Comments for The Certified Skeptic http://tdhoch.com/blog48 Occasional Comments on Whatever Moves Me. Wed, 19 Nov 2008 11:54:48 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.2 Comment on Crash Course in Economics by Gary http://tdhoch.com/blog48/2008/09/21/crash-course-in-economics/#comment-604 Thu, 09 Oct 2008 17:28:55 +0000 http://tdhoch.com/blog48/2008/09/21/crash-course-in-economics/#comment-604 This is a very interesting explanation of our current state of affairs. The rest of his thesis will be that only liberal or social academics will be able to lead us out of this. Hold on to your wallet. They will want 60-70% tax rates because Europe is such a fine example. Based on the theories of John Kenneth Galbraith and John Maynard Keynes. These are the disproved ideas that gave us the mess of 60's and 70's that was the so called great society. Not that we should not live more simply and within our means. We most have the freedom to make that choice. This is a very interesting explanation of our current state of affairs. The rest of his thesis will be that only liberal or social academics will be able to lead us out of this. Hold on to your wallet. They will want 60-70% tax rates because Europe is such a fine example. Based on the theories of John Kenneth Galbraith and John Maynard Keynes. These are the disproved ideas that gave us the mess of 60’s and 70’s that was the so called great society.
Not that we should not live more simply and within our means. We most have the freedom to make that choice.

]]> Comment on A Trillion Here, A Trillion There by Joe Pitman http://tdhoch.com/blog48/2008/04/24/a-trillion-here-a-trillion-there/#comment-76 Fri, 25 Apr 2008 00:46:14 +0000 http://tdhoch.com/blog48/2008/04/24/a-trillion-here-a-trillion-there/#comment-76 You are my kind of guy! Joe You are my kind of guy!

Joe

]]> Comment on You just can’t make this stuff up… by mike http://tdhoch.com/blog48/2007/03/09/you-just-cant-make-this-stuff-up/#comment-57 Sun, 10 Feb 2008 18:19:56 +0000 http://tdhoch.com/blog48/2007/03/09/you-just-cant-make-this-stuff-up/#comment-57 Not only did our government get caught with their pants down, they are "not emabarassed by it". Unfortunately this is so typical. Next they will be waiting for US citizens to prevent us from taking too much liquid deodorant or perfume when we go on vacation on a plane. Oh wait.....that has already happened!!!!!!!!!!!! Not only did our government get caught with their pants down, they are “not emabarassed by it”. Unfortunately this is so typical.

Next they will be waiting for US citizens to prevent us from taking too much liquid deodorant or perfume when we go on vacation on a plane. Oh wait…..that has already happened!!!!!!!!!!!!

]]> Comment on Citizenship by Rob Atkins http://tdhoch.com/blog48/2007/12/24/citizenship/#comment-55 Fri, 01 Feb 2008 19:19:03 +0000 http://tdhoch.com/blog48/2007/12/24/citizenship/#comment-55 A skeptic should be suspicious of odd sounding ideas. The quote in your blog about the children of Mexican parents is at least misleading and probably wrong. Mexican citizenship laws are much like those of the United States. If a child's Mother or Father was born in Mexico, the child is a Mexican citizen regardless of where the child was born. Rob Atkins A skeptic should be suspicious of odd sounding ideas. The quote in your blog about the children of Mexican parents is at least misleading and probably wrong.

Mexican citizenship laws are much like those of the United States. If a child’s Mother or Father was born in Mexico, the child is a Mexican citizen regardless of where the child was born.

