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User: EastCoastSurfer

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  1. Re:Typical. on IBM Responds to Overtime Lawsuits With 15% Salary Cut · · Score: 1

    Why? Did these employees original contract say they would get salary + OT pay?

  2. Re:Double standards... on FBI Burying Doc Showing US Officials Stole Nuclear Secrets? · · Score: 2

    even national secrets such as covert agents should eventually be made public.

    I think it would be too hard to figure out when an agent could be uncovered. Even if you wait till after their death, admitting they were an agent can put at risk any of their contacts. You also put at risk any secrets they might have stolen that you don't want the other side to know you have. You also put at risk any other agents that are still in the field because they might have met or have similar operation profiles. There are just too many risks of ever outing a covert agent.

  3. Re:"Integrated Battery" on Apple Announces MacBook Air · · Score: 1

    It's a 14 hour flight there and 12 back so even with sleeping (which is hard to do in coach), you still end up with a lot of time to pass.

  4. Re:"Integrated Battery" on Apple Announces MacBook Air · · Score: 1

    So that's why they dropped the price soon after releasing it? You always have the fools who can be parted with their money, but $1800 is a lot to part with :)

  5. Re:"Integrated Battery" on Apple Announces MacBook Air · · Score: 1

    I imagine that version 2 of this thing will be killer.

    You're probably right. Just like v2 of the iphone will be something that I might actually look at picking up.

  6. Re:"Integrated Battery" on Apple Announces MacBook Air · · Score: 1

    I started seeing ipods everywhere when the nano came out at that magical $200 price point. Gazillions sold when it starts at $1800? If this thing was $1k I might agree.

    5 hours of battery life is the stated life from Apple. BTW, my last flight on a 777 from Atl -> Tokyo had no power at the seats grr :(

  7. Re:"Integrated Battery" on Apple Announces MacBook Air · · Score: 1

    The poor performing part of the Air isn't the proc, but the HD. 4200 rpm drive is really slow. Going from a 5400 rpm drive to a 7200 rpm drive in my mbp made a huge difference in performance. I can't imagine going down to a 4200 rpm drive. And then the SSD drive as a $1k option. How about a 32GB SSD drive for $400?

    The business people I know who travel a lot (and could justify the cost of this sub notebook) need to be able to carry a spare battery. They can probably work around sharing the USB port between ethernet and optical and get a bluetooth mouse. The Air is sexy, but can sexy alone sell a product that starts at $1800?

  8. Re:"Integrated Battery" on Apple Announces MacBook Air · · Score: 1

    $1900 is right at 2k. Add the SSD and you're right at 3k. Add the faster proc + SSD and you're over 3k.

    And all these numbers ignore tax...

  9. Re:"Integrated Battery" on Apple Announces MacBook Air · · Score: 1

    You're referring to the original ipod which had a new, unique interface (which still took awhile to become popular). Other than trackpad gestures, what new interface is the air offering over other sub-notebooks? It's thinner, but doesn't weight much less if at any at all. But since it's thinner you now don't have a an optical driver, ethernet port, replaceable battery, any of the other standard ports, etc...

    As an Apple fan this keynote was very disappointing. $20 to update the ipod touch firmware, you have to be kidding!

  10. Re:Expensive on Apple Announces MacBook Air · · Score: 5, Funny

    Apple removed many of the parts from a normal laptop computer and are now going to charge more for it. Genius I tell you!

  11. Re:Time Capsule on Apple Announces MacBook Air · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I was thinking the same thing. Everyone wondered why an airdisk wouldn't work. I think now we have our answer. They wanted to force us to buy an apple product to do wifi backing up. Lame...

  12. Re:"Integrated Battery" on Apple Announces MacBook Air · · Score: 1

    The non-replaceable battery kills it for a lot of business people. Then I start to wonder who (other than the apple fanboys) will spend 2k-3k for a poor performing laptop w/o the luxury of having work pay for it? The air will remain a niche product.

  13. Re:Being a larger guy... on McDonald's UK CEO Blames Video Games for Childhood Obesity · · Score: 1

    Let me say congratulations on losing the weight! I think we might be saying the same thing - that weight issues have a large psychological component to them.

    I think you might be looking to the wrong place for help. A surgeon only knows how to do an operation. He's not supposed to know anything more. My knee surgeon grafted my a tendon in the right spot for me, but my PT knows a ton more about how to bring me back to pre-op strength my surgeon ever will. Maybe you should be looking for a personal trainer who focuses on people who need to lose a lot of weight. I know there are ones out there who understand the mental aspect and challenges with losing lots of weight. Try these forums forums.jpfitness.com a lot of helpful people on hang out there.

