New efforts!

[Ironwolf]

I know you may mean Obamacare, Net neutrality and many other programs that cheat us - like grants and subsides to very rich companies like Hollywood and oil companies.

No, I mean they are completely incompetent to run some elaborate scheme.

They can cheat you out of money all day, lie to you and stonewall you if you call them out on what they did. It would be nice to make everything a Nemesis plot - but in most cases sheer incompetent management and politics rule the day. When you put people in place to manage based on political party rather than competence you get $18 trillion in debt :)

I don't even care which party. When they try elaborate schemes - the truth does come out because by and large those in charge are clueless.

[Sinistar]

Incompetent management and politics may well be a Nemesis plot.

[Aggelakis]

Pretty much the only topic that I'm calling off-limits is government/politics. So while I enjoy watching the meandering this thread takes, please don't take it there. And please, just ignore Joshex. He's bat guano.

[Arcana]

really>?  The best business models are centered on customers.

Being centered on customers is not a business model.  Its an inspirational poster.

[Arcana]

I am not sure if living in your world would be a good thing or a bad thing.

Just watch the history channel during an ancient aliens marathon.  Three hours later, you'll know.

[MM3squints]

Just watch the history channel during an ancient aliens marathon.  Three hours later, you'll know.

https://images.weserv.nl/?url=www.prescientscifi.com%2Fcms%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2FAncient-Aliens.jpg

[JanessaVR]

Just watch the history channel during an ancient aliens marathon.  Three hours later, you'll know.

Lol.  Actually, I thought von Däniken had some interesting ideas - I just can't figure out why he tried to publish them as non-fiction, when he could have made a great "Ancient Astronauts" trilogy or such in the fiction section instead (see Stargate and a bunch of other films/books/etc.).  Really, if you've got that vivid an imagination, be sure to stay in the right section of your local bookstore.  :)

That the Hitler Channel runs these types of things is proof of how far it's fallen.

[Ultimate15]

And please, just ignore Joshex. He's bat guano.

What is 'guano'? I don't feel like Googling it.

[MM3squints]

What is 'guano'? I don't feel like Googling it.

It's something Jim Carry made as a subject in one of his 90's movie

[hurple]

Just watch the history channel during an ancient aliens marathon.  Three hours later, you'll know.

Seriously!  If I was an ancient hominid I would be insulted by those guys. 

"Look at all this cool stuff that we spent years building!"
"It was aliens"
"No, man, we put blood, sweat and tears into building that!  It took many years and incredible manpower!"
"It was aliens"
"F you douchebag!"
"It was aliens"
"Yo' mama was an alien"
"That is likely"
"..."

[MWRuger]

Lol.  Actually, I thought von Däniken had some interesting ideas - I just can't figure out why he tried to publish them as non-fiction, when he could have made a great "Ancient Astronauts" trilogy or such in the fiction section instead (see Stargate and a bunch of other films/books/etc.).  Really, if you've got that vivid an imagination, be sure to stay in the right section of your local bookstore.  :)

That the Hitler Channel runs these types of things is proof of how far it's fallen.

Yes as fiction, it was entertaining. The scandalous truth is that so many people in the 1970's actually believed it was true. There were many movies and books on what today would either be fringe science or out right lunacy. Charles Berlitz Bermuda Triangle books, Phiadelphia experment and many others. Even the Hollow Earth canard got passed around again.

The difference between then and now is that it is much easier to debunk this stuff than it was then. Back then you had to actually read books and collate evidence. In fact, you had to read a lot of books on various subjects to effectively debunk this crap. When you did, it was hard to get your debunking seen by anyone.

There are still plenty of people (although they no longer have a grip on mass culture as they once did) who believe aliens built the pyramids or laid the cyclopean walls of Mycenaean Greece but it is much easier to point them at reams of credible irrefutable evidence that debunks them. The internet has many flaws but it makes it much easier to research this kind of hogwash. (If you already have a strong background in History).

[hurple]

Yes as fiction, it was entertaining. The scandalous truth is that so many people in the 1970's actually believed it was true. There were many movies and books on what today would either be fringe science or out right lunacy. Charles Berlitz Bermuda Triangle books, Phiadelphia experment and many others. Even the Hollow Earth canard got passed around again.

The difference between then and now is that it is much easier to debunk this stuff than it was then. Back then you had to actually read books and collate evidence. In fact, you had to read a lot of books on various subjects to effectively debunk this crap. When you did, it was hard to get your debunking seen by anyone.

There are still plenty of people (although they no longer have a grip on mass culture as they once did) who believe aliens built the pyramids or laid the cyclopean walls of Mycenaean Greece but it is much easier to point them at reams of credible irrefutable evidence that debunks them. The internet has many flaws but it makes it much easier to research this kind of hogwash. (If you already have a strong background in History).

Yeah!  No way aliens built the pyramids!  Time traveling humans did!  The proof is right there on the Internet.  Have you guys see the lady on a cellphone in the Chaplin film?!?!  See!  Proof! 

And Nick Cage is an immortal who served this country in the Civil War.

I know because I saw it on the Internet!

[Arcana]

Yeah!  No way aliens built the pyramids!  Time traveling humans did!  The proof is right there on the Internet.  Have you guys see the lady on a cellphone in the Chaplin film?!?!  See!  Proof! 

And Nick Cage is an immortal who served this country in the Civil War.

I know because I saw it on the Internet!

In two hundred years, ancient aliens will have built the internet.

[hurple]

In two hundred years, ancient aliens will have built the internet.

I've met  Al Gore.  They did.

[Codewalker]

https://images.weserv.nl/?url=www.prescientscifi.com%2Fcms%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2FAncient-Aliens.jpg

https://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g1/Lonemagpie/londo_aliens.jpg

[Joshex]

Pretty much the only topic that I'm calling off-limits is government/politics. So while I enjoy watching the meandering this thread takes, please don't take it there. And please, just ignore Joshex. He's bat guano.

lol, I've called myself worse.

I may troll hard sometimes, and I may have been bat guano insane at certain times in the past. but now I save my insanity for teh FH. what I say here I mean, lest I be trollin in which case I'll let people know in an obvious way.

Just watch the history channel during an ancient aliens marathon.  Three hours later, you'll know.

.... Do.. I know you?

It might be different in various states.   In Texas, it's run by the state to generate funds for various things like education. (Which I'm sure they spend on other stuff instead)

So it does seem odd that you can win money from them...but they then take a big chunk of it before handing it to you.Probably true.

But it might also be true that you will never have any free time working for yourself.

I suppose a person has to balance which is more important...money or time.  I have to say I come down in favor of the latter.

I've managed to find a way to work for myself and have very little money.   ;D  (musician)   I'm happy though since I get time in the bargain and enjoy myself every second when I'm "working".   I won't be one of those people spending my last moments of life regretting that I spent most of my time trying to make money.   Luckily I live in the developed world in the 21st century where being "poor" is far better than our richest ancestors lived their lives.  I've "only" got a Toyota instead of a BMW.    I can take it.    :)

indeed just trying to make money is never good. and you gotta do something you find fun, but it wont necessarily be easy, and will be an uphill battle into an unforgiving monopolistic system, you will have to fight to get ahead but once you hit that point where you surpass what they know and try what you know they refuse to for whatever reason, then you just need to finish the job.

[MWRuger]

Yeah!  No way aliens built the pyramids!  Time traveling humans did!  The proof is right there on the Internet.  Have you guys see the lady on a cellphone in the Chaplin film?!?!  See!  Proof! 

I know because I saw it on the Internet!

Actually, that's been debuked as well. The man in the Chaplin video is using a hearing aid. In the inset upper left you can see an ad for the device.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3272965/charlie-chaplin-time-traveler-hearing-aid.png

[ivanhedgehog]

did you know that that's the problem with "the price is right"? many of the winning contestants end up having to turn down their winnings because they still need to pay the tax on them. so "A new car!" is more like "Oh F-....... why me...?". Oh I did almost forget to mention this too; the tax you pay on any winnings isn't normal tax either, it's a 60% gambling tax. so the winner ends up forking over 60% of the price of whatever they win, imagine winning a new rollsroyce at 400 grand pounds + you're looking at 240 grand in taxes minimum.

I've also heard several stories about the money earnings too, some have said you can't claim it unless you can pay the tax first. Gotta have money to make money..

I don't believe that though I believe you need initiative and skill to make money. and always remember this; you'll never truly make good money working for someone else.

federal taxes on gambling proceeds is 25%. casinos often withhold 25% before giving you the money.

[ivanhedgehog]

What is 'guano'? I don't feel like Googling it.

bat doodoo

[hurple]

Actually, that's been debuked as well. The man in the Chaplin video is using a hearing aid. In the inset upper left you can see an ad for the device.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3272965/charlie-chaplin-time-traveler-hearing-aid.png

And the debunking has been debunked by some guy with crazy hair that keeps yelling at the invisible monkeys clinging to the ceiling.

So there

:P