"I don't know about the rest of you, but I would be willing to take a lifetime of spam to spare the life of his wife and daughter. The positive news of the story (the spam king is gone for good) pales in the shadow of this tragedy."
But it's not about you, or me. It's about protecting society, and in that war there will be some unintended consequences imposed by the perps who object to being punished.
A useful consequence is that the public can now associate "spam king" and murder/suicide instead of merely what the public see as annoying email. The effects of the "tragedy" are confined to those who knew and have reason to miss the casualties. The effects of spam are far broader, and spammers should be hated in consequence. This will help.
"But he was at one of those white-collar resort prisons. That's why he was able to escape."
That's why the "resort prisons" should not exist. Prison should destroy those is does not deter, and "slap on the wrist" incarceration does not do that.
"Only people in the United States think it is funny that prisoners are being raped. "
If someone goes to the slammer for stealing from me, I'd certainly find it funny. It is not unreasonable to regard most of our prison population as human garbage to whom we have very little if any moral obligation. There is ample reason people are amused by the suffering of prisoners, because we favor revenge.
"Also, I get natural gas piped straight to my house. If I had an inline compressor, I could bottle it up and use it in a hypothetical natural gas powered car. How convenient would that be?"
Order an appropriate CNG vehicle, or convert one if that's your fancy. They are common enough in fleet use.
"In 1951 a collector spied it and bought it from the old guy for $100,000. He invested the $100k and will never want for anything again."
BWAHAHAHA! I grew up working on such old Fords (thanks to mentors who were highly experienced gearheads beginning the Fifties, we sold cars and parts at Hershey and Carlisle) and no imaginable mint Model "T" would have pulled that sort of money back then.
"Tip: When storms and drunk drivers become a central factor in the way you plan your life, it is time to consider moving to a different neighbourhood."
Those who do not plan for power interruptions are far less comfortable when they happen. It is really very easy to think ahead and keep ones arse covered.
"Replacing a bulb on a truck or semi-trailer can be a real hassle requiring a ladder and tools. However, again the likelyhood the bulb would ever need to be replaced vs. the lens being damaged is about the same as for cars. Basically, it is a complete rip-off."
Bulbs on semis lead a VERY rough life, and the DOT requires that all lights work (including markers) or it's a violation with a ticket to match. LEDs are usually potted and not in a socket subject to vibration (that wipes the solder nubs off conventional bulbs).
"but the homeowner will be faced with $1000 lamp fixtures should they ever need or desire to replace them."
As LED form-factors stabilize over time this should be easy to sort out with a soldering iron.
They will use so much less power that it will be easy for people like me to power them with backup power systems when transmission lines are taken down by storms or drunk drivers. I will be able to light my workshop and outbuildings with waterproof potted LEDs instead of high-maintenance bulbs.
"As we're talking about Texas here, can somebody convert that into a unit its governors will understand -- i.e., number of electric chair activations?"
Convert Old Sparky to a pyrolysis chamber and we can solve two problems at once!
"Wind, "in contrast" requires more workers per installed kilowatt..to install, let alone maintain, so although an individual plant can be put in much more quickly, over the long term it's a losing proposition compared to large "centralized" plant"
Economies of scale can work wonders, as can improved designs and streamlined production methods. We are still early in the wind game.
"Linux desktop users are extremely reluctant to spend money on software and the Open Source movement essentially means shrinkwrap proprietory software gets shunned, dismissed and worse: the zealots will often take its existence on Linux as a slap to the face of FOSS and create a GPL clone to replace it, just to spite them."
Most Linux users want everything for free, yet some of them also want Windows software. The solution is to develop ever more efficient ways to run Windows software on Linux.
The vast number of folks who wish can run their warez copies of Windows software, the few business users who need legit installs can pay for the software and be legit, and overall Linux adoption will be furthered.
It's realistic to admit that most people want whatever they can grab, so cater to that in a calculated manner.
"A family of 3 consumes 10 times the energy that the same family consumed in the 1920."
They also were much less comfortable, and were exposed to massive particulate pollution from their fireplaces and kerosene lanterns. Shotgun houses (far more common than nicer bungalows or craftsman houses with large porches) offered some ventilation, but were still horrible in humid climes.