    It's also not easy, I understand that. For example, one girl I help now had to find all new friends after she dropped 80+lbs. All her old friends were mostly overweight and they only wanted to do things that involved eating and gave her a hard time about changing. It took time, but now she has a new set of friends who run marathons with her, workout with her, etc...

    At the end of the day though it is a personal decision to do what it takes. Either by finding help by exploring all avenues or figuring out things on your own. For most weight issues there doesn't need to be a medical solution. The solution is what I listed out of the gate - eat healthier and exercise.

  14. Re:Being a larger guy... on McDonald's UK CEO Blames Video Games for Childhood Obesity · · Score: 1

    First of all, you have NFI what my situation is, how my weight I've lost (hint: it's in 3 digits). You're just sitting there, judgemental as fuck, getting off on looking down on fatties. And that's fine - it makes you no different that a lot of people. As for telling the truth, let me ask you this: if you're diagnosed with a terminal illness do you want your doctor to come in and tell you "Fuck, you screwed. Get out of here - I only help those that might make it"? He's being truthful, yes. Helpful? No. Plus, I doubt you'd have the balls to talk that way to my face.

    First off, I've helped a lot of people make the changes needed to lose weight. The first thing is a mental change - one that people must realize that they are in control and that the situation they are in is within their control. Your first post blaming the medical profession shows you didn't, at least originally, feel it was in your control. Second, nowhere did I say I didn't want to help those who are overweight. Quite the opposite actually. I want people to know that they can change, but they are the ones who have to make the decision and do the change. I don't really see this as related, but if was diagnosed with anything I want the doc to tell me how bad it is. Don't sugarcoat it, tell me what I need to do to fix it and I will. I had ACL surgery 11 weeks ago today. I'm am months ahead in my recovery because I took control of my situation and go to the gym on my off days from PT and do my own PT workout again. Am I more motivated or driven than the average person? Maybe, but if I can be motivated then anyone can. Also, I would say anything I've said here to your face because I haven't said anything that shouldn't be said.

    So back to your suggestion - which makes my original point for me. An insurance company will be happy to pay over $200,000 to rework the plumbing on a fat person. Will they lose weight? Probably. Will they keep it off? Maybe. Will they be happier? Unlikely. A lot of people I know who have had the procedure and have lost weight but if they were not just simply overeating then they still have the same old problems. They're healthier, but not happier. I suppose that's an improvement, but if mental health was any sort of priority in this country I bet they could have lost the weight without the surgery.

    I'm against any sort of surgical procedure to lose weight. It doesn't address the problems the people have and the lifestyle changes that they need to make. You're original assumption is that the medical field wasn't helping people lose weight. At the end of the day change and motivation must come from within. Even a motivational psychologist can only take someone so far. Like the alcoholic or the drug abuser, they are the ones that must first decide to change and go from there.

    I've gotta hit the shower since I just got back from the gym (*gasp* - yes, I work out 5x a week? OMGWTFBBQ!!1!) but meanwhile, why don't you go find a teenage girl with anorexia and tell her to stop being a whiny bitch and eat a sandwich already? Let me know how that "truth" works for you.

    Yes, some people have severe eating disorders. Are you trying to say that every person who is overweight has a severe eating disorder? I would argue that's simply not true.

  15. Re:Being a larger guy... on McDonald's UK CEO Blames Video Games for Childhood Obesity · · Score: 1

    Then go talk to someone! You're trying to blame being overweight on poor medical care which is a crock. You have all the tools to change your situation. Will it require personal work? Yes! The question you have to ask yourself is do you really want to lose weight? If you don't, fine. But don't go blaming doctors or anyone else but yourself. And hurtful? How is pointing out the truth hurtful? The truth is something you need to hear, since it sounds like you want to blame everyone else but yourself for your weight problem.

  16. Re:Being a larger guy... on McDonald's UK CEO Blames Video Games for Childhood Obesity · · Score: 1

    What sort of compassion do you want? Short of serious medical problems, losing weight is mostly a solved problem. Being overweight is a choice, and you have to chose to not be overweight. I'm in great shape and people ask me all the time how to get in shape. I tell them it's simple, eat better and exercise. The first thing I hear back, 'well I can't eat better' or 'I don't want to exercise' or 'don't have the time' (which is a crock b/c they seem to be able to watch every reality TV show known to man). Reminds me of a quote, "His mother had often said, when you choose an action, you choose the consequences of that action. She had emphasized the corollary of this axiom even more vehemently: when you desired a consequence you had damned well better take the action that would create it." -- Lois McMaster Bujold

    We know what actions are required to lose weight. Do them!

  17. Re:Being a larger guy... on McDonald's UK CEO Blames Video Games for Childhood Obesity · · Score: 1

    And I'm sure you'd also walk up to that homeless guy you passed on the way to work and say "Get a job."

