I don't want every American licensed to use a firearm. I want an American who can think and act on his own separate of violence. Hence, the option NOT to serve in the military, but instead the federal government. I don't want our people indoctrinated by the government by what some people believe is our history, that's a waste of time. That's for the schools to teach, not the federal govt/military complex. Personally I think we should get rid of all firearms, they make death easy and without value. Let's issue instead sabres and rapiers. THOSE are the weapons of gentlemen.
Of course it's possible. When you turn 18 in the US, you are required by law to register for the Selective Service Act which is effectively, a draft. The United States has not had an active draft since the 70s and I would find it odd if it were reinstated. However, I think it would be appropriate for US Gov't to have a 2 year selected service for every single citizen of the US to be done at the age of 18 in exchange for a voting franchise. As long as you have completed, or are completing this requirement, you'd be eligible to vote. This would do a few things:
Train our populace to be more effective workers.
Provide more responsibility to the average citizen.
promote social skills and work ethic.
You don't have to be in the army/navy/marines/airforce, but could instead serve the Postal Service, various Government Agencies or other approved service options. Makes sense to me.
That I don't buy. It's not oppression by the media or by the government that forces them to start shooting. It's a cultural normative thing. It's an acceptance issue. I was never accepted by the "in-crowd" in high school, not that I didn't try to be. I had friends who were on the fringes. My siblings weren't so fortunate. My brother actually did wear a black trenchcoat to school and that freaked some people out. He hated those people who had the popularity he coveted. He hated the fact that the pretty girls and cheerleaders didn't even say hi. He was no less smart, no less intelligent, no less of a person than those jocks, but that mattered not. He didn't wear J. Crew or Gap. Now he didn't go shoot up the place, but you can't tell me he didn't hate or resent those jocks. I sure did.
It might be the oppression that comes with the peer system that's triggering the violence. But just straight up normal oppression? nah. that's crap.
The Media is reacting to this, not society. Violence has decreased since the internet has become mainstream. Is this attributed to the presence of the internet? Maybe. But what else has changed since the beginning of the decade? Well, we're no longer at war with Iraq (although that may change should Bush gain the presidency) and the economy is in the biggest boom since God know's when. The iMac debuted in 1997, can we attribute the drop in violence to its presence? Nope. Not quite. We're missing the causal links here. Granted these statistics are uplifting, but are we issuing credit where it is not due?
I'd love to believe that it is true, that's for sure!
So don't go work for Ford. Gosh. That's easy. I'm not telling you that you must work for a corporation, but I am telling you that they are not all evil. Okay, well. Most of them are, but for every rule there are exceptions.
The point is: some corporations used to take care of their workers and that has stopped. Stock options replace salary. Telecommuting replaces vacation time. All of this is a change away from the simpler 40 hour weeks.
When I signed on with my company, the contract said 40 hours a week minimum. The company may call on you to do more than this. Now, I work an average of 52 hours a week. Hideous, but true. This was not the case for my father, nor his father. Funny how that works.
It should be noted that "taking care" of their employees often included deciding lifestyle choices for their employees. Like deciding whether or not an employee could get married. How to dress. Etc.
Having spoken with my uncle about this, they didn't force him to get married, tell him where to put his kids in school, when to do this, when to do that...None of that was there.
Exploiting the workers is not a new trend. Corporations only "take care" of their employees when times are good.
Corporations have the responsibility to keep their employees healthy. They provide the services that the corporations need in order to continue making money. Yes, that means a lower bottom line, but it means happy people and that's a good thing for the company.
and I escaped the destiny of becoming a corporate slave. Being forced to switch jobs, and to upgrade our skills is price we pay for escaping the fate corporations would otherwise choose for us. I still wouldn't go back. I am not a corporate slave. I am not some mindless cog in a large machine. How can you assume that if you're not a consultant you're a corporate peon? Have you learned nothing from the dot-com revolution? Consulting may provide the ability to change careers nearly seamlessly and a continuing education, but what downfall is there? That you'll be cut loose at the drop of a hat (possible as a consultant) that your product may be worthless (definite possibilty) and that you may be put out of work by someone who's hired permanently. There's even less security in consulting, and security is something, as a society we value.
For once Katz may be right, far be it from me to say:). My uncle worked for just one company after he got out of the military. AT&T paid him good money to be a loyal engineer, and he was precisely that. He worked till he retired just a few years ago. He got a good pension having worked for just AT&T his whole career.
