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All dead links... Not a surprise, really. But the fundamental question is WHY does he even NEED a dongle in the first place? Why not include a type A and HDMI connectors at a minimum? You don't get it...

Sorry, I obviously didn't copypasta them correctly, and then screwed up by not testing the result, sorry about that!

Here you go:

https://www.amazon.com/HyperDr...

https://www.amazon.com/VAVA-VA...

https://www.amazon.com/Adapter...

https://www.amazon.com/UGREEN-...

As to why Apple "Can't just put an Port on it?", the answer is likely that the internals are likely designed around using TB/USB-C, and, although it would likely just be an inexpensive chip and connector to offer a USB-A port, adding an additional HDMI port is far more involved, especially when all your PCIe lanes are already dedicated to USB-C/TB3 use.

You will notice that all of the Windows laptops that offer USB-C/TB3 (and there are many), that are based on the same series of CPUs, none of them offer FOUR USB-C/TB3 ports. Therefore, they give up a LOT of I/O flexibility to expose a couple of Dedicated "Legacy" Ports. It is a short-sighted approach.

And, as I have said before, given the average lifespan of Macs, Apple's decision to go with "USB-C/TB3" will seem less and less "dumb" in a year or two, as the rest of the industry catches up (which they are OBVIOUSLY doing).

https://www.ultrabookreview.co...

Plus, Apple computer users are used to having to use an adapter for video for most of the designs. As for the "lack" of an HDMI output, only a very few Macs released in the past 5 years (and really, throughout their history) have had a directly-connectable video output. Whether it's ADC, MiniVGA, MiniDVI, MiniDisplayPort, or USB-C/TB3, Apple has usually elected to provide a multi-protocol video output, rather than having dedicated VGA/DVI/HDMI outputs. So, the continuation of that concept (that video connections require an interposing adapter) is certainly of no moment to 99.999% of experienced Mac users, and quite frankly, is becoming quite common many Windows laptops/tablets and AIOs, as well. So, you are definitely in the minority, there.

The comments so far that I have read anout how this is bad are basically reduced to "This is an inconvinience for me." and then tryt to find another reason. So here is how it works in places where they are already doing this.

Instead of using a bag one time, you take a cotton bag that you can use many times over years. You take it with you when you go shopping. Sure, you will forget it a few times, but most people are not snowflakes and will start to remember, just like you remember to take your phone with you.

Where I live most people can not use the bag for trash anyway. You need to buy special bags for special garbage. So there is no gain there.

The single use items need to stop. I just bought 4 microSD cards and the amount of garbadge I got with it is immense. I get a SD sleeve (or whatever it is called) that I do not need. They are placed in a plastic that I do not need inside an even bigger plastic that is put inside a carton. That was the put inside a box that was filled with filling paper. 4 microSD cards Could have bneen send in an envelope, yet they decided to use the size of a small shoebox. I guess 99.9% waste.

I also use 1 use-based items, because I am as lazy as the rest (and perhaps even more so as I do this at work), yet I changed my behaviour in using plastic bags and I did not try to sweasel my way out of it and find excuses. I adapted my behaviour and after a month it was ok.

So now when I go shopping, I take two small nags that are both the size of a wallet with me. I always have at least one with me at all times in case I suddenly need it. Something like this and yes, they exist in other materials as well, but you need to search foir yourself as I am lazy and my shift is almost over.

The comments so far that I have read anout how this is bad are basically reduced to "This is an inconvinience for me." and then tryt to find another reason. So here is how it works in places where they are already doing this.

Instead of using a bag one time, you take a cotton bag that you can use many times over years. You take it with you when you go shopping. Sure, you will forget it a few times, but most people are not snowflakes and will start to remember, just like you remember to take your phone with you.

Where I live most people can not use the bag for trash anyway. You need to buy special bags for special garbage. So there is no gain there.

The single use items need to stop. I just bought 4 microSD cards and the amount of garbadge I got with it is immense. I get a SD sleeve (or whatever it is called) that I do not need. They are placed in a plastic that I do not need inside an even bigger plastic that is put inside a carton. That was the put inside a box that was filled with filling paper. 4 microSD cards Could have bneen send in an envelope, yet they decided to use the size of a small shoebox. I guess 99.9% waste.

I also use 1 use-based items, because I am as lazy as the rest (and perhaps even more so as I do this at work), yet I changed my behaviour in using plastic bags and I did not try to sweasel my way out of it and find excuses. I adapted my behaviour and after a month it was ok.

So now when I go shopping, I take two small nags that are both the size of a wallet with me. I always have at least one with me at all times in case I suddenly need it. Something like this and yes, they exist in other materials as well, but you need to search foir yourself as I am lazy and my shift is almost over.

The comments so far that I have read anout how this is bad are basically reduced to "This is an inconvinience for me." and then tryt to find another reason. So here is how it works in places where they are already doing this.

Instead of using a bag one time, you take a cotton bag that you can use many times over years. You take it with you when you go shopping. Sure, you will forget it a few times, but most people are not snowflakes and will start to remember, just like you remember to take your phone with you.

Where I live most people can not use the bag for trash anyway. You need to buy special bags for special garbage. So there is no gain there.

The single use items need to stop. I just bought 4 microSD cards and the amount of garbadge I got with it is immense. I get a SD sleeve (or whatever it is called) that I do not need. They are placed in a plastic that I do not need inside an even bigger plastic that is put inside a carton. That was the put inside a box that was filled with filling paper. 4 microSD cards Could have bneen send in an envelope, yet they decided to use the size of a small shoebox. I guess 99.9% waste.

I also use 1 use-based items, because I am as lazy as the rest (and perhaps even more so as I do this at work), yet I changed my behaviour in using plastic bags and I did not try to sweasel my way out of it and find excuses. I adapted my behaviour and after a month it was ok.

So now when I go shopping, I take two small nags that are both the size of a wallet with me. I always have at least one with me at all times in case I suddenly need it. Something like this and yes, they exist in other materials as well, but you need to search foir yourself as I am lazy and my shift is almost over.

