Guard Dog
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Posts posted by Guard Dog
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Really, would anybody want to use a tunnel that one oddly obsessed dude carved all by himself? I doubt that the guy has the engineering or geological expertise necessary to assess and ensure its structural soundness. (Indeed, the difficulties in making the passageway safe might well be the reason that the local government refused to take on the project.)
It is possible though: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stalag_Luft_I...Great_Escape.22
Ha! Shortly after I wrote that post, I mused that I should've appended "for any purpose other than escaping a Nazi prison camp" to the first sentence.
I meant it was possible to build a stable tunnel using crude tools! Although it would be a stretch to call their tunnel stable since it collapsed on them the night they escaped. -
Ultimately, I agree. WHich is why I referred to an ideal state vs a real world state. However, people's expectations are that the government will attempt to protect them and will hold the government accountable for that. And while a lot of governmental accountability is far beyond the reach of the average citizen, there is still more accountablity than large scale business, which essentially operates with impunity outside of governmental regulation.
I really disagree with you here. You have far more power over business than government. If you don't like what a certain business does you can simply not buy their product or not use their service. You can withhold from them the only thing that matters, your money. Even more, you can organize others to do the same. It's called boycotting. With a little bit time it is VERY effective. If the government does something you do not like you still have to pay your taxes. Sure you can call your Reps and Senators, odds are they will be nice to you on the phone and do whatever the hell they want anyway. You have power over your government once every two years. You have power over business every single day.
You guys need to understand something here. Government is evil. A necsassary one without question, but still evil and is best when taken in small doses. The trend in the US right now is to empower it at the expense of personal and economic freedom, and I seems to hear a lot of posters here calling for that too and that just scares the hell out of me.
I promise you Slowtrain, if you get audited by the IRS just one time it will make a Libertarian out of you.
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In terms of the internet, we are still living in a golden age, but we are at the end of it. Like the radio and TV, it will go from being bidirectional to monodirectional in terms of communication.
I'd have to agree. Right now free unrestricted access to infomation via the web is still common enough in all but the most restrictive countries. But with the US (since the new admin came into power) and UK starting to take measures to censor web content and restrict access to certain web sites I think we are quickly beginning to move away from that. I think more and more over the coming years we'll see governments trying to limit the information it's citizens can reach in the name of "fairness" and "balance".
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Really, would anybody want to use a tunnel that one oddly obsessed dude carved all by himself? I doubt that the guy has the engineering or geological expertise necessary to assess and ensure its structural soundness. (Indeed, the difficulties in making the passageway safe might well be the reason that the local government refused to take on the project.)
It is possible though: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stalag_Luft_I...Great_Escape.22
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I'm taking the Bills to win tonight. I'll pick the rest tomorrow.
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How ironic is it that I'm sitting in the lobby of the federal courthouse in Nashville and in about 30 min I'm going to go meet with a federal bueracrat who is, and I'll be kind, very impressed with his station in life and seems to enjoy making a royal pain of himself for no other reason than that he can.
@Slowtrain, I do not believe for a second that any government sees the protection of the people as the reason for it's existence. The reason govenrment does anything it does os to pereptuate it's own power. If it can protect the people while doing that fine and good and I do believe most government employees and politicians will try to help the citizenry when it can provided it does not damage their power. But those same politicians will ruthlessly harm that same people if they can get away with it and it furthers the expansion of their power and influence.
I fail to see how a business wanting to make oney is a bad thing? Apple wanted to make more money so they invented the ipod for people to buy. The wanted to sell more ipods and make more money so they made better ipods and sold more of them. If they did not care about making a profit there would be no ipods. If you do not want to contribute to Apple's profits then you don't have to buy an ipod. You can buy a Zune, or Sansa, or not buy one at all.
Now on the other hand lets look at the new Obamanation Health Care bill the House just passed. If FORCES all citizens to BUY health insurance. From a private company if they wish, from the government if not. If you do not buy their insurance it is a crime and they will throw you in prison.
On one hand Apple says "This thing is cool and you might enjoy it. Buy it if you wish". On the other Uncle Sam says "You MUST buy this, if not we'll take all of you money and imprison you".
This is admittedly a simplified example but you see what I'm getting at here?
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GD, what you're saying isn't upheld by facts. The British government used to build all sorts of stuff - bridges, buildings, harbours - using their own personnel. It's just a question of how they choose to define their capabilities. Of course they don't much any more, and the consequence is these godawful public-private things which are badly made.
Also, corporations routinely abuse their political clout to have governments act on their behalf. And that's not to mention the hiring of private mercenaries. Nor aggressive punitive lawsuits.
I'm no commie, but to assert that corporations are ALWAYS good and govts ALWAYS evil is just bonkers.
Don't get me wrong, I am not saying business is always good or government is always bad. Both are both good and bad and both have a necassary role to play. Iam just pointiong out that many posters around here seem to be under the impression that business is always bad and vice versa. In an enviorment totally absent government, business will run amok. In an enviorment totally absent business, well, the USSR was such a joyful place to live wan't it? (New flash LoF, that whole "Iron Curtain" thing was meant to keep people in, not out).
