I work in Congress - so I'll give it a try too. No disagreement with Ryan C. I would add that getting any bill passed is enourmously difficult. You need a majoriy of the House and a 2/3 of the Senate to agree on the same bill. Then the President has to sign it. If he vetoes it then 3/4ths of both Houses have to pass it. I know this is civics 101 - but the system is designed to make it real hard to pass any bill. For that reason, any bill that is seen as 'must pass' becomes a vehicle for many other bills to be attached.
Sorry - it is still there. You need to look at the conference report. Go to thomas.loc.gov and search for HR 1268 and click on the link to the conference report (H Rept. 109-72).
Also - the waiver of any other law section everyone keeps quoting - applies to a fence being built near San Diego. It doesn't apply to the ID provisions.
The Confernece Report will be subject to an up or down vote in the Senate. Any attempt to amend the conference report will essentially kill the bill.
The interesting thing is what happens if a significant number of states choose not to comply (as allowed by the bill). Their citizens won't have valid IDs for a number of Federal transactions and will be seriously po'd by the inconvenience. Who will blink first Congress or the non-compliant states?
Ummm... sorry meant to say that sys admins are exempt. Darn, double negatives trip me up again.
To the person who said that they can take their salary in the form of perks (sp?), the benefits would be taxable as ordinary income for the most part. (Even the private jet when used for personal business is a taxable benefit -- I think). I will concede that there are extraordinary means that a person in control of a corporation can take to funnel what the hope will be untaxed money to themselves - but I think most people worth billions are willing to pay for attorneys and accountants smart enough to realize tht people worth billions shouldn't tempt the IRS to audit them.
Actually, it is has nothing to do with salary versus wages. It has do with whether the job description is exempt or non-exempt. Most managerial positions are exempt (meaning minimum wage/overtime etc. don't apply). Just because your paid by salary doesn't mean your not entitled under the law to overtime. Lots of white collar employees are incorrectly considered exempt by their employers. Unfortunately for Slashdot, sys admins by definition are non-exempt.
Also - it is stupid to say that accepting one dollar is a tax avoidance scheme. Earning less is always and option but not a smart way to lower your tax bill. Refusing to accept a salary because 37% of it (or whatever the top rate is) will go to the IRS is sort of silly if you are trying to maximize your after tax salary. After all 63% of it (minus state income tax) is still yours. You have more not less by accepting the salary. I'd fire my accountant for coming up with a tax strategy that resulted in me having less money.
"The only difference between Democrats and Republicans regarding budget cuts is tense..."
I work for Congress and this is the truest statement regarding politics I have ever read on Slashdot.
Re:Coraline is really freakin' creepy
on
2003 Nebula Awards
·
· Score: 4, Interesting
I read it one chapter a night to my 7 yr old daughter. We both really enjoyed it. For what it is worth, she wasn't freaked out by it and it has been several weeks since we finished. (knock on wood).
I have a 2002 12" iBook 700mhz (16meg VRAM) -with the same problem.
I was having shortened battery life prior to upgrading to 10.2.4. But since upgrading my battery will charge to full in less than 20 minutes. The reported battery life will drop to zero in less than less than 20 minutes and the computer will go into deep sleep until plugged in again. The led lights on the battery however report full charge.
I did reset the power mangement unit, but it had not effect. I suppose I'll have the battery replaced, but I am afraid its a logic board problem.
There are a number of threads on Apple Support Discussion boards regarding these problems such as: http://discussions.info.apple.com/WebX?13@92. xUtUa pHfiHY.4@.3bbf6b95/131
"Actually cold hard cash is best, but we're talking above the table methods here."
Actually it is above the table AND worthwhile. If a Rep. or a Senator supports your view, send their campaign money. (And let them know why). Most campaign donations are less than $100 -- you ten or twenty-five dollars will makes a difference. And if your Rep. and Senator is an ass -- support his opponent (he or she needs the money more than the incumbent).
When writing your Congressperson... Try e-mail -- include your real address. If you get a snail mail reply, then keep emailing -- if not some intern is probably deleting the inbox once a week.
And if it is near an election, get a bumper sticker or a sign in your yard or volunteer to help.
Actually, they can't. If you watch CSPAN, you will hear Members asking permission to "revise and extend their remarks." This is a misnomer -- the actual words on the floor are transcribed verbatim. Members can add a statement to the debate on a bill, but these statements are easy to spot because they are in a different font and separated from the rest of the debate (this does require unanimous consent but it is nearly always granted).