Rob Atkins

]]> Comment on Comments on Virginia Tech Shootings by Andi http://tdhoch.com/blog48/2007/04/18/comments-on-virginia-tech-shootings/#comment-31 Mon, 30 Apr 2007 03:53:10 +0000 http://tdhoch.com/blog48/2007/04/18/comments-on-virginia-tech-shootings/#comment-31 Although I do not disagree that generations are becoming more and more of a "me" oriented society...I have found glimpses of hope. Liviu Librescu gave the ultimate sacrifice to preserve coming generations. He literally pushed students who tried to pull him to safety away and instructed them (with gestures) to get out. So there were those that tried to help him...but also choose to heed his warning. Also remember that there were 4 students (in addition to Librescu) who were shot after the gunman was able to force his way into the classroom. We do not know if the 4 students had just not gotten out yet, or if they had more noble pursuits. The 4 students did survive (last I heard they were "recovering") however, I have not heard anything on why they remained in the classroom. One of the first heros of that day were 2 students. When Cho started his second shooting spree in Norris Hall, he struck a German class. Cho came in, started shooting (hitting many students as well as the professor), then left to go to another classroom. Unfortunately he came back. Trey Perkins (20 years old) and another classmate were successful in barricading the door and likely saving the lives of many classmates. Cho did shoot at the door, but did not hit those barricading it. Once Cho was gone, the two surveyed the room to help those they could. They are heros! I have also seen glimpses of hope in other, more simple day-to-day scenarios. The girl at the grocery store who saw me struggling with Ryan (who had reached his tolerance limit) and getting groceries on the conveyor belt for check-out who jumped in to help, youngsters who actually hold the door open for you at restaurants (no, not the paid greeters...just the average kid) or stores, the girl who saw children suffering with cancer and decided her goal was to see that each and every one would have a teddy bear to brighten their day (and MANY of the families and the children themselves report just how much that meant to them and their spirit). There are everyday heros (such as the grocery store girl), there are local heros, and there are the martyred heros. I truely beleive that there are more out there than you think... its more a matter of seeing them and wanting to see them. Now, I'm not saying that there is not room for improvement, because there always is. My point is that despite the fact that generation "X" may be more accurately portrayed as generation "ME", there are those that are the exception to the rule. I hope that the exceptions to the rule "rub-off" on those around them. I like to think of them as sparks...and just a few sparks can ignite a fire! Although I do not disagree that generations are becoming more and more of a “me” oriented society…I have found glimpses of hope.

Liviu Librescu gave the ultimate sacrifice to preserve coming generations. He literally pushed students who tried to pull him to safety away and instructed them (with gestures) to get out. So there were those that tried to help him…but also choose to heed his warning. Also remember that there were 4 students (in addition to Librescu) who were shot after the gunman was able to force his way into the classroom. We do not know if the 4 students had just not gotten out yet, or if they had more noble pursuits. The 4 students did survive (last I heard they were “recovering”) however, I have not heard anything on why they remained in the classroom.

One of the first heros of that day were 2 students. When Cho started his second shooting spree in Norris Hall, he struck a German class. Cho came in, started shooting (hitting many students as well as the professor), then left to go to another classroom. Unfortunately he came back. Trey Perkins (20 years old) and another classmate were successful in barricading the door and likely saving the lives of many classmates. Cho did shoot at the door, but did not hit those barricading it. Once Cho was gone, the two surveyed the room to help those they could. They are heros!

I have also seen glimpses of hope in other, more simple day-to-day scenarios. The girl at the grocery store who saw me struggling with Ryan (who had reached his tolerance limit) and getting groceries on the conveyor belt for check-out who jumped in to help, youngsters who actually hold the door open for you at restaurants (no, not the paid greeters…just the average kid) or stores, the girl who saw children suffering with cancer and decided her goal was to see that each and every one would have a teddy bear to brighten their day (and MANY of the families and the children themselves report just how much that meant to them and their spirit). There are everyday heros (such as the grocery store girl), there are local heros, and there are the martyred heros. I truely beleive that there are more out there than you think… its more a matter of seeing them and wanting to see them.

Now, I’m not saying that there is not room for improvement, because there always is. My point is that despite the fact that generation “X” may be more accurately portrayed as generation “ME”, there are those that are the exception to the rule. I hope that the exceptions to the rule “rub-off” on those around them. I like to think of them as sparks…and just a few sparks can ignite a fire!

]]> Comment on TV by T Hoch http://tdhoch.com/blog48/2007/03/27/tv/#comment-25 Wed, 28 Mar 2007 01:39:54 +0000 http://tdhoch.com/blog48/2007/03/27/tv/#comment-25 Gage: I'd forgotten that DVR's exist... and as long as most people still watch the ads, you're probably safe with the DVR ad-skipping strategy. But in the long-run, not much is free. Pat: cheap and cranky lately??? What'ya mean lately? I'm kidding, of course! But I think you're on the right track by keeping purchases of stuff to a minimum. Thanks to both of you for the comments. T Gage: I’d forgotten that DVR’s exist… and as long as most people still watch the ads, you’re probably safe with the DVR ad-skipping strategy. But in the long-run, not much is free.

