when I need premium service I can pay premium prices. When I just need it to get there sometime this month, FedEx is not practical, and not in any way in competition with so called "first class" mail.
It is difficult, nigh unto impossible, to prove a negative, i.e. absolutely refute such claims. The burden of proof is on the claimants. They've had a LONG TIME to provide even hints of evidence with scientific validity (I've been hearing such claims since my childhood in the 70's). If we haven't had any indications outside of anecdotal evidence (see above comments about HAM dealing with a woman who couldn't feel his portable xmitter until she saw it), then I'm going to err on the side of calling their bluff and telling them to put up or shut up.
Woz specifically designed the original Apple(s) *not* to price themselves out of the market. It was the Mac that made Apple's name as a "boutique" computer seller, and that was when they really started overpricing their equipment. Woz was already gone, if not in absolute terms, at least in any practical ones.
But you're already bitching about your stamp costs.
Where exactly did the poster you're replying to bitch about stamp costs?
As far as it goes, if I could get reliably delivered mail that wasn't shredded half the time, I'd be glad to pay additional postage. But since the USPS is effectively another government granted monopoly (or is it a goverment agency? Hm, wish they could make up their minds), there's no real competition for letter carrying to force them to be worth a damn.
it's just marketing, not monopolistic business tactics.
And exactly where did the article say it was monopolistic business practices?
Seems to me everyone is bitching because of the blatant conflict of interest on the part of the government. "One hand is suing you, the other hand is selling you advertising space that isn't apparently being sold to any other advertiser."
Regardless of your opinions of Microsoft, it's advertising. AOL has done the same for years, leaving their CDs or floppy disks everywhere imaginable.
Ya know, it's not much of a stretch of imagination to imagine AOL dumping CDs at the USPS. Yet, I can't say I've ever seen that done. Through the USPS, yes, AT the USPS, no.
Re:great book, but no conclusion
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they went with a decision that didn't jeopardize their financial wellbeing
Honestly, given the amount of whining I've heard when public monies have been cut off (including Jesse Helms' great efforts on their behalf), that doesn't really seem likely to be the case. BTW I would disagree with anyone claming you're a troll, though we're both probably way off topic:-).
I also don't mean to say that BSA has no value; quite the contrary, a lot of good is done by the organization. It's a shame those at the top have to taint it with their shortsightedness, whatever the true cause might be (money or bigotry, either way I am convinced that ultimately the decision will hurt them more than not).
Re:great book, but no conclusion
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The problem is that BSA is basically a totalitarian organization. When my local chapter of BSA protested this act by the national, they had their charter revoked. THEY ONLY PROTESTED! If BSA is so scared of homosexuals that they can't even accept that some of their members disagree on the point, they deserve every bit of that hellfire that was rained down in them.
The BSA are the ones who decided to let homosexuality be their defining issue.
And as far as funding goes, I wish them luck, but it seems damn inconsistent to be claiming:
1) we are a private organization and we can kick out whoever we want 2) most of our funding is from Churches who'd object to allowing gays 3) we still need public money.
If you want public money, you give up your right to claim private priveledge. End of story.
Sorry, but I don't live at such a fine level as to be able to say "$150 a month extra is worth not having to deal with clueless fucks." That's $1800 a year I need for real life expenses.
My ISP (check elmegil at dslreports.com if you care which one) has raised rates twice in the last 6 months too. First time was a $2 "administrative fee" since I didn't trust them enough to pay them online, second time was the $5 Universal Service Fee, which I thought specifically didn't apply to ISP's. Upon complaint, of course, they say "the other ISP's are doing it!!" and "it was so sudden because we only just recently got our billing software to work right." Reviewing the contract I signed, sure enough, if it's a "tariff" or "fee" they can do whatever the hell they want.
Perhaps the ratings are declinging because Nick doesn't give it a fair chance?
Like hm, Friday nights are a good time for it? Like hm, two scheduled Invader Zim marathons (which can help to BUILD fanbase) were cancelled with no notice? Like hm, moving the show half an hour without any real prior notice (oh say, like announcing it on the previous week's show)? Like hm, merchandice promised to be for sale from Hot Topic by Christmas STILL isn't available (where's my damn Gir Plushie?!?!)? (And BTW, while I don't have great respect for Hot Topic, as it's Goth Lite in most cases, who the HELL thought it would be a good idea to sell SPONGEBOB DORKPANTS there? Tell me how SBSP meets the Hot Topic demographic....).
Rest assured, Nick has done everything they can to destroy the show.
Try darker and a LOT more disturbing. My wife bought the JtHM book one collection sight unseen based on Zim, and now we have a nice sheaf of paper that we want to get rid of.
This is not to slam anyone who likes JtHM, but hopefully no one who watches Zim will take your post as a "recommendation" without seriously looking at what they're buying first.
