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JediSage

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Join date
22-Mar-2005
Last activity
10-Jan-2011
Posts
2,109

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Post
#100912
Topic
Gas Prices
Time
Quote

Originally posted by: starkiller
1. I would have sworn that I've heard the Guardian referred to as a "communist rag", so I would take what is written there with a grain of salt.

2. I've heard the same things about the BBC. Wasn't there some lord that was a higher up in the BBC that commited suicide over some false anti-American story that aired?

3. ric, [sarcasm]Yes, we gave Halliburton $2 billion to rebuild Iraq so we could steal their oil and lower our gas prices below the $1 mark again.[/sarcasm] I suppose that's why its now $2.20 per gallon now.

4. I'm not completely familiar with the Kyoto accords, but if there are any provisions where countries that are large polluters are fined and other countries get funds, then I can see where its a wealth distribution system.


Well said.

Wasn't it Lenin that said the best way to destroy the middle-class was through taxation and inflation?

Ric - The BBC did have Michael Moore on (Moron?) during the last election to provide commentary. Very....unbiased....of...them. Talk to me when they have Sean Hannity on and I'll call them at least fair.

Ric - Which English newspaper had a headline of "How can 155 million people be so dumb?" after Bush won his second term?

Inherent in the power to tax is the power to destroy.

And I think accusing the US of contributing to 50% of the world's pollution is a reach. Go to central asia if you need convincing of that...or what about the old Soviet Bloc states? How does allowing these places to slide while our businesses take the lion's share of the burden help? Can people be taxed into prosperity? Do we pollute? Yes. 50% world total?...please.

"It takes a villiage" to feed Michael Moore...Don't know who said it but I like it.

I'm withdrawing from any further debate, as it seems anything I say escalates things further. The last thing I want is to bring controversy to this board, where I've gotten a lot of laughs for several months now.
Post
#100892
Topic
A Big Debate for the New Century
Time
Quote

Originally posted by: MeBeJedi
Coming in a little bit late here...

"3- Does the complex almost mathematical code in DNA have a natural (random, blind) order?"

Sounds like someone's not heard of the "Golden Ratio" or "Fibonacci Numbers".

"The only "proof" I've ever seen was a poster on the wall in my grade-school science classroom of a long line of apes starting at the beginning of time, each one standing more erect than the other. Perhaps when they find this year's missing link?"

With all due respect, the lack of proof you've seen lies more in your lack of experience with it, rather than any perceived lack of said proof. This line of reasoning is like closing your eyes at an intersection, so you could tell the traffic cop that you didn't see the red light. Now, this is not to say that the proof is 100% definitive, but there is plenty to see, should you so choose to study it.

"For instance, the case in Georgia where the school board wanted to put stickers on the text books stating that evolution is a theory, and that many people consider it to be flawed."

Which is ironic, because as much as I am an evolutionist, I have no problem with this statement at all. It is still a theory, regardless of how well supported it is. I don't think there's a God pulling the strings, but there's still a whole universe of knowledge that we don't have access to. Who knows - Douglas Adams could be right.

"Have you guys heard the news that some scientists are questioning whether the spead of light is even a constant? These are secular scientist and they have been studying this and researching it and they think that Einstien was wrong about the speed of light being a constant."

Well, I don't know about light going faster, but light can be slowed down.

"Same with evolution. He likes to think that evolution still happened over the course of the number of years that scientists believe it to have happened but that the Bible refers to that entire process as a "day."

I liked it. Seemed to work for me."


What did he say about the process of dinosaurs?


I'd be interested in reading the Golden Ratio..I'm curious as to how blind forces can account for the staggering amount of information in a single sequence of DNA. Kind of like the "if you put 100 monkeys (or was it Homo Erectus?) at a type writer for a couple of hundred years you'd eventually get Shakespeare" example.

