Cash grab, like many other "programs" and if you "cut" them, they will roll out some poor soul who was "helped" by the program, as if anecdotal evidence is proof that the program is needed.
By "cutting" you mean "not increasing". What I'd like is a top to bottom review of ALL government spending and ALL programs having to justify themselves, and with more than anecdotal evidence of some grandma eating dog food. And in case you're wondering, I have a hard time wanting to justify some of the very programs you're probably supportive of. How about this, Nutrition Assistance based on not being "fat". I see the "Free food" kids at school who are fat. And I don't mean "chubby", I mean barely able to walk, waddle like penguins... fat.
And you're gonna tell me that they are poor (sure) and are fat because lack of some education at home where the parents are too stupid to not eat at McDonalds every day... or something. Great, how about you drag mom AND dad down to the local "re-education" center and get them educated BEFORE they can participate in "free and reduced" food (breakfast AND lunch now).
Never mind that now that the parents only have to find one fat filled meal instead of three, they can now drink an extra sixpack of bud or fifth of vodka.
Look, I don't mind helping people who need it. But I'm sick of people who don't need it, milking the system so they can drink (or smoke dope, or crank, or pop Oxycontin). You know, I've had to tighten my belt over the years because I'm not making any more, and the government it taking more, and things just cost more. How about... for a change... government do the same thing?
So, lets cut (as in not increase) all government spending for a while. No new programs unless you're willing to cut two old ones. Let us review each program's effectiveness and see if we can't be more productive with the tax payers hard earned money. I know, novel idea for government to justify its existence, we should try it as the other option isn't working any longer.
I blame Microsoft for creating a marketplace that made Linux popular. Yes, one of the biggest reasons why Linux became successful, especially on the server market, was because there was no viable alternative. That created the opening that allowed Linus' creation to grown and be nurtured for years completely ignored by Redmond. It was too small, and wasn't a threat. It was a toy, just a college kid's cute experiment.
Then the internet bubble hit, and it was expensive Netscape Server or Less Expensive IIS, and the pesky upstart OS and Apache, both FREE (libre, gratis), Small ISPs who couldn't afford Unix or Windows NT servers started using it. And against all odds, it became popular. Holes were patched quickly as they were found, showing how nimble Open Source Code could be, and better than proprietary code that was constantly being hacked while websites waited for updates from the vendors.
I know, I was there, in one of those ISPs (Yay Slackware). Since then, I've done Debian, SuSE, RedHat, Yellowdog, Ubuntu and a couple roll your own distros. I credit, almost entirely, the monoculture that was Microsoft, for the rise of Linux. Not because I like Microsoft, but rather because I can look back and see the utter apathy that the monoculture rested upon.
If you hired a team of engineers to invent and build you a one-off car, how much do you think it would cost?
Depends on the car. Also it depends on what that car could do that other cars couldn't, say something like "fly", and how cheaply it could be made and how the usage could be expanded to markets not quite the intended one. Prototyping is expensive, and I'm sure that Microsoft's prototypes of the Kenect were very expensive, but they had a plan to sell millions of the thing, making it less expensive for others to use and deploy in creative ways Microsoft probably never thought of.
The point being, good R&D builds products that exceed original scope for the design. What I call the unintended consequences of invention. You know, guy playing with Radar discovers it can cook food. Radar is expensive until Amana takes the idea and mass manufactures the "Radar Range".
Wait till Ford start putting these things in cars.
That also ignores that Apple was "going out of business" for years. I remember 1996-7, when PowerComputing was eating Apple's lunch selling LEGAL Mac Clones.
Apple has, IMHO, done something I don't think anyone has quite seen before. From Market Leader to almost dead back to Market Leader and then some.
And to the GP post Fortune 500 is a lousy indicator of anything other than gross revenue (not profit or margin). Even there, Apple is 103, not too shabby. The real score is Market Cap, where Apple is in the top 5.
Do you have a "Minds only work if they are open" bumper sticker on your car? My point is many people who have that particular bumbersticker are so closed minded that they can't even realize it. If you can't speak against a book not having read it, then why is it that not ever seeing Fox News qualifies you to say anything about it.
Mind you, I don't have cable TV. How closed minded is that??;)
Let's take that at face value. How do you feel about the big three at MSNBC?
