Azalin

thanks, I appreciate the info.

I saw this in the WSJ the other day. one line from the article: 'More than 200 years ago, Thomas Jefferson warned that this could happen. "The natural progress of things," Jefferson wrote, "is for liberty to yield and government to gain ground.' I've seen people on this board reply to such statements with lines like 'tell me what liberties the government has taken from you'. by today's standards, you'd never know that Jefferson was a Democrat.

but the HFT activity is on trades that have already happened (from the purchaser's standpoint) - they simply jump in front of another trade that's about to happen and make the purchase as well. all I'm saying is that it may or may not be ethical.....I am going to wait until I understand the process better before rendering my judgement.

an unlevel playing field? how do you level the playing field in the stock market, and how could it operate the way it does under those conditions? this issue looks like something that everybody needs to learn a little more about before taking up pitchforks & torches. I'll admit that I know little about HFT at this point, but exactly how much consequence is there with respect to affecting the market when we're talking mass trading of miniscule amounts over a couple of milliseconds? it just seems to me that it's a form of computerized insider trading based on trades that are already occurring. does anyone know if their own investments or retirement accounts are being effected for good, for ill, or at all?

he was one of my favorites. I always loved his water park routine (it's not a slide!). what a loss. rest in peace, John, and thanks for all the laughs.

I realize it's not quite the same situation, but it reminds me of Germany after they had moved into Austria, and before they went into Poland, both in what Putin is doing, and in what the rest of the world isn't doing.

to give a consensus view or opinion would mean that anyone answering would be speaking on behalf of a group of people. the only ones putting forth a consensus view on this subject are global warming alarmists. speaking purely for myself, the summary of my views is that there may indeed be global warming, but there also may not. in my opinion, the science is too new and the methods for collecting, analyzing, and extrapolating climate data are not yet proven. even if global warming can be proven, so far there is nothing in the way of evidence to prove that humanity is in any way directly responsible for it. it may turn out some day that we do indeed find that mankind is at least partially responsible for climate change, but for now, I remain skeptical on that point. consensus doesn't mean squat when it comes to science. science is a quest for truth that often defies convention. consider that for the first two-thirds of recorded history that scientific consensus was that our planetary system was geocentric, until Galileo proved that it was heliocentric. they did worse than label him as a closed-minded denier - they just placed him under house arrest for the rest of his life. another thing that, in my opinion, should always be considered: always question anyone's position or motivation when they espouse any kind of tax or fee on anyone or anything, especially when the cause is yet to be substantiated.

I see the troll is using his dictionary today.

that is easily the most intelligent thing you've posted to date.

planting a flag on the moon?

how is it that cutting wasteful government spending is to immediately end our involvement in wars, but not to reduce or eliminate spending in areas that are already in existence in both the private sector as well as state and local governments? much of what the left deems to be important government spending and 'caring for american citizens' already happens on a local level. why does it never occur to them that if the federal government took less for purposes of helping people, then that money can stay where it is most needed to help people?

best laugh of the day so far...........

think of it as being akin to putting the paper football straight between the thumb-and-forefinger uprights, only slightly more violent.

I know a couple LARPers, and although they can't be taken as a reflection of the entire LARPing community, they're a bit too preoccupied with fantasy in general for me to ever consider either potentially viable candidates for public office. then again, I'm into desktop RPGs, and I wouldn't vote for myself were I to seek public office.

hey Einstein, you may wish to refrain from calling other people dumb, idiots, or fools when in the same post you can't even spell 'mole hill'.

I'm with you. a lot of people in the Austin area have either worked at Fort Hood, were stationed there, or know someone currently serving there. events like this have a very strong impact on many people here, and most of the local public's attention at this point is focused on the tragic loss of life, and support & prayers for those who have lost someone.

don't hold your breath. he's not here to discuss, he's not here to learn, he's not here to enlighten, he's not even here to debate. he is pajama boy. he's just a troll, and not even a challenging or entertaining one. if it turned out that he is a sockpuppet of Hogboy, then I'd be impressed (only Hogboy could develop and maintain such an irksome personality to this degree), but then again, Hogboy had more imagination.

for crying out loud, just read the blasted article he linked, would you?

heel, boy.

this is the pajama boy style of debate.....keep saying as many utterly retarded, classless, and clueless things as possible until your opponent walks away in disgust and amazement.

I'll take 'never' for 500, Alex......

it amuses me to no end that I make a comparison to what you say by using a premise as idiotic as yours, and you agree with it. thank you. I haven't had a laugh like this in days.

he's only defending Christie in your biased eyes. he is, in fact, reviewing a paper trail, looking for any indication at all that Christie was involved. he is as much a prosecuting attorney, by your logic, as he is a defense attorney.