riddler

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Everything posted by riddler

  1. riddler
    I think you're off by one decimal point. It's more like 14%. Here, for instance are the government spending numbers from 2006: 2006 Overall government spending (in billions of dollars) Pensions $747.1 Health Care $783.8 Education $786.8 Defense $622.2 Welfare $411.4 Interest $312.3 Total $4,704.1 Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD
  2. riddler
    That's the fine line that separates media business from media conspiracy. I'm tempted to think that the media cares more about profit than setting an agenda. I think that making every election a close race makes more money for the media. I believe the managers are willing to put aside their political beliefs to make money. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD
  3. riddler
    When I saw that drunk video of Hoff, I just had to share And I figured it's better not to start an entire new thread - more than one thread about Hasslehoff on this entire site is probably too many. Even one thread about him is probably too many Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD
  4. riddler
    They said that on MSNBC? Sure that wasn't Fox? Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD
  5. riddler
    What amazes me is the level of support that George W Bush gets from members of the armed forces. Here's an analogy. What if I dressed up as a firefighter for Halloween one year, then ran for public office, trying to garner support by saying I was a firefighter? Shouldn't that make firefighters angry? I think it would. When American soldiers went to war in Vietnam, Bush used his father's political pull to get into the Texas Air National Guard (to avoid going to Vietnam), didn't show up for work, and was accountably drunk for most of his "service" (including one DUI). Dubya was no more a soldier than I am a firefighter after dressing up as one for halloween. And yet, he continues to be popular with members of the armed services, referring to his time in the National Guard, dressing up in flight suits, and pretending to be an old soldier. Shouldn't that make real soldiers angry? Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD
  6. riddler
    I'd say this drunk would do it Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD
  7. riddler
    Exactly my point. The poll results aren't much different - planned ahead of time, fixed like clockwork. What the people have to say is irrelevant. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD
  8. riddler
    Since most of my posts on here tend to be leftward-leaning, I thought I would share the perspective of my mom, who is going to vote for McCain. I just had dinner with her tonight and she explained her reasons: 1. Obama is definitely a Muslim. 2. We're fighting in Iraq because of 9/11. 3. The media is all democrats, and they hate McCain. 4. The only people that are voting for Obama are doing it because he's black. I asked her what she felt about McCain's energy policies, and she had no idea. I asked her if she thought Palin was as experienced in Washington as Obama, and she said she was definitely more experienced in Washington because she was Governor of Alaska. I asked her where she got all that information, and she said her friends sent it to her in emails. Smear tactics work. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD
  9. riddler
    For everyone out there that thinks the "surge" is working. A reminder that war does not end violence: http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/09/13/iraq.violence/index.html Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD
  10. riddler
    Comparing data from the last five years to data from before humans existed is like telling a cancer patient that they are not dying after each breath. "See, you got another breath. Surely you're not dying." Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD
  11. riddler
    LOL - It's not too late to apply for a job as white-house Intern Job description may vary. Under Clinton, it was "personal humidor". Biden's been in Washington a long time - he's probably even more freaky. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD
  12. riddler
    And two weeks later, as I predicted, now McCain is ahead. Again, I stand by my previous prediction. For the next few months, one candidate will lead by a solid margin (single-digit, but solid). But my final prediction is right before the election date, it will suddenly be an even race. Gotta make it a close race. Sells more newsprint. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD
  13. riddler
    Saying that Palin speaks in tongues and handles snakes is just as ridiculous as saying Obama is a practicing Muslim. There was a time when the media would report a candidates religious affiliation with some reverence, but these days the Jerry Springer news media has to report all the rantings of every religious nut in every slimy corner of the gene pool. Geesh - find some real news and report on it. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD
  14. riddler
    Almost as amusing as the goofed demo - the typical ignorant media response. Attached is the article from the front-page of the Sports section of the Denver Post. Anyone want to point out what's wrong with the article? Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD
  15. riddler
    I really don't think the VP hopeful's unmarried, 17-year-old daughter getting pregnant is going to sway voters. But it does put a damper on preaching abstinence. And living by God's word (premarital sex). Ah, the good ol' Old Testament days, when women were for sale, and God approved. Edit - and just in case you can't tell, that last statement is EXTREMELY sarcastic. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD
  16. riddler
    Parents and family can be negative role models, too I've made a pretty decent life out of not making the mistakes they did Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD
  17. riddler

