Doh![1] There's also refill systems for Canon: I read someplace that Canon printheads were user serviceable... but I can't find the link now.
I think not even having to worry about the ink (by buying in bulk) and being able to print color pages to my hearts content sounds much better than cheaper cartridges (think: no cartridges.) [2] There was a neat testimonial where some user printed large color spreads that would have cost a fortune w/o a continous flow system. ______ [1] I meant to click [preview] not [submit]. [2] I was thinking of getting a kit for my Epson740, but I lost the printhead (moisturizing?) sponge for it, so I was thinking of getting a Canon instead.
Unlike some other conspiracies, the automobile/oil industry ones have some interesting history. I'd say it's more like interesting food for though, and it's not from some paranoid kook either --I'm not one to believe in paranoid conspiracies, new age cures, faith healing, visits from intelligent extra-terrestrials, mysticism, etcetera. I do however believe in sunshine (anti-backroom) laws, fair competition (through iron handed regulation if necessary, and good public policy.
Michael Parenti in Democracy for the Few (6th Ed.)[1] writes about some disturbing observations. The energy frugality of mass-transit was so "undesirable" to the oil and auto industries" that "[f]or over a half-century their response has been to undermine th nation's rail and electric-bus system."
The undermining of Los Angeles's 1935 "75-mile radius" "3,000 quiet, pollution-free electric trains [carrying"80 million people a year" was carried out by:
"General Motors
and[emph. mine] Standard Oil, using dummy corporations as fronts [through which they] purchased the system, crapped its electric cards, tore down its transmission lines, and placed GM buses fueled by Standard Oil...By 1955, 88 percent of nation's electric streetcar network had been eliminated by collaborators like GM, Standard Oil, Greyhound, and Firestone. In short time, they cut back city and suburban bus services, forcing people to rely increasingly on private cars. In 1949, General Motors was found guilty of conspiracy[emph. mine] in these activities and fined the devestating sum of $5,000."[23]
He follows up with the influence of cars, extended references of death rates --"2x accumulated number of Americans killed in all the wars ever fought by the United States"", urban air pollution, massive automobile land use, "$300 billion annual subsid[ies]", while "...mass transit--the most efficient, cleanest, and safest form of transporting goods and people" is abandoned. (p. 106)
I believe the money used "to subsidize automobile use" can be viewed, from one perspective, as an example of an economic freeloader. As auto companies undermine mass transit, thus using public dollars (which they only pay a fraction of) to fund expensive automobile public infrastructure.
I particularly like how he states that "[g]iven the absence of alternative mods of transportatoin, people become dependent on the automobile as a way of life so that their need for cars is often as real as their need for jobs." The economic burden of autos is pretty high for most americans. It's not like a $1000 tv, or $300 bike. It's a monthy loan payment, and then it's a bi-annual insurance payment, and finally its massive social/tax/healthcare cost from the "46,000 people killed" and "2,000,000 people injured" in traffic accidents. It makes wonder if the Segway could make a dent into this automobile entity we all have to live with?[24][25]
_____
>Parenti's footnotes<
23. Jonathan Kwitny, "The Great Transportation Conspiracy,"in Cargan and Ballantin (eds.), Sociological Footprints, 2nd ed. (Belmont, Calif.: Wadsworth, 1982)
24. Bureau of Census, Statistical Abstract of the United States 1992 (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1992); Andrew Kimbrell, "Car Culture: Driving Ourselves Crazy,"Washington Post September 3, 1989. Kimbrell notes that fatality statistics may be too low since they do not include deaths that occur several days after accidents or off-road.[2] he points out that motor vehicles kill easily one million animals each day, making road kills second only to the meat industry. More deer are killed by cars than by hunters.[3]
25. Kimbrell, "Car Culture"
>/Parenti's footnotes<
_____
1. "a major voice among political progressives"...Ph.D from Yale...lectures frequently at college campuses across the country." --[from back cover]
2. My grandfather died because of accident related complications =(
3. Animal rights activists will have a hard time stopping consumers from driving though, considering how car ownership is ingrained. And/or how convenient it is.
Unlike Circuit City's DivX content control system, there is not a simplistic stance people can unite behind. There is no blatant nor immediate threat to privacy nor obsolecense of their current DVD players.
Furthermore, unlike DivX, an attempt by a minority media player to get an advantage over its competitors (encouraging dissention.) This current issues is a push by the majority media players as a collective, united in effort.
Copyright control has advanced to the point that older arguments based on innovation hinderances or fair usage isn't nearly as clear cut. The MPAA will no doubt argue that a compromise (certainly in their favor) can be reached with modern technology and legislation.
Lack of public awareness; lack of connection between the people and representative; and lack of chrismatic politically or economically powerful figures leaves the people at a deciding disadvantage. Help raise awareness... and remember some inconsitencies in belief are allowed, as long as the core principles are shared by all advocates of a position.
