Now, if Van Allen's argument is that the human race isn't worth saving, then let's have that argument.
If someone says that I always suggest them to do something about it. And the best thing if you want to do something about society is to start with oneself. So if someone says something like this he/she should remove himself from the reality.
In other words: Human race not worth saving? Then you are not worth saving too, go and kill yourself.
The Saturn V was arguably the most powerful machine built in all of recorded human history (that was not a bomb) and to this day, no launch vehicle has ever matched it's sheer lifting capaibility.
I DO own a Fiat (this one [fiat.com], Seicento SX).
[...]
Cannot speak about other models, but I never had a single problem with this little car, I am happy with it since I do mostly city driving (though I did some large trips with it).
Seicentos aren't built in Italy. They are built in Fiat's factory in Poland.
Crappy wiring seems to be a corporate tradition at FIAT. My father's first car was a Fiat back in 1958 and I remember stories he told me about how the thing used to break down after a major rain or in winter because the electrical system failed. All thanks to poor quality cables and connectors which ceased to work if any traces of humidity appeared in the air.
This is a great idea. I only hope the funding would be there to ensure launch of those telescopes. And that it won't be used as an argument against human exploration of space.
For example, more than 100 years ago, Marx predicted the increasing discrepancy in wealth and the increasing gap as societies become more capitalistic. This has been borne true everywhere you look, including USA.
One small problem. The societies are not more capitalistic than 100 years ago and are not moving in that direction (unfortunately). Europe is now a mixed socialist-capitalist economy and even US is not a free market capitalist economy anymore.
The answer for the planet (and yes, lots of it will be software oriented) is for each locality to create and support economic models that sustain the local population.
Humanity already had that model. It was before steam engines were invented and modern industry was born. Or even earlier, before sailing ships were able to cross the oceans. It was called the Middle Ages. Or the Dark Ages. Everyone lived in their own, small communities. Farming effectively sustained local population which ate most of what was produced. This was indeed a great time, but it's gone.
Whether you like it or not globalization is going to happen. It was not invented by corporations and is not engineered by prime ministers and presidents at whom anti-globalists like to throw stones. It is a direct result of improvements in transportation and telecommunications, of improvements in education in poorer nations etc. So you have as much chance to stop it as the old manufacture workers had of stopping the first industrial revolution by destroying the steam engines in factories. But at least they saw what was the real driver of the change.
One small problem. Software developers and call centre operators are a tiny minority of the society. So even if all that was true and as result of outsourcing they would all become welfare clients unable to be investors (which is untrue) the result on the stock market and investments would be negligible.
Sorry, but that is your problem and has nothing to do with outsourcing being wrong. A programmer's career is usually short-lived and you should have known for some time now that in today's world you probably won't be able to go through your whole active life in one profession. And I presume that 20 years ago most workers at the car plants didn't cheer up either and they also didn't have an idea what to do next. But somehow they managed it, car industry survived and is even stronger than it was before cars from Japan invaded US market. So don't despair, but it's your life and you are the one who has to think of something to make a living - not your boss at your current company.
OK, so you decided to fund more jobs instead of increasing your profits in your company. That's ok - your company, your choice.
But since when increasing company's profit is a morally bad thing - as your whole posting suggests? Since when main concern of a manager or owner should be increasing the number of jobs instead of profits? Aren't companies run for profit - as opposed to charities, religious organizations etc.?
Cars burning petroleum were never going to be the final answer for the planet - we knew that since the 50s.. technological innovation is going to save the planet.
And you say, as far as I understand, that software (especially made in the US by US citizens) is going "to be the final answer for the planet"?
If the eary explorers had taken the same route we had, it would have been hundreds if not thousands more years before the early 'explorers' laid out their shipping routes. I doubt if Christopher Columbus had a detailed business plan showing return on investment before he went and ask for his backing. He had a idea, which is of far more importance.
One big difference. He was talking to a king (well, a king and a queen, and it was she who backed his idea) not a bunch of bureaucrats or someone with at best 8 years perspective. A king could wait longer for results and could not care what citizens think of his vision because he was spending his money.
BTW, do you think we would have manned space flight by now if Adolf Hitler and Josif Stalin didn't exist?
Coca-Cola, Aspirin, McDonald's and some other brands and products are part of literally everyone's lives - at least in the developed world - and I didn't hear anyone complaining about how badly that oppresses them and ruins their lives. I think it's pretty normal for anyone who runs a company (other than a newsstand or a shop down the corner) to want it to be as big and as pervasive as possible within its field. I would think Ballmer is crazy if he would say he thinks Microsoft has enough market share, no need to increase its profits or go into other segments of IT market and I'm sure MS shareholders would think the same.
And, BTW, do you remember who had "World domination. Fast." in his.plan?
Am I the only person who fantasizes about busting into the offices and homes where spammers do their work and violently trashing their equipment with giant magnets, squirt bottles of honey laced with iron filings, fire axes, and bolt cutters?
Thanks! But there is another problem - since I've already joined Friendster I can't use your invitation. Seems like you can't invite someone who's already on. Let's try to find one another inside.
Hey! Here is a member of the secretive Orkut network (sect?) coming out and publicly admitting it despite the obvious fact that he would be flooded with invite-requests...
Great, but I tried to register at your site. However, the system insist that I should enter my dating preferences ("Error: Please enter your dating / relationship gender interest") - but I don't want to date anyone. I thought this is about friends, not a dating site - is this an error or you did that on purpose?
Well, I've just registered at Friendster and it looks like it is very hard to meet someone new unless you know anyone who is already a member. Since I don't know any such person my options are quite limited.
