www.AsymptoticLife.com: Recent Comments

Comment on Canada's Egg Police: Industry vs. Small Farms

2010-03-14T20:10:32Z

It sounds like Canada's laws are a bit different than ours. Distribution of ungraded eggs may be illegal.

A week ago, I would have said subscriptions or CSAs don't work for rural areas-- but I just learned there's a subscription program in the next town over that I plan to try asap. More on that as I find out.

Comment on Canada's Egg Police: Industry vs. Small Farms

2010-03-13T16:07:53Z

the farmers should pick up "subscribers". regular buyers. they can spread the word at the churches, town halls, legion halls, etc.

Comment on This isn't going to play well in Utah.

2010-03-11T06:35:06Z

Uh, I'll stick with goat milk cheese, thanks!

Comment on Strategic default is not a moral failing

2010-03-10T15:45:18Z

I'm not sure I agree. Individuals suffer "shame, guilt and fear" precisely because they are human-- corporations and municipalities do not. Yet how can we argue that corporations ought not to engage in politics because they are incapable of moral thought, and at the same time argue that individuals can engage in an amoral act because corporations do it all the time?

Full disclosure: in the 1990 recession, I was upside down on my condo and walked away from it, eventually winding up in bankruptcy because I couldn't pay all the debt I had incurred.

I had bought an overpriced condo using an ARM on the promise of future earnings-- never a good idea. Sure, the realtor and the loan officer both encouraged me. But I signed on the bottom line knowing it was irresponsible. I put my money on the figurative craps table of real estate because it was "hot," and I lost. The bottom fell out, I lost my job, and couldn't make my new, higher payments on a home that was soon worth half what I owed on it.

Statistically, those who declare bankruptcy do it often. However, I took from that experience not permission to be as amoral as a corporation, but the realization that to live a moral life I must avoid taking on more debt than I can pay-- in fact I try to avoid debt entirely. How unAmerican!

There are situations in which a person or family MUST walk away. But to do it "strategically" sounds like giving up what makes us human.

I think we are faced with a choice: abandon our morality and fight corporations on level ground (and lose). Or embrace our humanity and avoid the seduction of corporate amorality.

Comment on Powerless over ... ?

2010-03-10T13:28:45Z

I would like an explanation for how exactly this inmate did this. Having some experience breastfeeding I think it would be pretty difficult to intentionally "squirt" a person with one's own breast milk.

Also, the CDC does not classify breast milk as a biohazard.

Comment on California to Join EU

2010-03-08T19:03:29Z

Ah, yes, our movies never reach the Oscar stage, it's a shame. I didn't know you guys hate subtitles - but I can imagine, all that reading while you're watching, way too complicated :-)

We Dutch grow up with subtitles, almost all of our TV is American or English. That's why most of us spreak English reasonably well (and it explains we swear with lots of 'shits' and 'fucks').

We should never have given up New Amsterdam. Somehow my forefathers thought Surinam was worth more and traded it for New York with the English. Still a shame.

Remco

Comment on California to Join EU

2010-03-08T15:40:19Z

We fought the Brits, French, and Spanish in North America and kicked them all out. It would be ironic if now they bought their way back in.

But then Europeans would be doing the Oscar nominations-- and they'd be way too intellectual for us! Don't you know we hate subtitles?

Seriously, California has considered selling off or leasing just about everything, from prisons to state parks. (Elected officials, too, may be for sale.)

Nice to hear from you!

Comment on California to Join EU

2010-03-07T09:38:49Z

Angela Merkel, chancellor of Germany, also suggested that Greece should sell some of its islands, to pay off its debt. Greece was 'not amused':

http://bit.ly/b7bpbn

My sister - who lives on Crete (Greece's largest island) said it was a good thing this was not big on the Greek news. There al already enough protests in the country.

Anyway: here's an idea: maybe the US could sell California to the EU?

:-) Remco

Comment on Hurt

2010-03-04T18:37:24Z

Johnny Cash's music has enjoyed quite a rennaissance, especially since his death. Hurt is from an album he recorded and released shortly before his death. It's a wonderful album. I recommend adding it in it's entirety to any music collection you might have.

Comment on The Problem with Tax Cuts

2010-03-03T17:53:19Z

Following my own investigation, billions of persons on our planet get the personal loans from various creditors. Thence, there's great possibilities to get a car loan in all countries.