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NEWS 677 - 23 Comments
From: BigFatty Entered on: March 21, 2010 8:37 AM
I don't like Facebook.  It is very shallow and meaniless.  Its only good thing Facebook offers is connecting with old, forgotten friends... but then what?  You get to read about their yoga obession or read their bible quotes?  I only go there because there is nothing else to do.  Everyone here flew the coop.  I like to think I was one of the last hold outs on JA.  But when I kept seeing Jackasserians posting on FB and not on JA, I gave up on things.  If FB offered the same posting abilities as we do here, it would be vastly superior.  The ability to time-shift conversations with friends is JA's strong suit.  Granted JA takes more time and effort, but you get more out of it in the end. Hell - I wanted to post my experience with a Burger King Grilled Cheese Chicken Sandwich.  It gave me the single worst incident of gas in my life.  I personally contributed to global warming by increasing the earth's temp 2 degrees on Friday.  But worse than the volume of gas, was the smell.  Good lord!  Normally people can stand their own farts, but these were making me sick!  Tony may remember walking into my bedroom, one morning in Hawaii, after I ate a Whopper Combo with onion rings the night before.  That morning's fog was pretty atrocious.  It paled in comparision to the butt bombs I was dropping on Friday. So, I am going to post that experience on FB?  Hell no.  It is a story that needs to be told.  I don't need my employees reading that, professional colleagues, friend's mothers, friend's children...  FB is just not the forum for things you share with people who know you best - or worst in our situation. So I am in for a JA resurrection.  But it will take the group to make it happen.  2 or 3 people is not enough.
From: Ross Entered on: March 21, 2010 9:27 AM
Good point (and story), Fatty. I'm guilty of being very busy and checking the site less often than I used to, but I am going to make a conscious effort to post more here.  I know Zilla checks in fairly often.  Johnny could possibly be persuaded to at least read the site, if not post.  Who knows what happened to Bone?  Probably after he got engaged he figured he could not associate with jackholes anymore and the mere browser history is too much incrimination.  Anyway, I'm leaving for SF tonight for a few days for work.  If I have any adventures (unlikely), I'll post them.  If anything, it will probably be in the form of travel complaints...
From: Jackzilla Entered on: March 21, 2010 4:55 PM
I do check into JA every day but seem to be the only one doing so.  I just looked and the last 7 JA encyclopedia entries are mine!  But it's hard to have a conversation with myself.  Rad can't get on from work anymore, Bells could be coerced on if I told him he had to defend himself regarding something (but even then his posts will inevitably drift to talk of weight-loss and getting ripped).  The Bone is MIA, Creeko is... the mama (sorry, that's all I got). I think it's up to Zilla/Fatty/Bert to keep things moving at this point. So... any thoughts on the healthcare reform shenanigans?
From: BigFatty Entered on: March 22, 2010 6:56 AM
I still can't believe how hard it was to get what they got.  The Rethuglicans are hell bent on Obama getting nothing done - at the expense of the nation.  I heard on the Daily Show that Obama was even putting through bills the Reps wanted, just to have them say No. The Daily Show is the one man show that is calling Fox out on all the crap it airs.  Fox calls itself a news organization.  Why aren't the other *real* news agencies calling them out?  It certainly damages the profession.  But, I think it has always been this way and I have been a bit naive. On other notes.... I am going to visit the brohair this Sunday and will enjoy the Spanish weather for 2 weeks.  Maybe we will bust out the red shoes and go eat some non-GMO tomatoes - minus the tomatoes.  I don't like tomatoes.
From: John Entered on: March 22, 2010 9:42 AM
Jackzilla said:  Bells could be coerced on if I told him he had to defend himself regarding something (but even then his posts will inevitably drift to talk of weight-loss and getting ripped).      You got me there, Zilla. I just posted about weight-loss mere moments before I read this post. To Fatty, WHAT??? You don't like tomatoes, tomatoes taste good!!! What's funny is I don't use facebook at all, so I've got no excuse for my lack of posts. If we could all just focus on weight loss I might make an effort to post more. Plus I kinda like these little yellow faces.
