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Author Topic:   Phat's Bookshelf
Phat
Member
Posts: 18262
From: Denver,Colorado USA
Joined: 12-30-2003
Member Rating: 1.1


Message 75 of 174 (904327)
12-27-2022 7:53 AM
Reply to: Message 18 by Taq
12-22-2022 5:21 PM


Re: Videos, Books, and Propaganda
Taq writes:
The dollar is still doing just fine.
Yes, but only because it is the best of the fiat currencies. After Nixon separated the dollar from gold, the dollar became counter-cyclical to the gold. The higher the dollar, the lower the gold. Only fools believe that the dollar is determining the value of gold. The dollar can't even determine the value of itself.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 18 by Taq, posted 12-22-2022 5:21 PM Taq has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 89 by Taq, posted 12-27-2022 11:09 AM Phat has seen this message but not replied
 Message 94 by nwr, posted 12-27-2022 1:05 PM Phat has seen this message but not replied

  
Phat
Member
Posts: 18262
From: Denver,Colorado USA
Joined: 12-30-2003
Member Rating: 1.1


Message 76 of 174 (904328)
12-27-2022 7:56 AM
Reply to: Message 20 by Theodoric
12-22-2022 5:48 PM


Re: Videos, Books, and Propaganda
Theo writes:
And gold and silver are down for the year.
And *surprise,surprise* the dollar is up! Way more than it should be up, given how many dollars (excess dollars) are in circulation. What goes up must come down.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 20 by Theodoric, posted 12-22-2022 5:48 PM Theodoric has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 85 by Theodoric, posted 12-27-2022 11:03 AM Phat has seen this message but not replied

  
Phat
Member
Posts: 18262
From: Denver,Colorado USA
Joined: 12-30-2003
Member Rating: 1.1


Message 77 of 174 (904329)
12-27-2022 8:17 AM
Reply to: Message 56 by dwise1
12-24-2022 6:18 PM


Re: Bonds or Gold?
Did it ever occur to you that the value of the gold is inflating even as the market holds it down? If the credit markets all imploded tomorrow, some estimate the value of the gold to be north of $50,000.00 an ounce. (for a brief time, until stability was re-established)

This message is a reply to:
 Message 56 by dwise1, posted 12-24-2022 6:18 PM dwise1 has not replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 86 by Taq, posted 12-27-2022 11:03 AM Phat has replied
 Message 87 by Theodoric, posted 12-27-2022 11:06 AM Phat has seen this message but not replied

  
Phat
Member
Posts: 18262
From: Denver,Colorado USA
Joined: 12-30-2003
Member Rating: 1.1


Message 78 of 174 (904330)
12-27-2022 8:35 AM
Reply to: Message 60 by Theodoric
12-25-2022 10:15 AM


Re: Videos, Books, and Propaganda
Theo writes:
Start with the 5 times claim
I'll try.
So far I only found this which supports my critics rather than I. I'm going to keep looking, however.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 60 by Theodoric, posted 12-25-2022 10:15 AM Theodoric has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 88 by Theodoric, posted 12-27-2022 11:08 AM Phat has seen this message but not replied

  
Phat
Member
Posts: 18262
From: Denver,Colorado USA
Joined: 12-30-2003
Member Rating: 1.1


Message 100 of 174 (904485)
12-30-2022 4:08 PM
Reply to: Message 99 by AZPaul3
12-27-2022 8:53 PM


Re: its The Marketplace, stupid
Perhaps if we back a global currency with humans we would have a bunch oof individuals, each unique...to back the commerce. Sounds doable in theory but evil in practice.l Stick with the gold.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 99 by AZPaul3, posted 12-27-2022 8:53 PM AZPaul3 has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 101 by AZPaul3, posted 12-30-2022 7:09 PM Phat has replied
 Message 102 by ringo, posted 12-31-2022 12:30 PM Phat has replied
 Message 105 by Taq, posted 01-04-2023 11:48 AM Phat has replied

  
Phat
Member
Posts: 18262
From: Denver,Colorado USA
Joined: 12-30-2003
Member Rating: 1.1


Message 103 of 174 (904544)
12-31-2022 4:19 PM
Reply to: Message 102 by ringo
12-31-2022 12:30 PM


Re: its The Marketplace, stupid
Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words. Other times, it needs a good caption. E-V-I-D-E-N-C-E is a good caption,. So is E-V-O-L-U-T-I-O-N.

