Comments by Gregg Townsend

151. Bill Heine interviews Richard Dawkins

Comment #267632 by Gregg Townsend on October 20, 2008 at 10:06 pm

25. Comment #267629 by GordonYKWong

Gordon,

I'm starting to understand that program of yours. Should I be frightened?

Comment #267630 by Gregg Townsend on October 20, 2008 at 10:03 pm

Mord,

I was trying on the ol' Podaar skin to see how it fit.

I think I'll go with the fishing avatar instead. It's not nice to subject the Mrs. to this lot. :)

153. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #267623 by Gregg Townsend on October 20, 2008 at 9:43 pm

7449. Comment #267621 by MaxD

Why Max... whatever are you talking about?

*cough*
Gordan Liddy
*cough*

154. A 'values' voter speaks her mind on Obama

Comment #267453 by Gregg Townsend on October 20, 2008 at 3:04 pm

Titania,

I was hoping for suggestions from the group. I wouldn't want the discussion to be loaded with my prejudices. I seem to be the only non-deity here at the moment.

155. A 'values' voter speaks her mind on Obama

Comment #267443 by Gregg Townsend on October 20, 2008 at 3:00 pm

Titania,

Yes, but he may score low enough on the other questions to not qualify for multiple votes.

-edit- Remember I advocate for everyone to get at least one vote.

156. A 'values' voter speaks her mind on Obama

Comment #267437 by Gregg Townsend on October 20, 2008 at 2:56 pm

109. Comment #267431 by Titania

Can question number 1 be, "Do you believe in god?"

No... sorry. But I wouldn't be apposed to the first question being,

"There is overwhelming evidence for evolution by natural selection and thus it's place in biological science is appropriate for public education."

a) True
b) False

:-)-~

157. A 'values' voter speaks her mind on Obama

Comment #267428 by Gregg Townsend on October 20, 2008 at 2:45 pm

All,

Let's be clear, please.

I'm not advocating extra votes for deities, demi-gods, skilled buddists or fairy queens unless they can score well on the quiz!!!

158. A 'values' voter speaks her mind on Obama

Comment #267405 by Gregg Townsend on October 20, 2008 at 2:18 pm

90. Comment #267397 by rod-the-farmer

Okay Rod. You win! That's the best find so far.

[laugh]

159. A 'values' voter speaks her mind on Obama

Comment #267398 by Gregg Townsend on October 20, 2008 at 2:10 pm

87. Comment #267391 by Frankus1122

Frank,

Quality public education is the key (in my opinion). Voter's who think like this woman are currently a minority and could be an even greater minority if we invest in children. We know this woman's husband is reluctant to think like her. It's even less likely that her children would think this way because they are exposed to a variety of views in the real world and on the internet.

160. A 'values' voter speaks her mind on Obama

Comment #267358 by Gregg Townsend on October 20, 2008 at 1:30 pm

While we're on this subject:

What does everyone think of having an examination that, depending on the score, would provide the voter a "weighted" vote. Prior to registration, voters take a test on current facts and historically relevant issues. The tester would be awarded a vote score of between 1 and 3 that represents how their vote would be counted. Of course the questions couldn't be subjective and must only be fact based.

I'm just thinking out loud about how we may be able to reward knowledge on the issues.

161. A 'values' voter speaks her mind on Obama

Comment #267347 by Gregg Townsend on October 20, 2008 at 1:17 pm

56. Comment #267343 by al-rawandi

Al,

I'm not sure which one of my comments lead you to believe I support screening voters. I'm perhaps not the clearest poster on this site but just so we're clear; I support everyone (even the glassy eyed bigots like the woman on this video) having a vote and would even prefer if the electoral college were dumped in favor of popular vote.

-edited-

162. A 'values' voter speaks her mind on Obama

Comment #267326 by Gregg Townsend on October 20, 2008 at 12:46 pm

Idiots have as much right to represent their moronic views as anyone. We should use reason, dialog and education to combat them. Having them voice their idiocy in the public arena provides an opportunity for public ridicule.

I sometimes despair at the attitudes of posters on this site. Freedom is for everyone whether they frighten you or not.

163. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #265913 by Gregg Townsend on October 17, 2008 at 1:55 pm

Frankus,

I would have to say that Ursula LeGuin is in my top five favorite authors of all time. I've read the Earth Sea Trilogy at least once every two years for better than 30 years.

Another thing we have in common?

164. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #265844 by Gregg Townsend on October 17, 2008 at 11:19 am

7077. Comment #265836 by Steve Zara

Thanks Steve, and everyone. I really appreciate everyone's concern, but perhaps I've given the wrong impression by sounding (unintentionally) melodramatic. Murph was a good friend and I miss him for sure but he had a great life and his death was natural--placid even.

