Flame « The HabitableZone

Recent posts

GUYS!!! THE ZONE IS LIVE!!!!!! RobVG September 7, 2026 11:47 pm (CurrentEvents)

Mars Mirage podrock June 18, 2026 4:37 pm (Space/Science)

Thomas Friedman NYT - Trump Put His Own Interests Above All in the Iran Deal BuckGalaxy June 19, 2026 11:42 am (Flame)

Trump's "Total Victory" in Iran BuckGalaxy June 17, 2026 12:53 am (CurrentEvents)

Dividing up the World RobVG May 15, 2026 12:56 pm (CurrentEvents)

1700 free online university courses BuckGalaxy June 10, 2026 8:58 pm (Off-Topic)

Rant about anti-Israel hate BuckGalaxy June 13, 2026 2:45 pm (Flame)

The old king--Bob Dylan at 80. ER June 14, 2026 4:19 pm (Off-Topic)

The Platner Disaster, plus... BuckGalaxy June 9, 2026 1:43 pm (Flame)

I saw "Disclosure Day" today. ER June 12, 2026 8:00 pm (Science Fiction)

Sigh. podrock June 10, 2026 12:29 pm (CurrentEvents)

Starship Troopers on the Moon BuckGalaxy June 2, 2026 2:51 pm (Space/Science)

Whatever happened to Bush's missile defense system aimed at Iran? by bowser December 2, 2011 9:38 pm

Oh that? by TB 2011-12-02 23:09:49
- Seems to have been delayed in a manner which honors the commitments Bush made as slowly as possible. by bowser 2011-12-03 14:40:30

Quotes of the Day by TB November 30, 2011 9:23 pm

"The self entitled monsters" by RobVG 2011-12-01 00:47:23
- The war between the useless and the useful by TB 2011-12-01 12:21:35
- Reynold's Law: The government decides to try to increase the middle class by subsidizing things that middle class people have: ... by TB 2011-12-01 12:19:00
  - What Reynolds obviously never considered is that unless the middle class feels secure, and the lower class feels it can ... by ER 2011-12-01 13:58:11
    - No, there's a lot of clever people with plenty of self-discipline and delayed gratification that have been told they can't ... by TB 2011-12-01 15:08:05
      - "We can see who is trying to make us “pissed,” Well, TB, just who is trying to make us "pissed"? ... by bowser 2011-12-01 16:26:08
      - Not pissed? We've got the Tea Party, OWS, 9% unemployment, economic distess world-wide, a deadllocked Congress, and a country ... by ER 2011-12-01 15:18:41
        
        I didn't say nobody was pissed. by TB 2011-12-01 15:32:51
        
        The Defined Benefit Safety Zone is not my safe harbor. It's the end of the line. I'm not ... by ER 2011-12-01 15:55:22
        
        Well, by TB 2011-12-01 16:12:38
        
        Yep, the suits always get the big bonuses, just like in the business world. Believe me, I couldn't survive ... by ER 2011-12-01 16:37:07
        
        What, teachers and cops are "suits" now? :) by TB 2011-12-01 16:56:29
        
        County Administrator? No, that's a bit beyond my pay grade. And cops and firemen got paid a percentage ... by ER 2011-12-01 17:50:56
        
        Interesting. I had heard about the Sheriff. Most of the top salaries on that website don't have overtime on their ... by TB 2011-12-01 18:55:15
- This is why people like Clarke need to be tossed out of power. They have no brain. by TB 2011-12-01 10:26:40
  - You were able to find a job, too. Education was much less expensive. It's a fraud now, expensive ... by bowser 2011-12-01 15:56:42
    - If education is a "fraud" now, blame the people who have been running our higher education system for decades. by TB 2011-12-01 16:18:16
      - No, I blame the Tea Party and other Conservatives who have pretty much destroyed the American Dream. by bowser 2011-12-01 16:27:32
- I was very lucky when I went to college, my folks helped when they could, even if it was only ... by ER 2011-12-01 09:57:20

What level of inequality will the US find sustainable? by bowser November 30, 2011 5:10 pm

