First off, this tape is old news, it was released years ago, no idea why it's now getting traction. Secondly, in the conversation (IIRC, it was with Everett Dirkson, but might be wrong, haven't heard it for 6 months or so), Johnson states that he is reluctant to release the tape as he is afraid of how the country will react, given the shitstorm we were already living with, but you can hear that he is really pissed and feeling hamstrung. I was never a fan of either of them, but I think he should have released the tape and fuck the consequences. I suggest you listen to the tape before stating that he was stupid, a coward or hoping to sabotage the peace talks his administration had set in motion. Just my opinion.
Maybe we're going to end up with more of an intellectual elite again compared to the masses - which would not be desirable of course...
IMO, this is neither desirable or undesirable, it is just a fact. Ignorance is a choice, and it has consequences. A great number of people that are intellectually capable do not take the long view, they take the easy route, the instant gratification. I see it in student's behavior every day. The fascinating thing to me is, as these folks get older they usually end up feeling slighted and even at times, unjustly entitled, when comparing themselves with peers that dug in and did the work who can now afford a nice dinner and opera/theater/symphony tickets as well as understanding what they are listening to, If someone is truly intellectually challenged, they have my sympathy and support; if they just chose ignorance and now they're pissed because they are parking my car when I go to the theater, so be it. Striving to be the best human you can be doesn't make you a leper or an elitist. Stop apologizing for your intelligence and/or hard-won knowledge.
Demand away. You won't get shit. Just a fact. How about not buying the games from companies that practice what you perceive to be douchery? Didn't think so. Crack dealers always win, addicts lose.
2 a year isn't that bad, but watch the deductible. Also, have serial nos. and photos to e-mail to your agent (if you have one) and yeah, expect a shit-ton of grief when you try to collect. Unfortunate but true. Document as much as you can prior to the loss. Just my opinion.
Mod this mutherfuckin' AC up! When your SO is diagnosed with cancer you aren't seeking out a bunch of Kumbaya-singing proles who graduated from East Dirt U where "Everybody Passes! (tm)" for treatment, are you? Really? Didn't think so.
I can start an HD stream on Netflix, have it choke and degrade to 2-3 (occasionally 1) dots, switch over to Amazon and stream the same HD content without an issue. Netflix support claims "there was a drop in the system", but my router logs show no such drop. When asked about the difference in logs, they claim to have "better logs". When asked why Amazon can stream HD content that they can't, they claim it's because they use a "different technology" that is designed to "enhance the viewing experience". Wot? Netflix is good enough for a phone or tablet; actual HD streaming you care about, go with Amazon or whoever.
I recently took a 1st class coach out of London - 5 hour day trip, 2 stops. 1st class lounge at the station, on the train I enjoyed linen tablecloths, china plateware, actual silverware, excellent food, excellent wine, excellent service, very comfortable seats, free wi-fi, etc. IIRC, I paid around 80 GBP per ticket on advance (much cheaper to book rail travel in advance). I took a bunch of pics as I knew no one back in the US would believe it. Lucky Brits!
It's sad that this way of travelling will never be available in the US. We get what we will put up with, I guess.
It seems pretty important to you to be right, so go ahead, you can be right. You missed my point entirely (twice), but that doesn't seem to be important to you in this conversation and frankly, it doesn't really matter to me if you get it or not.
Eating the insides of peach pits to cure cancer = homeopathic quackery. Chewing willow bark to reduce inflammation because it's a naturally occurring NSAID = medicine.
Medicine is scientifically proven to consistently work for a statistically significant population size, no matter what the compound's original source even if it seems absurd at the outset. What part isn't true?
I think that the US is having a hard time understanding just how irrelevant we are becoming in the sciences, something we used to be a world leader in. But this is the country we wanted; if not, we wouldn't have let things slip as badly as we have. I am just as guilty as the rest; I didn't get involved in local politics, school boards, grass root initiatives, etc. after the 60's. I thought it was enough to pay taxes, contribute money to causes I believed in and vote in every election. I don't know if I have the energy to help pull the pendulum back and most of my kids and grand kids worry more about Facebook than politics. Nothing like conscription to get and hold your political attention... chuckle.
