ML S.'s Comments
Page 1 of 230  first | prev | next 
Dec 24, 2009 | recommended: 5 | comments: 36
ML S. Dec 24, 2009, 4:02pm EST
Unfortunately this may very well turn out to be a pyrrhic victory. The CBO reports have projected some very disturbing fiscal problems that could arise and most likely will given many statements coming out of Congress about already seeking major additions to insurance reform. The CBO has projected that changes such as those will make drastic cuts in coverage or medical care necessary and will make the programs unsustainable in the long run. Sadly, as money was taken from one entitlement program to fund another new entitlement program, both are projected to be in severe jeopardy of sustainability as a result of the benefit creep already being talked about.
Dec 16, 2009 | comments: 34
ML S. Dec 16, 2009, 10:00pm EST
And yet the United States is still the largest manufacturer in the world.

The demographics of everything change as things like cultural desires shift and efficiencies are driven by technological advancements, population sizes with associated growth rates and relative wealth change over time.
Dec 12, 2009 | comments: 7
ML S. Dec 15, 2009, 7:06pm EST
Nuclear decay is a known and thought to be one of the largest source if not the largest source. Though most of that occurs within the mantle through the decay of isotopes like Potassium 40, Uranium 235 and 238 and Thorium 232. There wouldn't be much heating due to interactions between the magnetic field produced by the core and radiative energies from the Sun. Pressure is one that would also come into play. Residual heat is what Kelvin's theory was and that the planet was cooling so using that you could determine the age of the Earth. One hypothesis is that the inner core is a mass of uranium and not iron which of course would once again be making heat due to decay. The most substantial amounts of heating come from the decay I spoke about within the mantle which can approach temperature levels found within the core.
Dec 12, 2009 | comments: 7
ML S. Dec 15, 2009, 4:07pm EST
Inner core is estimated to be around 5400 C(9800 F) up to slightly over 7000 C. Geothermal temps are around 25-30 C per km of depth in the crust outside of plate boundaries. Base temps are dependent on the locality. You'll find localized variations due to radioactive decay of different isotopes and geologic structural factors. 45-90% of the heat radiating from the Earth is generated by radioactive decay within the mantle. Interesting historical note is Kelvin correctly estimated that geothermal temps increase 1º per 50ft in depth without any of the technology we have today. Of course, that can vary as well depending on localized variations.
Nov 6, 2009 | comments: 311
in reply to a comment by ML S.
ML S. Nov 6, 2009, 9:06pm EST
Excuse me for enjoying what I though was a simple civil discussion and enunciate my viewpoint and trying to get away from all too serious health stuff here at home.
Nov 6, 2009 | comments: 311
in reply to a comment by ML S.
ML S. Nov 6, 2009, 7:53pm EST
I don't think they make buns that big. These are between 450-550 pounds each.
Nov 6, 2009 | comments: 311
in reply to a comment by ML S.
ML S. Nov 6, 2009, 7:52pm EST
Considering that Norway has less than 2% of the population of the United States, it's not surprising that there are fewer murders. Looking only at murder rates one would have to conclude that Iran's society is much healthier than ours since their murder rate is around half that here or that Lebanon has a healthier society than Norway. Saying at any level that the relative health of a society is at any measure part of the blame partially removes where the full weight of the crime should rest, with the individual.
Nov 6, 2009 | comments: 311
in reply to a comment by ML S.
ML S. Nov 6, 2009, 6:58pm EST
Nuttin like having some hamburger on the hoof
Nov 6, 2009 | comments: 311
ML S. Nov 6, 2009, 6:46pm EST
On a cheery note, I became a minority owner, very minor..lol, in a herd of Gelbvieh cross heifers today. And I don't have to be the one that checks on them, waters them, provides supplemental feed if needed or markets them in a few weeks(woohoo). I've chopped ice out of enough water tanks and doctored enough sick cows to last me (secretly enjoys that kind of work but will never admit it).
Nov 6, 2009 | comments: 311
in reply to a comment by ML S.
ML S. Nov 6, 2009, 6:42pm EST
Unfortunately part of their rationalization of an illogical and irrational act is that they are going to make everyone else pay for what is screwed up inside them. Also unfortunately, that is a part of being a normal flawed human too. Hit you thumb with a hammer instead of the nail and quite a few people curse the stupid hammer instead of their unsteady aim. Thankfully though, the vast majority of people stop their and don't let it grow into an uncontrollable monster of hate that ultimately is unleashed on the innocent.
Nov 6, 2009 | comments: 311
ML S. Nov 6, 2009, 4:54pm EST
Blaming society or whatever for what has happened in the last two days is short sighted. When it comes down to the final analysis in any of these acts, the only fault that can be levied is on the perpetrator. Society anywhere has its advantages and failures, not just ours. A person bent on destruction for destruction's sake is one of the most fearful things in the world. That's why terrorism works. It is a choice they make. Nobody but their own demons coerce them into these acts. I know, I've had 2 friends make the personal choice not to seek help and let the demons inside them win out.
Nov 5, 2009 | comments: 12
ML S. Nov 6, 2009, 9:18am EST
Markets are behavioral science put to practice. People generally behave in a certain manner to certain parameters and conditions on the macro level. Individuals are not so easy to discern and that's where the art comes in to play. Many "trading floors" are removing the art as they move more and more towards computerized clearing platforms. It all varies depending on the level of the market as well. Go to a livestock market and that is still heavily art. Go to a bond trading floor and that is more science any more. I have to say i much prefer the good old livestock market. Better food. At least at the one I go to from time to time to watch the auctions and clear the mind.
Nov 4, 2009 | comments: 325
in reply to a comment by ML S.
ML S. Nov 5, 2009, 6:13pm EST
Fine by me. Evens out the seriousness of the questions I've been answering the past few weeks.
Nov 4, 2009 | comments: 325
ML S. Nov 5, 2009, 4:31pm EST
Only kind of back.
Nov 4, 2009 | comments: 325
in reply to a comment by Judi F.
ML S. Nov 5, 2009, 3:08pm EST
Better have the odometer checked on the cruiser. 20 miles only gets you down to Blue Hill.