The most difficult subjects can be explained to the most slow-witted man if he has not formed any idea of them already; but the simplest thing cannot be made clear to the most intelligent man if he is firmly persuaded that he knows already, without a shadow of a doubt, what is laid before him.” - Leo Tolstoy, The Kingdom of God is Within You (1894).
When both religious and non-religious people reach the same conclusions then you know religion isn't the reason.--Percy
Democrats should not be the only party. Respect the two-party system. -Phat, in December 2022
We see Monsters where Science shows us Windmills.~Phat, remixed

This message is a reply to:
 Message 102 by ringo, posted 12-31-2022 12:30 PM ringo has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 104 by ringo, posted 01-02-2023 11:07 AM Phat has replied

  
Phat
Member
Posts: 18262
From: Denver,Colorado USA
Joined: 12-30-2003
Member Rating: 1.1


Message 106 of 174 (904657)
01-04-2023 2:35 PM
Reply to: Message 105 by Taq
01-04-2023 11:48 AM


Re: its The Marketplace, stupid
Again, my argument is basically this:
Hard assets are more likely to have a set value that is at a bedrock level. They are unlikely to ever become worthless, as can a fiat currency or a bitcoin.
The only other thing that we now use to back fiat currency is humans. People. The trust of the people.
This, however, is far from a bedrock value. Humans are fickle. Changing.
I prefer a hard asset, as will everyone once the fiat currencies implode.
Feel free to call me ignorant and uninformed, as does Theodoric. I would best him in an IQ test any day of the week.

The most difficult subjects can be explained to the most slow-witted man if he has not formed any idea of them already; but the simplest thing cannot be made clear to the most intelligent man if he is firmly persuaded that he knows already, without a shadow of a doubt, what is laid before him.” - Leo Tolstoy, The Kingdom of God is Within You (1894).
When both religious and non-religious people reach the same conclusions then you know religion isn't the reason.--Percy
Democrats should not be the only party. Respect the two-party system. -Phat, in December 2022
We see Monsters where Science shows us Windmills.~Phat, remixed

This message is a reply to:
 Message 105 by Taq, posted 01-04-2023 11:48 AM Taq has not replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 110 by nwr, posted 01-04-2023 4:06 PM Phat has seen this message but not replied
 Message 111 by Theodoric, posted 01-04-2023 4:35 PM Phat has seen this message but not replied
 Message 115 by Theodoric, posted 01-04-2023 8:42 PM Phat has replied

  
Phat
Member
Posts: 18262
From: Denver,Colorado USA
Joined: 12-30-2003
Member Rating: 1.1


Message 107 of 174 (904658)
01-04-2023 2:39 PM
Reply to: Message 104 by ringo
01-02-2023 11:07 AM


Re: its The Marketplace, stupid
A video (or documentary) is quite capable of going into every bit as much depth as is a book. You just don't like them because you can't see them on the library computer, and have given away too much spare change to afford basic home internet. Jesus might approve, though. I doubt He would like the internet either.

The most difficult subjects can be explained to the most slow-witted man if he has not formed any idea of them already; but the simplest thing cannot be made clear to the most intelligent man if he is firmly persuaded that he knows already, without a shadow of a doubt, what is laid before him.” - Leo Tolstoy, The Kingdom of God is Within You (1894).
When both religious and non-religious people reach the same conclusions then you know religion isn't the reason.--Percy
Democrats should not be the only party. Respect the two-party system. -Phat, in December 2022
We see Monsters where Science shows us Windmills.~Phat, remixed

This message is a reply to:
 Message 104 by ringo, posted 01-02-2023 11:07 AM ringo has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 112 by Theodoric, posted 01-04-2023 4:43 PM Phat has seen this message but not replied
 Message 114 by ringo, posted 01-04-2023 7:41 PM Phat has seen this message but not replied

  
Phat
Member
Posts: 18262
From: Denver,Colorado USA
Joined: 12-30-2003
Member Rating: 1.1


Message 108 of 174 (904659)
01-04-2023 2:40 PM
Reply to: Message 101 by AZPaul3
12-30-2022 7:09 PM


Re: its The Marketplace, stupid
Democrats are quite capable of convincing people that there is only one way and that they are that way.

