Given that inflation is running at 2.4%, this is a pretty crappy return. Energy upgrades that I've done to my house have averaged ~80% annualized returns. I think you're better off taking the capital markets appreciation from $12,000 in perpetuity and investing it in:
1) Energy saver lighting 2) Better insulation 3) A swamp cooler replacing air conditioning 4) Water heater insulation 5) Recycling services if your city doesn't provide them 6) LCD monitors vs. CRT 7) Efficient refrigerator, furnace 8) Green power from your utility (this costs me less than $100 a year extra) 9) Warmer clothes for winter 10) Probably a hundred other things I can't think of that have a better real ROI than 3.6%
Every few years I do the calculations on installing PV, and it's still not even close to other Kaizen improvements I can make to saving both money and natural resources elsewhere.
My point is that I can order exactly what *I* want from Amazon. I don't have to choose from what Valencia Street Books or Waldenbooks or WalMart think I should read. I only have time for a book a week, and with roughly 2000 more weeks to live, Punk Rock Aerobics is not going to be one of those books.
I don't really care that the clerk can remember the same thing I can Google or GIS.
I don't care that there's dim lighting and dudes wearing berets.
I don't care that Valencia has great T&A and Amazon doesn't.
My interest is in reading a specific list of great books, not in being a literary hipster.
Plus you can order any obscure thing that you want. Years ago I would order books from my local shop. The clerk took forever to copy down my order, the books took weeks to arrive, often times I couldnt get exactly what I wanted, and I always had to pay full price.
Independent bookstores are a wonderful romantic idea, like having milk delivered by a milkman, but they can't compete on price, service, selection, or convenience.
Yeah, well y'all aint seen SPITstorms unless you done made my Freshman year English professor mad! That boy would froth at the mouth like a cross between a rabid dog and a cappuccino maker. Woo-wee, I tell yuh!
Ok, fair enough, but this does give us a rough idea what the absolute base minimum distribution and manufacturing costs are for a DVD. If you don't have to create the content, pay the talent, or distribute through Mom & Pop retailers, you can make a (albeit small) profit selling for a buck retail.
If you want to pay for special effects, Bruce Willis, and intend sell product at the local IGA, that costs the consumer $19.95.
It's going to be really interesting to see what a high quality, first run movie costs in 2025, when local actors, PC special effects, and online distribution substitute. Less than a buck? Two bucks? Dunno. It's going to move somebody's cheese though, that's for sure.
I'm sure we can find some second-string astronaut wannabes who'll be willing to take the risk of flying it out of the warranty period. What the hell else are we going to do with it? Fly it to Crawford, Texas and put it up on blocks in the front yard next to the washing machine and hound dogs?
"Astronauts will be protected from massive the G-forces of liftoff by being shrink-wrapped to a piece of cardboard and surrounded on three sides by AirPak (TM)."
Slashdot Mirror
1=((1+X)^12)-1
X=6%
Given that inflation is running at 2.4%, this is a pretty crappy return. Energy upgrades that I've done to my house have averaged ~80% annualized returns. I think you're better off taking the capital markets appreciation from $12,000 in perpetuity and investing it in:
1) Energy saver lighting
2) Better insulation
3) A swamp cooler replacing air conditioning
4) Water heater insulation
5) Recycling services if your city doesn't provide them
6) LCD monitors vs. CRT
7) Efficient refrigerator, furnace
8) Green power from your utility (this costs me less than $100 a year extra)
9) Warmer clothes for winter
10) Probably a hundred other things I can't think of that have a better real ROI than 3.6%
Every few years I do the calculations on installing PV, and it's still not even close to other Kaizen improvements I can make to saving both money and natural resources elsewhere.
>> Punk Rock Aerobics
My point is that I can order exactly what *I* want from Amazon. I don't have to choose from what Valencia Street Books or Waldenbooks or WalMart think I should read. I only have time for a book a week, and with roughly 2000 more weeks to live, Punk Rock Aerobics is not going to be one of those books.
