The problem encountered in running such operating systems on human beings is a severe lack of data collection, usually restricted down to just price and want, rather than need and productive capability, being overriding motives.
I completely agree. One of the pesky "wants" of humans is freedom. If we could just get rid of that urge for freedom, folks would be happy to obey the Master Computer!
You make some good points. I was not aware of the Xbox battery issue. That sounds like quite a big flaw.
Maybe I'm too much of a gearhead and I focus on cars too much. Still, our massive trade deficit is depressing.
I do disagree on the Japanese car versus road size issue. Europe has the same problem but American cars do okay there (not great, but okay).
Regarding jobs (other comment)... well, I for one welcome our Japanese overlords.:) That's just how it seems to me when people say "Joe Assembly Line worker still has his job." (never mind that several smallish towns have been utterly destroyed by an American car factory closing, or parts supplier factories. It's not like factory workers are going to get up and move to wherever the spiffy new Nissan plant is).
5. Microsoft is an american company, and it's no secret that american culture is both loved and hated in japan.
Right. Japanese always favor Japanese companies, either out of national pride or economic reasons (given mostly equal products). Americans do not favor American companies in the same way, unfortunately. Now I'm not advocating jingoism, but I've always been under the impression that like voting, the most impact you make with the dollars you spend are those spent close to home.
Also, American cars are now ranked just as high as their Japanese equivalents by publications such as Consumer Reports. This was not the case 10 years ago of course. American cars have improved but Americans will blissfully keep buying their Camrys and Accords most likely. Does this make economic sense? I don't think so. I know, global economy and all that, blah blah. But there are reasons we have a massive trade deficit and American autoworkers are being laid off and car factories closed. It makes me sad, even for simple reasons of history. The Wixom, Michigan Ford plant is LOADED with automotive history.:(
Visit Tokyo and you will maybe see two American cars. That's how many I saw when I was there for a week. I think they were both Cadillacs.
Japan has become an industrial titan by copying and improving Western products. For example, the motorcycle. It's no secret that Japanese motorcycle dominance started with Kawasaki blatantly copying Triumph. Of course within a few years Japanese manufacturers were blowing away the previously #1 UK motorcycle industry in technological advances (a SOHC 4-cylinder engine in the late 60's was lightyears beyond what the UK could do. Constant labor disputes sure did not help.).
People probably label me as a dinosaur and out-of-touch with the "global economy" and such, but what can I say, I'm loyal to American products, truly dismayed when they are inferior, and quick to return when they improve.
Sorry for the rant... I admire Japan very much and I wish the U.S. could turn the table and copy them in many ways. Your points just triggered something.:)
It's about time GM got their act together in the wave of eco-friendly cars.
What a shame that no one here in California will buy one however, since as far as I can tell GM doesn't sell cars out here. Walking through my company's parking garage, all I see are Hondas, Toyotas, BMWs, Mercedes, etc. I think I might have seen a Chevy or Ford made in the last 5 years, but it probably had out-of-state plates.
What about [insert city or region here]?! It has [insert club, university, or company here]!!! Because I live here or went to school here, it MUST be in this list!
However, I think many people would be upset at a company that pays its employees as if the company never made a profit when it in fact does fairly well...
Not really. People (in general) are not upset. Thus Walmart is quite successful.
It's funny, if Walmart was so terrible to its employees you'd think they would have trouble hiring anyone, especially when a brand-new store opens. But I've never heard of that...
I had at least 5 party choices for every major race, though I live in California. The only option with only 2 choices was my local Congressperson. Now that has got me thinking if I should run myself next election in my Congressional district. I would not expect to win of course but it would be an excellent experience. I'm an idealist and that is the way it's supposed to work, after all...
But yeah, I agree - we need election reform. Catch-22 though. The Republicrats will never do anything to decrease their stranglehold on our political system.
The problem is your statement "even if the Green has no chance of winning." The Green has no chance of winning because no one will vote for him/her. They won't vote for him/her because of reasons you describe, perpetuating the zero chance of winning. We're stuck, unless people do something about it. Voting how you describe is not doing something about it.
Actually I said Republicrat, a combination of the names of the two largest parties (Republican/Democrat).
So what I mean is, give the two major parties something to worry about (and respect), not to mention more votes allow 3rd parties to get on the ballot easier. That's a good thing.
I don't expect third parties to start winning instantly but I would LOVE to see something like:
Major Party 1 40% Major Party 2 35% Third Party 1 15% Third Party 2 10%
That may not put third parties in office but at least it would force the major parties to think a bit more about what 3rd parties are saying and why people are voting that way.
Then don't! Sigh... why is everyone so stuck on the 2-party system? No wonder people are uninterested and uninformed. We have so many choices with everything in life yet we limit ourselves to two political parties, both of which have more in common these days than not.
VOTE THIRD PARTY! For my third party of choice see my sig, but really please just vote for anyone but the Republicrats.
Or people could just vote directly for Libertarians. It's kind of sad that Ron Paul couldn't get anywhere until he started calling himself Republican. People in the U.S. are so blinded by the democrat/republican thing (which have more in common than not).
Slashdot Mirror
Ruler predetermined programming = U.S. Constitution. (unfortunately it is not being enforced properly).
The problem encountered in running such operating systems on human beings is a severe lack of data collection, usually restricted down to just price and want, rather than need and productive capability, being overriding motives.
I completely agree. One of the pesky "wants" of humans is freedom. If we could just get rid of that urge for freedom, folks would be happy to obey the Master Computer!
This all sounds suspiciously like Skynet. Are you from the future?
Yeah, usually communism and the word "mandatory" go hand-in-hand!
Just start up the EV-1 line and build some more.
Sorry. The plant where they were made is now closed.