"Two of the ones I've seen are actually retired fighter jet engines that can be run up to full capacity very quickly but you wouldn't want to run them all the time even on natural gas (mostly propane)."
Got more info on those? I'd heard of J79s being used that way (they are tough and plentiful) but I'm curious about how they do the power takeoff to the generator.
"Then think about how much it would cost to send to space the same area of solar panels you'd could put down here, "
Just the insane maintenance and upgrade costs would make putting the gear in space an idiotic choice. We also have enough junk up there without scattering tons of it deliberately.
Land is cheap and abundant, terrestrial systems can be easily inspected/upgraded/maintained/recycled, and we would not be trapped into the horridly long development and lifecycles of space gear. When you want rapid improvement, don't get saddled with primitive legacy systems (Space Shuttle...).
Espionage is a sensible practice, and there is no reason to condemn it except when someone from ones own side becomes a traitor.
Slashanalogy: If you have a hawt wife/husband/SO, expecting other people to not try to plook them is silly. Expecting them to refuse plooking is reasonable.
"When you think of this as a victory, just keep in mind most people come out of prison far from rehabilitated; they come out ready to make your life, as a law-abiding citizen, a living hell."
That's why I favor leaving them locked up. There is no rational reason for criminals not to repeat and escalate the acts that give them pleasure, so I'm fine with disposing of them and keeping them locked up as long as possible. If they want to make my personal life hell, I'm lawfully armed and happy to act in my own defense.
""I have no balls/do no wrong, I am a Saint who is scared of my own shadow, I have no fun, ever, and am very bitter that I live in constant fear; so I'll scrutinize everyone else, out of sheer jealousy of course."
I'm quite the opposite. I'm not bitter or fearful, it's just that I have no moral or ethical obligation to those who commit crimes against me. I don't need them so I favor reducing the damage they do by locking them up (and killing them were legally appropriate).
Punk had an attitude to go with the damage he did. Solution is to crush the smile out of him so he gets his mind right. Why do you worship the punk?
"Pay increase for going from soldier to non-soldier should be only a lower risk of life, nothing else."
Brilliant career soldier retention move there...
The move up in hassle and responsiblity is no joke, be it from junior enlisted to mid-level enlisted or through officer career progression. The bennies that go with rank, such as they are, are cheap compared to civilian executive compensation.
"It's going to take you a couple of thousand dollars just to paint some patriotic crap down the side of several RVs? I think you could cut that expensive down and pocket even more cash for yourself!"
Priced even a shitty single-color car paint job recently? A couple of grand is cheap for several sets of large graphic work.
"(Imaging riding for 8 hours in a C-17 sitting on a jump seat like a paratrooper instead.)"
C-17s are cozy and stable. C-5s are cozy, stable, and have conventional seating. I just kicked back on the floor or on a pallet of bags when I deployed, and brought some foam rubber for an arse pad while in the sling seats.
BTW there is no way to get any work done in a sling seat. They exist out of necessity, and for a decision-maker it is sensible to have at least a conventional seat so they don't arrive stupefied and stiff.
The same goal for seating pallets could have been accomplished by modding heavy-duty pallets with reclining airliner seats and other accessories, and it could have been done "local manufacture" by any major AFB Fabrication flight.
AAR Corp make most of the containers used for USAF air transport, and could have easily whipped up a "capsule" based on existing ISU container designs. It is basic fabrication, not brain surgery.
"I don't know about preventing prosecutors from using photos. However . . . to deter employers from viewing and abusing social networking pages, employees might post legal terms of service [blogspot.com] under which employers agree to scram."
I'd just look at the pages anyway then use the information as I see fit. I have no obligation to hire someone I don't like, and any insights into how that person will work on my team matter to me.
The whole purpose of social networking is vanity and self-display. Fine and good, but don't expect to display then choose how viewers can use what you put out there.
They asked for it. I applaud your actions, for I firmly believe that if someone screws me over that they just eliminated any moral obligation or ethical obligation I might have had to them, except that of revenge.
Slashdot Mirror
"I don't know about the rest of you, but I would be willing to take a lifetime of spam to spare the life of his wife and daughter. The positive news of the story (the spam king is gone for good) pales in the shadow of this tragedy."
