Blarghagh Posted January 1, 2020 Posted January 1, 2020 49 minutes ago, Skarpen said: Hey guys do you remember Nope.
Guard Dog Posted January 1, 2020 Author Posted January 1, 2020 9 hours ago, Gromnir said: or, faster than light travel is genuine prohibited by physics as we understand and the galaxy is a whole lot bigger than most o' us is capable o' comprehending. forget the universe... is no earth transmission ever gonna reach another galaxy in your lifetime, or even your great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great kid's lifetime. if there were ten people on earth, total, would not be a shock if they never bumped into each other, yes? assume the ten is limited to travel on foot per day and no radio. wouldn't shock if the ten persons never saw signs o' other human life, yes? galaxy is a whole lot bigger than earth relative to entire galaxy in our drake equation example. ten solar systems in the galaxy? we, as a civilization, has been sending out radio messages for a relative short period o' time, and the likelihood o' those transmissions having reached another inhabited spacefaring civilization in our galaxy is kinda remote even if we is optimistic using the drake equation. have even a million space faring civilizations in the galaxy that cannot practical travel much beyond their own solar system? we act surprised we ain't never heard from one? surprise is 'cause we do not comprehend just how vast the galaxy is. tv and movie ftl travel messes up pov when it comes to plausibility o' there being many space faring civilizations we never manage to hear from... evar. HA! Good Fun! Just to add on to Groms point. I'm sure you guys have been seeing stories in the news about how the apparent magnitude of Betelgeuse has dropped in recent months. It's apparent magnitude has slipped from .42 to 1.3. It was once the 9th brightest object in the night sky. Now it is the 23rd. Heck you can go outside tonight and take a look for yourself . But here is the thing. Betelgeuse is 428 light years away. So whatever you observe happened in 1592. Elizabeth I was Queen of England. Galileo invented the thermometer, the Falkland Islands were first discovered by the English. The news sites have been reporting and discussing this as though it is happening in real time. They are commenting that the star is "about" to go super-nova. Well, whatever we are seeing happened a long time ago, We are just now finding out about it. Look, I realize that we all "know" this already. So do the news outlets. But do you ever really "think" about it? What if FTL travel really is impossible? The galaxy could be teeming with life and we would never know. Like people marooned on different islands too far to reach each other. Nothing is more conducive to deep thoughts than sitting on a porch alone at night with a glass of quality whiskey and the stars overhead. I definitely recommend it! 2 "While it is true you learn with age, the down side is what you often learn is what a damn fool you were before" Thomas Sowell
Guard Dog Posted January 1, 2020 Author Posted January 1, 2020 2 hours ago, Skarpen said: I'm seriously starting to worry first time in this election cycle that Donald Trump might not be reelected giving the Democrats winning message. Don't. Seriously don't even give it a thought. I used to worry about the outcomes of elections. I used to buy into the BS line that gets dusted off and trotted out every four years: "THIS is the most important election ever!". It's not. Even if the Democrats win it all in 2020 by 2022 the Congress will be split again and the status quo maintained. If Trump wins, if (insert Democrat name here) wins, it just does not matter. 1 "While it is true you learn with age, the down side is what you often learn is what a damn fool you were before" Thomas Sowell
