[speechlesstx]

And I suppose a rugged, self made, hard working man, will need no help when your whole neighbor hood gets wiped out by Mother Nature when she does her thing on YOUR head.

That's great!

If you're going to debate me at least keep it to facts in evidence, not manufactured bullsh*t. Put words in your own mouth, not ours please.

[talaniman]

Haiyan was indeed a strong cyclone . But the strongest on record occured in 961 Typhoon Nancy with 215 mph winds . Hurricane Sandy's surge topped out at about 13 feet in New York City and northern New Jersey . What was unusual about it was the track it took at the end . A 13 ft surge is not that unusual . Running inland where it did ,instead of taking the typical path ,roughly following the Gulf Stream was unusual. Here in NY there is not a deep sand base to absorb the power of the storm,so the 13 ft travelled up a bedrock base .That is why it caused so much damage.
As for cyclones , it may have been unusual for the Phillipines to get a direct hit . But throughout history more humans have died in places like Bangladesh from typhoon activity .

1582 ,one hit that killed 200,000 people . 1767... 30,000 people .1822 50,000 people . There are many others including the infamous 1970 Bhola cyclone that killed over 500,000 people (think George Harrison's The Concert for Bangladesh) .
So it is a dubious claim to link storms that happened in the last couple decades with a specific cause besides what is a natual occurance . Certainly there were no SUVs in 961AD

History is nice but current effects are the reality. Watching others being devastated and debating it doesn't help anyone who needs food, water, or a roof over there heads. Known fact that righties vote against assisting fellow Americans, until it's their turn to suffer. Then they holler long and hard for help, like anyone else.

We don't have to go that far back in history to see that, just start with the dying from Katrina and track responses of our elected leaders.

[smoothy]

And I suppose a rugged, self made, hard working man, will need no help when your whole neighbor hood gets wiped out by Mother Nature when she does her thing on YOUR head.

That's great!

If "mother nature" does it.. its not the fault of man.

If man could control the weather... then why haven't you been doing it until now?

[tomder55]

History is nice but current effects are the reality. Watching others being devastated and debating it doesn't help anyone who needs food, water, or a roof over there heads. Known fact that righties vote against assisting fellow Americans, until it's their turn to suffer. Then they holler long and hard for help, like anyone else.

We don't have to go that far back in history to see that, just start with the dying from Katrina and track responses of our elected leaders.

What are you talking about ?The US military was on the scene immediately providing assistance and much of the rest of the confusion was local response ;which by all accounts was dismal. The point of the spear is the local response . The Feds responded to Katrina at about the same efficiency and timeframe as they did for Sandy . You just have a convenient memory and won't hold your own dear leader to the same standards you held Bush .

[talaniman]

I guess you guys are not as self reliant as you say and depend on government whenever your teat is in the wringer like the rest of us dependents.

[smoothy]

I guess you guys are not as self reliant as you say and depend on government whenever your teat is in the wringer like the rest of us dependents.

Not me... I haven't gotten a government handout of any sort I haven't even collected an unemployment check in 20 years.

I'd be a lot better off if I got to keep my entire paycheck and invested it where I want it invested.

[talaniman]

I agree because of course you would invest in a road to get to your job so you can collect all your paycheck. Or pipes to keep the crapper from backing up in your house. Or the lights, and internet.

[speechlesstx]

I guess you guys are not as self reliant as you say and depend on government whenever your teat is in the wringer like the rest of us dependents.

In other words, damned if we do and damned if we don't in your world.

In my world view assistance is dependent on actual need, not political wish lists and unworkable utopian ideals. I give, you take.

[smoothy]

I agree because of course you would invest in a road to get to your job so you can collect all your paycheck. Or pipes to keep the crapper from backing up in your house. Or the lights, and internet.

I don't know where you live... but where I have always lived the water pipes aren't owned by or even the responsibility of the Federal or State Government.

Your water and sewer bill pay the local water and sewage authorities... and it's their responsibilities to maintain.

[tomder55]

President Bush didn't push Hurricane Katrina through Congress without a single vote from the other party. And, Global-warmist superstitions notwithstanding, Katrina was a natural disaster, not a man-caused one.

Best of the Web Today: Katrina and ObamaCare - WSJ.com

[talaniman]

In other words, damned if we do and damned if we don't in your world.

In my world view assistance is dependent on actual need, not political wish lists and unworkable utopian ideals. I give, you take.

