Don't forget, that 400 pounder might have a genetic glandular problem. Maybe they were born to be larger than you; why should you get off the hook just because you got lucky with your glands?
Most 400 lbs are fat fucks by choices they make. That's why the people who weigh 150 lb should be off the hook, as a reward for self-restraint.
It's disriminatory? It's like saying Walmart charging you biggies $1-2 on large clothing sizes (they do) because they use more material. For the airlines, more weight = more fuel burnt. I bet you have a bigger food bill than a 120 lb person as well, who are you going to cry discrimination there?
i would say that any currency is backed by the goods and services one can buy with it.
That's like saying your stock portfolio is worth exactly what you can get out of it right this minute. It's true, but it's also the trivial answer to a question people people don't really mean to ask. Savings is practically the real world exemplification of delayed gratification. All you want to know after that is, "what will time do to my savings?" so "what will this commodity be worth when I want to convert it into a form usable to me? Of course, there are no 100% answers or the market would be steady state.
What you can look for is factors that matter in the future. Gold, for instance, cannot be made out of thin air (with current technology) but is also likely high right now compared to historical value (oil vs gold is said to correlate well over time).
The US dollar may have problems and the US isn't too much different than from a house. While outstanding debt is $13 Trillion right now (US debt clock), we also face $60 Trillion in promised unfunded entitlements looking forward because of the baby boomers and not saving up the Social Security and Medicare Fund (this number according to former Comptroller General David Walker). Promised unfunded entitlements = Promised Entitlements - Expected Federal Revenue @ current tax rates. By 2030, according to him, we can do little more than pay some interest on debt, some entitlements, and hardly anything else. (This comptroller general invited all the Democratic Primary contenders to speak with him early in the race - only two chose too, and I have a feeling it was none of the big names, probably Kucinich and that Alaska former Senator. Republicans were likely no better).
This scenario is only to get worse after 2030, not better. If it goes on with bailouts or stimulus, there are several scenarios just like a household: -Cut spending. However, all the waste and even Pentagon Budget is not enough (Walker again, and he said that if we cut it today, not then). Entitlements need to be cut. It's more than if Johnny doesn't get his car for graduation. Imagine the Bonus Army x 1000
-Raise taxes (household - get a better job, send the spouse and kids to work). Problem is, what will be the top tax rate where revenue starts going down, and will that even be enough?
-third, declare bankruptcy (household) or print enough cash to pay all debts. Seems attractive, but our credit rating goes to nil. All people's savings goes to zeros. Thing 1920s Germany. A million bucks buys a loaf of bread. You get paid with lots of zeros at the end of money and yet it buys nothing. Nobody with half a brain will lend to you. China will stop sending products. Etc. (BTW, the US Treasury is close to losing it's AAA credit rating. This means the Government will have to give more interest to attract investors).
So, a 20 or 30 something in America asking the question: "What will this commodity be worth when I want to convert it into a form usable to me?" might not get the expected answer back.
I guess I'm the only one who loved Avatar:-/ Or one of the few that admits it in the geek circles.
I do recognize the downfallings like somewhat 2d characters (though as an epic much better than Emmerich's total cookie cutter films whose formula seems to be rinse and repeat).
I had OCZ Solid Series with a JMicron controller, and while the 2 didn't fail, when they got more than half-full, it hiccuped so bad that I became an intel convert even with the added price.
Ah, but like another commentator said, of those single computer homes, how many are notebooks/netbooks with integrated graphics and no way to upgrade just a graphics card?
Notebooks are getting so cheap these days and electricity so expensive, I know I would buy any extra members in the household some cheap notebook and leave the game playing to a console.
It looks surprisingly chic and I get compliments all the time since that is how I always carry my phone now. I now laugh at people carrying androids with those slide-out keyboards!
That's strange. I can observe cats as much as I want and still see them not being like dogs.
Humans are social animals. So are dogs. Both are generally geared towards working in groups (even cats can be group animals - a lot of the big cats in Africa cooperate although they also can go solo). Not sure about ravens.
To me, it seems logical that empathy is a social behavior. Perhaps it's game theory, where helping out a fellow costs you relatively little at that moment but can net you help when you need it. Aesop's fable about the Lion and the Mouse nicely illustrates and exaggerates the point.
