Fujitsu

Screw the Beatles and thank you for allowing me to challenge my premises! I'll give it a good read. Thanks again for the warm welcomes.

I wouldn't doubt that. Climate-wise, I'd love SW Oregon/N California. Politically? The same as Seattle - why would it be different? Californians dominate and screwed up both places. I've never paid an income tax to a state and don't really feel like experimenting with it. Looks like they got their way with Oregon - did you see that they're #2 in the country (12%+) in unemployment. Right behind Michigan! All good Seattelites make fun of Portland. Ever since they blew it in the 1890s with their being a creation of the railroad and not being the #1 city in the NW like they were promised, they've had an inferiority complex. Maybe they can out-liberal us? One can hope! Carter2's (Obama) policies are going to really play hell with these Blue states.

As I'm sure you know, you have to look out for #1. And that might mean doing some pretty nasty stuff. You'll always have to judge for yourself just what you're doing. Are you busting heads for the taxman or measuring some worthless pond somewhere? Clearly the two have different ramifications on the ethical nature of your job. It sounds like make-work. Fine if you can stomach it. I've done a lot of stupid jobs. But each one was the best deal I could get in the time/money trade at the time. If possible, learn as much as you can from it. I've learned what-not-do-do so well from some of my past jobs, making mental notes "Man, I'll never do that in my company!" or "That's a pretty good technique, remember that." Your time on their earth is short. Make your own goals and work to reach them. The building of financial assets oftentimes plays a big role in that. Do not screw that up. If the job sucks and it sounds like it does - make plans to wash your hands of it. For me, the only really cool job I've had was working for myself.

When I meet an intellectual lefty who knows the implications of what they advocate, I feel rage. I wanna fight. I know what their philosophy means and if they want my stuff, then come and get it. 99% of the collectivists I meet are Useful Idiots. I guess I feel contempt at them. Contempt because "you, with all your brain power came to that conclusion on your own on how I should live my life?!"... Then I feel rage However, this doesn't translate into me initiating any action. My emotions don't show. I will needle lefties as the situation permits and try to see just how far they want to take it. I've challenged a couple of people to attempt to empty my wallet by force as that's the correct course of action when a moral imperative is breached. Collectivism is an AWESOME moral code for ants, not for people.

Ha. And five years later, I log back on to the board here. Thanks for the welcome, CF. My views have not changed.

Alton is a favorite here. Very insightful about his craft, entertaining and funnier than hell. He could be a stand-up he's got that good of timing with jokes. Knows just when they're stretching and he doesn't take himself too seriously. Now, I also know he thinks right. As they say... rightous!

Hi, I have a sense of humor (some call it caustic). I like to mix it up. I'm impatient. I live deep in the Blue Zone. That sucks - I'll have to move. I vote straight-ticket Republican. I don't fear religion (hence my non-issue with "believers" in associative relationships). Religion is dead - it's just winding down from it's long momentum. The intellectual traction it ever had is gone. 200 years from now - wish I was around to enjoy it - it'll all be a historical footnote. I always question premises and make up my own mind. I'd clone a copy of myself and harvest the body parts when necessary if legal. I'm a car nut. I like South Park. Late 30s - happily married. Grew up dirt poor. Not as poor now. Still looking to hit it big. Lothe the 60's culture. Why must we still listen to the Beatles?! Please ban them forever - with all the rest of that hippy crap. Can you imagine their reaction in 65 had we been pushing 40 year old music like it was some sort of gift? That would have been 1925 music! But, they still try to pass off the bogus lie that their culture was worth a rip. Get over yourself Boomers. I don't listen to "New Wave" anymore and am slightly embarassed when it comes on the radio. Pssst: Music of the 40s and 50s is way better. Love Dean Martin. Classicaly trained pianist. Hungarians - Love Andy Grove - Hate George Soros. I'm not Hungarian. Big Rand fan - of course. Almost exclusively her non-fiction. Have some issues with her aesthetics. Generally favor Piekoff (except monsterously bad thinking with John Kerry). Saw on AR site a defense of Partial Birth Abortion. Holy Cow! Zygotes, etc, fine: Not a kid. 6-9 monther: It's a kid. Rand herself said in effect that later terms were open to debate and the context of her arguments where clearly first trimester. A matter for science to tell when it's viable. Anything less is dishonest. Staunch constructionalist. However, I realise that politics is the art of the possible and will compromise rather than lose. However, in politics it's essential to never lose sight of reality. In politics, that can prove fatal - literally! (Poor Venezuela!) Like that snotty Russian punk in Latest James Bond film: "I am INVINCIBLE!" But, I'm not evil and hopefully will not get frozen solid with liquid nitrogen. Two favorite quotes: Life is not a dress rehearsal. Value is that which one seeks to gain or keep.

I guess this is one of those situation where you have to actually see the sausage being made. I was an executive officer of a state LP back in the early 90s. Whether of not Rand & co knew it, they were spot-on in their warning that they were anti-intellectual. I could go on for hours about the anti-intellectual items I encountered as a matter of course, rather than the exception. The best two examples I can come up that sum up them in my experience was: One guy who I was attempting to pursuade to vote for something. My argument was a no-brainer. Easy to follow logic. Simple issue. He was curiously silent during my lobbying effort. It was evident I was getting nowhere with him wherein I asked him: "Given what I've logically laid out, why would you consider voting the other way?" His beamed answer: "Because I can!" I asked one fellow executive once: "Why is there such hostility to Ayn Rand." After what appeared to be a thougtful reflection, he replied: "Because she's a bitch!" I wish I could point to the reason why that mindset made up 75% of my dealings with the party. About 1/4 of the members were "normal people". 1/4 were outcasts who are "trying Libertarinism now". 1/4 are there because they think the big bad Religious Monster is coming to take over the US govt. and 1/4 are just plain insane. That said tongue in cheek, it's pretty damn accurate during my tenure. I thankfully washed my hands of them long ago.

My first post here. Came here from a Google search of "Piekoff Bush Kerry". But, this indeed got my attention. Best politician of the 20th century: Phil Gramm. Smart as hell, tough as a bulldog. "Hillarycare will pass over my cold, dead political body!" Hillarycare threw a rod right then and there. Thank you Mr. Gramm! Too bad he got bated by that rat Buchannen in LA in 96. He was the best candidate by far.