The most difficult subjects can be explained to the most slow-witted man if he has not formed any idea of them already; but the simplest thing cannot be made clear to the most intelligent man if he is firmly persuaded that he knows already, without a shadow of a doubt, what is laid before him.” - Leo Tolstoy, The Kingdom of God is Within You (1894).
When both religious and non-religious people reach the same conclusions then you know religion isn't the reason.--Percy
Democrats should not be the only party. Respect the two-party system. -Phat, in December 2022
We see Monsters where Science shows us Windmills.~Phat, remixed

This message is a reply to:
 Message 101 by AZPaul3, posted 12-30-2022 7:09 PM AZPaul3 has not replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 109 by Taq, posted 01-04-2023 3:11 PM Phat has seen this message but not replied

  
Phat
Member
Posts: 18262
From: Denver,Colorado USA
Joined: 12-30-2003
Member Rating: 1.1


Message 116 of 174 (904681)
01-05-2023 1:29 AM
Reply to: Message 115 by Theodoric
01-04-2023 8:42 PM


Re: Worthless fiat currencies
First off, I have never talked up crypto. I knew that it was a Ponzi scheme from the very beginning. Now if it were backed by gold that would be another matter.
Theo writes:
Please list fiat currencies now worthless and explain how they became worthless.
I will have to do some research. Right now, im going to sleep.

The most difficult subjects can be explained to the most slow-witted man if he has not formed any idea of them already; but the simplest thing cannot be made clear to the most intelligent man if he is firmly persuaded that he knows already, without a shadow of a doubt, what is laid before him.” - Leo Tolstoy, The Kingdom of God is Within You (1894).
When both religious and non-religious people reach the same conclusions then you know religion isn't the reason.--Percy
Democrats should not be the only party. Respect the two-party system. -Phat, in December 2022
We see Monsters where Science shows us Windmills.~Phat, remixed

This message is a reply to:
 Message 115 by Theodoric, posted 01-04-2023 8:42 PM Theodoric has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 117 by Theodoric, posted 01-05-2023 8:33 AM Phat has seen this message but not replied

  
Phat
Member
Posts: 18262
From: Denver,Colorado USA
Joined: 12-30-2003
Member Rating: 1.1


Message 118 of 174 (904810)
01-08-2023 9:03 AM


FANTASYLAND by Kurt Anderson
My latest book is quite entertaining and informative. Initially, as I began to listen to it, I realized that it was not necessarily a pro Christian worldview book, and I began to feel a bit of anxiety. After praying about it, I felt a green light and a thumbs up in regard to reading it and studying it as deeply as I have my other books. The full title of this book is Fantasyland: How America Went Haywire (from authors own website).
Actually, I think that of all of my books presented thus far, this book would be one that most of the peanut gallery would approve of and agree with. In all honesty, I think it allows me to see the perspective that many of you have regarding organized religion and the shaping of America as we now know it today.
Even as a true believer, I can only gain a more complete perspective by reading this book.
Here is an article that Kurt Anderson(the author) wrote in the Atlantic:
How America Lost Its Mind

Replies to this message:
 Message 119 by Phat, posted 01-08-2023 9:30 AM Phat has seen this message but not replied
 Message 120 by nwr, posted 01-08-2023 1:27 PM Phat has seen this message but not replied
 Message 121 by ringo, posted 01-08-2023 1:44 PM Phat has replied

  
Phat
Member
Posts: 18262
From: Denver,Colorado USA
Joined: 12-30-2003
Member Rating: 1.1


Message 119 of 174 (904811)
01-08-2023 9:30 AM
Reply to: Message 118 by Phat
01-08-2023 9:03 AM