My point, Fox gets bashed, and rightly so, but the left handles MSNBC with kit gloves and the anchors there seem to get a pass. And they are every bit as looney as those at Fox. And these people rip Murdoch but hardly a peep about Imelt. The rip the rich guys propping up the TeaParty, but hardly ever say a word about Soros.
A mind only works if it is open. - Bumper Sticker on leftist car.
Ask that person if they have ever watched Fox News and see their response then ask them how that fits with their bumper sticker, and watch the ensuing mind melt.
People rant at Beck, Hannity and O'Reilly while never having watched them. AND yet, these are the same people who rail against right wingers for doing the same thing about some book they never read.
Some people see "racism" everywhere. They see race first in just about everything. They are the real racists, but try telling them that, and they'll deny it profusely because the idea that people who inject "race" into everything, even when it is clearly not a factor as being "racism", escapes their limited small minds.
I don't need remote control airplane to figure out how to jam it. Just need a powerful radio that jams everything, in Military designated freqs. Targeting freqs are easier said than done. Also, I'll bet that the drones are outfitted with autonomous mode GPS guidance that if they lose contact, the go to a predesignated area for retrieval.
Getting your hands on one of these would likely be of limited benefit.
"How the DNC and Big Government... have managed to still get support from the very people that they shaft over and over again."
Ignorance.
And the DNC is in bed with big business as much as RNC is. GE is a huge contributor to Obama. Having Imelt on the the council of competativeness is like having Libya on the human rights council in the UN. But it is typical of people like you to blame RNC for something that hits so close to home without any sort of admission that the DNC is just as guilty.
A single repetitive stress injury prevention / reduction is worth whatever difference you spend on a chair. The problem with prevention is that you never know if you're actually preventing anything, since it is a hidden benefit.
This post, right here, is #1 reason why I don't play games like that. People with way too much time and money on their hands make it difficult for people like me to have fun playing.
Not only that, but this guy sounds like a dork, and I'm dorky enough as it is. I don't want or need more dork cred.
What good is data that you cannot use in any way? The point of data is to do all those things you said 'not' to. And are you willing to pay for search results? More expensive products and services that are not tailored to you?
The problem is YOU (yes you) love products and services that are provided TO you based on some, any or all of the above items you want to restrict.
I can assure you that FOIA is being abused by all sorts of people, not just (D) or (R) as the original suggested. I work for a school district that gets, and I'm not kidding, 4 to 10 FIOA requests a week, all from the same guy, not looking for anything other than to annoy the District.
The FOIA has great intentions, but since there are absolutely no limits to it, WILL be used to harass and intimidate any public agency by the critics of that agency. And there is no legal recourse to stop it, and that is what makes it so inviting for people such as these.
So, you're right. Either it gets equal treatment by all, and ends up being a cost of doing politics or we rethink the whole thing.
This is my suggestion as well. Hands on with the units to get a feel of the keyboard, resolution size, weight and so on. Figure the specs out a head of time. Decided if AMD or Intel is a priority. Same with builtin Intel Video or Nvidia / ATI. Look at the non-crap bundled software as well, you might be surprised.
Whatever you do, don't skimp on Ram. Either buy the laptop with it installed or prepare to shop for an upgrade to at least 8GB. Windows 7 needs minimum of 4, which quickly gets used up with all the crap you'll want to put on (Skype, Google Desktop etc) that runs in the background.
Having just bought a new laptop for my In-Laws, If your wife is anything like my Mother-in-law I can tell you that she is going to find out she is picky about certain things, like whether are the keys glossy or matte finished, same with the screen.
I used to buy laptops online, but after three of them arrived damaged I no longer even try that method. Return shipping is just a hassle I'd like to avoid. Also I like to support the stores that provide me the opportunity to shop local. To that end, the last four machines I've bought came from either Costco or Office Depot.
Consumer brand laptops, Stick with HP and or Dell. The last two Toshiba laptops I've had had power connector issues (worn solder joints) after a year. If you want professional grade, Lenovo or Dell are solid and tend to be built better than the $499 consumer versions of the same. Keep in mind, most of these are all built by the same set of factories in SouthEast Asia, so most of the common components are similar/same.
