Is that before or after the adjusted losses accrued from buying junk bonds (how about investing in some nice "not quite A-rated" credit-default swaps?) and then getting totally hosed? Kind of funny how some insurance companies are partnered with banks, and stock brokerages hmm? Something that would be completely ended if we were to re-instate Glass Stegal.
Notice, when 9/11 happened, New Yorkers by the thousands were suddenly without insurance coverage, but the owner (of all of 6 months) of the twin towers was granted (by a judge) a full payment of $16,000,000,000 from his insurance company? How about the fine citizens of New Orleans? After Katrina happened, they had a higher likelihood of extracting teeth from a chicken's mouth, than they did of getting their insurance companies to pay! So, if they make so little money, they should have it laying around by the tonnage to pay out on their member's claims shouldn't they?
Um...if that is true, why is California sinking? Other than Florida and New York, California has the HIGHEST per capita number of illegals. What I think is just as likely is that many are assuming the identities of legal residents and jumping straight on to the gravy train. I do know some work "legitimately", having been the only english-as-a-first-language laborer in a few work crews. They all got paid just like I did, were all assigned to the place of employment by the same agency as I was. But most of them were dicks and messed with me (until I started hitting them). I feel illegals abuse our good will and nature in more ways than not. As such I would rather the fed do it's job and secure our borders! I would much rather they do that than (by FORCIBLE MANDATE) become my health insurance provider!!!!
The point people seem to forget is THIS WILL ONLY APPLY TO WORKS COVERED BY COPYRIGHT OR PATENT! It amazes me that people are so easily duped sometimes! Piss you off a little and all objectivity leaks from between your ears in rage. When you were a kid, and trying to figure out what friends you wanted to hang out with, one of the ways you determined this was by how high a price to your person and reputation you would have to pay for the association. Some groups required rites of passage, others that you participate in group-think, mob-action, tribute, or sacrifice. The only way to avoid paying any of these was to deny them all.
The same concept applies here. In order to avoid paying for crap, download and consume works from people not trying to extort you for every view, game or listen. Purchase such goods only if YOU feel the artist produced something worthy of the ask-price. ie. DON'T PLAY WITH THE KIDS WHO WANT TO ASS-RAPE YOU FOR NOT PAYING THEM EVERY TIME YOU COPY, WATCH, OR LISTEN TO THEIR WORKS!!! =PROBLEM SOLVED.
Put your products out on the web. Price them fairly, make a quality product, and you won't have to worry too much about piracy.
You are right, the interstates would never have been built under those circumstances. If private companies had built it, we'd be getting ass-raped once for every foot we traveled on them. Leads me to wonder how the internet would have evolved if we had gone the same route with our internet infrastructure as we had with the interstate system. The internet bubble might not have happened and we'd probably still be riding the vertical spike in our economy today!
I couldn't agree more. Outsourcing work is like taking a job from someone who has something to lose by not doing a job right, and giving it to someone who could give a shit either way as long as they get paid. Bad policy all the way around in my book. Lack of a direct line of accountability, or loyalty counts for a lot when you are talking about potential costs that you cannot foresee.
Vaporizors work alright, but I have always found that it kind of kills the uniqueness found in each strain. As many dispensaries prescribe specific strains for specific maladies, I would think that either water bongs or a straight glass piece would work just fine. I believe that vaporisors are like a security blanket for those who still believe you can get lung cancer from smoking weed. Bongs cut down a bit of the heavy stuff, making them ideal for those wanting a cleaner high, while not losing the "flavor".
How about making the media worth purchasing the DVD? I have without any reservation or hesitation purchased every release by Meshuggah. Why? Why don't I go torrent it from somewhere? Because I have always found that no matter what changes they have made, it will still raise the bar of what I can expect other bands to be capable of. Hence I feel no qualms about throwing down $20 even though I know I can get it for free.
