So I was attempting to help gammapi through his latest computer tinkering the other day when he mentions to me that one of the munsters (my words not his ) asked about me.

In brief - me bees just fine.  Very busy at work towards the end of the year, then sadly missing my normal Christmas in Florida golfing partner (RIP Ken ), but back to a more normal routine with the new year.

Contrary to my nemesis' attempts to paint my absence as caused by a new found woman - my lack of participation has nothing to do with that.  I simply... well, became less interested.  Cannot recall even lurking but perhaps once.


And to satisfy Jules' curiosity, here we are at halloween - I'm Jack Sparrow, she is a naughty nurse.  And before any of the boys ask - no, they're not all natural   She was very nervous about wearing that outfit, but a few shots put her at ease 

They couldn't be any nuttier if they were trying to catch a ride on a comet.

[average penile length]

OTOH, God Bless America, because if I type the word 'Average' in my little Google toolbar thingy, here's what I get as the first option:

average penile length


LOL...

Certainly more interesting than the current arguments...

But I'm at work and am afraid to click it - what does it say?  Perhaps we can start a new debate. 

[average Americans]

Well... I'd hate to live with the depression some of you do.


401k programs and other market investments make more money for retirement than any other mainstream investments.  THAT is not meaningless is my point.  And yes, these retirement programs are own by 'average Americans'.  Its not a mirage at all.

I never claimed they would help you now, I never claimed a 'majority' of Americans benefited.  Its not as important as the unemployment rate, but its not meaningless either - a simple point is all.

You seem to be confusing "The average American" with "The top half of middle America". Let me put it this way. When i walk out my front door and stand on my porch i can see approximately 20 houses that are owned by the occupant. Of these I can guarantee that no more than 7 of these families have 401k's or any substantial investments in the stock market.

They are "The Average American" living hand to mouth with none or little health insurance waiting for the other foot to drop.
They are, the roofer, the concrete guy, the guy that works in the auto parts store or the several like me that used to have good paying factory jobs that are gone for good to foreign lands. I know your thinking it's the auto industry. The Midwest used to be the center for all manufacturing, Toys, appliances, furniture just about any durable good. they are all gone now to China or Mexico.
 Even the ones that have 401k's only make enough to put a minimum amount in them after paying more and more of their health insurance every year and their employer quit matching long ago.
 You know that service based economy that they keep talking about? It's making "The Average American" a whole lot poorer everyday.

Lop the top 10% of wage earners off and then tell me what the average American makes a year and try to live on it and put something away for retirement. For every person that has money in the stock market there are 2 that don't. Which ones are "the average American"?

Clearly I'm using 'average Americans' in my point.  If you want to stick with a myopic definition of THE quintessential average American, you can have your opinion without argument from me.  But its a bit of a red herring.

As for all the other tangent arguments you're draggin into this.... you can have at your rant without involving me.

Well... I'd hate to live with the depression some of you do.


401k programs and other market investments make more money for retirement than any other mainstream investments.  THAT is not meaningless is my point.  And yes, these retirement programs are own by 'average Americans'.  Its not a mirage at all.

I never claimed they would help you now, I never claimed a 'majority' of Americans benefited.  Its not as important as the unemployment rate, but its not meaningless either - a simple point is all.



As for the arguments of wingnuts, I'm afraid I don't pay that much attention to such things.  The market has downturns, but generates more upturn activity over the long term.  This is what makes it a good investment.  Sure, you do not want to suffer a downturn when you are about to 'cash out' so precautions should be taken as you approach retirement - but this is common sense.  When I look at the markets and other retirement programs, its easy to see the *feces* DOES work.


If it makes you feel better to rant on this forum I guess I should allow you that, but it would be wrong to let people believe its fact.

And nothing could be more meaningless for the average American.

Its not meaningless at all - the average American has plenty invested in the market in 401k funds.  People nearing retirement age are paying close close attention.

But, jobs mean a whole lot more and they lag a market recovery by several months or a year.  So - we ain't 'there' yet.

Should I not have quoted you? 

Quoting me was not the flaw.  It was the thought process you assumed my line to possess without apparently reading the line below it.  It was a nice attempt at wise-assishness, but well off the mark.

If you would please stop projecting a radio show host image upon me, I would appreciate it.  Thanks.

Ah, got it.

The Nobel nominations had to be submitted by Feb. 1st.  They awarded this thing to a guy who was president for a week and a half.  Prior to that he was getting himself elected.  Prior to that he was the esteemed Senator from Illinois.  Not sure how much "save the world" juju he managed during that time.  He may turn out to be the greatest president we've ever had.  Somehow the Nobel panel had that figured out before the guy received his first paycheck.  I don't know how that can be seen as anything but gross ineptitude or a gang with an agenda.  Either way, they're not worth my consideration.

