Apparently, if the replies to my post are to be taken at face value...
They ought to be, unless you believe they're lying on their Form 10-K.
...MS employes roughly 36k employees(all in the U.S.?), and paid 4b in taxes last year(before or after their deductions for stocks, loopholes, etc.).
It's after deductions. Deductions, "loopholes" (as you call them) etc lower your taxable income. You don't pay taxes on gross revenue.
My point still fucking stands, MS is not a big contribution to the U.S. economy
Really? Because supporting their products has made me ALOT of money over the years, even if I don't use their stuff personally. In fact, an entire industry exists simply because Microsoft exists. I mean, think about it: Magazine writers get paid to write about their products. Publishers sell books on their products. People pay schools large sums of money to be certified on their products. Testing centers get paid to administer certification tests on their products. Countless software comanies get paid to write software for the Windows platform. *I* get paid to support their stuff (the buggier the better, I say). The list is endless. How can anyone seriously say they don't help the economy? The entire IT industry thrives (right or wrong) on their existence.
it was a goddam gift to BillG for his political contributions and support.
First, I thought McCain-Feingold Campaign Finance Reform was supposed to fix this (snicker). Second, I'm at a loss here: What (and how much) did Microsoft contribute, specifically?
Look, I run Linux exclusively and am by no means a Microsoft fanboy. Still, I hate it when people ASSume that large coporations don't pay income taxes...."literally zero dollars in income tax"? Literally? Are you freaking kidding me? Did you even bother to read their annual report, specifically Form 10-K Note 13? I didn't think so. Try 4.7 BILLION dollars this year, 3.6 Billion last year, and 3.8 Billion before that. A far cry from "literally zero dollars" now, isn't it? Their effective tax rate this year was 32.1%. Do YOU pay 32.1% of your income JUST in income taxes? If you do, then your pulling down something close to a 6 figure salary (and might need a new accountant). My effective tax rate this year was a little over 7%. Large corporations like Microsoft should be so fortunate. On top of that, shareholders end up paying taxes on *their* earnings as well.
Enough with this "rich people don't pay taxes" crap.
As the parent suggested, a modern laptop fits the bill just fine. I carry mine around in a backpack designed for laptops. It doesn't weigh much. I can still plug my laptop into a "full size keyboard/monitor kiosk type thing" if I feel like I need to. If you have a laptop, you already have a fully configured machine to suit your tastes wherever you went. A laptop is also fully capable of being a "gateway" to your real machine at home. I have a cell modem on mine, but usually don't have any trouble scoring internet access unless I'm stuck in my car for some reason.
I never understood the world's pre-ocupation with Pocket PC's. I get alot more bang for my buck with a laptop. My laptop bag weighs 17 lbs, which is easy to carry as it's a backpack. I weighed it just now and did a quick inventory.
It's fully loaded, including
laptop (with a 15" screen, mind you)
Power Adapter
GPS receiver + USB cable
digital camera
rotor lock for my motorcycle
UTP patch cables
console cables (for cisco routers)
a spare hub
cell phone + USB cable (for cell modem functionality)
various adapters
CF card reader
small toolkit
T1-WIC (ya never know)
a few CD's.
The only complaint I imagine one having is the weight. Obviously, the stuff I carry is in there is job related, so alot of it could be removed if you were not a network engineer. Even still, I'd put forth the notion that if someone thought 17 lbs was too heavy, then perhaps a trip to the gym every now and then might do them some good. Basically, I think modern laptops are quite "easily totable".
Depends on your prospective, I suppose. Every person I work with has an mp3 player. I'm an adult, as are my co workers. We all use CD players and rarely ever listen to the radio. I ride a motorcycle, so I get traffic and weather before I leave for work.
Trying to get a radio working on a motorcycle is futile, unless you don't mind looking at an antenna mounted somewhere (shiver). Even then, who wants an ugly radio mounted somewhere (Goldwing owners notwhithstanding)? My bike vibrates quite a lot, and the ride is pretty rough (it's a custom) so using a CD player is out for the most part. A portable mp3 player is a cool way for me to listen to my tunes while on the scoot.
Yep, right until the FCC caught you. I'm pretty sure that could be construed as operating a jamming device, which is a felony. Even if it isn't, it's operating an unlicensed transmitter, which still gets you nailed.
While I'm not sure about the FCC calling such a device a jamming device, I do know that it could never be called an unlicensed transmitter. All receivers have a Local Oscillator and use Intermediate Frequencies. Having a leaky one in either circuit certainly doesn't make it a transmitter.
