jcd11235

You seem to be confusing communism with Communism, the latter (with the capital C) is not really an example of the former (which has no government, let alone an authoritarian government). BS. Of informed consumers, i.e. those consumers who no what options are available and know the differences between the various options, MS has nowhere close to a 99% market share. Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

I find it hilarious that so many millionaires think they earned their money entirely by themselves. Excellent point. Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

Many parts of it are also re-released into the FOSS community (e.g. Darwin). It's quite accurate. FOSS with community developers is a very good example of from each according to his ability; to each according to his need. My experience has been that software that is developed for free (or donations), of passion, is generally superior to software that is developed for profit. Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

So, you're saying that there is a direct correlation between economic philosophy and income? Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

Ummm … actually, no, I don't know that song. Perhaps we just listen to different music. Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

No one did. That doesn't mean that it is feasible to look for alternate employment at any time day or night. Congratulations. That only indicates that you've never experienced being unemployed since you started working. For many people, that isn't the case. That implies that pay varies with ability, which is often not the case. I haven't. Ahhh … it's refreshing to see the same old tired arguments that have historically not be accurate predictions of the repercussions of raising minimum wage. Besides, as the OP pointed out, it isn't about raising minimum wage, it is about maintaining minimum wage in real dollars. Your argument doesn't generally apply to the latter. Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

Well, if a higher minimum wage is better, then everyone would be ok right? If you look at someone working minimum wage that has a few kids and add in EITC, they'd actually be making lose to $10 - $11/hr. EITC is something I never really understood. They also never mention that the many minimum wage workers are kids and people taking second jobs. I find it rather sad that so many people feel sorry for the richest 1.5% because they have to pay so much in taxes, but many of those same people are often unable to feel sorry for the poorest 1.5%. Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

Fortunately, here in the USA, our Constitution empowers Congress to pass legislation to prevent such selfish philosophies from prevailing. Without such "selfish philosophies" you probably wouldn't have a computer on which to type that statement. Considering my OS is a FreeBSD derivative, it could also be said that without communist-like FOSS philosophies, I wouldn't have a computer that does anything but flash a light to let me know whether or not it is powered on. Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

It would be nice if it were fact, but in the real world, no such luck. So in which state are people not allowed to change jobs if they're not happy with their wages? It's not a matter of being allowed to change jobs. It's a matter of being able to afford to take the time to look for alternate employment and/or the better paying jobs actually being available. For many people it just isn't a realistic option. Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

That's surprising to read. I don't think I ever ate so well, so often as I did in the (US) Army. Breakfast daily was an omelette (or other eggs to order) sausage or bacon, hash browns, french toast, pancakes, biscuits, fresh fruit, coffee, juice, milk, danishes & lots more. Lunch would vary daily, but might be italian pasta, barbeque, or steak & shrimp (which was served every Friday). I could easily spend $50 each day and not eat as well. Sorry to hear the food sucks now. Better you than me. Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

It would be nice if it were fact, but in the real world, no such luck. Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

Technically, even slavery provides the equivalent of a living wage. Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

Fortunately, here in the USA, our Constitution empowers Congress to pass legislation to prevent such selfish philosophies from prevailing. Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

The only "parenthetical statement" in the actual US Code section being discussed is "Eastern Standard Time" in paragraph h. See post #173 in this thread for the actual, current text of US Code: Title 8> Chapter 12> Subchapter III> Part I> §1401. Perhaps the paraphrased version that you posted was deliberately intended to be misleading in order to further the conspiracy theory? The verbiage is quite clear, but it is you who continues to misinterpret it. That would be the correct and proper interpretation of paragraph g, provided two of those years of residency occurred after the citizen parent had attained the age of fourteen years. Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

You left out drinking. I have used everything at one time or another. Patch, gum, both pills, what works the best for me is the Nicotrol inhaler. It helps the craving a little and is also unpleasant, not as unpleasant as the gum. I quit one time for a year, several times for six months. I don't know what the answer is, like I said, my mother has never been able to quit completely and I obviously have her genes. It's funny, Welbutrin / Zyban didn't make me quit - I just didn't care that I was smoking. And I sat around and drooled all day. More seriously, I quit for extended periods (6 months +) a few times. The last time I quit, I told myself that it was the last time that I was going to try to quit. If it didn't work, I'd just be a smoker for the rest of my life. That was November 2001, and I haven't had a cigarette (or any other form of tobacco except the occasional second hand smoke) since. Interestingly, I haven't had any dreams nightmares about falling of the wagon since I quit the last time, something that plagued me every previous time I tried to quit. Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