To get this stopped there has to be a positive inducement to destroy the data which is not actually needed.
You do realize that making it illegal to retain data might have unintended consequences? Which no doubt will require additional laws, some of which will have negative unintended consequences.
I chalk this up to the cries of "we have to do something, this is something, we have to do it". Almost always makes for really poor laws.
Oh, they are not for "education" they are for "public education", which is entirely different. When confronted with bad teachers and bad schools, offering a choice to the least fortunate people would seem like a nice solution. But alas, they are against "choice" when it concerns various classes of minorities and instead doom them to subpar schools.
I'm sure you have a great excuse why people who suffer poor schools should not have a choice to educate their children in better schools by giving them a choice. Probably has something to do with private schools possibly teaching "religion" on tax payer dollars, a nice red herring.
The real reason the Dumbicans don't want choice is because it would kill off one of their biggest voting bases, Public Teacher's Unions.
As for "science" that is a joke. I'm sure you're remarking about creationism or some such. In every debate I have on the subject, I draw people to making the claim that Evolution isn't "science" because it is a theory, and theories aren't science (which is true). And yet, evolution is taught AS SCIENCE and scientific fact in schools. That is the case you're making, isn't it?
Let me be clear here, I am not against "science" nor for teaching of "creationism" as Science. I am not, for it isn't science. BUT neither is evolution "science" which should be taught in science classes as "fact". Science is about discovery and knowledge. Learning about evolution or creationism does nothing to promote, nor hinder science. Both Evolution and Creationism are red herrings for the (D) and (R) parties to toss out to get votes. It is sick.
If you're talking about the politicalization of science, well then, I would agree. As someone below points out, that "Environmentalism", AGW and all the other crap that is done in the name of liberal politics is clear evidence of that process. For "dumb" science, all you need to do is look at Harry Reid, that said that the US didn't have GPS like the rest of the world. Dumbican.
Politicians of all ilks should stay out of science.
Slashdot Mirror
Bingo.
Cash grab, like many other "programs" and if you "cut" them, they will roll out some poor soul who was "helped" by the program, as if anecdotal evidence is proof that the program is needed.
By "cutting" you mean "not increasing". What I'd like is a top to bottom review of ALL government spending and ALL programs having to justify themselves, and with more than anecdotal evidence of some grandma eating dog food. And in case you're wondering, I have a hard time wanting to justify some of the very programs you're probably supportive of. How about this, Nutrition Assistance based on not being "fat". I see the "Free food" kids at school who are fat. And I don't mean "chubby", I mean barely able to walk, waddle like penguins ... fat.
And you're gonna tell me that they are poor (sure) and are fat because lack of some education at home where the parents are too stupid to not eat at McDonalds every day ... or something. Great, how about you drag mom AND dad down to the local "re-education" center and get them educated BEFORE they can participate in "free and reduced" food (breakfast AND lunch now).
Never mind that now that the parents only have to find one fat filled meal instead of three, they can now drink an extra sixpack of bud or fifth of vodka.
Look, I don't mind helping people who need it. But I'm sick of people who don't need it, milking the system so they can drink (or smoke dope, or crank, or pop Oxycontin). You know, I've had to tighten my belt over the years because I'm not making any more, and the government it taking more, and things just cost more. How about ... for a change ... government do the same thing?
So, lets cut (as in not increase) all government spending for a while. No new programs unless you're willing to cut two old ones. Let us review each program's effectiveness and see if we can't be more productive with the tax payers hard earned money. I know, novel idea for government to justify its existence, we should try it as the other option isn't working any longer.
I blame Microsoft for creating a marketplace that made Linux popular. Yes, one of the biggest reasons why Linux became successful, especially on the server market, was because there was no viable alternative. That created the opening that allowed Linus' creation to grown and be nurtured for years completely ignored by Redmond. It was too small, and wasn't a threat. It was a toy, just a college kid's cute experiment.
Then the internet bubble hit, and it was expensive Netscape Server or Less Expensive IIS, and the pesky upstart OS and Apache, both FREE (libre, gratis), Small ISPs who couldn't afford Unix or Windows NT servers started using it. And against all odds, it became popular. Holes were patched quickly as they were found, showing how nimble Open Source Code could be, and better than proprietary code that was constantly being hacked while websites waited for updates from the vendors.