I've just entered the employment market in May and I'm already on my second job. Granted I like this one and will stick with it for a while, but I can't see myself working for just one company in my life. Used to be that companies took care of their employees, now it's part of their bottom line to screw them over (working more hours for less) and try and get them paid less with less benefits. Enter the independent contractors who work for less and don't need benefits, the modern mercenaries.
Instead of caring for our workforce, we make them compete against each other. No longer are we a goal-oriented work structure, everyone has their own agenda, fighting back and forth to gain points with the pointy-haired ones who operate on a separate plane of existence from the very real one that dominates the real office.
It seems like there are more people who focus of cohesing (is that a word?) teamwork than actually do any work. Take for example this guy I work with. He is a fantastic teacher, but not the best manager. He works too hard at managing, setting too many rules, too many requirements of his fellow teachers. When we try too hard, no one succeeds.
I hereby request the following patent: One Blink Shopping. This new and exciting technology allows the client (hereby refered to as the 'sucker') to purchase items from our website by blinking. This technology is an application of specific and proprietary javascript code which redirects our users to our price-point software (here after known as sucker fscker). This then sends the shopper through to our jam and jellies and poultry department (the smuckers and cluckers sucker fscker) and then on their receipt. This process of sending the sucker through the sucker fscker and on to the smuckers and cluckers sucker fscker is proprietary and should be issued a patent.
A fella by the name of Cannibal Harry got railed by Earthlink, his website had a short movie containing some highlights of a HALO get-together sponsored by bungie...and it got a LOT of downloads. So many in fact, Earthlink billed him for close to $30,000 (US). Check the story here:http://www.theregister.co.uk/c ont ent/1/13668.html
50 cent pieces have been around for quite some time and some are still in circulation. They are larger than a quarter by about 50%. Nice pieces of change, if a rare find these days.
And what would have happened had those shares been dumped all at once? I wouldn't expect you to know that one.
And precisely what reason would they have to do that? Microsoft Office for the Mac is one of their most profitable lines of software. They make a killing on it. No question.
That's weak. Really weak. For something as simple as a startup sound, the user really should be able to set a preference if they don't want it. This is just another example of the arrogance of the MacOS team and shows the same general disregard for customers that was APPL's trademark until they came out with candy colored computers.
Arrogance? Not quite. It's part of the Mac OS, you turn it on, it creates a tone to say "yes, my hardware is at least partially functional". I'd be more worried if my computer didn't even acknowledge my presence when I turned it on (kinda like a woman...er...wait...) Apple didn't have a general disregard for customers, I know, I've been one since 1984.
Hey, I was just giving a solution out. Who cares if your machine chimes? Afraid you'll wake the occupants of a house when you start up their machine to hack their email? That's about the only reason I could possibly see to get rid of a startup sound.
Even if this were the case, a lot of what it is and what it's based on is not in the cute little visual tricks, it's more a way of organizing data, not just cute little features. The organization of the filestructure is more detailed, the network settings more powerful (can you telnet into a W2k box? you can with OS X), the system more thought out and detailed. This is definitely a step up and beyond W2k. Not even the same league.
Having used OS X Public Beta for a few weeks now, I can say that I'm honestly excited about it, but excited to point of cultural phenomenon? Nope, and here's why: This is an overdue release. Remember Copland? It was gonna have a lot of these things and it was due waaaaay back before I even started college. But then again, the wait seems to be worth it at this point. Yes, this is a turning point for GUIs. And it is likely to be copied by M$, or whomever thinks they can pull it off without (or with in some cases) a lawsuit.
The Unix layer is a way cool bonus and gives the power user something that would separate him from the basic user. Sure it CAN be candy colored, but it can also be sleek and inobtrusive (I love the graphite mode). This is a big step for macs in terms of bringing them up to speed with the rest of the world so they can compete with NT and Linux. Now if we could just get some good processors...
Yes but only when the inventors were motivated by profits. That's where a great deal of inventions came from: for profit inventors. Is this a bad thing? No. Would destroying IP and with it the credit-recognition system that goes with it be good? Hell no.
It will install with much less than 128 MB, it's just not recommended that you do so. But then again, it's Beta. What did you expect?
Personally, I love it. I love the graphite, I love the protected memory space (uptime measured in weeks on a mac, who'da thunk it?) and I love the dock.
