My car in its current state will get me MAYBE $500 toward the principal. Also, perhaps I misspoke. I was referring to a used car. I doubt I'd ever buy any vehicle brand new.
But I don't make a whole lot of money, and after taxes, insurance benefits, daycare, rent and day-to-day living expenses have their way, I'm left with very little to throw at this. I've cut corners wherever possible, but it's going to take me a while to get it all put together.
You make an excellent point, and I agree.
Thing is, I live near downtown Salt Lake City, but my office is located in such a place as to make mass transit a damn joke (two and a half hours each way, with a one-mile hike included, for what should be a 10-to-15-minute drive).
If it were up to me, I'd never own another car again. I like walking. I like using mass transit for the fact that it lets someone else feel the road rage on my behalf. I like being able to read or get some work done on the way to work.
But sadly, I'm also a single parent, and money does not come easily for me. My car just gave up on me, and while I qualify for financing, they want 10% down, which is going to be more than I bring home in a single check.
The auto and banking industries do not make it easy or sustainable for people like me to get the help we need. All I want is to be able to provide for my child and not spend 1/4 of my day commuting, when I could be spending that time with him or engaged in one of my many hobbies.
Oh, well. Some things never change, even when they do.
Seems silly to dump such a large sum into a company that is in fact making luxury cars. Sustainable? Sure, if you're upper-class white America.
What about those of us who want a reliable, energy efficient car without sacrificing our children's education to get it?
Tesla is doing good work, but I don't think they should be getting taxpayer dollars for something that ultimately I won't be able to afford anytime in the foreseeable future.
I concur. He is a disgrace to the Democratic party, just as so many, many others are to the GOP. *cough Limbaugh Cheney Rumsfeld Bush Rove Rice Boehner cough*
But I digress. Reid is good for almost nothing.
Without getting into a fierce debate about IP reform and the absurdity of current copyright law, let me just say this:
Hatch is a fucking idiot, always has been. He does not represent me in any way, shape or form. Nor does he represent the majority of people in the state of Utah. Those who do follow this raving moron are probably no more educated than he is.
Seriously, Orrin. You're old. And ignorant. And closed-minded. And petty and small. Shut the fuck up already. Utah hates you-- You just haven't let the truth sink in yet.
As a part-time web developer, I am less than surprised. Making sites compatible for multiple browsers is always a chore, but IE makes it damn near impossible to play nice. After all, it is the only browser left that doesn't conform to W3C standards, and cannot interpret CSS correctly to save its own life.
I usually have multiple browsers installed on any of my machines, but there's only one that I refuse...
I do server software support for IT administrators, and even though in most cases I could run circles around them and do their jobs far better than they could, there's no way in hell I'd want to.
IT = Dealing with end users, which is something I will NEVER do again.
Before I explain the subject, it should be noted that I have NEVER before considered myself a "gamer", or someone who was interested in RPGs at all for that matter. Sure, in the past I might have picked up a controller and gotten into a round of Rogue Squadron or Soul Reaver, but it's never been a serious interest... until WoW.
I started out by watching my former roommate. He would spend hours of his day after work playing. He's one of those types that can become completely immersed in almost anything, and in turn, lose touch with reality. But I digress.
I started watching and learning during the beta, and afterward for about a year. In the beginning, I thought it was fun to look at, but still wasn't convinced that I should try it myself. It wasn't until I saw the magnificence of a 40-man raid that I began to understand what Blizzard had done so well.
I've now been a moderately dedicated player for over two years, and am nearing max level with my second character. I do not play twelve hours a day, and many days I don't play at all. But there are a number of reasons I continue to pay a monthly subscription, which I will attempt to illustrate (some of these have been noted before, I'm sure).
Dynamic content: While many of the basics have remained the same, Blizzard has gone out of their way to expand, improve and refine content and gameplay beyond any other game I've seen. What's more, you don't have to rely on the next expansion pack to get new content. Case in point, the 2.4 patch.
