Some of the gun bloggers have been looking into the finances of local "grassroots" victim disarmament organizations, and determining that they are in fact wholly owned subsidiaries of the Joyce Foundation. It turns out however, that there is another organization in this country that wants you disarmed, and this one is a lot scarier.
I would like to bring up the concept of a minimum gas and diesel price.
It would do the following:
1. Allow alternative fuel producers protection against price shifts. Allows them to build a large plant based on a worst case economic scenario.
2. Could be used to manipulate the marketplace in favor of cars like the chevy volt, a plug in serial hybrid that will drive 40 miles on electricity alone.
3. If / when demand for oil declines because of alternative energy sources, a minimum price would guarantee that the supply &demand laws of economic would not save oil from destruction.
If we can obsolete oil, if even partially, that will damage the economies of Iran, Saudi Arabia, Russia, and Venezuela. Would that be a bad thing?
California Josh: The economies of the oil producing states (which also happens to include the US, but never mind that detail) would be harmed if and only if all other oil-consuming nations also followed your plan. And yes, it would be a bad thing to destroy the economies of those countries.
Taking the US out of the oil market only assures a greater supply (and probably cheaper) for the rest of the world. I'm not sure that would meet your desired end.
BTW, it'd be extraordinarily difficult for me to plug in an electric car. I don't have an extension cord long enough to run from my apartment down to the ground, then out to the parking lot. Who's going to pay to put outlets in every parking lot? Who's going to pay to put them every 40 miles along the Interstate system?
I would like to bring up the concept of a minimum gas and diesel price.
Eek! Another government subsidies program! Do you seriously want another wealth redistribution from poorer consumers to wealthy producers - like the agricultural subsidy program here?
Josh, I'm a big fan of California. I got my degree there, got robbed at gunpoint there, and was just there a few weeks ago looking at houses.
Your state is waaay too divorced from the market as it is (see this link
Companies deal with risk all the time most commonly with insurance, less commonly with hedge funds and derivatives.
The last thing and I mean the last thing I want is another Big Gov't program.
1. The minimum price was about $2.30 a gallon, for now. So we would slide this little piece of manipulation in without any big complaints, hopefully.
2. America consumes about half of the gas produced, so any effort to reduce only our demand would still be useful.
3. If Iran was so poor that they could barely feed themselves, would they really be spending their money supporting Hezbollah, and building nuclear arms?
4. California is certainly 'out there' when it comes to understanding the free market, including our own local oil producers. I believe that respect for the free market comes secondary when it comes to oil. Like Bush said, we're addicted to it, and it's time to break the addiction, even if it means acting like a socialist to do so.
5. I don't like big government programs either... Unless they produce spectacular results, such as hoover dam, the interstate highway systems, nuclear power, etc. Weaning the world off of oil might be such a difficult task that a big government program might be what it takes to pull it off. If we wanted to land on the moon, would private industry have accomplished it? Nope, because there's no economic demand. Right now there's no economic demand for something other than oil, because it feels good to shoot oil into our veins and enjoy the cheap high. Just because there's no economic demand doesn't mean we can't create one by manipulating the market.
6. Getting the europeans, and japanese, on board something like this might not be impossible. Especially now that they are coming around to our position on Iran.
7. I honestly believe we should make it a policy (official or unofficial) to bankrupt the middle eastern countries by destroying the demand for oil. I'd like nothing better than the saudi's to have to turn off their air conditioning and go back to living in tents and burning camel dung to stay warm. They should return to their natural state, like that of africa. Same with Iran.
8. I declare Jihad against oil. www.oiljihad.org
:-)
Josh
1. Do cost analysis. Nothing is free and this is going to cost something. I have no clue how much because honestly, your idea is one of the more off the wall ideas I've seen recently. OTW is not necessarily bad - it's just unusual.
2. Don't see the connection here.
3. Absolutely, just like North Korea pursued the bomb while its population starved. What Iran does not have is public interest groups, a functioning representative democracy and a division of powers between judiciary/legislative/executive that is akin to a Rock-Paper-Scissors game that keeps all three in check.
Iran isn't California, Josh. Hate to sound condescending, but that comment strikes me as naive.
4. You don't have to act like a socialist. Buy a hybrid, and tell your friends to do the same. Heck, go out and buy an electric car - and power it with nuclear power.
I'm a neo-con, but I plan on buying a hybrid for my next car because honestly, I hate Chavez and the KSA.