Azdeus Posted January 1, 2020 Posted January 1, 2020 (edited) 51 minutes ago, Guard Dog said: Just to add on to Groms point. I'm sure you guys have been seeing stories in the news about how the apparent magnitude of Betelgeuse has dropped in recent months. It's apparent magnitude has slipped from .42 to 1.3. It was once the 9th brightest object in the night sky. Now it is the 23rd. Heck you can go outside tonight and take a look for yourself . But here is the thing. Betelgeuse is 428 light years away. So whatever you observe happened in 1592. Elizabeth I was Queen of England. Galileo invented the thermometer, the Falkland Islands were first discovered by the English. The news sites have been reporting and discussing this as though it is happening in real time. They are commenting that the star is "about" to go super-nova. Well, whatever we are seeing happened a long time ago, We are just now finding out about it. Look, I realize that we all "know" this already. So do the news outlets. But do you ever really "think" about it? What if FTL travel really is impossible? The galaxy could be teeming with life and we would never know. Like people marooned on different islands too far to reach each other. Nothing is more conducive to deep thoughts than sitting on a porch alone at night with a glass of quality whiskey and the stars overhead. I definitely recommend it! But yeah, it's a bit fun to hear people speak of it happening "now" ^^ Edit; I prefer taking a lawnchair and a cushion and go out on the fields here to get a good 360 view. It's really relaxing. Edited January 1, 2020 by Azdeus 1 Civilization, in fact, grows more and more maudlin and hysterical; especially under democracy it tends to degenerate into a mere combat of crazes; the whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, most of them imaginary. - H.L. Mencken
ktchong Posted January 1, 2020 Posted January 1, 2020 (edited) Not sure if this is relevant to "politics", but a few days ago I read in Chinese social media that: in East Asia, (South Korea and Beijing in particular,) Asian male-white female interracial marriages outnumbered White male-Asian female ones, for the first time. Now that I've thought of it, I've been seeing a lot of Asian male-white female (AMWF) channels popped up on YouTube in the past year, (i.e., 2019.) One of the benefits when your countries/cultures/region have "risen", I suppose. Edited January 1, 2020 by ktchong
Skarpen Posted January 1, 2020 Posted January 1, 2020 3 hours ago, TrueNeutral said: Nope. Ah, the double standard is strong in this one. 2 hours ago, Guard Dog said: Don't. Seriously don't even give it a thought. I used to worry about the outcomes of elections. I used to buy into the BS line that gets dusted off and trotted out every four years: "THIS is the most important election ever!". It's not. Even if the Democrats win it all in 2020 by 2022 the Congress will be split again and the status quo maintained. If Trump wins, if (insert Democrat name here) wins, it just does not matter. I think you might missed something in my post.
Malcador Posted January 1, 2020 Posted January 1, 2020 (edited) Thought it was just usual Internet asshats/STEMLords that used "learn to code", as weak an insult as it is. Not quite sure it's the same thing, but usual suspects need to feel nailed to a cross, I guess Quote “Anybody who can go down 3,000 feet in a mine can sure as hell learn to program as well... Anybody who can throw coal into a furnace can learn how to program, for God’s sake!” Ah, Biden. The protests at the embassy and the new fuss with Iran has convenient timing. Edited January 1, 2020 by Malcador 1 Why has elegance found so little following? Elegance has the disadvantage that hard work is needed to achieve it and a good education to appreciate it. - Edsger Wybe Dijkstra
Skarpen Posted January 1, 2020 Posted January 1, 2020 31 minutes ago, Malcador said: Thought it was just usual Internet asshats/STEMLords that used "learn to code", as weak an insult as it is. Not quite sure it's the same thing, but usual suspects need to feel nailed to a cross, I guess If by asshats/STEMLords you mean the journalists who used it when people were loosing their jobs then yes. They of course started crying and playing victim when people returned the favor. Ten it wasn't so funny when the shoe was on the other foot.
Blarghagh Posted January 1, 2020 Posted January 1, 2020 3 hours ago, Skarpen said: Ah, the double standard is strong in this one. How?
Zoraptor Posted January 1, 2020 Posted January 1, 2020 5 hours ago, Guard Dog said: I'm sure you guys have been seeing stories in the news about how the apparent magnitude of Betelgeuse has dropped in recent months. Largely reporting bias due to Betelgeuse being well known and 'everyone' wanting to witness a supernova- stars dim (or brighten) all the time, they just don't tend to make the news because GCK53421B doing it isn't very catchy. Quote the Falkland Islands were first discovered by the English Somewhere, someone just choked on their empanada.
