"Now, IANAL and don't really know how LLCs work, but doesn't this sound eerily close to having a private entity "own" sensitive information pertaining to hundreds of thousands of citizens? Do they even have a choice on who gets to collate their info?"
But, being "born poor" does not necessitate staying in that state. If people grow up, get an education, work hard...they too CAN amass wealth, and own rental properties..etc.
Trouble is, in many 'communities', it is not the cool thing to do to get educated, and try to better yourself. You are actually looked down upon if you are a book worm rather than an athlete. I think a lot of the expanse in the rich and poor is attributable to this type of thing that discourages the lower classes from bettering themselves.
You can't legislate your way out of that type of attitude. And..that same attitude has also been progressing up the class system to some middle class kids. I think if you look at that, along with the dumbing down of US education, and teaching to the lowest common denominator in public schools has combined to widen the wealth gap.
But, it can be overcome. I know it in the past, I've SEEN it done many times.
Everyone 'starts' at a different place in life...both in status and in-born abilities, but, the US is still a place that will give you the freedom to work to succeed given what you have, some just have to work a little harder to do so. I think less people are just trying than used to. The opportunity is still there, but, not taken more and more due to laziness and bad culture cultivation.
"For reference, I'm running a dual core intel (e2140, I think) with 4gb of ram. Ubuntu 8.10 runs virtualbox loaded with win2k8 server and WinXP Pro very nicely. I'm debating on whether to add another 4gb or to build a SATA array for my data and VM images."
Thanks for the reply! Very informative.
May I ask what you are going to build your SATA array out of?
In this particular case...no, I don't know the facts. And yes, often bonuses do have performance goals that have to be reached. But, they aren't required by law or anything. I do know that some people just get a 10% or so bonus each year....it is considered part of their salary, so it does happen.
Another possibility...maybe these individuals met their individual goals, which were the criteria for their bonus, yet the dept. or whatever they are divided into...failed as a whole. Again, they met their goals and were owed their bonuses.
I don't know the details at AIG, but, I'm piecing together what I'm guessing happened from the news and what I read....and the main thing I hear is, the company was contractually obligated to pay these bonuses.
"The thing about that is that a bonus is supposed to be given to reward good performance, but they're treating them as an entitlement."
Well, that's often what they are supposed to be for. But, if you get a company to sign a contract that you get X dollars at the end of the year, with no strings attached. Well, they you successfully negotiated yourself an entitlement. Call it what you want, but if it was a legal contract...they were owed the money.
It was the problem with the company to not tie it to performance that was measurable, but, if they signed it...they owed it.
"As for the whole bonuses thing, the question is not whether they had the contractual obligations, but rather WHAT were the obligations? I have no clue what the american tax code is like, but are bonuses taxed at different marginal rates from salary? If so, the 'bonuses' could just be nothing more than a way to pay less tax..."
Actually, I do believe bonuses are taxed at the same, or possibly slightly higher rates.
Last time I did a salary gig....I keep thinking my bonus was taxed higher than regular salary.
I'll come clean right off to bat. I did not vote for Obama. But, he is my president, and I've been rooting for him to succeed in the battle on the economic problems we all have.
But, this type of ruling/defense by the administration, along with other things are really starting to bother me.
There are several that are bothersome. The moving of the census to be controlled by the executive branch. This is scary enough, in that it should be more independent....and above political needs. I see on the news that possibly ACORN is being tapped to 'help' with the census. I'd think the controversy over the potential voting fraud they were associated with, would sideline them on this effort. Slanting the census will have FAR reaching influence over many, many issues and money for years to come.
Obama was promising that he'd try to cut down earmarks..."line by line" I think was his quote. Yet, that Omnibus bill was loaded with what, like 8K of them?
The move to help people in housing problems....where they are allowing judges to overturn, revamp the condition of valid contractual agreements, that is dangerous, with far reaching implications for valid contract law in the US.