As far as the "proof" of evolution, I accept your challenge to study it (already have to some extent). Thankfully I won't be doing it in a university because there it's already case closed. I will say that commonality does not necessarily translate to a single point of origin-ie: There are 5 buildings made of concrete, did they evolve from the sidewalk?

I'm glad you're open to the"sticker" on the book idea. I'm curious, would you be open to teaching alternative theories to evolution in the classroom so long as they are taught as theory? It is regrettable that generations of indoctrination can't be undone, ie: Telling people that the Miller "primordial seas" experiment was a joke.

A parable: A man and his son are walking down the street. The boy looks at a huge building and says "Wow, how did that building get here dad?" "Well son, a lot of people in construction crews, and civil engineers, and building managers built that building". A little while later they come to a suspension bridge "Wow! How did this bridge get here dad?" "Well son, again it was construction people, engineers, and the like". "How did we get here dad?" "Well, by accident son".
Post
#100891
Topic
Gas Prices
Time
Quote

Originally posted by: Yoda Is Your Father
The Kyoto treaty would not be 'dead in the water' as you put it if the U.S.A, which puts out nearly 50% of the world's pollution all by itself, had signed it. Without their participation it is a useless gesture. How would the treaty destroy your economy? People, please do me and yourselves a favour - try and get hold of some newspapers or articles or something that didn't come from CNN or one of the other jokes that America calls News Media. Try www.guardian.co.uk for starters. And before you start getting all defensive, I'm married to an American, I have family in America, I've spent a lot of time in the country, and I do actually ike the place, so don't assume I'm a U.S.A. hating foreigner. But let me tell you - the news you guys get is bias, one sided and edited. It is litle short of propaganda, and that's a fact. Widen your horizons.

I think Ric put it quite nicely - If you're actually proud of breaking the Kyoto protocol, all I wish is luck to you all.


Well, since you pointed me to The Guardian I'll make an assumption your from the UK and not "the continent". We started getting the American Hating Network (AKA:BBC) a few years ago, which is not to accuse you personally of hating the US. Just making my point that what you have is FAR from being unbiased. For the record: Nobody is unbiased. It is impossible. Anyone who makes a claim of being unbiased is fooling themselves at best, and should not be trusted at worst.

I personally would rather get a root canal than watch CNN. We used to refer to CNN as the Clinton News Network. I read a lot of Worldnetdaily.com, which is independent.

You once again failed to state what exactly Kyoto will do except redistribute wealth, but as you say, I wish you luck.

"The inherent virtue of socialism is the equal sharing of miseries"-Winston Churchill

Post
#100812
Topic
Office Space
Time
Quote

Originally posted by: ricarleite
We neither, it was merely a birthday celebration between the department, no more than 20 people. Where I'm working now there's a cake every month for everyone who celebrated birthday at that specific month. I think it's one of the most ackward, weird experiences, a "infantile birthday cake happy birthday singing" scene at an office.


I agree...very ackward and uncomfortable.

Post
#100807
Topic
IPod Contents...character-revealing?
Time
Quote

Originally posted by: ricarleite
Well God knows an artist can't oppose a president, pretty much like pagans with Torquemada.


I think the problem is that yes an "artist" is free to have their opinion, however I also think they have access to a forum to ram it down people's throats that the "average joe" doesn't have access to. They have the ability to hit and run. On the flip side, we can steamroll their records, call the radio stations and gripe/ask them not to play their stuff, protest outside their concerts, etc; Many people here are tired of "celebrities" who can barely run their own lives telling us how to live ours (don't drive SUVs...get out of my way I've got to hop on my private jet, corporate America is evil because it makes money...I live in a Beverly Hills mansion). Nice imagery with Torquie, there...next thing someone will bring up the "Red Scare".

Post
#100789
Topic
A Big Debate for the New Century
Time
Quote

Originally posted by: Bossk
I've heard of Inherit the Wind but have never seen it nor know what it's about. Can't guarantee if my friend has seen it or not either. He claims to have gotten the ideas from a friend of his. Maybe that friend saw it.


