ReuelKB

Reply to can't global warming be good? in The Environment Stardock Forums

Hmm, thinking about it another way. Energy must move somewhere, and if energy is coming to earth from the sun, it must be absorbed somewhere. The concern with global warming, is that this energy is being absorbed in the air, thus increasing temperatures, and causing potentially bad things to happen. You also hear complaints about how the ice caps are melting, and that's because they too are absorbing this energy. When we use energy, some of it gets radiated thr

can't global warming be good? in The Environment JoeUser Forums

I haven't thought about this for very long, but it seems to me that with a little bit of work and some creativity, global warming can be a pretty good thing for us. The sun, essentially acts as a gigantic power plant that transmits energy. The earth receives some of this energy with some of it being absorbed and some of it being emitted away (with the emitted energy being gone). When you absorb more than you emit, you get global warming, and the other way around you

baseball economics in Politics JoeUser Forums

Allow me to present this exaggerated scenario. Let's say people absolutely fell in love with baseballs, and I'm talking about an unnaturally high demand for them. They simply really want baseballs, and as many as they can get. Baseballs become a very valued commodity and it became very, very profitable to make them. Whole industries sprung up to make as many baseballs as they could of many different kinds and people kept on buying and buying them.

Reply to Going John Galt on Obama in Politics Stardock Forums

Regarding people doing what's in their own best interest, the problem is that too many people don't value their long term interests enough and simply focus on the short run, and then comes back to haunt them.

Reply to Should the feds open up benefits to married, gay couples? in Politics Stardock Forums

Before reading this, I was in favor of the government recognizing same sex marriages, but I think Zubaz brings up a good point that the government should not involve itself in marriages and should simply recognize civil unions for both same sex and heterosexual couples as that way it doesn't have to involve itself in any religious matters and is more neutral.

Reply to What's your priority for the US? in Politics Stardock Forums

I'm of the opinion that if the government is going to be issuing debt to fund its actions, it should only do so with the intent of making a net profit. For that reason, I have nothing against the government "spending money it doesn't have", just like I have nothing against a business getting a loan to help it grow. However, I believe that the government is borrowing money without much of a "business" plan to gain from it, but rather to build up more short term political capital o

Reply to Question regarding small businesses and taxes in Politics Stardock Forums

Hmm, couldn't figure out how to edit my post (only seem to be able to edit the title) Update 1: Well, apparently you can have a sole proprietorship and have it be an llc as well. Thought they were seperate, but I guess not. I should probably research the different types of business there can be, and see which ones pay the corporate tax rate and which ones the personal tax rate. Update 2: Okay, I think I have a better understanding now (if

Question regarding small businesses and taxes in Politics JoeUser Forums

I have a question to anyone who might know. Does anyone know what percentage of those in the income bracket of $250,000+ are sole proprietors or partners in a small business? I'm still trying to look for the answer myself, so if I find out, I'll update it here. I have heard that 60% of those in that income bracket are small business owners, but if my understanding is correct (and please correct me if I'm wrong) is that many of those could own the business as an LLC for examp

Reply to My Firsts in Blogging Stardock Forums

FIRSTS 1. Who was your FIRST prom date? NA 2. Do you still talk to your FIRST love? NA 3. What was your FIRST alcoholic drink? A glass of champagne 4. What was your FIRST job? Math & Science tutoring in highschool 5. What was your FIRST car? 2003 Chevy Malibu 6. Who was the FIRST person to text you today? NA 7. Who is th

Reply to Does it require Faith to be an atheist. in Religion JoeUser Forums

Oh yeah, when it comes to specific organized religions, I lean more towards strong atheism, simply because the probability of one of those being correct (given how they presume to know so much about how God is) is near zero. I have reason to believe, knowing what I know about people and the history of religions, that the religion is very likely to not be true (after all, I can devicse of an infinite number of mutually exclusive religions that have no less validity then these organized o

Reply to Does it require Faith to be an atheist. in Religion Stardock Forums

[quote who="taltamir" comment="28"] Good answer ReuelKB. Although, agnostic incorrectly suggests that you give equal validity to the concept of god existing and not existing. Thats why some say "teapot agnostics" (mars could be a giant teapot... which is as likely as god existing) or toothfairy agnostic (the toothfairy could be real, just like god could, but they are as equally unlikely.) [/quote] Now you've got me thinking. Part of the problem has

Reply to Does it require Faith to be an atheist. in Religion JoeUser Forums

[quote who="Draginol" comment="13"] I tend to think of atheism as a type of religion. There is no evidence to imply that there is no God. There is also no evidence IMO to imply there is a God. We simply don't know. So most people choose to have faith that there's something (Some sort of God at the very least) and a few people take the opposite route. I don't have faith in either. I simply have no idea if there's a God or not. I'm not an athei