Me too, its called a safety net.

I don't know where you live... but where I have always lived the water pipes aren't owned by or even the responsibility of the Federal or State Government.

Your water and sewer bill pay the local water and sewage authorities... and it's their responsibilities to maintain.

But Smoothie, you blame EVERYTHING on Obama, even if your local government is responsible. Which no doubt gets federal money. Maybe not your town.

President Bush didn't push Hurricane Katrina through Congress without a single vote from the other party. And, Global-warmist superstitions notwithstanding, Katrina was a natural disaster, not a man-caused one.

Best of the Web Today: Katrina and ObamaCare - WSJ.com

Comparing Obama to Bush is wishful thinking and false hope at best.

[smoothy]

But Smoothie, you blame EVERYTHING on Obama, even if your local government is responsible. Which no doubt gets federal money. Maybe not your town.

Obama HAS actually made things worse for almost everyone... not just accused him of like the left did with Bush... Obama DREAMS of getting back to Bushes worst year... because it would be a huge improvement.

This is what happens when a complete idiot manages to get elected. Disaster soon follows. Anywhere and anytime it happens. BS doesn't work when the buck stops at your desk.

[paraclete]

This is what happens when a complete idiot manages to get elected. Disaster soon follows. Anywhere and anytime it happens. BS doesn't work when the buck stops at your desk.

Yes we noted the outcome during the Bush years

[smoothy]

yes we noted the outcome during the Bush years

Every thinking person in the USA longs for things to get back to the way they were under Bush... when vast numbers of people actually had jobs, and not just any job...but Full time jobs... and poverty was significantly lower than it is now as a result of Obamas "Destroy business" campaign.

[paraclete]

Every thinking person in the USA longs for things to get back to the way they were under Bush... when vast numbers of people actually had jobs, and not just any job...but Full time jobs... and poverty was significantly lower than it is now as a result of Obamas "Destroy business" campaign.

You are forgetting the GFC started under Bush, that he is responsible for the job losses. What you wanted was a President with a majic wand and all you got was a President who is off with the fairies

[smoothy]

you are forgetting the GFC started under Bush, that he is responsible for the job losses. What you wanted was a President with a majic wand and all you got was a President who is off with the fairies

Many of us knew Obama was a charlatan long before he ever got elected. It's the suckers that are finally coming to grasp this now that thought he was some sort of Messiah before.

Bush got stuck with a recession that started under Clinton... dealt with 9/11 that happened as a result of Clinton... and despite all that turned them around.

The economy the day he left office was better than it ever was under Obama... and Obama's recession was due to his anti-business policies and actions. No smart business owner would risk their capital in an environment as hostile towards business as this one is. Obama wanted a recession based on his actions... well he got it... he should be proud of it... instead of blaming it on others.

Was he perfect... nope, but he at least had a good grasp of things and got advisers that actually were good at their specialties... instead of surrounding himself with halfwits that were yes-men so his fragile ego wasn't hurt.

[paraclete]

Many of us knew Obama was a charlatan long before he ever got elected. It's the suckers that are finally coming to grasp this now that thought he was some sort of Messiah before.

Bush got stuck with a recession that started under Clinton... dealt with 9/11 that happened as a result of Clinton... and despite all that turned them around.

The economy the day he left office was better than it ever was under Obama... and Obama's recession was due to his anti-business policies and actions. No smart business owner would risk their capital in an environment as hostile towards business as this one is. Obama wanted a recession based on his actions... well he got it... he should be proud of it... instead of blaming it on others.

Was he perfect... nope, but he at least had a good grasp of things and got advisers that actually were good at their specialties... instead of surrounding himself with halfwits that were yes-men so his fragile ego wasn't hurt.

You now have the second term malaise, they all have it, Clinton got Monica, Bush got the GFC, and BO will have QEIII

[speechlesstx]

Just a reminder, if you like your light bulbs you can't keep your light bulbs.

Time to Stock Up on Incandescent Bulbs Before They Go Out Permanently

[Tuttyd]

Don't worry we went through the same process about 10 years ago. Some people didn't like the new bulbs so they brought in halogen bulbs. Very similar in terms of shape and performance to the old incandescent bulbs.

[speechlesstx]

We've had halogen for ages but what they keep telling us to use are those expensive CFLs that at my house have never lasted much longer than incandescents and are a toxic hazard to dispose of. The issue is choice, stop mandating our choices.