Businesses have the distinction of being resistent to political change. Politician's have multitudes of checks and limits in place. 20 year long-term plans are impossible or extremely difficult because administrations are against each other. However, businesses with large warchests can affort to lobby political generation through generation.
Slashdot Mirror
I read someplace that Canon printheads were user serviceable... but I can't find the link now.
I think not even having to worry about the ink (by buying in bulk) and being able to print color pages to my hearts content sounds much better than cheaper cartridges (think: no cartridges.) [2] There was a neat testimonial where some user printed large color spreads that would have cost a fortune w/o a continous flow system.
______
[1] I meant to click [preview] not [submit].
[2] I was thinking of getting a kit for my Epson740, but I lost the printhead (moisturizing?) sponge for it, so I was thinking of getting a Canon instead.
There are continuous refill systems that store ink in large printer-external reservoires.
Geeks have happy endings too! =)
Unlike some other conspiracies, the automobile/oil industry ones have some interesting history. I'd say it's more like interesting food for though, and it's not from some paranoid kook either --I'm not one to believe in paranoid conspiracies, new age cures, faith healing, visits from intelligent extra-terrestrials, mysticism, etcetera. I do however believe in sunshine (anti-backroom) laws, fair competition (through iron handed regulation if necessary, and good public policy.
Michael Parenti in Democracy for the Few (6th Ed.)[1] writes about some disturbing observations. The energy frugality of mass-transit was so "undesirable" to the oil and auto industries" that "[f]or over a half-century their response has been to undermine th nation's rail and electric-bus system."
The undermining of Los Angeles's 1935 "75-mile radius" "3,000 quiet, pollution-free electric trains [carrying"80 million people a year" was carried out by:
He follows up with the influence of cars, extended references of death rates --"2x accumulated number of Americans killed in all the wars ever fought by the United States"", urban air pollution, massive automobile land use, "$300 billion annual subsid[ies]", while "...mass transit--the most efficient, cleanest, and safest form of transporting goods and people" is abandoned. (p. 106)
I believe the money used "to subsidize automobile use" can be viewed, from one perspective, as an example of an economic freeloader. As auto companies undermine mass transit, thus using public dollars (which they only pay a fraction of) to fund expensive automobile public infrastructure.
I particularly like how he states that "[g]iven the absence of alternative mods of transportatoin, people become dependent on the automobile as a way of life so that their need for cars is often as real as their need for jobs." The economic burden of autos is pretty high for most americans. It's not like a $1000 tv, or $300 bike. It's a monthy loan payment, and then it's a bi-annual insurance payment, and finally its massive social/tax/healthcare cost from the "46,000 people killed" and "2,000,000 people injured" in traffic accidents. It makes wonder if the Segway could make a dent into this automobile entity we all have to live with?[24][25]
_____ >Parenti's footnotes<
23. Jonathan Kwitny, "The Great Transportation Conspiracy,"in Cargan and Ballantin (eds.), Sociological Footprints, 2nd ed. (Belmont, Calif.: Wadsworth, 1982)
24. Bureau of Census, Statistical Abstract of the United States 1992 (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1992); Andrew Kimbrell, "Car Culture: Driving Ourselves Crazy,"Washington Post September 3, 1989. Kimbrell notes that fatality statistics may be too low since they do not include deaths that occur several days after accidents or off-road.[2] he points out that motor vehicles kill easily one million animals each day, making road kills second only to the meat industry. More deer are killed by cars than by hunters.[3]
25. Kimbrell, "Car Culture" >/Parenti's footnotes<
_____
1. "a major voice among political progressives"...Ph.D from Yale...lectures frequently at college campuses across the country." --[from back cover]
2. My grandfather died because of accident related complications =(
3. Animal rights activists will have a hard time stopping consumers from driving though, considering how car ownership is ingrained. And/or how convenient it is.
Unlike Circuit City's DivX content control system, there is not a simplistic stance people can unite behind. There is no blatant nor immediate threat to privacy nor obsolecense of their current DVD players.
Furthermore, unlike DivX, an attempt by a minority media player to get an advantage over its competitors (encouraging dissention.) This current issues is a push by the majority media players as a collective, united in effort.
Copyright control has advanced to the point that older arguments based on innovation hinderances or fair usage isn't nearly as clear cut. The MPAA will no doubt argue that a compromise (certainly in their favor) can be reached with modern technology and legislation.
Lack of public awareness; lack of connection between the people and representative; and lack of chrismatic politically or economically powerful figures leaves the people at a deciding disadvantage. Help raise awareness... and remember some inconsitencies in belief are allowed, as long as the core principles are shared by all advocates of a position.
Businesses have the distinction of being resistent to political change. Politician's have multitudes of checks and limits in place. 20 year long-term plans are impossible or extremely difficult because administrations are against each other. However, businesses with large warchests can affort to lobby political generation through generation.
"'Try' or 'Try Not'; there is no Yoda" -me =)