My thoughts exactly. However, I believe there have been cases of tumorous growths in association with repetitious (usually work-related) localized exposure to toxic or radioactive agents. Then again, I can think of at least one scenario where the science to replace limbs was a solution without a problem. That is until some poor schmuck walks into your office complaining about "aches in his whacking hand"...."Hmm yes , it appears you have..uh...cancer!", "Yes!, thats it, you have cancer in your right hand"..."Only one solution for an advanced case such as yours, AMPUTATION!" "Sorry to put it to you like that, but there is no tender way to talk about having to remove part of a live person". . "By the way, some genius just invented a new robotic prosthetic hand!"
We aren't all that far away though. There are cameras everywhere here in Eugene. Traffic cams, security cameras, hell, the front of Walmart has 8 or so of these HUGE cameras pointed at various sections of the parking lot. Kinda makes me feel like I am in prison and the cameras are there to protect Walmart from me.
I've seen that one a few times (Scif-Fi channel use to play the whole TNG series, then switch to Voyager, and eventually Enterprise 5 days a week 4-7 pm). I couldn't agree more about that episode. I'd always wondered though, how the original person Picard was "living" actually lived? Was the history modeled specifically to fit Picard? Was the original person not of that world? I don't know why, but it seems he had an enormous amount of impact on the technological level of the planet, for being just some "guy" living in a post-agrarian culture. Either way you're right...that episode frackin rocked!
If you are talking specifically about Earth you are wrong (why would Cisco's dad have an Italian restaurant if there were no capitalism)..As for the rest of the Star Trek Universe, the Borg commerce in the pursuit of perfection, while the rest of us take gold-pressed latinum as our currency of choice!
As a fellow Kubuntu user, I can honestly say that you are about 90% right. Kubuntu is pretty and easy to use, right up until you try to play a good game on it...Then its consult the interwebs, download, insert fix, try to run, groan, slam fist on desk, reboot, consult, download, insert fix....get sick of trying after an hour, and reboot into windows.
"All available data strongly supports the safety and effectiveness of vaccination. Not vaccinating based on superstition is grossly irresponsible."
Oh so that must be why my cousin's VA doctor was telling him not to get to the H1N1 shot due to the key component of it being the same thing that was inducing "Gulf War Syndrome" (and was subsequently BANNED) in our soldiers. They can keep their damn shot. Less than 4 months ago they said they didn't have the means to test the efficacy of the vaccine, but now it is suddenly ok for mass-distribution....i think not.
Uh....no he is not insane. Obama and his minions have shown no regard for the wants, needs, expectations, and concerns of their respective constituencies. They have THEIR plan, THEIR agenda, and the fact that they are in position to ram-rod THEIR legislation through with little or no resistance means they intend to do just that. If anything would start a "civil war" here, I'd think that their behavior and the backlash that results from the ill effects of their legislation would do it.
No, I am positing that there are certain "intangibles" that you nor I (nor she before the surgery) are aware of. Do you know where your "soul" is? I don't, as a matter of fact, I don't know if I, or anyone else even has one. But I do know that the heart suffers physical damage from the one in your head being broken.
And really, was anything I wrote worthy of such a response from you? Were you able to feel your heart thumping away while bitching me out? That is a sensation she will now be denied. My ignorance (and fear) are rooted in the fact that I don't know what kind of effects an artificial heart pumping a "continuous" stream of blood may be. Maybe she'll be just fine, maybe she won't be able to experience emotional highs and lows, maybe she won't be able to dream anymore. I don't know the answers to these questions, (and I am sure you do not either). Given the timbre of the article, they seemed of little importance to the doctors involved and author.
As far as I am concerned, she has had one of her chakras (the main one BTW)replaced by a bilge-pump. Excuse me if I feel like that is an insult to life.
I agree with you that it is great that this works and progress is being made. However, if it came down to being able to feel my heart beat and die, or being kept alive by an artificial heart...I think I might rather die. Remember every reference to "your heart", "my heart", "our hearts" in songs? For someone with "no" heart these become meaningless. Yeah let's keep the tumor-infested rat around longer so we can "observe" it. Who cares if the lab rat can't feel anything, be intellectually stimulated, or be able to reach REM sleep.
