A Forum for Grinches and Ho-Ho-Hoes

[Shape Shifter]

Originally posted by bilmore
People have to leave here in shifts. When the imbalance gets too bad, you come back to hot debates about which side of Marx's butt should be kissed first.

I hate that Left vs. Right stuff. I yearn for the less partisan days.

[Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)]

Originally posted by Spanky
I have a good example. The Stanford Linear Accelerator (SLAC) was built in the the 1960s. It was originally supposed to be 1.6 miles long. They bought he necessary land and built it. After it was built they realized it could only be effective if it was 2.1 miles long. The problem was where it needed to be extended was land owned by a famer who would not sale (land had been in the family forever etc. etc.) Many jobs were on the line (and lots of dinero) so the farm was seized so the Accelerator could be extended. SLAC by the way is a completely private organization. Should the courts have prevented this exercis of eminent domain?

That's a great example of jack-ass planning that should not be excused by judicial/government intervention.

If I decided I wanted a bigger house, because I had twins, but I bought too small a lot, should I get to take some of my neighbor's lot to add on?

If I am able to do so, what's the likely reason? Probably 1) because I'm politically connected and 2) am rich. I don't see either as a good reason for letting me expand my backyard. Regardless of how cute my kids are.

[Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)]

Originally posted by sgtclub

Burger is the consummate devil's advocate.

What, you think I post my true views always? Come on, I get money for each page view. It's in my interest to stimulate debate.

[SlaveNoMore]

bilmore
He has so much animus against him stored up on the faculty that he was just a bomb waiting for an issue-fuse. They still hate him for Cornell.

I think you mean Cornel. Or Princeton. Or something other than Cornell.

I mean, who gives a fuck about Cornell, other than the schmucks who didn't get in and had to go to Brown.

[Replaced_Texan]

Originally posted by sgtclub
How come you're not inviting him to the meetings?

I thought Ty was always at the meetings.

[Spanky]

I noticed that the flags at S.F. city hall have been at half mast the past couple of days. Is that in honor of Thompson? In this city that wouldn't surprise me.

[Replaced_Texan]

Originally posted by Tyrone Slothrop
Larry Summers' problem is that he's smarter than most people, but not smart enough to avoid making clear that this is one of the many things he knows.

Kevin Drum had a similar problem.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Originally posted by Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)
That's a great example of jack-ass planning that should not be excused by judicial/government intervention.

If I decided I wanted a bigger house, because I had twins, but I bought too small a lot, should I get to take some of my neighbor's lot to add on?

If I am able to do so, what's the likely reason? Probably 1) because I'm politically connected and 2) am rich. I don't see either as a good reason for letting me expand my backyard. Regardless of how cute my kids are.

Or 3) you need the extra room in order to do groundbreaking research into the basic building blocks of our universe, of likely benefit to the whole world and future generations.

[Spanky]

Originally posted by Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)
That's a great example of jack-ass planning that should not be excused by judicial/government intervention.

If I decided I wanted a bigger house, because I had twins, but I bought too small a lot, should I get to take some of my neighbor's lot to add on?

If I am able to do so, what's the likely reason? Probably 1) because I'm politically connected and 2) am rich. I don't see either as a good reason for letting me expand my backyard. Regardless of how cute my kids are.

From my understanding (which is shakey at best) there was strong evidence to suppose that 1.6 miles would be good enough. It was the first accellerator so they really did not know any better. It was just bad luck. But still - you have a point. However, many people give SLAC much credit for the fact that the Silicon Valley formed here and not somewhere else. In other words, if SLAC had not been built I would be a homeowner and not a renter.

[Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)]

Originally posted by Spanky
However, many people give SLAC much credit for the fact that the Silicon Valley formed here and not somewhere else. In other words, if SLAC had not been built I would be a homeowner and not a renter.

What about H-P? First in time, and more closely related to silicon.

[Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)]

Originally posted by Tyrone Slothrop
Or 3) you need the extra room in order to do groundbreaking research into the basic building blocks of our universe, of likely benefit to the whole world and future generations.

Bitch, please. My kids are the next einsteins (especially the girl). They need room to explore the universe and form their theories.

Besides, if you need more room, and want to do it on teh public dole, take your accelerator to Texas, dig a big hole in the ground, and then get funding terminated.

[Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)]

Originally posted by Spanky
It was just bad luck..

BTW, that was the first thing I said when I learned I was having twins. Then I realized they were the next Einsteins, so it wasn't so bad after all.

[Spanky]

Originally posted by Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)
What about H-P? First in time, and more closely related to silicon.

It is not my theory so I am not going to defend it. Anyway, I still like to think of it is as the Santa Clara Valley. I grew up surrounded by Apricot trees, horses and mustard grass, not silicon chips.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Originally posted by Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)
Bitch, please. My kids are the next einsteins (especially the girl). They need room to explore the universe and form their theories.

If you can convince your local government that your kids need another half-mile of dirt for those endeavours, hey, go nuts. Happily, this sort of use of eminent domain doctrine seems relatively rare, and not worth re-arranging the Constitution to forbid.

Besides, if you need more room, and want to do it on teh public dole, take your accelerator to Texas, dig a big hole in the ground, and then get funding terminated.

Who said they were doing it on the public dole? If they were, plausibly the public officials doling out the dole thought they were getting something for their money. If you just want to squander government money for the benefit of your political cronies, you don't have to build a particle accelerator. The Bush Administration has taught us that.

[ltl/fb]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...2005Feb23.html (Tina Brown piece on men's lack of emotional intelligence)