Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Friday, April 19, 2013
Lockdown of Boston
Well, the news today is surreal. Although I don't live in the Watertown area, I do work in nearby Waltham, so I've decided to work from home today. Allie and I are safe. We have relatives in Watertown that are also doing well. Just as I type that, the email comes from work saying that our Waltham Campus is closed due to these on-going incidents. And, as I come to post this article on my blog here, the lockdown of the entire Boston area seems to have just been put in place.
I gotta say, that although any city would be angry that these assholes would attack their home, Boston really was the wrong city to go after. Resolved is heighten, not diminished. The people are not terrorized, they are just pissed. Ironically, these Chechnyan terrorists have misjudged America. US has spoke out against previous Russian actions in Chechnya (de facto support of Chechnya). I'm guessing we won't be doing that anymore. So, instead of forwarding their cause for Chechnyan independence, these idiots have pretty much buried all hope of that ever happening. ...and to spend your entire adult life for one poorly executed blood bath? How sad that they valued their own lives so poorly as to give them up for so little. In America, we say, Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death. I guess these idiots motto is "Give me death because I'm going to make everyone pay for my self-loathing."
I gotta say, that although any city would be angry that these assholes would attack their home, Boston really was the wrong city to go after. Resolved is heighten, not diminished. The people are not terrorized, they are just pissed. Ironically, these Chechnyan terrorists have misjudged America. US has spoke out against previous Russian actions in Chechnya (de facto support of Chechnya). I'm guessing we won't be doing that anymore. So, instead of forwarding their cause for Chechnyan independence, these idiots have pretty much buried all hope of that ever happening. ...and to spend your entire adult life for one poorly executed blood bath? How sad that they valued their own lives so poorly as to give them up for so little. In America, we say, Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death. I guess these idiots motto is "Give me death because I'm going to make everyone pay for my self-loathing."
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Boston Marathon 2013 tragedy
The attack at yesterday's Boston Marathon was horrible. A lot of people will live the rest of their lives impacted by this henious act. The deaths are saddening. However, it is good that more people weren't killed. This article is not going to discuss any of the gruesome details since there is already plenty of that in the press right now.
The location of the attack in Boston's Back Bay, near Copley Square. This is an area with a rich history and includes several old churches. The marathon finish line is on Boylston Street, between Dartmouth Street to the East, and Exeter Street to the West.
View Larger Map
In the direction of Copley Square is the Old South Church.
The tower of this church is visible in the background of the already famous east-facing photo of the second explosion with the smoke of the first explosion visible. (That photo isn't shown here due to respect for copyright, but it is available on many news sites and blogs, such as these 1 2 3).
From Google Maps, here's what this spot looks like on a normal day, facing West near the site of the first explosion.
The President's statement about the attack about covers the Boston spirit:
The location of the attack in Boston's Back Bay, near Copley Square. This is an area with a rich history and includes several old churches. The marathon finish line is on Boylston Street, between Dartmouth Street to the East, and Exeter Street to the West.
View Larger Map
In the direction of Copley Square is the Old South Church.
The tower of this church is visible in the background of the already famous east-facing photo of the second explosion with the smoke of the first explosion visible. (That photo isn't shown here due to respect for copyright, but it is available on many news sites and blogs, such as these 1 2 3).
From Google Maps, here's what this spot looks like on a normal day, facing West near the site of the first explosion.
The President's statement about the attack about covers the Boston spirit:
Boston is a tough and resilient town; so are its people.
Friday, April 12, 2013
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
So, there was a slight problem with my room keys at Double Tree yesterday, and this is what I found...
So, there was a slight problem with my room keys at Double Tree yesterday, and this is what I found in my room the afternoon. All #complementary
Tuesday, April 09, 2013
Saturday, April 06, 2013
Remote Stone
Of what world we wonder true? Our lacking nature holds fast our corporeal soul upon the bosom of thriving abodes that guise the cradled womb. In this place stand we, me and all others, bound not in chains but yoked hereto nonetheless. Grand thrusting spears slice through the wondrous blue veil, floating on the currents of bent universe beyond this round realm, bringing to the helm fleshless anthropomorphized cold creatures to cast away the dark cloak, thus revealing remote stone for stone’s sake.