Something about the size of a dollar bill would be too thin for the ports; it's considerably larger than even a band of bills. Perhaps some of us feel we shouldn't need $300 in adapters and dongles and docks to make our $3000 machines as useful as their $300 PC counterparts. Progress usually means being able to do more with a single item, not less.

I obviously wasn't including the "Z" axis, you putz! So, let's say a stack of dollar-bills about 1/2" high.

Better?

Who said $300? Unless you need a couple of certain ports (miniDP, FireWire), you can get by with a multiport Dock for around $50, and you bloody-well know that, since I sent you a sample of about four multiport docks that fit that description. One was $89; but the rest ranged from $38 to $50.

And, even if you need MiniDP, there are Docks around $100 that can supply that, too. In fact, there were a couple that supported MiniDP for around $50; but they looked a little sketchy. Here's one for $123 that is actually a TB3 Dock and sports TWO 4k@60Hz-compatible MiniDP connectors (which can also drive certain 5k displays@60Hz, too), plus a USB 3.0 and Gigabit Ethernet port. It is slightly larger than a credit card (and about 1/2" tall).

https://www.amazon.com/StarTec...

Step up to this $229 Dock and it has everything you could want except Firewire. USB 3.1 Gen 1 X 2, DisplayPort X 2, HDMI, VGA, GigE, 87W USB-C Passthru Port. Slightly longer and skinnier than a dollar bill, by around 1/2" high.

https://www.amazon.com/Mantiz-...

Unfortunately, If you need FireWire, you are really stuck with either Apple's two-cascaded-adapters solution (ick!) for a total of $70, or that expensive $349 OWC 13 Port Dock. But that is the EXTREME exception to the rule! But that probably wouldn't be any more expensive than using a PCI-Card solution back in the day.

Remember when a lot of laptops made you go through that horseshit JUST for a MODEM or and Ethernet port? And Diety help you if you needed BOTH...

Sorry, this is MUCH better than all that.

Something about the size of a dollar bill would be too thin for the ports; it's considerably larger than even a band of bills. Perhaps some of us feel we shouldn't need $300 in adapters and dongles and docks to make our $3000 machines as useful as their $300 PC counterparts. Progress usually means being able to do more with a single item, not less.

I obviously wasn't including the "Z" axis, you putz! So, let's say a stack of dollar-bills about 1/2" high.

Better?

Who said $300? Unless you need a couple of certain ports (miniDP, FireWire), you can get by with a multiport Dock for around $50, and you bloody-well know that, since I sent you a sample of about four multiport docks that fit that description. One was $89; but the rest ranged from $38 to $50.

And, even if you need MiniDP, there are Docks around $100 that can supply that, too. In fact, there were a couple that supported MiniDP for around $50; but they looked a little sketchy. Here's one for $123 that is actually a TB3 Dock and sports TWO 4k@60Hz-compatible MiniDP connectors (which can also drive certain 5k displays@60Hz, too), plus a USB 3.0 and Gigabit Ethernet port. It is slightly larger than a credit card (and about 1/2" tall).

https://www.amazon.com/StarTec...

Step up to this $229 Dock and it has everything you could want except Firewire. USB 3.1 Gen 1 X 2, DisplayPort X 2, HDMI, VGA, GigE, 87W USB-C Passthru Port. Slightly longer and skinnier than a dollar bill, by around 1/2" high.

https://www.amazon.com/Mantiz-...

Unfortunately, If you need FireWire, you are really stuck with either Apple's two-cascaded-adapters solution (ick!) for a total of $70, or that expensive $349 OWC 13 Port Dock. But that is the EXTREME exception to the rule! But that probably wouldn't be any more expensive than using a PCI-Card solution back in the day.

Remember when a lot of laptops made you go through that horseshit JUST for a MODEM or and Ethernet port? And Diety help you if you needed BOTH...

Sorry, this is MUCH better than all that.

What's the point in having thinner laptops if we need to carry adapters around?

This is what I am talking about:

https://www.amazon.com/Adapter...

If you think that's too onerous while the world catches-up to USB-C, then you are one entitled little biotch...

Problem was, when that original MacBook with the single USB-C came out, there really wasn't that spectacular, to put it mildly. Now, it is quite different! There are several inexpensive (~$50) USB-C Docks that have a typical compliment of, for example, 3 or 4 USB 3.0 Ports, an SD/MiniSD (and sometimes also a CF) slot, Gigabit Ethernet, 4k HDMI out (and sometimes VGA), and occasionally even Audio I/O, plus a pass-through USB-C charger port.

But the better ones need two USB-C ports. Also, if you are giving up your only USB-C port for a dock that doesn't provide a functional USB-C port, then what's the point of having a device with USB-C ports? It's a lot more reasonable on the Pro, where you only give up half of your USB-C ports.

The biggest problem with the MacBook is that Apple completely misunderstood its target market. Students, on average, have limited desk space, so they have a laptop sitting on their desks, and their phone is plugged into the laptop to charge. With only one port, you can't do that. They designed the thing to be more like an iPad, acting like an accessory device, failing to recognize that laptops are more typically used as the central hub for your digital life.

The only ones I have seen that eat up 2 USB-C ports are the ones that attach directly to the side of the MacBook Pro, and use the second Port merely for Stability.

I say that, because they don't have any more capability than the similar ones that only use ONE USB-C port. Like these, for example:

https://www.amazon.com/UGREEN-... [amazon.com]

https://www.amazon.com/HyperDr... [amazon.com]

https://www.amazon.com/VAVA-VA... [amazon.com]

https://www.amazon.com/Adapter... [amazon.com]

And that was with about 2 min. searching on Amazon. There are many more configs., sizes, and price-points.

