"People now expect to be updated via blogs, social-networks, and to a lesser extent email. That's the world we live in and those expectations (social needs) don't go away just because someone's deployed."
They can also deal with the asynchronous format of email, and tough shit if they don't get the others because email is plenty fast enough to do the job of utilitarian communication. If the folks back home require that level of excessive electronic stroking, time for the G.I. concerned to gently give them a reality check.
"Most of these folks would be better off learning an honest trade."
Trade school are often dumping grounds, though they shouldn't be. The trades need capable people, and can offer profitable careers that can't be outsourced. Someone that finds joy in spinning wrenches, welding, etc can go far, but people avoid trade schools because of (not unjustified) stigma that they are for those who can't make it elsewhere.
"Have Afghanistan/Korea/Vietnam taught you nothing ?"
Afghanistan is winnable. Our proxies tired out the Soviets, given billions of dollars in outside military aid flowing through a porous border the Soviets failed to interdict sufficiently. They offered a better "revolution" than did the Soviets.
Afghanistan is loseable. Our new proxies are opposed by Pakistani logistic support flowing through a porous border that requires sufficient interdiction. We must offer a better "revolution" than the Taliban.
Korea was a draw. It was a conventional war between the US and China with Korean proxies who were secondary in the later war. Robots and UAVs would have made the US far more effective, reduced wasted air strikes, and could have helped cut off choke points far more easily than the crude methods then in use. If the Norks go on holiday again, their Southern jaunt would be much easier to monitor and interrupt.
Viet Nam turned into a conventional war after the Viet Cong were expended in Tet. The South was defeated quite conventionally after the US cut off supplies. Precision strikes would have reduced collateral damage, made interdiction less costly, and offered a way for sustained support after most US troops left. Robots and remotely controlled systems, used properly, can avoid crude use of force which alienate the population. Blowing the Paul Doumer Bridge was the key event in the Viet Nam war that demonstrated how smart munitions could change the game.
Robots are essentially precision weapons. Troops are cheap enough to send with them so robots won't be the primary interface with the populace, but can be called upon where required for fire and situational awareness support.
"There is nothing worse than a bully who refuses to meet you and fight on equal terms."
That's how wars are effectively fought, and not as effeminate duels. Fighting on "equal terms" is literally insane if one is at war. Both automated war and partisan war are attempts to fight on UNequal terms in order to secure the advantages thereof.
"Cash for clunkers put just enough money into the groups that are panicked to calm them down."
Plenty of that money will be returned by the industries "stimulated" by the program.
The tax revenue cascade effect and economic boost from recycling so many vehicles is being ignored. (ZOMG! I want that Grand Cherokee they are CRUSHING o teh wastage!)
So what if the engines and bodies are getting crushed? Scrap metal is in demand and hulls alone will pay off nicely. Late model parts are always wanted by used car dealers, body shops, and individuals because bolting on a nice factory assembly with all the fiddly bits included is MUCH cheaper than piecing it together and painting it. The drivetrain (less the engine) is valuable as cores for rebuild or for outright sale. Transmissions aren't cheap!
The recycling industry is about $22 billion/year (not including the vast number of outfits that do informal salvage and repair) and employs thousands of people. It uses "all of the pig but the squeal" with taxes being paid on many of the transactions and much of the income. For every pretty "clunker" that gets the chop, someone can get "pretty" parts.
You can find the disposal facilities (salvage yards) in your area by checking the list in the Dealer section of cars.gov (Glenn Beck is right about the insane EULA, so the worried can use a virtual machine/liveCD/other precautions) if you want to see what they turn up. Since they have to crush their clunkers before the deadline, I'd make an offer for all the parts I wanted somewhat before then.:)
"In the salt-belt of America our cars rust in a little as 4 years and look terrible. Then we have the crummy wiring systems that make the electrical un-reliable after 5 years."
"Only sad part is that in Japan those are evolving for peaceful reasons whereas in USofA for military purposes. "
Japan thrives under the US conventional and nuclear military umbrella, hosts large US forces, and benefits from US militarism while maintaining a peaceful image of moral superiority. The Japanese military itself is rather impressive, but discreet.
