one thing I've found is most people aren't total dumb-asses.
Until you put a bunch of them in a truck, drive them out to the woods, and let the beer and testosterone flow.
A firing range is a nice, controlled environment, where I can see letting a blind person pull the trigger to experience the thrill of it. But to turn them loose with their buddies on an average hunting trip (yeah, I've been on a couple) just doesn't seem wise.
I can imagine that a totally blind person, with heightened hearing/smell, could be a big help tracking, however.
My first response when I first heard this idea was to laugh, but really, the system as it currently stands is seriosuly borken. Why not try something a little bit crazy to try to fix it?
(That said, I lived in Minnesota under "The Body," and THAT little experiment didn't go so well... but then, Gates is a hell of a lot smarter.)
But as long as he wasn't screwing up a close race like a certain cool-car-killing twit, I'd be tempted to vote for him. Assuming he doesn't mind that I'm posting this from a Mac, of course.;)
This is ever-so-slightly OT, but it's something I've been thinking about for a while.
Wouldn't this be the ultimate way to circumvent the RIAA? Got a kid that loves music? Don't get them something to play someone else's music; give them a way to make their own.
Get 'em playing, then teach them about copyright issues, the RIAA's strongarm tactics, and how not to fall for their bullshit promises. Raise a new generation of musicians that don't need, want, or kowtow to the RIAA.
Thirty bucks more than a Zune, sure, but not a DIME of it goes to any record-industry suit, for ANY reason.
And if you're really feeling rebellious, paint on it in big letters: "This Machine Kills Dinosaurs."
That's not necessarily a bad effect, though. Every try jaywalking across Ventura Boulevard? Just imagine there's a swamp full of lilypads on the other side, and away you go!
Gingrich sharply criticized campaign finance laws he charged were reducing free speech and doing little to fight attack advertising. He also said court rulings over separation of church and state have hurt citizens' ability to express themselves and their faith.
In other words, buying elections with huge campaign contributions and hanging religious symbols in public places are "free speech," because he likes those things. Some animals are more equal than others. I read him loud and clear.
The rest, about how we've "failed" in Iraq, is just distancing himself from Bush. You're going to see more of that from conservatives over the next couple years. Doesn't mean a thing. Their agenda remains the same.
You're right, though; he is very intelligent. That's the problem.
And I'd actually really like to read the text of the speech; anyone have a link?
The initial quality does matter, though. Years ago I bought a Sony dual cassette deck, and within a month one of the "eject" buttons broke. I was cursed with one of the "bad" Xbox DVD drives. And just this week, the power door locks on my year-old Ford Focus stopped working.
None of these objects were/are abused. They just weren't put together right.
By contrast, my Logitech trackball is five years old and still going strong. I have an iPod Mini and a Samsung phone that, while I don't abuse them, I don't exactly fuss over their well-being, and they both work reliably.
I can't comment on the RAZR, but I'd buy another Samsung phone in a second. And I don't think I've owned a Sony product since that tape deck. Mazda automobile: sure. Emachines computer: no way. If you build it well, I will come.
But the trouble with voting with your wallet when it comes to gadgets like this is that if you reward companies who make quality products by replacing them before they actually wear out (which is almost always the case), they get your money. If you keep replacing shoddy crap when it breaks with the new shiny shoddy crap, they get your money. Unless you can live with the old gadget until it dies, or do without it entirely, the gadget companies win. So there's no real incentive for them to improve quality.
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Actually, it made me think, "Well, I guess we know what their mascot is..."
Until you put a bunch of them in a truck, drive them out to the woods, and let the beer and testosterone flow.
A firing range is a nice, controlled environment, where I can see letting a blind person pull the trigger to experience the thrill of it. But to turn them loose with their buddies on an average hunting trip (yeah, I've been on a couple) just doesn't seem wise.
I can imagine that a totally blind person, with heightened hearing/smell, could be a big help tracking, however.
Exactly. Like anything else, it has a signal-to-noise ratio that has to be accounted for.
Personally, I met my wife on CL. I'd like to meet Mr. Newmark and shake his hand. (Hell, we thought about sending him a wedding invitation.)
So three cheers for indifference! Hip hip... ah screw it.
My first response when I first heard this idea was to laugh, but really, the system as it currently stands is seriosuly borken. Why not try something a little bit crazy to try to fix it?
(That said, I lived in Minnesota under "The Body," and THAT little experiment didn't go so well... but then, Gates is a hell of a lot smarter.)
But as long as he wasn't screwing up a close race like a certain cool-car-killing twit, I'd be tempted to vote for him. Assuming he doesn't mind that I'm posting this from a Mac, of course. ;)
This is ever-so-slightly OT, but it's something I've been thinking about for a while.
Wouldn't this be the ultimate way to circumvent the RIAA? Got a kid that loves music? Don't get them something to play someone else's music; give them a way to make their own.
Get 'em playing, then teach them about copyright issues, the RIAA's strongarm tactics, and how not to fall for their bullshit promises. Raise a new generation of musicians that don't need, want, or kowtow to the RIAA.
Thirty bucks more than a Zune, sure, but not a DIME of it goes to any record-industry suit, for ANY reason.
And if you're really feeling rebellious, paint on it in big letters: "This Machine Kills Dinosaurs."
That's not necessarily a bad effect, though. Every try jaywalking across Ventura Boulevard? Just imagine there's a swamp full of lilypads on the other side, and away you go!
Oh no, I understand it perfectly...
Gingrich sharply criticized campaign finance laws he charged were reducing free speech and doing little to fight attack advertising. He also said court rulings over separation of church and state have hurt citizens' ability to express themselves and their faith.In other words, buying elections with huge campaign contributions and hanging religious symbols in public places are "free speech," because he likes those things. Some animals are more equal than others. I read him loud and clear.
The rest, about how we've "failed" in Iraq, is just distancing himself from Bush. You're going to see more of that from conservatives over the next couple years. Doesn't mean a thing. Their agenda remains the same.
You're right, though; he is very intelligent. That's the problem.
And I'd actually really like to read the text of the speech; anyone have a link?
The initial quality does matter, though. Years ago I bought a Sony dual cassette deck, and within a month one of the "eject" buttons broke. I was cursed with one of the "bad" Xbox DVD drives. And just this week, the power door locks on my year-old Ford Focus stopped working.
None of these objects were/are abused. They just weren't put together right.
By contrast, my Logitech trackball is five years old and still going strong. I have an iPod Mini and a Samsung phone that, while I don't abuse them, I don't exactly fuss over their well-being, and they both work reliably.
I can't comment on the RAZR, but I'd buy another Samsung phone in a second. And I don't think I've owned a Sony product since that tape deck. Mazda automobile: sure. Emachines computer: no way. If you build it well, I will come.
But the trouble with voting with your wallet when it comes to gadgets like this is that if you reward companies who make quality products by replacing them before they actually wear out (which is almost always the case), they get your money. If you keep replacing shoddy crap when it breaks with the new shiny shoddy crap, they get your money. Unless you can live with the old gadget until it dies, or do without it entirely, the gadget companies win. So there's no real incentive for them to improve quality.