Markets work - if you let them. Governments don't - unless you force them.
5. WTF - what do you mean? We've been weaning ourselves off oil for decades. Sure we use more of the stuff today than we did in 1970, but that's because our economy is bigger. It's much less of a part of our economy today than it was back then.
The price of gasoline doubled quickly two or three years ago, and our economy didn't falter. The same thing happened in 1973, and there were lines, rationing and a full-blown crisis - one of the many that occurred in the 1970s.
If you were too young to remember those times, count yourself lucky. Aside from the Sex Pistols and David Bowie, nothing else good came out of that decade.
6. They already intervene on gas prices - through taxes - so you're right.
7. Now you're talking like one of us, Josh. Better be careful; they'll kick you out of the state.
8. Hehehe... Needs a little bit more web design but it's a good start.
You might want to "borrow" the web design of this site.
Oh, and like I said, I'm a big fan of CA even if it is crazy. For all it's problems, it's still a great place to live.
3. If Iran was so poor that they could barely feed themselves, would they really be spending their money supporting Hezbollah, and building nuclear arms?
As Iran is finding it pretty hard to feed themselves now, they have pretty much reached that point. But it isn't those that can't feed themselves who get to make the decisions on political, the economic and military spending.
...Ahmadinejad's economic policies have backfired, triggering 20 percent inflation over the past year, increased poverty and a 25 percent rise in the price of gas last month. More than 50 of the country's leading economists wrote an open letter to Ahmadinejad this week warning that he is ignoring basic economics and endangering the country's future.
Those are pretty messy, but having worked for Western Union back in the early 60s, installing phone exchange equipment, it's quite tidy.
In the Janesville, WI office we did an upgrade and ran several thousands (tens I think) of miles of cable (counting all pairs in all cables) in the local exchange.
The fuse for the main power that would switch to battery backup if ever blown was a lead bar about 10 inches long, 3 quarter inches thick, and about 4 inches deep. There was a 2 or 3 gallon standard metal bucket under it in case it ever blew. It never had that anyone remembered.
But we often speculated that if we got everyone in town to lift their phone off the hood at the same time, we could cause that fuse to blow.
I think that the "All for one and one for all" that used to be the unwritten motto of unions may be a thing of the past. (The Detroit News)
*GM will implement a two-tier wage system for workers not doing core manufacturing jobs. The lower tier will be as little as half the current $28-an-hour wage for an hourly worker. The new wage structure would apply to new hires, not current workers.
*The automaker will make 4,100 temporary workers permanent employees paid at the lower rate. A special attrition program offering workers buyouts or early retirement would help clear out senior workers and make room for the new workers.
The two-tier wage system doesn't seem to show much solidarity on the part of the union with temporary and future workers.
Makes one wonder if they thought about the future time when these lower paid workers will be bargaining on their behalf when they are retirees. I'm sure that they will remember and be just as cold.
Interestingly enough a somewhat similar idea had once occurred to me.
While doing research on various animal eyes and what spectrums they may perceive and how visual information might be interpreted by various animals I started studying the eyes of goldfish and the eyes of hawks and eagles. It occurred to me that certain animals might not only be able to perceive spectrum frequencies beyond generally considered normative ranges, but that they might also be able to perceive ambient energy fields, such as those produced by magnetic and gravitational fields, as well as things like the Van Allen belts, micro-friction such as might be produced along fault lines immediately prior to an earthquake or lightning strike, etc. and so forth. Of course this would in no way preclude other sensory capabilities which might also be able to perceive non-normative impulses, such as tactical or auditory or olfactory perceptions but it also occurred to me that non-normative and hyper-sensitive perceptual capabilities might often overlap in a given species, that is to say they perceive hyper-perceptually along different pathways simultaneously and are then able to correlate these different pathway inputs into a collective "over-perception." I wrote a White Paper about it (The Development of Operational Advantage by Means of Indirect and Asymmetrical Perception and Comprehension of Ambient Sensory Information) and how humans might develop a similar capability for Strategic Data Correlation using technology, though my research had been aimed at eventually developing genetic splicing and/or recombination techniques to directly render humans similar capabilities in an inherent and biological fashion. But in this case we're only talking about vision, so I'll return to that.
