tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post357729560577059366..comments2023-09-15T08:07:28.542-06:00Comments on Western Hero: Bonfire of the InsanitiesSilverfiddlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13541652236676260219noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-17975191509129818442011-11-10T05:21:51.180-07:002011-11-10T05:21:51.180-07:00The key word there, Jez, is "toxic." Th...The key word there, Jez, is "toxic." They had to hid the fact that the debt was bad or no one would buy it from them. Those who did know designed exotic instruments to bet against themselves.<br /><br />Bottom line is none of this would have happened had government stayed out of the mortgage markets. <br /><br />Also they would not have acted so recklessly had they known with certainty that they would have to eat whatever losses they incurred.<br /><br />The same thing is now playing out on a grand scale in Europe.<br /><br />You can only borrow for so long. Somebody's gotta pay the piper. This insidious government-banker axis of evil has got to be broken.Silverfiddlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13541652236676260219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-313964085900424092011-11-10T02:08:40.147-07:002011-11-10T02:08:40.147-07:00"The wall street gamblers wasted that money b..."The wall street gamblers wasted that money because they knew uncle sam would bail them out."<br /><br />Odd that they spent so much money obfuscating the toxic debts in order to sell them on. If they were confident of a bail-out, why not just sell them openly? That way they'd save on the rock-star fees they paid their maths PhDs, and on setting up decoy companies in the bahamas to pretend had something to do with the financial products that were really just packages of dodgy mortgages.<br /><br />Was that all just for fun?jezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14865247084509280406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-77404127619324630432011-11-09T19:37:48.057-07:002011-11-09T19:37:48.057-07:00So a lobbyist for fannie and freddie is a republic...So a lobbyist for fannie and freddie is a republican, while the ceo who are cleaning up millions in bonuses are democrats, so what?<br /><br />The wall street gamblers wasted that money because they knew uncle sam would bail them out. That is crony crapitalism and corporate statism, and you want more?Silverfiddlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13541652236676260219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-22589132220607531822011-11-09T19:03:51.779-07:002011-11-09T19:03:51.779-07:00Baaaah!
Seriously SF? More regulation caused Gol...Baaaah! <br /><br />Seriously SF? More regulation <i>caused</i> Goldman Sachs to come up with divorced from reality derivatives and toxic asset credit defaults.<br /><br />That Barney Frank the power of his lisp made Cheney cower!<br /><br />Hey did you see Newt Gingrich was a big time lobbyist for Fannie and Freddie???Grung_e_Genehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01894879088472559055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-15777767408187585762011-11-09T11:04:06.056-07:002011-11-09T11:04:06.056-07:00Gene: Deregulation? Tell that to the army of bur...Gene: Deregulation? Tell that to the army of bureaucrats armed with libraries full of government regulations.<br /><br />The pornographic embrace between big government and big banking is obscene, and they're doing it on your dime. But you want more. You should have ended your last missive with a bleating "baaaah!"Silverfiddlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13541652236676260219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-5323622905621820022011-11-09T09:53:22.084-07:002011-11-09T09:53:22.084-07:00"the contributions for which they are famed a..."the contributions for which they are famed and revered came from inside themselves"<br /><br />to less extent than you think -- Newton admitted that he stood on the shoulder of giants.<br /><br />An untutored Michaelangelo would have been less important than the tutored one we know and love.<br /><br />"I wonder if there is a Ph.D. thesis anywhere that compares well with [a novel]"<br /><br />They're not supposed to, they're different things.<br /><br />But if you want good theses, consider Hugh Everett's (many worlds theory [and father of indie musician "E" from eels]) or de Broglie's (particle wave duality).<br /><br />"Apprenticeship, as well you know, is entirely different from going through an academic sausage factory"<br /><br />A PhD *is* an apprenticeship.jezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14865247084509280406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-54721677542557903972011-11-09T09:50:15.903-07:002011-11-09T09:50:15.903-07:00Having graduated from one of our most prestigious ...Having graduated from one of our most prestigious Conservatories of Music, Ducky, I have to agree with von Mises. <br /><br />What we call "education" is for the most part <b>regurgitative</b>.<br /><br />Actual experience in a given field through apprenticeship, individual exploration and continued practical application is more apt to produce <b>creative</b> results.