From: Creeko Entered on: March 22, 2010 1:39 PM
Jackzilla said: Creeko is... the mama (sorry, that's all I got). Sorry I've been busy changing my tampon.
From: Jackzilla Entered on: March 22, 2010 3:09 PM
Creeko - I talked to your brohair today on the phone and he said you lost your job?  We kept getting interupted (pesky customers) so what's the deal?  Is this something we need to blame Obama for?
From: Creeko Entered on: March 22, 2010 4:37 PM
Even w/o a job I still have full health care. Dr. consultations are free, free, free and prescriptions cost next to nothing. Oh yea and two years unemployment. I'll get to looking for work as soon as I start getting bored or the wife starts to nag me too much. The nagging will undoubtedly come first.
From: Ross Entered on: March 23, 2010 11:29 AM
I really have a problem with the way Europe organizes labor - all these contracts and employment rules, making it hard for anyone to get fired, means that you have to be overly selective about hiring as well - it doesn't help anyone.  And two years unemployment seems outrageous to me.  I'm not going to argue about the health care part, though - I'm all for that. Apparently my neighbor (who is coming over Friday night) is a big conservative, and is obviously up in arms about the recent health care bill passage.  He has told Heather that he is looking forward to debating me on the issue since he knows that I am, at a minimum, not a dyed-in-the-wool conservative like him, and must therefore be an unquestioning shill for the Democratic Party. This is what Fox News (and in turn, MSNBC and various conservative and liberal political blogs) has done to American politics - made us more polarized than ever. Anyway, I'm not much interested in debating the health care bill.  I guess I prefer to debate ideas rather than news items.  On the whole, the bill seems like it was just barely a net positive, but in my opinion doesn't go nearly far enough.  I suppose I appear as a socialist to anyone who votes Republican when I say that I really wanted the Public Option.  How that can be socialist, though, I can't understand since we're not forcing anyone to use it - hence the word option.
From: BigFatty Entered on: March 23, 2010 2:07 PM
Don't get me started on this whole 'Socialist' stigma.  The economic powers behind the current healthcare system certainly did their best to create beautiful strawmen and false ideas of what I believe is good for society.  Ross and I debated Socialism vs Capitalism before.  It is rather stupid, because they both have various degrees of application.  Both at their extremes are bad.  A blend of both is much better than one or the other.  As we said, if people are anti-socialist, take away their highways, police, fire, and armies.  Hell, even our government is a socialistic creation - a govenment by the people, for the people. I think every person should have access to quality healthcare.  To let people suffer or die because they do not have the money to access healthcare is uncivilized.  The US has the economic and technical means to supply all of its citizens.  People may not realize it, but they are already paying for the uninsured.  Those without insurance go to the only place that MUST treat them - the emergency room.  When I worked at Blodgett, I saw so many poor folk clog up the emergency room with stupid little things, like colds, headaches, rashes... things that should have been treated at a clinic or doctor office - at 1/3 the cost.  But with no money or insurance, they went to the emergency room where the hospital ate the cost and pushed it onto the paying people. A healthcare system where everyone is covered will allow these people to access the correct level of treatment at the correct cost.  It makes basic healthcare and treatment available to all.  But, I am in favor of having a private supplement - something for the rich.  They can (and should) pay for improved access to treatments.  Of course I am not talking about immediate needs, but non-emergency stuff.  They can pay private doctors for better access or non-necessary procedures.  The UK has something like this. The public option is not great, you can wait a while for things, but you get treatment.  But if you have private insurance, things happen much quicker. Hungary had OK healthcare.  It is not great.  You saw the baby cart that Vivi had.  You need to bring your own toliet paper and food (oh, they will feed you bread and yogurt).  But everyone has access to what they need.  Last week I had severe chest pains.... enough to think it was a heart attack or blood clot in my lungs.  We called the local doc who came out to our place within 30 minutes (I didn't need an ambulance as it came and went).   She referred me to my family doctor where I got an appointment the same day.  She organized a followup appointment with a cardiologist the following week.  I did not get any better treatment when I was in the US with a similar problem 4 years ago.  I can have whatever treatment I need - it is up to my doctor, not the insurance company.  Damn it - that is the way it should be! No worries on Fatty.  I don't think the chest pain was anything to worry about...  the followup is a precaution.
