Just Announced Commentary - 2011 Edition

Oil has very little to do with Norway's spending on education- you're focusing on the ins and not the outs.  It's a factor, but not a big one.

Education could be free in America if it were a Federal Priority, which it isn't and never has been.  How many times does the word "education" appear in the Constitution?  Education and it's funding has always been left to the States, which are the major contributors to K-16.

The US spends $711 Billion on defense, or 4% of GDP.  Norway spends $7 Billion or 1.7% of GDP.  A 1% shift in GDP in America would cover the tuition costs of every student in public higher ed.

But truthfully, being the world's policemen is an important job. 

A simpler solution might be that the US Government decided to direct PELL grants and tuition subsidies to public institutions only (like Norway does) and eliminate the privilege for private universities and for profit colleges.  That would make public universities free for every american and leave the option of the privates to use their endowments to do the same instead of relying on free Federal money.

sweetcell wrote:
you're right about the amount of oil, the US produces 4 times more than norway.

what i was getting at is in norway, the oil is taxed at a high rate (under the philosophy that it belongs to all norwegians and taxes are the way that the people get their share), and those taxes are spent on the people - schools, health care, etc.

in the US, oil is seen as the property of the company that gets it out of the ground, and that company gets to keep most of that value (re: the obscene profits of ExxonMobil, ConocoPhillips, Chevron, etc)

I think Norway also believes in high taxes and high quality government.  I also found out that men get a minimum of 10 weeks paid time off when they become a father and women get a minimum of 46 weeks paid time off for maternity leave.  I think people in this country are foolishly worried about high taxes.  All that low taxes lead to are higher prices on things like houses.  Money is just paper and without a government it has no value. 

Anyway all of this shouldn't be in the just announced discussion thread. 

vansmack wrote:
Oil has very little to do with Norway's spending on education- you're focusing on the ins and not the outs.  It's a factor, but not a big one.

Education could be free in America if it were a Federal Priority, which it isn't and never has been.  How many times does the word "education" appear in the Constitution?  Education and it's funding has always been left to the States, which are the major contributors to K-16.

The US spends $711 Billion on defense, or 4% of GDP.  Norway spends $7 Billion or 1.7% of GDP.  A 1% shift in GDP in America would cover the tuition costs of every student in public higher ed.

But truthfully, being the world's policemen is an important job. 

A simpler solution might be that the US Government decided to direct PELL grants and tuition subsidies to public institutions only (like Norway does) and eliminate the privilege for private universities and for profit colleges.  That would make public universities free for every american and leave the option of the privates to use their endowments to do the same instead of relying on free Federal money.

Interestingly in the worlds history before television existed the worlds policeman would just take norways oil and cod and let them know they are lucky we let them off so easily. 

Yada wrote:

sweetcell wrote:

bellenseb wrote:
This is weird.

Of Montreal
05-25 Frederick, MD - Flying Dog Brewery

full flying dog brewery summer lineup:

CONCERT: OF MONTREAL
Saturday, May 25
Tickets on sale Friday, April 26 at 9 am

CONCERT: DEER TICK
Saturday, June 15
Tickets on sale Friday, May 31 at 9 am

GONZOFEST
Saturday, July 20
Tickets on sale Friday, June 21
(Details TBD)

HARVEST PARTY
Saturday, September 14
Free and open to the public on the day-of the event
(Details TBD)

Interesting… are the shows at the brewery? Indoors or outdoors?

i haven't been to the brewery yet, but i'm assuming the shows are outside.  doubtful that they have enough room inside to host a show.

showlistdc wrote:

killsaly wrote:
saturday 27th 2 day festival details soon.
sunday 28th 2 day festival details soon.

SLDC has your details right here:
* Saturday, 27 April 2013 - Love Sound Music Festival - Day 1 @ Club K [2101 Maryland Ave, Baltimore, MD]: No Paris, Proper Procedure, Iopa, Pipe Smooking Rabbit, Queenswolf
• Saturday, 27 April 2013 - Love Sound Music Festival - Day 1 @ Holy Underground [2021 Maryland Ave, Baltimore, MD]: Lizz King, Dazzlestorm, Glitter Lust, Abdu Ali, Big Dipper

* Sunday, 28 April 2013 - Love Sound Music Festival - Day 2 @ Club K [2101 Maryland Ave, Baltimore, MD]: Shroud Eater, Holly Hunt, At the Graves, Ophidian, Pallid
* Sunday, 28 April 2013 - Love Sound Music Festival - Day 2 @ Holy Underground [2021 Maryland Ave, Baltimore, MD]: Jeff Carey, Natural Velvet, Libyan Suite, the Sniffs, Lost Civilizations

or on FB: https://www.facebook.com/events/149728561856076/

Thanks! I should of known you would be on it. 
Ive only heard of one of those bands.  I will have a little research to do to see if I want to go.

vansmack wrote:

wml7 wrote:
Less then 7k a year?  That's absurd, no way are there any schools out there that cheap, unless it's a community colllege.

False.