Anywho, where was I. Oh yeah, if they were able to perceive ambient energy fields then things like acutely powerful disruptions of that field, even if highly localized, or similarly minute fluctuations in the functioning of a persistent and yet primarily stable field might render useful data and information which the animal could then exploit, assuming it could be first perceived and then somehow understood. And of course then one must consider how are changes and in-field motion perceived, interpreted, and read by any given agent of perception. (Whether animals, or humans for that matter, can understand all of the sensory information they receive, or even understand that they are receiving it, is quite a different matter. That's a whole nuther subject so I won't breach it, it is not now germane.)
In any case it seems to me that God has planted, for whatever reason, a number of capabilities inherent in both men and animals which might be best described as biological God Technology (or Genetic God Technology), that is biological sensory and other capabilities which would, if properly exposed, exploited, and mastered mimic abilities normally ascribed to God, at least on a small scale. Capabilities which would certainly make things like, let us say, prophecy easier to comprehend and even possible to master. For instance say that you, as a man or woman, were able to perceive minute and long term changes regarding a certain ambient energy field like the electromagnetic spectrum, or could feel or see or hear changes in the earth's crust in a given locale, then making predictions about at least certain future events, such as an earthquake, or famine or drought would be much easier. How to understand what you are perceiving, how to perceive it in the first place or replicate the capabilities of another creature, or how to know exactly what to look for are also other matters. It would be very much like learning a new skill, language, or even sense capability. Even if you had always had the ability, that is no guarantee that before you understand this, or know how to properly employ it, then the capability would still be only latent, not actualized. For senate a man might have been able his whole life to throw discus reasonably well, play the piano, or master Morse Code, but until he sees a thing and recognizes it for what it is, and is willing to make the effort to attempt the thing, then latent ability never becomes actual talent, or sensory capability in this case. There was something else I was gonna mention regarding sensory perception of ambient energy fields but I got to thinking about how the genetic code of a given species or individual might effect their ability to perceive energy fields and now I've forgotten it. I reckon I'm kinda pooped out. Me old brain is stupefied, and me mind is tried. And so to all the ships at sea, good weather and good night. I need a little sleep.
As one drives through the bushveldt of East Africa it is easy to spot herds of baboons grazing on the ground. But not by looking at the ground. Instead you look up and spot the lookout, and adult male posted on a limb of a tree where he has a clear view all around him -- which is why you can spot him; he has to be where he can see a leopard in time to give the alarm. On the ground a leopard can catch a baboon. . .but if a baboon is warned in time to reach the trees, he can out-climb a leopard.
The lookout is a young male assigned to that duty and there he will stay, until the bull of the herd sends up another male to relieve him.
Keep your eye on that baboon; we'll be back to him.
Today, in the United States, it is popular among self-styled "intellectuals" to sneer at patriotism. They seem to think that it is axiomatic that any civilized man is a pacifist, and they treat the military profession with contempt. "Warmongers" -- "Imperialists" -- "Hired killers in uniform" -- you have all heard such sneers and you will hear them again. One of their favorite quotations is: "Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel."
What they never mention is that the man who made that sneering remark was a fat, gluttonous slob who was pursued all his life by a pathological fear of death.
I propose to prove that that baboon on watch is morally superior to that fat poltroon who made that wisecrack.
Sandi, you and I probably know each other four people removed, per that social cliche. I work in cellular RF optimization, having gotten there from computer tech work, but my driver from last year's contract was wire side, having done switch maintenance for the old Wisconsin Bell.
Today, in the United States, it is popular among self-styled "intellectuals" to sneer at patriotism. They seem to think that it is axiomatic that any civilized man is a pacifist, and they treat the military profession with contempt. "Warmongers" -- "Imperialists" -- "Hired killers in uniform" -- you have all heard such sneers and you will hear them again. One of their favorite quotations is: "Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel."
What they never mention is that the man who made that sneering remark was a fat, gluttonous slob who was pursued all his life by a pathological fear of death.
I propose to prove that that baboon on watch is morally superior to that fat poltroon who made that wisecrack.
It is not a difficult thing to prove, the problem is not with the convincing of the many, the problem is in making them really care even after they know.
Yes, the dog or baboon on guard is one of the more superior (in the fact that he is willing to actually act and do) and vital members of his pack or herd, but what if many of the rest herd are not only composed of sheep, but of the "determined to remain apathetic" sheep?
Most intellectuals, academics, and entertainers of today bleed the blue, oxygen starved blood of the atrophied, anemic, and apathetic body, mind, and will, but that blood sure does seem to have a viral-like communicable effect upon many others.