I have some of the same feelings but talk like yours will dry up if and when unemployment returns to ... by RobVG 2011-11-30 23:06:47
- I couldn't agree more with you. What I don't see is any dynamic which will lead to 5% unemployment ... by bowser 2011-12-01 16:01:31
It's not just in our society and time, but in any civilization and age, being rich has always been considered ... by ER 2011-11-30 17:46:11
- The "snail" curve. I can't import images but when the Bell Curve morphs into the "snail curve" there's problems. ... by bowser 2011-12-01 16:10:03

My definition of reality...On Ron Paul.... by Jody November 30, 2011 3:40 pm

As always, it portrays a false choice. Somehow, providing healthcare to all our citizens will take away out freedom. ... by BuckGalaxy 2011-12-05 21:04:42
- It is not my choice to provide healthcare to all our citizens because I am not willing to pay for ... by Jody 2011-12-05 21:24:14
  - You are ALREADY paying for every citizen to have healthcare. For many it is simply emergency room care when ... by BuckGalaxy 2011-12-05 23:04:41
    - If that is truly the case then why is it not more widely embraced? by Jody 2011-12-06 14:16:07
      - It IS truly the case, and the answer is because many, like yourself, are unaware of it. by BuckGalaxy 2011-12-07 00:41:16
        
        If insurance would be run by the state...as is my understanding of single payer, what is NHS? by Jody 2011-12-07 08:59:21
        
        NHS is the UK's national healthcare. It is one of many national healthcare systems that exists in every major ... by BuckGalaxy 2011-12-07 23:26:38
        
        You don't see the government taking control as a threat? God knows Insurance in and of itself is a racket...but how ... by Jody 2011-12-08 10:43:39

"Entitlements" - Medicare and Social Security by bowser November 29, 2011 4:57 am

On my first response to your question, the one that starts "Modify them," I put a link that discusses this ... by TB 2011-11-29 10:38:35
- And YOU would do what? What would you recommend. If I wanted to know what "Ryan" would do ... by bowser 2011-11-29 10:56:26
  - I would start with Ryan's ideas, and go on from there. by TB 2011-11-29 11:06:13
    - So If I want to know what you think I should ask Ryan. TB, I'd be sooo embarrassed to ... by bowser 2011-11-29 12:35:05

And another thing is starting to annoy me. by bowser November 28, 2011 5:29 pm

I received this in the e-mail yesterday No matter what our kids and the new generation think about us, WE ... by johannes 2011-11-28 20:01:13
- Exactly! by bowser 2011-11-28 21:50:41

Ol' "Honk Honk" Cain takes it to a new level. by bowser November 28, 2011 4:49 pm

Y'know, I sympathize with Herman on this one. For starters, if the charges are true (which I feel ... by ER 2011-11-28 17:26:31
- As far as the timing is considered, it was never relevant before. Until Cain entered the arena it was ... by bowser 2011-11-28 21:50:06
- I don't know. by TB 2011-11-28 18:09:30
  - Hmm. by TB 2011-12-01 15:52:42
  - Obama has nothing to gain by destroying Cain, he fears Romney, Cain would be a pushover in a general election. ... by ER 2011-11-28 18:20:23
    - Every landslide victory the Republicans have had since the end of the 1970s was under a proud and consistent conservative ... by TB 2011-11-28 20:24:57
      - And those proud and conservative victors were? Nixon, that paragon of Conservative honesty and honor? He's the ... by bowser 2011-11-28 21:56:45
      - That's conspiracy theory nonsense, TB. by ER 2011-11-28 21:15:15

One thing is obvious - the US military is unable to win modern wars. by bowser November 27, 2011 3:42 pm

Sure looks like there's room for cuts by RobVG 2011-11-28 00:58:31
- Not a bad idea. by TB 2011-11-28 10:55:24
The military and entitlements are a huge chunk of the budget. by TB 2011-11-27 16:05:25
- OK. Let's say you're right, and we do away with Social Security and Medicare. Wipe 'em off the ... by bowser 2011-11-28 00:39:11
  - "Do away with Social Security and Medicare?" by TB 2011-11-28 10:51:01
    - OK. Just exactly what would you like to see done with Social Security and Medicare? In your ideal ... by bowser 2011-11-28 15:03:30
      - Modify them. Bring competition and choice into the system. by TB 2011-11-28 16:05:13
        
