A well funded plant with competent people running it is very safe.
No plant that is run as a revenue-generating enterprise will remain well-funded and staffed by competent people for very long.
That is an absolute certainty, and applies to pretty much any industry.
Only - in most other industries, when corners are cut, you end up with at worst, a few dozen people getting food poisoning, or a worker getting a hand chopped off on the assembly line, or a mine collapse, or a rash of tire-blowouts.
When you cut corners with a nuclear power plant, you can make hundreds of square miles of land uninhabitable for thousands of years.
You can destroy the property value of all the homeowners who faithfully worked hard and made their house payments.
And, you can destroy the reputation of the industry for generations.
And while you're doing this - you can personally profit enough, in the space of a few years, that you can retire in comfort. Yay!
. . . sounds like this behavior could give us a lot of insight into the behavior of modern capitalist economies. A great example would be this recent housing-market deal, where high-risk mortgages were re-packaged into so-called "Structured Investment Vehicles" - a fancy word for: Fraud.
These securities were then marketed and sold all over the place like hotcakes, causing an even greater market for bad mortgages, kickbacks and fraud in the mortgage brokering business, and especially home appraisal business, as well as the securities industry, securities rating, and securities insurance industries - all a series of locusts, trying to run after another locust to get a quick meal, while running from another locust trying to get a quick meal.
Never mind that all the various central banks are now committing massive economic suicide by trying to print enough money to replace the falsified value these criminals put on the books. Because it is far more important that the individual board members keep their golfing buddies from slashing their wrists (or getting a quick meal), than it is to actually do their fucking jobs and protect their currency.
Do you want code modified and compiled on the developer's machine, emailed straight to the customer, with no guarantee that it will work, it's been tested, changes are documented, changes were checked back into source control, (etc)? we'll get that "fix" to you in 3 hours man!
But if you want all that silly "software engineering" stuff. . . well, that takes a little longer. Even with well staffed, smoothly-oiled organizations.
I don't know, the report came out today that my family of four is now on the hook (in debt) for $20,000 for this little war; and all we really have to show for it, economically speaking, is $100/bbl oil, that is being paid to the very people who funded 9/11 to begin with (Saudis).
We may be "winning" the body-count. But in terms of global influence lost, and preserving our traditional values, we've basically whooped our own asses. What's the plan? Inflate our way out of debt? Borrow our way to prosperity? Yeah, that worked so well for Weimar-Germany.
So glad George got me that $300 check in 2000. That really made a big difference.
Sure, today we're mostly fighting Iraqi rebels, against whom the air force can do relatively little
I dunno - a large part of the reason we're seeing so much less violence in the past few months is because of a stepped up air-campaign. (Which is partially the reason for the dramatic increase in costs).
Of course, with a stepped up air-campaign against insurgents, you also need to keep a really tight lid on the press, so they won't report collateral damage as much, because even with precision munitions, you're going to see a lot more incidents of blown up Iraqi women and children. . . (I think that's what you mean by "against whom the air force can do relatively little" - well, it depends on what principles you're willing to sacrifice.)
Well, we DID not re-elect them. In 2006. And the incumbent party leadership STILL rolled over; so - even though there was a clear mandate for change from the voters, the candidates that were turned-over did not represent the constituency within congress that was actually capable of making that change.
When they say "we didn't have enough votes" - they aren't talking about not enough votes to override the vetos. They're talking about not enough votes to override Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, and the incumbent leadership of the Democratic Party that NEEDS to be flushed out of the system before any real change can happen.
Fuckers are going to PAY - but it's going to take maybe 6 more years to clean out the sewers first, before we can flush the toilet and expect a clean bowl.
as a proud Ameri-trash American (happy Veteran's Day y'all) -
1. Irrelevant. He was elected, however barely.
Agreed. As an America - I'm shocked, dismayed, appalled, that my countrymen, which I pay assloads of tax-money to educate, by the way, were fucking stupid enough to trust another Bush after his father - and after Bush Jr's record as Texas Gov (or after his record as the owner of the Texas Rangers, or after his record as CEO of Harkin Oil, or after his TANG record - oh yeah, that wasn't quite available now was it? Oh, what about his criminal record? Jeez, people!)
2. The minor protests were retarded, and the larger protests are late to the party - not to mention, about the wrong problem. They're certainly no credit to America.