Re: FANTASYLAND by Kurt Anderson
I have listened to the book up through Chapter 9. This is a book worthy of serious study.
I just purchased the book on Kindle to add to my Audible copy.
Here I will share with everyone the Table Of Contents:
Kurt Anderson:
Chapter 1: Now Entering Fantasy land
Part 1: The Conjuring of America: 1517-1789
Chapter 2: I Believe,Therefore I Am Right: The Protestants
Chapter 3: All That Glitters: The Gold Seekers
Chapter 4: Building Our Own Private Heaven on Earth: The Puritans
Chapter 5: The God-Given Freedom to Believe in God
Chapter 6: Imaginary Friends and Enemies: The Early Satanic Panics
Chapter 7: The First Me Century:
Religion Gets American
Chapter 8: Meanwhile, in the Eighteenth Century Reality-Based Community
Part II: United States of Amazing:
The 1800s
Chapter 9: The First Great Delirium
Chapter 10: The All-American Fan Fiction of Joseph Smith,Prophet
Chapter 11: Quack Nation: Magical but Modern
Chapter 12: Fantastic Business: The Gold Rush Inflection Point
Chapter 13: In Search of Monsters to Destroy: The Conspiracy Theory Habit
Chapter 14: The War between States of Mind
Chapter 15: Ten Million Little Houses on the Prairie
Chapter 16: Fantasy Industrialized
To be continued. As I said, Ive just started Chapter 9.

The most difficult subjects can be explained to the most slow-witted man if he has not formed any idea of them already; but the simplest thing cannot be made clear to the most intelligent man if he is firmly persuaded that he knows already, without a shadow of a doubt, what is laid before him.” - Leo Tolstoy, The Kingdom of God is Within You (1894).
When both religious and non-religious people reach the same conclusions then you know religion isn't the reason.--Percy
Democrats should not be the only party. Respect the two-party system. -Phat, in December 2022
We see Monsters where Science shows us Windmills.~Phat, remixed

This message is a reply to:
 Message 118 by Phat, posted 01-08-2023 9:03 AM Phat has seen this message but not replied

  
Phat
Member
Posts: 18262
From: Denver,Colorado USA
Joined: 12-30-2003
Member Rating: 1.1


Message 122 of 174 (904844)
01-09-2023 2:49 AM
Reply to: Message 121 by ringo
01-08-2023 1:44 PM


Re: FANTASYLAND by Kurt Anderson
Note that I decided to read the book regardless what it was about. I'm just admitting anxiety at being exposed to uncomfortable worldviews.
Now as for you, you have the audacity to imagine that your rational view on things is always superior to religious belief. You threw out the Holy Baby with the bathwater.

The most difficult subjects can be explained to the most slow-witted man if he has not formed any idea of them already; but the simplest thing cannot be made clear to the most intelligent man if he is firmly persuaded that he knows already, without a shadow of a doubt, what is laid before him.” - Leo Tolstoy, The Kingdom of God is Within You (1894).
When both religious and non-religious people reach the same conclusions then you know religion isn't the reason.--Percy
Democrats should not be the only party. Respect the two-party system. -Phat, in December 2022
We see Monsters where Science shows us Windmills.~Phat, remixed

This message is a reply to:
 Message 121 by ringo, posted 01-08-2023 1:44 PM ringo has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 123 by ringo, posted 01-09-2023 10:49 AM Phat has replied

  
Phat
Member
Posts: 18262
From: Denver,Colorado USA
Joined: 12-30-2003
Member Rating: 1.1


Message 124 of 174 (904881)
01-10-2023 7:03 AM
Reply to: Message 123 by ringo
01-09-2023 10:49 AM