I know, I was there, in one of those ISPs (Yay Slackware). Since then, I've done Debian, SuSE, RedHat, Yellowdog, Ubuntu and a couple roll your own distros. I credit, almost entirely, the monoculture that was Microsoft, for the rise of Linux. Not because I like Microsoft, but rather because I can look back and see the utter apathy that the monoculture rested upon.
It worked for Reagan in Grenada ...
Google isn't lining the pockets of the correct politicians election campaigns. That is all, move along.
I can't wait till they roll out JRR Tolkien
Depends on the car. Also it depends on what that car could do that other cars couldn't, say something like "fly", and how cheaply it could be made and how the usage could be expanded to markets not quite the intended one. Prototyping is expensive, and I'm sure that Microsoft's prototypes of the Kenect were very expensive, but they had a plan to sell millions of the thing, making it less expensive for others to use and deploy in creative ways Microsoft probably never thought of.
The point being, good R&D builds products that exceed original scope for the design. What I call the unintended consequences of invention. You know, guy playing with Radar discovers it can cook food. Radar is expensive until Amana takes the idea and mass manufactures the "Radar Range".
Wait till Ford start putting these things in cars.
woah woah woah woah. "They" must be planning something for the Bahamas.
That also ignores that Apple was "going out of business" for years. I remember 1996-7, when PowerComputing was eating Apple's lunch selling LEGAL Mac Clones.
Apple has, IMHO, done something I don't think anyone has quite seen before. From Market Leader to almost dead back to Market Leader and then some.
And to the GP post Fortune 500 is a lousy indicator of anything other than gross revenue (not profit or margin). Even there, Apple is 103, not too shabby. The real score is Market Cap, where Apple is in the top 5.
You named your son "Droid" ... dang, my hat's off to you my geek friend.
"Does that make me closed minded?"
Do you have a "Minds only work if they are open" bumper sticker on your car? My point is many people who have that particular bumbersticker are so closed minded that they can't even realize it. If you can't speak against a book not having read it, then why is it that not ever seeing Fox News qualifies you to say anything about it.
Mind you, I don't have cable TV. How closed minded is that?? ;)
Let's take that at face value. How do you feel about the big three at MSNBC?
My point, Fox gets bashed, and rightly so, but the left handles MSNBC with kit gloves and the anchors there seem to get a pass. And they are every bit as looney as those at Fox. And these people rip Murdoch but hardly a peep about Imelt. The rip the rich guys propping up the TeaParty, but hardly ever say a word about Soros.
You see my point yet?
see this, embedded in my post ...
A mind only works if it is open. - Bumper Sticker on leftist car.
Ask that person if they have ever watched Fox News and see their response then ask them how that fits with their bumper sticker, and watch the ensuing mind melt.
People rant at Beck, Hannity and O'Reilly while never having watched them. AND yet, these are the same people who rail against right wingers for doing the same thing about some book they never read.
Irony or hypocrisy, your choice
Great, you just invented ... the Internet! Al Gore is gonna be PISSED
Some people see "racism" everywhere. They see race first in just about everything. They are the real racists, but try telling them that, and they'll deny it profusely because the idea that people who inject "race" into everything, even when it is clearly not a factor as being "racism", escapes their limited small minds.
I don't need remote control airplane to figure out how to jam it. Just need a powerful radio that jams everything, in Military designated freqs. Targeting freqs are easier said than done. Also, I'll bet that the drones are outfitted with autonomous mode GPS guidance that if they lose contact, the go to a predesignated area for retrieval.
Getting your hands on one of these would likely be of limited benefit.
"How the DNC and Big Government ... have managed to still get support from the very people that they shaft over and over again."
Ignorance.
And the DNC is in bed with big business as much as RNC is. GE is a huge contributor to Obama. Having Imelt on the the council of competativeness is like having Libya on the human rights council in the UN. But it is typical of people like you to blame RNC for something that hits so close to home without any sort of admission that the DNC is just as guilty.
A single repetitive stress injury prevention / reduction is worth whatever difference you spend on a chair. The problem with prevention is that you never know if you're actually preventing anything, since it is a hidden benefit.