    If the person is able bodied and able minded yes. Anyone can be broke for a time, but poor is a state of mind.


    It's not that simple and condescending "advice" like that is more harmful than useful. But it's a good example of what a unhelpful and arrogant doctor would say.


    So what other advice do you want? Do you need a doctor to come to your house and throw out all your cookies? Do you need a doctor to shop with you and buy veggies instead of ice cream? Do you need a doctor to pick you up and take you to the gym? Losing weight is a simple formula. Eat less and exercise. The problem is that most people can't handle the mental challenge of eating less or the discipline of exercising daily.

  18. Re:Being a larger guy... on McDonald's UK CEO Blames Video Games for Childhood Obesity · · Score: 1

    Very little "good" help available (Doctors throwing pills, diets selling useless books, but nobody wants to give good advice except perhaps Paul Mckenna and a couple of others)

    Huh? What kind of good help are you looking for? Unless you're one of the near death obese, it's not rocket science on how to lose weight. 1) Fill out www.fitday.com for a week so you can see your real caloric intake. Most people lie to themselves. 2) Get a quick physical and get cleared by a doc that it's okay to exercise 3) Fix your diet and start exercising. I know it's hard to do some activity for an hour each day and skipping those cookies right before bed, but don't complain about there being no good help available.

  19. Re:Helmet Society on McDonald's UK CEO Blames Video Games for Childhood Obesity · · Score: 1

    Of course this is anecdotal, but my grandfather is only alive today b/c he WASN'T wearing a seatbelt when he got in a wreck. A dump truck ran a stop sign and plowed into the driver side of his car. If he hadn't been thrown out, he would've been killed. Of course this sort of thing is a statistical anomaly until it's someone you know.

  20. Re:Helmet Society on McDonald's UK CEO Blames Video Games for Childhood Obesity · · Score: 1

    Well said. It's become such a pain for kids to go outside and do any exercises now, most figure why bother. We did some really crazy stuff as kids and, looking back, I'm surprised no one drowned. But somehow we all managed to survive. I think my childhood was a bit extreme (we were doing todays 'extreme' sports when they weren't even consider sports...) though and the normal bike riding, football/baseball/basketball playing kids should be able to play outside without being armored up.

    I've mentioned this before and then all the 'wearing helmets when riding a bicycle 2 blocks saves xxx number of kids per year.' Well a lot of people fall in the shower, hit their head, and die every year too. Should we just wear helmets all the time?

  21. Re:That should've been done day one. on SecondLife Bans Unregistered In-World Banks · · Score: 1

    I don't think Ayn Rand was for no government. Just one that is as small as possible and gets out of the way of commerce. For a simple example, look at contracts. In her world I would think it's okay for the government to step in and make sure contracts that were signed are upheld. When you give your money to a bank you are making a contract with the bank that you can get that money back and probably earn some interest on it.

  22. Re:Don't overlook people skills on What Skills Should Undergrads Have? · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I like the 'yes' thing.

    You're right about smiling, also look them in the eye.

    And while we're adding more items to the list, Chris Rock had a good one on how to make women happy. Just ask "How was your day?" I first did this with random girls I met as a joke, but then realized how right he was when he said that that one question can lead to a 45 minute conversation. I wasn't even aware that much 'stuff' could happen in one persons day lol...

  23. Re:Don't overlook people skills on What Skills Should Undergrads Have? · · Score: 4, Interesting

    True, but you can boil the book down to 2 basic things (that I've found anyways).

    1) Remember names!

    2) Be genuinely interested in other people. Everyone has something interesting about them. Figure out what it is and then let them talk about it. Remember, whoever talks most in a conversation is generally going to think it was a good conversation.

  24. Re:We're breeding them every day on Google Algorithm to Search Out Hospital Superbugs · · Score: 1

    Pretty sure we can kill most any bacteria *outside* of the body using just simple rubbing alcohol. It's bacterial infections that are the problem. The over prescription of antibiotics to people who most likely have a virus (cold or flu) have caused the various superbugs floating around.

  25. Re:Let's see here ... on Circuit City Rewards Execs As Stock Tanks · · Score: 2, Interesting

    The big problem I see in all this is that US executives have a huge upside (Goldman Sachs CEO got a $68 million dollar bonus this year), but with no downside (Merrill Lynch fired its failed CEO with a $160 million golden parachute).

    First off Goldman Sachs is a terrible example you used. Their performance is phenomenal and their shareholders and clients are happy to pay out these bonuses. The funny part is that $68M isn't even that much for them. They had one of their investment guys making almost $~80M and he quit b/c he wanted more (he was bringing in multi-billions of profit to the company each year).

    CxOs have a huge downside. Most get one shot and that's it. If you fail you'll most likely not have another chance, unless you start your own company. That's why they work their contracts in that manner.