Re: FANTASYLAND by Kurt Anderson
ringo writes:
Rational is always superior to irrational. Period. End of story.
You do not get to dictate to me what the beginning and ending of the story is. You also do not get to have your own evidence, a comment that you have used on me a time or two. It may well be that Kurt Anderson is a non-believer, but he is very adept and skilled at describing trends in American culture.
As a matter of fact, Anderson describes the land of grown-up make believe in American politics starting with JFK and ending with Ronald Reagan. In this case, irrationality drove the myth of American exceptionalism and described an era (1960's, bragging rights to having the first man on the moon, a whimsical preoccupation with youth portrayed early on by an American president(JFK) who was dashingly good looking, a war hero (PT 109) and a youthful wife (31) who presided over an American Empire from a white palace known as Camelot. JFK even had as a girlfriend the idyllic sexual fantasy of Marilyn Monroe. In this early era of political theater, art imitated life and life imitated art.
Kurt Anderson:
As JFK was about to be elected, Norman Mailer wrote that "America's politics would now be also America's favorite movie, America's first soap opera, America's best-seller." Up until Kennedy, the wall between government and show business had been thick. His father had owned a movie studio, and not only did Jack pal around with Hollywood people, he agreed to go on stage at Madison Square Garden to receive the super salacious "Happy Birthday,Mr. President" serenade from his mistress Marilyn. (...)For a few years, Kennedy had used television and the rest of the fantasy-industrial complex(...)After JFK,president-as-performer became more explicit. In the 1980s,as America kept turning the dial up toward full Fantasyland, we were ready for Reagan as we wouldn't have been earlier. "For Ronald Reagan", said Pat Buchanan, who served as his White House communications director, "the world of legend and myth is a real world.
Compared to Reagan, reality TV star Trump was a piker.
Kurt Anderson:
His winning presidential campaign in 1980 had policy specifics that jibed with his misty vision of a simpler, happier, more patriotic old-fashioned America.(...) As a vacationing president, he wore a cowboy hat and rode a horse at his ranch in southern California. (...)Not so cute was a president of the United States expecting apocalyptic biblical prophecies to be fulfilled soon.
So don't tell me that rational always trumps(no pun intended ) irrational. The national soap opera awaits a new and capable actor. We the people are tired of reality. We want America to be back in the saddle again. We do not want to pay the bill nor do we want any sort of reparations. Everyone is equal and everyone is on the same page going forward. And we have no problem with Jesus being black, as long as He returns on a white horse. (thinly veiled attempt at humor)

The most difficult subjects can be explained to the most slow-witted man if he has not formed any idea of them already; but the simplest thing cannot be made clear to the most intelligent man if he is firmly persuaded that he knows already, without a shadow of a doubt, what is laid before him.” - Leo Tolstoy, The Kingdom of God is Within You (1894).
When both religious and non-religious people reach the same conclusions then you know religion isn't the reason.--Percy
Democrats should not be the only party. Respect the two-party system. -Phat, in December 2022
We see Monsters where Science shows us Windmills.~Phat, remixed

This message is a reply to:
 Message 123 by ringo, posted 01-09-2023 10:49 AM ringo has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 126 by ringo, posted 01-10-2023 10:57 AM Phat has seen this message but not replied

  
Phat
Member
Posts: 18262
From: Denver,Colorado USA
Joined: 12-30-2003
Member Rating: 1.1


Message 125 of 174 (904882)
01-10-2023 7:13 AM
Reply to: Message 123 by ringo
01-09-2023 10:49 AM


Re: FANTASYLAND by Kurt Anderson
ringo writes:
If your worldview was solid, why would you be anxious about challenges to it?
I do not look forward to a post-Christian culture. I very much believe that Jesus is alive eternally and is(was) a real person. Life should always turn out fair in the end. Everybody gets a ribbon. We the people will be rescued (and will need rescuing, by the way) before our species becomes extinct.
The anxiety stems from the idea that there is no rescuer and that the world will end up trying to fix itself. I strongly believe that humans are incapable of enough humility to get along with each other. I doubt whether *any* of you would give everything up in order to save the people on the planet. We need Jesus. Not some imitator who will propose a unified global effort at change and growth. Case closed. End of story.
ringo writes:
YOU are the one who threw the Holy Baby out. YOU are the one who denies everything He said after He grew up.
This is a blatant falsehood and misrepresentation of my position. Just so the peanut gallery can take notes.

The most difficult subjects can be explained to the most slow-witted man if he has not formed any idea of them already; but the simplest thing cannot be made clear to the most intelligent man if he is firmly persuaded that he knows already, without a shadow of a doubt, what is laid before him.” - Leo Tolstoy, The Kingdom of God is Within You (1894).
When both religious and non-religious people reach the same conclusions then you know religion isn't the reason.--Percy
Democrats should not be the only party. Respect the two-party system. -Phat, in December 2022
We see Monsters where Science shows us Windmills.~Phat, remixed

This message is a reply to:
 Message 123 by ringo, posted 01-09-2023 10:49 AM ringo has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 127 by ringo, posted 01-10-2023 11:17 AM Phat has replied

  
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