<br /><br />The Academy wants you to do it THEIR way.<br /><br />Insight, intuition, genuine creativity fosters every attempt to find your OWN way. <br /><br />Results may be be high uneven in the latter case, and many failures are sure to result, but independence from orthodoxy gives greater impetus to true genius than a standardized process where everything tends to be cut and dried.<br /><br />~ FreeThinke<br /><br />PS: BEING an artist is almost the antithesis of learning ABOUT Art from an academician's point of view. I am not suggesting, however that we do away with the Academy merely see it in perspective. - FTAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-6976676717612302122011-11-09T09:38:04.346-07:002011-11-09T09:38:04.346-07:00Ducky,
Apprenticeship, as well you know, is entir...Ducky,<br /><br />Apprenticeship, as well you know, is entirely different from going through an academic sausage factory determined to issue a "standardized" product acceptable to an Established Power Structure in whatever field.<br /><br />The great geniuses may have been "taught" their ABC's but the contributions for which they are famed and revered came from inside themselves -- the products of unique, inspired Vision and willful determination. <br /><br />I wonder if there is a Ph.D. thesis anywhere that compares well with the works of a Jane Austen, a Bronte, a Dickens, a James, a Wharton or a Mary Lasswell?<br /><br />~ FreeThinke<br /><br />FYI: The verification word this time is CHIPPER. ;-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-65927353330989320702011-11-09T09:02:23.151-07:002011-11-09T09:02:23.151-07:00Hahahaha! "Three decades later, the triumph o...Hahahaha! "Three decades later, the triumph of Reaganism is remarkable. In the United States and Britain taxes shrank, regulation, especially of the financial sector, was pruned back..."<br /><br />And what did we get from derregulation of the financial sector?<br /><br />Savings and Loan, Dotcom and the Republican Ownership Society Bubbles!<br /><br />Great track record keep running on it. This Financial Disaster and Recession fit very nicely in the Republican Portfolio.Grung_e_Genehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01894879088472559055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-11325010919271583762011-11-09T08:33:11.597-07:002011-11-09T08:33:11.597-07:00Kurt,
"It's just that that particular pa...Kurt,<br /><br />"It's just that that particular pattern that the person is wearing has come to be identified with Palestinians by us the the west."<br /><br />True story, sir. And it doesn't help the image when we see the filthy camel/watermelon/young boy violators wearing them whenever someone pulls out a video camera. I understand the guilt by association. It's too bad, really. I treasure my kefiyyah for its sun protection capabilities. And it is quite a snazzy fashion statement. Ha!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-32128417179237427782011-11-09T07:46:26.603-07:002011-11-09T07:46:26.603-07:00Progressives display selfishness so well and the p...Progressives display selfishness so well and the past couple generations believe in me, me, me and instant gratification instead of working hard for their stuff or wealth. They feel that they are entitled to things that they aren't entitled to. What happened to being taught to have a good work ethic?Teresahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16040553825059591114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-58543096024226991632011-11-09T06:50:10.800-07:002011-11-09T06:50:10.800-07:00Interesting quote from von Mises, Freethinker.
I...Interesting quote from von Mises, Freethinker.<br /><br /> Is he saying that none of those he names received education. None of them apprenticed in the guild or studied under the masters of the day?<br /><br /> Gerrit Dou and Fabritious didn't study with Rembrandt?<br /><br /> Raphael didn't run a studio employing young artists?<br /><br /> von Mises once again proves he's a shallow idiot sharing the bizarro world with Murray RothbartDucky's herehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14608115001116619877noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-10808061108578865852011-11-09T05:30:53.889-07:002011-11-09T05:30:53.889-07:00ecc102: True statement about the headscarf. It&#...ecc102: True statement about the headscarf. It's just that that particular pattern that the person is wearing has come to be identified with Palestinians by us the the west.Silverfiddlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13541652236676260219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-60335302607888291472011-11-09T05:07:02.046-07:002011-11-09T05:07:02.046-07:00Duck,
I'm not in the least surprised that you ...Duck,<br />I'm not in the least surprised that you have a kafiyyeh.<br /><br />Got a swastika to go with it?Always On Watchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08192688822955022541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-38893718551247890812011-11-09T04:54:12.851-07:002011-11-09T04:54:12.851-07:00"A mind is a terrible thing to waste."