I must respectfully disagree with your statement. It's not being paranoid; it's looking realistically at what you give up to maintain "vanity" sites. As far as alternatives go, everything available to you prior to selling out to Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and the rest of the services people find so "convenient" in their lives are still there. Telephone (excluding texting), e-mail to individuals or groups of friends, real mail (cards, notes, etc. - I know, "how 20th century" (eyeroll)), actual face to face lunches, beers, whatever, maintaining a few real close friends instead of hundreds of "acquaintances", etc.
I am always surprised that people hand over the keys to their life so cheaply.
This is quite common; I have been doing it for many years on VATSIM (ATC Simulator) and flying with a virtual airline (DCA). It is a lot of fun if you are really into simulation (not games). For radio comms, Teamspeak is one of the popular voice systems. Realtime weather is also available once you log into the VATSIM servers. You do have to know your stuff, but the VATSIM folks are really pretty helpful and don't mind if you keep your plane parked for a few hours and just listen to the chatter to get an idea how to communicate properly. All of this is free to use but you have to fly responsibly or get bounced. I have never had a problem with griefers on VATSIM, probably because of the time commitment it takes to do a realistic simulation. We fly DC-3 aircraft; it is pretty amazing to do WW II re-enactments of major air ops and be in the middle of a dozen or so other C-47s while dodging flak on the way to drop zones. We have some actual pilots in the group, some retired, and some that can't make the medical. Yeah, it's incredibly geeky, but it's also a lot of fun. And it's all free; we all put time into creating historic flights/designing the environment we fly into/over and try to make it as historically accurate as possible.
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First off, this tape is old news, it was released years ago, no idea why it's now getting traction. Secondly, in the conversation (IIRC, it was with Everett Dirkson, but might be wrong, haven't heard it for 6 months or so), Johnson states that he is reluctant to release the tape as he is afraid of how the country will react, given the shitstorm we were already living with, but you can hear that he is really pissed and feeling hamstrung. I was never a fan of either of them, but I think he should have released the tape and fuck the consequences. I suggest you listen to the tape before stating that he was stupid, a coward or hoping to sabotage the peace talks his administration had set in motion. Just my opinion.
Maybe we're going to end up with more of an intellectual elite again compared to the masses - which would not be desirable of course...
IMO, this is neither desirable or undesirable, it is just a fact. Ignorance is a choice, and it has consequences. A great number of people that are intellectually capable do not take the long view, they take the easy route, the instant gratification. I see it in student's behavior every day. The fascinating thing to me is, as these folks get older they usually end up feeling slighted and even at times, unjustly entitled, when comparing themselves with peers that dug in and did the work who can now afford a nice dinner and opera/theater/symphony tickets as well as understanding what they are listening to, If someone is truly intellectually challenged, they have my sympathy and support; if they just chose ignorance and now they're pissed because they are parking my car when I go to the theater, so be it. Striving to be the best human you can be doesn't make you a leper or an elitist. Stop apologizing for your intelligence and/or hard-won knowledge.
Demand away. You won't get shit. Just a fact. How about not buying the games from companies that practice what you perceive to be douchery? Didn't think so. Crack dealers always win, addicts lose.
Nice alias and sig. You are obviously a man of taste and breeding.
Agreed, cash grab. No real content in this post, I just hate fucking "family" that does this shit. Just admit you're doing it for the cash, fuckers.
2 a year isn't that bad, but watch the deductible. Also, have serial nos. and photos to e-mail to your agent (if you have one) and yeah, expect a shit-ton of grief when you try to collect. Unfortunate but true. Document as much as you can prior to the loss. Just my opinion.
Awesome advice. You might even wean yourself from TV. Not a bad ambition, of you are of a mind.
Mod this mutherfuckin' AC up! When your SO is diagnosed with cancer you aren't seeking out a bunch of Kumbaya-singing proles who graduated from East Dirt U where "Everybody Passes! (tm)" for treatment, are you? Really? Didn't think so.
Truth is a hard thing for some people to hear.