But it's not about you, or me. It's about protecting society, and in that war there will be some unintended consequences imposed by the perps who object to being punished.
A useful consequence is that the public can now associate "spam king" and murder/suicide instead of merely what the public see as annoying email. The effects of the "tragedy" are confined to those who knew and have reason to miss the casualties. The effects of spam are far broader, and spammers should be hated in consequence. This will help.
"But he was at one of those white-collar resort prisons. That's why he was able to escape."
That's why the "resort prisons" should not exist. Prison should destroy those is does not deter, and "slap on the wrist" incarceration does not do that.
"Only people in the United States think it is funny that prisoners are being raped. "
If someone goes to the slammer for stealing from me, I'd certainly find it funny. It is not unreasonable to regard most of our prison population as human garbage to whom we have very little if any moral obligation. There is ample reason people are amused by the suffering of prisoners, because we favor revenge.
"No, as with most Microsoft products, Vista penetrates the market quite thoroughly, violently, and in every possible orifice."
That explains the post-mortem condition of the kitten. Yuck....
"Also, I get natural gas piped straight to my house. If I had an inline
compressor, I could bottle it up and use it in a hypothetical natural gas
powered car. How convenient would that be?"
Order an appropriate CNG vehicle, or convert one if that's your fancy. They are common enough in fleet use.
"In 1951 a collector spied it and bought it from the old guy for $100,000. He invested the $100k and will never want for anything again."
BWAHAHAHA!
I grew up working on such old Fords (thanks to mentors who were highly experienced gearheads beginning the Fifties, we sold cars and parts at Hershey and Carlisle) and no imaginable mint Model "T" would have pulled that sort of money back then.
At least she swallows.
"Tip: When storms and drunk drivers become a central factor in the way you plan your life, it is time to consider moving to a different neighbourhood."
Those who do not plan for power interruptions are far less comfortable when they happen. It is really very easy to think ahead and keep ones arse covered.
"Replacing a bulb on a truck or semi-trailer can be a real hassle requiring a ladder and tools. However, again the likelyhood the bulb would ever need to be replaced vs. the lens being damaged is about the same as for cars. Basically, it is a complete rip-off."
Bulbs on semis lead a VERY rough life, and the DOT requires that all lights work (including markers) or it's a violation with a ticket to match. LEDs are usually potted and not in a socket subject to vibration (that wipes the solder nubs off conventional bulbs).
"but the homeowner will be faced with $1000 lamp fixtures should they ever need or desire to replace them."
As LED form-factors stabilize over time this should be easy to sort out with a soldering iron.
They will use so much less power that it will be easy for people like me to power them with backup power systems when transmission lines are taken down by storms or drunk drivers. I will be able to light my workshop and outbuildings with waterproof potted LEDs instead of high-maintenance bulbs.
"As we're talking about Texas here, can somebody convert that into a unit its governors will understand -- i.e., number of electric chair activations?"
Convert Old Sparky to a pyrolysis chamber and we can solve two problems at once!
"Wind, "in contrast" requires more workers per installed kilowatt..to install, let alone maintain, so although an individual plant can be put in much more quickly, over the long term it's a losing proposition compared to large "centralized" plant"
Economies of scale can work wonders, as can improved designs and streamlined production methods.
We are still early in the wind game.
"Linux desktop users are extremely reluctant to spend money on software and the Open Source movement essentially means shrinkwrap proprietory software gets shunned, dismissed and worse: the zealots will often take its existence on Linux as a slap to the face of FOSS and create a GPL clone to replace it, just to spite them."
Most Linux users want everything for free, yet some of them also want Windows software. The solution is to develop ever more efficient ways to run Windows software on Linux.
The vast number of folks who wish can run their warez copies of Windows software, the few business users who need legit installs can pay for the software and be legit, and overall Linux adoption will be furthered.
It's realistic to admit that most people want whatever they can grab, so cater to that in a calculated manner.
"A family of 3 consumes 10 times the energy that the same family consumed in the 1920."
They also were much less comfortable, and were exposed to massive particulate pollution from their fireplaces and kerosene lanterns. Shotgun houses (far more common than nicer bungalows or craftsman houses with large porches) offered some ventilation, but were still horrible in humid climes.
