Aerik

So, by pointing out that the USPS is actually having trouble competing with the private sector, you're admitting that your earlier argument was not really valid? Incidentally, I wouldn't have handled the bailouts the way they were done anyway- I'd have probably hung the people in charge of those companies for treason, given the harm their poor management caused this country, and then considered helping whoever survived get through a bankruptcy restructuring. Obviously, I'm being a bit facetious on the last part... ...but not really. When your company grows to a certain size, I think you have a responsibility to act like a grown-up and not implode a big chunk of my country's economy by acting a damned fool. By becoming rich, by becoming big, you've received all the benefits and advantages that this country can provide. I think it is ungrateful to take all those great gifts and poop in our collective pool.

UPS and FedEx have been happily competing with the USPS for years. Government-provided police forces haven't driven private security firms out of business. There is no reason why the private health insurance companies couldn't compete with a well-designed public option-- it just might mean they have to change how they operate. Gouging, reducing benefits, denying coverage on everything possible, and all the other little games they play (with people's lives in the balance) are business practices that harm Americans-- I for one wouldn't be sorry to see them have to clean up their act to stay in the game. At any rate, if a company can't find an ethical way to turn a profit, I'm not lamenting them if they fail. And anyway, I don't see how the rights of a relatively small number of corporations should even get to be considered alongside the rights of living, breathing, American citizens. A corporation is an entity whose existence is a product of our legal framework; it's a pile of paperwork, not a person. These bloated, corrupt, hideously amoral companies get very little sympathy from me.

Oops. I just realized I was posting to a bunch of people in Dayton. I guess I should learn to read before I respond.

Of course. She's temperamental.

Lmao. It's true. I had to talk my emotional hunk of metal down off a ledge every time we saw that bike. "It's okay," I'd tell her, "those dents, dings, and rust spots give you character! You're unique in your own way! I don't need one of those flashy, badass, fucking awesome, custom-stuff-riddled bikes! You're the one for me!" ...she didn't believe me anyway, because I'm a terrible liar.

Never been on that road, but I'm game if you want. Just gotta tell me where you wanna meet up.

I'll be out and about from about 5pm on, if you don't mind riding with a cruiser.

I'm probably going to go ride around somewhere around 5pm today. Nothing major, just something to do. Anyone who wants to meet up and ride a bit, just lemme know.

^^ agreed. Even though being parked near such a nice Shadow made my Shadow jealous, it was a fucking gorgeous bike, man.

I'm personally not opposed to people making a profit- my problem comes when someone is making a profit to the direct detriment of the well-being of my countrymen. No company is more important to me than the American people at large. If private insurance companies can find an ethical way to stay in business, maybe catering exclusive services to the rich, so be it. In the meantime, I'd just as soon we have at least some kind of framework under which every American is given access to regular health care- preventive stuff is generally cheaper than an ER trip once things get major, healthier kids do better in school, and a healthy workforce is more productive, which helps the economy. I'm certainly not happy with the bill currently being debated, for a number of reasons, but damned near anything's better than the current setup. I don't believe it's acceptable to let Americans be bankrupted by medical bills- if they didn't accrue those bills they'd die, it's not like buying a plasma tv on a credit card. Hell, my wife still owes thousands on the bill she got when she had her son (five years ago), and if her biopsies this week come back with anything bad, we're pretty fucked. And yes, I was for a public option before I met her. Incidentally, I agree with part of what you just posted, IP-- I think we would be best to simply combine (and streamline) medicare and medicaid, and expand them to cover all Americans, instead of creating a new bureaucracy. I don't mind paying taxes when I get something out of it. Ugh, I shouldn't allow myself to get tangled up in political arguments when I'm half-asleep. Ramble ramble ramble...

I might be interested in that, depending on the figures- It would be pretty cool to help keep that bike alive in some form. Anyway, a lot of the parts might actually work on mine.

Yeah, and once you find your cheap/free one, then I'll start asking for mine

I highly recommend Toby Gehrlich at Stained Skin. He does excellent work, he's extremely professional, and a really nice guy. He's worked on me and my wife, and we're both happy. In the interest of full disclosure, he is a friend of mine, but really, his work speaks for itself.

Grrr! I'm jealous! I wanna free project bike! Nice get!

Welcome- Yay, more Shadows!

I don't think it would be accurate to conflate religious leaders with elected officials or the judiciary- In addition to being elected (and therefore, ostensibly, replaceable), they work within a framework that is designed to allow re-evaluation and interpretation. It's part of what keeps the constitution a 'living document'. It's supposed to be able to move forward in time, otherwise only white land-owners over 21 would be allowed to vote. And anyway, the judiciary has the ability to check what congress does, and confirm or deny its constitutionality- show me an organized religion whose holy texts are subject to constant review, and whose leaders are elected in a democratic fashion-- if it exists, it's certainly not one of the major ones. I have plenty of problems with people within our government (on both sides) and with the way we've allowed the democratic process to be co-opted by undemocratic things (large moneyed interests getting more clout than average people could ever bring to bear, for one), but it's just not the same argument.

Buffalo Wings n Rings, on Broad St. Take I-270 to Broad (on the east side), go east, it's just before the speedway, just a couple of lights down from the freeway.

Human history is littered with evils carried out in the name of various organized religions. Quite simply, any time people allow some other people to interpret/ dictate their beliefs for them, then the people doing the dictating end up with unimaginable power. Organized religion is an extremely effective way of controlling people, getting them to serve your ends-- is it any surprise that it's often used to serve ends which any sane person would recognize as vile and hideous? Never, ever, ever trust someone who claims to be speaking on a deity's behalf.

I'll be there around 6:30 or 7 on my bike, probably soggy. EDIT: Agreed, Yota

Damn, just got home and saw what's going on. Sympathy here, anything I can do, lemme know. This kind of thing always makes me want to go out in my truck and flatten the first car I see.

I'll be there tonight. Hopefully the weather decides to quit being obnoxious.

If it's similar to my 1982 Magna V45 (same bike in a 750cc), there's no actual petcock- the damn thing has a fuel pump. However, I did have some ancient fuel lines that needed replacing when I got mine.

^^ I guess I need to get bigger handlebars...

That is a pile of badass dipped in awesome sauce and sprinkled with fucking win. Do they sell with bulk discounts?

Not particularly. Nothing interesting in Applied Calc II, except for when I find things that are actually useful in my electronics-related classes. It was just funny to get home and see something I just learned pop up in a thread that had just been going on about boobs and urination techniques.