I think a few years from now, almost all the business will be controlled by just a few corporations.
You're right. It WILL be controlled by 'just a few corporations' because it already IS controlled by 'just a few corporations.
There are economic reasons for this. Mainly that being a telecom company is expensive. You must have lines, switching systems, employees, et cetera. Competition is often a good thing, and it's often a bad thing. Some things, like telecos, power/water/propane supply on a local scale, cable companies on a local scale... why? Because every competitor requires a duplication of effort to achieve the same goal, and split the profit. After a certain point, boom. NOBODY is profitable and they ALL go tits-up.
Ma-bell wasn't broken up because it was big, it was broken up because there was no way others could get into the market otherwise. It's not always compitition which keeps the market efficient, it's the THREAT of competition or elimination which does it. Utility companies generally try to keep rates low despite their monopolies because the state/county/city can kick them out if they don't. Cable companies try to keep rates competitive with satellite, and offer benefits over broadcast TV. Telecom companies, so long as there is at least a threat of being broken up to restore competition, will do the same (in theory).
As long as there are at least two companies (preferably three), the only thing we have to fear is collusion. As it is now, they're playing "Who can undercut the others on the wireless service"... POTS is more expensive still, but that's to be expected since wires costs money... Blah, I'm turning into an economics professor. You can make up the rest, turn your homework into my inbox.
It seems as though their aim is at making the battery last about two hours... which I suppose IS an improvement over the previously reported 90 minute battery life, but it's still nowhere near the Nintendo DS' 11 hours or so.
Considering the biggest failing of the Sega Game Gear and the Sega Nomad were the pitiful battery lives, why on earth would Sony have such a relatively short battery life?
As an American who's worked in a theme park, lots of people from other countries simply 'didn't get' our coins. As I was working at a drink cart, people would just reach in their pocket, pull out a hand full of coins, and say "Get the change from that".
Most of 'em were nice enough, joking about how different the money is. But C'est la vie.
On the flip side, having worked in a theme park in Orlando Florida, most of the nicest tourists I've met are either European or South American.
But, on the other hand, when I was in Europe two years ago, the British I met while there were incredibly friendly, as were most of the French that I met. It helped that I could speak a small amount of French with a passable Parisian accent... but whenever somebody in any position of authority found out I was American (Instance: Security Guard at Charles Du Galle airport seeing my American Passport), they were complete and utter assholes for no reason. The clerks wouldn't let us check in because we were too early, so we had to wait in the lobby for an hour before we could get into the terminal, and the security guard did nothing but berate us for being so disrespectful... the sad thing is that it was a fairly consistant occurance.
Now, I'm pretty confident I wasn't being an 'annoying tourist'... hell, like I said, I learned French, and even spoke with a passable Parisian accent, but I didn't talk unless I had to, I was quiet, and I tried to stay out of peoples way. So I ask now what I did to deserve such treatment?
Meh, whatever. Any time I think of how I was treated in France, I just get pissed off.
"Well, uh, first up, I have to go to a support rally for nazis, then I have to proclaim at a press conference "M$ $uX0rz, Linux r0x0rz j00 b0x0rz" (How do I pronounce that?), then I have to calculate Pi to the last digit, resolve an infinite loop, and build a quantum computer, after that I have to setup a free-porn website. Well, actually, I have to set up 1,283,948,283 different free porn websites, but I'll just set up one and tell everybody that recommended that one that it's the one they asked for..."
The House bill approved Tuesday explicitly permits snooping software built by the FBI (news - web sites) or spy agencies secretly collecting information under a court order or other legal permissions affecting federal departments." Ok which courts? US? ones, how about if N. Kora spy agency got court orders to investigate some one in the US (ya right really like this will happen but just for the sake of the question please give me this one) will that be allowed?
This is an American law affecting American companies, american citizens, and american institutions. Set up shop outside the border and you're immune, sadly.
Since Microsoft has standardized C# through the ECMA, any patents are limited to products which break C# standards, something which, to my knowledge, Mono and dotGNU do not do.
Do you really think if these people were rich they'd be blowing themselves up to the same extent they are now?
THAT'S MY POINT.
You claimed Saudi Arabia was rich, and thus our allies. Saudi Arabia is the primary source of terrorists in the world, and despite conspiracy theorists claims to the contrary, it's not because the government needs to be overthrown (They hate the terrorists a good amount too... it's costing them money, diplomacy, and to keep on the good side of the world they have to keep oil cheap) but because the Saudi Royal family is keeping the Saudi people poor.
