@drewnogal said
How many tries would it take for us to get that 13 digit number?
Would one and a half dozen years be long enough? That’s 157,680 hours?

A decent supercomputer could crack it in a day, but there's a cost for computer time. For my $500 limit I don't think they'd bother.

We oldies just had radio, and even then people became alcoholics. Pile on cinemas, TV, internet, streaming services, mobile smartphones. It's impossible for a kid to grow up in any society (excepting maybe the Amish) without being constantly bombarded with advertising and propaganda, peddled by people whose lifeblood is money. What amazes me is that so many kids still manage to get through it and become mature, responsible adults.

@very-rusty said
LOL...Just make sure you don't give out the rest of the number on your credit card. 🙂

-VR

Just how stupid do you think I am? 13 unknown digits is enough protection. But thank you for giving me another pattern number - 234.

Australia made the mistake of not restricting vaping sales as they wanted to encourage smokers to use vaping to help quit. Now we have an epidemic of kids vaping they've restricted vape sales to prescription-only at pharmacies. I suspect the kids will start getting their vapes from the friendly drug dealers because the genie's out of the bottle. Normal smoking is dying out here, has been long before vapes arrived.

232
Last 3 digits of my credit card, and another pattern number. I love patterns.

228
For those of you who grew up with tables, it's 12x19. I had a maths teacher who thought 12 wasn't enough so we went for 20. It's been surprisingly useful over the years.

Thanks Rusty for 2.2.2

218
What Minnesota, Libya and BMW have in common.

@averagejoe1 said
Actually one of my favorite subjects, which I did a thread on a few yers ago, is that 'Why' is basically irrelevant. If I tell you I am late to the party, and you ask why. and I am standing there, Why is truly irrelevant. Would be glad to discuss it, start a thread. Drove my daughter crazy with it for years, and she could never defeat the argument.
My other argu ...[text shortened]... ent is that what other people do is irrelevant to me, I know you, as a liberal, would HATE that one.

Why do you think I am a liberal? I'm definitely not any of your idiotic labels. I'm a believer in rational discussion, and I'm proud not to be American if you're an example. I think back to a decision made by my father (America or Australia) and am so happy he lost the coin-toss in 1924.

@wildgrass said
Yikes, Joe asks a question, everyone answers. Then Joe rants about no one answering his questions.

AND the question itself was insane. Should illegal things be illegal?

A better question, Joe: why is the speaker of the house flying to mar a Lago to meet with the former president and declare they're making things illegal that are already illegal?

That's too hard for joe. He's the kindergarten kid who says
* why?
the adult tells him in simple words.
* but why?
adult patiently repeats simple answer.
* but you don't say just why?
adult tries a more detailed answer, but patience is wearing thin.
* but you never answer my questions. why can't you give me an answer?
adult, at his wit's end: either "go play in the road" or "because I said so"
* stamps foot and runs to mom for sympathy.

Joe - you're the asterisk.

@averagejoe1 said
I read first sentences above, could you square away in no uncertain terms how Donald Trump is going to destroy democracy. Not your opinion, but what he is going to do. You see the difference I hope. Then it will give us all of footing with which to follow reading your

The whole post is credited to Heather Cox Richardson. Instead of doing your usual rubbish post here, you should consider looking for a commentator with equal gravitas and community standing who can refute her arguments competently. Sonhouse, the same applies to you: not a rant, just a sober statement, please.

@great-big-stees said
NEVA.😡

Perhaps we should, out of respect for its founder who's no longer with us.

@suzianne said
Why is it your business?

Why is it not his business? Forums are public places where anyone can ask anything (subject to the ToS), and it's just another random general forum topic.

@averagejoe1 said
One of the simple questions which should be answered in this busy world.
Does anyone watch him read off of a piece of paper that he is going to do this? Does anyone agree with this? Do you know someone who has never been to college who will be assessed money to pay off a person's debts? His graduate school college loans?

<groan> not AGAIN!

@kmax87 said
You know like when the season changes and it takes a while to recognize it's not so hot/cold anymore, I started to wonder why I was enjoying the forums again. And then it hit me. The screeds of threads with a conspiratorial leaning have to a large extent dried up. Has anyone else noticed this?

Now look what you've done! It's inspired it to return...