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Expose of hate
Wow, it's the 21st Century, and we still have people using the same old tired arguments to justify beliefs that are only marginally covered in some ancient "holy" text. These are the same arguments used by the Nazis to justify hatred of the Jews and other peoples in the early 20th Century, arguments used by Slave Owners to justify slavery in the 19th Century, and arguments used by racist to justify keeping the races separate during the mid-20th Century. How are they using these same bigoted arguments now? ...to attack homosexuals and gay marriage. I ran into a person spewing this nonsense on a social website the other day. Here's a brief rundown of the arguments with my opinions as replies (each one of these could be their own meme):
- Societies that have embraced homosexuality have declined - (Comment: Really? Over-extended borders, reduced/squandered resources, foreign invasions, and heavy debt are all caused by homosexuality?)
- Statistics show us that it's unhealthy to be homosexual - (Comment: What's really the point of this and how is this justification to deny equal protections under the law? It's risky crossing the street. Should we stop equal access to education for those kids that happen to need to cross a street to get to school?)
- God created and defined marriage as a union between one man and one woman - (Comment: Ah, here comes the bible-thumping! Numerous scriptures were quoted at this point. But, how many bible characters had multiple wives? A lot! The bible even sets out rules on how to take captured women from military conquests home as wives.)
- Homosexuals have a higher risk of mental illness - (Comment: Given the fact that homosexuality was classified as a mental illness up until the last part of the 20th Century, I would question any statistics linking mental illness to homosexuality. But on that point, as more scientific facts are discovered, it is becoming increasing understood that most mental illnesses have a genetic factor, which means that being prone to mental illness is also something with which certain individuals are born.)
- STDs, including HIV, higher among homosexuals - (Comment: Teen pregnancy is infinity higher among heterosexuals. Coal miners have much higher risks of lung related diseases. Umm, there's about a million other pointless and dubious statistics that can be pulled out of thin air. All of this is completely unrelated to the fact that we all deserve equal treatment under the law. )
- Societies that had a spread of Christianity had a decline in homosexuality - (Comment: No, homosexuals where just forced into hiding due to the same kind a bigotry being promoted in our time. This is a kin to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's claim that there are no homosexuals in Iran. Complete nonsense.)
- The gay marriage discussion is about changing the religious definition of marriage - (Comment: Again, no. This statement an attempt to re-frame the discussion to pretend that promoting gay marriage rights is an attack on one's own faith, as if gay marriage is somehow violating the rights of unassociated individuals. This is disingenuous at best. The gay marriage rights discussion is about equal protections under the law without regard for what beliefs one group of people have about another group of people.)
- Marriage isn't a human right, but rather an honored institution - (Comment: Talk about grasping for straws! This is a scorched-earth attempt to argue that marriage is just some sort of contract. Well, even with contracts, we are all entitled equal protection under the law. In other words, we are all allowed to enter contracts freely. So, not only does that argument contradict the earlier argument about God defining marriage, it actually makes the opposite point it is trying to make. The point is, we must have equal protection under the law, regardless the circumstances!)
- Gay couples wish to force their beliefs on corporations and the government to take advantage of benefit structures geared for traditional families. (Comment 1: Yeah, again, equal protections under the law is the point. Do we give corporations the right to deny benefits to other classes of families based on religious beliefs? No, because that is supposedly illegal. Comment 2: This statement is a hint about the right of the corporation to have a religious stand. However, a corporation is an imaginary construct of the law. The presuppositional argument is that imaginary things (like corporations) have rights that trump flesh and blood people. Since this person seems to believe that corporations (which are imaginary) have more rights than actual humans, then let's give other imaginary things rights too, like giving the Easter Bunny the right to vote!)
- Married couples pay more taxes. Gay marriage would benefit the government. (Comment: First, "oh the horror of it all! Oh no, the government will benefit from treating people equally!" Second, married couples pay less, the same or more tax based on their family situation. Number of kids, owning a home as a marriage couple, and other factors actually significantly reduce tax liability for families.)