Regarding Profits and Charity in Politics JoeUser Forums

I overheard a friend of my brother's say the other day that he thought it was bad that companies try to maximise their profits and that they really should only charge enough for their products just so that they stay in business. I think people too often vilify profits without thinking about the positive side effects for a company to profit. Upon thinking about this, I've also come to certain views about charities and some problems that can arise from them. Let's say that s

Reply to Norway ... Country that did not make it into the movie Sicko. in Everything Else Elemental Forums

I've been doing a fair amount of thinking about this, and my head is currently flooded with thoughts. So, for the sake of brevity, I'll just list a couple of them right now, and perhaps elaborate a bit more later if I need to. Thing is, healthcare in the U.S. is a bit more expensive per person than it is in many other countries. One thing we should ask is why, and another thing we should ask is how much of a bad thing is that? One reason why it may be more expensive

Reply to A degree from virginity in Blogging Stardock Forums

Yeah, I know, probably not the best example, just the first thing that popped into my head (food costs a lot to me). Point is, if she spends that money, that money gets circulated back into the economy, and helps stimulate it. If she invests the money in bonds or stocks, that gives companies capital to build up more and perhaps employ more people. If she puts it in the bank, even that helps a little bit by giving the banks more reserves, and making them a bit more likey to

Reply to A degree from virginity in Blogging Stardock Forums

I don't really see this as being morally wrong. Regarding the fact that these millions of dollars are being used for this rather than in aiding those that are unemployed etc, remember that that money doesn't just dissappear. Yes, the government will get its cut in the form of taxes (and even that gets circulated somewhat), but really that money is mostly just being transfered to this woman, and then she will use it to get a college degree and perhaps go out and eat a few times (th

Reply to A conversation about taxes in Politics Stardock Forums

Okay, sorry, I must have missed that comment, wasn't there when I was writing my post.

Reply to A conversation about taxes in Politics Stardock Forums

[quote] the only way is to increase the money available to those people so they can buy more ... we can do this through two ways: 1- you give them raises a

Reply to .......... in Everything Else Elemental Forums

[quote who="Jonnan001" reply="16" id="1944195"] If Stardock/Ironclad made this game with the current taxes in place and were able to sell it digitally for $20 US; does it or does it not make sense that if taxes were raised on them, to say, the tune of net result, $5 US per digital copy, that they would raise the price to the consumer, passing along the "tax" increase, or eat the $5 US from their bottom line? That would be $2,500,000 US they would have to eat, according to their estimate

Reply to Rarity of spells in WOM Ideas Elemental Forums

I'm all for having an option at start up where one can decide whether or not to have the spells be random or not.

Reply to Anyone else worried about combat? in War of Magic Elemental Forums

It probably won't be found too lacking in my opinion. From what I know of Stardock and it's previous games, if they are going to implement a feature such as tactical battles, they would make sure that it actually has some substance. Otherwise, they would probably not even waste the resources and just have combat done in a far more abstract way (like the planet invasions in galciv 2). I don't expect it to be at the level of say Total War, but I think it will have some substan

Reply to Anyone else think its a mistake to let the game end when your wizard dies? in War of Magic Elemental Forums

I think, I'm one of those that likes the Sauron idea. Either channel your essence into an artificat, or have it so when you die, your essence escapes and it takes a great deal of effort to regain a physical form again. Point is, I'd rather not have it be an instant game over if you die, but there should be some pretty big consequences for dying

Reply to Obama vs. Jobs in Politics Stardock Forums

[quote who="Draginol" comment="32"] Oh I dunno. I wouldn't do that kind of thing but I can definitely understand it. After a year and a half of having Obama and his ilk shit on us in their rhetoric and demand we be "patriotic" I would feel pretty justified in thinking twice before hiring an Obamabot if I was that incensed on it. I think it's a good thing to be reminded that beliefs should have consequences. [/quote] Hm

Reply to Obama's a socialist, let's be real in Politics Stardock Forums

Problem is, at least for me, is that the situation gets more complicated when you add in social issues, and to a lesser extent, foreign policy into the mix. I told myself, back in June, that I'd probably be happy with either candidate as president. I did not agree with with Obama's fiscal policies, and I felt that McCain was leaning a tad bit too far to the right on social issues. But, I felt that both would do a good enough job. Of course, now, after all this

Reply to McCain wins second debate in Politics Stardock Forums

I think both candidates performed better than last time (especially McCain). Again, I find myself agreeing more with McCain's domestic issues and Obama's foreign policy, but I personally feel Obama did somewhat better, but that's just my take. I'm still undecided, and have to go vote absentee this week, so I need to make up my mind soon (of course, I could vote for a third party as well).