        Are you aware that Social SECURITY was born largely as the result of the collapse of exactly they systems you ... by bowser 2011-11-28 16:53:17
        
        What would you do to bring competition and choice into Medicare? by bowser 2011-11-28 16:42:06
    - It is like Groundhog Day (the movie) here sometimes TB.... by Jody 2011-11-28 11:08:16
  - Well, if we ignore all the fiscal, economic and humanitarian issues, and just think of the tangible and immediate effects ... by ER 2011-11-28 06:34:15
    - As they lead us into a better world, the human suffering will be seen to be negligible, simply a price ... by bowser 2011-11-28 16:02:38
- Yeah, but the vast bulk of the entitlements are spent right here in the USA, where they go right back ... by ER 2011-11-27 19:02:13
  - Now there's a can of worms for you. by TB 2011-11-28 10:46:51
    - Well, lets start with the tank. Sure, a million dollar tank generates a lot of economic activity, research, workers, ... by ER 2011-11-28 11:47:42
      - Aren't we focusing on asymmetric warfare? I understand we are, maybe not. Aren't we working on a Main Battle Tank, that ... by FrankC 2011-11-28 18:14:35
        
        Military men are inherently conservative. They are always preparing to fight the last war, not the next. And ... by ER 2011-11-28 18:45:19
      - P.S. "Tax break?" by TB 2011-11-28 12:07:23
        
        Yeah, The prosperous are carrying the entire tax burden on their shoulders, they are supporting everyone else. At the same time, ... by ER 2011-11-28 12:13:47
        
        First of all, nobody said "entire." Remember the Bowser Lesson. by TB 2011-11-28 12:44:50
        
        And just for comparison: by TB 2011-11-28 12:52:20
        
        Tom, you keep on trotting out the same figures which justify why those with little must give up more, and ... by ER 2011-11-28 13:56:21
        
        "Tom, you keep on trotting out the same figures which justify why those with little must give up more, and ... by TB 2011-11-28 15:55:51
        
        TB, look at it as a physicist would look at a set of data. The primary characteristic of this ... by ER 2011-11-28 16:20:26
        
        You use of the word "transfer" is loaded. I already discussed that. by TB 2011-11-28 17:53:44
        
        The use of "transfer" was a euphemism. What I really meant was "ripoff". Besides, just becaused you dismissed it earlier does ... by ER 2011-11-28 18:21:58
      - Your original point was about "money spent domestically" vs. "money spent overseas," and I probably should have focused more tightly ... by TB 2011-11-28 11:58:42

After a while this becomes treason. by bowser November 26, 2011 1:32 pm

I'm not sure I agree with your analysis. Friendly fire creates many more casualties among one's own people and ... by ER 2011-11-26 14:12:26
- Let's say a person goes to work with a pair of clean pants. Spills a bit of coffee on ... by bowser 2011-11-26 14:39:59
  - Don't forget, Obama stepped into a bulging pantload three years ago. by ER 2011-11-26 18:36:34
    - Don't forget, Obama promised clean pants in under two years. by TB 2011-11-26 19:20:52
      - No one had any idea what a mess Bush and Greenspan had made of this country. None. People ... by bowser 2011-11-27 13:55:23
        
        Well, you certainly aren't going to fix it by handing the credit cards to your other uncle, and having him run up the same bills in half the time. by TB 2011-11-27 15:02:51
        
        You're right. The rich uncle is the Tea Party. How much of Obama's debt has gone to the ultra-wealthy for ... by bowser 2011-11-27 15:11:46
        
        "How much of Obama’s debt has gone to the ultra-wealthy for bailing out hedge funds?" by TB 2011-11-27 15:44:11
      - Obama promised way too big on a lot of things, and that's what is hurting enthusiasm levels for his supporters. ... by BuckGalaxy 2011-11-26 19:42:55
        