As a matter of fact, I'm not sure that the FCC would really get involved much at all. Since these billboards are just receivers, I can't imagine them paying the FCC licensing fees for anything. Even so, I say wipe the prints off the radio with the leaky IF or LO and hide it in the bushes. Leave it on an NPR station. That'll leave 'em scratching their heads for a few minutes, anyhow.
I run my own mail server (sendmail currently, postfix when I get around to it). I create a virtual user whose name represents the site/mailinglist/newsgroup/etc I'm giving my email address to. I have over a hundred such users at the moment. For example, if I'm signing up for a newsletter at xyz.com, I create a virtual user like alan.xyz.com@mydomain.net. In this manner, I still get my newsletters and all is well. If they sell my address, or if my address is compromised in any way and I start receiving spam addressed to alan.xyz.com@mydomain.net, I know who the spammer got it from. From here, I can either create a new virtual user, update my preferences and continue to receive their newsletter, or (more likely) just nuke the virtual user and be done with it. No more spam.
I do have a real email addres. I deny all by default, and only allow specific whitelisted senders through (friends, family, coworkers). If somebody sends me email to my real address, and they aren't whitelisted, a reply is generated that politely directs them to a form on my website. They fill out the form letting me know who they are. If I deem them worthy of sending me email to my real address, I add them to my whitelist. My own email address is not whitelisted. This prevents spammers from using my address in the FROM: field in an attempt to circumvent the system I have in place. If I need to send myself something, I do it from another virtual user.
If a whitelisted individual keeps abusing me (constant virus warnings come to mind) I just remove them. Ditto if some worm is going through their address book. If this happens, I create a virtual user just for them let them know that this is the address they have to use if they want to email me. If their machine gets compromised again, I just nuke the virtual user and create another one for them.
I haven't seen spam in ages. The beauty of using virtual users is that all email is delivered to one place. It makes creating rules that organize my mail easier as well. Currently, I have to edit/etc/mail/virtusertable every time I need to add another virtual user. If I ever get the time, I'd like to create/implement (is there one already written?) a nice web interface that allows myself and others to manage their virtual users. As it stands right now, only two of us do this on our mail server as root privileges are required. The other users in the 75+ domains we host would probably love this.
Anyway, that's what I do. I've been spam free for quite a while now. This doesn't address badwidth issues with spammers attempting to use my mail server as an open relay or attempting to send email to users that don't exist, but it has kept my inbox free of spam. Would educating the public be a better solution to spam? Probably, as spammers profits dwindle. Unfortunately, I have neither the time nor the desire to start any sort of information campaign. This simple technical solution works and only took a couple of hours to set up.
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Apparently, if the replies to my post are to be taken at face value...
...MS employes roughly 36k employees(all in the U.S.?), and paid 4b in taxes last year(before or after their deductions for stocks, loopholes, etc.).
They ought to be, unless you believe they're lying on their Form 10-K.
It's after deductions. Deductions, "loopholes" (as you call them) etc lower your taxable income. You don't pay taxes on gross revenue.
My point still fucking stands, MS is not a big contribution to the U.S. economy
Really? Because supporting their products has made me ALOT of money over the years, even if I don't use their stuff personally. In fact, an entire industry exists simply because Microsoft exists. I mean, think about it: Magazine writers get paid to write about their products. Publishers sell books on their products. People pay schools large sums of money to be certified on their products. Testing centers get paid to administer certification tests on their products. Countless software comanies get paid to write software for the Windows platform. *I* get paid to support their stuff (the buggier the better, I say). The list is endless. How can anyone seriously say they don't help the economy? The entire IT industry thrives (right or wrong) on their existence.
it was a goddam gift to BillG for his political contributions and support.
First, I thought McCain-Feingold Campaign Finance Reform was supposed to fix this (snicker). Second, I'm at a loss here: What (and how much) did Microsoft contribute, specifically?
Insigtful my ass.
..."literally zero dollars in income tax"? Literally? Are you freaking kidding me? Did you even bother to read their annual report, specifically Form 10-K Note 13? I didn't think so. Try 4.7 BILLION dollars this year, 3.6 Billion last year, and 3.8 Billion before that. A far cry from "literally zero dollars" now, isn't it? Their effective tax rate this year was 32.1%. Do YOU pay 32.1% of your income JUST in income taxes? If you do, then your pulling down something close to a 6 figure salary (and might need a new accountant). My effective tax rate this year was a little over 7%. Large corporations like Microsoft should be so fortunate. On top of that, shareholders end up paying taxes on *their* earnings as well.
Look, I run Linux exclusively and am by no means a Microsoft fanboy. Still, I hate it when people ASSume that large coporations don't pay income taxes.
Enough with this "rich people don't pay taxes" crap.
