Letters to the Editor
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Me, I don't have any friends, don't know why. "-)
That was a jest, William, and Mr. Bebop-O, my brother. I dig your stuff, man. I think maybe you tasted some of that S.E. Asia "Con Sau" when you was fillin' sandbags for the Man. Made you a little dinky-dau, say what?
This symbol "-) is a emoticon wink if you look at it sideways, which shouldn't be hard at this time of night.
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@ bystander
re: Douglas Hofstadter. GEB, I Am a Strange Loop, or a different title?
IIRC, it was in Metamagical Themas.
BTW, Hofstadter came by our seminar series one year and talked afterwards about his prize contest (the "Luring Lottery") he ran in SciAm (related to the "Prisoner's Dilemma" topic). Fascinating, but also a great illustration that monetary gain is hardly the driving motive for many people's actions, much less the sole one. That should demolish any silly thoughts about the "Invisible Hand of the Market". For even more on the "Invisible Hand", see Tom Tomorrow:
http://www.salon.com/comics/tomo/2007/09/10/tomo/
Cheers,
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@Wabanatta_3
Gasoline fuel cells are closer, but you really weren't looking for a solution were you? Justification for stasis is much easier.
Why do you attribute to me such bad faith? You admit that even if gasoline fuel-cells could someday do the trick, they haven't been able to do so yet. My point is that so far, all alternative to gasoline-fueled cars still generate a good deal of pollution. It surely doesn't make me evil for acknowledging that.
Liberals traffic in reality and empirical fact, right? So let us do so. Geez.
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Senescence sets in....
[ondolette]: Arne was probably referring to Douglas Hofstadter's predecessor at Scientific American Martin Gardner. In 1982, he proposed a neo-Laffer curve as an alternative to Laffer's curve. It was a meandering curlycue that passed through all the data points, together with discussion as to why it was just as good a prediction.
Why, come to think of it, I think you're right and I was mistaken. Sorry to misattribute it; both Gardner and Hofstadter are/were quite brilliant men, and neither had much patience for balderdash or flim-flammery.....
Now if they'd done the Laffer Curve as a fractal "strange attractor", that would have been more interesting ... and perhaps more accurate.... ;-)
Cheers,
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Mona's Rickshaw
@ Kitt re :rickshaws
Not to be in the position of siding with saintlucid, but you can't seriously think the U.S. is going to convert to any style of rickshaw! He is right that at this point, every feasible solution to auto pollution pollutes a lot. For example, with hydrogen cars, the electricity needed to produce hydrogen pollutes mucho.
-- -Mona-
No, damnit. that is not what I said or what I think. I answered a specific question, and challenge...correctly, I might add.
Then I went on to point out that he doesn't know what he's talking about when it comes to forestry. Basically, his whole premise was impossible. He might as well have said that until the human race leaves the planet there is absolutely no hope for improving the environment. It was all just a bunch of hooey. And I sure as hell didn't suggest anything at all having to do with rickshaws.
The reason I'm getting a little steamed about this now is because you're the third person - that includes SLucid - to completely misinterpret and misrepresent what I said or what that conversation was about.
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Speaking of fringe "netroots" extremists . . .
When the White House speaks of "Military Support Organizations" you might think they're talking about some FRG's (Family Readiness Groups) and the USO and such.
Think again:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/09/20070918.html
For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
September 18, 2007
President Bush Meets with Military Support Organizations
South Lawn
9:07 A.M. EDTTHE PRESIDENT: Thanks for coming. Laura and I are honored to welcome you here to the South Lawn. Welcome to the people's house. (Applause.) First, I'd like to thank Katy Benko for singing the national anthem. It's not only a beautiful morning to sing the national anthem, it's a beautiful setting in which to sing the national anthem. Katy's husband, Ryan, is deployed to Iraq. Katy, make sure you email him and tell him how appreciative we are of your service, and tell him how appreciative all of us are of your voice. (Applause.)
Laura and I want to thank the members of our -- my administration for joining us. Mr. Vice President, we're really thrilled you're here. Thank you for coming, sir. (Applause.) Secretary of State Condi Rice is with us today. Madam Secretary, appreciate you being here. (Applause.) Secretary Jim Nicholson of the Veterans Affairs Administration; thanks for coming, Jim. (Applause.) [...]
[...] Laura and I welcome the families who have got a loved one overseas, whether it be in Iraq or Afghanistan, fighting these extremists and terrorists. [...]
- - President Bush
What sort of "Military Support Organizations" was President Bush welcoming on the South Lawn?
This sort:
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1898610/posts
D.C. Chapter Invited to Meet President Bush at White House Troop Support Event (Photos)
Photos by TgslTakoma and Mrs. Trooprally
Posted on 09/18/2007 4:00:20 PM PDT by kristinnMembers of the D.C. Chapter of FreeRepublic.com were invited to the White House today [...]
- - Freeper "Kristinn"
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@ Kitt re: "And I sure as hell didn't suggest anything at all having to do with rickshaws."
But the article you linked to was all about them. So I reasonably assumed you meant that was some sort of feasible solution.
If I missed or misunderstood part of your discussion (and I haven't totally followed it), I apologize.
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Hybrid cars pollute far less than conventional automobiles...
Liberals traffic in reality and empirical fact, right? So let us do so. Geez.
-- -Mona-
If they still produce more than zero pollution are they worthless? Did I miss a fact somewhere, empirical or otherwise?
You can charge an electric car using solar or wind energy. This becomes near zero pollution, though nothing is really for free one way or the other. My point, a bit blunt I admit, is that to throw up your arms in defeat, ecologically speaking, shows more about your character than about the limits of technology at this moment. Buy a diesel Jetta. They get great mileage. The Smart Fortwo is coming to the U.S., buy one of those if you live in the city, or not if you are brave. ;^)