patrick.net

He was videotaping prosty-toots in his own home? What's the big deal? His ethics & morals are already compromised, what with the profession he's in...

His judgement, not so good.

tatupu70 says

Bap33 says

tatupu70 says

wormwood says

Didn’t you learn from your elite education

Just out of curiosity, when did it become bad to be smart? Or have a good education?
When did the country decide we’d rather have “folksy” running things? And why?

Not to be a pain, but it was liberal/leftists that came up with stupid crap that infested public-education and public-perception and resulted in a dumbed-down America. The list is about a mile long, so just admit I’m right and save us both the trouble. lol (like that will happen)

I’m not talking about political leaning at all. Just wouldn’t you rather have someone intelligent and well learned running things?

I would rather have character.
Intellect and educated are not the same.

Bap33 says

Intellect and educated are not the same.

Agreed. That's why I said intelligent and educated.

How do you define "character" How do you determine if someone has it?

tatupu70 says

How do you define “character” How do you determine if someone has it?

Please say that they have an icon that's an animal! Please, please, please!

state says

did someone just unironically quote ayn rand

They did, I saw it! But don't worry, most people who claim to like Rand don't know the REAL Ayn Rand and what she intended for humanity. They may as well be saying "Santa Claus." They're blissfully unaware of her self-hatred, her rabid vendetta against communism, her advocation of violence to achieve political aims, her lack of belief in emotions like love, compassion, empathy, or mercy, and most of all her CREEPY CREEPY EYES THAT GIVE YOU NIGHTMARES.

tatupu70 says

Just out of curiosity, when did it become bad to be smart? Or have a good education?

When did the country decide we’d rather have “folksy” running things? And why?

This is a really really good question.

I think one part of the answer has to do with the puppet masters, and what they think works.

The other part of the answer has to do with why it works. And that is in part about the insecurities of the uneducated and unintelligent.

How are you supposed to get a large part of the voting public to back wrong decisions or decisions that are geared toward the elite and against the middle class ? That is, how do you get them to vote against what is intelligent? Answer: make them feel that being uneducated and unintelligent (like they are) is somehow superior. If you feel it in your gut, this trumps logic and reasoning.

In the end, it's really some kind of mind control, if you think about it.

Bap33 says

liberal/leftists that came up with stupid crap that infested public-education and public-perception and resulted in a dumbed-down America. The list is about a mile long, so just admit I’m right and save us both the trouble. lol (like that will happen)

Translation: It fault of liberals.

All moral and cultural decay, and poverty itself is the result of liberal policies. If it weren't for liberals, only educated people who have the emotional and financial wherewithal to reproduce would do so.

Doesn't one have to be truly stupid to believe this shit. Turn on your radio. Some asshole will confirm it for you.

tatupu70 says

TechGromit says

huh??? The Social Security “surplus” was all invested in government bonds to support our unsubstantial spending. You could say the Social Security pot is full, and the federal budget pot is empty, but make no mistake, they are the same pots.

Sure. But place blame where it belongs.
TechGromit says

All of the other government programs combined only equal 21% of spending.

Not sure where you are looking–some estimates put defense spending at 50% of the budget. It gets hidden throughout the budget, but it’s defense.

And since is Social Security is/was PAYGO, any surplus is bonus cash.

I'd say, contrary to the original assertion, that SS is not only successful, but wildly successful. If it didn't run with an unnecessary surplus there wouldn't be anything to steal.

And that's why they stole it---a backdoor way to kill the program. The rest is just spinning.

cara.kelber flagged this data by Patrick as incorrect:

As of date = 2011-06-14

Apartment number

2 bedrooms

1 bathrooms

Type is Multi

Monthly home owner association fee (HOA) is $0

Square feet is

Estimated rent is $705

Asking price is $27500

cara.kelber, please say what part of that data is incorrect.

Patrick, please say why you think that the data is correct.

elliemae says

tatupu70 says

How do you define “character” How do you determine if someone has it?

Please say that they have an icon that’s an animal! Please, please, please!
Eschew Obfuscation

did I spell it wrong?

tatupu70 says

Bap33 says

Intellect and educated are not the same.

Agreed. That’s why I said intelligent and educated.
How do you define “character” How do you determine if someone has it?

I define it as what they do when nobody is watching. Do they return the money that the IRS mistakenly deposited in their bank account or do they run out and spend it. Good vs. Bad character. The context of the post assumed good character.

you are correct. it's all about what action one takes when nobody will know either way.

blows up the entire pro dope vote, dont it?