I don't really care that the clerk can remember the same thing I can Google or GIS.
I don't care that there's dim lighting and dudes wearing berets.
I don't care that Valencia has great T&A and Amazon doesn't.
My interest is in reading a specific list of great books, not in being a literary hipster.
Plus you can order any obscure thing that you want. Years ago I would order books from my local shop. The clerk took forever to copy down my order, the books took weeks to arrive, often times I couldnt get exactly what I wanted, and I always had to pay full price.
Independent bookstores are a wonderful romantic idea, like having milk delivered by a milkman, but they can't compete on price, service, selection, or convenience.
>> SPITstorms
Yeah, well y'all aint seen SPITstorms unless you done made my Freshman year English professor mad! That boy would froth at the mouth like a cross between a rabid dog and a cappuccino maker. Woo-wee, I tell yuh!
>> there's not much of a profit to be made
Ok, fair enough, but this does give us a rough idea what the absolute base minimum distribution and manufacturing costs are for a DVD. If you don't have to create the content, pay the talent, or distribute through Mom & Pop retailers, you can make a (albeit small) profit selling for a buck retail.
If you want to pay for special effects, Bruce Willis, and intend sell product at the local IGA, that costs the consumer $19.95.
It's going to be really interesting to see what a high quality, first run movie costs in 2025, when local actors, PC special effects, and online distribution substitute. Less than a buck? Two bucks? Dunno. It's going to move somebody's cheese though, that's for sure.
>> roughly 23,000 miles per hour
It's NASA we're talking about here folks. The smart money says they ruin the experiment by only smashing into the comet at 23,000 kilometers an hour.
Supposedly they use voice authentication to secure "the button" on our Nukular arsenal.
Sure, but imagine the mess that makes!
I think in /.'s case that would be:
data data data dupe dupe data dupe....
Good thing I don't need to do any telephone banking!
They switch to a Balsa vehicle and VLRB (Very Large Rubber Band) launcher.
I heard the same story about a rookie at the LAPD.
Urban legend? Dunno. But even so, it does say something about how the citizenry regards the pigs, er, I mean police force.
<4th Grade>
Q: What did Spock find in the Enterprise's toilet?
A: The Captain's log.
</4th Grade>
Argon is walking down the street and sees his friend Hydrogen searching the sidewalk frantically.
Argon: "What's the matter Hydrogen? Is everything ok?"
Hydrogen: "No, no, this is terrible! I've lost an electron!"
Argon: "Are you quite sure?"
Hydrogen: "Yes, yes, I'm positive!"
Just because I like vanilla, doesn't mean I don't like chocolate.
The scene: A collision.
Idiot #1: "Hey! You got your Google in my Yahoo!"
Idiot #2: "Dude! You got your Yahoo in my Google!"
Together: "Yuuuuum..."
Mr. Announcer Man: "Goohoo, two great tastes that go great together!"
What Ancient Tech Do You Do?
Pulling out.
I'm sure we can find some second-string astronaut wannabes who'll be willing to take the risk of flying it out of the warranty period. What the hell else are we going to do with it? Fly it to Crawford, Texas and put it up on blocks in the front yard next to the washing machine and hound dogs?
Who's Who Online becomes Hoogle
Joogle - Discount Menorahs Online
DrCoop.com is renamed Achoogle
Floogle - Jazz Instrument Online Database
Poogle - Same Shit, Different Website
Don't worry, you'll be retirement age by the time the naughty image loads.
From the article:
"Astronauts will be protected from massive the G-forces of liftoff by being shrink-wrapped to a piece of cardboard and surrounded on three sides by AirPak (TM)."
Note that each body modification or tat does not increment your "flair" count at TGIF.
Yes.
>> So why arent they protesting sellers of kitchenware?
Because getting naked for kitchenware would just be silly.
I use my Senator's email address. I suspect he needs a bigger penis anyhow.