Seasons
This is a forum or general chit-chat, small talk, a "hey, how ya doing?" and such. Or hell, get crazy deep on something. Whatever you like.
Posts 116 - 127 of 6,170
Posts 116 - 127 of 6,170
"[D]on't you find it hard to believe in ideas that have only been around for a couple thousand years?"
Many if not most of the ideas in the Bible have been around for longer than that. But what do you mean "only" a couple thousand years? You are contrasting this with evolutionary theory that got going in earnest less than two hundred years ago?
"Although there are good ideologies in the bible (and the rest of the holy writings and religious beliefs), I don't think even people who consider themselves religious actually believe in heaven and hell anymore, do they?"
Some don't, and I'm not sure of percentages. But I assure you that there are many, many Christians (as well as some people from various religions) who still believe in Heaven and Hell. Anyway, truth is not determined by majority vote.
"Don't they realize the meaning of infinite? it just keep going... forever!"
I am a Mathematics major, and I assure you I understand the concept of infinity. But I don't understand your point. I can guess at it, but I would probably guess wrong.
Many if not most of the ideas in the Bible have been around for longer than that. But what do you mean "only" a couple thousand years? You are contrasting this with evolutionary theory that got going in earnest less than two hundred years ago?
"Although there are good ideologies in the bible (and the rest of the holy writings and religious beliefs), I don't think even people who consider themselves religious actually believe in heaven and hell anymore, do they?"
Some don't, and I'm not sure of percentages. But I assure you that there are many, many Christians (as well as some people from various religions) who still believe in Heaven and Hell. Anyway, truth is not determined by majority vote.
"Don't they realize the meaning of infinite? it just keep going... forever!"
I am a Mathematics major, and I assure you I understand the concept of infinity. But I don't understand your point. I can guess at it, but I would probably guess wrong.
Right -- the universe isn't infinite as far as we know, for instance.
Rahz, that was interesting. I don't think it's impossible to come to some opinion of Saudi Arabia based on general information, and there are plenty of sources besides the Fox News Channel or even our own U.S. travel advisories... personally, the option to evaluate them face-to-face is not really there, since because I am Jewish I could visit only at my peril.
I definitely agree that our government needs serious improvement. It's just that part of that improvement in my view is better enabling capitalism, instead of supporting cartels like our own domestic oil industry, for instance, but also instead of improperly and inordinately taxing high-earners (and in a related story, instead of spending all kinds of money on things that should be handled by the non-profit and private sector).
The main problem I guess I see with your perspective (aside from your anti-advertising policy, which seems fascist to me -- certainly, at least, a heady example of government power) is that you seem to me less interested in a system (such as capitalism, or a body of constitutional limitations) than in some kind of utopian mutual-decision-making scenario where fine details of life and business are crafted to suit whatever are our best interests, as determined in some way I don't yet understand. In particular, you seem to be reaching for the highest potential collective human behavior. Call me a pessimist, or call me a social scientist, but it seems to me such a scenario is inherently unstable even should it ever come about, and that it is both more prudent and more effective to look to a system that (without judging) is based on lowest-common-denominator thinking.
Rahz, that was interesting. I don't think it's impossible to come to some opinion of Saudi Arabia based on general information, and there are plenty of sources besides the Fox News Channel or even our own U.S. travel advisories... personally, the option to evaluate them face-to-face is not really there, since because I am Jewish I could visit only at my peril.
I definitely agree that our government needs serious improvement. It's just that part of that improvement in my view is better enabling capitalism, instead of supporting cartels like our own domestic oil industry, for instance, but also instead of improperly and inordinately taxing high-earners (and in a related story, instead of spending all kinds of money on things that should be handled by the non-profit and private sector).
