just doesn't pay to be a terrorist organization anymore. You get a couple of weeks or months of publicity and then blamo...you're dead. |
12-18-2014, 09:00 PM | #24585 | |
Death Herald
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Le stelle la notte sono grandi e luminose nel cuore profondo del Texas
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Quote:
Ever heard of Bacardi? That's where it is from.
__________________
Thinkin' of a master plan 'Cuz ain't nuthin' but sweat inside my hand So I dig into my pocket, all my money is spent So I dig deeper but still comin' up with lint |
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12-20-2014, 11:56 AM | #24586 | |
Head Coach
Join Date: Oct 2005
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It does seem that Obama's strategy in Iraq is working. Air plus Kurds seem to have stem the ISIS momentum. Long war ahead though for Iraqis and Kurds to reclaim all the territory
Yazidis get relief, reason to cheer as Kurds take town - CNN.com Quote:
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12-21-2014, 10:47 AM | #24587 |
General Manager
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Kansas City, MO
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Off topic, but still presidential. Pres. Bush visited a hospital as Santa to hand out gifts. Secret Service agents were dressed as elves.
Jason Cooper on Twitter: "George W. Bush showing up as Santa to visit a hospital. #MerryChristmas http://t.co/Tb9Fh0TC7b" |
12-23-2014, 07:30 PM | #24588 | |
Head Coach
Join Date: Oct 2005
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A little good news for Obama helped by his immigration and Cuba actions.
Some former US presidents may kick themselves and ask why didn't I do that. Poll: Obama ends year on an upswing - CNN.com Quote:
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12-24-2014, 07:47 AM | #24589 |
"Dutch"
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Tampa, FL
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12-24-2014, 08:15 AM | #24590 | ||
Head Coach
Join Date: Oct 2005
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Quote:
Its worked out for me personally during the Obama years and the Great Recession is over for me but know its more than stock market and nebulous GDP numbers. I'm optimistic about the future but there have been people hurt that may not recover fully. The Psychological Damage of the Recession Is Not Going Away - Businessweek Quote:
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12-24-2014, 08:37 AM | #24591 |
"Dutch"
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Tampa, FL
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"With changes in technology the middle class is being hollowed out..."?
I'm reading this as "Advancements in technology is a bad thing." Are you getting the same read? |
12-24-2014, 09:00 AM | #24592 |
College Starter
Join Date: Oct 2004
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I'm not sure its "technology is bad", but instead "technology can have a negative impact on certain parts of society that aren't prepared to deal with the change, and we haven't determined how exactly to address that yet."
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12-24-2014, 09:07 AM | #24593 | |
Pro Starter
Join Date: Feb 2006
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Quote:
It can be if it continually takes jobs away from people. Produce a bunch of product cheaper and faster sounds great until so many people don't have money to buy your product. |
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12-24-2014, 07:50 PM | #24594 |
College Starter
Join Date: Dec 2006
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Yeah another noteworthy item from that article is the rate of self-employment thats been steadily dropping for a few decades. we seems to be hitting a point where there is a lot of consolidated markets (good for efficiency in ways), a lot of outsourced low-skill jobs (to robots or Asia), and a gigantic amount of people that aren't in any way ready for the pace of change thats swept right by them and not slowing down.
We are probably going to need to have some serious conversations in this country (and the world over) on what we do with the swarms of people who won't be capable of performing the (likely inadequate anyway) amount of jobs. I have long been an advocate for some truly massive energy infrastructure initiatives. The amount of construction work associated to something like that would be an enormous boost to the construction industry which happens to have a lot of the displaced workers. |
12-24-2014, 08:13 PM | #24595 |
Coordinator
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Chicagoland
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I agree with a bunch of you guys. Not to make it sound all dramatic, but we're in the middle of a paradigm shift. Advances in technology and efficiency mean there aren't going to be enough jobs to go around. This is a big, big change for societies, and they're going to need to figure out how to work with that.
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12-24-2014, 08:43 PM | #24596 | |
Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Behind Enemy Lines in Athens, GA
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Quote:
In an economic sense, yes, that seems fair. As I've said repeatedly, we have an employment age surplus not a job shortage.
__________________
"I lit another cigarette. Unless I specifically inform you to the contrary, I am always lighting another cigarette." - from a novel by Martin Amis |
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12-24-2014, 09:59 PM | #24597 | |
Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Decatur, GA
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Quote:
People have said this in various epochs in history. It's basically a new form of Malthusian Economics. Technology usually tends to increase productivity, but also provides work. The greatest technological boom in history was the Industrial Revolution, and contrary to the protestations of the Luddites, things worked out ok for working people in the long run. There may be short run slow downs of employment and retraining required, but to think its a long term trend of no work just ignores economic history completely.
__________________
"A prayer for the wild at heart, kept in cages" -Tennessee Williams |
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12-25-2014, 10:06 AM | #24598 | |
Coordinator
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Chicagoland
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Quote:
That's fair. So, speculation time. What's the new work going to be? The workers who lost their jobs when factories and automation came along tended not to get re-employed, but their children found jobs in offices (wild generalizations here). What's the next generation going to do? This is not meant sarcastically. I'm actually interested in ideas. |
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12-25-2014, 01:32 PM | #24599 | |
Head Coach
Join Date: Oct 2005
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My thoughts -
IoT - Internet of Things Goldman Sachs | Macroeconomic Insights - The Internet of Things: The Next Mega-Trend Quote:
Energy - I'm not convinced about green/reusable/sustainable energy technologies but do think overall energy will be in the forefront for a while (e.g. fracking, electric cars) Nice to have but wishful thinking as they are too narrow ... Healthcare - from home healthcare services to high end drugs to treat seniors Education - I think my kids are getting a good PS education and think they will get a good college education. I do think there is an opportunity to emphasize trade schools (e.g. they can't be outsourced) for those that do not choose college. |
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12-25-2014, 04:03 PM | #24600 | |
Head Coach
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Maryland
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Quote:
The arts. Or maybe blogging. We could always use more bloggers.
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