Other statements not directly related to the debate on a bill appear in the back of the Record under extensions of remarks; except for Senators statements which appear at the end of the Senate section of the Record and are marked by a bullet point. A parenthetical somewhere in the record indicates that these statements were not made on the floor.
Having been through several wars on rec.arts.sf.writtten over various definitions of SF -- I've learned that no definition of the genre is ultimately defensible. In fact, SF is generally accepted to stand for speculative fiction rather than science fiction nowadays because of these issues. (For fun, venture over to rasfw and argue that fantasy isn't SF).
I like the Bujold quote because it captures a popular sentiment among many SF fans about Crichton and SF in general. Namely that stories about the evils of technology aren't what attracted us to the genre.
In fact, I suspect Bujold isn't trying to define the genre so much as to distinguish the sorts of stories Crichton writes from the main current of the genre. She didn't say Crichton wasn't SF she said is wasn't REAL SF -- which I took as more of a normative judgement rather than a formal definition of the genre.
Well there is precedent for not including Crichton's work as SF. The reason applies equally well to Frankenstein. Though it is not the reason given by Disch. Wish I remebered where I got this quote (sorry).
"What differentiates real SF from Crichton and his ilk is that at the end of non-SF the evil science is defeated and destroyed, and we are back in the world that we now live in. Whereas real SF involves a change in the world, and it is a good thing." Lois McMaster Bujold
Actually, DISH Network does offer the big 4 plus PBS (local feed on the networks, national on PBS in some markets. Check their website for your location. Currently this is a quasi-legal practice (beaming local into local), that likely will be sanctioned later this year if Congress gets off its arse. Direct TV will not be able to give you networks unless you live very far away from any possible over the air feed. (or if you use a fake address).
If it was me and I wanted to get Dish Network I would wait and see how the satelite situation shakes out. Currently you need two dishes to get the main feed and the locals. They are launching new statelites this summer so that may well change in the next couple of months.
Also if UPN and Star Trek is important then you will want Dish Network since that is not available on Direct TV. Finally, sports nuts and those who are hyper critical of video quality prefer Direct TV (to me they both look the same).
www.glav.com have very good prices on Dish Network equipment (and I don't work for them or know anyone who does).
Slashdot Mirror
I work in Congress - so I'll give it a try too. No disagreement with Ryan C. I would add that getting any bill passed is enourmously difficult. You need a majoriy of the House and a 2/3 of the Senate to agree on the same bill. Then the President has to sign it. If he vetoes it then 3/4ths of both Houses have to pass it. I know this is civics 101 - but the system is designed to make it real hard to pass any bill. For that reason, any bill that is seen as 'must pass' becomes a vehicle for many other bills to be attached.
Sorry - it is still there. You need to look at the conference report. Go to thomas.loc.gov and search for HR 1268 and click on the link to the conference report (H Rept. 109-72).
Also - the waiver of any other law section everyone keeps quoting - applies to a fence being built near San Diego. It doesn't apply to the ID provisions.
The Confernece Report will be subject to an up or down vote in the Senate. Any attempt to amend the conference report will essentially kill the bill.
The interesting thing is what happens if a significant number of states choose not to comply (as allowed by the bill). Their citizens won't have valid IDs for a number of Federal transactions and will be seriously po'd by the inconvenience. Who will blink first Congress or the non-compliant states?
Ummm... sorry meant to say that sys admins are exempt. Darn, double negatives trip me up again.
To the person who said that they can take their salary in the form of perks (sp?), the benefits would be taxable as ordinary income for the most part. (Even the private jet when used for personal business is a taxable benefit -- I think). I will concede that there are extraordinary means that a person in control of a corporation can take to funnel what the hope will be untaxed money to themselves - but I think most people worth billions are willing to pay for attorneys and accountants smart enough to realize tht people worth billions shouldn't tempt the IRS to audit them.
Actually, it is has nothing to do with salary versus wages. It has do with whether the job description is exempt or non-exempt. Most managerial positions are exempt (meaning minimum wage/overtime etc. don't apply). Just because your paid by salary doesn't mean your not entitled under the law to overtime. Lots of white collar employees are incorrectly considered exempt by their employers. Unfortunately for Slashdot, sys admins by definition are non-exempt.