People really look at XP with rose-colored glasses. It was still a security nightmare. The reason XP did so well was because it was backwards compatible to previous Windows programs and really, what else are people going to buy? Get a new computer, Windows is on there in 99% of cases. Such are the benefits of a monopoly. Vista, otoh, often broke things that previously ran and was slightly too fat for the hardware at the outset although, predictably, hardware got faster. Windows 7 is OKAY, but I can't say I got it for any other reason other than I got a faster new computer with it pre-installed. Microsoft just has to make Windows just good enough that it's too painful too switch to Mac or Linux (moreso Linux as people will either spend the $$$ on a Mac or not). They don't actually have to sell the OS itself.
New products in different markets aren't going to work like that. Microsoft can try to sell crap 50x and 50x people can sneer and choose alternatives with no similiar repercussions. They need people that can design and design well and won't be overruled by committees, marketing, etcetera.
So... Microsoft's latest "Me too!" product goes down the tubes. Seems like it's becoming a pattern, a square company trying too hard to be hip. They're simply not going to out-Apple Apple so why don't they find another angle?
To me, MS has been struggling to find an identity outside the OS/Office market the last decade and mostly failed except with the XBox. Reports usually always mention the overwhelming bureacracy, corporate infighting and it seems they are petering along from previous momentum but have lost any set goal to strive towards. Seems like Ballmer, despite his jumping around, really has an iron fist because he's clueless himself.
Imo, they need to get a dictator, or at least, when making projects like this, hand it off to an autonomous unit headed by someone who has the clout and authority to resist the BS from the rest of the company.
Dot Com stock? Why are you going so far back? Substitute Tulip with real estate boom. Took a special mentality among people to think that houses are something extremely special and that you should expect them to up up dramatically forever, so much so that you keep pulling "equity" out of it (aka already paid mortgage) to finance the latest stupid shit acquisition.
The 1% rule applies to nearly everything (actually, I seen estimates vary from 1%-10% and everything in between). Books, music, movies, art, etcetera.
I think something higher than 1% but not quite 10% is a better estimate for garbage, however, that doesn't mean the remainder are automatically masterpieces or anything, just higher than garbage.
On the upside, it's not really different than what Ubuntu does with software repositories... except that they'll presumably be charging for it. And it would be one way for an administrator to allow people to download software while being reasonably assured they're not going to install malware by accident. I would hope.
As long as Microsoft doesn't block installs from outside the store, I don't see a problem.
Hah, you think things can get better by worthing from within the system. It's not. The system is what's wrong and your or anybody else's bandages won't do a damn thing.
On a side note, if you do know something about history and technology, and you'd like to put your money where your mouth is and improve the quality of patent examination,
Besides that, perhaps computers themselves are just too "cold" and without a human touch. All the science-leaning girls I know go into some field of medicine. OTOH, I do know a fair amount that go into math and I don't consider that any warmer but may be wrong.
Massive egos, though, exist in any scientific field, as well as the rest of the crap you describe. Although I don't consider the run of the mill "IT" scientific and it really depends if that means they are a code monkey, maintaining computer systems, or a true computer scientist. Vast differences between all of those, not least of which is the smarts required.
The FBI has never been a leader in computer technology. Other agencies such as NSA can probably crack that encryption with ease if not instantaneously. I have often wondered if these encryption programs were not let lose by our government so that they would always be able to examine file contents. As far as I know only a program that uses a one time pad is truly secure and I feel that even that would be suspect unless one took the time to create his own pad.
The government has a vested interest in appearing a lot more competent or advanced than they are. Then I look at the Gulf Oil Spill and know otherwise.
If the NSA could have unlocked it for them, I believe the FBI would have been there in a split second. They probably already asked.
Gotta ask, does AES have a backdoors that they can go "compell" an organization to give them the keys to it? Seems like shaky ground to secure data on, but the article mentions it.
That pretty much describes every single one of apple's products.
While I don't think Apple products are magical, people who don't understand why they sell (or why Nintendo products sell) are fixated by feature lists but kinda miss out on the whole dimension of actual usability of those features.
Slashdot Mirror
Don't forget, that 400 pounder might have a genetic glandular problem. Maybe they were born to be larger than you; why should you get off the hook just because you got lucky with your glands?