But in general terms what I seaid was dead on correct. And as for the first point, I do not know how the government works in the UK but in the US contruction workers, engineers, etc are not kept on any govenment staff. All public contruction is privately contracted.
*Pardon my typing and spelling please, I'm using a blackberry today and the se buttons atr too small for my fingers!
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Right... because letting big business run things is soooo much better in the end. *rolls eyes* At least the govt does not care about making a profit. Hells they have made loosing money science. Let the ppl who couldnt care less about making a buck run the show is fine by me. Better then some profit wh*re compnay.
I might live to be a 100 but I will never... ever understand this way of thinking. First of all, you do realize governments don't actually build anything right? They contract PRIVATE COMPANIES to the building for them. And those companies do make a profit off the job. Now since that is government money that pays that contract and governments do not "earn" money (they confiscate it), whose money do you think is really paying for the profit earned by the contractor? You are. Everyone who pays taxes is.
I have never understood why some people think business is bad and government is good. The largest, most powerful company in the world can not take a thing from you that you do not freely give it. They can not take your home, they can not confiscate your money, they can not throw you in prison, they can not sieze your property, and if you do business with them and they deal with you wrongly or in bad faith or breach a contract you can take them to court. The smallest governments right here in the US can seize your home, seize all of your assets and property, and can easily throw you in prison and even if all this is done wrongfully you can not seek redress in the court. You can try but you chances of success are very small, and even if you do succed how many years of your life were lost fighting them? Governments are immune from punitive action and damages in court here in the US, the very best you can hope for is to get back what you had...years and tens of thousands of dollars later.
Business cares about profit because their cash reserves are finite. If the business is not run well and runs out of money it will cease to exist. If a government is not run well, and it runs out of money it will simply raise taxes and continue running. If it continues to be willfully wasteful (why you think this is a good thing I have no idea) it will and can simply continue raising taxes until it is either overthrown, voted out, ot the taxpayers simply go elsewhere. For a real world example of this check out The First Failed State thread right here on this very forum.
So... after looking at these comparisons between government and business, who should you really be afraid of? And check out my sig while you're at it.
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A little lesson for the mulititudes of people who seem to want their government to take over everything.
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Canadians Guard Dog, Canadians... Scandinavians are something different (insert generic joke about americans and geography here)
Got my economic stimulus package (thats the sp pension from atp for the local danes) courtesy of the danish state. I guess I have to go looking for some danish cheese down in the grocery store in order to stimulate danish economy
I don't make em up, I just repeat em. Besides, that dosen't work either, is wife if from Norway IIRC. I just assumed somewhere in Scandinavia they still had seal hunting. Otherwise the joke doesnt work at all.
Heres another one...
Whats the difference between a Cadillac and a golf ball? Tiger can drive a golf ball further than 400m.
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DIE GIANTS DIE!
And the Giants keep somone else from a perfect record....
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I've spent the last few days buried in work. Both at my job and on my book. The job work is done now, all the applications for new tower builds are in for the year and design on each has been approved. I'm going to Nashville tomorrow to meet with the FCC and out companys lawyers on a license dispute. Should be as much fun as eating a live scorpion. The book is really coming together. I may even finish it. Getting it published is another matter. I might self publish if it's not too expensive.
By the way, did you guys hear Tiger Woods has been dropped from the American Team in the Ryder Cup? It seems he has a history of being beaten by Europeans!
Oh yeah... what do Tiger Woods and baby seals have in common? Both get clubbed by Scandinavians
I head a bunch of them today...
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Last Weeks Results
Volo: 15-1
GD: 13-3
Harl: 12-4
Kelverin: 11-5
Season Standings
Volo: 120-55
GD: 118-57
Kelverin: 116-59
Big win for Volo, and he regains the lead!
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Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game That Made a Nation by John Carlin: If you are a fan of sports/rugby/history/world politics/ etc you must read this book. Five stars!
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Plus out of all the states, texas is far from a role model. Worst obesity problem in the entire country, run by bible thumping wing nuts who don't understand this is a secular country not a xian one and one who walks all over seperation of church/state every chance they get. One of the last large rep. strongholds in the country and the reps certainly don't use fair tactics to keep it that way.
Ah yes. It is such a desolate wasteland full of evil republicans and even more evil christians, and most evil businesses. One can only wonder why it is the second fastest growing state economy and third fastest growing state population and was the only state whose economy has contuinued to grow every year (if not every quarter) for the last fifteen years even as the national economy fell off into recession, twice. And imagine, all this from a state with the 8th lowest tax burden out of 50. Yep those awful Texas republicans are doing a terrible job down there. I can't imagine why anyone would want to live there instead of somewhere like... California for example with the 2nd highest tax burden and about to go bankrupt.
http://www.forbes.com/2008/12/22/fastest-g...realestate.html
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Bought a laptop. Immediately thereafter, my dad was rushed by ambulance to the ER. Life sucks.