...<b>"A mind is a terrible thing to waste."</b><br /><br />And now let us proceed with our reading of The Wasteland.<br /><br />Mr. Eliot, will you please take the floor?<br /><br />~ FreeThinkeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-16038448492122727302011-11-08T23:04:04.413-07:002011-11-08T23:04:04.413-07:00Wow... and not a fact to be found anywhere Jersey....Wow... and not a fact to be found anywhere Jersey.<br /><br />Thanks for sharing your opinions.<br /><br />Now go get a degree in Ass Painting, move to Zuccotti Park, and whine that you got a degree, have massive amounts of student debt, and can't get a job anywhere cuz the man is keeping you down.Finntannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09234170229108668040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-71621799452629406122011-11-08T22:08:13.403-07:002011-11-08T22:08:13.403-07:00Silver,
I'm sorry man, but what a load of cra...Silver,<br /><br />I'm sorry man, but what a load of crap.<br /><br />You conservative geniuses continuously recreate the 1920's (as Les lauded in his most recent post), and keep creating booms and busts and Medieval wealth disparity.<br /><br />It's a joke.<br /><br />Reagan was a joke.<br /><br />The Laffer Curve is a joke.<br /><br />Free Trade and The Wars on ____ and Drill Baby Drill, are fuckin' myths, you idiots!<br /><br />If you want to restore the nation, think big. Think outside these tiring buffet-historical analogies. <br /><br />Think of something new for a change.<br /><br />JMJJersey McJoneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15426560061830038806noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-75910745071279367812011-11-08T21:08:39.330-07:002011-11-08T21:08:39.330-07:00@MK,
I hereby nominate "occuwankers" as...@MK,<br /><br />I hereby nominate "occuwankers" as the official name of the Occupy movement. That rocked.<br /><br />The Other McCain had an article that showed this new Twitter account someone created that goes by the name "Occupooper" and Soros is the gravatar. Love. It.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-25539281004149321602011-11-08T21:06:24.528-07:002011-11-08T21:06:24.528-07:00Just for the record, I wore a kefiyyah (that I sti...Just for the record, I wore a kefiyyah (that I still have and wear when working in the sun) whilst over in The Sandbox. I have 4 of them, 2 blue and 2 red. <br /><br />It hardly denotes or indicates Palestinian anything.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-47295643708746972672011-11-08T20:01:45.061-07:002011-11-08T20:01:45.061-07:00Nicely said Silver, occuwankers are just a gaggle ...Nicely said Silver, occuwankers are just a gaggle of sniveling vermin, ready to beat up old ladies, shit everywhere and rape each other.<br /><br />The world they wish is a dark, dangerous, incredibly stupid and totalitarian one.MathewKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14385674205383405783noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-55226377744251986892011-11-08T19:57:26.794-07:002011-11-08T19:57:26.794-07:00I imagine very soon we'll see Berklee offer a ...I imagine very soon we'll see Berklee offer a degree in RAP -- if they haven't already.<br /><br />Anything to keep the shekel pouring in is the name of the game.<br /><br />The earth rotates on an axis of bullshit.<br /><br />~ FreeThinkeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-39149467728039367242011-11-08T19:52:48.520-07:002011-11-08T19:52:48.520-07:00Praxiteles never got a degree in Sculpture.