Most 400 lbs are fat fucks by choices they make. That's why the people who weigh 150 lb should be off the hook, as a reward for self-restraint.
It's disriminatory? It's like saying Walmart charging you biggies $1-2 on large clothing sizes (they do) because they use more material. For the airlines, more weight = more fuel burnt. I bet you have a bigger food bill than a 120 lb person as well, who are you going to cry discrimination there?
It's not discrimination. It's reality.
Where does one go then? Last time I looked, the national boundaries of all countries combined extended to all livable land.
That's like saying your stock portfolio is worth exactly what you can get out of it right this minute. It's true, but it's also the trivial answer to a question people people don't really mean to ask. Savings is practically the real world exemplification of delayed gratification. All you want to know after that is, "what will time do to my savings?" so "what will this commodity be worth when I want to convert it into a form usable to me? Of course, there are no 100% answers or the market would be steady state.
What you can look for is factors that matter in the future. Gold, for instance, cannot be made out of thin air (with current technology) but is also likely high right now compared to historical value (oil vs gold is said to correlate well over time).
The US dollar may have problems and the US isn't too much different than from a house. While outstanding debt is $13 Trillion right now (US debt clock), we also face $60 Trillion in promised unfunded entitlements looking forward because of the baby boomers and not saving up the Social Security and Medicare Fund (this number according to former Comptroller General David Walker). Promised unfunded entitlements = Promised Entitlements - Expected Federal Revenue @ current tax rates. By 2030, according to him, we can do little more than pay some interest on debt, some entitlements, and hardly anything else. (This comptroller general invited all the Democratic Primary contenders to speak with him early in the race - only two chose too, and I have a feeling it was none of the big names, probably Kucinich and that Alaska former Senator. Republicans were likely no better).
This scenario is only to get worse after 2030, not better. If it goes on with bailouts or stimulus, there are several scenarios just like a household:
-Cut spending. However, all the waste and even Pentagon Budget is not enough (Walker again, and he said that if we cut it today, not then). Entitlements need to be cut. It's more than if Johnny doesn't get his car for graduation. Imagine the Bonus Army x 1000
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonus_Army
-Raise taxes (household - get a better job, send the spouse and kids to work). Problem is, what will be the top tax rate where revenue starts going down, and will that even be enough?
-third, declare bankruptcy (household) or print enough cash to pay all debts. Seems attractive, but our credit rating goes to nil. All people's savings goes to zeros. Thing 1920s Germany. A million bucks buys a loaf of bread. You get paid with lots of zeros at the end of money and yet it buys nothing. Nobody with half a brain will lend to you. China will stop sending products. Etc. (BTW, the US Treasury is close to losing it's AAA credit rating. This means the Government will have to give more interest to attract investors).
So, a 20 or 30 something in America asking the question: "What will this commodity be worth when I want to convert it into a form usable to me?" might not get the expected answer back.
You can turn off the data connection on an iphone entirely in settings. It's called airplane mode.
I guess I'm the only one who loved Avatar:-/ Or one of the few that admits it in the geek circles.
I do recognize the downfallings like somewhat 2d characters (though as an epic much better than Emmerich's total cookie cutter films whose formula seems to be rinse and repeat).
I had OCZ Solid Series with a JMicron controller, and while the 2 didn't fail, when they got more than half-full, it hiccuped so bad that I became an intel convert even with the added price.
It would also be helpful to know brand and model of your SSDs....?
Ah, but like another commentator said, of those single computer homes, how many are notebooks/netbooks with integrated graphics and no way to upgrade just a graphics card?
Notebooks are getting so cheap these days and electricity so expensive, I know I would buy any extra members in the household some cheap notebook and leave the game playing to a console.
It's not education. It's critical thinking.
The least educated can possess it. And the most educated may not (Arthur Conan Doyle being but one example).
I just attached iPad accessory keyboard to the iPhone:
http://images.intomobile.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/iphone-ipad-keyboard-dock-536x357.jpg
It looks surprisingly chic and I get compliments all the time since that is how I always carry my phone now. I now laugh at people carrying androids with those slide-out keyboards!
That's strange. I can observe cats as much as I want and still see them not being like dogs.
Humans are social animals. So are dogs. Both are generally geared towards working in groups (even cats can be group animals - a lot of the big cats in Africa cooperate although they also can go solo). Not sure about ravens.