Jeez I hope he's alright. Just how much did you spend on that laptop!? Seriously though, hope he ok.
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Yea, a big box from Amazon was wating for me in my over sized mailbox. First up looks like a real winner. I'm over 100 pages in and I can't put it down. It's Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game That Made a Nation by John Carlin. It's about the 1995 South Africa World Cup Rugby team. I believe this book is the basis for the new movie Invictus. If so I will defineitely see it.
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Ok... whose alt is this?
Funny, this one pops up on the same day Gabrielle makes one of her now infrequent visits.
Just sayin...
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I am still thinking of what to get my girlfriend for our third year being-a-couple anniversary. It is hard!
Hmm. If I may, let me impart a little of my experience to you here. I don't know how old you are, or where you live. But if you are in Europe, Austrailia, New Zealand, South America, or USA/Canada/Mexico and you are your girlfriend are over 18 and have been dating for three years, there is about a 95% chance she is going to have a conversation with you real soon. It's the "Where is the Relationship Going" conversation (translated into guy speak it's the "Why Haven't You Asked Me to Marry You Yet?" conversation). Now this conversation is usually unpleasant for the guy. This is of course by design, the girl is trying to jolt you into action and this is seldom accomplished without a little pain. It can be postponed if you are both in college, or if not it can be postponed for a short time by frequent and increasingly expensive gifts. But you are just treading water with that. Sooner or later you will have to either buy the ring and just do it, break up with her, or postpone and eventually endure the dreaded "Where is the Relationship Going". One additional thought, any proposal after the "Where is the Relationship Going" gains you far less credit than one made before the "Where is the Relationship Going". So as you are considering what to get her, if you are going to marry her anyway, suprise her with a diamond ring. After all there is nothing wrong with a long engagement.
Just my $.02
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Here is a great article contrasting Texas (a state that is growing) to California (a state that is, as all of you know now, failing) Once again the blame is placed on the backward thinking and criminally foolish government policiy coming from Sacramento.
Except: Explaining four reasons why Texas is succeeding where California is failing
First, Texans on average believe in laissez-faire markets with an emphasis on individual responsibility. Since the -
I'm in Ft. Lauderdale. I hate it. Its too ****ing hot, all day, everyday. There's one season: oven. 100
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Happy Thanksgiving all. Mine went pretty well this year, compared to some in the past at least. I'll put it this way, there was no "family" trouble this year and my dinner guests held the absolute perfect conversation level....
The only downer of today is that all three NFL games were snoozers.
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A quick question though. What's your thoughts on Michael Moore? I certainly wouldn't hold it against you if you hated him, but it seems you're okay with someone like Moore, as you just realize that his politics are not your politics?
I don't think about him at all. He has an axe to grind and uses his movies to do it. That is his God given, Constitutionally guranteed right. If someone goes to see them than they are entertained thats fine with me. I will not watch them though. The difference between me and some others around here is I don't think he should be deprived of his forum simply because I don't like what he has to say. (Not insinuating anything Calax and Deadly, don't take that wrong).
Actually Alan I have the same opinion on lots of "sacred" issues the conservatives hold dear. Even though it would be more accurate to describe me as a conservative than a liberal. For example gay marriage. If you don't like it, don't marry a gay person. But you have no right to tell someone else how to live their life. The biggest problem with the US today and this goes to the core of what I despise about both the right and the left, but especially the left, is that everyone seems to think they know better how you should be living you life than you do.
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I haven't watched his show, or olberman or matthews or whoever, but ultimately you should group them all into the same catagory, it's just that fox news (Fair and balanced remember) is VERY OBVIOUS about it's political leanings and has commentators who follow those leanings and will do their best to distort things so that their agenda looks like the only rational thing on the planet and that everyone else is loons.
So does MSNBC and CNN ( nicknamed the Clinton News Network back in the 90's) only they distort to promote a leftist agenda. But you are confusing news for news commentary. The news part of Fox News is not really any different than any other all news network. If you want unbiased news sans commentary I think the BBC is all that left. It's just you guys are being a little disengenous railing against Fox for being biased because they have Beck and Hannity without acknowledging that the other networks are just as biased the other way. More so really because Fox has Alan Combs, Greta Vas Sustren, and Juan Williams. They're are all very left leaning and they all have their own show. Can you name me any conservatives on MSNBC or CNN? (hint don't expend too much time on this...there are not any)
I meant it was possible to build a stable tunnel using crude tools! Although it would be a stretch to call their tunnel stable since it collapsed on them the night they escaped.
What you did today
in Way Off-Topic
Posted
I'm off work until next Thursday. I was going to fix the barn roof but its cold and raining. It is supposed to snow later to to hell with it. So I went to Gibberlings 3 to see what new BG mods are out. I loaded up a few, made a new PC (druid this time) and giving it yet another run through. This will be the first time I've played in 3 years.