    peoplejar.com

    riddler replied to Baksteen's topic in The Bonfire

    I got spammed, too. Regardless of whether he's a "great guy" or a "skydiver myself" or whatever the Hell he is, I don't appreciate his spam. If anyone knows him, tell him to quit spamming us. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD
  18. riddler
    It's all fun and games until it's your own father that's the pathological liar. Me: You used to skydive in the Army? Dad: Yeah, we did training jumps over Antartica. Me: Was this after you were in Japan training to be a Ninja assassin? Dad: The army used to fly us all over the world for "special ops" training. Me: Did you land in the snow after you parachuted? Dad: Usually, but if the winds were really high, you could land in the water. Me: How did you not land in the water. Dad: Well, you can position your body to fly really far away before you opened your parachute. Me: How far could you go? Dad: Depends on how high up you were. We had one or two guys that were able to fly almost all the way to New Zealand. True words. This is a real conversation I had with my dad when I was about 16. I remember five or six other conversations about skydiving that were just as ludicrous. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD
  19. riddler
    Having two little girls myself, I can think of nothing worse than this happening to any father. My thoughts are with you and your family. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD
  20. riddler
    She's also a believer in abstinence (i.e. teach your daughters not to use birth control). That having been said, this news is fodder for the National Enquirer and their lot, nestled somewhere between big foot's hairless love child and the Elvis/Selena sexcapade in Heaven. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD
  21. riddler
    I live a mile away from the DNC, and I chose not to go anywhere near it. Sure, it's history, but I watched the police brutality before the DNC started, and I knew it would be even worse during. Sheriffs should not have been allowed to participate (particularly Boulder county Sheriffs who had no jurisdiction in downtown Denver) in the enforcement activities. The vice squad should not have been walking beats looking for jay-walkers. SWAT is necessary, but the shows of strength were not. The Brown Palace is one of the most expensive hotels in Denver (a lot of history there as well). A lot of money and a little bit of power goes a long way toward making up your own laws. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD
  22. riddler
    And as predicted by me, the latest poll shows Obama leading, but only marginally, now that the DNC is over. http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/08/30/polls-voters-doubt-palins-qualifications-while-obama-expands-lead/ Obama: 49% McCain: 41% And I stand by my previous prediction. After the RNC, McCain will lead by a slight number. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD
  23. riddler
    Well, I'm officially announcing my support for Senator Oba- Whoa, wait a minute - that's some nice eye-candy up on stage to the right. Stop! Must focus. Baseball, baseball, college diffy-Q. Yes, as I was about to say, Barack Ooooooooooo - Milf hottie. I'd sure like to ... No! Concentrate! McCain in underwear! Miss Congeniality - that means she's nice, right? Darn it! I think I'm getting electile dysfunction. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD
  24. riddler
    It turns out it's not that hard to slant the polls, either. Pollsters know that with a subtle change in the way they phrase questions will lead more or less people to choose other options. I have no reason to believe a CNN article that follows a CNN poll. And I wouldn't call that a "conspiracy". It's just something they do to make money. That's not conspiratorial - that's just capitalism. Close races interest people, so you can sell news about close races. But even the more respected polls, like Gallup, you have to watch the way the questions are phrased. As we know from all the election rhetoric, just one or two mis-spoken words changes the way people view things. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD
  25. riddler
    What's wrong with having a hot MILF for VP? It's like when you go into a restaurant and the seating hostess is gorgeous - the food already tastes better, and you haven't eaten anything It doesn't surprise me that the people of Alaska voted for a hottie former beauty-pageant contestant to be Governor. That's a state full of lonely guys. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD