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We don't disagree about that at all. Trust me, were socialism** more significant on the world stage, you'd hear me take swipes at it as well.
** I'm not counting Democratic Socialism among socialist models since it as an attempt to reform capitalism, still preserves private property, and doesn't change who controls the MoP. It's still fundamentally capitalist - just CME capitalism vs American style LME capitalism.
Real programmers use butterflies
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Well - I hold in view Bernie Sanders and live in the same state as "AOC" (an artificial celebrity politician).
Democratic Socialists, both, the latter clearly proclaiming her affiliation. However,
In both cases I find them both very willing and able to spend other peoples money to buy themselves votes. Aside from a number of world-views, politically, which I find horrid - but in favor "with the party" (and I don't mean Democratic or Republican).
It's not just an economic point of view. Basically, same sh*t, different a**hole.[^]. What also speaks to her character was her $300 haircut - and justifying it.
My distaste for them is so intense that, had Sanders run for president I'd have been very seriously considering voting against him.
I think, with this response, I just blew the thread - so if anyone comes back at this I'll not let it turn into a back-and-forth. Somehow, political as it sounds, it wasn't meant to be so - yet, by definition it is. I'll take my drubbing, quietly
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| "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein | | "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010 |
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I hold politicians in the same regard as I hold meth dealers. Different professions of course but in politicians cases their whole job is to fool you into letting them do things *to* you rather than *for* you and it's not like democracy changes that, because elections themselves create a pageant of narcissists. Now I'm paraphrasing douglas adams twice on this forum today so far when I say that no one who wants power is qualified to have it, ipso facto, or in other words, people are a problem.
My utopia would be a pluralistic social blueprint, a post-scarcity economy, and radically decentralized governance, typically by public assembly. In the US I'd prefer there be a million states with 320 people or so than 50 with a sweeping federal government to boot.
There's no way in hell I'm ever getting that, so I married a communist instead. That's how much it doesn't matter to me. 
Real programmers use butterflies
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honey the codewitch wrote: a pluralistic social blueprint
As far as I'm concerned, anything that doesn't create a nuisance for the neighbours is OK with me. I draw the line at human sacrifice, slavery, and child abuse, however, even if done quietly. 
honey the codewitch wrote: a post-scarcity economy
My prediction is that this will never happen. Once there is "a chicken in every pot", "a car in every garage", etc. someone will come up with the slogan "a star-ship in every spaceport". Where does it end?
honey the codewitch wrote: radically decentralized governance, typically by public assembly
This, at least, is possible. The Internet already provides the basic infrastructure, but issues such as verification of votes (and voters) are far from resolved.
Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows.
-- 6079 Smith W.
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As I said, I was describing a utopia. I like people to articulate their utopias as a way to describe their political bent, so I do that myself. If I know what you'd like it tells me a lot about you.
Real programmers use butterflies
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Name a monopoly that was not franchised by government. There are dominant firms in some markets, but the top 10 market caps in the S&P500 changes from one decade to the next.
Socialism is one big monopoly, only run by the government. Which is supposed to somehow dispel all the evils.
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AT&T was a monopoly for many years. Somehow allowed - maybe their infrastructure was the excuse.
Eventually the government broke them up - but it does satisfy "name a monopoly".
In general, Pres Theodore Roosevelt put the nail in that coffin, for both true monopolies and trust (virtual monopolies). That was over a century ago (here).
It works so well, even organized crime is competitive.
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| "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein | | "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010 |
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AT&T was government-sanctioned and eventually lost its sanction. Infrastructure is indeed the excuse for many of these so-called "natural monopolies", the argument being that only one firm could possibly afford to build out the infrastructure required for whatever. This is taught in economics courses today, at best because it sounds plausible. Yet if you look at the historical record, there are many examples of competition even within mid-sized cities when electricity service was first provided, for example. Same thing with telephone service and water.
There are almost no examples of monopolies arising in a free market. Teddy Roosevelt just went after large conglomerates, none of which were actually monopolies. Pure politics.
When it comes to organized crime, the difference between the government and the Mafia is that the government has flags in front of its offices. 