Patriotism may be the last refuge of the scoundrel to some, but apathy and feebleness is the primary disease of far too many modern men.
It is not that patriotism alone makes men pure, it is that lack of it, in pursuit of a just cause, makes men so very small and sheepish.
Courage grows great with action, but apathy grows gargantuan with much practice.
I was invited last night to a premiere for a play called "News in Revue", basically a sort of musical lampooning political and current events.
My 2 word review: Simply awful.
I wound up walking out after the Obama number [probably 15 minutes in] where there were 4 white actors, one playing Rev. Al Sharpton, to a very campy 'black' stereotype, verging on racism. This is passing as humor in theatre these days? They couldn't have gotten more offensive if they'd put them in blackface. Glad I didn't pay for it.
I don't blame the actors one bit. I know two of them, plus the director and several of the staff. The text is utter crap and they should've known better.
1. We'd have to clamp down on loopholes, such as buying $50 worth of gas, and getting a $20 "instant" rebate. That would be an issue to focus on.
2. If the rest of the world refused to take part, America could still make a big difference (drop in oil price via drop in demand) just by focusing on reducing our own use.
3. Iran doesn't have to be like California, the Soviet's weren't, but we still utilized economic policy to achieve results that military policy probably would of never achieved. Iran could be communist athiest africans for all I care, if they sell oil and that powers their economy, they are open to the laws of economics being used against them.
4. I'm a conservative too, but that doesn't mean that I think the markets should never be manipulated, so long as the ends justify the means. What I want to do is remove oil's ability to fight back when demand declines in the future, assuming battery technology works out like GM is betting it will. I want to see the market manipulated so people chose to buy a 'cheaper electrical' vehicle, and thus the demand for oil is further reduced.
5. I agree with you, however I'd like to point out that an artificial disruption in the market is what provided the motivation to conserve fuel. Had it not been for the oil embargo, would we be driving vehicles that are efficient as they are? I was just an infant back then, but I do know the 70's sucked. If it wasn't for Saddam breaking the oil embargo and selling fuel to America during that time, we would of been screwed. Yes, the price of gas doubled a few years ago, and our economy kept going but that is only half the story, the other half is what the muslims did with the extra money. In the case of Iran, it's obvious, they funded Hezbollah and nuclear weapons. I wonder if folks used to argue against a strategic petroleum reserve because the 'market will fix things'. The arabs used market manipulation to hurt us, and it worked, inflation went thru the roof partly because of it. What I'm saying is that we should utilize the same type of policy against them, but we should hide behind environmentalism as the justification. I think it's only a matter of time until the republican party tries to take the environmental label back from the democrats, because people are stupid and perception is reality, and I think it would be good political strategy.
6. I'm not certain if tax manipulation would be needed also. Maybe the difference between the market value and minimum price should be sucked up in taxes, maybe not. Haven't thought that part thru yet.
7. It really sucks to be the only one in my family who backs Bush, and one of the few friends. Sometimes california makes we want to throw up. What I find interesting is that I'm far more informed on details and history than my friends and family, so that gives me comfort. If only Texas had the same weather and beaches. Don't even get me started on our public school systems, or what I think of San Francisco's liberal attitudes.
8. I got the website up and running in less than 8 minutes, kinda as a test. I'm a network engineer, and it NEVER used to be that easy. The website came out of an email with my cousin when I said "we should declare jihad against oil itself, and bankrupt those bastards, and the russians, and the venezuelans"... It was so easy to get that website up and running that it makes me worry about my job security. Thank god Cisco routers are still a pain in the ass to configure. I'll check into the website you suggested, thanks!
SANDI:
Iran's economy is in pain, but it's not dead. I say we kill it. My biggest worry is that bush will only do 'limited' air strikes against Iran. It's my theory that's what the mullahs are actually hoping for, and they will then withdrawl from the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, which they aren't following anyhow. I only hope bush has the guts to take out their entire oil infrastructure, and their entire electrical infrastructure, and put in place a naval blocade. I then hope we 'negotiate' with them for about 3 years, just like they have yanked our chain for the last 3 years. If there was ever a reason to not invade Iraq, it would be so that we could have invaded Iran first.
I can't say that I'm an expert on the origin of the phrase "patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel," but I do agree with it. To an extent.