In defense of my bovine countrymen; we're fat, dumb, and happy. We don't like being tear-gassed, and we don't like being clubbed by police, we'd rather stay at home and watch the police gas and club hippies. (and we'd hate to have to accept the fact that those hippies were actually fighting for our rights - we'd rather live in the fantasy world that God is on our side, and wants us to eat steak every day, and drive huge trucks that get 5 MPG - because God loves us more than he loves people in other countries - isn't that a more compelling belief?) (. . . for a retard?)
3. You're kidding, right? If you didn't get the idea that Bush was going to send the US down the shitter before 2004, you weren't paying attention.
We weren't paying attention in 2000. We weren't paying attention in 1992 either, or in 1988, or in 1984, or in 1980. It was a much more compelling story to think that we could "Borrow our way to prosperity." Because that was Capitalism, and God loves Capitalists, and you don't want to piss off God, right?. . . . . .
4. Irrelevant. Pointing out someone else's problems is no way to advance the discussion.
True - but is a great way to deflect the discussion from one's own problems!
5. Treating the majority of Americans as responsible for Bush's election, and therefore responsible for his crap, is the one thing you can do. Not only did people vote for him in 2000 (which was retarded, but forgivable), but more people voted for him in 2004! At that point, they're responsible for his decisions, and the decisions his administration makes.
2000 is not really forgivable. America will pay for these sins, because, we; as a nation, chose to believe in some of the most convenient, bald-faced fairy tales - ones that people have fallen for over and over for thousands (and more?) of years. Every time an empire falls, you see this happen. It ain't pretty. It's sad to see it happen to my beloved country. But I believe that, fundamentally, our history, our core beliefs, and our values, will all stand, through whatever is coming - and if we survive, as a nation, maybe we'll learn something, and maybe we'll come out of this a bit less arrogant. I think that, at it's heart, the process that an empire goes through in the rise of fascism, is a process of learning limits, and a process of re-setting expectations, and taming arrogance.
Looking at Germany today (or Japan) - from a political stance, and a viewpoint of national character - with their history, they have a lot to live down. Maybe that history will fade as the last survivors from that era die-off. (as American history of the Civil War and the shame of slavery has faded. . . ) - but with how Germans, and Japanese, are proud of their country, and yet, shamed by its past - maybe America will one day come to that point. Who knows?
I just got off a phone conversation - a friend of mine's 18 year old daughter, is failing civics. She asked me to talk to her, and try to explain to her why this subject was so important (beyond; if she doesn't pass, she doesn't graduate from High School).
I explained to her that what it all comes down to, is that here, in America, we (our generation) are being given a choice, whether to live free, in a dangerous world, or to be frighted into choosing to be protected slaves. That if we give up our right to privacy, to being able to confront our accuser, to being able to demand legal representation and a formal, legitimate, criminal charge when detained, to bear arms to protect ourselves, to speak and think freely, just because we're frighted of terrorism, or communism, or any other fabricated, blown-out-of-proportion-ism, that we're falling for the same arguments that the people of the USSR fell for under Stalin, we're falling for the same arguments that the people of Weimar Germany fell for under Hitler, and Italy under Moussolini, and all the way back to Rome under Caesar.
And after an hour of trying to explain this to her, she still didn't "get" it. (maybe I should have used the example of the Republic under Palpatine. . . ?) She had no freaking idea what I was talking about.
...They'll get magazine covers. Everyone will know their names.
What I remember most about the Virginia Tech killer from last year, is that he submitted his name in one class as "?", and everyone called him "question-mark-boy."
People are judgemental and extreme because these stories get distorted by the newsmedia - because it is very profitable for them to do so, (and they risk nothing by doing so). People are already afraid enough of anything or anyone that's outside the norm. Add to that the specter of OMG: freako's gonna shoot up my precious baby's school! and you've got yourself the makings of a grade-a National Witch-Hunt.
Which, of course, as we've seen, helps the situation. Am I right?
If I vent into a video game, because I'm angry about a situation with my real life - I still have to return to that real life.
The video game may make me feel better temporarily, but I get no validation or resolution to my problem. I go back to the real life situation, and I just get angry again. Worse: I have flexed my "venting" muscles.