Social interaction and group mechanics: One of the things I love most about WoW is that the people I interact with in-game are people I associate with in real life OUTSIDE the game. Two of my brothers play alongside me, as do many long-term friends and co-workers. We have a common ground where we can all enjoy each other's company, even when separated by vast distances. Learning to work within a group, and being part of a mechanism is quite possibly the most appealing thing for me. PvP is fun, sure, but I'd rather work with people than against them. Learning your role within the group, and adapting to that dynamic can be a metaphor in your work and social activities as well. It's actually helped me in real life situations.
Low system requirements: When I first started playing, it was on a Mac Mini 1.25ghz with 1gb of RAM and a 32mb video card. I can think of no other (CURRENT) MMO that can get away with that. I've since gotten a newer machine with better hardware, but I can still play on the Mini any time I choose, with no real dramatic decrease in enjoyment or playability.
To echo other previous statements here, hate on it all you want, but the fact of the matter is that if they have 10 million plus subscribers, they are doing something (if not many things) correctly.
For the record, I am a single father, and my playtime is nowhere near many people I know. Real life ALWAYS takes precedence over a video game. But if I have the time and nothing else to do, well...
I totally see your point, and I guess what I'm getting at is that there should be a miniseries done of it with the same cast as the first two.
I'm cautiously optimistic when it comes to a new and complete revision of the first story. It could be beautiful if given 3 or so hours in theaters and 4 and a half or so on DVD... maybe? I don't know.
This has been one of the more interesting threads I've read in a long time, though. =)
Well, the Hebrew thing isn't so much a commentary on their religion per se, but more about their oppression and ostracism by those in power. The Fremen are often looked down upon as being less-than-human, and are often used for slave labor by the Harkonnens. This point is brought home even further in The Butlerian Jihad/The Machine Crusade/The Battle of Corrin, where the Zensunni (the direct ancestors of the Fremen) are literally slaves to the other, more powerful system governments.
Corrino is a Latin/Italian name.
Harkonnen is German/Dutch.
Atreides is Greek.
And yes, the Fremen are based on a combination of Muslim and Hebrew cultures and ideologies.
Yep, read that one, too. Quite a fascinating read.
Glad you find that link valuable. I spent hours reading and re-reading it. Extremely interesting, IMHO. =D
I couldn't agree more. God Emperor of Dune is without a doubt my favorite of the novels. It would be both epic (in scale of the passage of time) and creepy as hell (Leto II as the worm king and the constant resurrection of Idaho).
They released the "director's cut" on DVD last year. It is quite a bit longer, and in my eyes, improved. But there are still many horrible inaccuracies. Lynch took far too many creative liberties with it, and the lack of Giger's art/design made it less than it could have been.
Re:Does anyone know of a literary criticism of Dun
on
New Dune Movie Confirmed
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· Score: 2, Informative
I've read all of the novels several times (in some cases more). Yes, even the ones written by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson (they're nowhere near as good, but still entertaining).
The first film was pretty good, and I'll be the first to admit that I'm a big fan of David Lynch's work. However, there were many major inconsistencies, and were it not for the fantastic cast (namely McLachlan, Sting and Stewart) and incredible set design, I would have surely hated it.
Then there was the SciFi miniseries, which lacked some of the starpower of the original, but held to the original story MUCH more accurately. There were a couple of minor revisions, but nothing that really upset me. It worked.
Children of Dune was something I'd been waiting for nearly all my life (I started reading these VERY young). While some of the dialog felt contrived and forced, it still held true to the books for the most part.
Personally, nothing would make me happier than to see God Emperor of Dune translated to film, either a big-budget movie or another miniseries. It is by far my favorite of the novels, and I think it would be visually engaging if done right. I tend to agree that another remake of the original book is completely unnecessary when there is so much more (and better) material to draw from.
I can't tell you how aggravating it is that most people believe there's only the one story (Dune). Visit the library, yo. Yes, they can be challenging to read, much like Tolkien, but totally worth it.
I'd be willing to wager that he got tired of getting paid to lie. Which is precisely the reason I will never again work for Microsoft or any of their sub-companies. I can take a lot of crap from an employer, but when they tell me to flat-out LIE to customers, that's when it's time to move on.