While it is understandable that people are pissed over the AIG bonuses...the acts passed by the house which try to retroactively and specically target these, again, is scary and I'd think unconstitutional. If these payouts were from valid contracts signed in the past, I don't see any clear way they could be overturned...and going after them retroactively by taxes...wow. I'm hoping the senate and especially Obama himself votes this down. It sets a bad precedent, and could really start to hurt US businesses. If valid contracts can be messed with like this....who wants to do business when you can't count on the terms being enforced?
The latest proposals...to not only mandate what execs of bailout companies can make..but also implications coming out that they want to actually set limits on what healthy, non=bailout companies can pay....that acares me. Sounds very much the opposite of capitalism. It may be a populist view in terms of the current economy, but, wow....THAT would be a change.
I want him to succeed in getting the country back in step....so we can all go back to trying to make a living without the interference of the government. That is the US way....at least ideally. Some of these policies coming out, seem to be a change to something the US is not....and never has been.
I ask honestly...for not just those that voted for O, but, those that were adamant supporters...are these things truly what you were expecting for 'change'? Do you support all of this which seems to change what the basics of the US business is all about? I don't mean the corruption and waste...but, the basic principals that seem to be in jeopardy?
"At least you're not upside-down on your mortgage..."
What IS the big deal on this, people act like this is something weird. Has no one bought a car recently? They pretty much are completely upside down the second you drive off the lot.
Why should a house be different? And why care...it is a place to live....LIVE in it. If you were flipping houses, well, ok then it sucks to be you. Unless you're wanting to sell your house, what is the big deal?
I don't think the age thing is the complete picture.
I liked music from WAY before my age too....the old blues masters. Hell, I like some classical and jazz stuff. I prefer blues based rock. I like predominate guitar as my preference.
I just don't see that out today much though. At least, I don't hear it. I don't see the big supergroups that unite a generation anymore. Where is the next Who? Zeppelin?
As I mentioned in another post...in the past, at least really for rock, one generation took from the preceding one, and made something a bit new out of it. Somewhere in the 90's I think...the chain for some reason was broken. And what music came out....didn't seem to have any recognition or a common thread from the past. Something that would help usher your old ears into the new stuff.
Don't get me wrong..I find 'some' interesting stuff out there that is out of my preference. I like some NIN. I've got a friend that turned me onto some Rob Zombie stuff that is interesting (cant take it TOO long)...I liked Wolfmother, but, that was obvious in that it has a great deal of 70's influences.
I don't know. I want to find good tunes. I really lament that new, good stuff doesn't come to you on the radio like it did with me growing up. You are right as that getting older, you have limited time and opportunity if searching and digging through tons of garbage is required to find great stuff you'd want to buy and listen to over and over.
"I'm not trying to be rude, but stopping buying/finding new music seems to generally be a function of age ( I'm 36 ). Music which soundtracked your most hormonal years seems to sink in deeper ( playing things on the radio enough that it hits a *special* moment for people seems to be a large part of how the music industry works/worked. )
Listening to music from their earlier years seems to be conforting for people, but to say that the quality of music and musicianship has declined is just another 'the kids these days are shit' statement. Your position and emotional needs have probably changed, but it's still true that your all-time favourite band you havn't heard yet, and right now they're probably about 3-4 clicks from where you're sitting. "
OH sure...the music from 'the day' certainly has a special meaning...but, I really am looking for something in the same vein that I like in my old music.
As I mentioned in another post, the trouble often is, and maybe it is being older...I don't have time or opportunity to search for music. Can't stream at worksites. No real time for it after work and gym and home stuff....
I do miss the fact that the radio USED to be an easy medium to discover decent music. Many of the stations I grew up with (alas they are now still playing the same stuff from back then too), could apparently program their own music, and the DJ's would play new stuff. I remember hearing Boston's first album the first time on the air, in its entirety. Heck, one night they threw on an album...and apparentlyt he DJ went out to smoke a joint or something...when the needle got to the end of the last track...it sat there popping on the air for like 20 min. I was laughing my ass off.
