Burn-E

Essentially, this is what you're saying Kevin:

Just because someone in some congregation somewhere in the US decided to create that document hardly speaks to how the Church overall functions. Keep trying though Kevin.

You missed the whole point of my statement. There are some jobs that should never be considered as positions that are intended to support someone to make a full living. Just because someone will pay you for a job does not mean that a total lack of skills means you should be paid as much as those who have developed significant skills that contribute to society. Let's evaluate who is making less than $15 an hour: Note that they are all essentially people who have minimal skills. Now, let's ask ourselves what should we do to ensure people are going to be able to make a living? Should we pay them more or should we encourage them to improve their skills? Because let's think about the jobs that are paid ~$15/hour and have significant skills / specific temperament to be successful (source, search on indeed or similar job sites for wage $15 or more): Paramedic Bank Teller Drywall Finisher (entry level) Cable TV Installer Payroll Clerk School Bus Driver Overnight Awake Mental Health Patient Rehabilitator Medical Receptionist Warehouse Receiving Material Handler Retail Merchandiser Machinist Swim Instructor Home Appraiser Trainee (entry level) Insurance Inspector Note: all of these jobs are in flyover country like Minnesota, Iowa, Kansas, Oklahoma. These jobs actually pay more than $15/hr in larger cities. Also note that many of these are not heavy labor positions. Now riddle me this Kevin, should guys who flip hamburgers earn as much as these people or is the market actually paying those low skilled jobs what they're worth? Perhaps the message and effort should be to ask ourselves why these people aren't developing into skilled workers who could actually earn $15 / hour? And then invest in that effort rather than just giving a hand out.

OK, this is hilarious. I give you Donald and Hobbes: https://www.reddit.com/r/DonaldandHobbes/ http://www.filmsforaction.org/articles/donald-and-hobbes-is-genius/

Take a close look at this graphic. The narrative is the the Middle is getting squeezed and people are falling out into the Lower and Lowest demographic segments. The narrative you're proposing isn't supported by the data: Note that in 1971 16% were in Lowest and in 2015 it grew to 20%. But don't forget that as the Middle shrank, the Upper Middle grew from 10 to 12% and the Highest grew from 4 to 9%. That means the bottom two tiers grew from 25% to 29% while the top two tiers grew from 14% to 21%. Which means the upper tiers absorbed more of the shrinkage of the middle class than the lower tier. Just depends on how you read what the data is telling you.

Alden, go play psychotherapist with someone else. I've said my piece on the subject.

So I picked up a free set of SPDs and bought a set of Speedplays. I'm going to test out the Speedplays because my research shows they seem to be easier on the knees and I'm specifically getting back into biking as part of rehabilitation of a knee. If I don't like the Speedplays I'll shift to the SPDs.

This defense of the minimum wage is fascinating and demonstrates a failure to understand where the extra money will come from to pay those $15 or $10 per hour wages. Kevin if suddenly everyone is making $15 per hour many of those retailers and fast food restaurants are going to fire a bunch of people and raise their prices to compensate. They run on margins of 2-3%. More automation will happen and your additional money earned from the raise will not stretch much farther than it does today. And Kevin, before you declare, "But Seattle hasn't experienced this...." Read: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/07/29/study-raising-the-minimum-wage-did-little-for-workers-earnings-in-seattle/ http://www.npr.org/2016/04/01/472716129/one-year-on-seattle-explores-impact-of-15-minimum-wage-law http://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/editorials/know-the-effects-of-the-minimum-wage-experiment/

Mike I found the perfect shirt for you: http://www.redbubble.com:

That's how it looked when I picked it up. Haven't had any time with it yet but it reminded me of the old flip bar look. We'll see where the stem winds up after I'm done fitting it. I know the rage is dropping it to the floor.

Picked this up today. 2007 Trek Madone 6.9 SSL all carbon that was upgraded with a newer Dura-Ace groupset and Race Lite wheels by a retired bike mechanic who dabbles in building bikes now. Weighs in at slightly less than 16 lbs. What do you guys recommend for pedals and shoes? I'm moving out of mountain biking so I'm new to the road game.

Just watched Hannity for 5 minutes after the end of the DNC tonight and I just wanted to punch my TV. Lumpy is so annoying. Why did I do that to myself?

Yes, Gary, once a candidate becomes the nominee for one of the two parties it could happen that they might win the election in November. But no, I am not scared. I am motivated and talking with everyone I encounter to influence their vote. Specifically I am focusing on disillusioned Conservatives who think they have to pull the R lever because that's what they've always done. I've already converted 10 voters and the real campaign hasn't even started yet. (That's the difference between sitting online and spouting off and actually going out and talking to people face to face in good old grassroots politicking). The whole time I was in Utah and Las Vegas for vacation I focused on helping friends and family realize that they could and should vote for Hillary. And if they can't bring themselves to do that then to pull the lever for Gary Johnson. I have many conservative friends who I worked with on Republican campaigns when we were college students who are doing the same. You want to know who is the most effective at changing people's minds? Someone who thinks just like them and with whom they identify. For the first time in 52 years one of the Reddest States in the nation - Utah - is very likely going to send its 6 Electoral votes to someone other than a Republican. Trump is going down.

Because this is what pretty much every conservative I know is going through right now: gymnastics A thin-skinned narcissist with no government experience? We should definitely not elect that guy. Oh wait, you mean he's the Republican nominee?!

I love to see that Gary is finally coming around. Oh, and I wonder why the TP team (lolololol) decided to change their logo:

Well you can do that if you like but she's a little old for my tastes. She's not the only one trying to stop Bernie though. I would turn my ire toward the Senior Senators and Representatives of Congress and Governors. That cabal is who wasn't interested in supporting Bernie. Remember, he got next to nil in endorsements from any of them.

Why because you think she was the driver behind this? Kevin you have a great deal to learn about political party leadership. The head of the DNC and the RNC are titular servants of the donors and the politicians they support. Wasserman is a scapegoat. An incompetent one but still a scapegoat. You want to blame someone you need to look further up the food chain. That's not just the interns for Wisconsin. That is probably the office staff interns for half the Republican House Conference. The problem goes much deeper than Ryan.

I saw that. So much closeted self hate.

Yes, because everyone tried to pressure him to endorse Trump and he refused. It takes courage to stand up to the pressure and the threats and an angry crowd and speak the truth.

Oh we shall see. After Trump loses by 8-10% and is trounced in the electoral college most will recognize that Cruz was one of the few to stand by principles rather than kowtow to a disaster in the making. And Kevin, everyone knew exactly what Cruz would say so this was no big surprise. Trump even told his delegates ahead of time when to Boo at Cruz. It's all staged.

Cruz's speech last night was amazing. His message to Trump: Love him or hate him Ted retained his integrity and proclaimed what true conservatism stands for. What's hilarious is why do the Trumpists think he didn't endorse their candidate? He did encourage Republicans to vote for a candidate who shared their values and will defend the Constitution....Hmmmmm

He had a couple hand grenades and a pistol none of which were used according to the French news.

Cheese and rice the two of you, modifications are only supposed to happen to the car. Different kind of body shop I guess.

Yeah, I used to get that when I was in my 20's. Photos shot from 10 feet away in soft light do a great job of hiding all the signs of age. Especially when my salt and pepper hair is hidden under a helmet.