I find no dignity in being, for the sake of being. The real question to ask yourself is if "you" would like to be kept alive by such a device, just so someone else can watch you,(and later profit handsomely from what they learn)? Sorry I wasn't born a lab-rat, and I hope not to die as one.
Now "cloning" body parts on the other hand....I would take a clone of my heart any day of the week, and twice on Sunday!
"I`m not a doctor, or someone with vast knowledge in the theme, but I think it`s clearly important to consider the role of chemistry in this problem. while every labotarory is concerned about the physcis part, refering to replace a "pump" no one is considering that this "pump" doesn`t only obey to mechanical/physical stimulation, such as running, they are ignoring situations of danger, imagine someone who is in mortal danger, and his body starts producing adrenaline, the natural heats respond to this stimule, pumping faster the blood, but how can an artificial heart, axial, nanobots, or any artificial heart designed until today would respond to this if this artifial doesnt respond to this stimulation? And the thing is, how this is going to affect the patient in his response to the situation?"-aldebaralph
I am not a doctor (or a magician, Jim) either, but I think this guy is spot on. I can manipulate (to some extent) my heart rate. If this thing has no pulse, how will I be able to calm myself down, or get excited for that matter? To me this seems like medical cynicism in the worst way. There is no separation between the body and the mind. One of the most persistent reminders of this is the beating of your own heart. It makes me wonder how these procedures will affect things like breathing, sleep, anger,. stress, sex, chemical inebriation, you know causal, everyday "HUMAN" STUFF...
I guess they really have managed to get the prison system to be more about "reforming" inmates, as opposed to simply "incarcerating" them. He goes from being a convicted (for of all things..embezzlement) felon, to Chief "Operating" Officer. Almost makes me want to get busted for assault with a deadly weapon, extortion, and sodomy. Then I could be "reformed" into "CEO"-material!
Slashdot Mirror
Is that before or after the adjusted losses accrued from buying junk bonds (how about investing in some nice "not quite A-rated" credit-default swaps?) and then getting totally hosed? Kind of funny how some insurance companies are partnered with banks, and stock brokerages hmm? Something that would be completely ended if we were to re-instate Glass Stegal.
Notice, when 9/11 happened, New Yorkers by the thousands were suddenly without insurance coverage, but the owner (of all of 6 months) of the twin towers was granted (by a judge) a full payment of $16,000,000,000 from his insurance company? How about the fine citizens of New Orleans? After Katrina happened, they had a higher likelihood of extracting teeth from a chicken's mouth, than they did of getting their insurance companies to pay! So, if they make so little money, they should have it laying around by the tonnage to pay out on their member's claims shouldn't they?
-Oz
-Oz
-Oz
If your turn was being scored for it's humor you'd need a die with more than 5 sides!
ROTFL!
-Oz
So if I make a song and upload it for people to listen to for free, it's copyrighted? By who?
-Oz
The point people seem to forget is THIS WILL ONLY APPLY TO WORKS COVERED BY COPYRIGHT OR PATENT! It amazes me that people are so easily duped sometimes! Piss you off a little and all objectivity leaks from between your ears in rage. When you were a kid, and trying to figure out what friends you wanted to hang out with, one of the ways you determined this was by how high a price to your person and reputation you would have to pay for the association. Some groups required rites of passage, others that you participate in group-think, mob-action, tribute, or sacrifice. The only way to avoid paying any of these was to deny them all.
The same concept applies here. In order to avoid paying for crap, download and consume works from people not trying to extort you for every view, game or listen. Purchase such goods only if YOU feel the artist produced something worthy of the ask-price. ie. DON'T PLAY WITH THE KIDS WHO WANT TO ASS-RAPE YOU FOR NOT PAYING THEM EVERY TIME YOU COPY, WATCH, OR LISTEN TO THEIR WORKS!!! =PROBLEM SOLVED.
Put your products out on the web. Price them fairly, make a quality product, and you won't have to worry too much about piracy.