But, as I said, I am not a fan of the single USB-C port MacBook. I agree it took a good idea too far. But the MacBook Pro 13" has 2 USB-C/TB3 Ports, and of course the 15" has FOUR. With the 15", you can actually have a "fanout" of up to FIFTY-TWO Ports, using the OWC 13-Port ThunderBolt Dock:

https://eshop.macsales.com/sho...

Or, if you don't need FireWire, they sell a 12 Port model for $60 less:

https://eshop.macsales.com/sho...

Those are on the VERY high-side as far as cost; but they really DO demonstrate the extraordinary port-flexibility afforded by ThunderBolt 3.

Yes, USB-C does not imply Thunderbolt 3 (I don't think); but if we are talking what Apple has to offer, then this demonstrates both the low and high-ends of port-expansion.

Problem was, when that original MacBook with the single USB-C came out, there really wasn't that spectacular, to put it mildly. Now, it is quite different! There are several inexpensive (~$50) USB-C Docks that have a typical compliment of, for example, 3 or 4 USB 3.0 Ports, an SD/MiniSD (and sometimes also a CF) slot, Gigabit Ethernet, 4k HDMI out (and sometimes VGA), and occasionally even Audio I/O, plus a pass-through USB-C charger port.

But the better ones need two USB-C ports. Also, if you are giving up your only USB-C port for a dock that doesn't provide a functional USB-C port, then what's the point of having a device with USB-C ports? It's a lot more reasonable on the Pro, where you only give up half of your USB-C ports.

The biggest problem with the MacBook is that Apple completely misunderstood its target market. Students, on average, have limited desk space, so they have a laptop sitting on their desks, and their phone is plugged into the laptop to charge. With only one port, you can't do that. They designed the thing to be more like an iPad, acting like an accessory device, failing to recognize that laptops are more typically used as the central hub for your digital life.

The only ones I have seen that eat up 2 USB-C ports are the ones that attach directly to the side of the MacBook Pro, and use the second Port merely for Stability.

I say that, because they don't have any more capability than the similar ones that only use ONE USB-C port. Like these, for example:

https://www.amazon.com/UGREEN-... [amazon.com]

https://www.amazon.com/HyperDr... [amazon.com]

https://www.amazon.com/VAVA-VA... [amazon.com]

https://www.amazon.com/Adapter... [amazon.com]

And that was with about 2 min. searching on Amazon. There are many more configs., sizes, and price-points.

But, as I said, I am not a fan of the single USB-C port MacBook. I agree it took a good idea too far. But the MacBook Pro 13" has 2 USB-C/TB3 Ports, and of course the 15" has FOUR. With the 15", you can actually have a "fanout" of up to FIFTY-TWO Ports, using the OWC 13-Port ThunderBolt Dock:

https://eshop.macsales.com/sho...

Or, if you don't need FireWire, they sell a 12 Port model for $60 less:

https://eshop.macsales.com/sho...

Those are on the VERY high-side as far as cost; but they really DO demonstrate the extraordinary port-flexibility afforded by ThunderBolt 3.

Yes, USB-C does not imply Thunderbolt 3 (I don't think); but if we are talking what Apple has to offer, then this demonstrates both the low and high-ends of port-expansion.

Problem was, when that original MacBook with the single USB-C came out, there really wasn't that spectacular, to put it mildly. Now, it is quite different! There are several inexpensive (~$50) USB-C Docks that have a typical compliment of, for example, 3 or 4 USB 3.0 Ports, an SD/MiniSD (and sometimes also a CF) slot, Gigabit Ethernet, 4k HDMI out (and sometimes VGA), and occasionally even Audio I/O, plus a pass-through USB-C charger port.

But the better ones need two USB-C ports. Also, if you are giving up your only USB-C port for a dock that doesn't provide a functional USB-C port, then what's the point of having a device with USB-C ports? It's a lot more reasonable on the Pro, where you only give up half of your USB-C ports.

The biggest problem with the MacBook is that Apple completely misunderstood its target market. Students, on average, have limited desk space, so they have a laptop sitting on their desks, and their phone is plugged into the laptop to charge. With only one port, you can't do that. They designed the thing to be more like an iPad, acting like an accessory device, failing to recognize that laptops are more typically used as the central hub for your digital life.

The only ones I have seen that eat up 2 USB-C ports are the ones that attach directly to the side of the MacBook Pro, and use the second Port merely for Stability.

I say that, because they don't have any more capability than the similar ones that only use ONE USB-C port. Like these, for example:

https://www.amazon.com/UGREEN-... [amazon.com]

https://www.amazon.com/HyperDr... [amazon.com]

https://www.amazon.com/VAVA-VA... [amazon.com]

https://www.amazon.com/Adapter... [amazon.com]

And that was with about 2 min. searching on Amazon. There are many more configs., sizes, and price-points.

But, as I said, I am not a fan of the single USB-C port MacBook. I agree it took a good idea too far. But the MacBook Pro 13" has 2 USB-C/TB3 Ports, and of course the 15" has FOUR. With the 15", you can actually have a "fanout" of up to FIFTY-TWO Ports, using the OWC 13-Port ThunderBolt Dock:

https://eshop.macsales.com/sho...

Or, if you don't need FireWire, they sell a 12 Port model for $60 less:

https://eshop.macsales.com/sho...

Those are on the VERY high-side as far as cost; but they really DO demonstrate the extraordinary port-flexibility afforded by ThunderBolt 3.

Yes, USB-C does not imply Thunderbolt 3 (I don't think); but if we are talking what Apple has to offer, then this demonstrates both the low and high-ends of port-expansion.

Problem was, when that original MacBook with the single USB-C came out, there really wasn't that spectacular, to put it mildly. Now, it is quite different! There are several inexpensive (~$50) USB-C Docks that have a typical compliment of, for example, 3 or 4 USB 3.0 Ports, an SD/MiniSD (and sometimes also a CF) slot, Gigabit Ethernet, 4k HDMI out (and sometimes VGA), and occasionally even Audio I/O, plus a pass-through USB-C charger port.