From: Jackzilla Entered on: March 23, 2010 2:29 PM
I agree, I don't know why a public option is such a bad idea for people (well, Rethuglican brain-washing I guess).  The government already manages healthcare for veterans, federal employees and retirees -- successfully!  Why can't the rest of us get in on that sweet action!? I will say that I don't know why we continue to have healthcare tied to employment.  That's pushed more in the new bill (to a penalty to larger employers that don't offer it).  It's just an old idea that should be done away with.  I wouldn't expect my employer to make my car payment or pay my heat bill - why should they pay for my health insurance?  Just gimme the money!  Hopefully down the road as individuals are able to more easily buy they're own that'll phase out. I was talking to Angie in regards to Blue Cross' position on the new bill and (at least for Michigan) there's not much regulated in the bill that they don't already do.  It'll just help level the playing field for them (they already have to accept everyone and can't just cancel folks because of their unique non-profit status with the state). It's not perfect and doesn't do enough but there's nothing terribly onerous with the new health care bill.  And it's nice to see a new piece of major legislation actually get through Washington!  I was starting to think it couldn't happen again!  Bring it!
From: Jackzilla Entered on: March 23, 2010 4:00 PM
Can anyone skewer better than Mr. Stewart?
From: Ross Entered on: March 23, 2010 5:05 PM
I agree that employers shouldn't have anything to do with health care, Jack, but I go one step further: I think that private, for-profit health insurance is a Bad Idea - when the company that provides the insurance makes more money by denying coverage claims for people, how can that possibly benefit people?  The system is designed to hurt people, not help them! You know, there is a theory in American politics that says that for certain progressive legislation (like climate change), it can only happen under a Republican-dominated government, because the Republicans will fall in line with the party, and Democrats will vote for it because it's the right thing to do.  But the reverse will never be true - that Republicans won't vote for something sponsored by Democrats no matter how much they agree with it.
From: John Entered on: March 24, 2010 7:38 AM
BigFatty said:     No worries on Fatty. I don't think the chest pain was anything to worry about... the followup is a precaution.   Was the source of your chest pain diagnosed?
From: Ross Entered on: March 26, 2010 1:37 PM
Ross said: Anyway, I'm leaving for SF tonight for a few days for work.  If I have any adventures (unlikely), I'll post them.  If anything, it will probably be in the form of travel complaints... Well, I jinxed myself here.  I did have some adventures - just not very good ones.  I ended up getting my work laptop stolen from my rental car in a restaurant parking lot in Concord, CA.  I was driving around two other ladies from my team and we all had our laptops in the car - mine was in the trunk, theirs in the back seat.  Of course, one of them had a hot pink bag she borrowed from her daughter - I maintain this is what attracted the thief.  Anyway, when we got back to our car, we noticed the glass on the rear driver's side window was smashed out.  The other woman, the one without the pink bag, is from Charlotte, and when she found out what happened, she started going all southern: "Oh no yall!  Yall!  Hell no yall!  Oh my god yall!"  I should have counted the yalls.  She never talks like that, which makes it so much funnier to me. Anyway, one of them called the cops, one called the corporate info security people, and I called the rental car company.  After my previous nightmare with the rented moving trunk a few years ago, I was ready for hell, especially since I recalled initialing several "decline" blanks on the rental agreement.  But they said "ok, I see you're fully covered so just drop it off and give the guy the police report".  Apparently the corporate credit card handles all the insurance aspects.  And upon returning the car, they were so nonchalant about it, I had to remember to give them the police report number.  But now I'm without a laptop, which is annoying mostly because I was planning to work from home yesterday morning because my flight got in after midnight.  But since I had no laptop, it forced me to get up with about 4 hours of sleep and come into the office.  Of course, it was the worst possible to day come in. First, it was ridiculously cold and my jacket was too thin.  So I'm standing on the train platform, freezing my ass off, for what seems like forever.  I check my watch, and the train is already 15 minutes late.  Then the PA comes on saying that it broke down and we'll basically have to get on the next one.  So about 25 minutes after my normal time, the train pulls up, but now there's twice as many people as usual on it so it's nice and crowded.  Then, about 2 miles outside the station, this train breaks down.  We sat for a good 40 minutes before getting moving again.  Then, when I get off the train, I'm immediately in a giant immobile crowd.  Why?  Apparently there is a dude on a stretcher who had some kind of issue, thought it couldn't have been too bad since he was similing and joking, the fucker, but still causing people to slow down and rubberneck, just like on the road.  I'm not going to lie, the old fat nosy ninny in front of me got a nice shoulder shove from me as a pushed past her.  Finally, when I get up to the door to get inside the station, there's another crowd that isn't moving.  Just as I'm trying to figure out what the cause is, the crowd parts, and four SWAT team members with their M4 assault rifles slung in front of them come pouring down the walkway, shouting in their best command voices "Step aside please! Move it!"  I didn't find out what that was about until I read this article, which gives a brief explanation of my worst train ride ever. And I wasn't even supposed to be in the office that day!
