"The idiots in this country who believe that hard work and long hours alone will make them 8 figures some day. The idiots who believe that their success is the result of their hardwork and their hardwork alone--that they don't owe anybody anything. "You're going to take away MY WEALTH!" When they have no wealth of their own.
Everybody in America dreams of winning the lottery or working hard and building a business which is going to make them millions. And when that happens they "sure as hell aren't going to pay to keep some lazy ass mexican to sit home and watch cable." They're all deluded that someday that millionaire will be them.
Are the rich and succesful by and large hard workers and productive members of society? Sure. Absolutely. But are they 100,000 times more useful to an organization? Are they 100,000 times more productive than a replacement? No. Our entire pay structure has gotten bent out of shape. Who pays the salaries of a large bank? The board. Is the Salary coming out of the board's pockets? Not really. What do they care if they pay their CEO 10 million or 11? And if the CEO makes 11 million then it only seems fair the board pays itself 2 each."
Well, one thing you keep mentioning...becoming a millionaire on salary. That's the error I see in your argument.
There's and old saying that you will never get rich working for someone else. That is really true 99% of the time.
In the US, if you want to be rich...you gotta work for yourself. Incorporate and get out there on your own....entrepreneurial spirit and all. Invent something, consult, contract yourself out...etc. This is where you make money. Is there risk? Of course, most people that are wealthy take risks to go along with that hard work,etc.
And lastly....you don't have to be a millionaire to be rich. To many people, making 6 figure salaries is rich to them. I've found that I've amassed most of the fun 'toys' I've ever wanted in life, and aside from one or two new ones a year...I don't need a ton of money.
As long as I have a fun car and motorcycle, a cool place to live, I don't have to keep track of what my grocery store bill (or bar bill, or restaurant tab) will be and just know I can afford it.....I'm happy. I think with me personally, that is what I'd say is 'rich' to me. If during my daily life, I don't have to worry really about what price things are...know that I can afford to do what I like to do....I am rich. (of course I also mean this AFTER I've put money back for savings and retirement, etc)
There are plenty of us out there....fucking banks...just don't want to pay close to a living wage for the US to US workers...
Yet....they can afford new jets (French ones), they can afford millions of dollars of bonuses...etc.
I've always been against anyone telling a company how much someone could make...and I still to an extent am...but, shit...if the US tax payers are bailing them out, how about a little favoritism to same US citizens for jobs, eh? An exec. making that much salary, with failing times...should not get a fucking bonus, but, use that money to hire US citizens out of work.
"My experience, from living in various countries, is that the US is generally a bit behind the curve when it comes to consumer electronics technology, such as tv. We do tend to have more interesting things to watch on our tvs though."
I dunno about that last part.
With 'reality' shows, American Idol, Dancing with a star or whatever else like it, dominating our tv these days. I seriously doubt we have tv programming that much better than the rest of the world now.
"You can't have both. Or in other words: Because you spent all the money on wars."
Well, it isn't like that money is thrown away...lots of companies and US citizens working for them make money off those wars....a great deal of it is pumping money back into the US economy.
Considering Fannie and Freddie's part in the mortguage/financial meltdown currently in session. Maybe wiping it out for a spell wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing?
"Please tell me you don't also baby talk to your dogs. I have a 2 year old whippet. She is great and part of the family but she is...... a dog. Not a person."
Not so much baby talk...but, I DO talk to my dog.
She does seem to try and listen and understand most of the time....
"How much would you pay for, lets say, a kidney transplant for your dog? How much would you pay for a neurosurgeon or a radiation therapy in case of cancer?"
Well, much like I'd do for a human...I'd first consider quality vs quantity of life. Given that the answer is quality...I'd spend as much as needed pretty much.
"I suspect it has more to do with a culture of fear and oppression. You are not encouraged to explore the world... you are taught to fear it and you had better stay at home and be a good little consumer."
Well, not so much in the past. I've traveled to Europe (France and England), and Mexico, the caribbean..etc.