That's not a reason to ban violent videogames. It's a reason to BAN institutionalized child-factories that lock our kids into situations where they have no solutions for problems that cause them anger, and no validations for these feelings, until they're forced to act out. And since the consequences for acting out will often worsen their situation, the only way to avoid those consequences is death - therefore: (and I've been saying this over and over since Columbine) - we have a broken system that GUARANTEES that every once in a while, something like this is going to happen.
It's an easy criticism to make; and it's a very hard problem to solve. Because frankly, public schools are woven very tightly into the fabric of our modern society. I think we've collectively chosen to accept the occasional school shooting as a consequence of our lack of fortitude in facing this problem, or trying to solve it more constructively.
These are the only pertinent facts: 1. Libby had a clearance, therefore, he signed an SF-312. 2. Plames covert status was Classified. 3. Libby confirmed Classified information; in clear, direct contravention of the verbage contained on the SF-312. 4. Violation of the SF-312 is a felony.
He should have had his clearance revoked ON THAT DAY. That he did not - shows how criminal this administration is.
People who earn 1/2 or 1/4 what Libby makes can keep track of much more complicated, detailed Classified information on a day to day basis without "forgetting" or "accidentally confirming". I didn't buy the "bad memory" defense with Reagan for Iran-Contra, and I don't buy it here either. These guys are a bunch of crooks; no wonder - they're all leftovers from the Nixon administration.
We fired the first "shot" at Japan, when we took sides, and embargoed their oil supply.
They were busy building an empire, and having no domestic oil supply of their own, got kind of pissed when we cut them off. Do you blame them for attacking us?
If Saudi Arabia said to us tomorrow; "Hey, America, we don't like what you're doing in Iraq and Afghanistan, so we're cutting you off until you get out - " how long do you think it would take for the order to go from the White House to a Submarine in the Persian Gulf to fire a barrage of SLCM's at Ryadh? All of 5 minutes?
Yes.
WW II was also, about oil.
Growing, industrial superpowers, Japan and Germany, as soon as they ran out of domestic energy supplies, and as soon as they got sick of being extorted by their neighbors for energy, they took matters into their own hands. And when their neighbors got nervous, and cut them off, Japan and Germany went ballistic. Literally.
Does any of this sound familliar?
Maybe history does not repeat itself. But as Mark Twain said; "it does rhyme."
Considering how many cars are currently manufactured in Mexico already, I'd say this is probably a perfect "justification" (rationalization?) for pushing through the "guest worker visa" program they've been harping on for years. Cheap Labor for teh *new* auto industry in America's Gleaming West. Right? Primed for the China market - we'll be shipping them over there. (Because our currency is currently in a death-spiral, and China's is up-and-coming).
I need a 60 mile range (most days, 40), and an overnight charge. With an occasional requirement for long trips where I'll need to hit 500 miles in the space of 8 hrs - (charge-time is an exercise for the mfr.)
Maybe I can own a second car for the occasional-long trips thing: But if that's the case, that first car better not be just >$100k. It better be >$20k. Owning two vehicles incurs a huge set of extra capital expenses, maintenance, registration, licensing, insurance, depreciation, etc.
It sucks to have to lug around a gasoline engine to and from work every day, when my commute is so short, but because every 2-3 weeks, I need the range capability to take a long business trip or take the offspring to visit grandma and grandpa.
The whole reason Ford was successful in the first place, is because he was the first mfr to make cars affordable by the common middle-class American. That's really the criteria for accurately calling something a "car".
Until "electric cars" are "affordable (and usable) by the common middle-class American" - then calling them "cars" is actually a misnomer. It's got 4 wheels, it's got a motor, it drives you places. But if it does not meet my requirements, within my budget - then it does not really matter how much I want one, or how much I want to be "green". The idea dies in the marketplace, nobody mass produces it, and the whole exercise is futile, and we end up back with horses and carts. (well, those among us who don't starve or roast or drown - whatever other joy Peak Oil/Global Warming has in store for us).
Maybe it's inaccurate to call it a "flaw" in human logic.
This is how human logic "is". (just as human vision has "blind spots" - is it a flaw?)
We're able to use mathematics to map out a symbolic logic system that's mostly pretty flawless - until you try to map those symbols over to the semantics of human language. . .