In that sense, because the base of your arguement it wholely flawed, your conclusions are worthless, as they're based on an incorrect premise.
-Floridian in the path of three of the four hurricanes.
Post Script: Any politician in Florida will tell you that a hurricane will actually benefit the incumbent. It means aid checks will be paid to thousands of people, the politicians get a nice photo op, and it gives people a sense of "This politician helped me out in a time of need!"
Look at the people of palistine: poor
Look at people of Iraq: poor
Look at the people of Afganistan: poor
The only rich countries in the region are the ones we're not fighting.
Saudi Arabia: allies
Kuwait: allies
Wait.
Let me get this straight. You claim the people of Iraq to be poor, and the people of Saudi Arabia to be rich, despite the fact that they're in the SAME DAMN CONDITION? Or did you simply forget that the Saudi Royal family is rich, while the rest of the country is fairly poor, much like Saddam was rich and the rest of the country fairly poor?
Hello? Tech support? Yeah, I've got one of your "Felis Catus", juvenile models... it seems to be expelling large amounts of hair-like spheres... yes, it does go into self-cleaning mode rather often... yes, it has been eating solid foods, rather than moist... yes, it's been drinking water, rather than milk... oh. Reboot? I'll try... *kick*MEOW!*
A sport is not any athletic competition. A sport is an athletic GAME. One in which opposing sides play against each other, attempting to complete an objective or objectives, and attempting to prevent the opposing side from completing theirs.
Paintball is a sport. Bowling is not.
Football is a sport. Track and field is not.
Water Polo is a sport. Swimming is not.
Fencing is a sport. Gymnastics is not.
Hockey is a sport. Figure Skating is not.
Basketball is a sport. Golf is not.
Slashdot Mirror
There are economic reasons for this. Mainly that being a telecom company is expensive. You must have lines, switching systems, employees, et cetera. Competition is often a good thing, and it's often a bad thing. Some things, like telecos, power/water/propane supply on a local scale, cable companies on a local scale... why? Because every competitor requires a duplication of effort to achieve the same goal, and split the profit. After a certain point, boom. NOBODY is profitable and they ALL go tits-up.
Ma-bell wasn't broken up because it was big, it was broken up because there was no way others could get into the market otherwise. It's not always compitition which keeps the market efficient, it's the THREAT of competition or elimination which does it. Utility companies generally try to keep rates low despite their monopolies because the state/county/city can kick them out if they don't. Cable companies try to keep rates competitive with satellite, and offer benefits over broadcast TV. Telecom companies, so long as there is at least a threat of being broken up to restore competition, will do the same (in theory).
As long as there are at least two companies (preferably three), the only thing we have to fear is collusion. As it is now, they're playing "Who can undercut the others on the wireless service"... POTS is more expensive still, but that's to be expected since wires costs money... Blah, I'm turning into an economics professor. You can make up the rest, turn your homework into my inbox.
It seems as though their aim is at making the battery last about two hours... which I suppose IS an improvement over the previously reported 90 minute battery life, but it's still nowhere near the Nintendo DS' 11 hours or so.
Considering the biggest failing of the Sega Game Gear and the Sega Nomad were the pitiful battery lives, why on earth would Sony have such a relatively short battery life?
Similar story, but inverse.
As an American who's worked in a theme park, lots of people from other countries simply 'didn't get' our coins. As I was working at a drink cart, people would just reach in their pocket, pull out a hand full of coins, and say "Get the change from that".
Most of 'em were nice enough, joking about how different the money is. But C'est la vie.
On the flip side, having worked in a theme park in Orlando Florida, most of the nicest tourists I've met are either European or South American.
But, on the other hand, when I was in Europe two years ago, the British I met while there were incredibly friendly, as were most of the French that I met. It helped that I could speak a small amount of French with a passable Parisian accent... but whenever somebody in any position of authority found out I was American (Instance: Security Guard at Charles Du Galle airport seeing my American Passport), they were complete and utter assholes for no reason. The clerks wouldn't let us check in because we were too early, so we had to wait in the lobby for an hour before we could get into the terminal, and the security guard did nothing but berate us for being so disrespectful... the sad thing is that it was a fairly consistant occurance.