Also - it is stupid to say that accepting one dollar is a tax avoidance scheme. Earning less is always and option but not a smart way to lower your tax bill. Refusing to accept a salary because 37% of it (or whatever the top rate is) will go to the IRS is sort of silly if you are trying to maximize your after tax salary. After all 63% of it (minus state income tax) is still yours. You have more not less by accepting the salary. I'd fire my accountant for coming up with a tax strategy that resulted in me having less money.
"The only difference between Democrats and Republicans regarding budget cuts is tense..."
I work for Congress and this is the truest statement regarding politics I have ever read on Slashdot.
I read it one chapter a night to my 7 yr old daughter. We both really enjoyed it. For what it is worth, she wasn't freaked out by it and it has been several weeks since we finished. (knock on wood).
I have a 2002 12" iBook 700mhz (16meg VRAM) -with the same problem.
. xUtUa pHfiHY.4@.3bbf6b95/131
I was having shortened battery life prior to upgrading to 10.2.4. But since upgrading my battery will charge to full in less than 20 minutes. The reported battery life will drop to zero in less than less than 20 minutes and the computer will go into deep sleep until plugged in again. The led lights on the battery however report full charge.
I did reset the power mangement unit, but it had not effect. I suppose I'll have the battery replaced, but I am afraid its a logic board problem.
There are a number of threads on Apple Support Discussion boards regarding these problems such as:
http://discussions.info.apple.com/WebX?13@92
"Actually cold hard cash is best, but we're talking above the table methods here."
Actually it is above the table AND worthwhile. If a Rep. or a Senator supports your view, send their campaign money. (And let them know why). Most campaign donations are less than $100 -- you ten or twenty-five dollars will makes a difference. And if your Rep. and Senator is an ass -- support his opponent (he or she needs the money more than the incumbent).
When writing your Congressperson... Try e-mail -- include your real address. If you get a snail mail reply, then keep emailing -- if not some intern is probably deleting the inbox once a week.
And if it is near an election, get a bumper sticker or a sign in your yard or volunteer to help.
Actually, they can't. If you watch CSPAN, you will hear Members asking permission to "revise and extend their remarks." This is a misnomer -- the actual words on the floor are transcribed verbatim. Members can add a statement to the debate on a bill, but these statements are easy to spot because they are in a different font and separated from the rest of the debate (this does require unanimous consent but it is nearly always granted).
Other statements not directly related to the debate on a bill appear in the back of the Record under extensions of remarks; except for Senators statements which appear at the end of the Senate section of the Record and are marked by a bullet point. A parenthetical somewhere in the record indicates that these statements were not made on the floor.
Having been through several wars on rec.arts.sf.writtten over various definitions of SF -- I've learned that no definition of the genre is ultimately defensible. In fact, SF is generally accepted to stand for speculative fiction rather than science fiction nowadays because of these issues. (For fun, venture over to rasfw and argue that fantasy isn't SF).
I like the Bujold quote because it captures a popular sentiment among many SF fans about Crichton and SF in general. Namely that stories about the evils of technology aren't what attracted us to the genre.
In fact, I suspect Bujold isn't trying to define the genre so much as to distinguish the sorts of stories Crichton writes from the main current of the genre. She didn't say Crichton wasn't SF she said is wasn't REAL SF -- which I took as more of a normative judgement rather than a formal definition of the genre.
Rob
Well there is precedent for not including Crichton's work as SF. The reason applies equally well to Frankenstein. Though it is not the reason given by Disch. Wish I remebered where I got this quote (sorry).
"What differentiates real SF from Crichton and his ilk is that at the end of non-SF the evil science is defeated and destroyed, and we are back in the world that we now live in. Whereas real SF involves a change in the world, and it is a good thing." Lois McMaster Bujold
Actually, DISH Network does offer the big 4 plus PBS (local feed on the networks, national on PBS in some markets. Check their website for your location. Currently this is a quasi-legal practice (beaming local into local), that likely will be sanctioned later this year if Congress gets off its arse. Direct TV will not be able to give you networks unless you live very far away from any possible over the air feed. (or if you use a fake address).
If it was me and I wanted to get Dish Network I would wait and see how the satelite situation shakes out. Currently you need two dishes to get the main feed and the locals. They are launching new statelites this summer so that may well change in the next couple of months.
Also if UPN and Star Trek is important then you will want Dish Network since that is not available on Direct TV. Finally, sports nuts and those who are hyper critical of video quality prefer Direct TV (to me they both look the same).
www.glav.com have very good prices on Dish Network equipment (and I don't work for them or know anyone who does).