Well, sort of. The economy DEPENDS on relatively inexpensive credit. Not for shmoes like me and you for cars and vacations, but for businesses. You have to take out HUGE loans to do anything interesting (expand business, etc), but as long as the lendee's business model is sound both they and the bank they borrowed from will make $.
Believe me, a world with very hard to get credit is bad. Then again, so is one where credit is too easy to get. But it wasn't defaulting businesses that put the economy into a tailspin, it was mortgage-backed financial instruments.
I just don't see human cloning as that big a deal. A clone is exactly the same as an identical twin, except delayed.
Now, the treatment the clone gets for being a clone (notoriety) will fuck the kid up, but not the fact that he's a clone. What's unethical about it at the core? Just because all your babies aren't made from different mixtures of DNA is no big whup.
I get real tired of people who are willing to tell others in tough situations how they "should" act. Think it's that easy? Try it then. Enlist, go through basic, see the kind of mental and physical conditioning soldiers are subjected to. See what the culture and rules are like. Then see if you think it's so easy to just say "Nope, don't like that order, not going to do it."
No one said it would be easy, and I'm sure there will be a ton of repercussions before the order-disobeyer is eventually vindicated. Such is the price for standing up for your beliefs. There are a lot of times I don't stand up for my beliefs (let some big guy cut in line because you don't want an argument), but then again my actions have never affected whether someone is tortured/killed or not.
(And yes, I know my comment will get me modded down, but I strongly doubt I'm alone in thinking a real life killing is quite different from killing in an FPS.)
90% of people on this board have experience with making virtual headshots. Real headshots, >1%. It's just what we know.
Well, don't forget the Chinese way of thinking (I'm being serious).
I remember learning somewhere that "back in the day" (1k, 2k years ago?) that the Chinese were all kinds of advanced, sailed the seas with their superior ships, and didn't see anything they wanted. They basically said "We have the greatest land on earth, we want for nothing, so we're just going to go back home and be insular".
As a Senator, John McCain spends most of his time in Washington, and if flying in a private plane means he gets to see more constituents, it's a sensible and pragmatic choice because it maximizes his productivity.
Has he ever heard of a phone? Video conferences? Telepresence of any kind?
Ha! We have 2 cats and they've never unrolled the TP.
On the other hand, we used to have a miniature schnauzer who was notorious for unrolling half the roll, stuffing most of it in his mouth, transporting it under the dining room table, and eating most the wad. Stupid dogs, cats FTW.
If you're salaried, whether in government or not, you will be expected to get your job done whether it takes 10 hours a week or 168 hours a week. If you don't get it done, in this economic environment they will find someone who will get it done.
I was a federal employee for a few years, and as far as I know, EVERYONE is "hourly". Now, this doesn't mean you get overtime. You just get time credits for hours above 40 that you put in a 5 day week (up to some large max of hours, like 100). So, assuming your boss is cool (mine was, amazingly), you can "officially" be a 5/40 worker but actually do 9/80 when you feel like it. Of course, you can *commit* to do the official 9/80, but then you *have* to stick with it. I liked being able to flop back and forth.
And if you need some extra vacation time? Just work extra hours, bank them, and use them when you want (boss approval, of course). We had to clock in and out, and *everyone* did, including the GS14s and the SESers and such. I assume it's like this everywhere in Executive agencies. Something about it being illegal to work more than 40 hours and not get 1:1 credit time for it.
A good friend of mine is 28 and just got diagnosed with MS. Another good friend got diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis when he was 25 (3 years ago). The latter guy's meds cost at least $1000 a month. No thanks, I'll stick with insurance.
Oh, I agree that the French system appears to work, no argument there. I just wonder if it's really more efficient, or if it's "what they've always known" as opposed to a conscious choice based on experience. Does anyone know when they went private, or if they've always been private?
Slashdot Mirror
This shit needs to be fixed.
Welcome to the exciting world of arbitrage!
Internet + decently-sized iPod = Internet Radio in car
Maybe because it's true this time?
Well, sort of. The economy DEPENDS on relatively inexpensive credit. Not for shmoes like me and you for cars and vacations, but for businesses. You have to take out HUGE loans to do anything interesting (expand business, etc), but as long as the lendee's business model is sound both they and the bank they borrowed from will make $.
Believe me, a world with very hard to get credit is bad. Then again, so is one where credit is too easy to get. But it wasn't defaulting businesses that put the economy into a tailspin, it was mortgage-backed financial instruments.
