Imponderables: Quiet Storms by DesktopHippie

Mornin', morning.

Introducing Vinnie, the new man in my life:

I went and took my motorcycle permit test yesterday and happily, I am now licensed to die...I mean drive. They surprised me with having to take half of the Class C written test which freaked me out a little. I haven't taken that since I got my permit when I was 16. Eek. I only missed one on that, though. Missed four on the motorcycle test. Heh...but passed it well enough.

I ALMOST didn't pass the eye exam. I don't wear glasses or contacts, but I hardly see out of my right eye, so when they had me cover my left eye, I had a hard time. They made me re-test many, many times and didn't really understand that I see better than most people...I just do it all with my left eye. Heh. I didn't bring up the whole pesky depth perception issue, 'cause who wants to go there, but it was a trial explaining my funky ass vision issues.

And of course I have a helmet...I just didn't have it at that moment. I wasn't expecting to ride Vinnie...I don't officially get him until today at lunch.

***************
"The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it." - George Bernard Shaw

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Thursday, August 9, 2007 6:17 AM

RIVERISMYGODDESS

*can't wait to get home to see the sexy RugBug lookin' even sexier on a bike*

Hmm, a ponderable ...

Would our species be better off if we returned to a barter type system, or are we better off now with money that is increasingly worth less and less? Also, as a side question, where would you fit into a barter-based society?

~jimi
I'm gonna show you a little trick that mom showed me when you weren't around. It was for special events just like this. Oh yeah, one more thing...I'm glad you changed your last name, you son of a bitch!

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Thursday, August 9, 2007 6:27 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by RiverIsMyGoddess:
*can't wait to get home to see the sexy RugBug lookin' even sexier on a bike*

Be warned it's double trouble. Not only hot rugbug she has her hot sister in one pic too. Though her bike is a total girl's bike

Still a hottie on a bike only makes the hottie hottier.

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Thursday, August 9, 2007 6:37 AM

Of course it's a girl's bike. It's a scooter for goodness sakes.

But in the grand scheme of scooters, it's got some power behind it. It's highway legal, 125cc and can go 60 mph.

And it's not one of this wimpy chick bikes:

Heh...hottie in picture is co-worker who truly is a beautiful woman. She's very nice, too. Sadly for all you men out there, she just got married...to a great guy.

Barter Economy: I don't think it would work. There are too many people and not enough to barter. And it would seem to be that barter economies work better in agricultural based societies. I can't imagine who it would work in a technologically advanced society.

***************
"The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it." - George Bernard Shaw

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Thursday, August 9, 2007 6:55 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by RugBug:
Heh...hottie in picture is co-worker who truly is a beautiful woman. She's very nice, too. Sadly for all you men out there, she just got married...to a great guy.

Bah one of the two being available ain't bad at all. What line of work are you in again? I think I need to consider a career change.

*does the summon DTH dance*
DTH, have you heard some of the casting spoilery rumors for Lost?

Select to view spoiler:

They might get Kristen Bell (Veronica Mars) to play a role next season. Yipee! She rocks big time. Plus she's totally hot. This is probably the most exciting Lost news since I heard Nathan was going to appear on there.

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Thursday, August 9, 2007 7:10 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Zeek:
Quote:
Originally posted by RugBug:
Heh...hottie in picture is co-worker who truly is a beautiful woman. She's very nice, too. Sadly for all you men out there, she just got married...to a great guy.

Bah one of the two being available ain't bad at all. What line of work are you in again? I think I need to consider a career change.

Heheee. There's a group picture of my department from the same day (16 of us). My guess is you would quickly re-think any career change notions. We are an average blend of attractiveness and ages...which takes it's toll on most women.

On a sad note: Why, oh why did I decide to wear fuschia the day I was taking my permit test? My new driver's license picture is going to be hideous.

Fuschia is a decent color on me...but not one I want for emblazoned on my DL for eternity (The picture on my current license is 8 years old...but at least it was a good picture. :pout:)

***************
"The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it." - George Bernard Shaw

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Thursday, August 9, 2007 7:14 AM

RIVERISMYGODDESS

Quote:
Originally posted by RugBug:
Barter Economy: I don't think it would work. There are too many people and not enough to barter.

That is part of the appeal to me, the useless ones would die out, and thereby solve two problems, both overpopulation and having useless people.

I don't think we could make it work, with the state things are in, but I think we would be happier on the whole if it did. I am talking worldwide, all the humans on the planet. The people who know how to make/repair technology would have to barter for food items, and vice versa. Transport of goods would have to be paid for with a cut of the goods themselves.

Kind of a cruel way to look at things, and way oversimplified, but when I have my own island nation, that is how things will work, at least within the island.

Your money is no good here.

~jimi
I'm gonna show you a little trick that mom showed me when you weren't around. It was for special events just like this. Oh yeah, one more thing...I'm glad you changed your last name, you son of a bitch!