Guard Dog Posted January 1, 2020 Author Posted January 1, 2020 2 hours ago, Zoraptor said: Somewhere, someone just choked on their empanada. "By the English" was a pretty important detail in that sentence. Just because Davis bumped into it does not mean no ones knew they were there. "While it is true you learn with age, the down side is what you often learn is what a damn fool you were before" Thomas Sowell
Gfted1 Posted January 1, 2020 Posted January 1, 2020 Wormholes. "I'm your biggest fan, Ill follow you until you love me, Papa"
Guard Dog Posted January 1, 2020 Author Posted January 1, 2020 In all seriousness I do get a kick out of comrade Bernie. He is a multi-millionaire who owns three houses, one of which is that ultimate wealthy elite trophy: the luxury vacation home. Not bad for a man how has never worked a day in his life outside of political office. A millionaire who give speeches about how immoral it is to be a millionaire! And people eat it up. Of course like all good socialists he is exempting himself from any upcoming purges he might have in mind. 1 "While it is true you learn with age, the down side is what you often learn is what a damn fool you were before" Thomas Sowell
ktchong Posted January 2, 2020 Posted January 2, 2020 Donald Trump will win the 2020 re-election. If you recall: back in 2016, all the election polls and pundits predicted that Hillary had “90-plus percentage” chance of defeating Trump in a landslide. All of them EXCEPT TWO: Professor Helmut Norpoth and Professor Alan Lichtman. Norpoth used his “Primary Model”. Lichtman used his 13-point predictive method. Here is the peculiarity shared by both Norpoth’s model and Lichtman’s 13 method: The main focus of the model and method was not even based on the candidates themselves. The models mostly looked at the performances of the SITTING PRESIDENT, who was Obama at the time. So, in essence, they looked at the 2016 election as a referendum on Obama’s second term. It was NOT Hillary who lost the 2016 election. It was OBAMA who lost the 2016 election — because outside the Black communities and the neoliberal circles, Obama’s policies had harmed and were disliked by the average Americans. The Primary Model even predicted that: even if Bernie had defeated Hillary in the 2016 primary, Bernie would have also lost to Trump — by an even bigger margin. Hillary or Bernie had very little to do with the outcome. The 2016 election outcome had already been pre-determined by the second-term performance of then-sitting president, Obama. Which brings us to the 2020 election. On December 5 in the New York Emma Clark Memorial Library, Norpoth offered his very first tentative forecast for the 2020 result based on his Primary Model. A month before that, Lichtman also went on the MSNBC to make an early 2020 prediction based on his 13-points. BOTH professors predicted Trump will win the 2020 election, regardless who will be the Democratic candidate. It is simply because Trump’s PERFORMANCES — outside his insensitive/offensive/sexist/racist comments and his un-presidential behaviors — especially his performances on economy, have actually been objectively good. AND, he has kept most of his campaign promises (even though I disagree with almost all of his policies/promises; I have to admit: he has kept most of his promises to his supporters.) Mind you: Lichtman is a Democrat who hated Trump, and Norpoth seems to be a progressive. But that was their early prediction for 2020. I encourage you to google those professors and their forecast methods/models. So, unless the economy crashes before the 2020 election, Trump will have his second term. So Happy New Year! 1
ComradeYellow Posted January 2, 2020 Posted January 2, 2020 5 hours ago, ktchong said: Donald Trump will win the 2020 re-election. Only if there's no strong 3rd party candidate to challenge both him and the Democrats. Nothing is confirmed yet so I don't want to spill anything but we got something big coming if not this cycle then definitely next.