But, you used to get your new stuff that way...it came to you. Being older, with limited spare time, it is harder.
If there was some kind of podcast that was 'like' radio of old..where they'd throw out whole songs...new ones...I'd love to know where it was. I can load up my iPod to listen to at work....but, I've not found that yet.
Is there another guitar wizard out there like Jimmy Page or SRV? I'd have to think so, but, I don't know where they are.
"90% of my music is from the early 90s or later, and I've been listening to it for over 10 years now. Maybe you're just getting old."
Alas, I am getting old, but, I do still like music, and I want to find more, but, just have trouble. In my day, much of the new stuff DID come on the radio. I hear people say 'listen to the internet...go find it'. Not that I'm lazy, but, I work and just don't have time to go out and find what I used to get for free and in the background by simply flipping a switch. Not to mention, that most places I work at block streaming music, etc. Often due to being a govt. site or for security concerns or just network traffic. When I get off work, I hit the gym..go home...take care of stuff there (usually tv is on in background)...so, I really don't have tome to sit down, and search and sift through tons of crap to find the gems.
And the other day...I was kind of amused to see some kids...must have been 11 to 13 or so. They were all wearing AC/DC and Zeppelin tshirts. I'm thinking, wow....such old groups and that's what is still there for kids today? Who are the bands that unite kids of an age today, like we had? I just don't see them...
And me? Well, I do have a style of music, that I prefer...blues based rock. And from the 60's - 80's...bands took from the past..lifted some licks and ideas, and made them their own putting out a new sound/style of music. Somewhere in the 90's I guess....in my ears...there was a gap. No one seemed to take up from the past, and provide continuity...at least not for rock to progress as it had from Robt. Johnson, to Muddy Waters to Chuck Berry, to the Beatles, to the Stones, to Zeppelin,.....etc.
Maybe after MTV..music just got so fragmented and splintered.....and nothing truly IS mainstream anymore....
I've often wondered where the next Beatles or Stones or Zeppelin would come from....and while there are some big groups, U2 and the like...I've just not seen a group so good or powerful come out and unite a generation behind them.
I really do have open ears, and want to hear. I find some here and there...I liked Wolfmother's album. I'm lucky in that I live in New Orleans, and I've started finding local groups that are fun....but, nothing yet that catches my ear and soul like the blasts that were the supergroups of the earlier decades.
I can't believe it is a lack of talent really...can't be. Maybe the music industry killed it....many of the supergroups came out before music was BIG business...and they had time to grow and progress. I guess many bands today don't have that chance.
"It's not that they are 'above' or whatever. It's that these programs create jobs. Jobs that the private sector is not creating. It's basically a way to keep unemployment down and keep productivity up as a society. It's only a temporary measure(usually, hopefully). Giving everyone a bonus would be a tiny drop in the bucket. Remember the stimulus? Mine went away real quick. A job would be worth more."
I'm not saying that there shouldn't be any increase in govt. infrastructure spending. (Although I'm still trying to figure out how saving some swamp rat habitat in CA is considered building infrastructre, but, I digress)
The thing is...the private sectore...PARTICULARLY small businesses have and always do employ more people in the US than any other industry. The credit crunch is largely the culprit here, and if the govt. would concentrate more on fixing that blockage of funds and credit, you'd pretty much see the economy heal itself, and new job creation, which means more tax revenue, and less govt. deficit.
Instead...they're actually placing more tax burdons and regulations on small businesses, and stifling the very 'soul' of the US economy. The govt. trying to spend its way out of recession just almost never works...look at Japan in recent years as a shining example of that. It seems the current federal govt. is doing everything BUT what many economists (and historians) are saying would be the most likely thing to fix the situation. Also, by shielding many of these banks and companies from failure, is actually hindering economic recovery progress.
Again, I agree that some targeted govt. infrastructure spending is needed and necessary. It just seems we didn't get very much of the 'real' stuff out of that last trillion dollars they just spent. After seeing that fiasco, I don't really know if we CAN trust them to ever spend the right amount of money on the right things.