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Thursday, August 9, 2007 7:20 AM

But but I have nothing to barter...all I can do is teach...wait I can cook, do laundry, clean, ( oh great basically I can mom)
Ok that's it I have got to get some useful skills...

Barter sounds good though. It'd be nice to trade thins and have someone else do something for me...Ok gotta go cleaning lady is out sick and I have to get all the stuff she would do done before I go paint the front porch, door, and railings.

"I'm not all that interested in the mental health of people who want to kill me. "- Leroy Jethro Gibbs

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Thursday, August 9, 2007 7:26 AM

FUTUREMRSFILLION

The bartering system would be a great idea, certainly for low income families like mine. But at some point money is always needed, esp on when bartering on a worldwide basis.

Hey-I will cook and clean for anyone that wants to come gut my house, put up new wall board, re do the electrics and tame 4 years of over growth on 2 acres........

---- plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose

Bestower of Titles, Designer of Tshirts, Maker of Mottos, Keeper of the Pyre, Owner of a too big Turnippy smelling coat with MR scratched in the neck (thanks FollowMal!)

I am on The List. We are The Forsaken and we aim to burn!
"We don't fear the reaper"

FORSAKEN original

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Thursday, August 9, 2007 7:28 AM

NVGHOSTRIDER

What a great way to start a morning. Thanks 'Bug for the insanely bright smile.

Life continues. Going home shortly and returning this evening as a tech cannot make it in tonight. Yay! That means I get to drop in later. But judging by the night time posting in the last few weeks I might be hanging out by myself.

Cool. Maybe I can throw a fresh coat of paint on the place or something. Maybe a mural. If this were an actual place there would be a surprize for everyone tomorrow morning.

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Thursday, August 9, 2007 7:30 AM

HUGS FMF!! Hey I know a good contractor( he's downstairs right now) but I think the commute might be a bit much for him.

NV- HUGS cool darlin I'll try to pop on late as I am babysitting tonight.

And apparently hosting a party tomorrow ( in my under construction house with a disaster)

"I'm not all that interested in the mental health of people who want to kill me. "- Leroy Jethro Gibbs

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Thursday, August 9, 2007 8:08 AM

I'd think the problem with the barter economy would be the power of things.

Let's say that someone steals some of your stuff. Well now you have less stuff and you have to give some of that stuff to some cops. The guy who stole your stuff now has an excess of stuff and can probably offer more stuff to the cops to get them not to come after him. Then you're down and out and the robber is on his way to becoming a king.

I think the system would just break down in way too many places.

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Thursday, August 9, 2007 8:32 AM

Probably for the same reason communism failed...people ( as a species) are no damn good:)

"I'm not all that interested in the mental health of people who want to kill me. "- Leroy Jethro Gibbs

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Thursday, August 9, 2007 8:53 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by msg:
Probably for the same reason communism failed...people ( as a species) are no damn good:)

Exactly it sounds like it would probably work if everyone followed the rules, but humans will never do that. Especially since they know that if just one of them goes outside the system it will mean a huge profit for them. So, there's a huge advantage to disobey the rules.

I think it really is in our nature to step on others if it will help us. I did an econ experiment in college where everyone was split into groups. We were sitting at computers and half of us were buyers and half were sellers. I was a seller and the more fake computer money I made the more they paid me for doing the experiment. Each round I was given a certain amount of stuff and the buyers were supposed to get as much stuff as they could with the money they were given. So, of course it was a bunch of bidding wars and you accepted the highest offer you could before all the buyers already agreed to deals and the money ran out. It was crazy and frantic, but we of course all tried to screw the other group. Even though we all wanted to keep an inflated price on our stuff the problem was that there wasn't enough money to buy it all at that price and eventually we reached an equilibrium by the end of the experiment and the rounds got boring.

Still in the early rounds I made out like a bandit and I didn't feel bad about it in the least.

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Thursday, August 9, 2007 8:56 AM

In a barter economy what do people do who's skill is so specialized that they can only trade it to a few people who have nothing of value for them?

Barter economy only works in a society that is based on manual labor. I can cook and clean, you can farm, let's trade. I can dig a well, you can build a barn, let's trade. Go beyond that and it just doesn't work, IMO.

And it wouldn't make 'wealth' any more equitable. Those with highly desired skills sets would be able to require a higher reimbursement rate to dispense of those skills. They get more goods and then can trade for more goods. We'd just be in a very similar place as now, just with no money involved.

***************
"The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it." - George Bernard Shaw

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Thursday, August 9, 2007 9:02 AM

RIVERISMYGODDESS

Y'all are right.

I suppose I am just an idealist, and sick of dealing with money. :P

See y'all tomorrow.

*hugs and chocolate*

~jimi
I'm gonna show you a little trick that mom showed me when you weren't around. It was for special events just like this. Oh yeah, one more thing...I'm glad you changed your last name, you son of a bitch!

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Thursday, August 9, 2007 11:18 AM