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Monday Open Thread

by afew Mon Jan 21st, 2013 at 09:59:01 AM EST

A bit earlier, why not?

Monday Open Thread | 34 comments (34 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

Re: Monday Open Thread (4.00 / 2)

Three-day weekend for me. Nice weekend of eating, drinking, talking, and watching football.

Be nice to America. Or we'll bring democracy to your country.

by Drew J Jones (pedobear@pennstatefootball.com) on Mon Jan 21st, 2013 at 11:00:04 AM EST

Re: Monday Open Thread (4.00 / 10)

The Intertoobs have been picking up on this (on Orange for example), but it's too hilarious/unfunny (you choose) that it has to be posted here.

The WSJ, in a serious piece on fiscal-cliffy changes in the US tax system, offered this infographic:

Look at these regular plain-vanilla Americans, harassed and anxious at the ugly fiscal fate that awaits them. That couple with four children, on only $560,000 a year! The retired minority couple, with only 180 grand to eke out a painful existence (no increase in their taxes, but they're concerned all the same)! The young single woman with only $230,000 to make do on! And that poor single mom with two kids and $260,000 p.a. !

Then look at the investment income that had to be fed in to get the tax increases they're featuring. Reflect on how much capital they own.

The unfunniness is the disconnect with reality at a shop like the WSJ. What level of income are these cretins accustomed to hobnobbing with, that they could consider that here are examples of a cross-section of Middle America? (Median household income in the US is somewhere between $50K and $55K, iirc).

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Mon Jan 21st, 2013 at 12:34:00 PM EST

Re: Monday Open Thread (none / 0)

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Mon Jan 21st, 2013 at 12:36:05 PM EST
[ Parent ]

When Quoting From ... (none / 0)

the WSJ you need a:

[Murdoch Alert]

Ever since I learnt about confirmation bias I've started seeing it everywhere

by ATinNM on Mon Jan 21st, 2013 at 01:06:52 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: When Quoting From ... (none / 0)

BTW there's now a Special Page listing Macros.

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Mon Jan 21st, 2013 at 03:13:38 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: When Quoting From ... (none / 0)

Thanks. The macros have expanded since I last looked.

Is there a page listing the active TeX notation?

Ever since I learnt about confirmation bias I've started seeing it everywhere

by ATinNM on Mon Jan 21st, 2013 at 03:16:40 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Answer (none / 0)

(Read the User Guide, Luke.)

Yes.

A notice they are enabled and a link to MathJax.org.

Ever since I learnt about confirmation bias I've started seeing it everywhere

by ATinNM on Mon Jan 21st, 2013 at 03:19:47 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Answer (none / 0)

Ok, this looks like a better handy reference for the symbols, glyph, etc. codes.

Ever since I learnt about confirmation bias I've started seeing it everywhere

by ATinNM on Mon Jan 21st, 2013 at 03:42:43 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Honestly... (none / 0)

I'm SHOCKED, I tell you, SHOCKED

You can't be me, I'm taken

by Sven Triloqvist on Mon Jan 21st, 2013 at 03:16:55 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Monday Open Thread (none / 0)

(Median household income in the US is somewhere between $50K and $55K, iirc).

Since I recently followed one of Krugman's links, it is a bit higher.

Tax Foundation has the average in the 40%-50% at 75K and 50-60% at 99K. (Report on changes in total income with Obamacare. Lower 50% are up, upper 50% are down, but in particular 10-30% are up a lot and the cost is mostly born by the top 1%. Krugman says it looks solid.)

He, from the numbers in there I can see that WSJ has indeed covered a particular part of the spectrum. Roughly speaking we have one family in each of the groups 70-80%, 80-90%, 90-95% and 95-99%. All that is missing is a family with a copuple of millions in income and you have the 1% in there too.

A vote for PES is a vote for EPP! A vote for EPP is a vote for PES! Support the coalition, vote EPP-PES in 2009!

by A swedish kind of death on Mon Jan 21st, 2013 at 06:12:22 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Monday Open Thread (4.00 / 4)

But average != median...

A US Census table sets out median incomes for different types of households in 2011.

The overall median is $50,502.

For a married couple with children, $74,392
(WSJ, $560,000)

For a single-mother household, $30,052
(WSJ, $260,000)

For a single young woman, $23,631
(WSJ, $230,000)

African-American household, $33,233
or
Over-65 household, $35,107
(WSJ, $180,000)

The fact is that, to produce examples of a "tax increase burden", the WSJ was obliged to go looking for high multiples of the median income in each case.

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Tue Jan 22nd, 2013 at 02:28:36 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Monday Open Thread (none / 0)

But the overall median should be between the average in the 40-50% and the 50-60% groups.

Must be different definitions at work or something. Nevermind, the census is the more trustworthy source.

A vote for PES is a vote for EPP! A vote for EPP is a vote for PES! Support the coalition, vote EPP-PES in 2009!

by A swedish kind of death on Tue Jan 22nd, 2013 at 07:01:22 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Monday Open Thread (4.00 / 2)

Sounds like Obama is coming out heavily for same-sex marriage, judging by the inauguration. References to Stonewall and all kinds of stuff. Fairly pleased.

Be nice to America. Or we'll bring democracy to your country.

by Drew J Jones (pedobear@pennstatefootball.com) on Mon Jan 21st, 2013 at 01:40:47 PM EST

Re: Monday Open Thread (none / 0)

Can't assess the speech as I haven't found a transcript, from what others are saying it was as much a call to arms and policy speech as the standard "let's all come together" vacuous nonsense.