Right, but I suspect his record company is part of Universal Music GROUP who is probably a meta-company responsible for distribution or some such junk. Someone ought to research it to be sure, but I'm too lazy.
Here's the handful of artists that I sent to my wife: Live, Beck, the Bobs, Brave Combo, Elvis Costello,
Melissa Etheridge, Peter Gabriel, Garbage, PJ Harvey, Ute Lemper, Marilyn
Manson, Nine Inch Nails, Nirvana, No Doubt, Ramones, Rusted Root, Smashmouth,
3 doors down, and Rob Zombie. I didn't send The Crystal Method or a few others that she doesn't care for, so you'll have to find 'em yourself.
I suppose some of those artists aren't likely to be doing NEW RELEASES any time soon, but I wonder if reprints of their music will also be subject to the new copy protection?
Let's see...with an 8 track player, if you maintain it correctly, you have hardware that STILL WORKS TODAY. I know this, because a couple friends of mine are lunatics who still own 8 tracks and 8 track players. Furthermore, using their 8 track player does not in any way prevent them from using newer technologies for other music. I can hook that 8 track to the most brand spanking new stereo system I can buy off the shelf today, and it will still work.
On the other hand, Universal's non-CD format only lets me play that music on a Windows XP (or earlier?) system. In a couple of years (5 years seems way too long if you ask me), microsoft will release a new OS, and if I want to use it (say to play new games that use new features of the new OS) I will have to upgrade. At which point I may not be able to play my UMG non-CD's on my PC any longer. Or I can keep running windows XP and never get to use any of those new technologies. What a great choice--screwed either way.
Of course that all ignores the fact that I'm never going to run XP, and I don't own a "real" CD player any longer (just the DVD which ships the digital stream direct to my receiver, and the CD-ROMS on my various windows and Linux and Solaris boxen). I've already sent off one letter to an artists on UMG explaining why I won't be buying any more of their audio discs but will be more than happy to see them live every time they make it through town. I'll probably do the same for a few more.
That's convenient. Sorry, but everyone with a headset I've seen looks like some street person wandering around talking to themself (we're talking the common earbud/mic bulge near your neck type of headset). I thought the idea with a cellphone was that you were wireless, and now I'm going to have some stupid looking wire running to my pocket? No thanks.
BTW what planet are you on? The current generation of Handspring units (aka "Visors") have organizer functions, sync to PC capability, add-on hardware. You can even add on hardware to make them into a phone if you're so foolish as to think that's a good idea.
Instead, for some reason Handspring now thinks that a non-expandable all-in-one unit is the answer. And I'm saying that it emphatically is not. Putting all of those eggs into one basket is just wrong for too many reasons.
From a product with real usability and an IMAGE of just geek appeal, to a product with poor usability and by definition ONLY geek appeal. I mean they call it a communicator for crying out loud!
If I wanted my cellphone, pager, and organizer all in one device, I suppose that'd be fine. But tell me: how the hell are you going to discuss your appointment calendar when the screen is pasted to your cheek?
So, when the instructor foolishly gives me an assignment that has a verbatim solution later in the book, and both me and Joe Student who I don't know and never talk to (or worse, my best buddy in the class) both turn in that verbatim solution, obviously we've cheated, right?
That's sarcasm for those of you unfamiliar with the stuff.
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when I need premium service I can pay premium prices. When I just need it to get there sometime this month, FedEx is not practical, and not in any way in competition with so called "first class" mail.
It is difficult, nigh unto impossible, to prove a negative, i.e. absolutely refute such claims. The burden of proof is on the claimants. They've had a LONG TIME to provide even hints of evidence with scientific validity (I've been hearing such claims since my childhood in the 70's). If we haven't had any indications outside of anecdotal evidence (see above comments about HAM dealing with a woman who couldn't feel his portable xmitter until she saw it), then I'm going to err on the side of calling their bluff and telling them to put up or shut up.
Woz specifically designed the original Apple(s) *not* to price themselves out of the market. It was the Mac that made Apple's name as a "boutique" computer seller, and that was when they really started overpricing their equipment. Woz was already gone, if not in absolute terms, at least in any practical ones.
Where exactly did the poster you're replying to bitch about stamp costs?
As far as it goes, if I could get reliably delivered mail that wasn't shredded half the time, I'd be glad to pay additional postage. But since the USPS is effectively another government granted monopoly (or is it a goverment agency? Hm, wish they could make up their minds), there's no real competition for letter carrying to force them to be worth a damn.
And exactly where did the article say it was monopolistic business practices?
Seems to me everyone is bitching because of the blatant conflict of interest on the part of the government. "One hand is suing you, the other hand is selling you advertising space that isn't apparently being sold to any other advertiser."
Ya know, it's not much of a stretch of imagination to imagine AOL dumping CDs at the USPS. Yet, I can't say I've ever seen that done. Through the USPS, yes, AT the USPS, no.