-Oz
You are right, the interstates would never have been built under those circumstances. If private companies had built it, we'd be getting ass-raped once for every foot we traveled on them. Leads me to wonder how the internet would have evolved if we had gone the same route with our internet infrastructure as we had with the interstate system. The internet bubble might not have happened and we'd probably still be riding the vertical spike in our economy today!
-Oz
At this point, I'd say a little jolt or two couldn't hurt.
-Oz
I couldn't agree more. Outsourcing work is like taking a job from someone who has something to lose by not doing a job right, and giving it to someone who could give a shit either way as long as they get paid. Bad policy all the way around in my book. Lack of a direct line of accountability, or loyalty counts for a lot when you are talking about potential costs that you cannot foresee.
-Oz
Vaporizors work alright, but I have always found that it kind of kills the uniqueness found in each strain. As many dispensaries prescribe specific strains for specific maladies, I would think that either water bongs or a straight glass piece would work just fine. I believe that vaporisors are like a security blanket for those who still believe you can get lung cancer from smoking weed. Bongs cut down a bit of the heavy stuff, making them ideal for those wanting a cleaner high, while not losing the "flavor".
-Oz
How about making the media worth purchasing the DVD? I have without any reservation or hesitation purchased every release by Meshuggah. Why? Why don't I go torrent it from somewhere? Because I have always found that no matter what changes they have made, it will still raise the bar of what I can expect other bands to be capable of. Hence I feel no qualms about throwing down $20 even though I know I can get it for free.
-Oz
My thoughts exactly. However, I believe there have been cases of tumorous growths in association with repetitious (usually work-related) localized exposure to toxic or radioactive agents. Then again, I can think of at least one scenario where the science to replace limbs was a solution without a problem. That is until some poor schmuck walks into your office complaining about "aches in his whacking hand"...."Hmm yes , it appears you have..uh...cancer!", "Yes!, thats it, you have cancer in your right hand"..."Only one solution for an advanced case such as yours, AMPUTATION!" "Sorry to put it to you like that, but there is no tender way to talk about having to remove part of a live person". . "By the way, some genius just invented a new robotic prosthetic hand!"
Profit!
-Oz
Great, now the EU is letting the Underpants Gnomes determine their public-surveillance policy!
-Oz
The real message here is: " All white guys with long hair are evil, and exist solely to sneak into your office and steal your confidential data!"
-Oz
We aren't all that far away though. There are cameras everywhere here in Eugene. Traffic cams, security cameras, hell, the front of Walmart has 8 or so of these HUGE cameras pointed at various sections of the parking lot. Kinda makes me feel like I am in prison and the cameras are there to protect Walmart from me.
-Oz
I've seen that one a few times (Scif-Fi channel use to play the whole TNG series, then switch to Voyager, and eventually Enterprise 5 days a week 4-7 pm). I couldn't agree more about that episode. I'd always wondered though, how the original person Picard was "living" actually lived? Was the history modeled specifically to fit Picard? Was the original person not of that world? I don't know why, but it seems he had an enormous amount of impact on the technological level of the planet, for being just some "guy" living in a post-agrarian culture. Either way you're right...that episode frackin rocked!
-Oz
If you are talking specifically about Earth you are wrong (why would Cisco's dad have an Italian restaurant if there were no capitalism)..As for the rest of the Star Trek Universe, the Borg commerce in the pursuit of perfection, while the rest of us take gold-pressed latinum as our currency of choice!
-Oz
As a fellow Kubuntu user, I can honestly say that you are about 90% right. Kubuntu is pretty and easy to use, right up until you try to play a good game on it...Then its consult the interwebs, download, insert fix, try to run, groan, slam fist on desk, reboot, consult, download, insert fix....get sick of trying after an hour, and reboot into windows.
