That school is kinda surreal though, people like in that cast cant really exist, can they?

Zaibach

I know the blatant Dawson Casting in it is kind of surreal and improbable.

[QUOTE="Pearl_of_Egypt"][QUOTE="chilly-chill"]Being unpredictable helps. chilly-chill

I'm sure the disenfranchised population of OT generally either has too high standards or otherwise little appetite for self improvement. Or maybe just no clue other than their limited social exposure and what they read on the Internet.

I thought her measurements were pretty good. Either way, I don't like the looks of her in that picture. I'll pass.

No, but I believe that unicorns are real and that some vikings still live in Minnesota.

Being unpredictable helps. chilly-chill

In the long run, everyone is unpredictable.

If they have nearly $20 million in disposable income a year, there's not 100,000 people in the world who can say that.

I think we need to focus on diplomacy and less warmongering. Seriously, bombing syria is not going to solve their crisis.

sonicare

I don't think Assad has any intention of giving up power or any real concessions.

[QUOTE="Storm_Marine"]

[QUOTE="BranKetra"]This is why I didn't vote for him. I don't want a war-mongering fool as a president.coolbeans90

Yeah, because there is SUCH a big difference in McCain wanting to bomb Syria and Obama bombing Libya.

Libya has no oil.

Syria has oil. Just not a lot.

Well this is a given, the wage descripency is disgusting compared to the rest of the west.. I don't think any one here would say we should all be paid equally, that is just not realistic nor possible.. But at the same time we should not some how accept the kind of wealth gap that there is in the US compared to the rest of the west.. The average European CEO gets paid some 40 to 50 times more then their average worker.. The US difference is 3 to 4 times that descrepency of the rest of West.. Clearly something is wrong here when statistically US workers are not only getting less vacation days, are not as healthy, but they are not getting paid any where close to their European counterparts.... When it comes to taxes we need tax reform and a increase in capital gains tax.. We need to close loop holes.. Because as it stands the rich and corporations pay no where near the supposed % they are suppose to pay.. Due to loopholes.. In the end of the day, I am pretty certain no one wants to see other people struggling.. Nor do people want to see the destruction of a class, such as the rich.. But at this time the burden of the economy has literally fallen on the middle and lower class.. While the upper class literally have gotten geometrically richer and literally have provided nothing new to the economy on top of that.. Take look at General Electric.. The US not only taxed them 0% last period, but the US gave them subsidies.. What did they do in return? they cut jobs in the US.. Our system needs to be based upon results not expectations that never happen.. sSubZerOo

I would just be careful with increasing the capital gains tax too much. If the short-term and long-term rates are close together (i.e. the 30% proposed AMT and with the top ordinary income tax bracket expecting to revert to 39% in 2013), some might see more incentive in just investing or speculating in the shorter term (less than 1 year), which can lead to some pretty unintended consequences (maybe some new exotic derivatives that no one really understands all over again). Just some food for thought.

[QUOTE="jetpower3"]

[QUOTE="nZiFFLe"]

no way. wealth=more oppurtunities.

nZiFFLe

I'd actually say wealth alone does not lead to more opportunities. You do need money to make money, but lacking experience, skills, and a professional network in tandem with wealth (or with some sort of leverage/equity) does not lead anywhere, at least significantly.

you're right. other factors, like race, social standing, demography etc. also influence the amount of oppurtunities in one's life.

i still think wealth is the most influential factor, though.

I once read an article on wsj.com that implied that 3 unifying factors for self-made wealth were high risk/beta asset investment (or speculation if you want to be technical), concentration, and leverage. Much of that can only come from wealth (whether it be your own or someone else's). I suppose you're right.