What I probably should have said was, a few times per week I turn around I expect to see my blonde shadow. When he's not there it brings me down a little.

What is heart wrenching is watching Maggie run around the house, meowing while looking for Murphy when I accidentally knocked his collar of the hutch in my home office last weekend. -edit- It makes a distinctive sound. -edit

I think she misses him more than I do.

165. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #265823 by Gregg Townsend on October 17, 2008 at 10:34 am

SSO and Tez,

Those two posts remind me of "Marley and Me." Have you ever read that book? I literally laughed until I cried with that book...

166. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #265813 by Gregg Townsend on October 17, 2008 at 10:26 am

7061. Comment #265809 by al-rawandi

But a dog is more active and can run around with me.

If you have the time and energy you might do well with a border collie. (?)

167. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #265811 by Gregg Townsend on October 17, 2008 at 10:23 am

7056. Comment #265800 by al-rawandi

Al, I love dogs and have been a bit down since Murphy (my 12 year old lab/retriever mix) died a couple months ago. I'm really considering getting another dog but... and this is a big but... I don't miss having to arrange for someone to watch him when I go out of town. Given enough food, water and a place to go potty cats can be extremely self sufficient for days at a time.

168. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #265799 by Gregg Townsend on October 17, 2008 at 10:07 am

7053. Comment #265796 by hawt4dawk

Clearly! :)

7054. Comment #265798 by severalspeciesof

No sweat. See?

*lifts his arm high*

169. [UPDATED] Richard Dawkins on Harun Yahya's Atlas of Creation

Comment #265797 by Gregg Townsend on October 17, 2008 at 10:07 am

Al and Captain,

The one-cheek-sneek.

170. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #265794 by Gregg Townsend on October 17, 2008 at 10:02 am

7050. Comment #265793 by hawt4dawk

I'll post some actual photos of her so you can see why she is worshipped so strenuously.

Thank you for your observance!

171. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #265791 by Gregg Townsend on October 17, 2008 at 9:56 am

I'm getting a bit tired of the implication that Skylark is the only feline deity known to this thread. I happen to live with and worship the great queen Margret-Elizabeth Townsend (affectionately known as Maggie). She is of the snow-shoe Seal Point Siamese (very much like the top right photo found here ) pantheon and, on her behalf, I ask for equal observance from this group.

--edited--added the word feline.

172. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #265357 by Gregg Townsend on October 16, 2008 at 1:40 pm

Pearl,

Are you going to St. Louis to watch Romo baby his pinkie?

Have a great weekend yourself!

173. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #265326 by Gregg Townsend on October 16, 2008 at 12:59 pm

Well I actually grew up around those people and lived in those neighborhoods. So I don't need to go live amongst them because I grew up amongst them.

*shakes head and goes back to work*

174. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #265312 by Gregg Townsend on October 16, 2008 at 12:25 pm

6913. Comment #265307 by Colwyn Abernathy

Colwyn,

Nah, nothing that gross. Just panty lint that doesn't adhere to duck-butter.

Don't ask!

175. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #265266 by Gregg Townsend on October 16, 2008 at 10:26 am

6871. Comment #265251 by MaxD

I know, it seems weird. I truly hope that Americans pro-life or pro-choice listened to Obama last night when he said,

We should try to prevent unintended pregnancies by providing appropriate education to our youth...

I would add access to birth-control and contraception but hey you can't have everything. Which brings us to him saying the gag inducing.

...communicating that sexuality is sacred and that they should not be engaged in cavalier activity, and providing options for adoption, and helping single mothers if they want to choose to keep the baby.

I think this country needs to talk more about prevention of un-wanted pregnancies so the abortion issue becomes a non-issue. But even this half-assed approach by Obama is better than McCain and CERTAINLY Palin!

176. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #265245 by Gregg Townsend on October 16, 2008 at 9:36 am

R2S,

There are two reasons why the middle and lower classes in rural christian areas of the US habitually vote Republican in spite of financial circumstances.

1) Abortion
2) Gay marraige

That's it.

177. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #265235 by Gregg Townsend on October 16, 2008 at 9:27 am

TWP,

Coin based businesses can be very lucrative if you keep them clean, well lit and mechanically maintained.

Dry Cleaning and professional Laundry is a service industry that customers treat as a commodity so it's not as lucrative.

We sell equipment to these two industries so we don't make quite as much as them, but yeah, we do okay. I can afford a little more taxes.

edit-Oh yeah, I have some customers in the Dallas area and the do VERY well!!!

178. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #265191 by Gregg Townsend on October 16, 2008 at 8:27 am

6811. Comment #265184 by Quetzalcoatl

Quetz,

Americans also pay income tax to their state, so the overall rate gets closer to the UK figure.

179. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #265189 by Gregg Townsend on October 16, 2008 at 8:26 am

6806. Comment #265179 by DarwinsPitbull

What makes another person, who pays little or no taxes at all, be entitled to Joe's money that he works 12 hours a day for?

I don't know about entitled, but they would be better equipped to afford Joe's services. Joe still wins.

And just so you know, I'm a partner in a small business in the Dry Cleaning and Laundry industry. I would love to see 75% of the population have more desposable income so they could take their clothes to the Cleaners or the Laundry. I would make more money and I would gladly pay more taxes on that money because of the math presented to you by al-Rawandi in post 6807.

180. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #265176 by Gregg Townsend on October 16, 2008 at 8:11 am

DP,

The part of my rant you quoted (if it is an accurate depiction of Joe's situation) would actually be better (less taxes) under Obama's plan than McCains. You clearly have no idea what you are talking about!

181. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #265168 by Gregg Townsend on October 16, 2008 at 7:50 am

I'm already sick of Joe-the-Plumber from last night's debate and there is something that really bothers me about the "Joe-the-Plumber" scenario. He claims to be buying a business he's worked for that makes $200,000 per year and would therefore be taxed higher under the Obama plan. That's all fine, but then he is characterized as an average hard working American.

Most successful American small businesses clear a profit of around 20%. Let's assume it's 25% and give Joe's business skills the benefit of the doubt. His annual sales would be $800,000 which equals $384.62 per hour if every hour of the day is billable. At a common rate of $80.00/hour, Joe would have 4.8 employees (let's assume Joe, 3 journeymen plumbers and one or two lower paid office staff). Every one of Joe's employees would see their income tax go down from the Obama plan which would mean lower employer-match taxes.

In addition to Joe's salary of around $100,000 (which he would be taxed lower on because of Obama's plan) he would drive a company vehicle (service truck), have all his vehicle expenses paid by the company (including fuel), company paid health insurance, a life insurance policy, and have access to numerous write-offs such as entertainment and travel expenses. Let's not forget the $200,000 earning the company would owe him. If the company is an LLC or an S-Corp the distributed earnings would be taxed at only 15% dividend rate (thanks to GWB in 2003, the rate was 30% prior to that).

What is illustrated above is NOT a financial scenario that the typical "Joe-six-pack" in America has access to! I resent that the millions of hard working poverty level voters in America are supposed to identify with this. Joe-the-Plumber can afford more taxes on his distributed earnings and in actuality could probably delay or reduce his tax liability by not electing to take the distribution and leave it in the company. He could also increase his expenses to lower his profits and subsequently his taxes. Because of the best case figures I used above it is more likely that to make $200,000 per year; Joe's business actually has 5 plumbers, 2 office staff, several service vehicles, a decent inventory and has sales in excess of $1 million.

I'm even convinced that Joe-the-Plumber doesn't know what the hell he's talking about... The owner of the company he works for probably offered to sell him the business for $250,000 which would actually imply a business that clears around $50,000 per year considering a 20% capitalization rate.

*kicks the soap box away*

182. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #265041 by Gregg Townsend on October 15, 2008 at 8:46 pm

Mord,

I don't see an alternate thread listed for this topic. [shrug]

183. The Retirement of Richard Dawkins: Reflections on a Stewardship

Comment #265039 by Gregg Townsend on October 15, 2008 at 8:41 pm

67. Comment #265036 by quanTim Leap

Tim,

I prefer, "We're all born that way, darling. Superstition has to be learned."

:)

184. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #265038 by Gregg Townsend on October 15, 2008 at 8:38 pm

I would also like express my pleasure at reading MaxD's posts again.

Oh, and

Is a cuntnugget anything like clitty-litter?

*duck and run*

185. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #264983 by Gregg Townsend on October 15, 2008 at 3:00 pm

6749. Comment #264973 by Bonzai

Wow! Thanks for the link.

186. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #264090 by Gregg Townsend on October 13, 2008 at 4:36 pm

Do you know how the whole story that Palins down syndrome baby was actually her daughters started?

That's disgusting! I'M OUTRAGED THAT THE MEDIA HAS BEEN REPORTING SUCH LIES!

Or have they? I thought I'd read everything available on this campaign (Repub or Dem) and this is the first I've heard this outrageous rumor. Please reference a major media outlet who has been reporting this as fact!

187. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #264052 by Gregg Townsend on October 13, 2008 at 3:22 pm

Mord,

Gregg and I both know how well this works.

Ya, like, not at all!

edit- Post 6432 is fun to read with a five-year-old's snide whine. I'm not implying anything, it's just fun.

188. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #264042 by Gregg Townsend on October 13, 2008 at 3:02 pm

TWP and Mord,

Romo's just looking for a reason not to be on the sidelines and have to listen to T.O. whine.