This post, right here, is #1 reason why I don't play games like that. People with way too much time and money on their hands make it difficult for people like me to have fun playing.
Not only that, but this guy sounds like a dork, and I'm dorky enough as it is. I don't want or need more dork cred.
What good is data that you cannot use in any way? The point of data is to do all those things you said 'not' to. And are you willing to pay for search results? More expensive products and services that are not tailored to you?
The problem is YOU (yes you) love products and services that are provided TO you based on some, any or all of the above items you want to restrict.
I can assure you that FOIA is being abused by all sorts of people, not just (D) or (R) as the original suggested. I work for a school district that gets, and I'm not kidding, 4 to 10 FIOA requests a week, all from the same guy, not looking for anything other than to annoy the District.
The FOIA has great intentions, but since there are absolutely no limits to it, WILL be used to harass and intimidate any public agency by the critics of that agency. And there is no legal recourse to stop it, and that is what makes it so inviting for people such as these.
So, you're right. Either it gets equal treatment by all, and ends up being a cost of doing politics or we rethink the whole thing.
This is my suggestion as well. Hands on with the units to get a feel of the keyboard, resolution size, weight and so on. Figure the specs out a head of time. Decided if AMD or Intel is a priority. Same with builtin Intel Video or Nvidia / ATI. Look at the non-crap bundled software as well, you might be surprised.
Whatever you do, don't skimp on Ram. Either buy the laptop with it installed or prepare to shop for an upgrade to at least 8GB. Windows 7 needs minimum of 4, which quickly gets used up with all the crap you'll want to put on (Skype, Google Desktop etc) that runs in the background.
Having just bought a new laptop for my In-Laws, If your wife is anything like my Mother-in-law I can tell you that she is going to find out she is picky about certain things, like whether are the keys glossy or matte finished, same with the screen.
I used to buy laptops online, but after three of them arrived damaged I no longer even try that method. Return shipping is just a hassle I'd like to avoid. Also I like to support the stores that provide me the opportunity to shop local. To that end, the last four machines I've bought came from either Costco or Office Depot.
Consumer brand laptops, Stick with HP and or Dell. The last two Toshiba laptops I've had had power connector issues (worn solder joints) after a year. If you want professional grade, Lenovo or Dell are solid and tend to be built better than the $499 consumer versions of the same. Keep in mind, most of these are all built by the same set of factories in SouthEast Asia, so most of the common components are similar/same.
You do realize that making it illegal to retain data might have unintended consequences? Which no doubt will require additional laws, some of which will have negative unintended consequences.
I chalk this up to the cries of "we have to do something, this is something, we have to do it". Almost always makes for really poor laws.
Oh, they are not for "education" they are for "public education", which is entirely different. When confronted with bad teachers and bad schools, offering a choice to the least fortunate people would seem like a nice solution. But alas, they are against "choice" when it concerns various classes of minorities and instead doom them to subpar schools.
I'm sure you have a great excuse why people who suffer poor schools should not have a choice to educate their children in better schools by giving them a choice. Probably has something to do with private schools possibly teaching "religion" on tax payer dollars, a nice red herring.
The real reason the Dumbicans don't want choice is because it would kill off one of their biggest voting bases, Public Teacher's Unions.
As for "science" that is a joke. I'm sure you're remarking about creationism or some such. In every debate I have on the subject, I draw people to making the claim that Evolution isn't "science" because it is a theory, and theories aren't science (which is true). And yet, evolution is taught AS SCIENCE and scientific fact in schools. That is the case you're making, isn't it?
Let me be clear here, I am not against "science" nor for teaching of "creationism" as Science. I am not, for it isn't science. BUT neither is evolution "science" which should be taught in science classes as "fact". Science is about discovery and knowledge. Learning about evolution or creationism does nothing to promote, nor hinder science. Both Evolution and Creationism are red herrings for the (D) and (R) parties to toss out to get votes. It is sick.
If you're talking about the politicalization of science, well then, I would agree. As someone below points out, that "Environmentalism", AGW and all the other crap that is done in the name of liberal politics is clear evidence of that process. For "dumb" science, all you need to do is look at Harry Reid, that said that the US didn't have GPS like the rest of the world. Dumbican.
Politicians of all ilks should stay out of science.