Former Thoughts or OT Chit-Chat Thread • Page 53 • Collecting General • The Acaeum

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Sea-to-sky-games
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Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 1:02 pm

Pipswich wrote:
Badmike wrote:Regrettably, our society values intelligence, not wisdom. Yet we wonder why our lives are train wrecks and our nation is headed in the wrong direction?

Society values neither intelligence, nor wisdom. Society is filled primarily with people who simply rut and rant with a wish in one hand and their neighbors **** in the other.

My comment was not meant to be exhaustive, but merely to point out that we train kids to learn facts, not how to apply these facts in a prudent manner. Likewise, we often vote for politicians based on their presumed knowledge of policy. But never how wise they are in applying this knowledge.

Sea-to-sky-games
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Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 1:22 pm

http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/ ... -r-lott-jr

Kingofpain89
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Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 3:06 pm

Typical stupid knee jerk reaction from a congressman:

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/20 ... in-tribute

Of course you dont see any of them wearing their pants down around their knees. That would be inappropriate. :roll:

You don't like your job, you don't strike. You go in every day and do it really half-assed. That's the American way. - Homer Simpson

Kingofpain89
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Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 3:08 pm

And on a different subject:

http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/ ... 00-million

Think of all the cool stuff you could buy at Gen Con with an extra 300+ million dollars in the bank.

You don't like your job, you don't strike. You go in every day and do it really half-assed. That's the American way. - Homer Simpson

red_bus
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Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 3:10 pm

Pipswich wrote: ... of Jewish, Scottish or Russian dissent.

go figure.

Having lived in Scotland for a few years, I can tell you "Scottish dissent" is quite a colourful thing to see

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Kingofpain89
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Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 3:40 pm

So I'm piddling around on Google Maps this morning checking out the street views of out of the way locations across the U.K. and I come across the small village of Elsdon in Northumberland. Beautiful countryside, quaint houses, rolling hills and trees....exactly what one might expect to see in the rural English countryside (at least from someone that has never been there and only seen it in movies). As I trekked through the village (double-click left mouse button numerous times) I spy this beautiful church and surrounding cemetary:

Curious about the towns history, I googled it and found out that the name of the church is St. Cuthbert's.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:St_Cu ... 656964.jpg

Now I'm off to see if I can't find Hommlet, Nulb and the Temple of Elemental Evil. :wink:

You don't like your job, you don't strike. You go in every day and do it really half-assed. That's the American way. - Homer Simpson

MetaSigma
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Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 4:12 pm

Pipswich wrote:
Badmike wrote:Regrettably, our society values intelligence, not wisdom. Yet we wonder why our lives are train wrecks and our nation is headed in the wrong direction?

Society values neither intelligence, nor wisdom. Society is filled primarily with people who simply rut and rant with a wish in one hand and their neighbors **** in the other.

We can probably can not change societies trending toward oblivion, but we can define our families place in it as it declines. If you get a chance read... The Millionaire Next Door, The Millionaire Mind (and for pure entertainment Rich Dad, Poor Dad).

My summary,

Don't get hooked on alcohol or dope.
Find a partner and stick with them.
Don't move around too much.
Don't spend too much.
Know the difference between spending money and buying assets.
Borrow prudently and only to purchase income generating assets.
Focus on investments that minimize work.
Live long... die wealthy.

Oh, and oddly enough, apparently you are more likely to follow the patterns observed by these researchers if you are (in alphabetical order).... of Jewish, Scottish or Russian dissent.

go figure.

I don't find it odd at all that Jewish, Russian, and especially Scottish folks tend to focus on these values--it's hardwired into the cultures. (Ever hear of the Protestant Work Ethic? Whatever Scots may be like now, or what mbassoc thinks

they invented it...). All three cultures are notorious for hard work and delayed gratification. The question I have is, are these people happy? That I'm not so sure of. The majority of my ancestors were Scottish, and the ones I knew and know of lived into their late '80s, '90s or later, never drank, never spent frivolously, always invested conservatively, and died old, well-to-do (not rich) and were soul-crushingly boring. I won't say they weren't happy, 'cause I can't read minds, but let's just say they handed down to me a nose-to-the-grindstone and keep your head down ethic which, while conducive to steady socioeconomic progress, always left me with a somewhat empty feeling. I'm learning from my wife's side of the family to let loose a little, so I hereby alter the prescription to the following, in an effort to maximize utility

.