- The point continues: What if our world economy crashes? Labor unions may fall into foreclosure; employers may have to declare bankruptcy and then won't be able to afford the benefit structures that support gay marriage afterwards. (Comment: Really? Argument against equal protections for gays involves what-iffing about world wide catastrophes? Wow! First, the inclusion of labor unions (the reason we have a middle class in American) as "foreclosing" is down right silly, and a very backwards way of expressing one's wishful thinking. I'm not sure how a union would fall into foreclosure, since unions are a free assembly of individuals for the purpose of collective bargaining. The bureaucratic portion of a labor union may go bankrupt, but that doesn't mean the union would cease to exist. A free assembly of individuals certainly cannot be foreclosed upon, as they are actual living and breathing people, not property. Second, collective bargaining is used by employers to provide benefits to their employees. The more employees that are covered, the more economical the benefits. Having gay couples included actually helps reduce costs, not increase them. Third, the idea that gay marriage will worsen a world wide catastrophe is completely ludicrous. Bankers and Wall Street will have far more to do with that than any other minority in our population.)
Much like the average fundamentalist propaganda brochures, the individual who made these points concluded their statements with a bunch of rhetorical questions that they believe they answered in their diatribe. I reserved my sharpest criticism for my own blog here, but I didn't let these bigoted claims go unchallenged on that social forum, nor was I the only one. Another Christian and others also chimed in and called out this individual for those statements.
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Sunday, March 03, 2013
Monday, February 25, 2013
Friday, February 22, 2013
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Senseless Sunday: Antarctica Water Pie
- Antarctica has two species of flowing planets: Antarctic hair grass (Deschampsia antarctica) and Antarctic pearlwort (Colobanthus quitensis).
- Boston Cream Pie is the the official state dessert of Massachusetts. (Go figure.)
- Old trees can actually produce more carbon and methane than they absorb.[1]
- Currently, 400 species of sharks roam on the oceans of Earth.
- The fastest recorded swimming animal is the sailfish, which can swim up to 68 mph.
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Tipping point
Wow, there sure has been a lot of back and forth online recently about customary tipping (gratuities) in America for the service provided by waitstaff at restaurants. A lot of it is playing out on Reddit. There was this pastor who protested an 18% automatic tip on a split bill for a large party, citing God has her reason for protest. That event lead to so much buzz that there's no point trying to cover any more it.
Another Reddit posting appeared more recently of another posted receipt. This receipt actually shows a reduction of the automatic tip from the final bill. An interesting backlash has come out of this second posting. Several problems arise. First, the assumption is the automatic tips are some how compulsory. Second, 20% automatic tip is just nuts. I've seen 18%, and I still have to wonder why so high. Third, how can a tip ever be considered compulsory!
I suggest reading the comments of the Reddit links. There are a lot of good statements (some of them even sourced). Legally speaking, tips are not compulsory. By definition (IRS and at the state level), they must be voluntarily offered by the customer in order to qualify as a tip. Sure, a restaurant can charge a service fee, but a service fee is not a tip, and not taxed the same.
Another reason I stopped overtipping is because 15% is now considered a standard tip. Really? I remember when 10% was considered a great tip! And now, some in the restaurant industry are claiming a minimum tip is 25%!? Really?! Waitstaff aren't the only group of people that aren't making a lot of money. Overtipping is making it harder for average Americans to go out and enjoy dinner. That actually hurts our overall economy. Less people will dine out, consume less when they do dine out, or dine out a places without a waitstaff. This means less overall money finding its way into the full service restaurant industry.
And, just as important. Do not tip on the whole bill. Tipping is on the subtotal. Sales tax is what we pay to the local government. You really want to tax your sales tax? People who pay their tip on the sales tax portion of the bill may think they are being good people, but this is just another form of overtipping.
Now, the flipside of this is that there are many areas of the restaurant that are not under the control of the waitstaff. Judge a tip based on the service itself. For example, if a steak comes cooked incorrectly, it's a 50% chance that the waitstaffer got the order wrong. However, it is 50% chance that the kitchen got it wrong too. Give the waitstaffer the benefit of the doubt.
Another Reddit posting appeared more recently of another posted receipt. This receipt actually shows a reduction of the automatic tip from the final bill. An interesting backlash has come out of this second posting. Several problems arise. First, the assumption is the automatic tips are some how compulsory. Second, 20% automatic tip is just nuts. I've seen 18%, and I still have to wonder why so high. Third, how can a tip ever be considered compulsory!
I suggest reading the comments of the Reddit links. There are a lot of good statements (some of them even sourced). Legally speaking, tips are not compulsory. By definition (IRS and at the state level), they must be voluntarily offered by the customer in order to qualify as a tip. Sure, a restaurant can charge a service fee, but a service fee is not a tip, and not taxed the same.
