Comments on SubCmdr's posts
[QUOTE=SubCmdr;2987664][B]Ferengi Rules of Acquisition #35[/B]: [I]Peace is good for Business[/I]!
In other news, I am considering an electric scooter / motorcycle here in Pattaya, Thailand. Research online leads me to believe that some have removable battery packs that can be taken up to my room and charged overnight there. I can even have two so if I am rolling hard during the day I could use my room as hub and change out the battery pack during the day and keep rolling. For my in town movements that ranges are perfect. For longer rides I still need a ICE. But that's ok as I was planning to buy a scooter for errands and maxi scooter for longer trips. The crypto and stock market have been very, very, very good to me.[/QUOTE]"Peace is Good for Business," I agree. Ferengi's may be ugly, short mother fuckers, but they're damn smart! They're like the Swiss used to be.
That's a practical solution SubCmdr. I just bought an electric golf cart for my island vacation home, the one you've got an invitation to visit provided you bring Dominican wenches. It's a six seater. That means there's room for you, me and four wenches. It's a better choice than gasoline for what I'll be doing.
On the other hand I'd never dream of buying a BEV for Texas. I wouldn't have the patience to sit for a one hour recharge when on a road trip, if I could even find a charging station. Actually I think I'll try to sell a bumper sticker to my fellow Texans -- "You'll take my gun when you pry my cold, dead finger off the trigger, and my ICV when you lift my cold, dead leg off the accelerator. ".
[QUOTE=SubCmdr;2988227]I never realized racists were closet intellectuals. I've always thought of them as being rather low brow thinkers who were generally lazy because it easier to blame others for problems in their lives than to take responsibility for themselves.
For example, when there was a crack epidemic the response was to criminalize crack (not the base that white people liked. Cocaine). Now we have fentynal. POTUS will willing mess up the entire economy and disrupt world trade because white people cannot control themselves and are overdosing because they realize their place in there own country is on the decline.
Notice the difference in response. Now, some of you are going to say I am racist for saying this. Check your facts first. Who was most affected by the crack epidemic? Who is most affected by the fentanyl epidemic? They are both drug problems that have to be met at the sources, lack of opportunity in a relentlessly tough world. But two radically different responses because the different demographics in the United States of America.[/QUOTE]I've only known four crack addicts, and they were all white. They were all middle class or, as a result of the crack, poor. And I have one good friend who used to be a cocaine addict. He is relatively wealthy, and actually had a criminal defense attorney on retainer just in case he ran into problems. He never did though. The closest he came was when immigration in another country found cocaine residue on his laptop and gave him the third degree. He's now clean and watches his health and diet better than anyone I know.
Anyway, if you asked me who was most affected by the crack epidemic, based just on my experience I'd say poor and middle class white people. But since I've got maybe 15 white, Hispanic and Asian acquaintances and friends for every black acquaintance or friend, and since the blacks I know are on average higher caliber people than the whites and Hispanics, I don't have the experience to really judge. But from what I read, blacks were disproportionately affected by the severe penalties imposed on crack users and traffickers.
Yes, imposing extreme penalties for crack and letting the wealthy, "elite" cocaine (and fentanyl?) crowd off with a slap on the hand is extremely unfair.
Elvis has brought up the solution a couple of times -- the Portuguese system that decriminalizes drugs and provides treatment instead of jail. It worked well, until it was partially defunded. And still works better than what we've got.
[QUOTE=SubCmdr;2988265]The OP never tell the whole story. [B]Familiarize yourself with the term: callable or redeemable bonds[/B].
Guess what happens when interest rates been to drop again. Those bonds are called in and reissued into the capital market. Ending your juicy yield plans.
His narrative on NVDA is wrong also. But I'll take on his logical errors in another post.[/QUOTE]That's unlikely to happen for Elvis' example. The call price of a bond is set higher than the issue price. For example, say a bond was originally sold at 100 with a coupon rate of 8%. The call price, being the price at which the company has the right to repurchase the bond, might be 105. Now, say the price of the bond has fallen from 100 to 50, so that instead of 8%, it yields 16%. The company won't pay 105 to call the bond. It may try to buy bonds back on the open market at 50 though, if it can get the money to do so from the banks.