"When I was a senior in high school, a student started physically assaulting one of the teachers. The teacher didn't fight back because he had been instructed, as the entire faculty had been, to not do so as the school would face a lawsuit if a teacher injured a student. "
That's why security guards and willingness to use them along with police to remove disruptive students from schools are important assets. When in doubt, kick them out. Instead of trying to process all the worthless losers through the system (where they just make it a Hellmouth for students who want a future), cart them off and keep them out. The thugs will end up in prison anyway, so wall them off from those of us who deserve better. The whole culture of catering to the lowest common denominator has ruined our primary education system.
When I worked USAF Comm/Nav backshop, it was common to hook up a tweeter to one of the audio oscillators and hide it after setting the oscillator to just above where the we could hear the tone. Same effect, much louder yet many of the pranked couldn't quite tell where it was coming from.
The other classic was to tell new troops that the (OV-10A Bronco) piss tube was really the "auxiliary interphone" and do speak a test count into it while listening for side-tone in their headset.
"That's the sexiest thing to come from the Linux community in forever."
Which I why I will recite it, but certainly not buy into it. Without the "politics" of defending freedom, technology is reduced to a weapon against freedom.
"It's only a matter of time before someone shows up at one of these lawyer's offices with a pump shotgun and sprays the place down. Keep fucking with everybody and the odds go up."
Shotguns don't "spray" very well. Center of mass, people, center of mass.
"Remember how the Mars rovers were only supposed to work for 90 days? They've been at it for years now. The date will be pushed back over and over again."
Unmanned systems can be used as long as they still function.
Manned systems are primitive, arguably not necessary at this early stage of space exploration (don't confuse the Cold War Space Race with anything but ideological competition), and sap resources we could use to build robot systems whose short development lifecycle will allow rapid evolution.
When humans and ships were expendable and inexpensive, using them to explore made sense. Now, humans are a burden on the exploration process unless they stay on the ground.
"In other news, men find sex more enjoyable with a woman who they find attractive instead of a "been-around-the-block-20-times, looks like the love child of Chewbacca and Worf, old battle-axe" woman."
"But just a counter point to play devils advocate: you dont need to use turn by turn directions, you can just use it as a small backlit map that is constantly showing you where you are. Beats unfolding paper."
I follow military practice (because it makes sense) and have both paper maps and GPS. Electronic devices die, maps are cheap and can stay in the glovebox. Each has its uses.
I print out Google Earth satellite views with road overlay (print screen caps) for a larger-than-GPS screen view of the building I intend to visit. If I'm picking up a used car or truck, I can often see it in the photo.
"War hero Billy Mitchell led an air squadron from Langley Field near Washington, D.C. The squadron set up headquarters in a vacant field in the present Kanawha City section of Charleston."
"After all we would all like to see the model T version of the electric car that will get us off of expensive oil."
For that to happen, early adopters must drop the cash on much more expensive vehicles, just as they did before Henry Ford produced the Model T. Early adopters will be more likely to forgive faults that buyers of an econobox would not.
At fifty grand for a beta version, I'll be better off letting the rich folks purchase those.
Slashdot Mirror
"People now expect to be updated via blogs, social-networks, and to a lesser extent email. That's the world we live in and those expectations (social needs) don't go away just because someone's deployed."
They can also deal with the asynchronous format of email, and tough shit if they don't get the others because email is plenty fast enough to do the job of utilitarian communication. If the folks back home require that level of excessive electronic stroking, time for the G.I. concerned to gently give them a reality check.
"Most of these folks would be better off learning an honest trade."
Trade school are often dumping grounds, though they shouldn't be. The trades need capable people, and can offer profitable careers that can't be outsourced. Someone that finds joy in spinning wrenches, welding, etc can go far, but people avoid trade schools because of (not unjustified) stigma that they are for those who can't make it elsewhere.
Aircraft (F-16 among others) flight control firmware has been updated by reprogramming UVPROMs for many years.
"Have Afghanistan/Korea/Vietnam taught you nothing ?"
