We should ask all the opponents of social security privatization two questions:
1. Do you have a 401K or IRA account? 2. Why?
Given the worthlessness of such accounts -- the high risks, enormous administrative costs, etc. -- that these people are repeatedly warning us about, I wonder what their answer would be...
Unfortunately, much of the opposition seems to be less due to principles as it is Bush bashing. Consider, from www.NDOL.org (New Democrats Online), 11/1/98:
"This is no time for "hands off" talk about Social Security. Democrats occasionally scored big political points in thepast by opposing Republican efforts to change Social Security (such as GOP proposals to delay or decrease automatic cost-of-living adjustments for beneficiaries). A few Democratic candidates took a similar approach this year, blasting ill-conceived total privatization schemes endorsed by Republican candidates.
The situation is different now. Democrats, including a Democratic president, are calling for action on Social Security. Polls show that Americans are abundantly aware that Social Security will face insolvency once the baby boom generation begins to retire. They are also more open to structural change than are many of the politicians representing them. Younger voters in particular are willing to embrace radical reform. Saying "hands off!" means consciously and deliberately deciding to divert an ever-higher percentage of national wealth into the current Social Security system."
Amazing how a policy can change completely opposite in just 6 short years.
Every once in awhile, I am reminded how amazing and exciting it is to live at a time like this. Think about it, we're disappointed (and I agree, I would like to see higher res photos as well) about the quality of sounds and pictures FROM ANOTHER FREAKING PLANET! (moon, whatever).
Seriously, how cool is it we can take that for granted? These images of an alien world, with detail, not some blurry photo from space, are easily available on our computers. I mean, about a hundred years ago, people were amazed by electric lights, and powered aviation had just started. From Kitty Hawk to Titan in a hundred years (+/-)? Unfuckingbelievable. Life is good.
Thank you, I thought I was the only one who thought V was better. I can honestly say V for Vendetta helped shape who I am and how I look at the world. Absolutely fantastic, and so relevant today.
If I were stranded on a deserted island, V for Vendetta would be the book I would take along. And HHGTTG, if space warranted.
My understanding about this is that Apple keeps the RAM quantity intentionally low as an incentive for its resellers. In other words, because resellers can't compete on price for systems, they can make money through add ons like RAM. Which would also explain, perhaps, why RAM from Apple is so expensive.
Search Google for "the myth of plutonium toxicity" by Bernard Cohen. He once made an offer to Ralph Nader to ingest as much plutonium as Nader would of caffeine, if televised. Pretty interesting read.
French officials also found several other items which they had never seen before and were not immediately able to identify, including one testicle and a backbone.
I worked a few years ago for Brookfield Engineering (a viscometer and rheometer manufacturer) as Rheology Lab Manager. Part of my duties included conducting training classes monthly for customers.
We tried to use experimentation to illustrate rheological properties, including using cornstarch in solution. This demonstrates dilatancy (shear thickening), and we would put a spoon in a jar of the stuff, which was very fluid. When you try to pull the spoon out quickly, viscosity increases, and the solution gets real "thick".
Well, of course, I thought this was pretty boring, so I decided to punch it up a bit. I made a much larger sample of the solution, and put it in a large bowl. I would swirl it around and show everyone how liquid it was. Without warning, I would then move the bowl quickly, like I was going to completely douche someone with it. The solution would thicken, and stay in the bowl (thank you Penn & Teller). Pretty cool, actually, but god help you if you got the mixture wrong!
How about this instead: Taxes are paid monthly, but not by being deducted from your paycheck. Instead, every taxpayer has to write out a check to the IRS. Also, change election laws so that Election Day is held on April 16th.
See how long it is before the tax codes change then.
I don't know. I hope you're right, and I hope the US and EU can realize how much they need each other. And no, I don't expect the US to remain on top forever, but I don't see it happening in my lifetime, or my great great grandchildrens time, either. Who can say?
I agree up to the part where you say the EU is a very strong force to be reckoned with. In theory, yes, but I really don't see the EU as being a very cohesive, unified entity.