Bap33 says

blows up the entire pro dope vote, dont it?

No, not at all.

The story mentions that, if the guy was sentenced with any jail time, the system could keep him in jail for life if they felt that he was at risk to reoffend.

And that, if he violates his sexual offender probation, he goes straight to jail.

It's unfortunate that the courts are putting others at risk just to protest a law the judge believes to be unfair. One can only hope that when this twisted man, who got a babysitter drunk and then had sex with her while she was passed out, violates his probation without harming another innocent woman.

If he does, the judge should go to jail too.

CL says

any surplus is bonus cash.

Should be dividend earned back to the account holder.

Bap33 says

you are correct. it’s all about what action one takes when nobody will know either way.
blows up the entire pro dope vote, dont it?

Good--so how do you know who has it and who does it? You can only tell when nobody is watching...

tatupu70 says

Bap33 says

you are correct. it’s all about what action one takes when nobody will know either way.
blows up the entire pro dope vote, dont it?

Good–so how do you know who has it and who does it? You can only tell when nobody is watching…

I see what you are saying ... hmmm. Well, I never thought about it that deep. Seems to be like most issues, like atheism and Christianity, or conservative and liberal, there just aint any way to know for sure. A person could act like a liberal and when they are all alone they may be conservative at heart, and vise-versa. Yep, that is a tuff one.

wormwood says

Polls, polls, statistics, lies and damn lies….the libs...

Yes and conservatives don't believe in anything where people get to vote when it doesn't fit with their plans. I reflect back to the two illegitimate presidential elections of 2000 and 2004. Conservatives willfully ran roughshod over the will of the people twice making obvious that we are simply the newest banana republic.

Yes you conservatives made your contempt for democracy painfully obvious. It's natural that you would believe that all polls are lies when you guys subvert the sacred electoral process on a regular basis. I guess the will of the people or their opinion don't matter much to conservatives. Conservatives believe that they know what's best for everyone so they force their flawed ideologies and their ignorant and corrupt politicians on people without bothering to consider the rule of law let alone the will of the people.

Am I the only one who feels fairly certain that wormwood and shrek are the same person ?

I calls 'em the way I see 'em. Not even close,...ever !

Bap33 says

tatupu70 says

Bap33 says

you are correct. it’s all about what action one takes when nobody will know either way.

blows up the entire pro dope vote, dont it?

Good–so how do you know who has it and who does it? You can only tell when nobody is watching…

I see what you are saying … hmmm. Well, I never thought about it that deep. Seems to be like most issues, like atheism and Christianity, or conservative and liberal, there just aint any way to know for sure. A person could act like a liberal and when they are all alone they may be conservative at heart, and vise-versa. Yep, that is a tuff one.

Maybe I should restate: what someone does when they *think* nobody is watching.

People slip up and develop a reputation. There are other indicators as well. For instance, when the going gets tough do they complain or do they pull themselves up. And do on...

shrekgrinch says

Uh, no…he just distorts things or just makes up shit entirely in ways that you approve of. Thanks for proving my point

Shrek talking about other people distorting or making shit up is the funniest thing I have ever read on patrick.net.

So this is where the lad disappeared to. He's like a misbehaving alien youth on Star Trek, who wreaks havoc with Earthlings. The difference is there aren't any adult aliens to show up at the end of the episode to set things right, so he causes trouble until he grows bored and finds another forum.

Iwont Post Here for Money says

My question to PATRICK is this

Well I think, in one fell swoop, we have a new contender for the most stupid thing said on these forums.

This is another case I have to agree with Troy. Good comments...

A new user has been deleted for direct and childish insults.

Eisenhower on the Military Industrial COmplex:

""Until the latest of our world conflicts, the United States had no armaments industry. American makers of ploughshares could, with time and as required, make swords as well. But we can no longer risk emergency improvisation of national defense; we have been compelled to create a permanent armaments industry of vast proportions."
_

"The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist. We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes. We should take nothing for granted. Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and goals so that security and liberty may prosper together."

Secretary Gates:

""Does the number of warships we have, and are building, really put America at risk, when the U.S. battle fleet is larger than the next 13 navies combined — 11 of which are our partners and allies?

Is it a dire threat that by 2020, the United States will have only 20 times more advanced stealth fighters than China?

These are the kinds of questions Eisenhower asked as commander-in-chief. They are the kinds of questions I believe he would ask today."