But the better ones need two USB-C ports. Also, if you are giving up your only USB-C port for a dock that doesn't provide a functional USB-C port, then what's the point of having a device with USB-C ports? It's a lot more reasonable on the Pro, where you only give up half of your USB-C ports.

The biggest problem with the MacBook is that Apple completely misunderstood its target market. Students, on average, have limited desk space, so they have a laptop sitting on their desks, and their phone is plugged into the laptop to charge. With only one port, you can't do that. They designed the thing to be more like an iPad, acting like an accessory device, failing to recognize that laptops are more typically used as the central hub for your digital life.

The only ones I have seen that eat up 2 USB-C ports are the ones that attach directly to the side of the MacBook Pro, and use the second Port merely for Stability.

I say that, because they don't have any more capability than the similar ones that only use ONE USB-C port. Like these, for example:

https://www.amazon.com/UGREEN-... [amazon.com]

https://www.amazon.com/HyperDr... [amazon.com]

https://www.amazon.com/VAVA-VA... [amazon.com]

https://www.amazon.com/Adapter... [amazon.com]

And that was with about 2 min. searching on Amazon. There are many more configs., sizes, and price-points.

But, as I said, I am not a fan of the single USB-C port MacBook. I agree it took a good idea too far. But the MacBook Pro 13" has 2 USB-C/TB3 Ports, and of course the 15" has FOUR. With the 15", you can actually have a "fanout" of up to FIFTY-TWO Ports, using the OWC 13-Port ThunderBolt Dock:

https://eshop.macsales.com/sho...

Or, if you don't need FireWire, they sell a 12 Port model for $60 less:

https://eshop.macsales.com/sho...

Those are on the VERY high-side as far as cost; but they really DO demonstrate the extraordinary port-flexibility afforded by ThunderBolt 3.

Yes, USB-C does not imply Thunderbolt 3 (I don't think); but if we are talking what Apple has to offer, then this demonstrates both the low and high-ends of port-expansion.

A product manager at one of the companies I consult with is famous for being a strict Apple adherent. He has the MacBook and still raves about its clean, thin lines, perfect aesthetics, and it does everything. Of course he also has a big piece of Velcro stuck to the top, and half a dozen dongles Velcro'd to that so that he has what needs to do work. But still says it's the best laptop ever (other than when he forgets a dongle or it just doesn't work, which is about half the time he's trying to project to an HDMI projector).

I can't help it if he is mentally challenged, or just too damned LAZY to spend 2 minutes on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/UGREEN-... [amazon.com]

https://www.amazon.com/HyperDr... [amazon.com]

https://www.amazon.com/VAVA-VA... [amazon.com]

https://www.amazon.com/Adapter... [amazon.com]

And that was with about 2 min. searching on Amazon. There are many more configs., sizes, and price-points.

So, anyone who thinks they have to have a forest of "dongles" to effectively use a USB-C/TB equipped MacBook/MacBook Pro is SADLY mistaken.

Perhaps you could pass-along those links to your acquaintence.

A product manager at one of the companies I consult with is famous for being a strict Apple adherent. He has the MacBook and still raves about its clean, thin lines, perfect aesthetics, and it does everything. Of course he also has a big piece of Velcro stuck to the top, and half a dozen dongles Velcro'd to that so that he has what needs to do work. But still says it's the best laptop ever (other than when he forgets a dongle or it just doesn't work, which is about half the time he's trying to project to an HDMI projector).

I can't help it if he is mentally challenged, or just too damned LAZY to spend 2 minutes on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/UGREEN-... [amazon.com]

https://www.amazon.com/HyperDr... [amazon.com]

https://www.amazon.com/VAVA-VA... [amazon.com]

https://www.amazon.com/Adapter... [amazon.com]

And that was with about 2 min. searching on Amazon. There are many more configs., sizes, and price-points.

So, anyone who thinks they have to have a forest of "dongles" to effectively use a USB-C/TB equipped MacBook/MacBook Pro is SADLY mistaken.

Perhaps you could pass-along those links to your acquaintence.

A product manager at one of the companies I consult with is famous for being a strict Apple adherent. He has the MacBook and still raves about its clean, thin lines, perfect aesthetics, and it does everything. Of course he also has a big piece of Velcro stuck to the top, and half a dozen dongles Velcro'd to that so that he has what needs to do work. But still says it's the best laptop ever (other than when he forgets a dongle or it just doesn't work, which is about half the time he's trying to project to an HDMI projector).

I can't help it if he is mentally challenged, or just too damned LAZY to spend 2 minutes on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/UGREEN-... [amazon.com]

https://www.amazon.com/HyperDr... [amazon.com]

https://www.amazon.com/VAVA-VA... [amazon.com]

https://www.amazon.com/Adapter... [amazon.com]

And that was with about 2 min. searching on Amazon. There are many more configs., sizes, and price-points.

So, anyone who thinks they have to have a forest of "dongles" to effectively use a USB-C/TB equipped MacBook/MacBook Pro is SADLY mistaken.

Perhaps you could pass-along those links to your acquaintence.

A product manager at one of the companies I consult with is famous for being a strict Apple adherent. He has the MacBook and still raves about its clean, thin lines, perfect aesthetics, and it does everything. Of course he also has a big piece of Velcro stuck to the top, and half a dozen dongles Velcro'd to that so that he has what needs to do work. But still says it's the best laptop ever (other than when he forgets a dongle or it just doesn't work, which is about half the time he's trying to project to an HDMI projector).

I can't help it if he is mentally challenged, or just too damned LAZY to spend 2 minutes on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/UGREEN-... [amazon.com]

https://www.amazon.com/HyperDr... [amazon.com]

https://www.amazon.com/VAVA-VA... [amazon.com]

https://www.amazon.com/Adapter... [amazon.com]

And that was with about 2 min. searching on Amazon. There are many more configs., sizes, and price-points.

So, anyone who thinks they have to have a forest of "dongles" to effectively use a USB-C/TB equipped MacBook/MacBook Pro is SADLY mistaken.