Overtipping is creating a monster
There's a general issue at the heart of all this: overtipping. There has been way too much overtipping since the late 1990's. People feel good about themselves when they overtip. This is pure arrogance and selfaffirmation. I know, I used to be one of those overtippers. Why did I stop overtipping? Sure, it helps the one individual, but it hurts the overall system. The more overtipping occurs, the more waitstaff come to expect the higher tip rate, regardless to the level of service. Bad servers are rewarded for being bad. The value of good servers is diminished over time. Plus, waitstaff often don't connect the dots well enough to understand why they are getting a good tip and why they are not. I was taught this lesson a very long time ago by a friend of mine who was a former waitress. It took me a very long time to accept it.Another reason I stopped overtipping is because 15% is now considered a standard tip. Really? I remember when 10% was considered a great tip! And now, some in the restaurant industry are claiming a minimum tip is 25%!? Really?! Waitstaff aren't the only group of people that aren't making a lot of money. Overtipping is making it harder for average Americans to go out and enjoy dinner. That actually hurts our overall economy. Less people will dine out, consume less when they do dine out, or dine out a places without a waitstaff. This means less overall money finding its way into the full service restaurant industry.
No more overtipping
Can I afford to overtip? Yes. But I've stopped doing it after realizing the harm it is causing to the overall system. Since 15% is now the normal and legally recognized tip, I consider that to be the minimum for normal/good service. I will often push the tip up for great service. However, that rarely exceeds 18%, and is usually 16-17%.And, just as important. Do not tip on the whole bill. Tipping is on the subtotal. Sales tax is what we pay to the local government. You really want to tax your sales tax? People who pay their tip on the sales tax portion of the bill may think they are being good people, but this is just another form of overtipping.
How to handle bad service
If service was so-so, I normally just ignore it and move on. What I have learned, that if service is particularly bad, do not take it out of the tip (or at least, don't wait to take it out of the tip). Depending on the degree of the problem, talk to the restaurant staff about the issues you are experiencing. For extremely minor issues, I will say, just get over it. For simple matters that need to be addressed, talk to the waitstaff. They should be able to take care of the matter. I've found that waitstaff will often forward bigger issues to the Manager without you asking. If the waitstaff isn't helpful or the problems are bigger, then ask for the Manager. Again, depending on the degree of the service problem, you may wish to wait until after the meal. Some waitstaffers will resent you for complaining. If it is a problem that must be addressed before the end of the meal, then if at all possible, wait until the food arrives.Region
Having travelled much of America now, I've found that some areas are just better than others when it comes to the quality of service. Set your expectations accordingly. Of course, it is still not OK to receive rude service. However, I've found that coastal regions of California tend to have better service on the average than other areas, such as Massachusetts. Many times, trying to get your waitstaffer's attention can be a bit of a chore at many places in Massachusetts. Training seems to be biggest cause for issues in Massachusetts, since normally the waitstaffers are willing to serve, they just aren't always as aware on how to be attentive.Don't punish waitstaff for kitchen and systematic problems
Now, the flipside of this is that there are many areas of the restaurant that are not under the control of the waitstaff. Judge a tip based on the service itself. For example, if a steak comes cooked incorrectly, it's a 50% chance that the waitstaffer got the order wrong. However, it is 50% chance that the kitchen got it wrong too. Give the waitstaffer the benefit of the doubt.
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Moon shot (my first successful attempt to photograph the moon with an automatic camera)
Saturday, February 09, 2013
SeaWorld Orlando is moderately disappointing
My memories of SeaWorld San Diego have jaded my experience at SeaWorld Orlando. I actually went to SeaWorld Orlando with high expectations. Everything just seems smaller in the Orlando, FL version of the SeaWorld theme park franchise. Even trying to find a cool t-shirt with "SeaWorld Orlando" provided to be difficult. I will say that the two rollercoasters are actually well designed and fun. Anyway, here's some photos of me and Allie's day there.
Friday, February 08, 2013
Solar energy works well in Germany because they get more sun than U.S.
...says Fox News contributor:
Wow! Just wow!
Friday, February 01, 2013
Crazy facts about Redheads
You cannot handle my superior Vitamin D producing skin! ...and other facts that aren't so great.