Maybe there's an evolutionary reason for why humans logic the way they do. (maybe that reason is obsolete in light of our current, "civilized" state of existence? maybe it's not?) -
But who's to say that mathematical logic is "better". Show me a computer that can perform all the cognitive mental tasks humans can do. Yeah, they can beat me at chess, they can probably even beat me at go, but is there a computer that can invent a game, and then beat me at it? Yeah, they can even drive cars now. But is there one that can get out, and change a flat tire?
Both Apple and Novell tried to pull that crap, and neither had the marketing muscle to keep it up. In the end, they both adopted Unix. Microsoft *did* adopt unix at one point (ActiveState tools, and of course, the lame excuse that they had a posix subsystem down in the works somewhere). Neither cut the mustard, and Microsoft didn't stick with them. They actually tried to stave off the "weak command line" criticisms for a while with promises of PowerShell. Which turned out to be a big brown smelly turd.
I reckon there's probably just a lot of pragmatists out there who are sick of being branded "negative" and "pessimists" by pollyanna optimists. I do sense a bit of hostility and bitterness in this thread - and it probably stems from this. I know this, because I, myself, am a pragmatist who is very often unfairly branded a pessimist.
Yes, and unfortunately, those optimists got their richly-deserved slap in the face by the congressional democrats, who have done basically nothing to reign-in this out-of-control fascist dictatorship.
The only thing that has changed, is the names on the "campaign-donation" checks that the lobbyists write.
Pelosi said "impeachment is off the table." That means change is off the table. Justice is off the table. Democracy is off the table.
Optimists voted Green in 2000. Got screwed then too.
one could dedicate an area of one's GUI (I'm talking about the designer/programmer here) for each label, and the user could drag the selected message icon(s) over this area (as if it was the target-folder of a copy-or-move operation) and drop them there. The messages would remain in their current folder path; but the label would be applied using a drag-n-drop paradigm.
Slashdot Mirror
A well funded plant with competent people running it is very safe.
No plant that is run as a revenue-generating enterprise will remain well-funded and staffed by competent people for very long.
That is an absolute certainty, and applies to pretty much any industry.
Only - in most other industries, when corners are cut, you end up with at worst, a few dozen people getting food poisoning, or a worker getting a hand chopped off on the assembly line, or a mine collapse, or a rash of tire-blowouts.
When you cut corners with a nuclear power plant, you can make hundreds of square miles of land uninhabitable for thousands of years.
You can destroy the property value of all the homeowners who faithfully worked hard and made their house payments.
And, you can destroy the reputation of the industry for generations.
And while you're doing this - you can personally profit enough, in the space of a few years, that you can retire in comfort. Yay!
. . . sounds like this behavior could give us a lot of insight into the behavior of modern capitalist economies. A great example would be this recent housing-market deal, where high-risk mortgages were re-packaged into so-called "Structured Investment Vehicles" - a fancy word for: Fraud.
These securities were then marketed and sold all over the place like hotcakes, causing an even greater market for bad mortgages, kickbacks and fraud in the mortgage brokering business, and especially home appraisal business, as well as the securities industry, securities rating, and securities insurance industries - all a series of locusts, trying to run after another locust to get a quick meal, while running from another locust trying to get a quick meal.
Never mind that all the various central banks are now committing massive economic suicide by trying to print enough money to replace the falsified value these criminals put on the books. Because it is far more important that the individual board members keep their golfing buddies from slashing their wrists (or getting a quick meal), than it is to actually do their fucking jobs and protect their currency.
Locusts?
Swarms?
People!
Do you want code modified and compiled on the developer's machine, emailed straight to the customer, with no guarantee that it will work, it's been tested, changes are documented, changes were checked back into source control, (etc)? we'll get that "fix" to you in 3 hours man!
But if you want all that silly "software engineering" stuff. . . well, that takes a little longer. Even with well staffed, smoothly-oiled organizations.
I don't know, the report came out today that my family of four is now on the hook (in debt) for $20,000 for this little war; and all we really have to show for it, economically speaking, is $100/bbl oil, that is being paid to the very people who funded 9/11 to begin with (Saudis).
We may be "winning" the body-count. But in terms of global influence lost, and preserving our traditional values, we've basically whooped our own asses. What's the plan? Inflate our way out of debt? Borrow our way to prosperity? Yeah, that worked so well for Weimar-Germany.
So glad George got me that $300 check in 2000. That really made a big difference.