On the other hand, there's Captain Kirk, decorated, confident, successful.
No wonder you're a Neocon/BushCo supporter. You seem to have a hard-on for overconfident, arrogant, boorish men.
Note to self: Don't license old TV series.
We should draft random people to become politicians.
+1 for manbearpig reference
"Is your CO2 scrubber running? Better go catch it!"
Har har har.
*ding!* You, sir, are the winner of one Anthropic Principal!
I just don't see human cloning as that big a deal. A clone is exactly the same as an identical twin, except delayed.
Now, the treatment the clone gets for being a clone (notoriety) will fuck the kid up, but not the fact that he's a clone. What's unethical about it at the core? Just because all your babies aren't made from different mixtures of DNA is no big whup.
I get real tired of people who are willing to tell others in tough situations how they "should" act. Think it's that easy? Try it then. Enlist, go through basic, see the kind of mental and physical conditioning soldiers are subjected to. See what the culture and rules are like. Then see if you think it's so easy to just say "Nope, don't like that order, not going to do it."
No one said it would be easy, and I'm sure there will be a ton of repercussions before the order-disobeyer is eventually vindicated. Such is the price for standing up for your beliefs. There are a lot of times I don't stand up for my beliefs (let some big guy cut in line because you don't want an argument), but then again my actions have never affected whether someone is tortured/killed or not.
Then again, they said the same thing about blacks 60 years ago...
Heh, should have been "1%".
Just say no to drunk posting.
(And yes, I know my comment will get me modded down, but I strongly doubt I'm alone in thinking a real life killing is quite different from killing in an FPS.)
90% of people on this board have experience with making virtual headshots. Real headshots, >1%. It's just what we know.
Living in Illinois I cannot trust any politician from this state, but I hope he proves me wrong.
You're from down-state, aren't you? *snicker*
Well, don't forget the Chinese way of thinking (I'm being serious).
I remember learning somewhere that "back in the day" (1k, 2k years ago?) that the Chinese were all kinds of advanced, sailed the seas with their superior ships, and didn't see anything they wanted. They basically said "We have the greatest land on earth, we want for nothing, so we're just going to go back home and be insular".
Maybe ETs just don't want our land?
As a Senator, John McCain spends most of his time in Washington, and if flying in a private plane means he gets to see more constituents, it's a sensible and pragmatic choice because it maximizes his productivity.
Has he ever heard of a phone? Video conferences? Telepresence of any kind?
Ha! We have 2 cats and they've never unrolled the TP.
On the other hand, we used to have a miniature schnauzer who was notorious for unrolling half the roll, stuffing most of it in his mouth, transporting it under the dining room table, and eating most the wad. Stupid dogs, cats FTW.
If you're salaried, whether in government or not, you will be expected to get your job done whether it takes 10 hours a week or 168 hours a week. If you don't get it done, in this economic environment they will find someone who will get it done.
I was a federal employee for a few years, and as far as I know, EVERYONE is "hourly". Now, this doesn't mean you get overtime. You just get time credits for hours above 40 that you put in a 5 day week (up to some large max of hours, like 100). So, assuming your boss is cool (mine was, amazingly), you can "officially" be a 5/40 worker but actually do 9/80 when you feel like it. Of course, you can *commit* to do the official 9/80, but then you *have* to stick with it. I liked being able to flop back and forth.
And if you need some extra vacation time? Just work extra hours, bank them, and use them when you want (boss approval, of course). We had to clock in and out, and *everyone* did, including the GS14s and the SESers and such. I assume it's like this everywhere in Executive agencies. Something about it being illegal to work more than 40 hours and not get 1:1 credit time for it.
I've said it before and I'll say it again: REGULATION!
Pink Floyd as some amazingly deep lyrics. Just watch/listen to The Wall. Here's a line from "Goodbye Blue Sky":
"Did you ever wonder why we had to run for shelter,
When the promise of a brave new world,
Unfurled beneath a clear blue sky?"
Great stuff.
A good friend of mine is 28 and just got diagnosed with MS. Another good friend got diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis when he was 25 (3 years ago). The latter guy's meds cost at least $1000 a month. No thanks, I'll stick with insurance.
Oh, I agree that the French system appears to work, no argument there. I just wonder if it's really more efficient, or if it's "what they've always known" as opposed to a conscious choice based on experience. Does anyone know when they went private, or if they've always been private?