Comments on: Columbia University vs. The Murdoch Effect

By: EdSki

EdSki — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 00:55:31 +0000

I used to do that, but then when time I was going to the post office anyway to buy stamps. And the guy behind the counter told me they just throw those away.

Why make them do what I enjoy anyway?

By: nolotrippen

nolotrippen — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 22:55:34 +0000

Can't you just mail it back and say "No thanks" on it? Cost's them the mailing fee.

By: billyc1234

billyc1234 — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 21:43:45 +0000

Wow, for guys who made their money stating their views, hugh laurie and that fry guy sure do not like the "little" people having any choice. The good old BBC, one channel with government sactioned news and television shows. Now those were the days.

By: MerryJ1

MerryJ1 — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 19:20:20 +0000

Now, that makes sense, EdSki. Thanks.

By: MerryJ1

MerryJ1 — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 19:18:48 +0000

Martin, I'd compare those high honors to the (ahem) Nobel awarded to our President (did you happen to see the Saturday Night Live skit, of the Obama character saying that, before being elected, he already had long experience "not being George Bush?"), except that the Nobel includes a few million in cash, making it probably worthwhile for recipients to sit through the ceremony.

Actually, the CFO of the Year award to Enron's CFO makes sense, unless there's something in the CFO Award Rule Book about 'upstanding citizenry' as a prerequisite for receiving the award. Sir Allen Stanford isn't ringing any bells, but I do have a vague recollection of talk about LBJ & a military award sans military service. Was that during WWII? Truman fired MacArthur shortly after the end of the war, no?

By: MartinLawford

MartinLawford — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 18:04:50 +0000

MerryJ1, not only did the LA Times make Jones its Humanitarian of the Year, but in 1999 CFO Magazine gave its CFO of the Year award to Enron's CFO, Andrew Fastow, for his "outside the box" approach to corporate finance. Similarly, Sir Allen Stanford was knighted and admitted to the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire by the country of Antigua for his services in Caribbean economic development. I'm not saying that all awards are fake, merely that the bestowal of official honors often represents nothing more than the giver's desire to suck up to the recipient. Kind of like Douglas MacArthur's award of the Army Silver Star to Lyndon Johnson for serving as an observer on one aborted bombing mission. No one else aboard the plane was similarly honored, but Johnson was the only Congressman aboard.

By: EdSki

EdSki — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 17:51:06 +0000

What? You say the Pulitzer Prize is meaningless? What are you going to try to tell me next, they pass out Nobel Peace Prizes like BFF tags?

By: EdSki

EdSki — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 17:49:50 +0000

Every couple of months Time magazine sends me snail mail begging me to come back. If I remember the last one they offered me 12 cents an issue.

I get such joy from throwing those in the recycle bin.

By: EdSki

EdSki — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 17:48:05 +0000

I've noticed that a "-p" rating simply attracts thumbs down because people assume troll.

Also, back in the days before all commenters had to be registered, trolls would just scroll down the threads and give every one a thumbs down. Some one noticed it and commented that they spent 20 minutes giving every one a thumbs up to compensate.

You may have gotten caught up in something like that.

By: MerryJ1

MerryJ1 — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 17:18:47 +0000

Good point, that it's a good idea to avoid "mutual backscratching." I admit to guilt on that one now and then, especially if I like something that's humorous or cleverly phrased – but really, it would be just as easy to hit the reply and insert "kudos" or "ditto" or something.

On annoying readers or other visitors, I've had several instances of being misinterpreted (usually when I'm being sarcastic or snarky, and someone takes me literally), and instead of (them) asking, "what do you mean?" they take me to the figurative woodshed or compare my intelligence level to a moldy toadstool's. Oh well, most of us are nice people

Jim Jones was named "Humanitarian of the Year?" Not the same Jim Jones who handed out loaded Kool-Aide to his followers as they all awaited a space ship that was due to whisk them off to some better place? Now, that's funny, if it was the same guy! (Yeah, I know, I do have a warped sense of humor).