Did you ever see the Godawful musical Grease 2? In "Do It For Out Country," Louis attempts a ludicrous setup to entice Sharon into bed with him:
Yeah, let's do it for our country, the red, white, and the blue./It's Uncle Sam who's asking, so your mother will approve./Tomorrow I'll be fighting, and I'll win this war for you./Let's do it for our country, our country wants us to.
Similarly, when somebody makes a naked appeal to my patriotism, I'm immediately suspicious. Invariably, whether the person is selling vacuum cleaners or a government policy, the fact that he's going for my patriotism tells me that he doesn't want me to think too much about my decision. And somebody who doesn't want me to think about what he's selling is being deceitful ... and is, by definition, a scoundrel.
The phrase patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel was meant to criticize a scoundrel, not a patriot, and it dates back to a time and place when patriotism, which meant loyalty to the nation instead of the King, was tantamount to treason. Better luck next time.
My first car (in 1974) was a Honda 600. I bought it because of the gas milage; although gas was pretty cheap, I figured high miles per gallon means lower emissions. Although I'm not a global a GW priest (and we were looking at global cooling back then anyway), I've always understood that unnecessary wate products are intrinsically bad.
If PEOPLE could be convinced that their actions are responsble for virtually all pollution either directly or indirectly (via consumption and the kinds of products they buy), then intrusive government action is not necessary. If demand for gas guzzlers falls, there will be less gas used.
9.30.2007 8:51pm
Commenting on Dean's World is a privilege, not a right. Dean is your host, you are his guest, and you should behave in that fashion. Dean is not your babysitter, nor is he your punching bag. Please remember this. In general, you are free to disagree with anyone on any subject you wish, but abusive behavior will not be tolerated.
Of course we all lose our tempers now and then. Dean freely admits to being imperfect in this regard, which is why regulars to this establishment will generally be cut more slack than people who we don't know very well.
Still: behave like an adult, or go find somewhere else to play. Thanks.
San Francisco Youth Symphony dude
Age 13
Age 11
Here's my submission: Rick Monday Saves the Flag. This may be old-hat to some, but I'd never seen it before.
And do go out and watch The Kingdom!!
It would do the following:
1. Allow alternative fuel producers protection against price shifts. Allows them to build a large plant based on a worst case economic scenario.
2. Could be used to manipulate the marketplace in favor of cars like the chevy volt, a plug in serial hybrid that will drive 40 miles on electricity alone.
3. If / when demand for oil declines because of alternative energy sources, a minimum price would guarantee that the supply &demand laws of economic would not save oil from destruction.
If we can obsolete oil, if even partially, that will damage the economies of Iran, Saudi Arabia, Russia, and Venezuela. Would that be a bad thing?
Oh yeah, think of the environment, blah blah.
here...
Humours of Idleness - BOLO, the Ogre, Science, and Memories of the Boy
Spooky Humor - sent to me by an old buddy of mine. It brought back some memories.
Taking the US out of the oil market only assures a greater supply (and probably cheaper) for the rest of the world. I'm not sure that would meet your desired end.
BTW, it'd be extraordinarily difficult for me to plug in an electric car. I don't have an extension cord long enough to run from my apartment down to the ground, then out to the parking lot. Who's going to pay to put outlets in every parking lot? Who's going to pay to put them every 40 miles along the Interstate system?
Eek! Another government subsidies program! Do you seriously want another wealth redistribution from poorer consumers to wealthy producers - like the agricultural subsidy program here?
Josh, I'm a big fan of California. I got my degree there, got robbed at gunpoint there, and was just there a few weeks ago looking at houses.
Your state is waaay too divorced from the market as it is (see this link
Companies deal with risk all the time most commonly with insurance, less commonly with hedge funds and derivatives.
The last thing and I mean the last thing I want is another Big Gov't program.
The worst internet host... and proud of it. And google actually displays ads for hosting on this page. :-)
Getting air skiing.... Oops!
Good points. However, what if:
1. The minimum price was about $2.30 a gallon, for now. So we would slide this little piece of manipulation in without any big complaints, hopefully.
2. America consumes about half of the gas produced, so any effort to reduce only our demand would still be useful.
3. If Iran was so poor that they could barely feed themselves, would they really be spending their money supporting Hezbollah, and building nuclear arms?
4. California is certainly 'out there' when it comes to understanding the free market, including our own local oil producers. I believe that respect for the free market comes secondary when it comes to oil. Like Bush said, we're addicted to it, and it's time to break the addiction, even if it means acting like a socialist to do so.