Perhaps you could pass-along those links to your acquaintence.

And therein lies my point: docks aren't portable.

Oh, BULLshit!

You mean to tell me that something like THESE aren't PORTABLE?!?

https://www.amazon.com/UGREEN-...

https://www.amazon.com/HyperDr...

https://www.amazon.com/VAVA-VA...

https://www.amazon.com/Adapter...

And that was with about 2 min. searching on Amazon. There are many more configs., sizes, and price-points.

So, GIMME A BREAK!

And therein lies my point: docks aren't portable.

Oh, BULLshit!

You mean to tell me that something like THESE aren't PORTABLE?!?

https://www.amazon.com/UGREEN-...

https://www.amazon.com/HyperDr...

https://www.amazon.com/VAVA-VA...

https://www.amazon.com/Adapter...

And that was with about 2 min. searching on Amazon. There are many more configs., sizes, and price-points.

So, GIMME A BREAK!

And therein lies my point: docks aren't portable.

Oh, BULLshit!

You mean to tell me that something like THESE aren't PORTABLE?!?

https://www.amazon.com/UGREEN-...

https://www.amazon.com/HyperDr...

https://www.amazon.com/VAVA-VA...

https://www.amazon.com/Adapter...

And that was with about 2 min. searching on Amazon. There are many more configs., sizes, and price-points.

So, GIMME A BREAK!

And therein lies my point: docks aren't portable.

Oh, BULLshit!

You mean to tell me that something like THESE aren't PORTABLE?!?

https://www.amazon.com/UGREEN-...

https://www.amazon.com/HyperDr...

https://www.amazon.com/VAVA-VA...

https://www.amazon.com/Adapter...

And that was with about 2 min. searching on Amazon. There are many more configs., sizes, and price-points.

So, GIMME A BREAK!

shanen misspoke:

Did you know that Barney Google existed long before the google? Some corporate cancer should buy that copyright and use it to extract profit from the google.

You are conflating copyright with trademarks. They are not the same thing. At all.

A copyright is granted on a whole work, and its constituent parts only to a certain degree of granularity. The fineness of that granularity is open to interpretation, but it has never, ever been extended to the level of a particular word - and it never will be, because the concept of fair use would supervene.

A trademark is granted in perpetuity for the trade name of a particular product, service, or business name, with the following restrictions: the mark is confined to a defined geographic service area or market (global marks, like that of McDonald's, are rare and difficult to establish and defend), it is confined to the particular offering (i.e. - you cannot engage in the food service business using the name "McDonald's," because that mark is already in use), and the mark must be actively defended (which is why lawyers for McDonald's are so legendarily aggressive in suing food service establishments that infringe on their company's trademark).

Barney Google is the name of a comic strip character created in 1919 by Billy DeBack. The strip is still running, believe it or not, but, since Google is not in the business of producing comic strips - and Barney Google has no connection with Internet search - there is and can be no conflict between the two marks

Disclaimer: IANAL. I do not play one on TV. I do not fantasize about being one. If you have a patent, copyright, or trademark question that potentially involves the courts, you should consult an actual lawyer, not me ...

(Posting as AC only so as not to undo prior upmods in this thread.)

--

Check out my novel ...

Zontar The Mindless observed:

Just about anything that once appeared novel can be said to be "extremely obvious in hindsight".

Yep.

I'm reminded of the first time I saw one of those charcoal starter barbeque chimneys, in June, 1977. Its function was so immediately obvious to me that I exclaimed: "Of course!"

The friend who showed it to me insisted on explaining how it worked, despite my exclamation. But, of course, that was completely unnecessary, because the function and operation of the thing was obvious from its form - at least, it was to me ...

(Posting as AC only so as not to undo prior upmods in this thread.)

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A few years back I ordered something small that cost $12 or so. I think it was some kind of Park bicycle wrench. What they sent me was this: https://www.amazon.com/YELLOW-... An air-conditioning test and charging manifold, that was priced $175 at the time. I got on the website and requested a return and explained what happened, and then for the next few days started getting two different sets of messages. One set was the usual automated set that said I had to return the item by a certain number of days or I would get charged for it. The other set was real people responding, telling me that I wouldn't get charged for it and that I didn't need to return the item and that I could dispose of it as I pleased. When I asked why they didn't want it returned, the real person said that some items are hazardous enough that if they make a mistake and send one out, they will not accept if back for any reason. I said that I had only opened the shipping box and not the sealed item box itself, and he said that didn't matter. I could keep it since they would just destroy it if it was returned, and the company didn't want to pay the return shipping cost just to destroy it. I never got charged for it either. I gave it to my AC repair guy, since AC maintenance is not a hobby of mine and it's not good for much else. Ever since then I have wondered however,,,, what is the most-expensive thing that Amazon has given away just because they shipped the totally-wrong item? I don't know how happy they'd be to talk about that, but it would be an interesting read...

I bought a $400 android tablet from Amazon (a few years ago). They shipped it LaserShip and the courier tried to steal the package. I called LaserShip after they claimed it was delivered and video surveillance showed it was not. Guy tried to weasel out and make excuses. Eventually admitted that the courier had opened the package and the tablet box. I told them to return it to Amazon. I complained to Amazon and they gave me an instant refund. LaserShip then threw the box on my front porch and tried to claim it hadn’t been stolen - open boxes and everything. Video surveillance showed he literally threw it there from the street trying to stay of-frame in the camera. I actually found it on my porch and told Amazon about it. They told me they would not be able to keep it after it had been stolen by LaserShip. They told me I could do whatever I wanted with it and I still got my money. Still have that tablet to this day.