Pat: cheap and cranky lately??? What’ya mean lately? I’m kidding, of course! But I think you’re on the right track by keeping purchases of stuff to a minimum.

Thanks to both of you for the comments.
T

]]> Comment on TV by Pat Lovett http://tdhoch.com/blog48/2007/03/27/tv/#comment-24 Tue, 27 Mar 2007 23:34:14 +0000 http://tdhoch.com/blog48/2007/03/27/tv/#comment-24 I'm glad Thom's writing again. What kind of entertainment setup will the RV have? I only watch a few things on the tube, one is coming up soon, the Masters Golf tournament. There, ads are limited to a few per hour, which makes it very nice. By the way, we mute all the commercials anyway. I don't think I'm anyone's target anymore. I've gotten real cheap and cranky lately. I don't want to buy anything that costs money. Are we going to get an RV page? See ya. I’m glad Thom’s writing again. What kind of entertainment setup will the RV have? I only watch a few things on the tube, one is coming up soon, the Masters Golf tournament. There, ads are limited to a few per hour, which makes it very nice. By the way, we mute all the commercials anyway. I don’t think I’m anyone’s target anymore. I’ve gotten real cheap and cranky lately. I don’t want to buy anything that costs money.
Are we going to get an RV page? See ya.

]]> Comment on TV by Gage http://tdhoch.com/blog48/2007/03/27/tv/#comment-23 Tue, 27 Mar 2007 22:35:15 +0000 http://tdhoch.com/blog48/2007/03/27/tv/#comment-23 Then came the DVR that allows me to skip commercials (which I really love allowing me to watch a hour long program in about 40 mins)... wonder how long until "The Man" takes away that ability. Or will they incorporate a commercial skip tax like you have on your freeways where I have to attach a little unit that pays 5 cents every time I say skip forward 30 seconds. Who knows... interesting topic though. Then came the DVR that allows me to skip commercials (which I really love allowing me to watch a hour long program in about 40 mins)… wonder how long until “The Man” takes away that ability. Or will they incorporate a commercial skip tax like you have on your freeways where I have to attach a little unit that pays 5 cents every time I say skip forward 30 seconds. Who knows… interesting topic though.

]]> Comment on Smoking Ban Debate by T Hoch http://tdhoch.com/blog48/2007/03/09/smoking-ban-debate/#comment-11 Mon, 12 Mar 2007 13:22:14 +0000 http://tdhoch.com/blog48/2007/03/09/smoking-ban-debate/#comment-11 Pat, you'll love this response from one of our finest alder-persons... "In the meantime patrons and workers do not have to inhale second hand smoke. The patrons can frequent the many places that are smoke free. The employees have the opportunity to work at smoke free establishments also. The Geneva restaurant owners have put a cooperative system in place that allows a worker to request to work in a place that has smoking or not and they will be switched out. Many of the workers told us that they don't mind the smoking because they are smokers themselves." I asked her for the list of "the many places" that are smoke free... I'm still waiting. T Pat, you’ll love this response from one of our finest alder-persons…
“In the meantime patrons and workers do not have to inhale second hand smoke. The patrons can frequent the many places that are smoke free. The employees have the opportunity to work at smoke free establishments also. The Geneva restaurant owners have put a cooperative system in place that allows a worker to request to work in a place that has smoking or not and they will be switched out. Many of the workers told us that they don’t mind the smoking because they are smokers themselves.”
I asked her for the list of “the many places” that are smoke free… I’m still waiting.
T

]]> Comment on Smoking Ban Debate by Pat Lovett http://tdhoch.com/blog48/2007/03/09/smoking-ban-debate/#comment-10 Mon, 12 Mar 2007 00:37:42 +0000 http://tdhoch.com/blog48/2007/03/09/smoking-ban-debate/#comment-10 My feelings exactly. How about the employees of these places? Do they have to get cancer while trying to make a living? My feelings exactly. How about the employees of these places? Do they have to get cancer while trying to make a living?

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