insignificant thoughts - Latest Comments

Re: Fav’ed On Youtube: Every Presentation Ever: Communication FAIL

Tim Elmore — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 22:56:56 -0000

We just posted an updated version of “Every Presentation Ever” here:
http://youtu.be/rIABo0d9MVE

Re: Don’t Legislate My Morality (Except Condoms On Porn Stars)

Vinny — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 11:06:05 -0000

I can argue with that very easily: a contract between consenting adults is not a place for the government unless one party fails to fulfill their obligations under that contract.
Any time government interferes with the execution of contracts by consenting parties, it creates unintended consequences, and this would be no different.And honestly, based on a cursory glance of your Facebook page, your legislation of morality seems, to me, more of a stance against pornography and homosexuality than about regulation. You strike me as the type of person who doesn't like pornography or homosexuality and wants to make it so impossible to make, produce, or distribute, that it goes away. I don't like your type of people or the methods you pursue in your arguments because they strike me as grossly disingenuous.

Re: Don’t Legislate My Morality (Except Condoms On Porn Stars)

David Thomson — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 10:35:05 -0000

Morality is the actions and behaviors that lead to the good health and well-being of individuals and communities. Every law, rule, and regulation ever legislated throughout history is a legislation of morality. Why should the health and well-being of actors not be subject to legislation in regard to risky behavior?

We legislate safety courses for truck drivers, safety belts for all drivers, car seats for children, sterile bandaids in hospitals and clinics, gloves for food service workers, and numerous other safety and hygienic precautions. Why do you think it would not be in the public interest to ensure the health and well-being of actors?

Be thankful that OSHA has not taken action... yet. As new professions move into the mainstream it becomes the function of the government to regulate their actions and behaviors to prevent injury and the spread of disease. How can you argue with that?

Re: 200 Consenting Adults Arrested In Prostitution Sting

Vinny — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 13:53:58 -0000

Probably not, but then again how different is it from the groups of teens that sit around in front of your house in an urban neighborhood that swap pot for oral sex? That's the problem, really. We're inconsistent on what an adult can do. My philosophy is that if an adult can vote, fight and die for the country, and pay taxes, what they do in their bedroom is their business. That applies to being gay or being a prostitute; either way, it's not my business.

Secondly, I'd hazard a guess that if adults were allowed to create a business agreement with other adults, the caliber of people doing this would improve because you wouldn't be handing a monopoly on it to the black market. The reason scum runs prostitution rings is because we've driven the business into their hands and guaranteed them no competition except for each other (and don't even get me started on the street violence doing that has created).

Re: 200 Consenting Adults Arrested In Prostitution Sting

Jason Dunn — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 13:42:22 -0000

So if you had a handful of prostitutes hanging out in front of your apartment or house, you'd be cool with it? It's easy to say it's not a big deal if it's not happening in front of where you live. The article says it was in response to complaints from neighborhoods, so I don't get the sense that this is a crackdown on some "hooker alley" somewhere...more like where people live. I'd complain if hookers were in front of my house.

Re: 12 Girls In Same School Get Random Illness, HIPAA Keeps Other Parents In The Dark

Vinny — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 19:56:56 -0000

It's absolutely ridiculous. The least they could do is release the common factor!

Re: 12 Girls In Same School Get Random Illness, HIPAA Keeps Other Parents In The Dark

racc00n — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 19:53:43 -0000

neither the parents or the girls know what is wrong :( the ny department of health is shrouding the problem in secrecy

Re: DAMMIT! WHY IS MY BOYFRIEND NOT A VAMPIRE YET?

Vinny — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 18:17:13 -0000

You don't know enough fans.

Re: DAMMIT! WHY IS MY BOYFRIEND NOT A VAMPIRE YET?

DannyChadwick — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 18:03:53 -0000

I have a hard time believing any person could be this stupid.

Re: IT.tv Episode 436: Cars Don’t Stop Here. Ever.

Vinny — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 16:28:10 -0000

I did exactly that. :-)

Re: IT.tv Episode 436: Cars Don’t Stop Here. Ever.

Anthony Marc — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 15:54:54 -0000

I think they call that a 'California Stop'. Just roll right on through... It happens everywhere and is ridiculously unsafe. But the police have better things to do like giving out speeding tickets for going 5 over on the freeway that everybody else is going 5 over on and you are in no way posing a risk or danger to anyone.

