Guard Dog

I disagree Gfted. I've taken a personal interest in self-education of late (autodidaction). In my reading what truly separates high performers from low performers is not comprehension but motivation. 99 times out of 100 if a student studies, they pass. Understanding comes from study. There is not doubt that some folks are smarter than others. But what's missing in that is the way to quantify it. And it's over valued at any rate. In grade school I realized early on I could succeed without really trying. I could get a C or B just listening in class. If I applied myself just a little I could get A's. Being the lazy SOB I was back then I learned to be content with mediocrity and get Cs & Bs. Had I not joined the Marine Corps I probably would have slouched through college and life much the same way. Getting by doing the minimum. In the Corps I learned being average is not something to aspire to, I saw guys who barely passed high school master advanced math and physics in training to go on and excel in very demanding and technical jobs. So I did the same and it completely changed the course of my life. Granted no one motivates like the military. They will put 10 students in a class for a field with only 8 billets. The top 8 pass and the last two go to something else (likely infantry). If you fail a test you get 1 retest. You fail that: infantry. If you don't want to go to infantry or field sanitation or wherever, you pass. THAT is motivation. Granted all this is anecdotal. My experience not evidence. But it's taught me with the exception of 5% on the margins one person is much the same as another when it comes to ability to learn. All that stops them is motivation.

He's quoting sources that are over 120 years old and largely discredited. The whole notion of IQ is way outdated IMO. Intelligence is impossible to quantify. Especially by administering tests that rely largely on acquired knowledge rather than the ability to acquire knowledge. In my opinion only what matters in not intelligence but drive. The desire to learn is what we should be looking at. Not antiquated notions on measuring ability. To say nothing of the fact that a project like this is waving a red flag at an angry bull. I'm not saying it's not OK to do that but you better be right when you do.

You pay so much for a college education there days. I think some of us might be getting ripped off: http://reason.com/blog/2018/02/09/this-sociology-professor-insists-austral College professor says Australia is not a country huh?

US knocked off Finland in Women's Hockey yesterday. There is something appealing about pretty women in hockey gear.

You ever want to ask someone "Dude, what the heck were you thinking?" http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/article199440204.html

I do. They handle showing, vetting, contracts, and payments. It's a flat fee once the lease is signed then 3% a month for account management. But I handle all maintenance except landscaping. The association does that. I actually take a small loss on that place every month even when I have a tenant. So I'm really betting on market valuation to make that investment. I offered to sell it to my previous tenant. They were nice folks. No luck though. Real estate is starting to heat up around here prior to last weeks interest rate noise. Well see what comes of that though.

So far Norway is leading the pack with 8 total medals with the Netherlands trailing at 5 and Canada at 3. I was watched 11 hours yesterday. Whenever this comes on, winter or summer, i get nothing done.

I finally have a new tenant in my townhouse. Yikes that was a long time. Paying that mortgage without a rent income to offset it was a real pinch. I was supposed to turn the garden this weekend and start fertilizing for the spring plant. But it's raining, the Olympics are on, the couch is so comfortable, looks like that ain't happening today.

On the tax vs revenue debate, we've had that conversation before! https://forums.obsidian.net/topic/93085-politics-episode-8-wwf-edition/page-15?hl=%2Blaffer+%2Bcurve&do=findComment&comment=1923705 I bet there is nothing under the sun that has not been argued about on this forum at some point in the last 15 years!

Three government bureaucrats explaining taxes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aO4bTKHXt8

First of all spending and taxes are separate issues. Second it has been proven time and time again that decreasing taxes ultimately leads to MORE revenue for the government rather than less. Economic expansion means more activity, more tax payers, more taxable transactions, etc. If you make something more expensive you will have less of it. If you make something less expensive you will have more of it.

Pence criticizes NK's military parade while defending Trump's:https://www.yahoo.com/gma/pence-bashes-north-koreas-military-parade-endorses-trumps-083203429--abc-news-topstories.html I wonder how he's able to look at himself in the mirror sometimes.

Interesting article on a recent speech by US Marine Corps Commandant Neller: https://breakingdefense.com/2018/02/marines-need-submarines-commandant-neller-on-major-war/

Rand Paul on the Senate Floor last night: "When the Democrats are in power, Republicans appear to be the conservative party. But when Republicans are in power, it seems there is no conservative party. The hypocrisy hangs in the air and chokes anyone with a sense of decency or intellectual honesty." It's a damn shame there are on 20 or 30 more senators just like him. The reason I have turned by back on the Republican Party is they are just like the Democrats in every way. The talk a good game to the voters the hope to convince but above all else they love money, they love power, and they love a big government because it's the means to those ends. Just like the Democrats. The greatest con job in American history is the the politicians convincing Americans they are choosing between two competing philosophies. There is only one: Authoritarianism. It may be packaged as light, or even benevolent at times. But by it;s very nature it can't be either. Th only "choice" were making when we vote for Democrats and Republicans is who is holding the lash.

This is worth a chuckle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fvPoqLkLkw&t=195s

Because ignorance and tribalism are funny: https://youtu.be/W7C6kH-LbpI

What?! Dem is fightin' werds!

I would have put the Heavy Metal Soundtrack on endless loop! Edit: too bad in space no one can hear you sing!

Am I the only one that hears this song while watching that? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02nAH_oAjeg

It happens but it's considered a s--t detail most guys try to get out of. For all of the aforementioned reasons.

Just one last thought on this absurd "military parade" that Trump thinks will 'honor" the troops. An event like that causes an incredible amount of stress. First of all There will be uniform inspections. Many, many of them. Then any hardware that will be displayed will bee cleaned and serviced beyond operational norm. It will be to IG level. Then there is the weeks of drill practice for the event itself. This will mean hours and hours of work over and above normal operations. It will mean weeks of stress and no sleep. Then on the day of the event it will mean assembling in dress uniform (maybe Charlies or Bravos if they are lucky, Alphas or Dress Blues if they are not) hours before the event. Standing for hours at Parade Rest waiting for this BS to kick off. The the dog and pony show itself, quick step in formation for a mile or two in uncomfortable shoes, and at the end they get to take everything back and clean it all again. If you want to do something to "honor" the military try doing something that will not make their already hi stress job more stressful. Giving everyone a day off would be the way I'd go. Appropriate money for each unit to have a party or something.

Sounds like something I'd have tried to think of a way to get out of in my day.

This is a good read, Trump has definitely lied and embellished the truth much more than Trump But GD did you see how many statements Trump made that werent true ? They are all liars Bruce. Every one of them. Just because some rats are dirtier than others does not mean they are not rats.