To be honest, I expect the smaller members (i.e., anyone not France or Germany), to get pretty tired of their second class roles and start revolting. I mean, look at the EU Constitution. It's hundreds of pages, due to the fact that they try to anticipate and codify everything and anything that may come up. I just can't see a group formed of such diverse cultures and languages staying together. History tends to support me, I think.
Okay, you mentioned elephants, good enough for me.
A man, his wife and son are at the zoo. The husband says "I need to go to the bathroom" and off he goes.
The wife and son are sitting and waiting for him when an elephant goes by. The son says, "Mommy, what's that hanging down there from the elephant?" Embarassed, the mother says "the tail". No, not that, the other thing! That's his trunk, says Mom. No, no, the thing in the middle! Th-that's nothing, says Mom, horribly embarassed. Oh, okay says the boy.
Dad comes back, and Mom goes off to the bathroom. The elephant comes walking back, and sonny boy says to Dad, what's that hanging down from the elephant? The tail, son. No, the other thing! That's his trunk. No, no, the thing in the middle! Oh!, says Dad, that's his penis. How come when I asked Mom what it was, she said it was nothing? Smiling smugly, the father says "Boy, I've spoiled that woman!"
Slashdot Mirror
Homer: He may be rich, but money can't buy everything!
Marge: Like what?
Homer: . . . A Dinosaur!
I want to be the first 35 year old kid on my block with a T-Rex. Leash laws be damned!
Plus, Curt Schilling is one of the owners of MMP. How cool is that?
We should ask all the opponents of social security privatization two questions:
1. Do you have a 401K or IRA account?
2. Why?
Given the worthlessness of such accounts -- the high risks, enormous administrative costs, etc. -- that these people are repeatedly warning us about, I wonder what their answer would be...
Unfortunately, much of the opposition seems to be less due to principles as it is Bush bashing. Consider, from www.NDOL.org (New Democrats Online), 11/1/98:
"This is no time for "hands off" talk about Social Security. Democrats occasionally scored big political points in thepast by opposing Republican efforts to change Social Security (such as GOP proposals to delay or decrease automatic cost-of-living adjustments for beneficiaries). A few Democratic candidates took a similar approach this year, blasting ill-conceived total privatization schemes endorsed by Republican candidates.
The situation is different now. Democrats, including a Democratic president, are calling for action on Social Security. Polls show that Americans are abundantly aware that Social Security will face insolvency once the baby boom generation begins to retire. They are also more open to structural change than are many of the politicians representing them. Younger voters in particular are willing to embrace radical reform. Saying "hands off!" means consciously and deliberately deciding to divert an ever-higher percentage of national wealth into the current Social Security system."
Amazing how a policy can change completely opposite in just 6 short years.
Every once in awhile, I am reminded how amazing and exciting it is to live at a time like this. Think about it, we're disappointed (and I agree, I would like to see higher res photos as well) about the quality of sounds and pictures FROM ANOTHER FREAKING PLANET! (moon, whatever).
Seriously, how cool is it we can take that for granted? These images of an alien world, with detail, not some blurry photo from space, are easily available on our computers. I mean, about a hundred years ago, people were amazed by electric lights, and powered aviation had just started. From Kitty Hawk to Titan in a hundred years (+/-)? Unfuckingbelievable. Life is good.
Thanks, you're getting the bill to clean Diet Coke out of my computer after I sprayed it out my nose.
http://www.ntk.net/media/developers.mpg
Thank you, I thought I was the only one who thought V was better. I can honestly say V for Vendetta helped shape who I am and how I look at the world. Absolutely fantastic, and so relevant today.
If I were stranded on a deserted island, V for Vendetta would be the book I would take along. And HHGTTG, if space warranted.
"The clothing includes an integrated tunnel system which allows you to hide all the wires affiliated with your devices"
Can't you picture the marketing guys planning their advertising?
PHB: Integrated tunnel system? That'll never sell. We need something with a catchy name. Any ideas?
Drone 2: Hmmmm... how about the "uRanus system"?
PHB: (Staring at drone 2): You're fired.
We can remake that classic driver safety film now:
How does "Red Asphalt, Blue Screen on the Dashboard" sound?
Obligatory Simpsons reference:
Announcer: Here's an appealing fellow, in fact they're a-peeling him off the road right now!
Homer: heh heh, its funny because I don't know him!