The main problem I guess I see with your perspective (aside from your anti-advertising policy, which seems fascist to me -- certainly, at least, a heady example of government power) is that you seem to me less interested in a system (such as capitalism, or a body of constitutional limitations) than in some kind of utopian mutual-decision-making scenario where fine details of life and business are crafted to suit whatever are our best interests, as determined in some way I don't yet understand. In particular, you seem to be reaching for the highest potential collective human behavior. Call me a pessimist, or call me a social scientist, but it seems to me such a scenario is inherently unstable even should it ever come about, and that it is both more prudent and more effective to look to a system that (without judging) is based on lowest-common-denominator thinking.
First, to jbryanc and his brass plaque, and others claiming their home towns as the centre of the universe, you are all right. I seem to remember my physics teacher once saying that theoretically speking, every point is the centre of the universe. So when someone claims they are the centre of the universe, they are right. However, before you go on the big ego trip, remember that the same is true for everyone else. Everyone repeat after me "We are all individuals.
On the subject of weather, at the risk of sounding parochial, I would say nothing beats the weather all the way down here in Melbourne Australia. Sure there is no point me telling you what the weather actually is, since by the time you get the message it will have changed at least three times. Melbourne weather is described as "Four seasons in one day." It's not a case of rain, hail or shine, but rain, hail AND shine, all in the one day and twice on Sundays. So feel free to throw anything you like at me in this forum, SirRahz or anyone else. I am fairly sure I can--oh no, I'm going to say it--weather it.
To more serious matters of debate, Rahz, specifically the advertising tax. I would say I would support the sliding scale idea you suggest. I mean if it works for income tax, why not this.
Further, I would have to say I would agree with the point you make about the government not generally being interested in minorities, but seeing to their needs (or at least making a show of attempting to) because of the protection accorded to everyone by the constitution and the bill of rights. It isn't convenient for governments to try and deal with a populace that is made up of so many different voices and they will try and co-opt and homogenise wherever they can, which is why I am glad that the founding fathers of our various nations had the foresight to protect individuality and personal freedoms.
On the subject of weather, at the risk of sounding parochial, I would say nothing beats the weather all the way down here in Melbourne Australia. Sure there is no point me telling you what the weather actually is, since by the time you get the message it will have changed at least three times. Melbourne weather is described as "Four seasons in one day." It's not a case of rain, hail or shine, but rain, hail AND shine, all in the one day and twice on Sundays. So feel free to throw anything you like at me in this forum, SirRahz or anyone else. I am fairly sure I can--oh no, I'm going to say it--weather it.
To more serious matters of debate, Rahz, specifically the advertising tax. I would say I would support the sliding scale idea you suggest. I mean if it works for income tax, why not this.
Further, I would have to say I would agree with the point you make about the government not generally being interested in minorities, but seeing to their needs (or at least making a show of attempting to) because of the protection accorded to everyone by the constitution and the bill of rights. It isn't convenient for governments to try and deal with a populace that is made up of so many different voices and they will try and co-opt and homogenise wherever they can, which is why I am glad that the founding fathers of our various nations had the foresight to protect individuality and personal freedoms.
Corwin--
"Everyone repeat after me "We are all individuals.""
Umm I'm sorry.. just waiting for Borg Collective to jump in and say "We Are The Borg. There is no individuality."
"Everyone repeat after me "We are all individuals.""
Umm I'm sorry.. just waiting for Borg Collective to jump in and say "We Are The Borg. There is no individuality."
Hence Crowded House's 4 seasons in one day... However, Holland doesn't exactly have predictible weather either
jbryanc, you're hilarious! lol!!! Do you play softball? I have a feeling I know you from somewhere...
Holland, Melborne... Have you also found the weather to be changing in the past 3 years?
Crab, fascist? That's a little extreme... I'm just suggesting a way to compensate for the aggressive advertising that seems to be spreading like wild flower lately. Speaking of which, anyone survive TV turn-off week?
I'm too drunk to get into a serious debate right now, but I still have a question... Crab, despite the fact that you find my unexplained utopian system unrealistic, don't you think there's gotta' be a better way to decide what our "individual" AND "social" best interests are? Right now, if we don't agree with whatever the 5% gang is up to, all we can do is go out and protest - that, I find childish!