"Two of the ones I've seen are actually retired fighter jet engines that can be run up to full capacity very quickly but you wouldn't want to run them all the time even on natural gas (mostly propane)."
Got more info on those? I'd heard of J79s being used that way (they are tough and plentiful) but I'm curious about how they do the power takeoff to the generator.
"Then think about how much it would cost to send to space the same area of solar panels you'd could put down here, "
Just the insane maintenance and upgrade costs would make putting the gear in space an idiotic choice. We also have enough junk up there without scattering tons of it deliberately.
Land is cheap and abundant, terrestrial systems can be easily inspected/upgraded/maintained/recycled, and we would not be trapped into the horridly long development and lifecycles of space gear. When you want rapid improvement, don't get saddled with primitive legacy systems (Space Shuttle...).
Espionage is a sensible practice, and there is no reason to condemn it except when someone from ones own side becomes a traitor.
Slashanalogy:
If you have a hawt wife/husband/SO, expecting other people to not try to plook them is silly. Expecting them to refuse plooking is reasonable.
"When you think of this as a victory, just keep in mind most people come out of prison far from rehabilitated; they come out ready to make your life, as a law-abiding citizen, a living hell."
That's why I favor leaving them locked up. There is no rational reason for criminals not to repeat and escalate the acts that give them pleasure, so I'm fine with disposing of them and keeping them locked up as long as possible. If they want to make my personal life hell, I'm lawfully armed and happy to act in my own defense.
""I have no balls/do no wrong, I am a Saint who is scared of my own shadow, I have no fun, ever, and am very bitter that I live in constant fear; so I'll scrutinize everyone else, out of sheer jealousy of course."
I'm quite the opposite. I'm not bitter or fearful, it's just that I have no moral or ethical obligation to those who commit crimes against me. I don't need them so I favor reducing the damage they do by locking them up (and killing them were legally appropriate).
Punk had an attitude to go with the damage he did. Solution is to crush the smile out of him so he gets his mind right. Why do you worship the punk?
"Pay increase for going from soldier to non-soldier should be only a lower risk of life, nothing else."
Brilliant career soldier retention move there...
The move up in hassle and responsiblity is no joke, be it from junior enlisted to mid-level enlisted or through officer career progression. The bennies that go with rank, such as they are, are cheap compared to civilian executive compensation.
"It's going to take you a couple of thousand dollars just to paint some patriotic crap down the side of several RVs? I think you could cut that expensive down and pocket even more cash for yourself!"
Priced even a shitty single-color car paint job recently? A couple of grand is cheap for several sets of large graphic work.
"(Imaging riding for 8 hours in a C-17 sitting on a jump seat like a paratrooper instead.)"
C-17s are cozy and stable. C-5s are cozy, stable, and have conventional seating. I just kicked back on the floor or on a pallet of bags when I deployed, and brought some foam rubber for an arse pad while in the sling seats.
BTW there is no way to get any work done in a sling seat. They exist out of necessity, and for a decision-maker it is sensible to have at least a conventional seat so they don't arrive stupefied and stiff.
The cost/silliness is really the issue.
The same goal for seating pallets could have been accomplished by modding heavy-duty pallets with reclining airliner seats and other accessories, and it could have been done "local manufacture" by any major AFB Fabrication flight.
AAR Corp make most of the containers used for USAF air transport, and could have easily whipped up a "capsule" based on existing ISU container designs. It is basic fabrication, not brain surgery.
"If you're running your OS off one with all of the data I can easily imagine some important blocks becoming unaccessible in 6-12 months."
Fine with me. USB keys are cheap and easy enough to back up.
"I don't know about preventing prosecutors from using photos. However . . . to deter employers from viewing and abusing social networking pages, employees might post legal terms of service [blogspot.com] under which employers agree to scram."
I'd just look at the pages anyway then use the information as I see fit. I have no obligation to hire someone I don't like, and any insights into how that person will work on my team matter to me.
The whole purpose of social networking is vanity and self-display. Fine and good, but don't expect to display then choose how viewers can use what you put out there.
They asked for it.
I applaud your actions, for I firmly believe that if someone screws me over that they just eliminated any moral obligation or ethical obligation I might have had to them, except that of revenge.
So how much loot was involved?