5. I don't like big government programs either... Unless they produce spectacular results, such as hoover dam, the interstate highway systems, nuclear power, etc. Weaning the world off of oil might be such a difficult task that a big government program might be what it takes to pull it off. If we wanted to land on the moon, would private industry have accomplished it? Nope, because there's no economic demand. Right now there's no economic demand for something other than oil, because it feels good to shoot oil into our veins and enjoy the cheap high. Just because there's no economic demand doesn't mean we can't create one by manipulating the market.
6. Getting the europeans, and japanese, on board something like this might not be impossible. Especially now that they are coming around to our position on Iran.
7. I honestly believe we should make it a policy (official or unofficial) to bankrupt the middle eastern countries by destroying the demand for oil. I'd like nothing better than the saudi's to have to turn off their air conditioning and go back to living in tents and burning camel dung to stay warm. They should return to their natural state, like that of africa. Same with Iran.
8. I declare Jihad against oil. www.oiljihad.org
:-)
1. Do cost analysis. Nothing is free and this is going to cost something. I have no clue how much because honestly, your idea is one of the more off the wall ideas I've seen recently. OTW is not necessarily bad - it's just unusual.
2. Don't see the connection here.
3. Absolutely, just like North Korea pursued the bomb while its population starved. What Iran does not have is public interest groups, a functioning representative democracy and a division of powers between judiciary/legislative/executive that is akin to a Rock-Paper-Scissors game that keeps all three in check.
Iran isn't California, Josh. Hate to sound condescending, but that comment strikes me as naive.
4. You don't have to act like a socialist. Buy a hybrid, and tell your friends to do the same. Heck, go out and buy an electric car - and power it with nuclear power.
I'm a neo-con, but I plan on buying a hybrid for my next car because honestly, I hate Chavez and the KSA.
Markets work - if you let them. Governments don't - unless you force them.
5. WTF - what do you mean? We've been weaning ourselves off oil for decades. Sure we use more of the stuff today than we did in 1970, but that's because our economy is bigger. It's much less of a part of our economy today than it was back then.
The price of gasoline doubled quickly two or three years ago, and our economy didn't falter. The same thing happened in 1973, and there were lines, rationing and a full-blown crisis - one of the many that occurred in the 1970s.
If you were too young to remember those times, count yourself lucky. Aside from the Sex Pistols and David Bowie, nothing else good came out of that decade.
6. They already intervene on gas prices - through taxes - so you're right.
7. Now you're talking like one of us, Josh. Better be careful; they'll kick you out of the state.
8. Hehehe... Needs a little bit more web design but it's a good start.
You might want to "borrow" the web design of this site.
Oh, and like I said, I'm a big fan of CA even if it is crazy. For all it's problems, it's still a great place to live.
Worst cabling messes ever
As Iran is finding it pretty hard to feed themselves now, they have pretty much reached that point. But it isn't those that can't feed themselves who get to make the decisions on political, the economic and military spending.
From about 3 months ago: Washington Monthly.
I liked that link!
But then again, I actually invented the world’s first CAT 5 compliant wall outlet.
And I pretty much tied on the patch panel.
Yes, chicks dig me. ;)
Those are pretty messy, but having worked for Western Union back in the early 60s, installing phone exchange equipment, it's quite tidy.
In the Janesville, WI office we did an upgrade and ran several thousands (tens I think) of miles of cable (counting all pairs in all cables) in the local exchange.
The fuse for the main power that would switch to battery backup if ever blown was a lead bar about 10 inches long, 3 quarter inches thick, and about 4 inches deep. There was a 2 or 3 gallon standard metal bucket under it in case it ever blew. It never had that anyone remembered.
But we often speculated that if we got everyone in town to lift their phone off the hood at the same time, we could cause that fuse to blow.
The two-tier wage system doesn't seem to show much solidarity on the part of the union with temporary and future workers.
Makes one wonder if they thought about the future time when these lower paid workers will be bargaining on their behalf when they are retirees. I'm sure that they will remember and be just as cold.
Migratory birds may "see" Earth's magnetic field
Interestingly enough a somewhat similar idea had once occurred to me.