Now, I'm pretty confident I wasn't being an 'annoying tourist'... hell, like I said, I learned French, and even spoke with a passable Parisian accent, but I didn't talk unless I had to, I was quiet, and I tried to stay out of peoples way. So I ask now what I did to deserve such treatment?
Meh, whatever. Any time I think of how I was treated in France, I just get pissed off.
Don't forget the obligatory "Looks like he was hosting the server one one!" comments which we will all invariably have to suffer...
Crap... I just made one myself, didn't I...
That's DOCTOR Derek Smart to you.
Now I have to wait for August 22, so I can personalize a 'Fuck you' to all of slashdot!
-Derek Smart, PHd
What, you mean their utter ineffectiveness?
Wouldn't that be reason to NOT be worried?
I can see it now...
"Well, uh, first up, I have to go to a support rally for nazis, then I have to proclaim at a press conference "M$ $uX0rz, Linux r0x0rz j00 b0x0rz" (How do I pronounce that?), then I have to calculate Pi to the last digit, resolve an infinite loop, and build a quantum computer, after that I have to setup a free-porn website. Well, actually, I have to set up 1,283,948,283 different free porn websites, but I'll just set up one and tell everybody that recommended that one that it's the one they asked for..."
skynet.google.com is still in Alpha. hal.google.com might be a little closer, but it keeps calling me 'Dave' for some reason.
Tell me where the US government has domain over the citizens and organizations of other countries?
Silly Tin-Foil hat crowd. Haven't you learned that independently developed but intercompatible software is legal, ala UNIX System Labs vs. Berkely Software Design, Incorporated.
Since Microsoft has standardized C# through the ECMA, any patents are limited to products which break C# standards, something which, to my knowledge, Mono and dotGNU do not do.
Disaster relief isn't seen by most people as 'pork'. It's seen as disaster relief. Besides, "Compasionate Conservatism" is in.
You claimed Saudi Arabia was rich, and thus our allies. Saudi Arabia is the primary source of terrorists in the world, and despite conspiracy theorists claims to the contrary, it's not because the government needs to be overthrown (They hate the terrorists a good amount too... it's costing them money, diplomacy, and to keep on the good side of the world they have to keep oil cheap) but because the Saudi Royal family is keeping the Saudi people poor.
In that sense, because the base of your arguement it wholely flawed, your conclusions are worthless, as they're based on an incorrect premise.
For those who are gullible enough to fall for that:
Snopes
-Floridian in the path of three of the four hurricanes.
Post Script: Any politician in Florida will tell you that a hurricane will actually benefit the incumbent. It means aid checks will be paid to thousands of people, the politicians get a nice photo op, and it gives people a sense of "This politician helped me out in a time of need!"
Let me get this straight. You claim the people of Iraq to be poor, and the people of Saudi Arabia to be rich, despite the fact that they're in the SAME DAMN CONDITION? Or did you simply forget that the Saudi Royal family is rich, while the rest of the country is fairly poor, much like Saddam was rich and the rest of the country fairly poor?
Either way, your arguement holds no water.
You're forgetting.
Any of these changes increases the viability of third parties.
Both current parties have a vested interest in preventing any attempt to increase the viability of third parties.
after reading the summary:
Hello? Tech support? Yeah, I've got one of your "Felis Catus", juvenile models... it seems to be expelling large amounts of hair-like spheres... yes, it does go into self-cleaning mode rather often... yes, it has been eating solid foods, rather than moist... yes, it's been drinking water, rather than milk... oh. Reboot? I'll try... *kick*MEOW!*
Of course, it would have worked better had I actually clicked the "Post Anonymously" box.
D'oh!
This article, sans color scheme, Karma whore free via Anonymous Coward.
(Cue the 'Step 3: Profit' jokes now... we all know they're coming)
To be fair, we've apparently had them for two years!
And the best part of Mayor Adam West is that Adam West actually voiced it himself...
Certainly not.
A sport is not any athletic competition. A sport is an athletic GAME. One in which opposing sides play against each other, attempting to complete an objective or objectives, and attempting to prevent the opposing side from completing theirs.
Paintball is a sport. Bowling is not.
Football is a sport. Track and field is not.
Water Polo is a sport. Swimming is not.
Fencing is a sport. Gymnastics is not.
Hockey is a sport. Figure Skating is not.
Basketball is a sport. Golf is not.
Get the picture?