Sure, today we're mostly fighting Iraqi rebels, against whom the air force can do relatively little
I dunno - a large part of the reason we're seeing so much less violence in the past few months is because of a stepped up air-campaign. (Which is partially the reason for the dramatic increase in costs).
Of course, with a stepped up air-campaign against insurgents, you also need to keep a really tight lid on the press, so they won't report collateral damage as much, because even with precision munitions, you're going to see a lot more incidents of blown up Iraqi women and children. . . (I think that's what you mean by "against whom the air force can do relatively little" - well, it depends on what principles you're willing to sacrifice.)
Well, we DID not re-elect them. In 2006. And the incumbent party leadership STILL rolled over; so - even though there was a clear mandate for change from the voters, the candidates that were turned-over did not represent the constituency within congress that was actually capable of making that change.
When they say "we didn't have enough votes" - they aren't talking about not enough votes to override the vetos. They're talking about not enough votes to override Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, and the incumbent leadership of the Democratic Party that NEEDS to be flushed out of the system before any real change can happen.
Fuckers are going to PAY - but it's going to take maybe 6 more years to clean out the sewers first, before we can flush the toilet and expect a clean bowl.
as a proud Ameri-trash American (happy Veteran's Day y'all) -
1. Irrelevant. He was elected, however barely.
Agreed. As an America - I'm shocked, dismayed, appalled, that my countrymen, which I pay assloads of tax-money to educate, by the way, were fucking stupid enough to trust another Bush after his father - and after Bush Jr's record as Texas Gov (or after his record as the owner of the Texas Rangers, or after his record as CEO of Harkin Oil, or after his TANG record - oh yeah, that wasn't quite available now was it? Oh, what about his criminal record? Jeez, people!)
2. The minor protests were retarded, and the larger protests are late to the party - not to mention, about the wrong problem. They're certainly no credit to America.
In defense of my bovine countrymen; we're fat, dumb, and happy. We don't like being tear-gassed, and we don't like being clubbed by police, we'd rather stay at home and watch the police gas and club hippies. (and we'd hate to have to accept the fact that those hippies were actually fighting for our rights - we'd rather live in the fantasy world that God is on our side, and wants us to eat steak every day, and drive huge trucks that get 5 MPG - because God loves us more than he loves people in other countries - isn't that a more compelling belief?) (. . . for a retard?)
3. You're kidding, right? If you didn't get the idea that Bush was going to send the US down the shitter before 2004, you weren't paying attention.
We weren't paying attention in 2000. We weren't paying attention in 1992 either, or in 1988, or in 1984, or in 1980. It was a much more compelling story to think that we could "Borrow our way to prosperity." Because that was Capitalism, and God loves Capitalists, and you don't want to piss off God, right?. . . . . .
4. Irrelevant. Pointing out someone else's problems is no way to advance the discussion.
True - but is a great way to deflect the discussion from one's own problems!
5. Treating the majority of Americans as responsible for Bush's election, and therefore responsible for his crap, is the one thing you can do. Not only did people vote for him in 2000 (which was retarded, but forgivable), but more people voted for him in 2004! At that point, they're responsible for his decisions, and the decisions his administration makes.
2000 is not really forgivable. America will pay for these sins, because, we; as a nation, chose to believe in some of the most convenient, bald-faced fairy tales - ones that people have fallen for over and over for thousands (and more?) of years. Every time an empire falls, you see this happen. It ain't pretty. It's sad to see it happen to my beloved country. But I believe that, fundamentally, our history, our core beliefs, and our values, will all stand, through whatever is coming - and if we survive, as a nation, maybe we'll learn something, and maybe we'll come out of this a bit less arrogant. I think that, at it's heart, the process that an empire goes through in the rise of fascism, is a process of learning limits, and a process of re-setting expectations, and taming arrogance.
Looking at Germany today (or Japan) - from a political stance, and a viewpoint of national character - with their history, they have a lot to live down. Maybe that history will fade as the last survivors from that era die-off. (as American history of the Civil War and the shame of slavery has faded. . . ) - but with how Germans, and Japanese, are proud of their country, and yet, shamed by its past - maybe America will one day come to that point. Who knows?
The sick thing is;
I just got off a phone conversation - a friend of mine's 18 year old daughter, is failing civics. She asked me to talk to her, and try to explain to her why this subject was so important (beyond; if she doesn't pass, she doesn't graduate from High School).