Afghanistan is winnable. Our proxies tired out the Soviets, given billions of dollars in outside military aid flowing through a porous border the Soviets failed to interdict sufficiently. They offered a better "revolution" than did the Soviets.
Afghanistan is loseable. Our new proxies are opposed by Pakistani logistic support flowing through a porous border that requires sufficient interdiction. We must offer a better "revolution" than the Taliban.
Korea was a draw. It was a conventional war between the US and China with Korean proxies who were secondary in the later war. Robots and UAVs would have made the US far more effective, reduced wasted air strikes, and could have helped cut off choke points far more easily than the crude methods then in use. If the Norks go on holiday again, their Southern jaunt would be much easier to monitor and interrupt.
Viet Nam turned into a conventional war after the Viet Cong were expended in Tet. The South was defeated quite conventionally after the US cut off supplies. Precision strikes would have reduced collateral damage, made interdiction less costly, and offered a way for sustained support after most US troops left. Robots and remotely controlled systems, used properly, can avoid crude use of force which alienate the population. Blowing the Paul Doumer Bridge was the key event in the Viet Nam war that demonstrated how smart munitions could change the game.
Robots are essentially precision weapons. Troops are cheap enough to send with them so robots won't be the primary interface with the populace, but can be called upon where required for fire and situational awareness support.
"There is nothing worse than a bully who refuses to meet you and fight on equal terms."
That's how wars are effectively fought, and not as effeminate duels. Fighting on "equal terms" is literally insane if one is at war. Both automated war and partisan war are attempts to fight on UNequal terms in order to secure the advantages thereof.
"Cash for clunkers put just enough money into the groups that are panicked to calm them down."
Plenty of that money will be returned by the industries "stimulated" by the program.
The tax revenue cascade effect and economic boost from recycling so many vehicles is being ignored. (ZOMG! I want that Grand Cherokee they are CRUSHING o teh wastage!)
So what if the engines and bodies are getting crushed? Scrap metal is in demand and hulls alone will pay off nicely. Late model parts are always wanted by used car dealers, body shops, and individuals because bolting on a nice factory assembly with all the fiddly bits included is MUCH cheaper than piecing it together and painting it.
The drivetrain (less the engine) is valuable as cores for rebuild or for outright sale. Transmissions aren't cheap!
The recycling industry is about $22 billion/year (not including the vast number of outfits that do informal salvage and repair) and employs thousands of people. It uses "all of the pig but the squeal" with taxes being paid on many of the transactions and much of the income. For every pretty "clunker" that gets the chop, someone can get "pretty" parts.
You can find the disposal facilities (salvage yards) in your area by checking the list in the Dealer section of cars.gov (Glenn Beck is right about the insane EULA, so the worried can use a virtual machine/liveCD/other precautions) if you want to see what they turn up. Since they have to crush their clunkers before the deadline, I'd make an offer for all the parts I wanted somewhat before then. :)
"In the salt-belt of America our cars rust in a little as 4 years and look terrible. Then we have the crummy wiring systems that make the electrical un-reliable after 5 years."
You couldn't afford a salt-proof car,
Salt on road or long car life, choose one.
"Only sad part is that in Japan those are evolving for peaceful reasons whereas in USofA for military purposes. "
Japan thrives under the US conventional and nuclear military umbrella, hosts large US forces, and benefits from US militarism while maintaining a peaceful image of moral superiority. The Japanese military itself is rather impressive, but discreet.
"I mean how hard is it to get one of the people, put them in a room, and have them tell you whether or not you plugged in a router?"
They might guess that if they can hear transformer hum.
Either they do an accurate mental Nmap scan or I call bullshit.
"When I was a senior in high school, a student started physically assaulting one of the teachers. The teacher didn't fight back because he had been instructed, as the entire faculty had been, to not do so as the school would face a lawsuit if a teacher injured a student. "
That's why security guards and willingness to use them along with police to remove disruptive students from schools are important assets. When in doubt, kick them out. Instead of trying to process all the worthless losers through the system (where they just make it a Hellmouth for students who want a future), cart them off and keep them out. The thugs will end up in prison anyway, so wall them off from those of us who deserve better. The whole culture of catering to the lowest common denominator has ruined our primary education system.