To me, it seems logical that empathy is a social behavior. Perhaps it's game theory, where helping out a fellow costs you relatively little at that moment but can net you help when you need it. Aesop's fable about the Lion and the Mouse nicely illustrates and exaggerates the point.
People really look at XP with rose-colored glasses. It was still a security nightmare. The reason XP did so well was because it was backwards compatible to previous Windows programs and really, what else are people going to buy? Get a new computer, Windows is on there in 99% of cases. Such are the benefits of a monopoly. Vista, otoh, often broke things that previously ran and was slightly too fat for the hardware at the outset although, predictably, hardware got faster. Windows 7 is OKAY, but I can't say I got it for any other reason other than I got a faster new computer with it pre-installed. Microsoft just has to make Windows just good enough that it's too painful too switch to Mac or Linux (moreso Linux as people will either spend the $$$ on a Mac or not). They don't actually have to sell the OS itself.
New products in different markets aren't going to work like that. Microsoft can try to sell crap 50x and 50x people can sneer and choose alternatives with no similiar repercussions. They need people that can design and design well and won't be overruled by committees, marketing, etcetera.
You may never heard of it, but the commercials were noticed:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CakBlWTwJK0
So... Microsoft's latest "Me too!" product goes down the tubes. Seems like it's becoming a pattern, a square company trying too hard to be hip. They're simply not going to out-Apple Apple so why don't they find another angle?
To me, MS has been struggling to find an identity outside the OS/Office market the last decade and mostly failed except with the XBox. Reports usually always mention the overwhelming bureacracy, corporate infighting and it seems they are petering along from previous momentum but have lost any set goal to strive towards. Seems like Ballmer, despite his jumping around, really has an iron fist because he's clueless himself.
Imo, they need to get a dictator, or at least, when making projects like this, hand it off to an autonomous unit headed by someone who has the clout and authority to resist the BS from the rest of the company.
Dot Com stock? Why are you going so far back? Substitute Tulip with real estate boom. Took a special mentality among people to think that houses are something extremely special and that you should expect them to up up dramatically forever, so much so that you keep pulling "equity" out of it (aka already paid mortgage) to finance the latest stupid shit acquisition.
The 1% rule applies to nearly everything (actually, I seen estimates vary from 1%-10% and everything in between). Books, music, movies, art, etcetera.
I think something higher than 1% but not quite 10% is a better estimate for garbage, however, that doesn't mean the remainder are automatically masterpieces or anything, just higher than garbage.
parabolic headlines myself.
They are a few years behind America in this aspect, but have been recently clamping down on it.
Rauchenverboten have been coming to many places in the very recent past.
On the upside, it's not really different than what Ubuntu does with software repositories... except that they'll presumably be charging for it. And it would be one way for an administrator to allow people to download software while being reasonably assured they're not going to install malware by accident. I would hope.
As long as Microsoft doesn't block installs from outside the store, I don't see a problem.
Hah, you think things can get better by worthing from within the system. It's not. The system is what's wrong and your or anybody else's bandages won't do a damn thing.
Ever heard of a "limited government"?
The government is in over it's head and bamboozled constantly with bullshit talk. The way to improve the system is to do away with it:
http://levine.sscnet.ucla.edu/general/intellectual/againstfinal.htm
Besides that, perhaps computers themselves are just too "cold" and without a human touch. All the science-leaning girls I know go into some field of medicine. OTOH, I do know a fair amount that go into math and I don't consider that any warmer but may be wrong.
Massive egos, though, exist in any scientific field, as well as the rest of the crap you describe. Although I don't consider the run of the mill "IT" scientific and it really depends if that means they are a code monkey, maintaining computer systems, or a true computer scientist. Vast differences between all of those, not least of which is the smarts required.
The government has a vested interest in appearing a lot more competent or advanced than they are. Then I look at the Gulf Oil Spill and know otherwise.
If the NSA could have unlocked it for them, I believe the FBI would have been there in a split second. They probably already asked.
Gotta ask, does AES have a backdoors that they can go "compell" an organization to give them the keys to it? Seems like shaky ground to secure data on, but the article mentions it.
While I don't think Apple products are magical, people who don't understand why they sell (or why Nintendo products sell) are fixated by feature lists but kinda miss out on the whole dimension of actual usability of those features.