Slashdot Mirror
My car in its current state will get me MAYBE $500 toward the principal. Also, perhaps I misspoke. I was referring to a used car. I doubt I'd ever buy any vehicle brand new. But I don't make a whole lot of money, and after taxes, insurance benefits, daycare, rent and day-to-day living expenses have their way, I'm left with very little to throw at this. I've cut corners wherever possible, but it's going to take me a while to get it all put together.
You make an excellent point, and I agree. Thing is, I live near downtown Salt Lake City, but my office is located in such a place as to make mass transit a damn joke (two and a half hours each way, with a one-mile hike included, for what should be a 10-to-15-minute drive). If it were up to me, I'd never own another car again. I like walking. I like using mass transit for the fact that it lets someone else feel the road rage on my behalf. I like being able to read or get some work done on the way to work. But sadly, I'm also a single parent, and money does not come easily for me. My car just gave up on me, and while I qualify for financing, they want 10% down, which is going to be more than I bring home in a single check. The auto and banking industries do not make it easy or sustainable for people like me to get the help we need. All I want is to be able to provide for my child and not spend 1/4 of my day commuting, when I could be spending that time with him or engaged in one of my many hobbies. Oh, well. Some things never change, even when they do.
Seems silly to dump such a large sum into a company that is in fact making luxury cars. Sustainable? Sure, if you're upper-class white America. What about those of us who want a reliable, energy efficient car without sacrificing our children's education to get it? Tesla is doing good work, but I don't think they should be getting taxpayer dollars for something that ultimately I won't be able to afford anytime in the foreseeable future.
I concur. He is a disgrace to the Democratic party, just as so many, many others are to the GOP. *cough Limbaugh Cheney Rumsfeld Bush Rove Rice Boehner cough* But I digress. Reid is good for almost nothing.
Without getting into a fierce debate about IP reform and the absurdity of current copyright law, let me just say this: Hatch is a fucking idiot, always has been. He does not represent me in any way, shape or form. Nor does he represent the majority of people in the state of Utah. Those who do follow this raving moron are probably no more educated than he is. Seriously, Orrin. You're old. And ignorant. And closed-minded. And petty and small. Shut the fuck up already. Utah hates you-- You just haven't let the truth sink in yet.
As a part-time web developer, I am less than surprised. Making sites compatible for multiple browsers is always a chore, but IE makes it damn near impossible to play nice. After all, it is the only browser left that doesn't conform to W3C standards, and cannot interpret CSS correctly to save its own life. I usually have multiple browsers installed on any of my machines, but there's only one that I refuse...
I do server software support for IT administrators, and even though in most cases I could run circles around them and do their jobs far better than they could, there's no way in hell I'd want to. IT = Dealing with end users, which is something I will NEVER do again.
Before I explain the subject, it should be noted that I have NEVER before considered myself a "gamer", or someone who was interested in RPGs at all for that matter. Sure, in the past I might have picked up a controller and gotten into a round of Rogue Squadron or Soul Reaver, but it's never been a serious interest... until WoW.
I started out by watching my former roommate. He would spend hours of his day after work playing. He's one of those types that can become completely immersed in almost anything, and in turn, lose touch with reality. But I digress.
I started watching and learning during the beta, and afterward for about a year. In the beginning, I thought it was fun to look at, but still wasn't convinced that I should try it myself. It wasn't until I saw the magnificence of a 40-man raid that I began to understand what Blizzard had done so well.
I've now been a moderately dedicated player for over two years, and am nearing max level with my second character. I do not play twelve hours a day, and many days I don't play at all. But there are a number of reasons I continue to pay a monthly subscription, which I will attempt to illustrate (some of these have been noted before, I'm sure).
Dynamic content: While many of the basics have remained the same, Blizzard has gone out of their way to expand, improve and refine content and gameplay beyond any other game I've seen. What's more, you don't have to rely on the next expansion pack to get new content. Case in point, the 2.4 patch.