This article does strike me as odd. It seems to imply that Republicans are for closed source, proprietary standards...and that Democrats are the opposite?
I'm not ever really come across evidence one way or another on this type issue.
If anything, I'd say that BOTH parties, in general, vote towards proprietary solutions, since they both are so heavily bought/rented by corporate interests.
Actually, it is favoring all vendors....over just one. With them picking one, non-proprietary format...then, any document application can be considered and used to read/write.
You said it yourself that MS can operate with ODF, so, it isn't like MS is being locked out here.
As long as they pick one format, that no one company 'owns', then that sounds to me like the way to go for our public documents. And, often times...as the govt. goes,, so does the general public. Much like hardware is becoming commodity, so are office applications (especially spreadsheets and word processors). They should be treated as such.
Maybe it is due to the dearth of good music coming out these days, that anyone would WANT to purchase.
Sure...listening is on the rise...people are desperately listening to hope to try to find something WORTH listening to, and possibly buy to keep.
So much music today, is dispensible.
When I bought music, it was something I bought to keep and listen to repeatedly. I hear kids today buy songs...listen for a few months, and hardly ever return to them again? I still listen over and over and over again, most all of my music collection from over the years. I have songs from my parents' time. I have stuff when I was a kid (very young) in the 60s and early 70's. I like the stuff my my teen years...through college and all. For the most part, I quit finding new, good stuff I wanted in the early 90's or so.
I have a pretty decent sized collection. I don't have any throw away music....
What is the deal with that today? Is it due to the lack of quality/musicianship?
"It's certainly not going into everyones pockets, but a great deal of it is going back into the economy. You know, like government projects earlier last century, like the Hoover dam, the Eisenhower Interstate Highway system."
Excuse me while I don't hold my breathe while waiting to see if they accomplish anything great like that this time around.
But, excepting that....why should a govt. worker get money over and above any other worker in any other job? That was more my point. If they'd just done an extended 'vacation' out of all working people's paycheck....everyone, especially middle class people (who generally work for a W2 paycheck) would keep more of their own money, and have that to spend,pay debt, etc....
I think that would be more fair for ALL workers...not just those working for the govt.
"I may not be able to tell you where the money is going by looking at the site, but I sure can tell you where it's NOT going by looking at the site."
Well, I can tell you for sure, that is it NOT going back into the pockets of the working, tax paying citizens of the country.
Of course, if they really wanted to do that...they could have easily done the simple thing...and quit taking tax money out of everyone's paycheck. Then again, I guess the general public can't be trusted with their own money.
"Really? I'd think that if we hadn't given equal rights to African Americans, we might have an "advantage" in the sense you're describing. After all, slaves could be useful."
Can we please quit calling them African Americans. We're all Americans, plain and simple.
Slashdot Mirror
All I want to know is....How can I opt out???
Trouble is, in many 'communities', it is not the cool thing to do to get educated, and try to better yourself. You are actually looked down upon if you are a book worm rather than an athlete. I think a lot of the expanse in the rich and poor is attributable to this type of thing that discourages the lower classes from bettering themselves.
You can't legislate your way out of that type of attitude. And..that same attitude has also been progressing up the class system to some middle class kids. I think if you look at that, along with the dumbing down of US education, and teaching to the lowest common denominator in public schools has combined to widen the wealth gap.
But, it can be overcome. I know it in the past, I've SEEN it done many times.
Everyone 'starts' at a different place in life...both in status and in-born abilities, but, the US is still a place that will give you the freedom to work to succeed given what you have, some just have to work a little harder to do so. I think less people are just trying than used to. The opportunity is still there, but, not taken more and more due to laziness and bad culture cultivation.
Thanks for the reply! Very informative.
May I ask what you are going to build your SATA array out of?
Thanks for the comment. What do I need to look for in the BIOS to see if it will run VM? I was under the impression most any box would run VMs??
I'm pretty sure bonuses have strings attached."