[QUOTE=SubCmdr;2988273]A South Carolina man is executed by firing squad, the first US prisoner killed by this method in 15 years.
[B]Wat da fuc[/B]?
[URL]https://www.yahoo.com/news/south-carolina-man-executed-firing-231942156.html[/URL]
America, what a country![/QUOTE]Yeah, take a look at the map here.
[URL]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_by_country[/URL]
Places colored red maintain the death penalty. We're in with a great bunch of countries, aren't we?
From what I'm reading, the guy apparently had the option of lethal injection. But the state of South Carolina wouldn't provide info to his lawyers to show it wouldn't botch the killing like it had several times before with lethal injection. And the deceased was a strong proponent of ending the death penalty, and thought this might be a way to show others how fucked up it is.
Mandating Electric Vehicles
[QUOTE=Spidy;2988311]Really!
And what piece of U.S. gov't legislation/bill, would this be, mandating EVs? Please do enlighten us....[/QUOTE]
I worked long and hard on this. I hope you enjoy it. I have not covered the huge subsidies and tax breaks that government provides to promote electric vehicles, while breaking the back of the American taxpayer.
Several legislative actions, executive orders, and regulations at both federal and state levels in the United States have been implemented to force the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), either by directly mandating their sale or by setting emissions standards that will cause EVs to replace internal combustion vehicles (ICVs). .
Federal Level:
Executive Order 14057 (December 2021): Issued by President Joe Biden, this order mandated that all new light-duty vehicles purchased by the federal government be zero-emission by 2027, with a goal of transitioning all new vehicle acquisitions, including heavy-duty vehicles, to zero-emission models by 2035. .
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Emissions Standards (April 2023): The EPA proposed stringent emissions standards requiring that 67% of all new light-duty vehicles sold nationwide be zero-emission by 2032.
State Level:
California's Advanced Clean Cars II Regulation (August 2022): The California Air Resources Board (CARB) approved regulations mandating that 35% of new car sales be zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) by the 2026 model year, increasing to 68% by 2030, and reaching 100% by 2035. This plan effectively bans the sale of new gasoline-powered vehicles in the state by 2035. .
Adoption by Other States: Following California's lead, 11 other states, including Massachusetts, New York, and Oregon, have adopted similar mandates aiming to phase out the sale of new gasoline-powered vehicles by 2035. These states have aligned their vehicle emissions standards with California's to accelerate the transition to ZEVs. .
Recent Developments:
In December 2024, the EPA granted California a waiver under the Clean Air Act to enforce its ambitious EV mandate.
These federal and state initiatives collectively represent a concerted effort to increase the adoption of electric vehicles in the United States, either through direct mandates on vehicle sales or by implementing stringent emissions standards that indirectly promote the transition to zero-emission transportation.
Atrocities Committed by France
I worked long and hard on this too!
France, like many colonial and modern states, has been involved in various atrocities throughout history. Below is a list of significant historical and recent events associated with France:
Colonial Era Atrocities.
Algerian War of Independence (19541962).
France's brutal counterinsurgency campaign against the National Liberation Front (FLN) included torture, extrajudicial killings, and the large-scale massacre of civilians.
The Sιtif and Guelma Massacre (1945) saw French forces killing tens of thousands of Algerians following demonstrations for independence.
The use of torture by the French military, including in the Battle of Algiers (19561957), was widespread.
Harkis (Algerians who supported France) were later abandoned by the French government and left to be massacred by Algerian nationalists.
Rwandan Genocide (1994).
France had strong ties with the Hutu-led government prior to the genocide and provided military training to its forces.
Operation Turquoise, launched by France during the genocide, was criticized for providing a safe zone that allowed many perpetrators of the genocide to escape.
Vietnam and Indochina Wars (19461954).
