DonCoquixote
DonCoquixote's JournalIs Bitcoin in any way valuable?
In light of the MT. Gox blowup, I wish to start an discussion; is there any real value to Bitcoin?
I will offer my opinion, which I admit, can be wrong.
The idea behind bitcoin is not a terrible one. We DO need some form of currency that is not based in traditional sources, if nothing else because those sources tend to be running out, or at the very least, sources of national strife. There does need to be a way of defining value in other forms, energy, labor, not just geological stuff.
That being said, there is nothing backing or regulating bitcoin. If the UN got involved, maybe there could be something, as they could value currency and have the reach to prevent the shenanigans that every state engages in.
As is now...it is nothing, a con game at best. My hope is that perhaps it could be retooled into an actual tool, something to prevent the wars that will result from gold or petroleum.
Doonesbury 2/23/14
http://doonesbury.slate.com/strip/archive/2014/2/23It just speaks for itself. I bet most of us at DU would be under 4.0 in Rosie Hubner's list. If so, Good. America is not a place for sycophants and servants.
Priviledge, what it is, what it is not
OK, before I start, let me lay down the following disclaimers, things which many would agree are common sense, but to quote Voltaire "common sense is not so common."
First off: I am not saying that being part of the majority gets you gets a man what he wants, or that it even stops him from being exploited. There are indeed, many white/straight/males that are very much getting the short end of the stick. Joe Bageant wrote about how very often, the same white males that others were angry at were often poor and desperate.
I am not saying that there is any guilt that should be felt, because guilt frankly does not do any good. Guilt tends to stop action, rather than make things happen.
What I am saying is this: if you happen to be a part of whatever group society considers the majority, you will enjoy certain privileges others do not have. Does it mean you will be rich?, no. All it means is that out of all the problems you will have, there are certain ones you will not be as likely to face. It's a small detail, but small details can make the difference.
If people bring up privilege, please, do not always take it as an attack, or a guilt trip. Yes there are people who may play it that way, but some people are just trying to bring up that the powers that be have extended you some things in the hopes that you can be manipulated out of solidarity with others.
Russia vs Finland In Olympic Men's Hockey Tournament, (spoiler alert!)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/19/russia-knocked-out-of-oly_0_n_4815289.htmlI know sports would not normally fit, but considering that this year's Olympics has been laced with politics, I say it fits.
The idea that the Russians would win the Gold in front of their own country was a major PR goal of the Russians. Now, morale will be tamped, especially since they did not lose to those hated Americans, but to the Finns, the people Moscow likes to abuse.
Czar Putin will not be pleased, and I pity these poor guys when they get home.
However, I am not slamming all Russians, just the powers that be. I am gloating the same way I gloated when Mitt Romney and his crew were found to be turning Salt Lake City into a brothel of political graft, all with the blessing of the Mormon high brass.
However, in light of:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014732216
and the threats to gay people, I am sorry, but I will be happy to see the bud fall from the Olympic Rose. If we want a true amateur competition where people come together in the name of sport and humanity, it will not happen as long as both corporate raiders and demagogues call the shots. Until a true international governing body is in control, a non profit like the United Nations, then all the Olympics will be is the cattle market where the political and corporate scum compete to see who can best exploit the athletes, many of whom are children who have been put through abuse that would merit jail in truly civilized societies.
opinion not given
On Tue Feb 18, 2014, 01:13 PM an alert was sent on the following post:
not really. plenty of people equally agree with recommend at the wrongness. 152 rec at this point.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=4520661
REASON FOR ALERT
This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate.
ALERTER'S COMMENTS
Seabeyond's claim that Manny made a joke about the president and watermelon is a very serious charge, but she doesn't provide a link. I don't think people should be able to make charges like this without some backup, so I think this should be hidden in case anyone thinks it's true.
You served on a randomly-selected Jury of DU members which reviewed this post. The review was completed at Tue Feb 18, 2014, 01:16 PM, and the Jury voted 1-5 to LEAVE IT.
Juror #1 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #2 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #3 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: I don't see where anyone asked for a link. Many of Seabeyond's comments are worthy of a hide for sure, however this is not one of them. Leave.
Juror #4 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #5 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: I love third way manny, but he even apologized because he knew he stepped over the line. If many admitted the charge was valid, then Seabeyond is valid.
By the way, if you vote to hide this, do NOT hide behind the "no comment" idea. If you want to punish someone, explain WHY.
Juror #6 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Thank you very much for participating in our Jury system, and we hope you will be able to participate again in the future.