I've got Toad.Net DSL here in Alexandria, and I have had nothing but positive experiences with them. I'm at the edge of their limit (I'm at 11,000 ft from the exchange, the limit is 12,000) for DSL, but I get great bandwidth (1.5Mbit) for a reasonable price ($80/mo) and their customer service rocks my world!
I do follow politics, local ones that matter. Don't suddenly accuse me about being apathetic, far from it, as a student of international politics, my eyes are on more global, and in terms of my hobby, more local politics. Yes, our national debt is 5 trillion dollars. Personally, I always thought that science was a worthwhile career already, but I guess 80,000-odd professors could be wrong.
Increasingly, we're being governed by a group of people so out of touch with reality, and in touch with their focus groups, spin artists are publicists. Every one of these politicians wants to "look good" and not "be good" for our country. This is why National Politics is a complete waste of time. The Presidency has become a farcical figure useful only in times of war (to rally round the flag).
The real people making a difference in this world are the local level politicians, where it's not as "political" as the national level. Sure people spend lots of money trying to gain the highest seats in local government (i.e. Mayor) but those people are still beholden to the people because they are physically present. I work within blocks of the white house, but have never seen the president. Not once. Not ever. He's never called me to see if he's doing a good job, or asked what I thought about foreign policy. That's not his job either. However, it is the job of the local politicians to be in touch with their people, and in lots of case they are. The internet didn't bring about this end, it only hastened it. It emphasized precisely how worthless Washington is in general, and how valuable your town council and school board are.
Katz, you asked in your article:
Can anybody cite a single interesting or important idea or argument that's emerged from the months of campaigning in the current U.S. presidential race?
Nope. Not one. Not a single solitary one. These men are not leaders, they are figureheads of worthless old institutions. Neither of those men have the suitable qualifications to be President.
If anything, the net has become useful in creating a more "central" party. It's created a more populist centrist politics which both these candidates have embraced. Both candidates are trying to appeal to the widest number (neccesary for election) and as such have no stands on any issues. Gore has the only foreign policy experience and Bush the only "outsider's view" Both are worthless. Yes, in 20 years, we will look back and laugh.
Slashdot Mirror
It might be the oppression that comes with the peer system that's triggering the violence. But just straight up normal oppression? nah. that's crap.
I'd love to believe that it is true, that's for sure!
The point is: some corporations used to take care of their workers and that has stopped. Stock options replace salary. Telecommuting replaces vacation time. All of this is a change away from the simpler 40 hour weeks.
When I signed on with my company, the contract said 40 hours a week minimum. The company may call on you to do more than this. Now, I work an average of 52 hours a week. Hideous, but true. This was not the case for my father, nor his father. Funny how that works.
Have we evolved? Is it a good evolution?
Having spoken with my uncle about this, they didn't force him to get married, tell him where to put his kids in school, when to do this, when to do that...None of that was there.
Exploiting the workers is not a new trend. Corporations only "take care" of their employees when times are good.
Corporations have the responsibility to keep their employees healthy. They provide the services that the corporations need in order to continue making money. Yes, that means a lower bottom line, but it means happy people and that's a good thing for the company.
and I escaped the destiny of becoming a corporate slave. Being forced to switch jobs, and to upgrade our skills is price we pay for escaping the fate corporations would otherwise choose for us. I still wouldn't go back. I am not a corporate slave. I am not some mindless cog in a large machine. How can you assume that if you're not a consultant you're a corporate peon? Have you learned nothing from the dot-com revolution? Consulting may provide the ability to change careers nearly seamlessly and a continuing education, but what downfall is there? That you'll be cut loose at the drop of a hat (possible as a consultant) that your product may be worthless (definite possibilty) and that you may be put out of work by someone who's hired permanently. There's even less security in consulting, and security is something, as a society we value.
Yes, but you have to live in the Midwest...
I've just entered the employment market in May and I'm already on my second job. Granted I like this one and will stick with it for a while, but I can't see myself working for just one company in my life. Used to be that companies took care of their employees, now it's part of their bottom line to screw them over (working more hours for less) and try and get them paid less with less benefits. Enter the independent contractors who work for less and don't need benefits, the modern mercenaries.
Instead of caring for our workforce, we make them compete against each other. No longer are we a goal-oriented work structure, everyone has their own agenda, fighting back and forth to gain points with the pointy-haired ones who operate on a separate plane of existence from the very real one that dominates the real office.