Amazon Warehouse Deals is fraudulent. Simple as that. It's not the consumers that are the problem. Here are Amazon's condition guidelines for used items on the marketplace. Notice that "Like New" means gift quality. Have you ever purchased a "Used - Like New" item from Warehouse deals? I just did a quick search for "Macbook". I did not cherry pick this search; it was off the top of my head. I clicked the second link (a MacBook pro from 2015), and look at the second listing. It says "Packaging will be damaged." Yet, the condition guidelines say "Like New" means gift quality. And, if you make too many returns, they will ban your account, probably for life. This is, to be blunt, fraud. My guess is that, unlike the US, Germany would actually do something about this fraud.

Amazon Warehouse Deals is fraudulent. Simple as that. It's not the consumers that are the problem. Here are Amazon's condition guidelines for used items on the marketplace. Notice that "Like New" means gift quality. Have you ever purchased a "Used - Like New" item from Warehouse deals? I just did a quick search for "Macbook". I did not cherry pick this search; it was off the top of my head. I clicked the second link (a MacBook pro from 2015), and look at the second listing. It says "Packaging will be damaged." Yet, the condition guidelines say "Like New" means gift quality. And, if you make too many returns, they will ban your account, probably for life. This is, to be blunt, fraud. My guess is that, unlike the US, Germany would actually do something about this fraud.

A few years back I ordered something small that cost $12 or so. I think it was some kind of Park bicycle wrench.

What they sent me was this:
https://www.amazon.com/YELLOW-...
An air-conditioning test and charging manifold, that was priced $175 at the time.

I got on the website and requested a return and explained what happened, and then for the next few days started getting two different sets of messages.
One set was the usual automated set that said I had to return the item by a certain number of days or I would get charged for it.
The other set was real people responding, telling me that I wouldn't get charged for it and that I didn't need to return the item and that I could dispose of it as I pleased.

When I asked why they didn't want it returned, the real person said that some items are hazardous enough that if they make a mistake and send one out, they will not accept if back for any reason. I said that I had only opened the shipping box and not the sealed item box itself, and he said that didn't matter. I could keep it since they would just destroy it if it was returned, and the company didn't want to pay the return shipping cost just to destroy it. I never got charged for it either.

I gave it to my AC repair guy, since AC maintenance is not a hobby of mine and it's not good for much else.

Ever since then I have wondered however,,,, what is the most-expensive thing that Amazon has given away just because they shipped the totally-wrong item? I don't know how happy they'd be to talk about that, but it would be an interesting read...

I thought this was really good coverage of Holmes and the Theranos story: Here, Nick Gillespie interviews John Carreyrou, the investigative reporter from the Wall Street Journal who broke the Theranos scam story and has a new book out about it called Bad Blood.

apoc.famine proposed:

Rather than attacking the profitability of Amtrak, which tends to struggle in the best of times, perhaps the good senator could work on forcing the telcom industry to finish their work. They don't seem to hurt for profit, and our investment in them should both be repaid and include the interest on that investment.

Perhaps you hadn't heard, but the FCC - which regulates telecoms - now has a chairman who's a telecom lobbyist, and its board is exclusively composed of Trump appointees. Also, both the Senate and the House now have Repubican majorities who have repeatedly demonstrated their eagerness to do Trump's bidding.

Manchin is a Democrat.

So, if you'd be so kind, could you please explain exactly how Senator Manchin is supposed to go about "forcing the telcom industry to finish their work?"

Because I'm a little unclear on the details of your proposal ...

(Posting as AC only so as not to undo prior upmods in this thread.)

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You can rent a lot of processing power on Amazon, but you can't rent a supercomputer-grade high performance interconnect between your nodes. Not from them, anyway.

https://aws.amazon.com/hpc/

Amazon made the Fire phone, which included Amazon's app store. Developers could upload their apps to this store as well. Have an Android phone? You can install Amazon's app store. Here's a link:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/mas/...

Did I just save Google $2.8B?

The Dividend is a unique solution. It's similar to a Universal Basic Income and a social insurance (like Social Security Retirement Pensions, Disability Insurance, or Unemployment), as well as to a Keynesian stimulus (that $300 check you got back in 2009 when Obama signed a huge stimulus into law to halt the recession).

It's not global, but national; yet the protections against damage from structural change and the maximization of gains from such structural change allow us to take full advantage of global trade and labor movement. This is fundamental in Nordic nations, and is studied extensively.

It's really weird being an economist because you basically just have to sound like one to qualify. Economists are well-aware of this fact.

Yup. Has been for almost ~20+ years.

Magic search term is DVD Audio

For example, search Amazon for DVD Audio. If you look on the left sidebar you'll see Music Format: [ ] DVD Audio.

Also check out Blu-ray Audio

A Fire 7" tablet costs $50

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01J...

I'm sure something costing 6x the price can be nicer, though. I'm certainly not at the point where that price difference is non-significant, especially when a child is going to be doing their best to break it.

Hey, sitting here with my relatively ancient iPad 2, that I wouldn't even HAVE if my employer had 't given it to me for XMas about 5 years ago, I'm very familiar with personal finances compromising and/or limiting choices in tech. So, it that is the case, then I sincerely apologize for my snarky comment!

But if you can ever see it to purchase an iPad, they are pretty rugged, and with a simple case, are fairly indestructible.

A Fire 7" tablet costs $50

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01J...

I'm sure something costing 6x the price can be nicer, though. I'm certainly not at the point where that price difference is non-significant, especially when a child is going to be doing their best to break it.

lgw misleadingly stated:

If you want to see corporate profits (after salary and taxes and COGS and so on), here's a guide: http://www.multpl.com/ Corporate profits are about 4% of the market value of corporations right now. You can see the history for the past 150 years or so at the link.

Uh - so you're conflating profit with S&P market capitalization estimates?

I don' theeng so, Quickstraw.

Corporate profits have little to do with market cap. (Well, okay, they contribute to investment algorithm decision-making. But that's beside the point.) The lack of any reasonable alternative investment avenue (Have you looked at bond prices lately? Or real estate anywhere but San Francisco or Manhattan - where you'll be competing against Chinese investors determined to find a place to offshore their profits? And don't get me started on the commodities market.) is much more important to that figure. So is the "irrational exuberance" in the title of the book the link you provided refers to as its source.