Ever since I learnt about confirmation bias I've started seeing it everywhere

by ATinNM on Mon Jan 21st, 2013 at 02:38:36 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Monday Open Thread (none / 1)

Yeah, sounds like it was a more aggressive speech than a typical Obama one.

Be nice to America. Or we'll bring democracy to your country.

by Drew J Jones (pedobear@pennstatefootball.com) on Mon Jan 21st, 2013 at 04:04:05 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Monday Open Thread (none / 0)

Booman has it up.

It is more of a fighting speech than usual.

Ever since I learnt about confirmation bias I've started seeing it everywhere

by ATinNM on Mon Jan 21st, 2013 at 06:09:09 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Monday Open Thread (none / 0)

There's been a bit of a shift in rhetoric within the press as well, judging by coverage today. Four years ago, they were obsessed with insisting that the US was center-right. Now not so much.

Despite Obama being center-right, there seemed to be some shift in the Overton window.

Be nice to America. Or we'll bring democracy to your country.

by Drew J Jones (pedobear@pennstatefootball.com) on Mon Jan 21st, 2013 at 10:55:52 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Didn't watch any of it (none / 1)

My only thought ... how bizarre and disgusting it would have been if Willard had won. A vast sea of white guys in suits with briefcases stuffed with cash for bribes. A huge FOR SALE banner streaming in front of the WH.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wp4O7v5320

by THE Twank (yatta blah blah @ blah.com) on Mon Jan 21st, 2013 at 05:34:27 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Monday Open Thread (none / 0)

Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.

by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Mon Jan 21st, 2013 at 01:58:54 PM EST

Re: Monday Open Thread (none / 0)

Started re-reading Progress and Poverty.

Forgotten much, including the fact Henry was a long-winded son-of-a-gun.

Ever since I learnt about confirmation bias I've started seeing it everywhere

by ATinNM on Mon Jan 21st, 2013 at 02:30:32 PM EST

Re: Monday Open Thread (none / 0)

I really must install these new roller blinds before the sun starts coming up at 8am. At my length of tooth, any reduction in the regulation 8 hours can have serious consequences.

You can't be me, I'm taken

by Sven Triloqvist on Mon Jan 21st, 2013 at 03:37:50 PM EST

Re: Monday Open Thread (none / 0)

&Spades1

You can't be me, I'm taken

by Sven Triloqvist on Mon Jan 21st, 2013 at 03:54:04 PM EST

Re: Monday Open Thread (none / 0)

Apologies: an HTMLemmy joke...

You can't be me, I'm taken

by Sven Triloqvist on Mon Jan 21st, 2013 at 03:55:19 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Monday Open Thread (none / 0)

&NoTrump1

Ever since I learnt about confirmation bias I've started seeing it everywhere

by ATinNM on Mon Jan 21st, 2013 at 04:05:43 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Monday Open Thread (none / 1)

&spades2 + my sleeve-mounted derringer...

You can't be me, I'm taken

by Sven Triloqvist on Mon Jan 21st, 2013 at 04:12:40 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Monday Open Thread (none / 0)

&Pass &RunAway

Ever since I learnt about confirmation bias I've started seeing it everywhere

by ATinNM on Mon Jan 21st, 2013 at 05:13:04 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Monday Open Thread (none / 0)

Obama looks like a Vulcan and Michelle looks like a Romulan today. Unfortunate choice of hairstyle and coat.

by stevesim on Mon Jan 21st, 2013 at 04:32:27 PM EST

Re: Monday Open Thread (4.00 / 2)

Ever since I learnt about confirmation bias I've started seeing it everywhere

by ATinNM on Mon Jan 21st, 2013 at 05:14:30 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Monday Open Thread (none / 1)

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2980475/posts

by stevesim on Mon Jan 21st, 2013 at 05:19:16 PM EST

Re: Monday Open Thread (none / 1)

Well, i'm convinced

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Tue Jan 22nd, 2013 at 09:58:26 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Monday Open Thread (4.00 / 2)

The good news is that the headache which has been pretty much constant for the last fortnight has gone.

The bad news is that I seem to have replaced it with dizziness.

Is this getting better ? Someone please tell me this is getting better

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Tue Jan 22nd, 2013 at 10:00:10 AM EST

Re: Monday Open Thread (none / 0)

Have you figured out what is the cause of the headache? Migraine? Tension headache?

I am unfortunately rather well versed in the area of headaches, so if I can use that to point you in the right direction it at least is of some use.

A vote for PES is a vote for EPP! A vote for EPP is a vote for PES! Support the coalition, vote EPP-PES in 2009!

by A swedish kind of death on Tue Jan 22nd, 2013 at 10:40:48 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Monday Open Thread (none / 0)

Well, I mostly put it down to suffering from flu

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Tue Jan 22nd, 2013 at 12:25:09 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Monday Open Thread (none / 0)

Ah, flu headache. Yeah, that can usually cause it. If you have had the flu for two weaks I suggest the dizziness could be lack of fluids and/or energy. Chicken soup is a traditional cure (other soups should work just as well, though rigorous double-blind tests are lacking all around).

And that means that yes, it is getting better.

A vote for PES is a vote for EPP! A vote for EPP is a vote for PES! Support the coalition, vote EPP-PES in 2009!

by A swedish kind of death on Tue Jan 22nd, 2013 at 02:04:10 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Monday Open Thread | 34 comments (34 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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