The French military's repression of Vietnamese independence movements included massacres, such as the Haiphong Bombardment (1946), which killed thousands.
Widespread use of forced labor and repressive policies under French rule in Indochina.
Madagascar Uprising (19471948).
France violently suppressed Malagasy independence fighters, leading to between 30,000 and 100,000 deaths through mass executions, torture, and destruction of villages.
Post-Colonial & Recent Atrocities.
Nuclear Testing in the Pacific (19661996).
France conducted 193 nuclear tests in French Polynesia, exposing local populations to radiation, leading to birth defects, cancer, and environmental destruction.
The French government has been slow to acknowledge the long-term health effects of these tests.
Intervention in Libya (2011).
France, under President Nicolas Sarkozy, played a leading role in the NATO-led intervention against Muammar Gaddafi.
The destabilization of Libya led to a failed state, mass human rights abuses, and the rise of human trafficking networks.
French Military Operations in Africa (Recent Years).
France has conducted counterterrorism operations in the Sahel region (Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Chad) under Operation Barkhane.
Accusations of civilian casualties, excessive use of force, and fueling instability through continued military presence.
Crackdown on Protests and Police Brutality (Recent Years).
Yellow Vest Protests (20182020): Numerous reports of excessive police violence, including the use of rubber bullets, tear gas, and beatings.
Racially Motivated Police Violence: The killing of Nahel Merzouk (2023), a teenager of North African descent, sparked widespread protests over police brutality and racial discrimination in France.
Treatment of Migrants & Refugees (Ongoing).
France has been repeatedly criticized for its harsh treatment of refugees and migrants, particularly in Calais, where police have forcibly evicted migrants and destroyed their camps.
Reports of violence, lack of proper asylum procedures, and poor conditions in detention centers.
Conclusion.
France's historical and contemporary actions continue to spark debate and calls for accountability. Many of these atrocities, particularly from the colonial era, remain a source of tension in its relations with former colonies. Recent concerns, including police brutality and military interventions, highlight ongoing human rights issues.
Dictators in France and the USA
Here's a list of French Dictators since the French Revolution:
Napoleon Bonaparte
Louis-Napolon Bonaparte (Napoleon III)
Philippe Ptain
Charles de Gaulle
Here's a list of American Dictators since the American Revolution:
.
The Wealth of Nations: France versus the USA
GDP per capita:
USA $69,231.
France: $41,500.
Car ownership rate:
USA 0.88/ person.
France 0.6/ person.
Average home size:
USA 2500 square feet.
France 1200 square feet.
Percentage of population with air conditioning:
USA 90%.
France 20%.
Percentage of population with a university degree:
USA 44%.
France 32%.
Investment in New Technologies:
USA 5. 6% of GDP.
France 2. 5% of GDP.
If you want links, by damn, I shall give you links!
[QUOTE=Spidy;2987740][I][b](...kkkk!)[/b][/I] Just what I thought! What a cop-out!
[url]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_gas[/URL]
Well it seems I'll leave you to those, [B]who just love to provide ONLY their options![/B] Because obviously ChatGPT is providing yours! Good Luck!
BTW, I think it was I, who educated you! Well...on what is "clean burning" and zero 0% CO2 emissions, at any rate! Class dismissed![/QUOTE][URL]https://g.co/kgs/DzSJCXp[/URL]
[URL]https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Carbon-Dioxide[/URL]
[URL]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect[/URL]
On playing the Racisim Card, Again
If Musk is a "racist" you will have to prove it to me because I HAVE SEEN NO EVIDENCE OF THIS. I understand, however, that this is the latest BS line of attack from the Dems and their talking heads. Business as usual with these fucks. The real question is why is the left so virulently against finding corruption and waste in Gov't spending? Everybody should be interested in exposing and eliminating this crap. The national debt is over 30 trillion and rising. It is becoming a real threat to our very well being. It says a hell of a lot about what the left's priorities truly are. Apparently, they live and breathe on the corruption.