Tell your local law enforcement to park a police car right in front of that intersection and I'll bet people make a stop. lol

Re: IT.tv Episode 436: Cars Don’t Stop Here. Ever.

Vinny — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 09:09:12 -0000

I think it's time we started exposing these folks. Screw 'em. And not just exposing them, but exposing the pols and police who do nothing about it.

Re: IT.tv Episode 436: Cars Don’t Stop Here. Ever.

Frank — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 07:53:12 -0000

We have the same damn problem in my neighborhood...stop signs are now a mere suggestion...and some people really challenge when coming from the right at the 4-way...I wanna smack 'em.

Re: IT.tv Episode 433: Grand Central At Night

Adam Daniel Mezei — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 02:12:15 -0000

I'm a wee bit concerned that Vinny is casing Grand Central so openly. Why didn't his handlers tell him to be a bit more discreet?

Re: Look what wifey got me!!!!

Vinny — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 17:26:53 -0000

Already made a bottle of "Dr. Pete" (one guess what it tastes like) and it's fantastic. This thing is great!

Re: Look what wifey got me!!!!

Frank — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 17:18:43 -0000

Tasty, man. It'll be cool to many some tasty soda flavors in that bad boy!

Re: IT.tv Episode 433: Grand Central At Night

Frank — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 07:47:10 -0000

A filmmaker's eye. I love that place....nicely done!

Re: Checking the Classifieds

Vinny — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 19:23:20 -0000

Your comments always make me smile. I really appreciate the support so much!!

Re: Checking the Classifieds

Frank — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 19:09:13 -0000

That's a really terrific shot. (You have a super photog talent.) I feel hopeful when I look at that picture. It really makes me happy.

Re: IT.tv Episode 428: What I Do Here And Why I Do It

Vinny — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 10:28:32 -0000

Thanks man. I really appreciate the support :-)

Re: IT.tv Episode 428: What I Do Here And Why I Do It

Frank — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 09:59:56 -0000

Vinnie, you know I'm a fan...and you do make me think...I like that a lot...and I like that you're a real thinker...and have a clear mind about the world. Kepp on keepin' on, man. Cheers!

Re: IT.tv Episode 421: The Internet Killed The Post Office

Vinny — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 08:09:25 -0000

That's not the problem. The problem isn't that they have to fund the plan, it's what the plan is. The plan in question is a defined benefit plan which, without fail, bankrupts or financially breaks the organization providing it as retirees grow and fewer workers exist to fund the retiring ones. A defined contribution plan, which they have asked to switch to, would work, but the Postal Union isn't having it.

Funny, that.

Prepaying the pension benefits is the right thing to do, especially since the costs are spiraling out of control so quickly. Imagine if they just decided one day they would no longer pay the pension? Then what? Oh, right. Bail out time. I forgot; that's how we do things now.

You can't run a defined benefit plan on a large work force with a large number of retirees. Period. The private sector learned that a long time ago; it's about time the government and non profit sector learned it as well. If the postal service wants to get out from under this pension, here's what they can do:

Do a NPV transfer of funds, divied up, to all employees, tax free with a window to transfer that into their own accounts at their leisure, or allow the postal service to go private and allow those employees an ESOP style plan. Sound familiar? Sure it does; that's how IBM restructured its pension years ago and it never looked back.

The pension is what's breaking the postal service more than the mail volume, I think, but prefunding it isn't the problem. The structure of the plan itself is what's the issue.

Re: IT.tv Episode 421: The Internet Killed The Post Office

Jeff Egnaczyk — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 23:13:03 -0000

The biggest reason the Post Office is losing money right now is the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006 which requires the USPS to prefund its future benefit payments. No private corporation does this from what I've heard. That's not to say the changes in mail volume wouldn't be hurting them, but they wouldn't be in the crisis they're in now.

Re: Lawrence Meyers, Like Me, Has Had Enough Of Dr. Oz.

Vinny — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 17:39:02 -0000

Any time!! I really dug it...

Re: Lawrence Meyers, Like Me, Has Had Enough Of Dr. Oz.

Jack — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 04:53:00 -0000

Thanks for the shout-out!

Lawrence