        This is definitely one of those "wait for the rest of it" stories. by TB 2011-11-26 20:41:39

Remember "freedom fries"? by bowser November 25, 2011 9:42 pm

How could anyone forget "freedom fries"? by ER 2011-11-26 06:53:57
The home page for that report is here. by TB 2011-11-25 22:35:51
- Speaking of lies... by TB 2011-11-25 22:48:28
  - Boy howdy!!! I got the one wrong and the other depends upon which scoundrel you believe. Regarding the cost of ... by bowser 2011-11-26 08:28:21
    - If Robertson is considered a reliable source, it would be the first time around here. by TB 2011-11-26 09:53:12
      - Excellent point. If it were anyone but GWB - - - - ! by bowser 2011-11-26 13:39:13
  - The Cheney quote was actually from Donald Rumsfeld, and the 20G$ figure was for the projected costs of the reconstruction ... by ER 2011-11-26 07:46:55

Bleepin' bleepin' bleeper by Eri November 20, 2011 6:22 pm

It is part of the Conservative program to demonize and otherwise malign the unemployed. After all if you are suffering ... by ER 2011-11-23 10:08:15
- They can stay in the shower right through the next election. Which may not turn out quite as they ... by Eri 2011-11-24 15:13:01
  - I think the 2010 election was a fluke. Now that the American people have actually seen the Teabaggers when ... by ER 2011-11-24 15:52:59
An actual survey of some OWS'ers by TB 2011-11-20 19:44:55
- What's your point by RobVG 2011-11-22 10:43:29
  - The point, based on the survey, by TB 2011-11-23 13:55:12
    - TB, another appeal for intellectual honesty. You are the only person I've seen characterize these people as unemployed and ... by bowser 2011-11-25 18:55:37
      - How it's done: by TB 2011-11-25 18:58:45
- Goes to prove Gingrich doesn't know what the hell he is talking about. The more I read about him, ... by Eri 2011-11-21 04:57:27

TB, an appeal for intellectual honesty. by bowser November 20, 2011 1:39 am

Can't recall where, but I recently read the observation that the most divisive change in American politics has been the ... by Robert 2011-11-20 12:08:27
- TB has no interest in seeking out facts. On a given issue he simply regurgitates whatever talking point he ... by BuckGalaxy 2011-11-25 16:53:49
- Robert, help me understand the rationalizations one can put on continuing mischaracterizations of plain English posts which will both confront ... by bowser 2011-11-20 17:01:03
  - You can stop now. You killed the discussion. It worked. by TB 2011-11-20 19:36:12
    - No, they stopped YOUR DISCUSSION. You don't have a leg to stand on so you've retired in defeat by ... by Eri 2011-11-21 05:03:11
    - I'm sorry. I'm sorry and I apologize for what is clearly inappropriate overkill. And I'm ever sorrier we ... by bowser 2011-11-20 19:50:59
      - The Injured Innocent doesn't really work, you know. We've all been around here too long. by TB 2011-11-20 21:35:00
        
        Please, please read what I say, abjuring the interpretation until after having absorbed the words, their meanings and context. ... by bowser 2011-11-21 10:31:58
- "drowning the conversation in the bathtub" by TB 2011-11-20 14:12:41
  - Are you channeling Newt? by Robert 2011-11-21 16:57:49
    - Do you even perceive the colossal irony of bringing Jon Stewart up in a post about "disdain and superciliousness?" Again, notice ... by TB 2011-11-23 13:43:01
  - TB, help me understand. I said "average high school graduate", "health insurance" and "pension".. You read - "And really, do ... by bowser 2011-11-20 16:26:03
    - "Ideal high school graduate Working Man." No commas. by TB 2011-11-20 19:27:38
- That is one thought-provoking, fun post Robert. I believe in the first half you suggest it is intellectually dishonest ... by bowser 2011-11-20 12:55:18

Page 102 of 112«1...100 101102103 104...112 »