Bach...Praxiteles never got a degree in Sculpture.<br /><br /><br />Bach ever got a degree in Music. <br /><br /><br />Rembrandt never got a degree in painting.<br /><br /><br />Shakespeare never got a degree in Poetry or Literature.<br /><br />Jefferson never got a degree in Professional Writing.<br /><br />The parents of the Dionne Quintplets probably never attended a Sex Education class. ;-)<br /><br />People with enormous talent find ways to use it.<br /><br />People who admire enormous talent often want to imitate it, but wind up teaching others <i>about</i> it, instead.<br /><br />Personally, I think the concept of treating the Art as an academic subject is inherently flawed.<br /><br /><i>"<b>Education rears disciples, imitators, and routinists, not pioneers of new ideas and creative geniuses</b>. The schools are not nurseries of progress and improvement, but conservatories of tradition and unvarying modes of thought."</i> <br /><br />- Ludwig von Mises<br /><br />Regards,<br /><br />~ FreeThinkeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-88118354207144619762011-11-08T19:37:14.224-07:002011-11-08T19:37:14.224-07:00I must study politics and war that my sons may hav...<i>I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. My sons ought to study mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history, naval architecture, navigation, commerce, and agriculture, in order to give their children a right to study painting, poetry, music, architecture, statuary, tapestry, and porcelain.</i><br /><br /> ~ John Adams (1735 - 1826)<br /><br />Submitted by FreeThinkeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-1230849826464965632011-11-08T19:10:28.542-07:002011-11-08T19:10:28.542-07:00Ducky, do you mean like this article in The Nation...Ducky, do you mean like this article in The Nation:<br /><br />The Audacity of Occupy Wall Street <br /><br />http://www.thenation.com/article/164348/audacity-occupy-wall-street<br /><br />Poor Joe. "he set off to the University of Connecticut to get an MFA in his passion—puppetry. Three years and $35,000 in student loans later, he emerged with degree in hand, and because puppeteers aren’t exactly in high demand, he went looking for work at his old school."<br /><br />Are you friggin kidding me? Puppetry?<br /><br />"Like a lot of the young protesters who have flocked to Occupy Wall Street, Joe had thought that hard work and education would bring, if not class mobility, at least a measure of security (indeed, a master’s degree can boost a New York City teacher’s salary by $10,000 or more)."<br /><br />PUPPETRY?<br /><br />"Down is the new up."<br /><br />PUPPETRY?<br /><br />Why stop at a Masters when you could be a...uhm.... Doctor of Puppets?<br /><br />So, he quits his job, goes to school to get an MFA in puppetry, and now bitches that all he can get is a sub teaching position at half the salary he made previously?<br /><br />Yeah, that is audacious... as in "the bold or arrogant disregard of normal restraints"<br /><br />Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with Joe and his love of puppets, but seriously?<br /><br />Me, I have a great interest in Celtic Studies but there is a reason why I am a Systems Architect and not a Professor of Celtic Studies. In a few more years when I retire, again... I'll pursue my MLitt in Celtic Studies.<br /><br />Celtic Studies, like puppetry, is a hobby education rather than a career education. It's something you pursue because you are interested in it, not because you are going to graduate and go out and make a ton of money, or even enough money to live on comfortably.<br /><br />I suppose he could always get a job with the Muppets, like I could possibly get a job teaching Celtic Studies, but I wouldn't bet on it.<br /><br />So, I am a Systems Architect, and I enjoy my work. In six or seven years my youngest will be done with school, and I will have my Masters in Supply Chain Management. <br /><br />Then, I'll take a couple of years off, move to Ireland, and get my MLitt at UC Dublin. It will be paid for in advance, not with loans, and when I'm finished I'll have multiple options if I want to go back to work, continue with further studies, or kick back on a beach in the Caribbean. <br /><br />Seriously, would you advise your kids to go here?<br /><br />http://www.drama.uconn.edu/Puppetry/Puppet_bfa_course.htm<br /><br />Cheers!Finntannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09234170229108668040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-10567739290574938562011-11-08T15:50:54.897-07:002011-11-08T15:50:54.897-07:00I know Freethinker. If we'd all just go to a N...I know Freethinker. If we'd all just go to a NASCAR race and stand and that atrocious Lee Greenwood song all would be well.<br /><br />We're here. Get used to it.Ducky's herehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14608115001116619877noreply@blogger.com