Is This Man Lying? - Page 4 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

ashedd · #46 12-06-2010, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JollyRoger

Trucks can be run on natural gas, and if that runs out, diesel fuel can easily be extracted from coal, so, you''ve got like 500 years or so of suburbs. China is like any bond holder, it doesn't get to "call in it's markers", it gets to cash them in on the maturity date or sell them on the secondary market like anyone else. Guess I am going to have to "dismiss you as a lunatic".

The US, for all it's faults, has the most stable government on the planet, millions of people go about their day to day lives in it, while a small group of paranoids has been predicting it's demise since John first grew a Birch.

Interesting time when I went to find a simple pie chart of the US budget's defense outlays - there seems to be all sorts of them saying all sorts of things. Most of the ".gov" sites list it as 21% of the budget, but it seems the War in Iraq has been "off budget", and when that is taken into account, it rises to 58% of total outlays. The bottom line is that spending for the "war on terror" are way out of line given the actual threat, and the cash being allocated to it has created a massive new sinkhole for all our tax dollars to disappear into rivaling Medicare and SSI.

I heard there is a virtual limitless supply of natural gas. Then of course there is biodiesel.. made from hemp. I read that in Canada they finally started letting farmers farm hemp. It is suppose to be a direct replacement to crude oil.
The military industrial complex is sucking down all the money. We humans must learn to live in piece. Only then will our friends return to help us

aklim · #47 12-06-2010, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ashedd

I heard there is a virtual limitless supply of natural gas. Then of course there is biodiesel.. made from hemp. I read that in Canada they finally started letting farmers farm hemp. It is suppose to be a direct replacement to crude oil.
The military industrial complex is sucking down all the money. We humans must learn to live in piece. Only then will our friends return to help us

They are doing experiments to see if it is cost effective to make Biodiesel from Algae. Still, it doesn't matter. None of this will make a difference. Oil is something we are fighting over right now, not only for ourselves but our business partners. Lets say I can find mankind a limitless supply of cheap energy. Will it make the difference? Well, lets forget oil for a while. Oil has been an issue since when again? Lets look 500 years back. 1000 or eve 2000 years back. Man has been fighting with man for all the history. It is the nature of man. We cannot avoid that. The only difference is the item we are fighting over. Even if we had a perfect replacement for oil, we will still find something to fight over. Man is the disease. You can cure the symptom but it will come back again and again.

75Sv1 · #48 12-06-2010, 12:26 PM

I wrote a big response to this earlier, but it didn't get posted.
First I agree with many of the problems he points out. Still, the US has many natural resources, oil, coal, iron, natural gas, other minerals, land, timber etc. The US just needs to utlized them better. Also, much of our natrual resources can't be mined at a profit at this point of time.
The US still has plenty of water. Its the end users that need to be curtailed. Cities in deserts, swimming pools in CA, etc. Also, farming practices. If water cost go up, then there might be better alocation of water resources. Also, politics come into play. Big city peoples pools are more important than small farms. So, food comes from overseas.
The US still has a lot of manufacturing power. Its down from what it was. It was a bubble, to an extent. We can Canada were some of the few countries not leveld after WW2. It took the rest of the world a while to catch back up. We and the rest of the world will adjust.
China, India etc. are looking good right now. Look at bit closer. Then look even closer. I'd take the US problems over those powder keggs any day. Yes, I see a lot of problems brewing. If you think the US is a diversified mass, then look at either of those countries. I think only Japan and possibly Korea are close to homogenous. Still, they have their divides.
Both China and India have water problems. Shifiting class structures, and ethnic divides. A lot of polution and land management problems. They have a lot of poor class of people. They will want a peice of the pie, sooner or latter. If you read much on China, latter is coming sooner than expected. Also, wages are rising in both countries. Neighboring countires are protesting about water rights. Eventhough we are in Afgahnistan, at least an ocean is between us and Pakistan.
I'll take Mexico as a neighbor over any of those countries. And who doesn't love Canada. Who wouldn't want them as their neighbor?
Then there is the 800 lbs gorrilla, population. Then US and Europe are actually declining, if it weren't for the imigration, both legal and illegal. I think India and China are facing an exodus from the country side to the cities. This could cause a cultural shift. It did in the US and Europe. We came through it. Still, I think they are looking at a lot more people. Also, both have a gender imbalance to deal with. I don't see that as good for at least two reasons. First, single agrresive males, is either war or high crime rates. Next, a generation latter and severe population decline from less breeding pairs. Not good.
Both of those countries have to deal with terrorist at certain levels. It will be interesting.
Tom

ashedd · #49 12-06-2010, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 75Sv1

It will be interesting.
Tom

That's an understatement lol. It will be a good show none the less.