I explained to her that what it all comes down to, is that here, in America, we (our generation) are being given a choice, whether to live free, in a dangerous world, or to be frighted into choosing to be protected slaves. That if we give up our right to privacy, to being able to confront our accuser, to being able to demand legal representation and a formal, legitimate, criminal charge when detained, to bear arms to protect ourselves, to speak and think freely, just because we're frighted of terrorism, or communism, or any other fabricated, blown-out-of-proportion-ism, that we're falling for the same arguments that the people of the USSR fell for under Stalin, we're falling for the same arguments that the people of Weimar Germany fell for under Hitler, and Italy under Moussolini, and all the way back to Rome under Caesar.
And after an hour of trying to explain this to her, she still didn't "get" it.
(maybe I should have used the example of the Republic under Palpatine. . . ?)
She had no freaking idea what I was talking about.
We are so fucked.
...They'll get magazine covers. Everyone will know their names.
What I remember most about the Virginia Tech killer from last year, is that he submitted his name in one class as "?", and everyone called him "question-mark-boy."
People always do those types of recriminations afterward; "Oh why did we not heed all these warning signs which are now obvious."
Yes, well, some of us knew better, and we WARNED y'all!
And you didn't listen.
And what's TOTALLY mind boggling, is y'all re-elected the crazy fucker in 2004! What were you people thinking?
People are judgemental and extreme because these stories get distorted by the newsmedia - because it is very profitable for them to do so, (and they risk nothing by doing so). People are already afraid enough of anything or anyone that's outside the norm. Add to that the specter of OMG: freako's gonna shoot up my precious baby's school! and you've got yourself the makings of a grade-a National Witch-Hunt.
Which, of course, as we've seen, helps the situation.
Am I right?
No;
GP is right.
If I vent into a video game, because I'm angry about a situation with my real life - I still have to return to that real life.
The video game may make me feel better temporarily, but I get no validation or resolution to my problem. I go back to the real life situation, and I just get angry again. Worse: I have flexed my "venting" muscles.
That's not a reason to ban violent videogames. It's a reason to BAN institutionalized child-factories that lock our kids into situations where they have no solutions for problems that cause them anger, and no validations for these feelings, until they're forced to act out. And since the consequences for acting out will often worsen their situation, the only way to avoid those consequences is death - therefore: (and I've been saying this over and over since Columbine) - we have a broken system that GUARANTEES that every once in a while, something like this is going to happen.
It's an easy criticism to make; and it's a very hard problem to solve. Because frankly, public schools are woven very tightly into the fabric of our modern society. I think we've collectively chosen to accept the occasional school shooting as a consequence of our lack of fortitude in facing this problem, or trying to solve it more constructively.
Either Americans really are dumb as all fuck, or Americans chose to believe lies which were more palatable than the truth.
Go check out the other slashdot article today on "cognitive dissonance".
Fuck that shit.
These are the only pertinent facts:
1. Libby had a clearance, therefore, he signed an SF-312.
2. Plames covert status was Classified.
3. Libby confirmed Classified information; in clear, direct contravention of the verbage contained on the SF-312.
4. Violation of the SF-312 is a felony.
He should have had his clearance revoked ON THAT DAY.
That he did not - shows how criminal this administration is.
People who earn 1/2 or 1/4 what Libby makes can keep track of much more complicated, detailed Classified information on a day to day basis without "forgetting" or "accidentally confirming". I didn't buy the "bad memory" defense with Reagan for Iran-Contra, and I don't buy it here either. These guys are a bunch of crooks; no wonder - they're all leftovers from the Nixon administration.
Idiot!
The US did not "stay out of the war".
We fired the first "shot" at Japan, when we took sides, and embargoed their oil supply.
They were busy building an empire, and having no domestic oil supply of their own, got kind of pissed when we cut them off. Do you blame them for attacking us?
If Saudi Arabia said to us tomorrow; "Hey, America, we don't like what you're doing in Iraq and Afghanistan, so we're cutting you off until you get out - " how long do you think it would take for the order to go from the White House to a Submarine in the Persian Gulf to fire a barrage of SLCM's at Ryadh? All of 5 minutes?
Yes.
WW II was also, about oil.
Growing, industrial superpowers, Japan and Germany, as soon as they ran out of domestic energy supplies, and as soon as they got sick of being extorted by their neighbors for energy, they took matters into their own hands. And when their neighbors got nervous, and cut them off, Japan and Germany went ballistic. Literally.