Gromnir Posted January 2, 2020 Posted January 2, 2020 6 hours ago, Guard Dog said: In all seriousness I do get a kick out of comrade Bernie. He is a multi-millionaire who owns three houses, one of which is that ultimate wealthy elite trophy: the luxury vacation home. Not bad for a man how has never worked a day in his life outside of political office. A millionaire who give speeches about how immoral it is to be a millionaire! And people eat it up. Of course like all good socialists he is exempting himself from any upcoming purges he might have in mind. well, in all fairness, bernie is proposing a 45% tax on estates valued 'tween $3.5 and $10 mil. am expecting if bernie is not in such a range, he is gonna be close... and getting closer every day as book royalties continue to build and investments increase. 'course all the wealth taxes from democrats is nutty from a practical standpoint, and highly inefficient. is good reasons why US has adopted a capital gains scheme for taxing the wealthy. we sound like a broken record on this issue, so will refrain from repeating. thats said, while am not a socialist by any stretch, we does advocate a significant increase in capital gains targeted at wealthy (exclude primary residence n' similar to avoid hurting middle-class) in spite o' fact such would affect us personal. as an aside, even after donating ~50% to charity, we are worth more than bernie. 'course am only 50 and retired so our money needs take us a bit further than does bernie's. even so, don't much feel like scrooge mcduck with piles o' treasure. keep the house at 62 F during winter to save on heat bill and still take navy showers. we don't clip coupons, but am frugal. extreme conservative and rough 4% rule has us living with income o' $120k per year, and a portion o' such going to charitable (but not necessarily tax exempt) causes. am seeing if we can pull off functional $80k per year. as such, we could not retire in hurl's neck o' the woods unless he allows us to pitch a tent in his yard. living in shady's neighborhood might also require comical degree o' belt tightening. 'bout half o' our wealth is in income generating real estate, but current is not so much generating income as it is building equity and is thus excluded from the 4% estimates. millions sounds like a whole bunch until you gotta actual consider realities o' retirement. am genuine feeling a bit o' sympathy for millenials. to get back to bernie, he mentioned in a recent debate that something along the lines that three Americans have more wealth than the economic bottom 50% o' people in this country. the thing is, Gromnir has more wealth than the bottom 50% combined, 'cause the bottom 50%, as a whole, has more debt than wealth. so yeah, bernie has a point regardless o' perceptions o' hypocrisy. income disparity is becoming untenable and arguable dangerous. there will be a breaking point... as is the case with US debt. HA! Good Fun! 1 2 "If there be time to expose through discussion the falsehood and fallacies, to avert the evil by the processes of education, the remedy to be applied is more speech, not enforced silence."Justice Louis Brandeis, Concurring, Whitney v. California, 274 U.S. 357 (1927) "Im indifferent to almost any murder as long as it doesn't affect me or mine."--Gfted1 (September 30, 2019)
BruceVC Posted January 2, 2020 Posted January 2, 2020 (edited) 8 hours ago, ktchong said: It was NOT Hillary who lost the 2016 election. It was OBAMA who lost the 2016 election — because outside the Black communities and the neoliberal circles, Obama’s policies had harmed and were disliked by the average Americans. The Primary Model even predicted that: even if Bernie had defeated Hillary in the 2016 primary, Bernie would have also lost to Trump — by an even bigger margin. Hillary or Bernie had very little to do with the outcome. The 2016 election outcome had already been pre-determined by the second-term performance of then-sitting president, Obama. Nah, Obama didn't lose election. Obamas final approval raring was 60 % percent so despite the general anti-Obama sentiment on this forum more Americans liked him and his views and policies than disliked him. I am a huge supporter of Obama because of the reality of the USA when he became president and what he had to address. He left the USA in a much better place than when he became president, I do accept certain domestic and foreign policies he implemented or tried to implement were well meaning but misplaced https://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/president-obama-final-approval-rating-60-poll-shows-article-1.2949260 There were 2 primary reasons Trump won Hilary Clinton simply wasnt the right candidate for several reasons There was a real concern that the USA was going in both a political and social direction that was not what many Americans believed or rather supported. This meant many Trump supporters found solace and real identity in what Trump stands for. Never forget Ktchong no one chooses to be born a certain race, its fine to be white. I have no issue with my race and we decide for ourselves how we live our lives and treat others. We should have an