"Unless you change the socioeconomic fabric of most of the 'third world' or somehow manage to pull off a full scale device copier ala Neal Stephenson or Star Trek, the economics are always going to strongly favor the cheap, disposable, highly configurable human."
In skilled trades, sometimes, but you typed that post using a computer that wouldn't be possible with pure manual labor.
We don't, in this application, NEED to generate local jobs.
The goal is streamlined production, _destruction_ of jobs that draw illegals into the job market, more revenue for the farmer, and more competition in the marketplace.
While "Goodbye Mexicans" is a bit flamey, automating the jobs locals will never willingly do has always been a logical goal.
When we reduce manual labor, remove some jobs that draw poor people to the US, increase profits and make our farms more competitive we win.
We don't scrap massive combine harvesters in favor of horse-drawn equipment because they enormously increase productivity. Harvesting is dull, dirty, and sometime dangerous, ideal for robots.
Many of the "leaks" actually USEFUL to the US in terms of airing information it couldn't air otherwise, and criticizing human obstacles it cannot openly out.
Salting the docs with enough trifles to make them "embarrassing" would be wonderful for boosting their effectiveness.
"Sorry, but if the Chinese think the internet is controllable, it is because the US is showing them how to."
That comment is more than slightly patronizing. When we de-internalize the myth that all China can do is copy the West (as opposed to copying for convenience) we might give them credit for thinking for themselves.
Trying to find homes for all the animals would literally be stupid because it would only aggravate the surplus critter problem. Even some PETAfiles get that.
If the goal is actually REDUCTION OF ANIMAL SUFFERING, it isn't "cruel" (anyone unsure of the meaning, get a fucking dictionary) to the animals to painlessly kill them.
Pet People can't abide the thought of the DEATH of animals and want to cling morbidly to as many as possible. Rather like the way we keep old folks alive and suffering to the very last, this bitter denial of death isn't about the "victim" at all. It's about making the person who is preserving the "victim" feel better.
"The government also tells you to hide under your desk in the event of a nuclear attack."
Do note that "nuclear attack" doesn't always mean "world-ending cataclysm". If you don't happen to be too close, "duck and cover" made perfect sense because doing nothing would get you a face full of shrapnel from the pressure wave.:)
Atmospheric testing proved that limited nuclear exchanges are quite survivable. Countries can sustain tens of millions of dead and still survive, as demonstrated by conventional wars in the last century. Having just fought WWII, NATO Civil Defense types knew very well what mass death looks like.
Try an experiment. Go for a week blurting out ALL your opinions, of everything and everyone, immediately as they occur to you.
Honesty isn't always a useful tool of statecraft. For example, Arabs who support the US against Iran risk getting killed. Don't forget what happened to Anwar Sadat for making peace with Israel.
We can blame our post-Nuremburg fetish for "lawfare". In attempting to outlaw war (well, war by the law-abiding, everyone else is free to fight) we can't use the savage methods necessary to deter a savage enemy. We have to pretend they don't work or else the PC folks descend like shrieking harpies to insist that force has never accomplished anything in history.
We can, however, pretend sweet sweet law keeps us warm and safe at no cost. It's a lie, but we like that sort of lie.
"and the lack of supply was caused by a failed attempt by the State government to fix prices."
The market stepped in and sold electricity to California.
Not fixing the problem within CA _IS_ an option. It has consequences, but since any attempt at solution will be mismanaged, the government is incompetent, and public demands are often mutually exclusive, things CAN simply "fail".
Slashdot Mirror
"I don't think anyone in the public knows the full, true story."
Pics or it didn't happen.
"then you hate endangered animals..."
I LOVE endangered animals. Well, given the right condiments.
"Promiscuous" /= "sexual assault".
You had me until the "It is also immoral."
"Apparently you haven't heard of the Cotton Gin."
The cotton gin wasn't a harvester. It performed efficient processing of manually harvested cotton.
THIS is what modern cotton harvesters look like:
http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&q=cotton+harvester&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&ei=aDD8TIf4AYiq8AaH77mTCw&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CCQQsAQwAA&biw=1280&bih=627
"Unless you change the socioeconomic fabric of most of the 'third world' or somehow manage to pull off a full scale device copier ala Neal Stephenson or Star Trek, the economics are always going to strongly favor the cheap, disposable, highly configurable human."
In skilled trades, sometimes, but you typed that post using a computer that wouldn't be possible with pure manual labor.
In repetitive shitwork, not so much.
We don't, in this application, NEED to generate local jobs.