In this particular case...no, I don't know the facts. And yes, often bonuses do have performance goals that have to be reached. But, they aren't required by law or anything. I do know that some people just get a 10% or so bonus each year....it is considered part of their salary, so it does happen.
Another possibility...maybe these individuals met their individual goals, which were the criteria for their bonus, yet the dept. or whatever they are divided into...failed as a whole. Again, they met their goals and were owed their bonuses.
I don't know the details at AIG, but, I'm piecing together what I'm guessing happened from the news and what I read....and the main thing I hear is, the company was contractually obligated to pay these bonuses.
Well, that's often what they are supposed to be for. But, if you get a company to sign a contract that you get X dollars at the end of the year, with no strings attached. Well, they you successfully negotiated yourself an entitlement. Call it what you want, but if it was a legal contract...they were owed the money.
It was the problem with the company to not tie it to performance that was measurable, but, if they signed it...they owed it.
Yep....and we know how "great" the economy was doing in the 70's, eh?
"Your histrionics aside, you don't believe in everyone having an equal chance? "
Sure....but, equal opportunity does not meat equal results.
Actually, I do believe bonuses are taxed at the same, or possibly slightly higher rates.
Last time I did a salary gig....I keep thinking my bonus was taxed higher than regular salary.
But, this type of ruling/defense by the administration, along with other things are really starting to bother me.
There are several that are bothersome. The moving of the census to be controlled by the executive branch. This is scary enough, in that it should be more independent....and above political needs. I see on the news that possibly ACORN is being tapped to 'help' with the census. I'd think the controversy over the potential voting fraud they were associated with, would sideline them on this effort. Slanting the census will have FAR reaching influence over many, many issues and money for years to come.
Obama was promising that he'd try to cut down earmarks..."line by line" I think was his quote. Yet, that Omnibus bill was loaded with what, like 8K of them?
The move to help people in housing problems....where they are allowing judges to overturn, revamp the condition of valid contractual agreements, that is dangerous, with far reaching implications for valid contract law in the US.
While it is understandable that people are pissed over the AIG bonuses...the acts passed by the house which try to retroactively and specically target these, again, is scary and I'd think unconstitutional. If these payouts were from valid contracts signed in the past, I don't see any clear way they could be overturned...and going after them retroactively by taxes...wow. I'm hoping the senate and especially Obama himself votes this down. It sets a bad precedent, and could really start to hurt US businesses. If valid contracts can be messed with like this....who wants to do business when you can't count on the terms being enforced?
The latest proposals...to not only mandate what execs of bailout companies can make..but also implications coming out that they want to actually set limits on what healthy, non=bailout companies can pay....that acares me. Sounds very much the opposite of capitalism. It may be a populist view in terms of the current economy, but, wow....THAT would be a change.
I want him to succeed in getting the country back in step....so we can all go back to trying to make a living without the interference of the government. That is the US way....at least ideally. Some of these policies coming out, seem to be a change to something the US is not....and never has been.
I ask honestly...for not just those that voted for O, but, those that were adamant supporters...are these things truly what you were expecting for 'change'? Do you support all of this which seems to change what the basics of the US business is all about? I don't mean the corruption and waste...but, the basic principals that seem to be in jeopardy?
What IS the big deal on this, people act like this is something weird. Has no one bought a car recently? They pretty much are completely upside down the second you drive off the lot.
Why should a house be different? And why care...it is a place to live....LIVE in it. If you were flipping houses, well, ok then it sucks to be you. Unless you're wanting to sell your house, what is the big deal?
So far the only difference I can really see is:
1. One group likes to cut taxes and spend
2. One group likes to raise taxes and spend
Frankly, I'd just like one that went for lower govt. intrusion, and smaller govt. If they did that, the need to tax would naturally go down.
I liked music from WAY before my age too....the old blues masters. Hell, I like some classical and jazz stuff. I prefer blues based rock. I like predominate guitar as my preference.
I just don't see that out today much though. At least, I don't hear it. I don't see the big supergroups that unite a generation anymore. Where is the next Who? Zeppelin?
