Comments Posted By michael reynolds
Displaying 321 To 330 Of 839 Comments
Yeah, it gets my back up too.
It's true that consumers are essentially idiots when it comes to financial matters. (I am.) But I think the point should be to create genuinely clear, concise, more-or-less idiot-proof disclosures.
For example, for any deal have a one-sheet. Minimum 12 point type. Lots of white space. Clear bullet points. "Here's what you're paying today." "Here's what you might have to pay if this goes south." "Here's how much I, your broker, am making from this."
Make sure the form is written by an English major not a lawyer.
One sheet. Big type. Clear sentences. Real numbers. And provide a government number the person can call for more explanation before they sign.
Comment Posted By michael reynolds On 4.08.2009 @ 08:14
BIRTHERS vs. TRUTHERS: WAR OF THE LOONS
The three most influential people in the Democratic Party: Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and (for the moment) Max Baucus.
The three most influential people in the GOP: Rush Limbaugh, Glen Beck and Orly Taitz.
Comment Posted By michael reynolds On 3.08.2009 @ 22:02
Nice attempt at a diversion from your own party's shame, Rick.
Your "democratic congressmen" is who, Cynthia McKinney? No longer in office, no longer a Democrat, and never taken seriously by anyone in Democratic leadership?
And citing that poll question is a sad effort. As Busboy hints, the question is so vaguely worded I could have answered yes. Of course he had "some" advance knowledge. He knew there was an Al Qaeda, he knew they wanted to attack American targets, he knew they'd gone after the trade center before. That question doesn't identify Truthers.
When did a significant number of Democratic congresspeople co-sponsor a piece of Truther legislation as your congresspeople have done?
Weak tea. Very weak.
The Democratic party has nuts. The Republican party is nuts.
Comment Posted By michael reynolds On 3.08.2009 @ 14:17
FERMI WAS RIGHT: SO WHERE ARE THEY?
Rick:
Very cool post. Made me want to be reading science fiction.
You have really good non-fiction writing skills. Maybe fiction, too, you don't show that hand. Despite the fact that you and I get on each other's nerves, if you ever want some conversation on the practicalities of getting into book writing, drop me an email.
Comment Posted By michael reynolds On 1.08.2009 @ 21:52
TPS:
Depends what you mean by top dog. Are you sure we're top dog on planet earth? Only by our own standards, by our own cultural standards. Ants do rather well. Bacteria and viruses do quite well.It's the Jack London fallacy: that it's about wolves chasing bunnies. The fact is wolves are a charity case kept alive by h. sapiens, whereas we have a hell of a lot of rabbits.
The rabbits did a better job of surviving than did the wolves. And if I were betting the mortgage money I'd say the viruses and bacteria and insects will out-survive us. After all, as Rick points out, intelligence is not the only path or the best.
Comment Posted By michael reynolds On 1.08.2009 @ 21:49
NOW THEY'RE COMING FOR THE FAT PEOPLE
Chuck:
Yes, but that conflicts with their religious faith in business and their knee-jerk demonization of government.
Comment Posted By michael reynolds On 31.07.2009 @ 11:34
Guys what do you think private health insurers do? The reason so many people are so clueless is that most of you have employer provided insurance. Try getting an individual policy then come back and whine about government.
The only reason - literally the only way -- I could get insurance is to use a CA work-around that required me to form a corporation. The sainted free market said no.
So sorry, this is not support for private over public.
Comment Posted By Michael Reynolds On 30.07.2009 @ 12:24
HELP! IS THERE A WHITE DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE?
Odooley:
Your response is simply incoherent.
Comment Posted By michael reynolds On 29.07.2009 @ 22:29
Odooley:
So, let me see if I understand the brilliance of your logic: blacks are culturally disadvantaged. This is a result not a cause of educational underperformance. Because it didn't start with slavery or Jim Crow, it's a result of affirmative action.
So presumably prior to introduction of AA, blacks were doing fine educationally.
And your control group is Asians, the bulk of whom are from more recent immigrant families. Families wealthy enough and educated enough to get past modern immigration controls and wrangle a 10,000 mile flight from China or Taiwan.
In other words, you contrast the behaviors of a broad-based population with a very long history of oppression in the United States, with a self-selected elite population from entirely different cultures.
Yes, well, that makes . . . um, no sense.
And just so you know: my daughter is Chinese, so no I don't have a prejudice against Asians. As it happens I'm part of the other group that is often contrasted with blacks: Jews. We also outperform like Asians. And yes, it's true that like African-Americans we have a history of oppression but a rather unique one. European Jews were put in the position of gaining security from a culture of education. American blacks were put in the position of being murdered if they pursued a culture of education.
See how that might yield different cultural attitudes over time? See how maybe that makes comparisons like yours rather superficial and kind of stupid?
Comment Posted By michael reynolds On 28.07.2009 @ 10:17
You're right, I missed that graf.
Sorry. I think Twitter is altering my attention span. Would you mind terribly writing in 140 character bursts?
Comment Posted By michael reynolds On 27.07.2009 @ 11:23