Corporate profits are enormous - and larger now than ever before. They're also protected by walls of special-interest tax exemptions, exclusions, and credits, ably aided by "Hollywood accounting" practices (which definitely aren't confined to Hollywood). Plus, there's the much-used strategy of transferring corporate headquarters and/or "ownership" to offshore tax havens, where profits booked aren't included in S&P's estimations.

And so on, and so forth, tra-la-la.

I suspect you know all this, but it doesn't serve your argument, so you cite the market-cap-vs-declared-profits comparison, instead, hoping no one here will be sophisticated enough to call your bluff.

You may consider it called ...

(Posting as AC only so as not to undo prior upmods in this thread.)

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An Anonymous Coward pointed out:

A lot of "security questions" for online accounts (like banks) ask for date of birth and/or name of your highschol, etc. All this info can be gathered from FB and/or your posts. Even if you hid your birthday, some retard will post "happy birthday" on your page and screw you.

I moderated this post +1 Informative, despite my policy of not awarding mod points to ACs.

I did so, because the poster is absolutely correct. I've told my bank several times that their "security" questions about my birthdate and other not-very-private information are completely worthless. Talking to a telephone rep just last night, I pointed it out again. When she started to give me the same old, "these are standard questions" BS, I stopped her and asked how many people posted happy birthday wishes on her FB wall on her last birthday.

That broke the BS. Then I explained that I wanted to activate Google Pay on my phone, because I'd just purchased a Vox AC30CC2X amplifier, and she responded, "That's a nice amp!"

After that we were guitar buddies, and we had a really nice conversation about music gear - but I doubt very much that my complaint will make it past her supervisor, because, of COURSE a mere customer couldn't possibly know anything of value about security.

I've encountered the exact same stone wall with every hospital and doctor's office I've ever complained to about their identically-useless ID verification questions (except minus the musician's chit-chat).

Playing Cassandra is pretty damned frustrating, believe you me ...

(Posting as AC only so as not to undo prior upmods in this thread.)

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Perhaps they are against this Fa. It would match their appearing as if they neglect personal hygiene, and with that, why they often protect their nose with a scarf.
(captcha: leftover, hehe :)

https://reefbuilders.com/2015/...

This is where all the plugs come from that they use to try to revitalize areas. You can either break off pieces of an adult and glue them to a plug, or just pick up all the pieces naturally broken off that are on the bottom everywhere after a storm.

Been a while since I've read it, and there are much newer versions. This was back when I used to raise corals in aquariums in my house. They didn't take millions of years to grow more like 6 months to a year. Sure big coral heads that are forty feet across take a long time to form (hundreds/thousands of years), but again the main structure of those large corals are the dead skeletons. You could, this is something I used to do, is create a form out of concrete and reef sand, and glue (epoxy) clipping of corals to it. The corals would rapidly spread to cover the form, like an underwater Chia Pet. Growing corals is more like planting a lawn than regular gardening.

This is the entire point of sinking ships. Within a year they are covered by sponges and other inverts and a large number of fish move in for shelter. Within 5 years they are covered by various corals. Within 10 years, if the conditions are right they will be completely covered.

I don't think many people realise that we're in an ideological war like we were with the USSR.

Much like the Soviets, the Chinese Communist Party has been busy systematically infiltrating and undermining the institutions of western society in order to undermine our belief in liberal democracy. This has been going on since Tiananmen Square.

I recently read a newly published book "Silent Invasion: China's Influence in Australia" by Clive Hamilton. (Non-referral link) It's highly alarming and lays out in detail a lot of what I've suspected has been happening for the last 20 years. You'll see things like China's activity in the South China Sea in a whole new light.

The book doesn't just apply to Australia, but all of the western world. China leaned on organisations in Australia to not publish or promote the book. Everyone concerned about the survival of western liberal democracy should read this book. The author is a noted left-wing/progressive intellectual, so you can't cry that it's a racist, right-wing nut job thing.

Trump is the first Western leader to recognise the threat that China poses. He also has the balls to push back rather than bend over so that party donors can enrich themselves at the long-term expense of western civilisation.

Wal-mart explicitly encourages brands to make lower-quality versions to sell at their stores for a lower price, capitalizing on the brand name recognition

I often see stuff that's also at WalMart; but your point is interesting.

Sony XBR55X800E at Best Buy and WalMart. Same with various models in stock at the store just up the street from me right now.

If they're labeling these as the same product and yet they're different, the FTC should put a boot in somebody's ass.

As I mentioned: they have the same brand products of food in their grocery area (plus really horrible store brand). It's clothing, blankets, and kitchen wares (plates, cups, utensils) that are often vastly-inferior--anything that's generally a minor purchase, something people don't think about what to buy but just that they need to buy it. They definitely pressure those suppliers for cheaper goods.

So we have to compete with China in creepiness?

Of course since the average american and person in capitalist society is unaware how extreme wealth inequality is. So all the rulers are at full blown war against their publics. That's why the spying is there, to make sure you have the "correct" free market, corporation worshipping thoughts and not notice the end of the rule of law, endless copyright laws which equals total domination of government by the rich.

See it in this speach by former national security adivisor of the United states:

Elites fear political awakening of the globe

The Citibank memo

Citigroup memo

US distribution of wealth

https://imgur.com/a/FShfb

http://www2.ucsc.edu/whorulesamerica/power/wealth.html

These links will take a while to digest, but if you want to understand what's going on in the world, you owe it to yourself to become informed about the true state of the world. Realize that business and the wealthy is hostile to your interests.

Testing theories of representative government

https://scholar.princeton.edu/sites/default/files/mgilens/files/gilens_and_page_2014_-testing_theories_of_american_politics.doc.pdf

Aka the rich (big business) vs the rest of mankind.

The grand chessboard

The Grand Chessboard: American Primacy And Its Geostrategic Imperatives

Grand chessboard user review

Stratfor and social media like reddit to monitor / influence and control public opinion.