Honestly, given the amount of whining I've heard when public monies have been cut off (including Jesse Helms' great efforts on their behalf), that doesn't really seem likely to be the case. BTW I would disagree with anyone claming you're a troll, though we're both probably way off topic :-).
I also don't mean to say that BSA has no value; quite the contrary, a lot of good is done by the organization. It's a shame those at the top have to taint it with their shortsightedness, whatever the true cause might be (money or bigotry, either way I am convinced that ultimately the decision will hurt them more than not).
The BSA are the ones who decided to let homosexuality be their defining issue.
And as far as funding goes, I wish them luck, but it seems damn inconsistent to be claiming:
1) we are a private organization and we can kick out whoever we want
2) most of our funding is from Churches who'd object to allowing gays
3) we still need public money.
If you want public money, you give up your right to claim private priveledge. End of story.
Why am I reminded of giving Saddam Hussein toys to beat up on the Ayatollah ....
Sorry, but I don't live at such a fine level as to be able to say "$150 a month extra is worth not having to deal with clueless fucks." That's $1800 a year I need for real life expenses.
My ISP (check elmegil at dslreports.com if you care which one) has raised rates twice in the last 6 months too. First time was a $2 "administrative fee" since I didn't trust them enough to pay them online, second time was the $5 Universal Service Fee, which I thought specifically didn't apply to ISP's. Upon complaint, of course, they say "the other ISP's are doing it!!" and "it was so sudden because we only just recently got our billing software to work right." Reviewing the contract I signed, sure enough, if it's a "tariff" or "fee" they can do whatever the hell they want.
So now, remind us again how capitalism is supposed to bring us the best of everything?
Like hm, Friday nights are a good time for it? Like hm, two scheduled Invader Zim marathons (which can help to BUILD fanbase) were cancelled with no notice? Like hm, moving the show half an hour without any real prior notice (oh say, like announcing it on the previous week's show)? Like hm, merchandice promised to be for sale from Hot Topic by Christmas STILL isn't available (where's my damn Gir Plushie?!?!)? (And BTW, while I don't have great respect for Hot Topic, as it's Goth Lite in most cases, who the HELL thought it would be a good idea to sell SPONGEBOB DORKPANTS there? Tell me how SBSP meets the Hot Topic demographic....).
Rest assured, Nick has done everything they can to destroy the show.
Try darker and a LOT more disturbing. My wife bought the JtHM book one collection sight unseen based on Zim, and now we have a nice sheaf of paper that we want to get rid of.
This is not to slam anyone who likes JtHM, but hopefully no one who watches Zim will take your post as a "recommendation" without seriously looking at what they're buying first.
Who's the moron again?
Right, but I suspect his record company is part of Universal Music GROUP who is probably a meta-company responsible for distribution or some such junk. Someone ought to research it to be sure, but I'm too lazy.
Anyone who doesn't know what's going on at the local level gets the government they deserve.
I suppose some of those artists aren't likely to be doing NEW RELEASES any time soon, but I wonder if reprints of their music will also be subject to the new copy protection?
On the other hand, Universal's non-CD format only lets me play that music on a Windows XP (or earlier?) system. In a couple of years (5 years seems way too long if you ask me), microsoft will release a new OS, and if I want to use it (say to play new games that use new features of the new OS) I will have to upgrade. At which point I may not be able to play my UMG non-CD's on my PC any longer. Or I can keep running windows XP and never get to use any of those new technologies. What a great choice--screwed either way.
Of course that all ignores the fact that I'm never going to run XP, and I don't own a "real" CD player any longer (just the DVD which ships the digital stream direct to my receiver, and the CD-ROMS on my various windows and Linux and Solaris boxen). I've already sent off one letter to an artists on UMG explaining why I won't be buying any more of their audio discs but will be more than happy to see them live every time they make it through town. I'll probably do the same for a few more.
That's convenient. Sorry, but everyone with a headset I've seen looks like some street person wandering around talking to themself (we're talking the common earbud/mic bulge near your neck type of headset). I thought the idea with a cellphone was that you were wireless, and now I'm going to have some stupid looking wire running to my pocket? No thanks.
Instead, for some reason Handspring now thinks that a non-expandable all-in-one unit is the answer. And I'm saying that it emphatically is not. Putting all of those eggs into one basket is just wrong for too many reasons.
Nothing is wrong with geek appeal, as long as there's something ELSE to go along with it. Like usability.
From a product with real usability and an IMAGE of just geek appeal, to a product with poor usability and by definition ONLY geek appeal. I mean they call it a communicator for crying out loud!
If I wanted my cellphone, pager, and organizer all in one device, I suppose that'd be fine. But tell me: how the hell are you going to discuss your appointment calendar when the screen is pasted to your cheek?
You think I made this example up? It actually happened to people I know.
That's sarcasm for those of you unfamiliar with the stuff.