It seems like there are more people who focus of cohesing (is that a word?) teamwork than actually do any work. Take for example this guy I work with. He is a fantastic teacher, but not the best manager. He works too hard at managing, setting too many rules, too many requirements of his fellow teachers. When we try too hard, no one succeeds.
I hereby request the following patent: One Blink Shopping. This new and exciting technology allows the client (hereby refered to as the 'sucker') to purchase items from our website by blinking. This technology is an application of specific and proprietary javascript code which redirects our users to our price-point software (here after known as sucker fscker). This then sends the shopper through to our jam and jellies and poultry department (the smuckers and cluckers sucker fscker) and then on their receipt. This process of sending the sucker through the sucker fscker and on to the smuckers and cluckers sucker fscker is proprietary and should be issued a patent.
A fella by the name of Cannibal Harry got railed by Earthlink, his website had a short movie containing some highlights of a HALO get-together sponsored by bungie...and it got a LOT of downloads. So many in fact, Earthlink billed him for close to $30,000 (US). Check the story here:http://www.theregister.co.uk/c ont ent/1/13668.html
TIMMAY! TIMMAY! (and the lords of the underworld)
50 cent pieces have been around for quite some time and some are still in circulation. They are larger than a quarter by about 50%. Nice pieces of change, if a rare find these days.
And precisely what reason would they have to do that? Microsoft Office for the Mac is one of their most profitable lines of software. They make a killing on it. No question.
That's weak. Really weak. For something as simple as a startup sound, the user really should be able to set a preference if they don't want it. This is just another example of the arrogance of the MacOS team and shows the same general disregard for customers that was APPL's trademark until they came out with candy colored computers.
Arrogance? Not quite. It's part of the Mac OS, you turn it on, it creates a tone to say "yes, my hardware is at least partially functional". I'd be more worried if my computer didn't even acknowledge my presence when I turned it on (kinda like a woman...er...wait...) Apple didn't have a general disregard for customers, I know, I've been one since 1984.
And how many of those shares include votes? Nary a one.
A solution for your power issue: plug an empty headphone connector into your headphone jack: No sound on startup.
Even if this were the case, a lot of what it is and what it's based on is not in the cute little visual tricks, it's more a way of organizing data, not just cute little features. The organization of the filestructure is more detailed, the network settings more powerful (can you telnet into a W2k box? you can with OS X), the system more thought out and detailed. This is definitely a step up and beyond W2k. Not even the same league.
Forget Phones, I saw an orange translucent Microwave the other day. The Imac-ization of America is thoroughly frightening!!!!
The Unix layer is a way cool bonus and gives the power user something that would separate him from the basic user. Sure it CAN be candy colored, but it can also be sleek and inobtrusive (I love the graphite mode). This is a big step for macs in terms of bringing them up to speed with the rest of the world so they can compete with NT and Linux. Now if we could just get some good processors...
Yes but only when the inventors were motivated by profits. That's where a great deal of inventions came from: for profit inventors. Is this a bad thing? No. Would destroying IP and with it the credit-recognition system that goes with it be good? Hell no.
Personally, I love it. I love the graphite, I love the protected memory space (uptime measured in weeks on a mac, who'da thunk it?) and I love the dock.
Virginia...my bad
The real people making a difference in this world are the local level politicians, where it's not as "political" as the national level. Sure people spend lots of money trying to gain the highest seats in local government (i.e. Mayor) but those people are still beholden to the people because they are physically present. I work within blocks of the white house, but have never seen the president. Not once. Not ever. He's never called me to see if he's doing a good job, or asked what I thought about foreign policy. That's not his job either. However, it is the job of the local politicians to be in touch with their people, and in lots of case they are. The internet didn't bring about this end, it only hastened it. It emphasized precisely how worthless Washington is in general, and how valuable your town council and school board are.
Katz, you asked in your article:
Nope. Not one. Not a single solitary one. These men are not leaders, they are figureheads of worthless old institutions. Neither of those men have the suitable qualifications to be President.If anything, the net has become useful in creating a more "central" party. It's created a more populist centrist politics which both these candidates have embraced. Both candidates are trying to appeal to the widest number (neccesary for election) and as such have no stands on any issues. Gore has the only foreign policy experience and Bush the only "outsider's view" Both are worthless. Yes, in 20 years, we will look back and laugh.