Reddit and intelligence agencies

  Wikileaks -- Reddit and intelligence agencies

"Intended as an internal document. Good reading to understand the nature of rich democracies and the fact that the common people are not allowed to play a role."

Crisis of democracy

Crisis of democracy - PDF

http://www.amazon.com/Crisis-D... ">Crisis of democracy - BOOK

Education as ignorance

Education as ignorance

  Overthrowing other peoples governments

Overthrowing other peoples governments, the master list

Interference in other states when the rich/corporations dont get their way

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mxp_wgFWQo&feature=youtu.be&list=PLKR2GeygdHomOZeVKx3P0fqH58T3VghOj&t=724

So we have to compete with China in creepiness?

Of course since the average american and person in capitalist society is unaware how extreme wealth inequality is. So all the rulers are at full blown war against their publics. That's why the spying is there, to make sure you have the "correct" free market, corporation worshipping thoughts and not notice the end of the rule of law, endless copyright laws which equals total domination of government by the rich.

See it in this speach by former national security adivisor of the United states:

Elites fear political awakening of the globe

The Citibank memo

Citigroup memo

US distribution of wealth

https://imgur.com/a/FShfb

http://www2.ucsc.edu/whorulesamerica/power/wealth.html

These links will take a while to digest, but if you want to understand what's going on in the world, you owe it to yourself to become informed about the true state of the world. Realize that business and the wealthy is hostile to your interests.

Testing theories of representative government

https://scholar.princeton.edu/sites/default/files/mgilens/files/gilens_and_page_2014_-testing_theories_of_american_politics.doc.pdf

Aka the rich (big business) vs the rest of mankind.

The grand chessboard

The Grand Chessboard: American Primacy And Its Geostrategic Imperatives

Grand chessboard user review

Stratfor and social media like reddit to monitor / influence and control public opinion.

Reddit and intelligence agencies

  Wikileaks -- Reddit and intelligence agencies

"Intended as an internal document. Good reading to understand the nature of rich democracies and the fact that the common people are not allowed to play a role."

Crisis of democracy

Crisis of democracy - PDF

http://www.amazon.com/Crisis-D... ">Crisis of democracy - BOOK

Education as ignorance

Education as ignorance

  Overthrowing other peoples governments

Overthrowing other peoples governments, the master list

Interference in other states when the rich/corporations dont get their way

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mxp_wgFWQo&feature=youtu.be&list=PLKR2GeygdHomOZeVKx3P0fqH58T3VghOj&t=724

You can read about it in Elon’s news letter.

HiThere cautioned:

They are less bad than you indicate. Slightly.

The problem is the authority worshiping administrators who just the quality of the faculty without any knowledge of the areas they are judging. It's important to not lest Springer-Verlag get established as an authority in a field...because less bad certainly doesn't mean good.

If only you had proofread your post, I would have given you a +1 Insightful upmod.

But you didn't. So I didn't ...

(Posting as AC only so as not to undo prior upmods in this thread.)

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Home ownership has been overpromoted for decades in this country, and the reality of it is finally sinking in (not necessarily for this kid, but for our country in general). We have multiple cable networks that are still effectively acting as marketing outfits for realtors, hyping home ownership as an investment 24x7.

I'm about half-way through All the Devils Are Here: The Hidden History of the Financial Crisis which focuses on history of subprime mortgages and mortgage derivatives the lead up to the 2008 recession. The book paints an astoundingly complex economic arrangement (it helpfully includes a glossary I have to refer to once or twice a chapter because I forgot what a term meant) that exploded due about 65/35 to pure greed and lack of full risk assessment.

Heavy emphasis in early chapters is placed on how much home ownership is pushed by the government, and by many companies happy to make a buck assisting that. The sheer religious fervor over home ownership (especially as part of the ambiguous "American Dream") has always struck me as stupid, and seeing it help that bubble grow just makes the whole concept even worse.

If I were a better fundraiser, I'd probably be sitting on an easy win. ;) People seem to know who I am wherever I go, though, which is uh. Interesting. Now the question is do voters know who I am?

I might start a lobbying organization and publish a policy handbook whether I win or lose. It may contain some radical ideas.

If you like reading economics lit, I'm pulling in data from the Nordic model among other places. There's another book on the same topic. I don't always agree with their conclusions, and sometimes they don't make conclusions (e.g. they point out that indefinite unemployment insurance is easy to game and that people stay on it not-as-long when it's limited to 2 years, and also point out that this doesn't necessarily mean more employment because these people may be trading into jobs other people were getting and so the unemployment rate can stay the same either way--a deficiency I've commented on in our 6-month system here: it relies on people floating in and out, not on reducing actual unemployment).

one of these

https://www.amazon.com/Birchware-Classic-Compostable-Wooden-Forks/dp/B004SZVOHQ/ref=pd_cp_79_4?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B004SZVOHQ&pd_rd_r=466e3f33-636f-11e8-812d-0dde1988473d&pd_rd_w=sG4vr&pd_rd_wg=NH5Om&pf_rd_i=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=80460301815383741&pf_rd_r=0V7WJJ3YCSRDJJEZ112P&pf_rd_s=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_t=40701&psc=1&refRID=0V7WJJ3YCSRDJJEZ112P

I like the ones made out of corn.
https://www.amazon.com/World-Centric-Starch-Forks-24-Piece/dp/B003FUPCT6?tag=gc0a18-20

On the subject of there being a lot of cheap imported stuff, I give you Sturgeons Law:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...

And on buying the $3 one instead of the $15 one, the Boots Theory:
https://moneywise.com/a/boots-...

And to pick at nits, I woudn't trust a cast can opener. Would seem to have to be too brittle for the job. Forged or gtfo.

And on the subject of can openers, my favorite is the kind that breaks the lid's seal instead of cutting the metal below it: https://www.amazon.com/Kuhn-Ri...

Download the source and check it yourself.