But with the current world situation...I am a little afraid of travelling and having some muslim out there blow something up around me, etc....and lately, the murders and kidnapping in MX bothers me...so, I don't see much a need to travel outside the US or the US territories in the Caribbean. I don't really have to....TONS of places to go here in the US.
"have heard of people appling for and stealing them then selling them for 20-35 dollars. Why didn't the Gov't just create a tax credit?,"
Because I'd guess that many of the people that really NEED these coupons for help to buy a converter box, don't make enough money to even pay taxes.
If they don't pay taxes, how are they supposed to get a credit??
Oh wait....maybe that's not a problem. I saw where the latest 'stimulus' package gives billions of tax credits to people that pay no taxes. Hmm....I guess they solved that problem, so yes, what you suggest would work.
"The fact that you'd say that you'd kill people to save an animal is... disturbing."
Strange isn't it?
I can watch a movie where people get blown away and slashed with chain saws with no problem, BUT let them kick one dog, and I"\'m outta there!!
Seriously..I don't know. If I saw a kid I didn't know in traffic and my dog there too about to get hit, I gotta guess I'd run to grab and save my dog first.
"A race horse or some prized show animal I could maybe understand. But what's the point of cloning a companion animal?"
If you have to ask, then you couldn't possibly understand.
I dunno about cat people, but, as a 'dog person'...I can tell you that my animals really have become a part of the family. They aren't treated like 'dogs' or animals, they are really more just little fuzzy people that don't talk much in our homes.
When I lose my pups....I grieve over them like I would a friend or family member that is close to me.
In fact...I've often though, if you don't feel this way about your pets....why own one?
If I had the cash...I'd do it for my dog. She's starting to get a bit older now, and I would definitely like to have another one of "her" when she goes...
I have never been able to understand how people can have no interest in stuff outside of their own country. It's where the most interesting stuff IS. Seriously dude, you're missing out..."
Yep...I'm an American, and I'll readily admit, that when watching Jeopardy, geography is not my longsuit. We never really covered it that much in school. We just did the states, and that was about it.
Honestly, this country is so big...there is plenty going on here to keep me occupied just trying to keep up with it. Unlike the EU, where you're countries are small and close togetherm we are not used to interacting or driving easily to another country. If you don't get that kind of exposure growing up, you really do kind of live in an isolated world. I rarely hear much going on outside the US, and I've never really had much need to do so. I get most of my international exposure really here on Slashdot.
But really, I've got more than enough to keep my attention occupied here in the US. Until another country is starting to try to blow us up or deprive the US of something, I really don't see much a need to pay attention to them. It is a big world, have fun.
If I intend to travel somewhere....well, then I'll start looking for information on the place, try to learn a little of the language (if not English), and get ready to go, but, for the most part in my life there really isn't much a call to go outside the US. If I want tropical, I can hit the Keys, if I want to ski, I go to CO, if I want good beer......I make it myself.
"Yeah. Right. Then explain why they were about to put Slumgdog Millionaires out to pasture on DVD until word got out that it was getting serious Oscar attention? "
Hmm...well, from the previews, and what little bit I've heard about the movie...doesn't sound very interesting.
No explosions at all that I could see....
:)
But seriously...it doesn't look that interesting. I read a bit about the movie in wikipedia, it appears to happen in Mumbai (somewhere in India I guess)...and it says that about 1/3 of the dialong is in Hindi...I guess that mean subtitles. ick.
I dunno...just doesn't seem like anything I can relate to. I don't know or care what Bollywood is, I'm not interested in a movie where 1/3 of the dialog is in a language I don't know, and I don't relate much to Hindu-muslim stuff, all of which seem to have importance in this movie.
Even if this thing wins Oscars...I don't imagine that many people in the US will go out of their way to see it. I guess it will be out on DVD soon.
"Do you really want to die being best known as the "asshole who wrote that god-awful sequel to Blade Runner"? "
Am I one of the few people that thinks the original movie Blade Runner wasn't all that great to begin with?
I mean, I like Harrison Ford. I like Philip K. Dick stories.....I've enjoyed the directors other projects.
I just didn't get much out of this movie. I think I've seen a directors cut too...but, extra footage...unicorns or something, just didn't make it any better for me. I don't see any ominous themes...twists, etc....none of the stuff that sends so many Slashdot readers into a sci-fi geek tizzy.
Maybe I should watch it again.....
Maybe I should read the book/story in original form....maybe that would help me to 'get it'.
Slashdot Mirror
Everybody in America dreams of winning the lottery or working hard and building a business which is going to make them millions. And when that happens they "sure as hell aren't going to pay to keep some lazy ass mexican to sit home and watch cable." They're all deluded that someday that millionaire will be them.
Are the rich and succesful by and large hard workers and productive members of society? Sure. Absolutely. But are they 100,000 times more useful to an organization? Are they 100,000 times more productive than a replacement? No. Our entire pay structure has gotten bent out of shape. Who pays the salaries of a large bank? The board. Is the Salary coming out of the board's pockets? Not really. What do they care if they pay their CEO 10 million or 11? And if the CEO makes 11 million then it only seems fair the board pays itself 2 each."
Well, one thing you keep mentioning...becoming a millionaire on salary. That's the error I see in your argument.
There's and old saying that you will never get rich working for someone else. That is really true 99% of the time.
In the US, if you want to be rich...you gotta work for yourself. Incorporate and get out there on your own....entrepreneurial spirit and all. Invent something, consult, contract yourself out...etc. This is where you make money. Is there risk? Of course, most people that are wealthy take risks to go along with that hard work,etc.
And lastly....you don't have to be a millionaire to be rich. To many people, making 6 figure salaries is rich to them. I've found that I've amassed most of the fun 'toys' I've ever wanted in life, and aside from one or two new ones a year...I don't need a ton of money.
As long as I have a fun car and motorcycle, a cool place to live, I don't have to keep track of what my grocery store bill (or bar bill, or restaurant tab) will be and just know I can afford it.....I'm happy. I think with me personally, that is what I'd say is 'rich' to me. If during my daily life, I don't have to worry really about what price things are...know that I can afford to do what I like to do....I am rich. (of course I also mean this AFTER I've put money back for savings and retirement, etc)
Yet....they can afford new jets (French ones), they can afford millions of dollars of bonuses...etc.
I've always been against anyone telling a company how much someone could make...and I still to an extent am...but, shit...if the US tax payers are bailing them out, how about a little favoritism to same US citizens for jobs, eh? An exec. making that much salary, with failing times...should not get a fucking bonus, but, use that money to hire US citizens out of work.
I dunno about that last part.
With 'reality' shows, American Idol, Dancing with a star or whatever else like it, dominating our tv these days. I seriously doubt we have tv programming that much better than the rest of the world now.
Well...you do have to get your car home somehow....
Well, it isn't like that money is thrown away...lots of companies and US citizens working for them make money off those wars....a great deal of it is pumping money back into the US economy.
If they'd stuck with that in the past...we wouldn't be in this mess...
Considering Fannie and Freddie's part in the mortguage/financial meltdown currently in session. Maybe wiping it out for a spell wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing?
Never been to one...
Not on my business account TOS I don't.
No blocked ports, I can run servers, and there is no mention of bandwidth. That's why I say they better not throttle my connection.
It also doesn't say you can't saturate that connection.
They'd damned sure better not throttle MY traffic!!
And what is the deal with throwing USENET on the mix? I use that often as much as I do web pages when researching things.....
Not so much baby talk...but, I DO talk to my dog.
She does seem to try and listen and understand most of the time....
Well, much like I'd do for a human...I'd first consider quality vs quantity of life. Given that the answer is quality...I'd spend as much as needed pretty much.
No one should get back MORE than they pay in....is more of the point I was making.
When did they change the name and why?
Well, not so much in the past. I've traveled to Europe (France and England), and Mexico, the caribbean..etc.
But with the current world situation...I am a little afraid of travelling and having some muslim out there blow something up around me, etc....and lately, the murders and kidnapping in MX bothers me...so, I don't see much a need to travel outside the US or the US territories in the Caribbean. I don't really have to....TONS of places to go here in the US.
Dual tuner, both ATSC and QAM so you can use it with cable (scans it great for all unencrypted digital content), and OTA antenna.
Because I'd guess that many of the people that really NEED these coupons for help to buy a converter box, don't make enough money to even pay taxes.
If they don't pay taxes, how are they supposed to get a credit??
Oh wait....maybe that's not a problem. I saw where the latest 'stimulus' package gives billions of tax credits to people that pay no taxes. Hmm....I guess they solved that problem, so yes, what you suggest would work.
Strange isn't it?
I can watch a movie where people get blown away and slashed with chain saws with no problem, BUT let them kick one dog, and I"\'m outta there!!
Seriously..I don't know. If I saw a kid I didn't know in traffic and my dog there too about to get hit, I gotta guess I'd run to grab and save my dog first.
Hell no....I mean if I went to all that trouble to ki.......er.....
No..I'd not waste the money on cloning the wife.
I put a LOT of value on that 'till death do us part' part of the vows.
If you have to ask, then you couldn't possibly understand.
I dunno about cat people, but, as a 'dog person'...I can tell you that my animals really have become a part of the family. They aren't treated like 'dogs' or animals, they are really more just little fuzzy people that don't talk much in our homes.
When I lose my pups....I grieve over them like I would a friend or family member that is close to me.
In fact...I've often though, if you don't feel this way about your pets....why own one?
If I had the cash...I'd do it for my dog. She's starting to get a bit older now, and I would definitely like to have another one of "her" when she goes...
I have never been able to understand how people can have no interest in stuff outside of their own country. It's where the most interesting stuff IS. Seriously dude, you're missing out..."
Yep...I'm an American, and I'll readily admit, that when watching Jeopardy, geography is not my longsuit. We never really covered it that much in school. We just did the states, and that was about it.
Honestly, this country is so big...there is plenty going on here to keep me occupied just trying to keep up with it. Unlike the EU, where you're countries are small and close togetherm we are not used to interacting or driving easily to another country. If you don't get that kind of exposure growing up, you really do kind of live in an isolated world. I rarely hear much going on outside the US, and I've never really had much need to do so. I get most of my international exposure really here on Slashdot.
But really, I've got more than enough to keep my attention occupied here in the US. Until another country is starting to try to blow us up or deprive the US of something, I really don't see much a need to pay attention to them. It is a big world, have fun.
If I intend to travel somewhere....well, then I'll start looking for information on the place, try to learn a little of the language (if not English), and get ready to go, but, for the most part in my life there really isn't much a call to go outside the US. If I want tropical, I can hit the Keys, if I want to ski, I go to CO, if I want good beer......I make it myself.
Hmm...well, from the previews, and what little bit I've heard about the movie...doesn't sound very interesting.
No explosions at all that I could see....
But seriously...it doesn't look that interesting. I read a bit about the movie in wikipedia, it appears to happen in Mumbai (somewhere in India I guess)...and it says that about 1/3 of the dialong is in Hindi...I guess that mean subtitles. ick.
I dunno...just doesn't seem like anything I can relate to. I don't know or care what Bollywood is, I'm not interested in a movie where 1/3 of the dialog is in a language I don't know, and I don't relate much to Hindu-muslim stuff, all of which seem to have importance in this movie.
Even if this thing wins Oscars...I don't imagine that many people in the US will go out of their way to see it. I guess it will be out on DVD soon.
Am I one of the few people that thinks the original movie Blade Runner wasn't all that great to begin with?
I mean, I like Harrison Ford. I like Philip K. Dick stories.....I've enjoyed the directors other projects.
I just didn't get much out of this movie. I think I've seen a directors cut too...but, extra footage...unicorns or something, just didn't make it any better for me. I don't see any ominous themes...twists, etc....none of the stuff that sends so many Slashdot readers into a sci-fi geek tizzy.
Maybe I should watch it again.....
Maybe I should read the book/story in original form....maybe that would help me to 'get it'.