California's State Universities Basic Tuition is $5,472.  Even with the student based fees most campus costs average around $7,000 per student, not including room and board, of course.

and how much does it cost to live in santa barbara or berkeley?

lots and lots and lots

stevewizzle wrote:
and how much does it cost to live in santa barbara or berkeley?

Those are UC schools, not CSU's, but I get your point.  There are CSU's in many affordable areas of California, but I would argue that Berkeley and Santa Barbara are worth every penny.

TheREALHunter wrote:
Mudhoney
U Street Music Hall
Sept 23

I really hope this is not a late April Fools joke.  They are definitely on my must see at least once list. 

not an april fools joke

I saw The Cynics a few years back in Baltimore at The Mojo Lounge and they blew the roof of the joint…

kosmo wrote:
I saw The Cynics a few years back in Baltimore at The Mojo Lounge and they blew the roof of the joint…

Ah yes.  The Mojo Lounge.

Jaguar wrote:

Yada wrote:
rumors of the Stones at Verizon Center on 5/30.

Tickets - $1,342 - $3,543

Mick Taylor is supposed to by playing with them. Not that that justifies the insane ticket prices!  :o

?!?!
Jeez why in the heck would tickets be so expensive?  I get that it is the Rolling Stones, and a lot of older people like them, but really?  over $1300 for a CHEAP ticket?  Maybe its because i do not like their music or care about them.  Maybe if I was a fan I would think that was reasonable, but I doubt it. Do you at least get a free T shirt for that price, or will you have to pay (just going off their ticket prices) at least $200 dollars for one?

killsaly wrote:

Jaguar wrote:

Yada wrote:
rumors of the Stones at Verizon Center on 5/30.

Tickets - $1,342 - $3,543

Mick Taylor is supposed to by playing with them. Not that that justifies the insane ticket prices!  :o

?!?!
Jeez why in the heck would tickets be so expensive?  I get that it is the Rolling Stones, and a lot of older people like them, but really?  over $1300 for a CHEAP ticket?  Maybe its because i do not like their music or care about them.  Maybe if I was a fan I would think that was reasonable, but I doubt it. Do you at least get a free T shirt for that price, or will you have to pay (just going off their ticket prices) at least $200 dollars for one?

The Rolling Stones' music is awesome. Well the stuff before 1983 is mostly awesome.    But they are awful live even back in the early 80's from all the broadcasts I have seen of their live shows.  Even at that no one is worth 1343 dollars.  I could go to four awesome music festivals and see a ton of bands for that price. 

atomicfront wrote:

killsaly wrote:

Jaguar wrote:

Yada wrote:
rumors of the Stones at Verizon Center on 5/30.

Tickets - $1,342 - $3,543

Mick Taylor is supposed to by playing with them. Not that that justifies the insane ticket prices!  :o

?!?!
Jeez why in the heck would tickets be so expensive?  I get that it is the Rolling Stones, and a lot of older people like them, but really?  over $1300 for a CHEAP ticket?  Maybe its because i do not like their music or care about them.  Maybe if I was a fan I would think that was reasonable, but I doubt it. Do you at least get a free T shirt for that price, or will you have to pay (just going off their ticket prices) at least $200 dollars for one?

The Rolling Stones' music is awesome. Well the stuff before 1983 is mostly awesome.    But they are awful live even back in the early 80's from all the broadcasts I have seen of their live shows.  Even at that no one is worth 1343 dollars.  I could go to four awesome music festivals and see a ton of bands for that price.  

Or 200 shows that range in price from $5 to $10.

atomicfront wrote:
The Rolling Stones' music is awesome. Well the stuff before 1983 is mostly awesome. 

You like them, i dont.  Who cares?  I wanted to know why they would think its ok to charge over a grand for a concert. 

azaghal1981 wrote:
Or 200 shows that range in price from $5 to $10.

Exactly.  200 hours of live music?  Or 2 hours of the Rolling Stones?

I was joking about the prices folks!!!!

I think it's $185 and up.

Oh, why?

killsaly wrote:

atomicfront wrote:
The Rolling Stones' music is awesome. Well the stuff before 1983 is mostly awesome. 

You like them, i dont.  Who cares?  I wanted to know why they would think its ok to charge over a grand for a concert. 

azaghal1981 wrote:
Or 200 shows that range in price from $5 to $10.

Exactly.  200 hours of live music?  Or 2 hours of the Rolling Stones?

the point was I like their music and I think they aren't worth the money.  If I didn't like them what would the cost matter to me?  I wouldn't see them if they were 20 bucks and playing the ottobar.  

they think it is Ok to charge a grand for a concert because people will pay that much.   the real question is why people pay that much to see a show.  The same question I had about 141 dollars to see Morrissey.  

why the negativity towards me? 

The reason people go to see the stones at high prices is they don't keep up with new music.  They know who the Stones are and they want to tell their friends they saw the stones and that they sang along to all the songs. 

Yada wrote:
I was joking about the prices folks!!!!

I think it's $185 and up.

4/1 was two days ago!