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Creating Universes in the lab, yup, we've done that
MIT Technology Review reports that multiverses have actually been created using a bit of cobalt and kerosene.
Monday, January 28, 2013
Real Soldier vs. Fake Soldier
I am nearly literally sickened when I see a Christian preachers on TV, who are watched by hundreds of thousands if not millions of Americans, and who claim that Christians are being persecuted in America. Here's what's really happening. Just for he record, this has been reported equally by Christian sources.
But then, here's what other Christian sources claim is going on in the military.
It's one step more ridiculous than the bully who forces you to hit yourself and asks "Why are you hitting yourself?" This situation is the bully hitting you directly and saying "Stop hitting my fist with your face!" Not only that, this story outrageously insults our armed forces by even using them as such an example in the first place! Disgusting.
Sunday, January 27, 2013
All Seeing Eye sees all, or at least it is translucent
Sometime in Fall of 2011, I was almost randomly driving around MetroWest-ish area of Massachusetts and ended up at this one museum that used to be a lodge of the Free Masons, in Lexington, MA. At this building, there was this stain glass window with the All Seeing Eye as the focal point.
Look familiar to anyone? If you do a Google image search, you'll find this is not unique in topic for stain glass windows. However, this particular piece is interesting and beautiful in its own way. I serve the eye...I...i...I don't know what came over me there for a second. Oh, Hypnotoad is on. Catchya later!
Senseless Sunday: White House responds to Death Star petition
In this special edition of Senseless Sunday, we learn that plans to build a Death Star will not happen under the current U.S. Administration. On We The People, when a petition reaches 25K votes, the White House issues a formal response. The petition to build a Death Star got 34K+ votes in its first 30 days. However, it was politely rejected by the White House recently. In short, the White House doesn't support the costs, nor do they support blowing up planets.
Friday, January 25, 2013
Tweeter comment: Top Bing search is "Google"
Even after all these years the number one thing searched in Bing is still 'Google'
— Bart Brejcha (@bartbrejcha) January 25, 2013
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Great time at Islands of Adventure
Allie, I and other friends had a great time at the SolidWorks World 2013 Special Event at Universal's Islands of Adventure at night. Even though time was short, we did a full circuit of the park, enjoying the Harry Potter ride, Jurassic Park ride, Spider-man ride, Mind Eraser ride and The Hulk rollercoaster. The food was great too!
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
SolidWorks World 2013 brief photographic overview
I have arrived and settled. #sww13 (at Walt Disney World Dolphin)
Walt Disney World Swan
Walt Disney World Dolphin
Good morning from the SolidWork World Pre-Day kick off #sww13 (at Walt Disney World Dolphin)
Will I fill this room in a few hours? (at Solidworks World 2013)
Lining up for General Sesion #ssw13 (at Solidworks World 2013)
Lining up for General Sesion #ssw13 (at Solidworks World 2013)
General Session of Monday of SolidWorks World 2013 filling up. #sww13 (at Solidworks World 2013)
General Session filled #sww13 (at Solidworks World 2013)
Filling in my session #sww13
#CSWE event location. (at Solidworks World 2013)
#SolidWorks World 2013 General Session Day 2 #sww13 (at Solidworks World 2013)
Standing room only at day two of #SolidWorks World 2013 General Session #sww13 (at Solidworks World 2013)
#SolidWorks World 2013 General Session Day Two in session #sww13 (at SolidWorks World 2013)
#CSWP Now 15 yrs #sww13 #SolidWorks (at Solidworks World 2013)
SolidWorks World 2013 general session day 3 filling up #sww13 (at SolidWorks World 2013)
#BertrandSicot closes up day 3 general session #sww13 #SolidWorks World 2013 (at SolidWorks World 2013)
Swan and Dolphin on a nice sunny day #SolidWorks World 2013 #sww13 (at SolidWorks World 2013)
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Fake Geek Girls Vs. Real Geek Girls? Really, this??
An interesting meme is making its rounds on the Internet. There seems to be a bunch of hoopla about “fake geek girls”. What’s a fake geek girl? Apparently Urban Dictionary doesn’t have an entry for it yet (as of today, anyway). Umm, I did find a definition at some site called Geek Feminism Weekly (whatever that’s supposed to mean…kinda sounds like random words thrown together that only vaguely represent what it really is, similar to California Pizza Kitchen.) Anyway, their definition for fake geek girl is:
What’s with all the hate? In fact, why are girls singled out as being fake geeks (especially by other woman) for being posers? I think a commenter on a recent article by @Mikeynerd says it well (article: Fake Geek Girls),
May your journey to higher geekdom find much success!
