What on Earth is going on in the world today? It's gone mad

[Federberg]

All about attention to visual detail. Interesting stuff. I'll never make the CIA.

you think that one was bad? The next one is extremely controversial. I suggest getting a magnifying class out first and really studying the picture before doing the calculation. If it helps, it's a similar principle to this one. Just be very careful looking at the picture first!

 

[britbox]

you think that one was bad? The next one is extremely controversial. I suggest getting a magnifying class out first and really studying the picture before doing the calculation. If it helps, it's a similar principle to this one. Just be very careful looking at the picture first!

38?

 

[Federberg]

38?

non

 

[britbox]

73?

 

[calitennis127]

That's one of the few parts of the bill I actually like. For the record I don't credit the stimulus bill to the Trump Administration. I say that because there's some spectacularly bad stuff in there in my view. So I'm not going to come back later and blame him if it comes to it. At the end of the day, the buck stops with McConnell and Pelosi. I don't agree with bailouts for airliners, cruiser lines, and a multitude of other big companies that refused to keep a buffer on their balance sheets. As far as I'm concerned those shareholders should be wiped out. This is the bank bailout of 09 all over again. It's total BS. What are your thoughts on that?

I'm a bit conflicted on that. I understand your point but some businesses simply operate closer to the margins than others. That's their style, and in the end it works out very well for some of them. What makes this situation different is that the government shut down the economy, so it seems just that it should compensate companies it prohibited from operating. Not every business is conservative all the time. Some take risks for an extended period before they really take off.

Also, I have a very different view of 2008 than everyone else. I know it is conventional to blame the "banks," but if you look at Peter Schweizer's book Architects of Ruin, he explains that the banks were actually FORCED into their reckless lending by years of pressure from left-wing activist organizations. They intimidated banks into giving out horrible subprime loans that were never going to be paid back, but then they blamed the banks when everything went belly-up.

 

[Federberg]

73?

there you go!

 

[britbox]

there you go!

Jesus man, that is a fucking drop shadow.

 

[Federberg]

I'm a bit conflicted on that. I understand your point but some businesses simply operate closer to the margins than others. That's their style, and in the end it works out very well for some of them. What makes this situation different is that the government shut down the economy, so it seems just that it should compensate companies it prohibited from operating. Not every business is conservative all the time. Some take risks for an extended period before they really take off.

Also, I have a very different view of 2008 than everyone else. I know it is conventional to blame the "banks," but if you look at Peter Schweizer's book Architects of Ruin, he explains that the banks were actually FORCED into their reckless lending by years of pressure from left-wing activist organizations. They intimidated banks into giving out horrible subprime loans that were never going to be paid back, but then they blamed the banks when everything went belly-up.

re: the banks, you need to look further back than that mate. Clinton caved in to signing the removal of the Glass-Steagall act and it all went down the crapper from there. The very idea that retail banks (our money), should be used as security against investment banks taking market risk is an atrocity in my view. That was the fundamental reason why risk taking expanded in such a crazy manner. The reason I blame the banks is that they were the ones who lobbied for this. They correctly understood that they could (and still can) take risks far beyond their risk capital and the government would be forced to keep them alive. I honestly believe that if the government is ever forced to bail out a company which can be shown has been reckless, the very first step should be that shareholders are wiped out. That's the only way that shareholders be forced to execute their fiduciary responsibility and curb the excess of management.

Have a look at my postings from a few days ago, showing how companies wilfully stressed their balance sheets, leveraging up and implementing share buy back schemes. Just looking at the airlines, the gave away roughly $50bn to shareholders via buybacks and now they have the temerity to ask for a $50bn bailout. It's truly obscene mate

 

[Federberg]

Jesus man, that is a fucking drop shadow.

Lol! totally...

 

[Federberg]

baby steps I guess. Maybe in a few weeks, bats will be off the menu as well!

First Chinese city bans consumption of cats and dogs

Shenzhen, in southeastern China, has become the first city in the country to ban the consumption of cats and dogs, the government announced Thursday.

edition.cnn.com

 

[Federberg]

ooops...

Premier League season suspended indefinitely after coronavirus crisis meeting

The 2019/20 campaign is now on hold without a fixed return date after chiefs from all 20 Premier League clubs held a conference call on Friday morning

www.mirror.co.uk

 

[britbox]

ooops...

Premier League season suspended indefinitely after coronavirus crisis meeting

The 2019/20 campaign is now on hold without a fixed return date after chiefs from all 20 Premier League clubs held a conference call on Friday morning

www.mirror.co.uk

How does this even remotely happen (as in seeing out the season)? I can buy that next season starts on time... but this season? It's a dead duck.

A couple of questions... a) do you think Liverpool should be crowned champions? b) what do you think of Levy's antics in stopping paycheques to non-football staff?

 

[Federberg]

How does this even remotely happen (as in seeing out the season)? I can buy that next season starts on time... but this season? It's a dead duck.

A couple of questions... a) do you think Liverpool should be crowned champions? b) what do you think of Levy's antics in stopping paycheques to non-football staff?

(a) No
(b) An abomination

 

[britbox]

(a) No
(b) An abomination

Ha, about three weeks ago, I'd have probably framed an argument against (a).... but the funny thing is, I was watching a Sky Sports feature today and it felt like I was watching some historical program from a different era in history. Almost like watching a WW2 documentary. Strange times indeed.

 

[calitennis127]

Why is Dr. Fauci doing podcasts with comedians, athletes, and youtube stars during such a serious time? Why is he on a celebrity pop culture tour during a crisis of this magnitude?

 

[calitennis127]

For everyone saying that Trump downplayed the crisis and that he needs to defer to the supposed "expert" Dr. Fauci, enjoy this gem from January. How could Trump have urged a more diligent response at the time when the country's supposed "leading infectious disease expert" was saying this? I hope Moxie takes note before she says that Trump didn't act fast enough. Here's everyone's boy, Dr. Wannabe Bruce Springsteen (I mean Dr. Fauci), putting his "expert" judgment to work back in January:

 

[britbox]

Sobering thoughts... particularly on the age of the people in intensive care.

 

[britbox]

View attachment 3643

I won't beat your mate on the trading floor. No way I'll get lower than 32. Maybe 35 with practice. 12 seconds faster wine-free though. Ha ha.

 

[britbox]

For everyone saying that Trump downplayed the crisis and that he needs to defer to the supposed "expert" Dr. Fauci, enjoy this gem from January. How could Trump have urged a more diligent response at the time when the country's supposed "leading infectious disease expert" was saying this? I hope Moxie takes note before she says that Trump didn't act fast enough. Here's everyone's boy, Dr. Wannabe Bruce Springsteen (I mean Dr. Fauci), putting his "expert" judgment to work back in January:

As far as this virus is concerned, 21 January is like the stone age.

 

[britbox]

I doubt too many will be rushing back onto cruise ships after this. That's one industry that won't recover well.