In Need of an Enemy?

[edgray]

Innovation occurs from imagination. It grows from public buy-in. Do you think the Super Soaker water gun occurred from necessity? Necessity didn't bring forth the internal combustion engine, the internal combustion engine was around as a rich boy's toy until a capitalist found a way to make more money from it. The wheel was invented in South America. It never made it past the toy stage because necessity didn't have a use for it up in the Andes. They really could have used it in North America, but necessity never thought it proper to bring it about there.

I think people like Edison, Bell, Branson, Dyson, Gates, and Martin Cooper (inventor of the cell phone) might dispute your assertion that gov't is necessary for innovation.

You're actually going to pit China & Russia's post WW2 innovation against that of the West??

Firstly, crap like the super soaker isn't innovation, it's a pointless by-product of others innovation. Most innovation, if not all, from the market place has it's roots in research done at institutions like NASA. Where does Apple get it's glass for it's touch screen wonder? NASA research. Where does improved battery life come from? Research at NASA. New plastics? Research at NASA.

All of those inventors just found marketable uses for research, normally scientific, conducted by inquisitive individuals not after wealth but after understanding.

No of course, I'm not going to pit Chinese or USSR innovation above the west. But they had their moments.

 

[Accountable]

:24: You're an innovation snob! :24:

 

[edgray]

:24: You're an innovation snob! :24:

I'm a snob, period, I'd say.

 

[Peter Parka]

China invented sweet and sour pork balls, just for that they dont deserve to have their place in innovation history cunted off.:thumbup:nod:

 

[edgray]

you honestly think that's pork in there?

 

[Peter Parka]

Yeah, the Turks get all the road kill cats and dogs for their kebabberies first, fast fuckers, they are, Chinese stand no chance!

 

[edgray]

I read once that most kebab meat sold in Blighty is lower grade than dog food... now I know why.

 

[Peter Parka]

It's one of those things which looks disgusting but you really crave when you're drunk.

 

[All Else Failed]

This is not building a fictitious enemy. Illegal immigration is an actual problem.



No mercy for anchor babies. Send them back with their parents.

 

[edgray]

This is not building a fictitious enemy. Illegal immigration is an actual problem.

you're right, it's an absolutely terrible problem in that it expands the economy, brings in taxes to the govt, supports local businesses, provides cheap labour in fields most aren't willing to work in... yeah, damn those illegal immigrants eh?

I can see why there's such an uproar about it.

 

[edgray]

It's one of those things which looks disgusting but you really crave when you're drunk.

the kebabs in Spain are awesome, much better quality than those back home I think.

 

[edgray]

Interesting:

average US deaths per year from terrorism (1950 - 2010)

approx 68

Average US deaths per year from peanut allergy (1950 - 2010)

approx 140

 

[Zorak]

Interesting:

average US deaths per year from terrorism (1950 - 2010)

approx 68

Average US deaths per year from peanut allergy (1950 - 2010)

approx 140

68 average deaths a year from terrorism is very high, none the less.

 

[edgray]

68 average deaths a year from terrorism is very high, none the less.

not really. considering the war on terror is costing 160$ billion. And the money spent on peanut awareness?

terrorism = the ultimate fictitious enemy.

 

[Zorak]

not really. considering the war on terror is costing 160$ billion. And the money spent on peanut awareness?

terrorism = the ultimate fictitious enemy.

I'll say, it doesn't even exist and it kills on average 68 people a year

 

[edgray]

I'll say, it doesn't even exist and it kills on average 68 people a year

oh there is a TINY threat of terrorism, mostly perputrated by the US and the UK, but it is blown so far out of proportion it's insane. Peanuts are a much more deadly foe.

 

[Zorak]

Depends what way you look at it.

Conversely you could say, terrorism is the most efficient and deadly killer facing America, sort of like an assassin in a Robert Ludlum novel. While 50 million American's eat peanuts, and they only kill 0.0001 % approx of the population. Sort of like an Italian commando.

 

[edgray]

Depends what way you look at it.

Conversely you could say, terrorism is the most efficient and deadly killer facing America, sort of like an assassin in a Robert Ludlum novel. While 50 million American's eat peanuts, and they only kill 0.0001 % approx of the population. Sort of like an Italian commando.

not at all. apparently all Americans face the threat of terrorism.

 

[mazHur]

The kids were born here illegally

What the hell is it with people that they do not understand that

Has nothing to do with race or ethnicity

They are here fucking illegally

makes me wonder if kids born illegally made them 'less human'??

 

[dt3]

So because terrorism has only killed 4080 people since 1950, we shouldn't be concerned about it? We should just sit back and let them do as they please? After all, its only 68 per year.

Why start at 1950 anyway? Obviously the geopolitics have changed completely since then. And what is the average worldwide in the last decade? Betcha its pretty damn high.