Bang on - its completely agenda ridden.  Sometimes they nail it, sometimes they let the agenda (whatever it may be) make the thing a joke.

But I suppose its true of any award granted by the judgments of our species.


And from Fuzzy's link - too late to respond three years from now?  WTF he is on about?  They're afraid he'll totally *fudge* it up are they?  And if that's so...... 


I wish him all the luck, he seems to have the tact for it.  But its not going to be easy - Ahmadinejad, Chavez, Kim Jong Il, etc. - they all need their enemy in order to stay in power.  They aren't going to let go easily.

I'll try again:

'Those darn Norwegians and their agendas, whatever they may be'

Still sounds pretty *charmin*y.

May I suggest that the *charmin*yness is in direct  proportion to the douchebaggery of the original premise?

You may suggest, sure, but I think its incorrect.  Subject to my original premise - our species cannot always be trusted to make sound rational judgments.  Thats not Norwegian, its not male or female, its not left or right, and its certainly not crafty - its human nature.  Was there a well orchestrated agenda along with all of its coercion at work here?  Probably not.  My guess is they fell victim to human nature and are rather unaware of their biases.  They made the populist choice, picked someone they liked, an emotional decision.  Seeking justification for the choice after it was already made.  We all do it.  My belief is that even Nobel Committee members (being smarter or more accomplished than Uisce, Blader, and even Stroh  ) are suseptible to this from time to time.

I did piggyback on the 'agenda' term that Uisce used - perhaps thats a bit strong as it suggests a collective knowledge of the task.  If you want to pick on my use of that term, its certainly open to debate - but to assign xenophobia (those darn Norwegians) and conspiracy theorist (hidden agendas are everywhere - oh noes!) to my opinion is just over the top.


edit:  And 'whatever it may be' was used simply because I haven't taken the time to determine if any particular or consistent bias is in play (nor do I plan to take the time - I was over it the moment I heard he won it - no biggie to me).  I was not putting one forth, or attempting to be wise-assey.

Should I not have quoted you? 

Quoting me was not the flaw.  It was the thought process you assumed my line to possess without apparently reading the line below it.  It was a nice attempt at wise-assishness, but well off the mark.

If you would please stop projecting a radio show host image upon me, I would appreciate it.  Thanks.

Bang on - its completely agenda ridden.  Sometimes they nail it, sometimes they let the agenda (whatever it may be)

Those crafty Norwegians and their hidden, super secret agendas 

Oh ya, raise the eyebrows and dismiss the opinion.  Good on ya.

As I've already stated..... oh hell with it.  Reading comprehension for $100 Alex.

ROFL - and I always thought he was the capital P in the word. 

The Nobel nominations had to be submitted by Feb. 1st.  They awarded this thing to a guy who was president for a week and a half.  Prior to that he was getting himself elected.  Prior to that he was the esteemed Senator from Illinois.  Not sure how much "save the world" juju he managed during that time.  He may turn out to be the greatest president we've ever had.  Somehow the Nobel panel had that figured out before the guy received his first paycheck.  I don't know how that can be seen as anything but gross ineptitude or a gang with an agenda.  Either way, they're not worth my consideration.

Bang on - its completely agenda ridden.  Sometimes they nail it, sometimes they let the agenda (whatever it may be) make the thing a joke.

But I suppose its true of any award granted by the judgments of our species.


And from Fuzzy's link - too late to respond three years from now?  WTF he is on about?  They're afraid he'll totally *fudge* it up are they?  And if that's so...... 


I wish him all the luck, he seems to have the tact for it.  But its not going to be easy - Ahmadinejad, Chavez, Kim Jong Il, etc. - they all need their enemy in order to stay in power.  They aren't going to let go easily.

If I had only made my man Cesc captain......

But Torres was red hot and I continued with him - to get a big 2 points 

Y'all are luck I'm not 20 points higher based upon this mistake 

Whatever. 

IF last week I'd picked Bent or Torres over Drogba THEN I'd have a dozen more points AND five extra shelter kittens would have been adopted.  I'll happily give Mark credit for trading for Fabregas and making him captain.  You had him already and didn't trust him.  You suck.

Screw the kittens!  Dags is where its at!

But I do suck.

I trusted him, but Torres had the hot hand.  Or so I thought.  Leading back to 'I suck'.

If I had only made my man Cesc captain......

But Torres was red hot and I continued with him - to get a big 2 points 

Y'all are luck I'm not 20 points higher based upon this mistake 

True dat!

I vividly recall stopping a friend's friend from re-entering a bar with a gun in his jacket.  He just had an altercation with some people, walked outside to get the gun out of his car, and was coming back in when we stopped him.  If we had a carry law at the time, he probably would have shot someone.... over a simple bar fight.

Rage doesn't have a safety.  Just sayin.