I can start an HD stream on Netflix, have it choke and degrade to 2-3 (occasionally 1) dots, switch over to Amazon and stream the same HD content without an issue. Netflix support claims "there was a drop in the system", but my router logs show no such drop. When asked about the difference in logs, they claim to have "better logs". When asked why Amazon can stream HD content that they can't, they claim it's because they use a "different technology" that is designed to "enhance the viewing experience". Wot? Netflix is good enough for a phone or tablet; actual HD streaming you care about, go with Amazon or whoever.
Nicely played, Sir! It's good to see someone still willing to try lighting matches in a hurricane.
5 seconds in a microwave. Problem solved.
Please mod up.
>>> "If I wanted to hover over the employee and make sure he's doing the work he's supposed to be doing, I'd hire my son."
Priceless.
>> Just how much humiliation is the general American public willing to tolerate in the name of 'security'?"
Quite a lot apparently, quite a lot.
I recently took a 1st class coach out of London - 5 hour day trip, 2 stops. 1st class lounge at the station, on the train I enjoyed linen tablecloths, china plateware, actual silverware, excellent food, excellent wine, excellent service, very comfortable seats, free wi-fi, etc. IIRC, I paid around 80 GBP per ticket on advance (much cheaper to book rail travel in advance). I took a bunch of pics as I knew no one back in the US would believe it. Lucky Brits!
It's sad that this way of travelling will never be available in the US. We get what we will put up with, I guess.
I wouldn't buy a leaky boat. Just sayin'.
MOD THIS UP!!
You Sir, deserve a pint or two. Sorry I am not able to share it with you, but I will certainly tip one to you tonight!
It seems pretty important to you to be right, so go ahead, you can be right. You missed my point entirely (twice), but that doesn't seem to be important to you in this conversation and frankly, it doesn't really matter to me if you get it or not.
Eating the insides of peach pits to cure cancer = homeopathic quackery.
Chewing willow bark to reduce inflammation because it's a naturally occurring NSAID = medicine.
Medicine is scientifically proven to consistently work for a statistically significant population size, no matter what the compound's original source even if it seems absurd at the outset. What part isn't true?
You know what they call homeopathic medicine that actually works? - Medicine.
I think that the US is having a hard time understanding just how irrelevant we are becoming in the sciences, something we used to be a world leader in. But this is the country we wanted; if not, we wouldn't have let things slip as badly as we have. I am just as guilty as the rest; I didn't get involved in local politics, school boards, grass root initiatives, etc. after the 60's. I thought it was enough to pay taxes, contribute money to causes I believed in and vote in every election. I don't know if I have the energy to help pull the pendulum back and most of my kids and grand kids worry more about Facebook than politics. Nothing like conscription to get and hold your political attention... chuckle.
Just my opinion.
I must respectfully disagree with your statement. It's not being paranoid; it's looking realistically at what you give up to maintain "vanity" sites. As far as alternatives go, everything available to you prior to selling out to Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and the rest of the services people find so "convenient" in their lives are still there. Telephone (excluding texting), e-mail to individuals or groups of friends, real mail (cards, notes, etc. - I know, "how 20th century" (eyeroll)), actual face to face lunches, beers, whatever, maintaining a few real close friends instead of hundreds of "acquaintances", etc.
I am always surprised that people hand over the keys to their life so cheaply.
As always, this is just my opinion.
You obviously haven't spoken to any recent CS undergraduates.
This is quite common; I have been doing it for many years on VATSIM (ATC Simulator) and flying with a virtual airline (DCA). It is a lot of fun if you are really into simulation (not games). For radio comms, Teamspeak is one of the popular voice systems. Realtime weather is also available once you log into the VATSIM servers. You do have to know your stuff, but the VATSIM folks are really pretty helpful and don't mind if you keep your plane parked for a few hours and just listen to the chatter to get an idea how to communicate properly. All of this is free to use but you have to fly responsibly or get bounced. I have never had a problem with griefers on VATSIM, probably because of the time commitment it takes to do a realistic simulation. We fly DC-3 aircraft; it is pretty amazing to do WW II re-enactments of major air ops and be in the middle of a dozen or so other C-47s while dodging flak on the way to drop zones. We have some actual pilots in the group, some retired, and some that can't make the medical. Yeah, it's incredibly geeky, but it's also a lot of fun. And it's all free; we all put time into creating historic flights/designing the environment we fly into/over and try to make it as historically accurate as possible.