So we do agree the government still has lots of room for improvement, that's good. But why would taxing high earnings (or spendings) necessarily be inappropriate? If you're playing with millions and billions, why would a higher tax stop you? It would just give the resht ush more elbow schpache to invest in new private and non-profit shectorsh... shorry I'm schlurrring....
*is found the next morning curled in the fetal position somewhere between here and Dogh'd's*
Holland, Melborne... Have you also found the weather to be changing in the past 3 years?
Crab, fascist? That's a little extreme... I'm just suggesting a way to compensate for the aggressive advertising that seems to be spreading like wild flower lately. Speaking of which, anyone survive TV turn-off week?
I'm too drunk to get into a serious debate right now, but I still have a question... Crab, despite the fact that you find my unexplained utopian system unrealistic, don't you think there's gotta' be a better way to decide what our "individual" AND "social" best interests are? Right now, if we don't agree with whatever the 5% gang is up to, all we can do is go out and protest - that, I find childish!
So we do agree the government still has lots of room for improvement, that's good. But why would taxing high earnings (or spendings) necessarily be inappropriate? If you're playing with millions and billions, why would a higher tax stop you? It would just give the resht ush more elbow schpache to invest in new private and non-profit shectorsh... shorry I'm schlurrring....
*is found the next morning curled in the fetal position somewhere between here and Dogh'd's*
lunar22: Actually the song I was thinking about is called All Four Seasons and is on Mercury Falling, although admittedly the song relates more to the changeable nature of women's temperaments than actual weather.
SirRahz: Yes, the weather has changed a lot in Australia in general over the last few years. Sydney in particular has experienced a lot of very severe rain storms and the like over the last few years. One in particular had hailstones so big that roofs and cars received extensive damage. The demand for builders and roofing tiles was so massive that it impacted worker availability and material supply across the entire country.
Extremes of weather are becoming more common across the entire planet. Some see it as the result of man's impact on the world. Others see it as the result of natural long term cycles, the kind that have an ice age at one end and extreme tropical conditions at the other. One theory also has to do with the fact that over the last few thousand years the moon has gotten further away and will eventually break orbit with us. It is the moon that regulates the position of our axis and keeps our rotation stable. As it gets further away it has less effect.
Of course, Australian weather changes every bunch of years anyway. South America and ourselves suffer from the cycle of El Nino/El Nina. One gives increased rainfall, the other causes drought and warmer conditions. Melbourne has had five years of reduced rainfall, which brought us close to restrictions last summer. However, the summer was not hot and was reasonably decent in terms of rainfall. It could be that the cycle is changing back again.
Hmm, that might have a little bit too in depth a discussion of the weather for some people's liking, but there you have it.
SirRahz: Yes, the weather has changed a lot in Australia in general over the last few years. Sydney in particular has experienced a lot of very severe rain storms and the like over the last few years. One in particular had hailstones so big that roofs and cars received extensive damage. The demand for builders and roofing tiles was so massive that it impacted worker availability and material supply across the entire country.
Extremes of weather are becoming more common across the entire planet. Some see it as the result of man's impact on the world. Others see it as the result of natural long term cycles, the kind that have an ice age at one end and extreme tropical conditions at the other. One theory also has to do with the fact that over the last few thousand years the moon has gotten further away and will eventually break orbit with us. It is the moon that regulates the position of our axis and keeps our rotation stable. As it gets further away it has less effect.
Of course, Australian weather changes every bunch of years anyway. South America and ourselves suffer from the cycle of El Nino/El Nina. One gives increased rainfall, the other causes drought and warmer conditions. Melbourne has had five years of reduced rainfall, which brought us close to restrictions last summer. However, the summer was not hot and was reasonably decent in terms of rainfall. It could be that the cycle is changing back again.
Hmm, that might have a little bit too in depth a discussion of the weather for some people's liking, but there you have it.
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