The goal is streamlined production, _destruction_ of jobs that draw illegals into the job market, more revenue for the farmer, and more competition in the marketplace.
"Dude, the only person producing new wealth in your scenario is the the farmer and look at all the overhead you're expecting him to bear."
The CUSTOMERS are bearing the load when they pay for the product. They pay for the whole supply chain and its support systems.
They get a more competitive marketplace (USians don't spend much of their income for food) which has helped keep food very affordable.
"Ugh, I'm still trying to fix my broken DVD playback from upgrading to 10.10 last week."
That's why I either test upgrades in a VM or an expendable machine. "New" /= "upgrade".
While "Goodbye Mexicans" is a bit flamey, automating the jobs locals will never willingly do has always been a logical goal.
When we reduce manual labor, remove some jobs that draw poor people to the US, increase profits and make our farms more competitive we win.
We don't scrap massive combine harvesters in favor of horse-drawn equipment because they enormously increase productivity. Harvesting is dull, dirty, and sometime dangerous, ideal for robots.
Ubuntu isn't for your granny. It's an alternative OS for "practical power users" like most other distros.
Many of the "leaks" actually USEFUL to the US in terms of airing information it couldn't air otherwise, and criticizing human obstacles it cannot openly out.
Salting the docs with enough trifles to make them "embarrassing" would be wonderful for boosting their effectiveness.
"Sorry, but if the Chinese think the internet is controllable, it is because the US is showing them how to."
That comment is more than slightly patronizing. When we de-internalize the myth that all China can do is copy the West (as opposed to copying for convenience) we might give them credit for thinking for themselves.
Then those giving that order had better cite the specific laws and regulations applicable that make it a Lawful Order.
Sounds like a good question for the JAG to answer.
The idea is fraught with "not being well thought out".
Boring thousands of miles of rather large holes through drinking water aquifers comes to mind as a potential Bad Fucking Idea.
Trying to find homes for all the animals would literally be stupid because it would only aggravate the surplus critter problem. Even some PETAfiles get that.
If the goal is actually REDUCTION OF ANIMAL SUFFERING, it isn't "cruel" (anyone unsure of the meaning, get a fucking dictionary) to the animals to painlessly kill them.
Pet People can't abide the thought of the DEATH of animals and want to cling morbidly to as many as possible. Rather like the way we keep old folks alive and suffering to the very last, this bitter denial of death isn't about the "victim" at all. It's about making the person who is preserving the "victim" feel better.
The US elects the leaders it deserves. I'm beginning to understand why the ruling classes cheerfully fuck the American public.
It's because most of that public are viciously, wilfully ignorant and deserve to be robbed blind.
If Palin runs, I'll vote for her out of spite.
The grantors of copyright, the general public, have different interests than perpetual copyright.
"and even the most strict punishment awarded (death) hasn't been shown to deter this kind of activity."
Change that to "completely deter".
"The government also tells you to hide under your desk in the event of a nuclear attack."
Do note that "nuclear attack" doesn't always mean "world-ending cataclysm". If you don't happen to be too close, "duck and cover" made perfect sense because doing nothing would get you a face full of shrapnel from the pressure wave. :)
Atmospheric testing proved that limited nuclear exchanges are quite survivable. Countries can sustain tens of millions of dead and still survive, as demonstrated by conventional wars in the last century. Having just fought WWII, NATO Civil Defense types knew very well what mass death looks like.
Or at least the end of Tel Aviv.
Try an experiment. Go for a week blurting out ALL your opinions, of everything and everyone, immediately as they occur to you.
Honesty isn't always a useful tool of statecraft. For example, Arabs who support the US against Iran risk getting killed. Don't forget what happened to Anwar Sadat for making peace with Israel.
We can blame our post-Nuremburg fetish for "lawfare". In attempting to outlaw war (well, war by the law-abiding, everyone else is free to fight) we can't use the savage methods necessary to deter a savage enemy. We have to pretend they don't work or else the PC folks descend like shrieking harpies to insist that force has never accomplished anything in history.
We can, however, pretend sweet sweet law keeps us warm and safe at no cost. It's a lie, but we like that sort of lie.
"But companies just can't accept that we don't want their crap. "
Yeah, I hate all that unwanted shit Debian installs. Oh, wait....
"and the lack of supply was caused by a failed attempt by the State government to fix prices."
The market stepped in and sold electricity to California.
Not fixing the problem within CA _IS_ an option. It has consequences, but since any attempt at solution will be mismanaged, the government is incompetent, and public demands are often mutually exclusive, things CAN simply "fail".