As I mentioned in another post...in the past, at least really for rock, one generation took from the preceding one, and made something a bit new out of it. Somewhere in the 90's I think...the chain for some reason was broken. And what music came out....didn't seem to have any recognition or a common thread from the past. Something that would help usher your old ears into the new stuff.
Don't get me wrong..I find 'some' interesting stuff out there that is out of my preference. I like some NIN. I've got a friend that turned me onto some Rob Zombie stuff that is interesting (cant take it TOO long)...I liked Wolfmother, but, that was obvious in that it has a great deal of 70's influences.
I don't know. I want to find good tunes. I really lament that new, good stuff doesn't come to you on the radio like it did with me growing up. You are right as that getting older, you have limited time and opportunity if searching and digging through tons of garbage is required to find great stuff you'd want to buy and listen to over and over.
Listening to music from their earlier years seems to be conforting for people, but to say that the quality of music and musicianship has declined is just another 'the kids these days are shit' statement. Your position and emotional needs have probably changed, but it's still true that your all-time favourite band you havn't heard yet, and right now they're probably about 3-4 clicks from where you're sitting. "
OH sure...the music from 'the day' certainly has a special meaning...but, I really am looking for something in the same vein that I like in my old music.
As I mentioned in another post, the trouble often is, and maybe it is being older...I don't have time or opportunity to search for music. Can't stream at worksites. No real time for it after work and gym and home stuff....
I do miss the fact that the radio USED to be an easy medium to discover decent music. Many of the stations I grew up with (alas they are now still playing the same stuff from back then too), could apparently program their own music, and the DJ's would play new stuff. I remember hearing Boston's first album the first time on the air, in its entirety. Heck, one night they threw on an album...and apparentlyt he DJ went out to smoke a joint or something...when the needle got to the end of the last track...it sat there popping on the air for like 20 min. I was laughing my ass off.
But, you used to get your new stuff that way...it came to you. Being older, with limited spare time, it is harder.
If there was some kind of podcast that was 'like' radio of old..where they'd throw out whole songs...new ones...I'd love to know where it was. I can load up my iPod to listen to at work....but, I've not found that yet.
Is there another guitar wizard out there like Jimmy Page or SRV? I'd have to think so, but, I don't know where they are.
Alas, I am getting old, but, I do still like music, and I want to find more, but, just have trouble. In my day, much of the new stuff DID come on the radio. I hear people say 'listen to the internet...go find it'. Not that I'm lazy, but, I work and just don't have time to go out and find what I used to get for free and in the background by simply flipping a switch. Not to mention, that most places I work at block streaming music, etc. Often due to being a govt. site or for security concerns or just network traffic. When I get off work, I hit the gym..go home...take care of stuff there (usually tv is on in background)...so, I really don't have tome to sit down, and search and sift through tons of crap to find the gems.
And the other day...I was kind of amused to see some kids...must have been 11 to 13 or so. They were all wearing AC/DC and Zeppelin tshirts. I'm thinking, wow....such old groups and that's what is still there for kids today? Who are the bands that unite kids of an age today, like we had? I just don't see them...
And me? Well, I do have a style of music, that I prefer...blues based rock. And from the 60's - 80's...bands took from the past..lifted some licks and ideas, and made them their own putting out a new sound/style of music. Somewhere in the 90's I guess....in my ears...there was a gap. No one seemed to take up from the past, and provide continuity...at least not for rock to progress as it had from Robt. Johnson, to Muddy Waters to Chuck Berry, to the Beatles, to the Stones, to Zeppelin, .....etc.
Maybe after MTV..music just got so fragmented and splintered.....and nothing truly IS mainstream anymore....
I've often wondered where the next Beatles or Stones or Zeppelin would come from....and while there are some big groups, U2 and the like...I've just not seen a group so good or powerful come out and unite a generation behind them.