189. Why Evolution is True

Comment #264018 by Gregg Townsend on October 13, 2008 at 1:58 pm

2. Comment #264013 by rod-the-farmer

The title would have to be, "Why Natural Selection Is The Mechanism For The Fact Of Evolution." I think the publisher probably opted for a simplified title.

190. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #263992 by Gregg Townsend on October 13, 2008 at 1:03 pm

6403. Comment #263987 by Tezcatlipoca

False god! :)

191. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #263985 by Gregg Townsend on October 13, 2008 at 12:57 pm

To no one in particular--

I worked (successfully) for 26 years with a man I despised and would never want to be socially or politically associated with.

I'm just saying...

192. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #263976 by Gregg Townsend on October 13, 2008 at 12:49 pm

6390. Comment #263968 by thewhitepearl

Hey ya Pearl. All healed?

Here's an op-ed on what is needed by the McCain campaign (not sarcastic either). Frankly, I thought this was the kind of campaign we were going to get originally and it would have made me consider him seriously, but.... we all know what happened at the conventions.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/13/opinion/13kristol.html?_r=1&ref=&oref=slogin

-edited

-- edit

Oh, and TWP, I've been pointing folks to http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/ where computer models are running continuous elections based on polling and historical trends. It's interesting stuff.

193. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #263957 by Gregg Townsend on October 13, 2008 at 12:20 pm

TWP,

At Diacanu's prompting I gave up on responding to DP last week.

Lately, I've begun to wonder if DP's not just someone 'taking-the-piss' (as our European brothers and sisters say). Have you noticed when arguing a point, he (or she) will stick with it from as many angles as possible until it gets thoroughly hammered, and then just ignore the issue while moving on to the next one?

Strange sort of fun, I say.

edit-Bonzai, Your comments after the edit are right on, but I don't think DP is listening :)

194. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #263308 by Gregg Townsend on October 10, 2008 at 2:14 pm

Ok, this post is to no one in particular.

Income and property tax is not the only form of revenue available to a government. If junk food is a problem, tax it higher. If smoking is a problem, tax it higher. If taking drugs is a problem tax it higher (oh wait, drugs are illegal so there is no current revenue stream for drugs... my bad).

If exercise helps, provide a tax deduction for health clubs, exercise equipment, sports equipment, health food...

Never mind. I'm sure everyone here gets the idea. I'm heading outside for a smoke.

195. Scientists confirm shark's 'virgin birth'

Comment #263304 by Gregg Townsend on October 10, 2008 at 2:02 pm

26. Comment #263303 by mordacious1

"Stwike him Centuwian!"

196. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #263301 by Gregg Townsend on October 10, 2008 at 1:54 pm

I go golfing for a few hours and this thread explodes.

I'm going to take Diacanu's suggestion but I do want to point out that tobacco (at least in the US) is taxed very high so presumably there should be money in the coffers that goes directly toward treatment of tobacco related issues if UHC is adopted. If not, tax it higher. Also, some of the tax revenue should be earmarked for tobacco prevention.

I feel the same way about drugs; legalize, tax, educate, treatment.

197. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #263147 by Gregg Townsend on October 10, 2008 at 10:08 am

They think healthcare is a right.

I think this is an oversimplification of most Americans' view. Access to Health Care is (should be) a right. How that is paid for is what is really being debated.

198. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #263137 by Gregg Townsend on October 10, 2008 at 9:57 am

DP-

Think about what you just said. Maybe I should give you some background. The conference was for ASPA (American Society of Public Administrators) all from Utah. I emphasize Utah.

Check out this website www.fivethirtyeight.com and look at the voting history for people from Utah. Think about the type of people (socio-economic) who would be at an ASPA Political Conference.

Think man! Do you really believe you're the only one who sees the truth?

199. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #263131 by Gregg Townsend on October 10, 2008 at 9:43 am

5958. Comment #263128 by Steve Zara

This is just inconsistent nonsense.

My Partner went to a political conference yesterday. A Republican representative asked the attending audience, "By the show of hands, how many of you support government involvement in health care." When 90% of the white-conservative-mormon-republican audience raised their hands, he responded with, "Well, obviously I'm talking to the wrong group."

Out of touch, inconsistent nonsense seems to rule the current GOP thinking.

200. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #263126 by Gregg Townsend on October 10, 2008 at 9:28 am

5954. Comment #263123 by irate_atheist

If you really want to stir some shit, just mention the possibility of the U.S. abolishing gun ownership to abortion doctors who want to marry their same sex partner.

BTW, my spouse and I have decided to start calling each other 'partner' as opposed to husband and wife since that is the only word allowed (seemingly) for 'domestic partners' in the western U.S. We were never 'married' in the traditional religious sense and only acknowledge the states authority to recognize our union...in case anyone cares.

Shutting up now...

edit- spelling