My understanding about this is that Apple keeps the RAM quantity intentionally low as an incentive for its resellers. In other words, because resellers can't compete on price for systems, they can make money through add ons like RAM. Which would also explain, perhaps, why RAM from Apple is so expensive.
This is what the cool kids are wearing: http://www.kanguru.com/fireflash.html
Search Google for "the myth of plutonium toxicity" by Bernard Cohen. He once made an offer to Ralph Nader to ingest as much plutonium as Nader would of caffeine, if televised. Pretty interesting read.
French officials also found several other items which they had never seen before and were not immediately able to identify, including one testicle and a backbone.
I worked a few years ago for Brookfield Engineering (a viscometer and rheometer manufacturer) as Rheology Lab Manager. Part of my duties included conducting training classes monthly for customers.
We tried to use experimentation to illustrate rheological properties, including using cornstarch in solution. This demonstrates dilatancy (shear thickening), and we would put a spoon in a jar of the stuff, which was very fluid. When you try to pull the spoon out quickly, viscosity increases, and the solution gets real "thick".
Well, of course, I thought this was pretty boring, so I decided to punch it up a bit. I made a much larger sample of the solution, and put it in a large bowl. I would swirl it around and show everyone how liquid it was. Without warning, I would then move the bowl quickly, like I was going to completely douche someone with it. The solution would thicken, and stay in the bowl (thank you Penn & Teller). Pretty cool, actually, but god help you if you got the mixture wrong!
"Why do I think this wouldn't have happened with a company whose name begins with M and ends with -onopoly."
Damn you Parker Brothers! Daaaammmmnnnn Yoooouuuu!
I think he forgot to add dodging bullets, which if I recall, he wasn't very good at.
Oh, I am so going to hell.
How about this instead: Taxes are paid monthly, but not by being deducted from your paycheck. Instead, every taxpayer has to write out a check to the IRS. Also, change election laws so that Election Day is held on April 16th.
See how long it is before the tax codes change then.
I don't know. I hope you're right, and I hope the US and EU can realize how much they need each other. And no, I don't expect the US to remain on top forever, but I don't see it happening in my lifetime, or my great great grandchildrens time, either. Who can say?
I agree up to the part where you say the EU is a very strong force to be reckoned with. In theory, yes, but I really don't see the EU as being a very cohesive, unified entity.
To be honest, I expect the smaller members (i.e., anyone not France or Germany), to get pretty tired of their second class roles and start revolting. I mean, look at the EU Constitution. It's hundreds of pages, due to the fact that they try to anticipate and codify everything and anything that may come up. I just can't see a group formed of such diverse cultures and languages staying together. History tends to support me, I think.
It's so obvious why Steve made the switch: employee discount, baby!
And before I get jumped on, yes, I am joking.
Shit, does this mean I have to listen to that Megahertz Myth crap again? Or will it be the Light Speed Lie now?
And before you all plotz, chill. I'm an Apple man myself.
Yeah, but if you like television, and I mean REALLY like television, you want the "Carnavale"!
Okay, you mentioned elephants, good enough for me.
A man, his wife and son are at the zoo. The husband says "I need to go to the bathroom" and off he goes.
The wife and son are sitting and waiting for him when an elephant goes by. The son says, "Mommy, what's that hanging down there from the elephant?"
Embarassed, the mother says "the tail".
No, not that, the other thing!
That's his trunk, says Mom.
No, no, the thing in the middle!
Th-that's nothing, says Mom, horribly embarassed.
Oh, okay says the boy.
Dad comes back, and Mom goes off to the bathroom.
The elephant comes walking back, and sonny boy says to Dad, what's that hanging down from the elephant?
The tail, son.
No, the other thing!
That's his trunk.
No, no, the thing in the middle!
Oh!, says Dad, that's his penis.
How come when I asked Mom what it was, she said it was nothing?
Smiling smugly, the father says "Boy, I've spoiled that woman!"
George Carlin has it right: The boy who eats too many marbles doesn't get to grow up and have kids of his own.
"And when they do, they end up with over analized and engineered products nobody want"
If anything is "Over analized" when it comes to Microsoft, it's their customers.
I just couldn't resist.