From what I understand of the original case, the prosecuting attorney that took the stand was never allowed to cross examine the defense because they changed their plea the minute he stepped down. Don't think that is presented in Inherit the wind..
Post
#100780
Topic
Childhood Past-time: Model Rockets
Time
Quote

Originally posted by: Windexed
Quote

Those switches NEVER worked right. Dude, I forgot about the Alphas. Estes had a really neat business going on rockets for quite a few years. Remember those balsa wood fins? Huuuhhhhh...terrible. I remember my favorites were models called the Patriot and also there was one that was silver and black with a skull and cross-bones on it. Also my brother had a funky dark-glittery green one that they called "The Kryptonite".




That's awesome. Yeah, I remember the Patriot. It was somewhat smaller, right? And yeah, balsa wasn't the greatest material to build those things out of considering the stress they are under. But then again, didn't they sell like a big 'value' pack that was just full of assorted pieces that you could mix and match into whatever?


Yes! I remember that. I remember they released an R2-D2 model as well, of course it crashed into a tree and broke the first time we launched it...GRRRRRR!!

Post
#100775
Topic
While we're waxing nostalgic: Scouting
Time
Anyone here a former Cub Scout/Boy Scout?

I can remember I went as high as Boy Scouts (back before they were under siege by the thought police), but then I called it quits. I can remember getting those merit bages for doing almost nothing.

I remember the one time I went on a scout camping trip that I had the WORST ear-ache of my life (can still remember it, that's how bad it was). What a shame...could have been a good memory.
Post
#100774
Topic
Childhood Past-time: Model Rockets
Time
Quote

Originally posted by: Windexed
Quote

Originally posted by: greencapt
Awesome ric!!! You and I are peas in a pod!!! Myself and my highschools chums used to make the same kind of bombs, but we used muriatic acid (the joys of pool chemicals, right?). We took the empty 2 liter bottle, put 3 or 4 crumpled pieces of aluminum foil into the bottle and poured in the acid to cover... close the lid tightly, shake the bottle and THROW IT AWAY FROM YOU!!! LOL. No fire or smoke, of course, but... BADABOOOOOMMMM!!!!

Then again, we also used to make home-brewed napalm out of Ivory liquid soap and gasoline... those were the days!

(what the hell were we thinking?!?!?!?!)

Oh and yes... to answer the thread- we also built and launced model rockets. Fun times, but running after them and trying to figure out where they landed (inevitably in some wooded area) was a pain in the rear.




We used to do these (although we substituted "Works" toilet cleaner for pool chemicals) until one went off in my buddy's basement.

Anyway, I spent a few summers (and probably hundreds of my parents' dollars) on Estes rockets. Although, like you guys, I rarely fired them off properly, instead modifiying them and experimenting and whatnot. I don't think I ever used the starter switch, instead I'd just touch the wires to a lantern battery. Fields were usually too windy, so I just set them off in the neighborhood. If they landed on someone's roof, I'd just go by a new $5 mosquito or Alpha and whatever. Once we tried fastening one onto a the back of a toy dumptruck to see if we could set a toy-truck land speed record, but it didn't work. Another time I had one of those multi-stage ones, with this long fuselage. I don't know if it was a defective engine (or maybe I glued the nose on hoping it would blow up) but the thing came straight down the way it came up. We didn't realize how fast it was approaching condsidering it probably hit a few thousand feet, but we barely got out of the way of it down at us in a free fall. It stuck 2 feet into the ground. I ripped it in half just tring to pull it out of the ground. God this is awesome. Keep the stories comin' guys!



Those switches NEVER worked right. Dude, I forgot about the Alphas. Estes had a really neat business going on rockets for quite a few years. Remember those balsa wood fins? Huuuhhhhh...terrible. I remember my favorites were models called the Patriot and also there was one that was silver and black with a skull and cross-bones on it. Also my brother had a funky dark-glittery green one that they called "The Kryptonite".