Fake geek girls - allegedly women who show up at geek events, possibly while hot, with not enough geek cred for you.This all seems to have started with an article on Forbes (Really, Forbes? Yes, Forbes.) called Dear Fake Geek Girls: Please Go Away. In this article, the author talks about being a “geeky girl” growing up and how she now sees “pretentious females” now posing as geeks when they haven’t put the time in to justify the claim.
What’s with all the hate? In fact, why are girls singled out as being fake geeks (especially by other woman) for being posers? I think a commenter on a recent article by @Mikeynerd says it well (article: Fake Geek Girls),
The Fake Geek Girl thing bugs me. Because I do feel there is an underlying sexism at play.If someone is a poser, then it doesn’t matter if they are a woman or man. But, is it even bad to be a poser? Isn’t a poser just someone whose trying to figure out what everyone else already knows? Aren’t they really an outcast too? As outcasts trying to fit it, doesn’t that make them more geeky (since being a social outcast is technically a major component of geekdom)? The answers to this series of rhetorical questions are as follows: no, yes, yes, and yes.
May your journey to higher geekdom find much success!
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Senseless Sunday: Rolling space wax
- The inability to roll your tongue is a genetic trait that may involve more than one gene.1
- American pronunciation of tt and dd in words like letter and bladder make the same tongue movement and similar sound as the rolled Spanish “r”.
- A person in orbit around the earth gets taller while in orbit.
- Sahara Desert is growing about 1/2 mile southward per year.
- Before an official name was chosen in Mandarin Chinese, one of many transliterations of the name Coca Cola was “bite the wax tadpole.” Another was “female horse fastened with wax”. Current official transliterate trademark is made up of the characters of K’o K’ou K’o Lê which translate as ”to all the mouth to be able to rejoice”.2
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Who are we calling producers and who are those who refuse to produce?
One of the sad sign of our times is that we demonize those who produce, subsidize those who refuse to produce, and canonize those who complain. --Thomas SowellThis is a particularly disgusting statement. First, those who produce and those who do not is a matter of perspective. What do you tell the father of 3 who has relied on a job for most of his life, who then lost his job because the company who he worked for was mismanaged by executives and had to shut down? What do you tell that same father when the same guys that ran his company into the ground got huge bonuses "so they wouldn't leave" before operations were completely shut down? If the father had stock in that company, he lost on two fronts because of those executives.
Given Sowell's statement above, I would ask, who is he calling the producer? Who is he calling "those who refuse to produce"? Would it be the executives that drove their company into the ground, not only losing value in the company, but also within the greater economy? If anything, they are anti-producers. This makes them worse than the supposed people who "refuse to produce", whoever they are. The producer is the father who worked his entire life at his company, making the goods and services that found their way into homes all across America.
Fed has spent trillions to keep a dying financial industry on life support, who in turn gave huge bonuses to the very people the caused the last melt down of our economy. What did those people do with the rest of the taxpayer's money? Most of it is locked away, being kept out of the economy (likely for good).
Are we really all that worried about giving a few pennies (comparatively) to people who are likely already not putting enough food on the table because they believed in this very system that eventually let them down? It's this kind of nonsense that makes communism start to look good to the starving masses. We would not need to raise taxes had it not been for the massive problems that we, the voters, allowed in Wall Street by putting congresspersons in office that are more worried about the next big donor than they are about the solvency of our system.
How badly do we want to lower taxes? Well, let's consider something. Out of the last three crashes of our economy, two were caused by real estate financials games that started happening as a direct result of deregulation of particular financial institutions. The games these institutions were playing eventually stopped working, but the corporations still needed to pretend they were making money (when, in fact, they were losing massive amounts of money). So, they created paperwork fantasies to keep showing profits on Wall Street in order to convince everyone that nothing was going on until it was too late. The third economic crash was caused by too much speculation on Wall Street. The common thread here is Wall Street and all the money that the taxpayer is continuously asked to pay to keep these guys rich when really they should be in jail.
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