Don't get hooked on alcohol or dope, but don't be so friggin' uptight that you don't drink or smoke pot once in a while; everything in moderation, including moderation.
Find a partner and stick with them, but be damn sure you pick the right partner in the first place; don't get married just because it's expected; sow your wild oats before you do this, by all means, but then keep it in your pants outside of your own bedroom.
Don't move around too much, but by all means don't pass up those once or twice in a lifetime opportunities when they come along; regret's a bitch.
Don't spend too much, but don't be a tightwad.
Know the difference between spending money and buying assets. (Can't argue with this one.
Borrow prudently and only to purchase income generating assets. (Damn straight).
Focus on investments that minimize work. I have no fucking clue what this means.
Live long... die wealthy. No. Live only as long as you're healthy and happy, and die with enough to pass on a moderate amount to your children--they need to work some to develop character, and you sure as hell can't take it with you.

Ithaca Dragon
-==(UDIC)==-

benjoshua
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Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 4:22 pm

Sea-to-sky-games wrote:
Pipswich wrote:Society values neither intelligence, nor wisdom. Society is filled primarily with people who simply rut and rant with a wish in one hand and their neighbors **** in the other.

My comment was not meant to be exhaustive, but merely to point out that we train kids to learn facts, not how to apply these facts in a prudent manner. Likewise, we often vote for politicians based on their presumed knowledge of policy. But never how wise they are in applying this knowledge.

My list was not exhaustive by a long shot either, and I was responding more to Pipswich's comment than yours.

Sea-to-sky-games wrote:http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/ ... -r-lott-jr

An interesting article, and where the momentum appears to be heading. Sadly, most people have already made up their minds and they won't change no matter what evidence comes out. I keep hearing that the case has been turned over to the FBI or other authorities and they are re-examining the case, and I am guessing they have been hard at it for several days. If this is true, then it is interesting to me that they have not already found enough information or evidence to at least bring in Zimmerman. I would think they would bring him in as soon as they had enough to warrant a trial, or maybe not.

Or maybe, the authorities are realizing the police were not that far from the truth, and they are just letting a little time go by, allowing information to "leak out" and articles like this to take hold to dampen public anger when they publish their findings. Or maybe I am just imagining all of this. Who knows? I do hope they give some thought to how and when this unfolds.

Truth is worth finding and life is too short to work for money.

benjoshua
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Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 4:26 pm

red_bus wrote:Having lived in Scotland for a few years, I can tell you "Scottish dissent" is quite a colourful thing to see

Are you talking about vomit?

Just kidding. :lol:

Truth is worth finding and life is too short to work for money.

red_bus
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Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 4:31 pm

...a dissenting scotsman tends to dissent loudly and with colourful language.

@King. Northumberland is really lovely - you should visit!

Let's go fly a kite
Up to the highest height!

Mizzle
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Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 6:16 pm

Hi,

I grew up in Northumberland.

Yes, its lovely when the sun is shining, but in rain or fog at night - deffo American Werewolf in London flashbacks!

Been to Dunwich a couple of times (or whats left of it).

Cheers,
KAL

Pipswich
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Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 9:35 pm

Kingofpain89 wrote:gma

Don't get hooked on alcohol or dope, but don't be so friggin' uptight that you don't drink or smoke pot once in a while; everything in moderation, including moderation.
Find a partner and stick with them, but be damn sure you pick the right partner in the first place; don't get married just because it's expected; sow your wild oats before you do this, by all means, but then keep it in your pants outside of your own bedroom.
Don't move around too much, but by all means don't pass up those once or twice in a lifetime opportunities when they come along; regret's a bitch.
Don't spend too much, but don't be a tightwad.
Know the difference between spending money and buying assets. (Can't argue with this one.
Borrow prudently and only to purchase income generating assets. (Damn straight).
Focus on investments that minimize work. I have no fucking clue what this means.
Live long... die wealthy. No. Live only as long as you're healthy and happy, and die with enough to pass on a moderate amount to your children--they need to work some to develop character, and you sure as hell can't take it with you.