Hatterasguy · #50 12-06-2010, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chilcutt

Some people are interested in differant topics, that is why it is an open discussion. This topic has more interest to me than someone whining about home depot..or being tail-gaited.
To each his own..Peace.

It find it amazing how someone who doesn't even live in this country is so interested in trashing it.

So thanks for the advice, we will run our country and you enjoy and work on improving your area of the world.

chilcutt · #51 12-07-2010, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 75Sv1

I wrote a big response to this earlier, but it didn't get posted.
First I agree with many of the problems he points out. Still, the US has many natural resources, oil, coal, iron, natural gas, other minerals, land, timber etc. The US just needs to utlized them better. Also, much of our natrual resources can't be mined at a profit at this point of time.
The US still has plenty of water. Its the end users that need to be curtailed. Cities in deserts, swimming pools in CA, etc. Also, farming practices. If water cost go up, then there might be better alocation of water resources. Also, politics come into play. Big city peoples pools are more important than small farms. So, food comes from overseas.
The US still has a lot of manufacturing power. Its down from what it was. It was a bubble, to an extent. We can Canada were some of the few countries not leveld after WW2. It took the rest of the world a while to catch back up. We and the rest of the world will adjust.
China, India etc. are looking good right now. Look at bit closer. Then look even closer. I'd take the US problems over those powder keggs any day. Yes, I see a lot of problems brewing. If you think the US is a diversified mass, then look at either of those countries. I think only Japan and possibly Korea are close to homogenous. Still, they have their divides.
Both China and India have water problems. Shifiting class structures, and ethnic divides. A lot of polution and land management problems. They have a lot of poor class of people. They will want a peice of the pie, sooner or latter. If you read much on China, latter is coming sooner than expected. Also, wages are rising in both countries. Neighboring countires are protesting about water rights. Eventhough we are in Afgahnistan, at least an ocean is between us and Pakistan.
I'll take Mexico as a neighbor over any of those countries. And who doesn't love Canada. Who wouldn't want them as their neighbor?
Then there is the 800 lbs gorrilla, population. Then US and Europe are actually declining, if it weren't for the imigration, both legal and illegal. I think India and China are facing an exodus from the country side to the cities. This could cause a cultural shift. It did in the US and Europe. We came through it. Still, I think they are looking at a lot more people. Also, both have a gender imbalance to deal with. I don't see that as good for at least two reasons. First, single agrresive males, is either war or high crime rates. Next, a generation latter and severe population decline from less breeding pairs. Not good.
Both of those countries have to deal with terrorist at certain levels. It will be interesting.
Tom

I see that you have really done your homework. this is a very intelligent post. Thank-You.

aklim · #52 12-07-2010, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ashedd

I have done some research over the last couple years and being an RN fit's all of my requirements of a new career. It has the job growth, stability and earning potential I like. And the deciding factor is the ability to work anywhere. So I applied and was accepting to nursing school. It's going to be a big step from helicopters to nursing.

I have read that peak oil is a myth... I am not too sure what to think about that.

If you can graduate and if you can do a good job, sure. Otherwise you will be relegated to the nursing homes which is the dregs of the nursing society.

Not sure but I am not sure what the issue is. IIRC, someone aired a program where they had people predicting where the oil would end but it keeps getting shifted forward and forward.

75Sv1 · #53 12-07-2010, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chilcutt

I see that you have really done your homework. this is a very intelligent post. Thank-You.

OK, I wonder about your point of view on how Maylasia and Indonesia fit into this. I see both as still developing countires. Also, to an extent a shifiting agricultural population to an urban population. When I was in Indonesia in the mid 90s, there was still the prevelant traditional value of a large family. The forces that necessitated a large family, ie argiculture and sort life expectancy had been minimized. So, a future of an over population. I also see the problem of religion, cultural mores, and ethnic and class issues.
From my POV, both are in prime positions. They are not directly connected to the Asian continent. So, whatever water resources are theirs. Indonisia is mentioned as one of the next manufacturing centers. CEVIT (Columbia, Egypt, Vietnam, Indonesia, Turkey). Both are also prime locations for shipping. I think both already fill that niche to an extent.
Tom

chilcutt · #54 12-07-2010, 10:38 AM

I would have to research these area's more in order to make an accurate assesment.