That assumes that the cash in the accounts is never used for anything else, that it just stays there. Sometimes it does, and sometimes it doesn't. It can be used in ways that offer returns far greater than what the bonds are paying. Or, it can be spent unwisely, with little to no benefit. My point wasn't that the cash accounts will always negate the additional debt from the investments. My point was to consider one without considering the other does not offer a realistic picture of what happens fiscally. For example, during the budget surpluses of Clinton's presidency, public debt increased, but the amount of cash the government had on hand increased by a larger amount. Bonds are often/usually issued because it is believed that the benefit of having the money to use now will generate more revenue than the cost of the coupons/interest. That's true of government bonds and bonds issued by private sector companies. Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

Since the urge to smoke is strongest when waking up, after eating, and after sex, the answer is obvious. Stop sleeping, eating, and having sex, and you'll stop getting the urge to smoke. Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

+ 0.9999999…999… Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

Both questions are irrelevant to the point I made. If the increased debt due to trust fund investments is considered, the cash accounts also need to be considered, as well. It doesn't matter whether the cash is earning more or less interest than the bonds. Considering both will show the real story. Considering only the increased public debt or only the cash accounts will not. Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

I'm not overlooking interest at all. Interest is included in the public debt, which is already being considered. There's no need to count it twice. Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

Simply that considering the increased debt due to the trust fund without considering the corresponding cash accounts doesn't offer a realistic picture, since the revenue going into the trust fund is required by law to be invested in government bonds, which increases the public debt, but doesn't necessarily decrease the net value of the government's assets. For example, if you (general you, not specific you) borrow $10,000, but you put those funds in a bank account instead of spending them, is it fair to consider your net worth reduced by $10,000 because your debt increased by $10,000? Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

The goal is always to escape. If I have to fight, I fight with the goal to escape, not with the goal of neutralizing the attacker. W/r/t self defense, I want to be a survivor, not a hero. It may be as simple as getting the attacker to move out of the way to access space through which to run away. Or, it may be as complicated as neutralizing the threat. Or, it could be somewhere in between. Yes, if it comes to that. It might not be necessary to do any damage to escape. Of course, every situation is different, and it would be pointless to try and analyze what one might do in every conceivable scenario. More than likely, yes. Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

True. As with any weapon, (generally) the more training one has, the more options one has at their disposal w/r/t that weapon. I think a better description would be: defending yourself AFTER you have been unable to escape the situation/threat. I think that part is just a semantics difference. Here I don't quite agree (or I'm reading something slightly different in your reply than what you intended). IMO, the objective at that point is to fight for an opportunity to escape. If, hypothetically, fighting back buys me the time and/or space I need to escape, I still prioritize escape over stopping the attack. Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

You said, "People react with the tools they have available, not because of the tools they have available. " So then your position is that a true warrior with just a toothpick will fight an opponent that is better armed simply because they are true warriors. No, that's not my position. A true warrior would react, but that reaction wouldn't necessarily be to fight. In this discussion, however, the bad guys were not "better armed," a point you keep (conveniently) overlooking. Again, their is no reason to believe that there was nobody among the 70+ passengers who understood that they had objects at their disposal that could be used as much more effective weapons than box cutters. They didn't act? Why not? (Oh yeah, they didn't have access to the cockpit.) If they didn't act without guns, I wouldn't rely on them to act with a gun, either. Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

No, but it implies that you THINK you are. No, it doesn't. You're smart enough to know that. Apparently not. No, I was in no way bragging. Ah, but they don't normally try to belittle others, then try to brag on themselves.... You did. Nope. I didn't do that, either. I love all the unsubstantiated accusations you're throwing my way, though. Agreed. People who think they have the upper hand tend not to be as afraid. They feel they have the ability to do something and are empowered. This is a very simple concept anyone that has had any training or experience already knows. That's a fair point. I already listed several objects allowed on planes that would give me the belief that I had the (decisive) upper hand against an attacker with a box cutter It is also worth mentioning that having a gun and having the will and ability to use it in a high stress situation are not the same things. Ah, there's your straw man argument again. We are talking about defending against box cutter wielding attackers, not machine gun emplacements. Surely you can recognize the difference. Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!