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Friday Open Thread

By Jeralyn, Section Blog Related
Posted on Fri Mar 04, 2005 at 05:45:43 AM EST
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I have a Court hearing early this morning and another big one on Monday. I'll still be posting but I need you readers to help fill in. Here's an open thread for today, your choice. Maybe someone wants to do the Friday funnies, or the stupid criminal of the week. Or rant about Bush, that's always good for a few chuckles. Have fun.

< China Blasts U.S. Over Human Rights | Bush Doublespeak on Gangs >

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    Friday Open Thread | 72 comments (72 topical)
    Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0) (#1)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Mar 04, 2005 at 02:54:34 AM EST
    Blogrolling.com is currently down, so it's making the front page load as slow as this administration's collective neurons.

    Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0) (#2)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Mar 04, 2005 at 02:57:38 AM EST
    President Bush has got to be about the most effective President in history. Clinton and Gore both said that there was a social security crisis as did most top democrats. President Bush proposes a solution and POOF!! problem solved. Now you can't find a dem who will admit there is a crisis. What do you libs fear more? That people will be allowed to partialy direct a small potion of their own money or that the republicans and Bush will get credit for fixing social security? I suspect both. As demonstrated by your commemts and actions concerning Afghanistan, Iraq and the middle east politics will always trump the good of the country to your ilk. Mark W.....still the PRESIDENT Ashcroft Supreme Court/06

    Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0) (#3)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Mar 04, 2005 at 03:21:32 AM EST
    Clinton and Gore saw the crisis that none of this stuff will fix. They were concerned about the people born in the gap years (like my grandmother) whose benefits weren't even enough to buy groceries, let alone housing and outrageous secondary Medicare insurance. They said, 'wait a minute-- we've got all this surplus--why not pay down the debt. Of course there are real issues with that, but at least they were working. What Bush and the Republicans want to do is get rid of social security. To wipe put the new deal. And that's valid, but they need to stop being such snakes about it and say what they really mean: Social security is bad for business. We need to get rid of it. Of course they're wrong, but we on the kindhearted left are willing to listen to any honest, well-conceived position.

    Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0) (#4)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Mar 04, 2005 at 03:24:12 AM EST
    Jeralyn I disabled the Blogrolling code on my site. Too slow, even when the server's collecting the blogroll instead of the client. You might want to do the same until they get it together.

    Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0) (#5)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Mar 04, 2005 at 05:56:02 AM EST
    To win the hearts and minds of young Americans, the administration is currently packaging a lovely video for distribution to schools. In the video, President Bush speaks directly to the schoolchildren paralleling Iraq's story with the story of the United States. President Bush in his natural folksy way explains how when Americans came to the United States, there were a bunch of Indians ruled by chiefs, just like Iraq was ruled by one big chief. But Americans believe no one should dictate how governments are run. So Americans had to start annihilating Indians, much like we annihilated some Iraqis in order to give them freedom and democracy. Now Indians can vote; and so too can Iraqis. Other freedoms: Iraqis have their mosques; Indians have their casinos. I guess that's about it. Children love this stuff.

    Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0) (#6)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Mar 04, 2005 at 06:55:15 AM EST
    Great read here Our Godless Constitution by Brooke Allen

    Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0) (#7)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Mar 04, 2005 at 07:00:46 AM EST
    The Boy Who Cried Wolf, Iraq, & The Couch Potato's Burden- cool reading: Couch Potato's Burden I found it to be the most thorough piece I've yet read on the war, and agree with 90 or more percent of it. The basic thesis is false analogies helped lead us into Iraq, and that the Joint Resolution to war was bogus. It's a long read, and far more thorough than most online rants- no disrespect intended, but it's worth looking over. Flea

    Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0) (#8)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Mar 04, 2005 at 07:08:11 AM EST
    The following is my response to SD's comments on the "China Blasts...." thread. SD, I am merely quoting you. No, the country isn't perfect. But I see the glass as 97% full. You see it, evidently, as bone dry empty. Why is that? If you could snap your fingers, what would you change in our foreign policy? And what do you think would be the effect of those changes? And, if you want to know where China is getting all of those dollars, it is getting them from the goods they are shipping into the US, and selling to American consumers. It is probably too late, but have you in the past advocated tarrifs and barriers to trade with China? With any country? And what do you think would be the effect on our relations. Where did all those petro-dollars the SA's and other OPEC countries are holding come from? You worry about our relations with Venezula, which is rapidly becoming a Castro type dictatorship, but fail to note that if it wasn't our need for oil, we wouldn't be all that concerned. Now, full circle back to China. If China wasn't using more oil, and if we weren't importing all that oil, OPEC couldn't hold us captive and jack the prices. Tell me, have you ever proposed anything that would reduce our dependence on foreign oil, or oil, period? How about nuclear? France gets about 65% of its power from nuclear. England gets a goodly amount. N. Korea and Iran both claim to want it, even though Iran is on top of billions of barrels. Is it okay for Iran, but not the US consumer? How about ANWAR? It may not be the total solution, but it would be a great start. Now I know you are probably concerned over the love life of the local animals, but out of millions of square miles, surely the local polar bears can sidle off the measly acreage we need. How about off shore? How about oil shale? How about hydro? How about wind power? Oh, we can't do that, it would destroy the views from Martha's Vineyard. NIMBY, eh? And yes, we could increase CAFE. But CAFE is a problem now because to meet past/current targets, the auto industry made small cars. Guess what? The consumer didn't want'em. Soccermoms wanted big SUV's that they felt safe in. How about natural gas being used for electricty generation because coal is on the bad list of envirnomental wackos? I have a friend who runs a small city utility company. He says that natural gas wholesale pricing has doubled this year, and he doesn't see it going down this summer more than 50%. The demand is just too high. Do you see the connection between demand and high prices? Between bad environmental polices and high prices? What happens if a natural gas container ship torches off in, say, Boston harbor? Downtown, gone. Logan, gone. Do you think terrorists don't know that? But, electricty is being generated in an enviromently correct way. Tell that to Grandma who has to choose betwen heat and food. SD, you pontificate a lot. But, as an ex-Denver type, your comments remind me of the Platte river. A mile wide and an inch deep.

    Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0) (#9)
    by pigwiggle on Fri Mar 04, 2005 at 07:16:31 AM EST
    Man, is creepy! Check out the even larger version.

    Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0) (#10)
    by soccerdad on Fri Mar 04, 2005 at 07:27:06 AM EST
    ppj you just crap on a page and call it a response. I think this country is great I think the current adi=min is awful, a distinction you can't seem or want to grasp. Your response is unfocused all over the place and too incoherent to spend any time dealing with.

    Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0) (#11)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Mar 04, 2005 at 07:44:01 AM EST
    Jim, you know by now Soc comes to the debate with his orthodoxy firmly in place and demands that the facts be made to fit it.

    Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0) (#12)
    by desertswine on Fri Mar 04, 2005 at 07:51:50 AM EST
    That Tetra Vaal Robotics commercial looked like the Tron Guy on raging steroids.

    Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0) (#13)
    by Jlvngstn on Fri Mar 04, 2005 at 08:53:50 AM EST
    PPJ, I remember you handing me my head in a windmill argument a year ago, but I don't remember you suggesting a solution to alternative energy sources. Do you have one? Or is it just to drill more locally?

    Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0) (#14)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Mar 04, 2005 at 08:57:20 AM EST
    GregZ Excellent article via your link!

    Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0) (#15)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Mar 04, 2005 at 09:06:51 AM EST
    Here's a suggestion: Hydrogen generated by the electrolysis of water - electricity to come from fission reactors until fusion becomes practical(the ITER project - look it up at www.iter.org). Hydrogen them used to power vehicles. Pollutionless. Oh, I know, "We don't have a hydrogen distribution infrastructure!". Well, guess what. We didn't have a gasoline distribution infrastructure when the automobile (internal combustion) was invented. But we developed on because there was a demand. The same will happen with hydrogen. In the meantime, quit whining about Yucca Mountain and bury the freakin' waste! It's 30 miles from the nuclear test site, a place that still glows in the dark from tests 50 years ago (OK, I made up the "glow-in-the-dark" part, but it's radioactive in spots) Or, put the waste in fused glass cylinders and send it to the sun. So there's the solution. Fission to provide electrcity and hydrogen, hydrogen to power automobiles, replace fission with fusion as it becomes available, and the waste.... "to the Sun, Alice." (my apologies to Jackie Gleason)

    Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0) (#16)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Mar 04, 2005 at 09:14:06 AM EST
    PPJ, How about wind power? Oh, we can't do that, it would destroy the views from Martha's Vineyard. NIMBY, eh? The better term would be BANANA - Build Absolutely Nothing Near Anywhere. The World has gone Bananas

    Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0) (#17)
    by glanton on Fri Mar 04, 2005 at 09:20:49 AM EST
    Nancy Jo: That's got to be the one of the five most disturbing things in terms of American politics that I have heard, in a long, long time. That they can get away with such things. That it is lapped up, celebrated, adored. Wow. Sucks to be a child in America these days; welcome to the robot factory.

    Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0) (#19)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Mar 04, 2005 at 09:50:18 AM EST
    Nancy Jo - I know you are the President's Intern and all, so do you have a link or more info about that video? I ask because the SSA just got spanked for their misrepresentation of the "crisis," and if it is the Dept of Education which is producing this video, then once again there will be an example of improper use of federal $$ to propagandize.............. ps - Say "hey" to the prez for me, okay?

    Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0) (#20)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Mar 04, 2005 at 10:06:27 AM EST
    Ace: I've started looking at the Soccerdad-PPJ exchanges as a form of Punch and Judy show. Soccerdad wouldn't be Soccerdad unless he could get on-line and whack somebody as a fool and nincompoop.

    Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0) (#21)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Mar 04, 2005 at 10:11:53 AM EST
    This item caught my eye today. North Korea, arguably the most brutal, murderous, totalitarian regime on earth, is propagandized on the front page of yesterday's LA Times via an interview with an "affable" NK ex-diplomat who describes his country as "a place just like any other" with a "benevolent father leader" and dismisses the hundreds of Japanese citizens kidnapped by NK in the '70s and '80s (and still missing today, btw) as "something done by a few overly enthusiastic people long ago" and blames the US for the collapse of a 1994 pact under which North Korea was supposed to get energy assistance in return for freezing its nuclear program. The LA Times educates us that "The agreement fell apart after Washington accused North Korea in 2002 of cheating on the deal, and the U.S. and its allies suspended deliveries of fuel oil." Uh, NK was cheating and has admitted so. Oh yeah, that leftist media. LINK

    Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0) (#22)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Mar 04, 2005 at 10:38:44 AM EST
    JL - Since you asked: 1. Drill more locally and off shore, including ANWAR. 2. Crash prgram to get nuclear plants on line. 3. Push R&D for hydro power. 4. Redo economic studies for , sun power, wind and oil shale at $55 per barrel oil. 5. Shut down oil and natural gas power plants, convert to coal. Install scrubbers as possible, put up with any environmental impacts until nuiclear and other sources come on line and coal can be shut down. 6. Increase CAFE. Impose annual $200 Federal Registration Fee on all SUV's. Sunset this in 10 years. $100 Federal Refistration tax on all trucks not used 80% for business. 7. Tax rebate of up to $2000 for all insulation added to existing homes. Okay, your turn. BTW - The issues remain on sun and wind power, but the price of oil may have overcome the economics, especially if I can believe some of the new storgae battery costs. You do have a long memory. Y - I like your thoughts, but fusion is a long way off. We need things now. $60/barrell will kill the economy. Boq - Good point. But I like`mine because in highlights the hypocrissy of the moneyed`Left. Deuce - I am here to serve. SD - I note you didn't make`any suggestions. Typical. All hat and no cattle.

    Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0) (#23)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Mar 04, 2005 at 10:54:30 AM EST
    Madame Defarge's Needle, On the "Respectable Doña María Téllez", She was put in the Anti Terrorism Watch List, for dealing in False Passports. Passports which were used by the "Respectable" Omar Abdel Rahman (aka the Blind Shiek), and his gang to infiltrate the US Borders and do their nasty deed on the Twin Towers - 1993.

    Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0) (#24)
    by Jlvngstn on Fri Mar 04, 2005 at 11:02:26 AM EST
    PPJ, thanks. I have a long meeting this afternoon and will try to research and respond late today.

    Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0) (#25)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Mar 04, 2005 at 11:23:43 AM EST
    I've got a copy of the new USERRA poster the Labor Department posted at -- then yanked from -- their site. It's required for all employers in the US (but why should the administration help employers or the military?). Plus, I cover California's mandatory sexual harassment training law and girl-on-girlrilla action. check out: AB 1825 blog

    Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0) (#26)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Mar 04, 2005 at 12:48:36 PM EST
    Jim, I liked your response, and I even agree with bits of it. What is your view on domestic energy use reduction? Do you think it's possible and/or practical? What about developing a system that penalises (i.e. "taxes" - a word I know that you're likely to dislike) energy derived from non-renewables and subsidises that which is created from renewables? Nuclear power is not a short term option, given the long timescales required to get plants planned, approved and built, and I feel that committing to it as a long term solution is likely to simply delay further any large scale commitment to renewables. Another option would simply be educating the public to reduce the amount of power they use. I am always surprised and disappointed when I walk into a friend's house and see that they have lights burning in every room, plus a PC, TV, VCR and sound system all either switched on but not being used or sitting on standby, which still uses a small amount of power which mounts up over the course of a day. Apparently the average household’s TVs and VCRs only use 60 per cent of their electrical consumption for their intended purposes (i.e. when they're being used - in other words the power being drawn whilst on standby really mounts up). Also, why shouldn't manufacturers be required to eliminate the "standby" function on domestic devices. Can't be too hard to achieve and it would have an immediate benefit.

    Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0) (#27)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Mar 04, 2005 at 12:49:54 PM EST
    here

    Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0) (#28)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Mar 04, 2005 at 12:57:20 PM EST
    For a more accurate look at the deal with the N. Koreans that fell apart click here. While the North Koreans were cheating, there is more to the story. It's a good read.

    Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0) (#18)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Mar 04, 2005 at 01:17:03 PM EST
    Miss Jeralyn - you may be interested in this at Smirking Chimp - Dora Maria Tellez, respected anti-Somoza (US puppet) Nicaraguan, suddently labeled as "terrorist" and now can't come into US & teach at Harvard.

    Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0) (#29)
    by soccerdad on Fri Mar 04, 2005 at 02:05:03 PM EST
    SD - I note you didn't make`any suggestions. Typical. All hat and no cattle.
    PPJ as usual you change the goalposts and in this case changed the thread and then complain I haven't said anything nice trick. I was not discussing alternatives to our dependence on foreign oil, I was talking, in part, about this admins policy as implemented today. I have no interest in discussing the alternative question today as important as it is. I don't follow it as closely as I would like. If you want to discuss the subject of my post without taking a right hand turn, then why don't you start over, with something specific. Ace and Duece I see as usual you bring nothing to the table but insults, gee why am I not surprised.

    Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0) (#30)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Mar 04, 2005 at 02:55:05 PM EST
    Interesting article, Canuck, eh. I'm convinced that nothing we read has all the facts. Regardless, the LA Times article is abhorant. PPJ's domestic energy policy comments are interesting also. Reducing our energy consumption would help, of course, with extending the life of finite energy resources but to what avail? To be blunt, if we don't use it someone else will. And if they use it, we can't. Ian, what would reducing dependence on foreign oil actually accomplish? If we reduced our needs to only 50% foreign supplies, then there is 50% of our lives and economy at risk. As far as I can tell, the only solution is 100% domestic energy, which is no solution at all.

    Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0) (#31)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Mar 04, 2005 at 03:07:31 PM EST
    Admittedly my suggestions are a little far down the line. But if we start building nuclear plants now (as we should have been doing for the past 20 years) we would be in less of a pickle. Fusion is down the road, that's why I said use fission for now and replace it as fusion becomes available. Sun and wind aren't practical everywhere and also have a significant lead time. For right now, coal is about the best short term option, but we shouldn't rely on it long term. Nuclear, solar and wind need to start construction now. Here's an idea. Your car headlights run on 12 volts and produce plenty of light. Your computer runs on 12 volts. Much of home electronics is either low voltage or adaptable to low voltage. Why not start converting homes to 12 volt systems. Therws nothing magic about 120 volts, you know. By using 12 volt systems, we'd significantly reduce the demand.

    Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0) (#32)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Mar 04, 2005 at 03:16:37 PM EST
    Begorrah, you're a fine to talk, Freddie Bennett. Tis routinely you insult any and all whom have the effrontery to disagree with your sophistry.

    Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0) (#33)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Mar 04, 2005 at 05:40:00 PM EST
    SD writes - " I don't follow it as closely as I would like. If you want to discuss the subject of my post without taking a right hand turn, then why don't you start over, with something specific." China and its energy demands due to its improving economic conditions is very much the subject, since your comment brought up the dollars being held by China. Please, pay attention to what you say. And if calling for taxes on SUV's and recreational trucks is "a right hand turn," ..... heck I'm speechless. What's beyond that? Seizing them? But the reason you can't comment is that you don't have a solid base in technology. Most Lefties don't. They prefer "feelings." Y - You have some good thoughts, but you need to get a better understanding of some basic science. What counts is power. Current in amps (I) and voltage (E) which is used in some time of resistance (Ohms) R. Check out Ohms law. P(watts) = I x E. A 100 watt bulb consumes 1,000 watts (1KWH) in 10 hours. Electricty costs the consumer in much of the US, around 8 cents per KWH. So a 100 watt bulb would consume about 8.4 amps at 12 volts, or .844 at 120 volts. There are other variables, but I think that gets you started. Remember what Heinlien said. "There Aint No Such Thing As A Free Lunch." TANSTAAFL Ian - You're right. I don't like taxes as a way to social engineer, because they never go away, and have a way of falling prey to the law of unintended consquences. So far...we have not been all that impacted by $50 oil, except for certain industries. Chiefly airlines,trucking and utilities. How much individuals are absorbing the impact of higher gasolone by credit cards, I don't know, but given that spending hasn't went down, it has to be happening. I think it would be dumb to add to that burden by increasing taxes. The market is doing a marvelous job of that itself. As for "renewables," you gotta remember that people buy gas to let them drive. Renewables, primarily alochol, are effective as an oxygen additive for cleaner air, but power produced drops, and gas milage goes down, so actual gasoline used goes up. Whether or not it goes up the same amount as alcohol displaces, I don't know. Education is highly desirable, but I'm not sure as to how effective it is. If people don't understand the relation between using and paying, at this point, then they may be hopeless. Hey, somepeople are. Some of the easy things you can do is replace your standard bulbs with the new long life fluorescences that consume 14 watts while providing 75 watts of light. Watch for specials and they aren't that high. Replace outside security lights with them, or change out the lights to motion detectors. sarcastic - It is about dollars, not consumpation.

    Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0) (#34)
    by soccerdad on Fri Mar 04, 2005 at 05:47:54 PM EST
    PPJ -your disingenuous as usual. You still don't want to discuss mu post do you? You jsut want to hijack it bring around to something you know a little about. BTW I have a Ph.D. in engineering so screw you

    Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0) (#35)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Mar 04, 2005 at 06:29:13 PM EST
    Engineering what? sh*tty arguements?

    Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0) (#36)
    by soccerdad on Fri Mar 04, 2005 at 06:38:51 PM EST
    sh*tty arguements?
    Must be striking a nerve with the trolls - good.

    Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0) (#37)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Mar 04, 2005 at 07:00:17 PM EST
    how could someone with a PhD in Engineering be such an idiot??

    Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0) (#38)
    by soccerdad on Fri Mar 04, 2005 at 07:08:16 PM EST
    Well anon if you think i'm an idiot why don't you try to counter my arguments - another one with nothing but insults this place is crawling with mindless trolls

    Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0) (#39)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Mar 04, 2005 at 07:16:18 PM EST
    Dearest No Name - Yes, if he has one, that is a very good question. I remain unconvinced, myself. But I have seen a couple fo idiot engineers. Come to think of it, they had Phd's.... Naw.... I still think his Phd is in ethnic studies,.. SD - This is what you wrote: "Anyway, all this truly ignores China's real source of power and that is its economy. It is expanding at double digit rates. Even more important is that it supports approximately 40% of our debt by the purchase of bonds etc by its central bank. To quickly bring the US to its economic knees, all China has to do is not show up to the next 2-3 treasuary auctions." Now if you don't understand the relationship between oil prices,extra demand from China because of what they are selling in the US.... Then you don't have a Phd. BTW - You was proven wrong on the 40% figure a few comments down from that comment. But hey, engineers don't do percentages....do they?

    Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0) (#40)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Mar 04, 2005 at 07:41:46 PM EST
    Piled Higher and Deeper, Sco?

    Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0) (#41)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Mar 04, 2005 at 07:42:37 PM EST
    That's "Soc".

    Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0) (#42)
    by soccerdad on Fri Mar 04, 2005 at 07:47:11 PM EST
    Good old pathetic PPJ when he's getting no where with his deceptions and misdirections he always goes for added snark, personal insults and character assassination. But is anyone here surprised. WRT to 40% I'm not convinced i'm wrong In 2003, the most recent year with full international statistics, central banks financed 83 per cent of the US current account deficit, with Asian central banks accounting for 86 per cent of flows. Link So if total asian central bank support is 83% 40 % for china may not be that far off. I have to find the complete report. Pigwiggle and I are talking about 2 different things. So we could both be right

    Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0) (#43)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Mar 04, 2005 at 07:50:48 PM EST
    More soccerfun: Posted by: soccerdad on April 26, 2004 09:44 AM that's why it's plural, and you do in fact have two, left and right hemispheres. 1 cerebrum = 2 hemispheres I've taught neurophysiology.

    Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0) (#44)
    by soccerdad on Fri Mar 04, 2005 at 07:51:47 PM EST
    Now that Ace has chimed in also without any content except snark and insult its time to say goodnight to this edition of morons on parade and go pay attention to the other good posters on this site.

    Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0) (#45)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Mar 04, 2005 at 08:00:30 PM EST
    Gee, if Detroit spent the same millions on sales incentives and the marketing of mid size sedans and if government chose to make them exempt from the same manufacturing and consumer taxes (as are SUVs), perhaps Americans would choose cheaply built, poor quality Detroit sedans in the same numbers they currently buy cheaply built, poor quality, gas guzzling SUVs.

    Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0) (#46)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Mar 04, 2005 at 08:16:10 PM EST
    TS - Lately your ignorance has gotten much worse. The quality of US built autos is one of the best in the world. Poor quality US product is a thing of the late 70's. The issue is simply this. US drivers like SUV's. They have seen what happens when a midsize car hits a SUV. My belief is that when gas gets about 75 cents higher, SUV's will fall from favor. We don't need the government to do a thing.

    Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0) (#47)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Mar 04, 2005 at 08:18:24 PM EST
    RE: Soccerdad's "credentials" LOL! Priceless! Soccerdad: A PhD in Engineering with Advanced Medical Degrees... or a pathelogical liar living in his mother's basement? Great reporting work guys, best laugh I've had all week.

    Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0) (#48)
    by Kitt on Fri Mar 04, 2005 at 08:38:06 PM EST
    Jim: "My belief is that when gas gets about 75 cents higher, SUV's will fall from favor. We don't need the government to do a thing." So you're figuring when it hits about, what, $3.00/gallon? We're surrounded by SUVs but even more so by king trucks with the double back wheels and those big Ram trucks. I'm thinking unless they're actually used for farming, which I don't think they are because they're way too clean, it might take upwards - maybe $5.00 or so a gallon. I thought originally your post was about alternative sources or not being dependent upon oil. I think this is one of the big failures for this country is not investing in expanding the use of alternative sources of renewable energy - specifically wind and solar.

    Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0) (#49)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Mar 04, 2005 at 08:51:15 PM EST
    Tamp, what business is it of yours what the next person drives?

    Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0) (#50)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Mar 04, 2005 at 08:58:12 PM EST
    PPJ is one to speak of ignorance.

    Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0) (#51)
    by Che's Lounge on Fri Mar 04, 2005 at 10:47:37 PM EST
    I saw a pickup lane change right into a classic VW Beetle today. The woman driving this huge (factory, not custom) pickup was so high off the ground there was no way she could've seen the car. That's what I told the cop. Everyone was OK. Needless to say, the VW lost. She didn't look like the ranch hand type.

    Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0) (#52)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Mar 04, 2005 at 11:49:19 PM EST
    it doesn't matter what bush does, the deficet will be ten to twenty times higher,if he doen't roll the tax cuts back you can kiss social security good by, because the ones running the private accounts will steal them blind and the government won't do a thing about it

    Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0) (#53)
    by soccerdad on Sat Mar 05, 2005 at 03:03:16 AM EST
    Advanced Medical Degrees...
    Never said I had those, have done research im medical field [hint: biomrdical engineering]. I feel really good that so many wingnuts feel compelled to assassinate my character. It measn I'm getting under their skin

    Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0) (#54)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Mar 05, 2005 at 03:22:24 AM EST
    I think that we are quickly coming to the the time when we ........I mean the government starts to tell people what kind of vehicles they are allowed to drive. If a particular type of vehicle bothers our....I mean the governments sensibilities we....I mean the government should just ban their use and perhaps even tell them when they can use our....I mean their vehicles. We....I mean the governing.....I mean the government should of course be exempt as some of our dachas require 4 wheel drive to reach. Howard Dean 50state/08

    Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0) (#55)
    by soccerdad on Sat Mar 05, 2005 at 03:53:12 AM EST
    for anyone who wants to know what biomedical eng is see here For anybody considering Eng or have kids considering eng. its a great major

    Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0) (#56)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Mar 05, 2005 at 07:01:14 AM EST
    SD - I would hope that someone with a Phd in engineering and doing research in biomed would have better things to do that get enjoyment from trying to get "under someone's skin." BTW - Are you having trouble keeping a research team together? If so, don't be surprised when management decides to replace the team leader. kitt - Well it was about oil, and how we are getting crunched because China is now starting to have a big demand. So I was just throwing out some ways to cut the demand, and to get more oil in the meantime. (Go back and read the first one.) Then Ian wanted to talk about taxes, a favorite of his. In the meantime SD kept on spewing nonsense that had no content about the subject, just that he had an engineering Phd and was smarter than everybody else... I too do not "like" SUV's. They ride like trucks and if you get trapped between two in a parking lot you need a flag person to help you back out. But, I am totally opposed to more taxes on gasoline/diesel as a way to make people quit buying them. The fees I proposed would be to cover the home insulation rebate. As for wind and solar, I think they sound good, but the devil remains in the details. For either to work you need batteries for storage, and batteries with enough storage capabilities are large and expensive. They also wear out and require replacement. i.e. When computing cost, make sure to add in "the girl, the gold watch and everything." I do believe in solar hot water heaters, but they are ugly and require specific installation locations for good results. I am trying to convince Mrs. PPJ (aka Boss) to consider one.

    Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0) (#58)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Mar 05, 2005 at 08:21:36 AM EST
    Ricky, interesting, I think its fun to come here and watch Soccerdad make a fool out of himself on a continuing basis. The man truely has no shame? What part of the following brialliant intellectual analysis do you find so compelling? 1 cerebrum = 2 hemispheres I've taught neurophysiology. - Soccerdad

    Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0) (#59)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Mar 05, 2005 at 08:22:40 AM EST
    Ricky, interesting, I think its fun to come here and watch Soccerdad make a fool out of himself on a continuing basis. The man truely has no shame. What part of the following brialliant intellectual analysis do you find so compelling? 1 cerebrum = 2 hemispheres I've taught neurophysiology. - Soccerdad

    Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0) (#60)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Mar 05, 2005 at 08:52:33 AM EST
    soccerdad was just messing with the republican robots

    Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0) (#61)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Mar 05, 2005 at 08:52:33 AM EST
    soccerdad was just messing with the republican robots

    Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0) (#62)
    by soccerdad on Sat Mar 05, 2005 at 10:43:42 AM EST
    ricky1756 Thanks. You notice that the ones who criticize me the most contribute the least. Its all criticism no substance. At least pigwiggle and justpaul and people like them put arguments together and make real contributions even though i disagree with much of what they say. But thats fine.

    Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0) (#63)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Mar 05, 2005 at 10:50:59 AM EST
    SD - I have never seen you try and refute an argument with a technical seam, basis or background. So I again say I doubt you have an engineering Phd. Maybe you do, but it as well hidden as I have ever seen. ricky1756 - Sweetie, you always talking trash. I think maybe you got a bad case of penis envy.

    Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0) (#64)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Mar 05, 2005 at 12:03:01 PM EST
    If I were to debate Ricky directly (and I must refrain from doing so as it is against my principles to conduct a battle of wits with an unarmed opponent), I would call attention to the fact that a wealth of hilarity can be garnered by simply googling "Ricky1756".

    Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0) (#65)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Mar 05, 2005 at 12:46:02 PM EST
    come on ace and ppj, i'm trying to help you two. if you can just admit that you're for bush, because you're sexually attracted to cheney, then maybe you can move forward and see how evil these people really are.

    Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0) (#66)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Mar 05, 2005 at 12:47:23 PM EST
    and doc, i know how you like to google guys, i heard you googled jim all night.

    Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0) (#67)
    by soccerdad on Sat Mar 05, 2005 at 01:07:58 PM EST
    PPJ - give me one reason - just one- why i should care what you think

    Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0) (#68)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Mar 05, 2005 at 05:14:34 PM EST
    ricky1756 - What's the problem? Won't the guys down at the gym give you a tumble anymore and you are reduced to trying to pick up people on the internet? SD - Because your ego demands that you prove yourself superior, and to do that you must pontificate about things that about 97% of the population is aware of. Problem is, self proof is also called mental masturbation.

    Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0) (#69)
    by soccerdad on Sat Mar 05, 2005 at 05:35:18 PM EST
    PPJ - couldn't come with a reason could you.

    Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0) (#70)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Mar 05, 2005 at 06:31:26 PM EST
    Soccerdad, youre such a tool

    Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0) (#72)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Mar 05, 2005 at 07:41:36 PM EST
    SD - You are`in complete denial. DA - Not much to do on a Saturday night, eh? Hey, I am here to help. Go ahead and vent.

    Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0) (#74)
    by jimcee on Sat Mar 05, 2005 at 07:52:55 PM EST
    Dark Avenger, I am listening to "Tosca" tonight. Like I needed more melodrama. I guess I'll just toss myself off the ramparts instead. ;).

    Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0) (#75)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Mar 05, 2005 at 08:21:19 PM EST
    ppj, one word-PROZAC

    Friday Open Thread | 72 comments (72 topical)