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Greg Utas wrote: only one firm could possibly afford to build out the infrastructure
Or, in the case of AT&T, insure comparability and connectivity and other such excuses - not a matter of capital investment. Also, suppose there were several such companies . . . each with its own set of phone lines and maybe not the ability to call next door. Those excuses, just perhaps, were valid at the time. You do recall that "The Telephone Company" was around for a long time (at least in USA). You need to consider what was necessary to build an interconnected infrastructure in a historical context. Hindsight is cheap. Laying the groundwork as they did is astonishing. Eventually, it was recognized, that their time had come - but even that was to break up into regional monopolies and real competition only came about later, starting with long distance.
Greg Utas wrote: There are almost no examples of monopolies arising in a free market. Teddy Roosevelt just went after large conglomerates, none of which were actually monopolies. Pure politics.
He was, in fact, given the nick-name "The Trust Buster". If a few big companies decide not to compete and instead set pricing and availability, together, the difference between that and a true monopoly is paper-thin These were the days of the robber-barons (oil, steel, railroad, etc.).
Pure Politics? I think not!
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| "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein | | "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010 |
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it's probably just automated. they have those "that's just $X each" on every "K for $J" cell, all in the same layout. the store enters "2 for $2" into its flyer builder and the layout just happens - grabs the template, product photo, description, price, quantity, does a bit of division and drops it onto the page.
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It's always nice clean round numbers (where it's used). We're talking about pre-K arithmetic.
They're simply just recognizing their audience. Perhaps in themselves, as well.
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| "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein | | "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010 |
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second page, left side:
Kitchen Basics Stock: 3 for $5 "That's Only 1.67 EA."
Poland Spring Water: 3 for $10 "That's Only 3.33 EA."
next pages:
Heinz Beans: 5 / 3$
Coke 2LTR: 3 / 5$
Progresso Broth: 3 / 5$
etc.
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To play Scottish computer games, do you need an ochayePad?
"I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony
"Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt
AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!
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That post was a hoots, mon! I laughed so hard it nearly kilt me.
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| "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein | | "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010 |
modified 12-Nov-20 13:20pm.
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I see people everywere with blue under the eyes...
"The only place where Success comes before Work is in the dictionary." Vidal Sassoon, 1928 - 2012
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330 in the AM's my phone goes off. Ping, Ping every 5 minutes a ping or less. I cannot tell. My sleepy state is trying to figure out where it is even coming from.
Turns out Microsofty and Samsung NoNotes is trying to move from Samsung storage to OneDrive. at 330am.
I did NOT schedule this. I knew it was happening before Jan 31. I figured I would get some message at like 2pm in the after and dismiss it for a week. But not 330am
I could not silence my phone!, I could not dismiss the message. It required me to take care of the signon linkage between samsung cloud and onedrive RIGHT NOW!
My wife is not happy, the dog is not happy. I seriously want this persons name and number. I will call them for the next year at 330am every freaking day. Or whatever time is 330am for their sleep! I want them!
Who the heck thought that was a good idea?
To err is human to really mess up you need a computer
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It was AI. The best decision maker as we all know...
"The only place where Success comes before Work is in the dictionary." Vidal Sassoon, 1928 - 2012
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Solution to your problem - literally, in fact.
- Take a hand full of table salt and toss it into the toilet.
- Use phone to stir it until all salt has gone into solution.
- Release phone
- Flush at your leisure
See - now wasn't that an easy solution ?
| Ravings en masse^ |
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| "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein | | "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010 |
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I was just going to suggest: turn phone off.  But this is better! 
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I would have turned it off but it actually would not let me. I did consider throwing it a few hundred yards away. I like the toilet Idea.
To err is human to really mess up you need a computer
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rnbergren wrote: I would have turned it off but it actually would not let me
Not a problem that can't be solved, unless your phone's battery is not removable. Which in my book is a non-starter.
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I was going to suggest a road roller, but your idea is less likely to disturb the neighbours. 
Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows.
-- 6079 Smith W.
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I have so many little gadgets running right now, wires everywhere, blinking lights, etc. I feel like one of those people in the old hackers movies where they're sitting in a dark room in front of a screen and surrounded by all kinds of ridiculous looking equipment. 
Real programmers use butterflies
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If you are ready to share the spoil, I can help 
"The only place where Success comes before Work is in the dictionary." Vidal Sassoon, 1928 - 2012
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Sharing is obligatory, that's why I write articles about these things.
Real programmers use butterflies
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