While doing research on various animal eyes and what spectrums they may perceive and how visual information might be interpreted by various animals I started studying the eyes of goldfish and the eyes of hawks and eagles. It occurred to me that certain animals might not only be able to perceive spectrum frequencies beyond generally considered normative ranges, but that they might also be able to perceive ambient energy fields, such as those produced by magnetic and gravitational fields, as well as things like the Van Allen belts, micro-friction such as might be produced along fault lines immediately prior to an earthquake or lightning strike, etc. and so forth. Of course this would in no way preclude other sensory capabilities which might also be able to perceive non-normative impulses, such as tactical or auditory or olfactory perceptions but it also occurred to me that non-normative and hyper-sensitive perceptual capabilities might often overlap in a given species, that is to say they perceive hyper-perceptually along different pathways simultaneously and are then able to correlate these different pathway inputs into a collective "over-perception." I wrote a White Paper about it (The Development of Operational Advantage by Means of Indirect and Asymmetrical Perception and Comprehension of Ambient Sensory Information) and how humans might develop a similar capability for Strategic Data Correlation using technology, though my research had been aimed at eventually developing genetic splicing and/or recombination techniques to directly render humans similar capabilities in an inherent and biological fashion. But in this case we're only talking about vision, so I'll return to that.
Anywho, where was I. Oh yeah, if they were able to perceive ambient energy fields then things like acutely powerful disruptions of that field, even if highly localized, or similarly minute fluctuations in the functioning of a persistent and yet primarily stable field might render useful data and information which the animal could then exploit, assuming it could be first perceived and then somehow understood. And of course then one must consider how are changes and in-field motion perceived, interpreted, and read by any given agent of perception. (Whether animals, or humans for that matter, can understand all of the sensory information they receive, or even understand that they are receiving it, is quite a different matter. That's a whole nuther subject so I won't breach it, it is not now germane.)
In any case it seems to me that God has planted, for whatever reason, a number of capabilities inherent in both men and animals which might be best described as biological God Technology (or Genetic God Technology), that is biological sensory and other capabilities which would, if properly exposed, exploited, and mastered mimic abilities normally ascribed to God, at least on a small scale. Capabilities which would certainly make things like, let us say, prophecy easier to comprehend and even possible to master. For instance say that you, as a man or woman, were able to perceive minute and long term changes regarding a certain ambient energy field like the electromagnetic spectrum, or could feel or see or hear changes in the earth's crust in a given locale, then making predictions about at least certain future events, such as an earthquake, or famine or drought would be much easier. How to understand what you are perceiving, how to perceive it in the first place or replicate the capabilities of another creature, or how to know exactly what to look for are also other matters. It would be very much like learning a new skill, language, or even sense capability. Even if you had always had the ability, that is no guarantee that before you understand this, or know how to properly employ it, then the capability would still be only latent, not actualized. For senate a man might have been able his whole life to throw discus reasonably well, play the piano, or master Morse Code, but until he sees a thing and recognizes it for what it is, and is willing to make the effort to attempt the thing, then latent ability never becomes actual talent, or sensory capability in this case. There was something else I was gonna mention regarding sensory perception of ambient energy fields but I got to thinking about how the genetic code of a given species or individual might effect their ability to perceive energy fields and now I've forgotten it. I reckon I'm kinda pooped out. Me old brain is stupefied, and me mind is tried. And so to all the ships at sea, good weather and good night. I need a little sleep.
It is not a difficult thing to prove, the problem is not with the convincing of the many, the problem is in making them really care even after they know.
Yes, the dog or baboon on guard is one of the more superior (in the fact that he is willing to actually act and do) and vital members of his pack or herd, but what if many of the rest herd are not only composed of sheep, but of the "determined to remain apathetic" sheep?
Most intellectuals, academics, and entertainers of today bleed the blue, oxygen starved blood of the atrophied, anemic, and apathetic body, mind, and will, but that blood sure does seem to have a viral-like communicable effect upon many others.
Patriotism may be the last refuge of the scoundrel to some, but apathy and feebleness is the primary disease of far too many modern men.
It is not that patriotism alone makes men pure, it is that lack of it, in pursuit of a just cause, makes men so very small and sheepish.
Courage grows great with action, but apathy grows gargantuan with much practice.
My 2 word review: Simply awful.
I wound up walking out after the Obama number [probably 15 minutes in] where there were 4 white actors, one playing Rev. Al Sharpton, to a very campy 'black' stereotype, verging on racism. This is passing as humor in theatre these days? They couldn't have gotten more offensive if they'd put them in blackface. Glad I didn't pay for it.