From: NickNick Entered on: March 26, 2010 11:18 PM
I still say that there might be something greater than the universe out there.  Call it a being, whatever.  And I don't think that keeping your mind open to the POSSIBILITY nullifies any curreny you carry with the Sanity Police. Let's start that one back up.
From: NickNick Entered on: March 26, 2010 11:33 PM
Seriously though, on a complete change of topic, I am curious what everyone thought of How to Train a Dragon.  Took Hunter to see it tonight (well, last night now) and it was awesome.  Yeah, I'm a cool dad.
From: Ross Entered on: March 29, 2010 9:44 AM
NickNick, you bore me with your inability to acknowledge past discussion.  Begone.
From: Jackzilla Entered on: March 29, 2010 11:38 AM
Er ner... poor NerkNerk...
From: BigFatty Entered on: March 30, 2010 10:58 AM
Ross said: NickNick, you bore me with your inability to acknowledge past discussion.  Begone. Agreed.
From: NickNick Entered on: April 7, 2010 12:30 AM
Ross said: NickNick, you bore me with your inability to acknowledge past discussion.  Begone. Oh no.  Whatever shall I do.  I will have to wander this barren planet in desolate solitude. Y ou need to lighten up a bit, Ross.  You're going to kill yourself one of these days.  Life isn't always about serious discussions. Sometimes, people are capable of satyre or attempting humor. Farewell, I shall sully Jackassery no more.
From: BigFatty Entered on: April 7, 2010 7:04 AM
NickNick said:  Sometimes, people are capable of satyre or attempting humor. That was the problem NickNick, your attempts at humor were only amusing to yourself.  It should have been quite evident that your joke was not working, yet you repeated it again and again.  Frankly, I found it very disrespecting...  not that you have different views, but you kept on trying the same tired routine.  We all let you know it was not working.  You knew it was irritating, but you still persisted. Certainly you had more to offer to the site discussions than this one topic.  But, you chose to revisit this ad naseum. It is very obvious that you are trying to bait Ross into becoming angry.  I am not sure why you wish to make another person angry.  So, if that is all you had to offer to JA - it will not be missed.
From: Ross Entered on: April 7, 2010 1:48 PM
If you were being serious, I've already dealt more than adequately - and more than once - with your persistent god-possibility-talk.  Go back and read them - if only for the first time - please.  You seem to like repeating yourself - I don't.  If you have something new and interesting to add, let's hear it. If you were attempting humor or "satyre", I don't believe anyone but you is finding it funny.  I'm not being overly-serious, I'm just not interested.  If you were just trying to rile me up, you have failed there also.  You bore me with this nonsense. Allow me to quote myself from one of the prior threads where we discussed this exact same issue where we were all losing patience with this game of yours: ...it's becoming clear to me that you are doing this simply to delight in the obfuscation, in some kind of passive agressive game.  So consider this my way of saying that I'm not going to play your game anymore. and As my last point, since you have bowed out without acknowledging that you have been setting up straw men and knocking them down, the next time you do it (because I have a feeling you will do it again), be prepared to have this whole thread crammed down your throat in the harshest possible fashion.  You're not the only one who can get agitated around here. As predicted, you did it again, I made good on my promise, and now you're acting hurt.  Spare me.  You should have known better.