I remember after I "outgrew" them, my cousin had an accident with a model rocket. Not sure what he was doing, but he wound up with powder burns on his leg. My aunt and mother took him to the hospital in my new car, so I was like "Don't get any blood on the seats"....talk about Mr. Compassion, huh?
Post
#100756
Topic
Gas Prices
Time
Quote

Originally posted by: ricarleite
Quote

Originally posted by: JediSage
Quote

Originally posted by: Darth Chaltab
If you really understand the Kyoto protocol then you should be glad we broke it. If it destroyed the US economy, it would affect Brazil too, you know.


Yeah, good point Chaltab. How much oil does Brazil export annualy? And BTW Ricar...we didn't "break" the treaty, we just refuse to participate in it because it's ill-concieved and hides another more insidious agenda, ie: wealth redistribution.


OK how would the Kyoto protocol destroy USA's economy? How?

Brazil? Exporting oil? Almost none, Petrobras pretty much covers only Brazil itself. I think they supply some to Argentina or Mexico, but very little of it.

The Clinton administration had signed the treaty, and the Bush administration steped back. So I consider it "breaking" it.


I don't think the US Senate ever approved it, so in the strictest sense we never signed it. That's the way treaties are supposed to work in the US, which sadly is not the way it does happen most of the time, regardless of who's in the White House. Senate approval is supposed to allow the people a voice in what jokes we get tied to, like the WTO, NAFTA, etc; If the President wants to do it, he needs to get 51 senators to sign off (assuming it doesn't need a "super" majority).

Post
#100749
Topic
Gas Prices
Time
Quote

Originally posted by: Darth Chaltab
If you really understand the Kyoto protocol then you should be glad we broke it. If it destroyed the US economy, it would affect Brazil too, you know.


Yeah, good point Chaltab. How much oil does Brazil export annualy? And BTW Ricar...we didn't "break" the treaty, we just refuse to participate in it because it's ill-concieved and hides another more insidious agenda, ie: wealth redistribution.

Post
#100736
Topic
Gas Prices
Time
Quote

Originally posted by: ricarleite
Quote

Originally posted by: JediSage
Quote

Originally posted by: Yoda Is Your Father
Quote

Originally posted by JediSage
All I can say is: Thank God we're not dumb enough to still be a Kyoto signatory (for now anyway).

Dude, comments like that make you sound like a fucking prick. Buy a smaller car instead of the V8 pickup you no doubt drive and shut up.


Wow....well reasoned, thoughtful response. I drive a 4-cylinder thank you. As usual its the people who drive SUVs that are the source of the world's problems, not the 60 cents in tax our states are charging per gallon for idiot social spending programs.


Uh no, people who drive SUVs are PART of the problem. That's right let's rip the whole Kyoto agreements and step back 20 freaking years back in environmental progress. Why? Because oil companies rule the world and they don't care about the future, they care a bout getting more money out of SUVs drivers (who make fewer miles per gallon as possible).


LOL....You forgot to mention the American Military Industrial Complex, Microsoft, Starbucks, etc; What exactly is Kyoto except a global tax? Kyoto is not about the environment, it's about redistributing wealth ("developing" countries have higher standards thus more latitude, or are exempt outright), otherwise known as socialism.

Post
#100731
Topic
Gas Prices
Time
Quote

Originally posted by: Yoda Is Your Father
Quote

Originally posted by JediSage
All I can say is: Thank God we're not dumb enough to still be a Kyoto signatory (for now anyway).

Dude, comments like that make you sound like a fucking prick. Buy a smaller car instead of the V8 pickup you no doubt drive and shut up.


Wow....well reasoned, thoughtful response. I drive a 4-cylinder thank you. As usual its the people who drive SUVs that are the source of the world's problems, not the 60 cents in tax our states are charging per gallon for idiot social spending programs.