understanding of the past and we can have views around addressing perceived historical injustices but we not defined by it I do think there is a real chance Trump can win in 2020 but that is because I am not convinced with the overall Democratic message and I am very concerned with the far left views of the likes of Warren and Sanders. It also cannot be denied the overall strength and growth of the USA economy under Trump which will add to his election story I still maintain Biden is the best Democratic candidate to beat Trump and hopefully he wins the Democratic nomination Edited January 2, 2020 by BruceVC "Abashed the devil stood and felt how awful goodness is and saw Virtue in her shape how lovely: and pined his loss” John Milton "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.” - George Bernard Shaw "What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead" - Nelson Mandela
Gorth Posted January 2, 2020 Posted January 2, 2020 26 minutes ago, BruceVC said: I still maintain Biden is the best Democratic candidate to beat Trump and hopefully he wins the Democratic nomination I think Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is going to be the most interesting president that the US will have had in a century... once she gets old enough to run for it Local (Australian) news... New South Wales (NSW) declares State of Emergency @Zoraptor I haven't been to New Zealand recently, but according to the BBC, Australia is now burning so badly, the fire and smoke is visible as an orange thingy on the horizon of the South Island, 2000 km (1200 miles) away. 18 people confirmed dead and 17 missing... https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-50969088 https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-01-02/nsw-rural-fire-service-declares-tourist-leave-zone-south-coast/11836730 After WA (Western Australia) and VIC (Victoria) got their share fires, SA (South Australia) is feeling the heat too now, with temperatures around 45C (113F).https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-01-02/bushfires-could-break-containment-lines-amid-heat-cfs-warns/11837524 Edit: 100000 residents urged to flee the outer suburbs of Melbourne https://www.france24.com/en/20191230-thousands-flee-as-heatwave-fuelled-bushfires-reach-melbourne 1 “He who joyfully marches to music in rank and file has already earned my contempt. He has been given a large brain by mistake, since for him the spinal cord would surely suffice.” - Albert Einstein
BruceVC Posted January 2, 2020 Posted January 2, 2020 6 minutes ago, Gorth said: I think Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is going to be the most interesting president that the US will have had in a century... once she gets old enough to run for it Local (Australian) news... New South Wales (NSW) declares State of Emergency @Zoraptor I haven't been to New Zealand recently, but according to the BBC, Australia is now burning so badly, the fire and smoke is visible as an orange thingy on the horizon of the South Island, 2000 km (1200 miles) away. 18 people confirmed dead and 17 missing... https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-50969088 https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-01-02/nsw-rural-fire-service-declares-tourist-leave-zone-south-coast/11836730 After WA (Western Australia) and VIC (Victoria) got their share fires, SA (South Australia) is feeling the heat too now, with temperatures around 45C (113F).https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-01-02/bushfires-could-break-containment-lines-amid-heat-cfs-warns/11837524 Gorthfuscious I am assuming the general view is that the severity of these types of fires are due to climate change and this is now a reality that going forward the country has to contend with What are the strategies and ideas that government and civil society have come up with to reduce the damage and length of these disasters, I have heard massive fire breaks is one solution ? "Abashed the devil stood and felt how awful goodness is and saw Virtue in her shape how lovely: and pined his loss” John Milton "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.” - George Bernard Shaw "What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead" - Nelson Mandela
Gorth Posted January 2, 2020 Posted January 2, 2020 18 minutes ago, BruceVC said: Gorthfuscious I am assuming the general view is that the severity of these types of fires are due to climate change and this is now a reality that going forward the country has to contend with What are the strategies and ideas that government and civil society have come up with to reduce the damage and length of these disasters, I have heard massive fire breaks is one solution ? Oh, it's very much a result of temperatures having been higher than average the last 20 years. The Morrison's government strategy is to subsidize the coal mining industry, especially companies like Adani (Indian company), because global warming is not real, just a figment of our imagination (regardless of the mercury saying something completely different, who cares about facts in electiony ears, which 2019 was). Oh yeah, getting rid of things like carbon tax and whatever else might get in the way of increasing average temperatures. Generally, his response is, shut up, it's all good, can I leave the country and go on holiday now? I love this one 'We cannot control the natural disaster but what we can do is control our response' Edit to add: I'm perfectly well aware, that a country like Australia can't change the climate situation in the short term, much less doing it alone, other countries are contributing a LOT more the the warming, but his attitude is what pisses people off. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-01-02/scott-morrison-urges-patience-and-calm-to-deal-with-bushfires/11837358 1 1 “He who joyfully marches to music in rank and file has already earned my contempt. He has been given a large brain by mistake, since for him the spinal cord would surely suffice.” - Albert Einstein
Gorth Posted January 2, 2020 Posted January 2, 2020 Australia used to be a nice place... let's commemorate the country that once was: 1 2 2 “He who joyfully marches to music in rank and file has already earned my contempt. He has been given a large brain by mistake, since for him the spinal cord would surely suffice.” - Albert Einstein
Gromnir Posted January 2, 2020 Posted January 2, 2020 have no idea what a "drop bear" might be, but dodgy prawns seems a bit tame compared to the other options. after all, dodgy prawns is a danger o' pretty much every brunch buffet. HA! Good Fun! "If there be time to expose through discussion the falsehood and fallacies, to avert the evil by the processes of education, the remedy to be applied is more speech, not enforced silence."Justice Louis Brandeis, Concurring, Whitney v. California, 274 U.S. 357 (1927) "Im indifferent to almost any murder as long as it doesn't affect me or mine."--Gfted1 (September 30, 2019)
Zoraptor Posted January 2, 2020 Posted January 2, 2020 1 hour ago, Gorth said: I haven't been to New Zealand recently, but according to the BBC, Australia is now burning so badly, the fire and smoke is visible as an orange thingy on the horizon of the South Island, 2000 km (1200 miles) away. Beeb's understating it, by a fair bit, though it's a lot clearer in the South Island today than yesterday when that pic was taken. Here in the northern North Island it's pretty much like a London afternoon, a bit hazy and very yellow light but not Mars sandstorm. Quote Oh, it's very much a result of temperatures having been higher than average the last 20 years. [..] I love this one 'We cannot control the natural disaster but what we can do is control our response' Should probably be said that the phenomenon leading to the fires is 100% natural (Indian Ocean dipole, for those familiar more with Pacific patterns it's basically El Nino just for the Indian Ocean) but the severity has been made a lot worse by warming temperatures. Think my favourite ScoMo comment was saying that "now isn't the time to talk about climate change and anyone doing so was playing politics with tragedy". Not a dfirect quote, but certainly the gist of it. 1 1
Azdeus Posted January 2, 2020 Posted January 2, 2020 1 hour ago, Gorth said: Oh, it's very much a result of temperatures having been higher than average the last 20 years. The Morrison's government strategy is to subsidize the coal mining industry, especially companies like Adani (Indian company), because global warming is not real, just a figment of our imagination (regardless of the mercury saying something completely different, who cares about facts in electiony ears, which 2019 was). Oh yeah, getting rid of things like carbon tax and whatever else might get in the way of increasing average temperatures. Generally, his response is, shut up, it's all good, can I leave the country and go on holiday now? I love this one 'We cannot control the natural disaster but what we can do is control our response' Edit to add: I'm perfectly well aware, that a country like Australia can't change the climate situation in the short term, much less doing it alone, other countries are contributing a LOT more the the warming, but his attitude is what pisses people off. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-01-02/scott-morrison-urges-patience-and-calm-to-deal-with-bushfires/11837358 I'll admit that my general knowledge about the political status of Australia is pretty much limited to what Juice Media decides to show, but damn if there isn't a ****load of asshattery going on down-under. Civilization, in fact, grows more and more maudlin and hysterical; especially under democracy it tends to degenerate into a mere combat of crazes; the whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, most of them imaginary. - H.L. Mencken
Blarghagh Posted January 2, 2020 Posted January 2, 2020 1 hour ago, Gromnir said: have no idea what a "drop bear" might be, but dodgy prawns seems a bit tame compared to the other options. after all, dodgy prawns is a danger o' pretty much every brunch buffet. HA! Good Fun! Drop bears are a joke about man eating koalas that fall from the trees. A bit redundant, since man eating koalas are already on the map.
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