I don't blame the actors one bit. I know two of them, plus the director and several of the staff. The text is utter crap and they should've known better.
1. We'd have to clamp down on loopholes, such as buying $50 worth of gas, and getting a $20 "instant" rebate. That would be an issue to focus on.
2. If the rest of the world refused to take part, America could still make a big difference (drop in oil price via drop in demand) just by focusing on reducing our own use.
3. Iran doesn't have to be like California, the Soviet's weren't, but we still utilized economic policy to achieve results that military policy probably would of never achieved. Iran could be communist athiest africans for all I care, if they sell oil and that powers their economy, they are open to the laws of economics being used against them.
4. I'm a conservative too, but that doesn't mean that I think the markets should never be manipulated, so long as the ends justify the means. What I want to do is remove oil's ability to fight back when demand declines in the future, assuming battery technology works out like GM is betting it will. I want to see the market manipulated so people chose to buy a 'cheaper electrical' vehicle, and thus the demand for oil is further reduced.
5. I agree with you, however I'd like to point out that an artificial disruption in the market is what provided the motivation to conserve fuel. Had it not been for the oil embargo, would we be driving vehicles that are efficient as they are? I was just an infant back then, but I do know the 70's sucked. If it wasn't for Saddam breaking the oil embargo and selling fuel to America during that time, we would of been screwed. Yes, the price of gas doubled a few years ago, and our economy kept going but that is only half the story, the other half is what the muslims did with the extra money. In the case of Iran, it's obvious, they funded Hezbollah and nuclear weapons. I wonder if folks used to argue against a strategic petroleum reserve because the 'market will fix things'. The arabs used market manipulation to hurt us, and it worked, inflation went thru the roof partly because of it. What I'm saying is that we should utilize the same type of policy against them, but we should hide behind environmentalism as the justification. I think it's only a matter of time until the republican party tries to take the environmental label back from the democrats, because people are stupid and perception is reality, and I think it would be good political strategy.
6. I'm not certain if tax manipulation would be needed also. Maybe the difference between the market value and minimum price should be sucked up in taxes, maybe not. Haven't thought that part thru yet.
7. It really sucks to be the only one in my family who backs Bush, and one of the few friends. Sometimes california makes we want to throw up. What I find interesting is that I'm far more informed on details and history than my friends and family, so that gives me comfort. If only Texas had the same weather and beaches. Don't even get me started on our public school systems, or what I think of San Francisco's liberal attitudes.
8. I got the website up and running in less than 8 minutes, kinda as a test. I'm a network engineer, and it NEVER used to be that easy. The website came out of an email with my cousin when I said "we should declare jihad against oil itself, and bankrupt those bastards, and the russians, and the venezuelans"... It was so easy to get that website up and running that it makes me worry about my job security. Thank god Cisco routers are still a pain in the ass to configure. I'll check into the website you suggested, thanks!
SANDI:
Iran's economy is in pain, but it's not dead. I say we kill it. My biggest worry is that bush will only do 'limited' air strikes against Iran. It's my theory that's what the mullahs are actually hoping for, and they will then withdrawl from the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, which they aren't following anyhow. I only hope bush has the guts to take out their entire oil infrastructure, and their entire electrical infrastructure, and put in place a naval blocade. I then hope we 'negotiate' with them for about 3 years, just like they have yanked our chain for the last 3 years. If there was ever a reason to not invade Iraq, it would be so that we could have invaded Iran first.
Did you ever see the Godawful musical Grease 2? In "Do It For Out Country," Louis attempts a ludicrous setup to entice Sharon into bed with him:
Similarly, when somebody makes a naked appeal to my patriotism, I'm immediately suspicious. Invariably, whether the person is selling vacuum cleaners or a government policy, the fact that he's going for my patriotism tells me that he doesn't want me to think too much about my decision. And somebody who doesn't want me to think about what he's selling is being deceitful ... and is, by definition, a scoundrel.
--|PW|--
If PEOPLE could be convinced that their actions are responsble for virtually all pollution either directly or indirectly (via consumption and the kinds of products they buy), then intrusive government action is not necessary. If demand for gas guzzlers falls, there will be less gas used.
Of course we all lose our tempers now and then. Dean freely admits to being imperfect in this regard, which is why regulars to this establishment will generally be cut more slack than people who we don't know very well.
Still: behave like an adult, or go find somewhere else to play. Thanks.