I never understood the world's pre-ocupation with Pocket PC's. I get alot more bang for my buck with a laptop. My laptop bag weighs 17 lbs, which is easy to carry as it's a backpack. I weighed it just now and did a quick inventory.
It's fully loaded, including
- laptop (with a 15" screen, mind you)
- Power Adapter
- GPS receiver + USB cable
- digital camera
- rotor lock for my motorcycle
- UTP patch cables
- console cables (for cisco routers)
- a spare hub
- cell phone + USB cable (for cell modem functionality)
- various adapters
- CF card reader
- small toolkit
- T1-WIC (ya never know)
- a few CD's.
The only complaint I imagine one having is the weight. Obviously, the stuff I carry is in there is job related, so alot of it could be removed if you were not a network engineer. Even still, I'd put forth the notion that if someone thought 17 lbs was too heavy, then perhaps a trip to the gym every now and then might do them some good. Basically, I think modern laptops are quite "easily totable".Depends on your prospective, I suppose. Every person I work with has an mp3 player. I'm an adult, as are my co workers. We all use CD players and rarely ever listen to the radio. I ride a motorcycle, so I get traffic and weather before I leave for work.
Trying to get a radio working on a motorcycle is futile, unless you don't mind looking at an antenna mounted somewhere (shiver). Even then, who wants an ugly radio mounted somewhere (Goldwing owners notwhithstanding)? My bike vibrates quite a lot, and the ride is pretty rough (it's a custom) so using a CD player is out for the most part. A portable mp3 player is a cool way for me to listen to my tunes while on the scoot.
Yep, right until the FCC caught you. I'm pretty sure that could be construed as operating a jamming device, which is a felony. Even if it isn't, it's operating an unlicensed transmitter, which still gets you nailed.
While I'm not sure about the FCC calling such a device a jamming device, I do know that it could never be called an unlicensed transmitter. All receivers have a Local Oscillator and use Intermediate Frequencies. Having a leaky one in either circuit certainly doesn't make it a transmitter.
As a matter of fact, I'm not sure that the FCC would really get involved much at all. Since these billboards are just receivers, I can't imagine them paying the FCC licensing fees for anything. Even so, I say wipe the prints off the radio with the leaky IF or LO and hide it in the bushes. Leave it on an NPR station. That'll leave 'em scratching their heads for a few minutes, anyhow.
I run my own mail server (sendmail currently, postfix when I get around to it). I create a virtual user whose name represents the site/mailinglist/newsgroup/etc I'm giving my email address to. I have over a hundred such users at the moment. For example, if I'm signing up for a newsletter at xyz.com, I create a virtual user like alan.xyz.com@mydomain.net. In this manner, I still get my newsletters and all is well. If they sell my address, or if my address is compromised in any way and I start receiving spam addressed to alan.xyz.com@mydomain.net, I know who the spammer got it from. From here, I can either create a new virtual user, update my preferences and continue to receive their newsletter, or (more likely) just nuke the virtual user and be done with it. No more spam.
/etc/mail/virtusertable every time I need to add another virtual user. If I ever get the time, I'd like to create/implement (is there one already written?) a nice web interface that allows myself and others to manage their virtual users. As it stands right now, only two of us do this on our mail server as root privileges are required. The other users in the 75+ domains we host would probably love this.
I do have a real email addres. I deny all by default, and only allow specific whitelisted senders through (friends, family, coworkers). If somebody sends me email to my real address, and they aren't whitelisted, a reply is generated that politely directs them to a form on my website. They fill out the form letting me know who they are. If I deem them worthy of sending me email to my real address, I add them to my whitelist. My own email address is not whitelisted. This prevents spammers from using my address in the FROM: field in an attempt to circumvent the system I have in place. If I need to send myself something, I do it from another virtual user.
If a whitelisted individual keeps abusing me (constant virus warnings come to mind) I just remove them. Ditto if some worm is going through their address book. If this happens, I create a virtual user just for them let them know that this is the address they have to use if they want to email me. If their machine gets compromised again, I just nuke the virtual user and create another one for them.
I haven't seen spam in ages. The beauty of using virtual users is that all email is delivered to one place. It makes creating rules that organize my mail easier as well. Currently, I have to edit
Anyway, that's what I do. I've been spam free for quite a while now. This doesn't address badwidth issues with spammers attempting to use my mail server as an open relay or attempting to send email to users that don't exist, but it has kept my inbox free of spam. Would educating the public be a better solution to spam? Probably, as spammers profits dwindle. Unfortunately, I have neither the time nor the desire to start any sort of information campaign. This simple technical solution works and only took a couple of hours to set up.