Shooting from the hip, I know that Indonesia is still backwards in many regards such as , each season they burn off left-over stubs in their sugar-cane feilds. Last month Singapore was in a total fog due to the winds blowing this smoke our way. Of course, each year Singapore gets to gether with Indonesia's officials to find a solution. Each year Indonesia ask's for $$ to find a solution...which never happens..the cycle just repeats itself.
At the root of the problem is of course corruption in the Government in Indo.
Indonesia also seems to be plagued by natural disasters, such as Tsunami-earth-quake- volcano eruption, on a regular basis, so I imagine that it must be difficult to reach any sort of equalibrium.
Also, a big problem in Indonesia is Terrorist cells/recruitment- Not as bad as in Phillipines- but definately a big problem.
From a business standpoint, Indo is going to be a country to watch. I am currently pooling with 2 colleagues to investigate whether it would be in our interest to start a business there. Of course , one has to have the right connections, as Indonesians tend to be a little leery of cuacasions.
Malaysia is a totally differant ballgame. Corruption at the Government level , down to the police department dictates the reason I like to have as little to do with them as possible.
If you dont mind, I would rather leave things at that, until I can come up with statstics, and facts.

ashedd · #55 12-07-2010, 10:43 AM

Nice to see the thread reopened after it was locked for no apparent reason.

I have not heard/seen chilcutt bad mouth/trash the USA. He has an opinion and is entitled to it, just like the rest of us.

There are certainly nursing jobs to be had besides nursing homes

I am currently eying the possibility of going to Australia after I am done with school.

aklim · #56 12-07-2010, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chilcutt

From a business standpoint, Indo is going to be a country to watch. I am currently pooling with 2 colleagues to investigate whether it would be in our interest to start a business there. Of course , one has to have the right connections, as Indonesians tend to be a little leery of cuacasions.
Malaysia is a totally differant ballgame. Corruption at the Government level , down to the police department dictates the reason I like to have as little to do with them as possible.
If you dont mind, I would rather leave things at that, until I can come up with statstics, and facts.

IMO, both are about bribing the right officials. For instance, in Malaysia, you get pulled over and they ask to see your fingers. That tells them how much you have to bribe them. That or they threaten to take you to the magistrate and it is a weekend or you can pay the fine and they will take care of it for you, "Gentleman to Gentleman".

In Malaysia, you might be better served if you change your name. You already have the religion so change the name and you can get further ahead.

aklim · #57 12-07-2010, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ashedd

There are certainly nursing jobs to be had besides nursing homes

Not if you suck at nursing. Hospitals look down on RNs in the nursing home. Nurses tend to eat their young. Believe me, I know. Wife's colleagues were having a ball about who has the dumbest nursing home nurses they deal with.

RichC · #58 12-07-2010, 03:20 PM

I dont think the next crisis will be localized in one country.

Just like the US economic crisis effected many countries, so will any other.

We are too interconnected.

I think the skill set to learn would be growing food.

Food production must change dramatically in the next few years to keep up with population growth, and the increasing costs of oil.

It will become too expensive to run a tractor in china to cultivate rice that gets shipped to the US and sold in a store.

Way too much oil is being used to generate too little food.

I think it something like 10 calories of oil are used to create 1 calorie of food.

ashedd · #59 12-07-2010, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aklim

Not if you suck at nursing. Hospitals look down on RNs in the nursing home. Nurses tend to eat their young. Believe me, I know. Wife's colleagues were having a ball about who has the dumbest nursing home nurses they deal with.

Well I haven't even started my first day of class yet.. thanks for the vote of confidence.

aklim · #60 12-07-2010, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ashedd

Well I haven't even started my first day of class yet.. thanks for the vote of confidence.

Like any job, you can pass the qualifications easily. However, whether you have the aptitude or not is a different story. The wife's friend passed an NP. Too timid to do anything. On paper, she is good. In real life, we will never know if she doesn't have the courage to treat any patient. So far, nobody I have talked to has actually told me that nursing home nurses are worth a damn. Whether you end up in a critical care unit where because are good or whether you will be in a nursing home because nobody else will accept you is not known.

Passing the tests seems to be easy. Much like any field. Whether you will be a good engineer, mechanic, surgeon, etc, etc will depend on your aptitude for that subject. My wife holds a masters degree. When it comes to computers, I knew more about them than she ever will. It is less frustrating for me to do it for her than to teach her. Why? No aptitude. When we go to the doctor, we already have a plan and I rubber stamp everything she said. Why? I don't want to get involved in medical stuff. I could work hard and be as qualified as she is ON PAPER. She'd have to be drugged, drunk and extremely tired before I stand a chance of being as good as she is. Again, no aptitude.