What is your field/career?

[Mardoc]

Mm, I certainly wasn't suggesting them, only a possible outcome in the case that unemployment becomes unbearable (my point of reference was the French Revolution, which was partially inspired by high bread prices). If such a case doesn't occur, then for sure, we won't need to make any changes.

Fair enough.  I'll agree with the response to the hypothetical.

Anyway, I meant to respond to Adrien as well.  I don't want a UBI - but only because I believe that the world is such that we can't afford to pay it and have people stop working.  In the hypothetical situation where that changes, where automation really does produce so much that work becomes irrelevant, I would hope we'd land with a UBI instead of ensuring make-work.

Why? If the world's governments weren't so fixated on an economic system that gives the vast majority of the fruits of labour to the owners of capital, despite the minimal labour they put towards making those profits, we'd have well more than enough to be able to afford a decent standard of living for everyone. When 50% of the world's wealth is owned by a number of people so small they wouldn't populate a small village, a proper UBI is more than possible, given the proper will.

I think you and I disagree on too many matters of fact to have a productive conversation.

[Krill]

Interesting thought though, how much geothermal energy could we try to rip out of volcanoes and would it count as green power if it stops an eruption? I wonder how much various greenhouse gases wouldn't be released.

And most importantly, I wonder if oil companies could be persuaded to research this if it counted towards cap and trade...

[Dreylin]

a Vulcanologist can tell you that Yellowstone (sorry darrell) erupted 2.1 million, 1.3 million, and 630,000 years ago

You've killed us all !

I'll shoulder Yellowstone, but I'm blaming Dark Savant for this: Mt Agung, Indonesia

[Ruff_Hi]

Of course Houston has had two <1,000yr flooding events in the last year - which is generally irrelevant apart from flagging how humans are bad at understanding probabilities.

I can fully support this statement.  A friend of mine posted this on facebook following Houston ...

A 100 year storm does not mean it will happen only once every 100 years. It means there is a 1% chance of it happening in any given year.
Just like with flipping a coin, the probability resets with each flip/year. You could have a string of ten heads in a row and be perfectly within the norms of probability.
Over any given 100 year period, the expectation is that there will be one such storm. However, probability tells us there is:
37% probability there will be no 100 year storm
37% probability there will be one 100 year storm
18% probability there will be two 100 year storms
6% probability there will be three 100 year storms
2% probability there will be FOUR OR MORE 100 year storms.

I know the maths is right (because I checked it) but I was still a little surprised that the probability of zero and one event was roughly the same ... until I realized that it is not surprising that (1-1/n)^n is close to (1-1/n)^(n-1) x 1/n x n for large values of n.

[wetbandit]

I thought I would give everyone else a true object of derision (even if I'm late to this) aside from the Yellowstone Caldera:

1) BA in Political Science and a JD
2) I suppose a post-graduate degree counts as specialization even if it's a law degree.
3) I am a lawyer.
4) I primarily practice probate and trust law.
5) Sure.  My cases are all like past jobs.  This area of the law involves common human problems with which anyone can relate or understand.  King Lear encompasses many of the themes I deal with in these cases.  There are a few dominant case archetypes (second spouse versus stepchildren, sibling war, caregiver takes control, etc.) that constitute the vast majority of cases.  I am never surprised what people think they are entitled to or what they think is reasonable.
6) http://pdf.textfiles.com/posters/lawyercoloringbook.pdf

I knew that Ichabod was a lawyer, and I suppose Khan and I earn our livings in similar ways, but I am surprised that there are relatively few folks who earn their keep in the legal field here.  Or maybe they just have better sense than me to not out themselves as such.

[RefSteel]

Since you specifically asked to be an object of derision, here's the best I can do:

King Lear encompasses many of the themes I deal with in these cases. There are a few dominant case archetypes (second spouse versus stepchildren, sibling war, caregiver takes control, etc.) that constitute the vast majority of cases. I am never surprised what people think they are entitled to or what they think is reasonable.

The impression I get (no first-hand experience, thankfully) is that hiring a lawyer in an inheritence dispute is basically the nuclear option: Wittingly or unwittingly, it's a case of, "If I don't get what I want, then none of you are getting anything!" Or more precisely, "Before I let any of you get a red cent of [dear departed family member]'s money, I'll see the whole inheritance lost to wetbandit for legal fees!"

[darrelljs]

I am never surprised what people think they are entitled to or what they think is reasonable.

As someone who essentially bought his divorce lawyer a corvette, I know exactly what you mean.

Since you specifically asked to be an object of derision, here's the best I can do:

Come on now, you can do better than that!

I thought I would give everyone else a true object of derision

Burn him!  Kill the whore-son of Satan and save your virgin daughters!!

Darrell

[wetbandit]

The impression I get (no first-hand experience, thankfully) is that hiring a lawyer in an inheritence dispute is basically the nuclear option: Wittingly or unwittingly, it's a case of, "If I don't get what I want, then none of you are getting anything!"  Or more precisely, "Before I let any of you get a red cent of [dear departed family member]'s money, I'll see the whole inheritance lost to wetbandit for legal fees!"

Your quotes stand for what actually happens than what the driving sentiment usually is behind a party's motive.  People can be emotionally volatile during a difficult time.  Some can be downright mean and petty.  Personal property disputes generally are the worst economic decisions made by beneficiaries/heirs of a trust/estate.  People fighting over a $500 grandfather clock when some lawyers (not me) bill at that per hour is irrational, but they have their reasons.  

I am never surprised what people think they are entitled to or what they think is reasonable.

As someone who essentially bought his divorce lawyer a corvette, I know exactly what you mean.

That sounds ugly.  Sorry to hear that.  I couldn't practice in that area.  Way too much fighting over everything.  And I'm in an area of law that routinely involves emotionally charged disputes.   I was covering an appearance for a friend in family court and witnessed a heated hearing over the education plan and proposed medical treatment of a divorcing couple's children.  Each spouse had their own doctor who recommended something different for treatment (some issue about medication for ADD or a similar disorder, nothing apparently life or limb threatening).  So the lawyers got to argue and the judge set an evidentiary hearing to resolve that, which I can only imagine was incredibly expensive and emotionally difficult. 

Hope you don't have too much PTSD from yours.

[Sareln]

This is a fun thread.

1) What degrees and diplomas do you have?
2) Is there anything of note you specialized in during your education?
3) What is your current job and/or your career?
4) Is there anything of note you specialize in at your job?
5) Are there any past jobs you've done that are of interest?
6) What is your name, address, and credit card PIN?

1. BS Engineering, MS Electrical & Computer Engineering
2. Not really, my MS thesis was on hardware accelerators for video compression so I guess I learned something there.
3. Software Engineer.
4. Logic Synthesis.
5. From time to time I go to LA for the 4th and shoot a fireworks show on a volunteer basis, you hammer together a bunch of wooden frames to hold fireworks, wire the whole thing up, and then smell of gunpowder for days.  It's great.
6. Silicon Valley, where houses cost more than small bridges...

[Jorah]

I'm kind of a marketer)) Nice to meet you