I love this. I didn't intend to offer direct advice and I love your assessment. I was mainly summarizing what I remember of The Millionaire Next Door and The Millionaire Mind.

I am of Scottish descent and I always thought "sowing wild oats before you get married" was a core Scottish family value. By my reckoning, don't get married until you know that there is not a single person including your spouse that you would consider trading half of everything you own... for rutting.

Focus on investments that minimize work... is actually paraphrased from Rich Dad Poor Dad. Rich Dad doesn't attach protestant work ethic and labor to generate income... poor dad is stuck with the pedestrian idea that one must work hard to "get rich".

Dunno about work and character building. Some fine people seem to by happy and of high character while appearing to never work. It's easy to find the opposite... people so worn down by work they are unhappy, ill tempered and with gross character defects.

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clangador
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Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2012 1:00 am

Kingofpain89 wrote:And on a different subject:

http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/ ... 00-million

Think of all the cool stuff you could buy at Gen Con with an extra 300+ million dollars in the bank. 8O

Yea like the whole convention...

~Clangador
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Black Blade Publishing imprint of OSRIC is not only the most definitive printing of OSRIC to date, but also the single greatest resource for old school gamers since the three original hardbacks written by E. Gary Gygax.

MetaSigma
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Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2012 7:21 am

Pipswich wrote:I love this. I didn't intend to offer direct advice and I love your assessment. I was mainly summarizing what I remember of The Millionaire Next Door and The Millionaire Mind.

I know; I was being somewhat facetious. My main point is that the "millionaire" mentality is something that characterizes relatively few real millionaires (actually multi-millionaires, I would say; every third middle-class person these days is a millionaire on paper by the time they retire). It's more a prescription for maintaining current socioeconomic status and slow progress upwards financially, IMO. That's great for what it's worth, and it's more or less the ethos I subscribe to, but one is hardly going to become the next Bill Gates or Steve Jobs with that philosophy. Selling it in book form, however, to get middle-class worker drones to keep making money for your stock portfolio is sheer genius....

Ithaca Dragon
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Pipswich
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Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2012 11:22 am

That other stratosphere is irrelevant to most of us. Without innate talent And good luck... (pop star, actor, athlete,etc... and they don't usually manage to hold on to it)... much of that upper .1% (not 1%) sector is populated by people with a combination of talent, Hi-Q, money and a willingness to risk a comfortable upper middle class lifestyle in a gambit that risks bankruptcy and poverty against truly great excess. Many of them really are truly half crazy.

FYI, the millionaire next door does not work for someone elses stock portfolios. They typically own and operate 3-5 income generating small businesses and their primary assets. Also, since most of their wealth is in real assets and business property, it automatically adjusts to inflation in real terms... which stock portfolios seldom manage to accomplish.

Just take the inflation rate and deduct it from what you think you can get after tax as an average return. Then look at something easy like the recent large uptick in prices for OCE's and compare the rate. It's a rather, interesting discrepancy.

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MetaSigma
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Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2012 2:06 pm

Pipswich wrote:FYI, the millionaire next door does not work for someone elses stock portfolios. They typically own and operate 3-5 income generating small businesses and their primary assets. Also, since most of their wealth is in real assets and business property, it automatically adjusts to inflation in real terms... which stock portfolios seldom manage to accomplish.

I'm sure that it's often the case that the "run of the mill" millionaire is the owner of small businesses, but I'm not personally acquainted with this type. I do know several professional people, however, who by dint of higher education and fortunate employment opportunities have reached the mark through a 9 - 5 job (okay, career). The only multi-millionaire I know didn't get there by risk, talent, or work of any kind. That person has an 8-figure trust fund.

Ithaca Dragon
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sauromatian
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Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2012 5:31 pm

MetamorphosisSigma wrote:don't be so friggin' uptight that you don't drink or smoke pot once in a while

At last, some useful advice on this thread!

benjoshua
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Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2012 7:21 pm

http://now.msn.com/now/0329-daily-texan-cartoonist.aspx

Oh my.

Truth is worth finding and life is too short to work for money.

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