Social interaction and group mechanics: One of the things I love most about WoW is that the people I interact with in-game are people I associate with in real life OUTSIDE the game. Two of my brothers play alongside me, as do many long-term friends and co-workers. We have a common ground where we can all enjoy each other's company, even when separated by vast distances. Learning to work within a group, and being part of a mechanism is quite possibly the most appealing thing for me. PvP is fun, sure, but I'd rather work with people than against them. Learning your role within the group, and adapting to that dynamic can be a metaphor in your work and social activities as well. It's actually helped me in real life situations.
Low system requirements: When I first started playing, it was on a Mac Mini 1.25ghz with 1gb of RAM and a 32mb video card. I can think of no other (CURRENT) MMO that can get away with that. I've since gotten a newer machine with better hardware, but I can still play on the Mini any time I choose, with no real dramatic decrease in enjoyment or playability.
To echo other previous statements here, hate on it all you want, but the fact of the matter is that if they have 10 million plus subscribers, they are doing something (if not many things) correctly.
For the record, I am a single father, and my playtime is nowhere near many people I know. Real life ALWAYS takes precedence over a video game. But if I have the time and nothing else to do, well...
I totally see your point, and I guess what I'm getting at is that there should be a miniseries done of it with the same cast as the first two. I'm cautiously optimistic when it comes to a new and complete revision of the first story. It could be beautiful if given 3 or so hours in theaters and 4 and a half or so on DVD... maybe? I don't know. This has been one of the more interesting threads I've read in a long time, though. =)
Well, the Hebrew thing isn't so much a commentary on their religion per se, but more about their oppression and ostracism by those in power. The Fremen are often looked down upon as being less-than-human, and are often used for slave labor by the Harkonnens. This point is brought home even further in The Butlerian Jihad/The Machine Crusade/The Battle of Corrin, where the Zensunni (the direct ancestors of the Fremen) are literally slaves to the other, more powerful system governments.
Corrino is a Latin/Italian name. Harkonnen is German/Dutch. Atreides is Greek. And yes, the Fremen are based on a combination of Muslim and Hebrew cultures and ideologies.
Yep, read that one, too. Quite a fascinating read. Glad you find that link valuable. I spent hours reading and re-reading it. Extremely interesting, IMHO. =D
I couldn't agree more. God Emperor of Dune is without a doubt my favorite of the novels. It would be both epic (in scale of the passage of time) and creepy as hell (Leto II as the worm king and the constant resurrection of Idaho).
They released the "director's cut" on DVD last year. It is quite a bit longer, and in my eyes, improved. But there are still many horrible inaccuracies. Lynch took far too many creative liberties with it, and the lack of Giger's art/design made it less than it could have been.
Try this paper. VERY well-written and engaging. It's interesting to see someone attempt to identify the myriad of influences Herbert used to craft these fantastic and detailed worlds. http://baheyeldin.com/literature/arabic-and-islamic-themes-in-frank-herberts-dune.html
I've read all of the novels several times (in some cases more). Yes, even the ones written by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson (they're nowhere near as good, but still entertaining). The first film was pretty good, and I'll be the first to admit that I'm a big fan of David Lynch's work. However, there were many major inconsistencies, and were it not for the fantastic cast (namely McLachlan, Sting and Stewart) and incredible set design, I would have surely hated it. Then there was the SciFi miniseries, which lacked some of the starpower of the original, but held to the original story MUCH more accurately. There were a couple of minor revisions, but nothing that really upset me. It worked. Children of Dune was something I'd been waiting for nearly all my life (I started reading these VERY young). While some of the dialog felt contrived and forced, it still held true to the books for the most part. Personally, nothing would make me happier than to see God Emperor of Dune translated to film, either a big-budget movie or another miniseries. It is by far my favorite of the novels, and I think it would be visually engaging if done right. I tend to agree that another remake of the original book is completely unnecessary when there is so much more (and better) material to draw from. I can't tell you how aggravating it is that most people believe there's only the one story (Dune). Visit the library, yo. Yes, they can be challenging to read, much like Tolkien, but totally worth it.
I'd be willing to wager that he got tired of getting paid to lie. Which is precisely the reason I will never again work for Microsoft or any of their sub-companies. I can take a lot of crap from an employer, but when they tell me to flat-out LIE to customers, that's when it's time to move on.