For the record, I am juror number 5. My beef here is not with the idea that some people say things over the line. Seabeyond and MannyGoldstein are two of my favorite posters here, because even if I disagree with them, perhaps especially when I disagree with them, my brain muscle grows from the challenge. The idea that you get exposed to challenges to one idea's or knowledge is the whole purpose behind DU, either that, or we might as well just exchange Cat pictures. But here is my beef,..if people are going to vote to punish, which we all know could result in banning or tombstoning, why can't they at least put a reason why? If you are going to take the time to punish someone, at least read the charges. If you cannot take the time to comment on why you punish someone, then perhaps you should not be in the position to punish someone.
and if this means I get put on Jury Blacklists, C'est la vie, although the example I showed shows that, if nothing else, I do actually READ the article I judge. And no, if Manny or Seabeyond were to step over the line, I would call them on that, as I have told both of them personally.
Dunn: to all the people that say "he will die in prison"
Florida has little problem with people dying in prison. Indeed, there are many people who were on Death Row who were found innocent, and even so, the death penalty marches on. Companies make MONEY from prison, and companies are trying to rewrite laws so that more people, not just minorities, go to prison. The only reason this guy will die in prison is because of a prison stuffing law that makes using a gun get more time, which was offered as a dog bone to the people tired of Florida Gun Violence.
But the fact is, Florida is still unwilling to convict someone for KILLING a BLACK PERSON. If he only shot once, and kill Jordan, then it is very possible none of these other charges would stick. That just means the bigots will practice more, and use the gun laws until the art of killing Black kids becomes a science, which the lawyers will gladly aid in. Already the yahoos down here are saying "they didn't convict him for shooting the black kid, only the truck."
Dunn will be imitated, as was Zimmerman, and 2014 and 2016 will be deadly as the GOP will do everything to make sure voting democrat is illegal, by the Legal means and the winked at illegal means.
On the Olympics (and attacking other countries)
Those of us in the USA hate it when people attack us because our government and our elites do stupid things, things they will pave over our bodies to do.
Let's extend the Russians the same mercy we wish. Yes, there are stupid people in every nation, and yes, as a result of our fucked up world, the idiots of all flags and climes tend to get the voice, or as Yeats put it: "the worst are full of passionate intensity." That does not mean that we demonize the people who frankly, probably hate their government more than we do.
a simple statement about this coke ad
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024434743MSNBC, take some notes! If Coca Cola realizes the demographics are changing, why can't you? If they do not apologize for this fact, why do you? You think the people who did this ad are going to be fired because the inevitable right wing idiots will howl?
Democrats, take some notes! If Coca cola does not apologize for this, why are you so eager to apologize for anything that offends the right (and the so called "center"?)
People never respect those who apologize. Power yields to power, which is not always brutal, but like the rising tide, gets it's way.
People like the family in this commercial are the rising tide. It does not matter if you want to surf with it, or fight against it, it will get it's way in the end, and that is the sort of true power the right wing cannot, nor will not respect. Which is why, despite the efforts of both reactionaries and the fake center fifth column, they will be washed out into the ocean.
Not at all
Alice is trying to sweeten her image since her little Philanthropic Museum wound up getting bad press.
http://www.npr.org/2011/11/12/142270045/wal-mart-heiress-show-puts-a-high-price-on-art
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-12-13/wal-mart-heiress-s-museum-a-moral-blight-commentary-by-jeffrey-goldberg.html
http://www.artnews.com/2012/01/12/american-art-alice-walton%E2%80%99s-way/
In short, it is the old idea of "I can be great no matter how much wealth I have stolen, because philanthropy will force people to love me."
Except it won't, because people realize that for every good thing you do, you will do three bad.
So any surprise Alice and Hillary are friends?
Attorneys for retired Tampa cop accused in movie theater shooting say he acted in self-defense
http://www.tampabay.com/news/courts/criminal/attorneys-for-retired-tampa-cop-accused-in-movie-theater-shooting-acted-in/2163705From the article:
"The motion points to several elements of that law, which says force, including deadly force, is justified when a person feels threatened.
"Clearly … Mr. Oulson had committed at least one, possibly two felony crimes against Mr. Reeves prior to the use of deadly force," it states.
Escobar argued that the fact that Reeves left to complain to management shows he acted "peacefully and prudently" to solve the problem. It was Oulson, Escobar wrote, who committed battery against Reeves under a state law that protects residents 65 and older.
Escobar also pointed to Reeves' resume, which lists his 27 years as a Tampa police officer and the founder of its SWAT team, as evidence that Reeves knew what constituted a threat and acted in self-defense."
OK, let's examine some things:
"Because he is 65, he gets to shoot people?
"force, including deadly force, is justified when a person feels threatened." FEELS. Hell, I feel threatened whenever I have to drive past that damned Confederate Flag they put on 1-4, but I know this law would not help my ass.
and last:
"Escobar also pointed to Reeves' resume, which lists his 27 years as a Tampa police officer and the founder of its SWAT team, as evidence that Reeves knew what constituted a threat and acted in self-defense."
Ok, the founder of the Tampa SWAT is threatened because a guy threw POPCORN, a guy taking care of his DAUGHTER!
Profile Information
Member since: Thu Apr 17, 2008, 05:51 PMNumber of posts: 13,616