Slashdot Mirror
Now, if Van Allen's argument is that the human race isn't worth saving, then let's have that argument.
If someone says that I always suggest them to do something about it. And the best thing if you want to do something about society is to start with oneself. So if someone says something like this he/she should remove himself from the reality.
In other words: Human race not worth saving? Then you are not worth saving too, go and kill yourself.
The Saturn V was arguably the most powerful machine built in all of recorded human history (that was not a bomb) and to this day, no launch vehicle has ever matched it's sheer lifting capaibility.
Ever heard of Energia rocket?
Seicentos aren't built in Italy. They are built in Fiat's factory in Poland.
Crappy wiring seems to be a corporate tradition at FIAT. My father's first car was a Fiat back in 1958 and I remember stories he told me about how the thing used to break down after a major rain or in winter because the electrical system failed. All thanks to poor quality cables and connectors which ceased to work if any traces of humidity appeared in the air.
why can't we all work together?
Because we are humans, not ants.
This is a great idea. I only hope the funding would be there to ensure launch of those telescopes. And that it won't be used as an argument against human exploration of space.
[...]you have the right to eat, the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. You aren't born with the "right" to drive a car.
Pursuit of happiness without being able to drive a car??!?! Impossible!!
For example, more than 100 years ago, Marx predicted the increasing discrepancy in wealth and the increasing gap as societies become more capitalistic. This has been borne true everywhere you look, including USA.
One small problem. The societies are not more capitalistic than 100 years ago and are not moving in that direction (unfortunately). Europe is now a mixed socialist-capitalist economy and even US is not a free market capitalist economy anymore.
*sigh*
You say pocket the profits... Now, tell me, what happens to these profits once they are pocketed?
Just a clue...
As predicted by Marx.
It always amazes me that there are still people who actually believe in Marxism.
The answer for the planet (and yes, lots of it will be software oriented) is for each locality to create and support economic models that sustain the local population.
Humanity already had that model. It was before steam engines were invented and modern industry was born. Or even earlier, before sailing ships were able to cross the oceans. It was called the Middle Ages. Or the Dark Ages. Everyone lived in their own, small communities. Farming effectively sustained local population which ate most of what was produced. This was indeed a great time, but it's gone.
Whether you like it or not globalization is going to happen. It was not invented by corporations and is not engineered by prime ministers and presidents at whom anti-globalists like to throw stones. It is a direct result of improvements in transportation and telecommunications, of improvements in education in poorer nations etc. So you have as much chance to stop it as the old manufacture workers had of stopping the first industrial revolution by destroying the steam engines in factories. But at least they saw what was the real driver of the change.
One small problem. Software developers and call centre operators are a tiny minority of the society. So even if all that was true and as result of outsourcing they would all become welfare clients unable to be investors (which is untrue) the result on the stock market and investments would be negligible.
Sorry, but that is your problem and has nothing to do with outsourcing being wrong. A programmer's career is usually short-lived and you should have known for some time now that in today's world you probably won't be able to go through your whole active life in one profession. And I presume that 20 years ago most workers at the car plants didn't cheer up either and they also didn't have an idea what to do next. But somehow they managed it, car industry survived and is even stronger than it was before cars from Japan invaded US market. So don't despair, but it's your life and you are the one who has to think of something to make a living - not your boss at your current company.
OK, so you decided to fund more jobs instead of increasing your profits in your company. That's ok - your company, your choice.
But since when increasing company's profit is a morally bad thing - as your whole posting suggests? Since when main concern of a manager or owner should be increasing the number of jobs instead of profits? Aren't companies run for profit - as opposed to charities, religious organizations etc.?
Cars burning petroleum were never going to be the final answer for the planet - we knew that since the 50s.. technological innovation is going to save the planet.
And you say, as far as I understand, that software (especially made in the US by US citizens) is going "to be the final answer for the planet"?
If the eary explorers had taken the same route we had, it would have been hundreds if not thousands more years before the early 'explorers' laid out their shipping routes. I doubt if Christopher Columbus had a detailed business plan showing return on investment before he went and ask for his backing. He had a idea, which is of far more importance.
One big difference. He was talking to a king (well, a king and a queen, and it was she who backed his idea) not a bunch of bureaucrats or someone with at best 8 years perspective. A king could wait longer for results and could not care what citizens think of his vision because he was spending his money.
BTW, do you think we would have manned space flight by now if Adolf Hitler and Josif Stalin didn't exist?
And, BTW, do you remember who had "World domination. Fast." in his .plan?
Am I the only person who fantasizes about busting into the offices and homes where spammers do their work and violently trashing their equipment with giant magnets, squirt bottles of honey laced with iron filings, fire axes, and bolt cutters?
What a terrible waste of honey!
Seriously, if someone is able to feel guilt over such a thing then either he doesn't have any real problems or needs to get a life.
Thanks! But there is another problem - since I've already joined Friendster I can't use your invitation. Seems like you can't invite someone who's already on. Let's try to find one another inside.
Hey! Here is a member of the secretive Orkut network (sect?) coming out and publicly admitting it despite the obvious fact that he would be flooded with invite-requests...
Great, but I tried to register at your site. However, the system insist that I should enter my dating preferences ("Error: Please enter your dating / relationship gender interest") - but I don't want to date anyone. I thought this is about friends, not a dating site - is this an error or you did that on purpose?
Well, I've just registered at Friendster and it looks like it is very hard to meet someone new unless you know anyone who is already a member. Since I don't know any such person my options are quite limited.
I wonder how many of those invitations went outside the US. Probably few or none.
Anyway... mod me up! I want to get invited!!!! :-)
It's all stupid and worrying but such a code makes more sense in a printer than in a graphics manipulation program.