-Oz
"All available data strongly supports the safety and effectiveness of vaccination. Not vaccinating based on superstition is grossly irresponsible." Oh so that must be why my cousin's VA doctor was telling him not to get to the H1N1 shot due to the key component of it being the same thing that was inducing "Gulf War Syndrome" (and was subsequently BANNED) in our soldiers. They can keep their damn shot. Less than 4 months ago they said they didn't have the means to test the efficacy of the vaccine, but now it is suddenly ok for mass-distribution....i think not.
-Oz
Uh ....no he is not insane. Obama and his minions have shown no regard for the wants, needs, expectations, and concerns of their respective constituencies. They have THEIR plan, THEIR agenda, and the fact that they are in position to ram-rod THEIR legislation through with little or no resistance means they intend to do just that. If anything would start a "civil war" here, I'd think that their behavior and the backlash that results from the ill effects of their legislation would do it.
-Oz
No, I am positing that there are certain "intangibles" that you nor I (nor she before the surgery) are aware of. Do you know where your "soul" is? I don't, as a matter of fact, I don't know if I, or anyone else even has one. But I do know that the heart suffers physical damage from the one in your head being broken.
And really, was anything I wrote worthy of such a response from you? Were you able to feel your heart thumping away while bitching me out? That is a sensation she will now be denied. My ignorance (and fear) are rooted in the fact that I don't know what kind of effects an artificial heart pumping a "continuous" stream of blood may be. Maybe she'll be just fine, maybe she won't be able to experience emotional highs and lows, maybe she won't be able to dream anymore. I don't know the answers to these questions, (and I am sure you do not either). Given the timbre of the article, they seemed of little importance to the doctors involved and author.
As far as I am concerned, she has had one of her chakras (the main one BTW)replaced by a bilge-pump. Excuse me if I feel like that is an insult to life.
-Oz
I agree with you that it is great that this works and progress is being made. However, if it came down to being able to feel my heart beat and die, or being kept alive by an artificial heart...I think I might rather die. Remember every reference to "your heart", "my heart", "our hearts" in songs? For someone with "no" heart these become meaningless. Yeah let's keep the tumor-infested rat around longer so we can "observe" it. Who cares if the lab rat can't feel anything, be intellectually stimulated, or be able to reach REM sleep. I find no dignity in being, for the sake of being. The real question to ask yourself is if "you" would like to be kept alive by such a device, just so someone else can watch you,(and later profit handsomely from what they learn)? Sorry I wasn't born a lab-rat, and I hope not to die as one.
Now "cloning" body parts on the other hand....I would take a clone of my heart any day of the week, and twice on Sunday!
-Oz
Don't want to get shot?...then don't cross my line of fire bitch!
-Oz
Chemical Response
"I`m not a doctor, or someone with vast knowledge in the theme, but I think it`s clearly important to consider the role of chemistry in this problem. while every labotarory is concerned about the physcis part, refering to replace a "pump" no one is considering that this "pump" doesn`t only obey to mechanical/physical stimulation, such as running, they are ignoring situations of danger, imagine someone who is in mortal danger, and his body starts producing adrenaline, the natural heats respond to this stimule, pumping faster the blood, but how can an artificial heart, axial, nanobots, or any artificial heart designed until today would respond to this if this artifial doesnt respond to this stimulation? And the thing is, how this is going to affect the patient in his response to the situation?"-aldebaralph
I am not a doctor (or a magician, Jim) either, but I think this guy is spot on. I can manipulate (to some extent) my heart rate. If this thing has no pulse, how will I be able to calm myself down, or get excited for that matter? To me this seems like medical cynicism in the worst way. There is no separation between the body and the mind. One of the most persistent reminders of this is the beating of your own heart. It makes me wonder how these procedures will affect things like breathing, sleep, anger,. stress, sex, chemical inebriation, you know causal, everyday "HUMAN" STUFF...
-Oz
I guess they really have managed to get the prison system to be more about "reforming" inmates, as opposed to simply "incarcerating" them. He goes from being a convicted (for of all things..embezzlement) felon, to Chief "Operating" Officer. Almost makes me want to get busted for assault with a deadly weapon, extortion, and sodomy. Then I could be "reformed" into "CEO"-material!
-Oz