I really do have open ears, and want to hear. I find some here and there...I liked Wolfmother's album. I'm lucky in that I live in New Orleans, and I've started finding local groups that are fun....but, nothing yet that catches my ear and soul like the blasts that were the supergroups of the earlier decades.
I can't believe it is a lack of talent really...can't be. Maybe the music industry killed it....many of the supergroups came out before music was BIG business...and they had time to grow and progress. I guess many bands today don't have that chance.
I'm not saying that there shouldn't be any increase in govt. infrastructure spending. (Although I'm still trying to figure out how saving some swamp rat habitat in CA is considered building infrastructre, but, I digress)
The thing is...the private sectore...PARTICULARLY small businesses have and always do employ more people in the US than any other industry. The credit crunch is largely the culprit here, and if the govt. would concentrate more on fixing that blockage of funds and credit, you'd pretty much see the economy heal itself, and new job creation, which means more tax revenue, and less govt. deficit.
Instead...they're actually placing more tax burdons and regulations on small businesses, and stifling the very 'soul' of the US economy. The govt. trying to spend its way out of recession just almost never works...look at Japan in recent years as a shining example of that. It seems the current federal govt. is doing everything BUT what many economists (and historians) are saying would be the most likely thing to fix the situation. Also, by shielding many of these banks and companies from failure, is actually hindering economic recovery progress.
Again, I agree that some targeted govt. infrastructure spending is needed and necessary. It just seems we didn't get very much of the 'real' stuff out of that last trillion dollars they just spent. After seeing that fiasco, I don't really know if we CAN trust them to ever spend the right amount of money on the right things.
I'm not ever really come across evidence one way or another on this type issue.
If anything, I'd say that BOTH parties, in general, vote towards proprietary solutions, since they both are so heavily bought/rented by corporate interests.
Actually, it is favoring all vendors....over just one. With them picking one, non-proprietary format...then, any document application can be considered and used to read/write.
You said it yourself that MS can operate with ODF, so, it isn't like MS is being locked out here.
As long as they pick one format, that no one company 'owns', then that sounds to me like the way to go for our public documents. And, often times...as the govt. goes,, so does the general public. Much like hardware is becoming commodity, so are office applications (especially spreadsheets and word processors). They should be treated as such.
Sure...listening is on the rise...people are desperately listening to hope to try to find something WORTH listening to, and possibly buy to keep.
So much music today, is dispensible.
When I bought music, it was something I bought to keep and listen to repeatedly. I hear kids today buy songs...listen for a few months, and hardly ever return to them again? I still listen over and over and over again, most all of my music collection from over the years. I have songs from my parents' time. I have stuff when I was a kid (very young) in the 60s and early 70's. I like the stuff my my teen years...through college and all. For the most part, I quit finding new, good stuff I wanted in the early 90's or so.
I have a pretty decent sized collection. I don't have any throw away music....
What is the deal with that today? Is it due to the lack of quality/musicianship?
Excuse me while I don't hold my breathe while waiting to see if they accomplish anything great like that this time around.
But, excepting that....why should a govt. worker get money over and above any other worker in any other job? That was more my point. If they'd just done an extended 'vacation' out of all working people's paycheck....everyone, especially middle class people (who generally work for a W2 paycheck) would keep more of their own money, and have that to spend,pay debt, etc....
I think that would be more fair for ALL workers...not just those working for the govt.
Well, I can tell you for sure, that is it NOT going back into the pockets of the working, tax paying citizens of the country.
Of course, if they really wanted to do that...they could have easily done the simple thing...and quit taking tax money out of everyone's paycheck. Then again, I guess the general public can't be trusted with their own money.
They certainly don't expect YOU to read it either...
Can we please quit calling them African Americans. We're all Americans, plain and simple.
Screw it. THIS is the video that says it all to me, with regard to world relations. If this doesn't make you smile...nothing will.
Someone send in some Cylons!!!
I just cat the source code once and memorize it as it goes up the screen.
I then, install the code, by hand on my abacus.
You're not a real man, till you've installed Linux and a working browser on an abacus.