"What it takes is the political will and willingness, as Eisenhower possessed, to make hard choices — choices that will displease powerful people both inside the Pentagon, and out."

Following from afar, what exactly is an affiliate? Are these third party sellers that Amazon lists product for, used toys, books, etc?

elliemae says

tatupu70 says

How do you define “character” How do you determine if someone has it?

Please say that they have an icon that’s an animal! Please, please, please!
Eschew Obfuscation

I agree. That would be sweet! :-)

What ever you do, don't think about RUSS! :D

The issue is "whether Amazon is doing business in California?"

If the business does not send any agents or materials to actively solicit business within the physical California boundary, then that business does not have the obligation to collect sales tax on behalf of California.

However, it is up to the buyer to report the use tax on the items purchased from Amazon and voluntarily send in the tax amount to the Board of Equalization. Use tax rate is the same as the sales tax.

Basically, Amazon is not paying the tax. The buyers do. So, why is the fuss?

Lotr, no, an affiliate is someone who has a website and puts links to Amazon on that site, then gets a commission for purchases made through the links. A lot of very little guys in California are going to be crushed by Amazon's choice to sacrifice them for political gain.

I know I won't be buying from Amazon until they follow the rule of law. Boycott time for Californians. That's the only thing these thug corporations understand. Hit them where it hurts!

They really should have defaulted. Now they are just going to be owned by some really really wealthy individuals.

Lotr, no, an affiliate is someone who has a website and puts links to Amazon on that site, then gets a commission for purchases made through the links. A lot of very little guys in California are going to be crushed by Amazon's choice to sacrifice them for political gain.

I also got my cancellation notice, which is funny because I've made a total of $25 from the affilliate program, and even that hasn't been paid out to me. I think you have to get to $100 before they send you a check.

I also don't quite get why Amazon would do this to protest sales taxes that they wouldn't pay anyway. Is it the cost of sales tax collection they are complaining about?

Not that I like sales taxes. They're a burden to collect and they discourage commerce. It would be much better to have a single tax on unimproved land values. Commerce is productive. Land ownership is not.

BTW, here's the email:

Hello,

Unfortunately, Governor Brown has signed into law the bill that we emailed you about earlier today. As a result of this, contracts with all California residents participating in the Amazon Associates Program are terminated effective today, June 29, 2011. Those California residents will no longer receive advertising fees for sales referred to Amazon.com, Endless.com, MYHABIT.COM or SmallParts.com. Please be assured that all qualifying advertising fees earned before today will be processed and paid in full in accordance with the regular payment schedule.

You are receiving this email because our records indicate that you are a resident of California. If you are not currently a resident of California, or if you are relocating to another state in the near future, you can manage the details of your Associates account here. And if you relocate to another state in the near future please contact us for reinstatement into the Amazon Associates Program.

To avoid confusion, we would like to clarify that this development will only impact our ability to offer the Associates Program to California residents and will not affect your ability to purchase from Amazon.com, Endless.com, MYHABIT.COM or SmallParts.com.

We have enjoyed working with you and other California-based participants in the Amazon Associates Program and, if this situation is rectified, would very much welcome the opportunity to re-open our Associates Program to California residents. As mentioned before, we are continuing to work on alternative ways to help California residents monetize their websites and we will be sure to contact you when these become available.

Regards,

The Amazon Associates Team

Say, this means Amazon is just going to keep all those commissions that it gets from this moment on due to all those links from people in California.

So in the short term, until people bother to take those links down, Amazon is making more money by cancelling the affilliate program...

And I wouldn't be surprised if they just keep the $25 I supposedly earned. Probably some fine print says they can do that.

Sorry for the double post. I had trouble registering (my fault).

"Atlas Shrugged scorched earth" is a good way of phrasing what Amazon has done. And there are a lot of real people down here on the scorched earth who are losing their income. The law did not require Amazon to shut down affiliates. That was Amazon's spiteful choice.

Rats, Shrek beat me to it:

http://beta.news.yahoo.com/amazon-cuts-off-california-affiliates-201321875.html

I have to say I've got more respect for Amazon than I did before. Marcus almost had me convinced they'd chicken out due to the market size.

I feel bad for those in CA that are going to get burned (by the govt!) but am happy Amazon followed through - on principle if nothing else.

I flew back from Texas to CA this week. Flying into LA there was a multi-row discussion around me (I just listened) about how all were from LA but only visiting. They'd moved to San Antonio for the better business climate. One said, "Man, I'm afraid to get off of the plane that I won't want to go back but I have to"