"Of course, I wonder what happens if I buy an "off lease" laptop, that was at one point activated..."
Don't run Windows, excepting virtual instances.
When I worked USAF Comm/Nav backshop, it was common to hook up a tweeter to one of the audio oscillators and hide it after setting the oscillator to just above where the we could hear the tone. Same effect, much louder yet many of the pranked couldn't quite tell where it was coming from.
The other classic was to tell new troops that the (OV-10A Bronco) piss tube was really the "auxiliary interphone" and do speak a test count into it while listening for side-tone in their headset.
"Most people who want a high-end PC (not a mac) are hobbyists."
Hobbyists spend money. Newegg, etc aren't going out of business any time soon. :)
"Frankly, after all the very public warnings about facebook I have no sympathy for anyone foolish enough to use their service."
That's why I post my personal pics to 4chan where they will be respected!
"That's the sexiest thing to come from the Linux community in forever."
Which I why I will recite it, but certainly not buy into it. Without the "politics" of defending freedom, technology is reduced to a weapon against freedom.
"Anyone get the feeling that lately technology is increasingly about chasing our technological tails rather than actually doing much of anything?"
I, for one, welcome our new tail-chasing overlords.
"These corporate moneymongers are sad that they can only buy 3 boats this year instead of two, while we are stuck paying $25 for a CD."
I'm not stuck paying anything for a CD. STOP WANTING them, now, if you are serious.
The problem is not how to obtain mass-market shit culture, but wanting it in the first place!
"It's only a matter of time before someone shows up at one of these lawyer's offices with a pump shotgun and sprays the place down. Keep fucking with everybody and the odds go up."
Shotguns don't "spray" very well. Center of mass, people, center of mass.
"I have no problem with God...
It's his fan club that I hate."
Gods are _nothing_ more than their fan clubs.
"Remember how the Mars rovers were only supposed to work for 90 days? They've been at it for years now. The date will be pushed back over and over again."
Unmanned systems can be used as long as they still function.
Manned systems are primitive, arguably not necessary at this early stage of space exploration (don't confuse the Cold War Space Race with anything but ideological competition), and sap resources we could use to build robot systems whose short development lifecycle will allow rapid evolution.
When humans and ships were expendable and inexpensive, using them to explore made sense. Now, humans are a burden on the exploration process unless they stay on the ground.
"Maybe the moderators misread it; perhaps their monitors were grimy."
Or blocked by stalactites...
"In other news, men find sex more enjoyable with a woman who they find attractive instead of a "been-around-the-block-20-times, looks like the love child of Chewbacca and Worf, old battle-axe" woman."
The two types are not mutually exclusive.
"so you can both take the souls of the natives _and_ conveniently avoid their local culture at the same time!"
Traveling South of Mason-Dixon, are we?
"But just a counter point to play devils advocate: you dont need to use turn by turn directions, you can just use it as a small backlit map that is constantly showing you where you are. Beats unfolding paper."
I follow military practice (because it makes sense) and have both paper maps and GPS. Electronic devices die, maps are cheap and can stay in the glovebox. Each has its uses.
I print out Google Earth satellite views with road overlay (print screen caps) for a larger-than-GPS screen view of the building I intend to visit. If I'm picking up a used car or truck, I can often see it in the photo.
"State violence in support of corporate interest has been as American as apple pie since before he was a gleam in the milkman's eye."
Anyone still think we don't need the Second Amendment, read on:
http://www.wvculture.org/hiStory/minewars.html
Fun Factoid:
"War hero Billy Mitchell led an air squadron from Langley Field near Washington, D.C. The squadron set up headquarters in a vacant field in the present Kanawha City section of Charleston."
"After all we would all like to see the model T version of the electric car that will get us off of expensive oil."
For that to happen, early adopters must drop the cash on much more expensive vehicles, just as they did before Henry Ford produced the Model T. Early adopters will be more likely to forgive faults that buyers of an econobox would not.
At fifty grand for a beta version, I'll be better off letting the rich folks purchase those.