Too many people buying Toyotas and Hondas... ironic, when you think about it.
Maybe I'm too much of a gearhead and I focus on cars too much. Still, our massive trade deficit is depressing.
I do disagree on the Japanese car versus road size issue. Europe has the same problem but American cars do okay there (not great, but okay).
Regarding jobs (other comment)... well, I for one welcome our Japanese overlords. :) That's just how it seems to me when people say "Joe Assembly Line worker still has his job." (never mind that several smallish towns have been utterly destroyed by an American car factory closing, or parts supplier factories. It's not like factory workers are going to get up and move to wherever the spiffy new Nissan plant is).
Right. Japanese always favor Japanese companies, either out of national pride or economic reasons (given mostly equal products). Americans do not favor American companies in the same way, unfortunately. Now I'm not advocating jingoism, but I've always been under the impression that like voting, the most impact you make with the dollars you spend are those spent close to home.
Also, American cars are now ranked just as high as their Japanese equivalents by publications such as Consumer Reports. This was not the case 10 years ago of course. American cars have improved but Americans will blissfully keep buying their Camrys and Accords most likely. Does this make economic sense? I don't think so. I know, global economy and all that, blah blah. But there are reasons we have a massive trade deficit and American autoworkers are being laid off and car factories closed. It makes me sad, even for simple reasons of history. The Wixom, Michigan Ford plant is LOADED with automotive history.
Visit Tokyo and you will maybe see two American cars. That's how many I saw when I was there for a week. I think they were both Cadillacs.
Japan has become an industrial titan by copying and improving Western products. For example, the motorcycle. It's no secret that Japanese motorcycle dominance started with Kawasaki blatantly copying Triumph. Of course within a few years Japanese manufacturers were blowing away the previously #1 UK motorcycle industry in technological advances (a SOHC 4-cylinder engine in the late 60's was lightyears beyond what the UK could do. Constant labor disputes sure did not help.).
People probably label me as a dinosaur and out-of-touch with the "global economy" and such, but what can I say, I'm loyal to American products, truly dismayed when they are inferior, and quick to return when they improve.
Sorry for the rant... I admire Japan very much and I wish the U.S. could turn the table and copy them in many ways. Your points just triggered something.
It's about time GM got their act together in the wave of eco-friendly cars.
What a shame that no one here in California will buy one however, since as far as I can tell GM doesn't sell cars out here. Walking through my company's parking garage, all I see are Hondas, Toyotas, BMWs, Mercedes, etc. I think I might have seen a Chevy or Ford made in the last 5 years, but it probably had out-of-state plates.
It's easy to have lots of parking when those pesky trains aren't taking up any space.
I assume you are talking about Irvine, California. It sucks for sure. Too many "planned communities" around there. Barf.
The rule of thumb for me is: if you have to do a U-Turn to get to a business on the left side of the street, I don't want to live or work there.
Irvine does get bonus points for the UC-Irvine mascot being the Anteater, however.
What about [insert city or region here]?! It has [insert club, university, or company here]!!! Because I live here or went to school here, it MUST be in this list!
Carl
However, I think many people would be upset at a company that pays its employees as if the company never made a profit when it in fact does fairly well...
Not really. People (in general) are not upset. Thus Walmart is quite successful.
It's funny, if Walmart was so terrible to its employees you'd think they would have trouble hiring anyone, especially when a brand-new store opens. But I've never heard of that...
Maybe it will be set in Argentina. Plenty of Nazis there circa 1960's, right?
Yeah, the part where he gets sucked into the computer is quite realistic. Happens to me all the time and it is quite annoying fighting my way out.
You don't need original NES controllers or adapters. Holding the Wii remote sideways feels almost exactly like the original NES controller.
So they can just use Atari 2600 joysticks!
Just use rechargeable and it won't matter all that much.
You might look into a diesel car. Soybeans > Corn.
"Vote your conscience!" idiocy
That sound you just heard was the Founding Fathers rolling over in their graves.
I had at least 5 party choices for every major race, though I live in California. The only option with only 2 choices was my local Congressperson. Now that has got me thinking if I should run myself next election in my Congressional district. I would not expect to win of course but it would be an excellent experience. I'm an idealist and that is the way it's supposed to work, after all...
But yeah, I agree - we need election reform. Catch-22 though. The Republicrats will never do anything to decrease their stranglehold on our political system.
The problem is your statement "even if the Green has no chance of winning." The Green has no chance of winning because no one will vote for him/her. They won't vote for him/her because of reasons you describe, perpetuating the zero chance of winning. We're stuck, unless people do something about it. Voting how you describe is not doing something about it.
But alas, they weren't running in my district this year.
Thought about running yourself?
Actually I said Republicrat, a combination of the names of the two largest parties (Republican/Democrat).
So what I mean is, give the two major parties something to worry about (and respect), not to mention more votes allow 3rd parties to get on the ballot easier. That's a good thing.
I don't expect third parties to start winning instantly but I would LOVE to see something like:
Major Party 1 40%
Major Party 2 35%
Third Party 1 15%
Third Party 2 10%
That may not put third parties in office but at least it would force the major parties to think a bit more about what 3rd parties are saying and why people are voting that way.
I don't want to vote Republican or Democrat
Then don't! Sigh... why is everyone so stuck on the 2-party system? No wonder people are uninterested and uninformed. We have so many choices with everything in life yet we limit ourselves to two political parties, both of which have more in common these days than not.
VOTE THIRD PARTY! For my third party of choice see my sig, but really please just vote for anyone but the Republicrats.
Or people could just vote directly for Libertarians. It's kind of sad that Ron Paul couldn't get anywhere until he started calling himself Republican. People in the U.S. are so blinded by the democrat/republican thing (which have more in common than not).