Does any of this sound familliar?
Maybe history does not repeat itself.
But as Mark Twain said; "it does rhyme."
Oog, the Caveman, 1,000,000 BC:
". . . fire no need rock circle! Oog stamp runaways out with feet!"
Considering how many cars are currently manufactured in Mexico already, I'd say this is probably a perfect "justification" (rationalization?) for pushing through the "guest worker visa" program they've been harping on for years. Cheap Labor for teh *new* auto industry in America's Gleaming West. Right? Primed for the China market - we'll be shipping them over there. (Because our currency is currently in a death-spiral, and China's is up-and-coming).
I need a 60 mile range (most days, 40), and an overnight charge.
With an occasional requirement for long trips where I'll need to hit 500 miles in the space of 8 hrs - (charge-time is an exercise for the mfr.)
Maybe I can own a second car for the occasional-long trips thing:
But if that's the case, that first car better not be just >$100k. It better be >$20k.
Owning two vehicles incurs a huge set of extra capital expenses, maintenance, registration, licensing, insurance, depreciation, etc.
It sucks to have to lug around a gasoline engine to and from work every day, when my commute is so short, but because every 2-3 weeks, I need the range capability to take a long business trip or take the offspring to visit grandma and grandpa.
The whole reason Ford was successful in the first place, is because he was the first mfr to make cars affordable by the common middle-class American. That's really the criteria for accurately calling something a "car".
Until "electric cars" are "affordable (and usable) by the common middle-class American" - then calling them "cars" is actually a misnomer. It's got 4 wheels, it's got a motor, it drives you places. But if it does not meet my requirements, within my budget - then it does not really matter how much I want one, or how much I want to be "green". The idea dies in the marketplace, nobody mass produces it, and the whole exercise is futile, and we end up back with horses and carts. (well, those among us who don't starve or roast or drown - whatever other joy Peak Oil/Global Warming has in store for us).
Maybe it's inaccurate to call it a "flaw" in human logic.
This is how human logic "is".
(just as human vision has "blind spots" - is it a flaw?)
We're able to use mathematics to map out a symbolic logic system that's mostly pretty flawless - until you try to map those symbols over to the semantics of human language. . .
Maybe there's an evolutionary reason for why humans logic the way they do. (maybe that reason is obsolete in light of our current, "civilized" state of existence? maybe it's not?) -
But who's to say that mathematical logic is "better".
Show me a computer that can perform all the cognitive mental tasks humans can do.
Yeah, they can beat me at chess, they can probably even beat me at go, but is there a computer that can invent a game, and then beat me at it? Yeah, they can even drive cars now. But is there one that can get out, and change a flat tire?
Both Apple and Novell tried to pull that crap, and neither had the marketing muscle to keep it up. In the end, they both adopted Unix. Microsoft *did* adopt unix at one point (ActiveState tools, and of course, the lame excuse that they had a posix subsystem down in the works somewhere). Neither cut the mustard, and Microsoft didn't stick with them. They actually tried to stave off the "weak command line" criticisms for a while with promises of PowerShell. Which turned out to be a big brown smelly turd.
... actually, I'm hoping it indexes my wife's porn, I think she's been holding out on me and not sharing lately.
I reckon there's probably just a lot of pragmatists out there who are sick of being branded "negative" and "pessimists" by pollyanna optimists. I do sense a bit of hostility and bitterness in this thread - and it probably stems from this. I know this, because I, myself, am a pragmatist who is very often unfairly branded a pessimist.
Yes, and unfortunately, those optimists got their richly-deserved slap in the face by the congressional democrats, who have done basically nothing to reign-in this out-of-control fascist dictatorship.
The only thing that has changed, is the names on the "campaign-donation" checks that the lobbyists write.
Pelosi said "impeachment is off the table."
That means change is off the table.
Justice is off the table.
Democracy is off the table.
Optimists voted Green in 2000. Got screwed then too.
Why do they always seem to put the damn optimists in charge of budget and project schedule?
one could dedicate an area of one's GUI (I'm talking about the designer/programmer here) for each label, and the user could drag the selected message icon(s) over this area (as if it was the target-folder of a copy-or-move operation) and drop them there. The messages would remain in their current folder path; but the label would be applied using a drag-n-drop paradigm.