I can think of some very beautiful scenery far less than 100 miles away.
Nov 3, 2009 | comments: 7
in reply to a comment by Beaker (just Beaker)
ML S. Nov 3, 2009, 1:56pm EST
mostly alive and sometimes kicking
Nov 3, 2009 | comments: 7
ML S. Nov 3, 2009, 12:22pm EST
26 out of 30. I did guess on 2 of them though. Luckily I guessed the pattern correctly but really had no clue.
Oct 25, 2009 | comments: 27
in reply to a comment by ML S.
ML S. Oct 25, 2009, 9:22pm EDT
They would be both at fault in that example. The bank for lending money it shouldn't and the buyer for wanting to buy something they had no business buying. However, most lending institutions followed lending guidelines and had no troubles with many of their subprime loans until the collapse in housing which was brought about by several factors none of which had to do with the securities which ended up causing all the problems that led to the market collapses.

I never said the government mandated that loans be given. People in Congress did promote policies and regulatory changes that encouraged the expansion of credit facilities to expand home ownership. Frank and Dodd have been identified in several examinations of what went wrong as being 2 of the most active promoters of those changes.

I also never said this was the fault of the poor. First problem is you are assuming I am wealthy. Far from it. But I guess it makes you feel somehow more secure in your beliefs to paint me as such.

I am perfectly capable of thinking. Critical thinking is what is missing in much of the populist hand wringing that seeks to assign blame. Wall Street is simply the most convenient target. It helps us all sidestep that many levels helped contribute to the situation we are in from the consumer level through Washington and on to most every financial center around the globe.
Oct 25, 2009 | comments: 27
ML S. Oct 25, 2009, 3:10pm EDT
Oh yes, all our ills can be placed at the feet of people on Wall Street. Easy to do since Wall Street is some faceless relentless animal to most people. Sure, it was those people that forced the American consumer to take out loans on houses they couldn't afford, or wrack up bills until 70% of the economy was dependent on consumer spending. Of course they were supposed to be able to divine that housing would suffer one of the worst collapses ever. Never mind that there were warnings out there as much as 5 years ago that it all was unsustainable. And of course we wouldn't want to then look at the doings of politicians like Frank and Dodd who pushed for many of the policies which made the expansion of credit available for housing possible. Nope, wouldn't want to do that since they are now positioned as the saviors. It's so much easier to point fingers at those perceived as having he greatest blame because so many believe they are all wealthy because the top managers are. Never mind the other several hundred thousand who have lost their jobs and didn't make millions.

Nobody had their hands clean in any of this. Not the consumer, not the multitudes buying houses forgetting it's a home not an investment like a stock, not Washington, not those that believed risk could be negated if you simply created a large enough pool of securities, nobody.

I'm proud to say I make some of my living through managing investments and feel no shame or guilt about it. I'm equally proud that through my work several I have done so for have gone on to productive retirements or are building secure retirements. It's possible to do if one always remembers you can never eliminate all risk. Nor would one wish to. Risk is one of the drivers of increasing or decreasing valuations of investments.
Oct 22, 2009 | comments: 5
ML S. Oct 22, 2009, 12:35pm EDT
Regular old crook neck decorative gourds.
Page 1 of 230  first | prev | next 
 
ML S.
Here

Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati
Gather | Friends | Groups | Share
About Gather | Engagement Marketing | Make New Friends | Gather Points | Advertise on Gather | Gather Press | Privacy | Terms of Service | Community Guidelines
Books | Celebs | Entertainment | Family | Food | Health | Moms | Money | News | Politics | Spirituality | Sports | Travel | Writing
Version 16961, "Pacino"; Copyright © 2009 Gather Inc. All rights reserved.