I second that opinion. It's not just an argument for voting. It's an argument for really participating. Run for office. Here's what I'm hearing: "(whine) Oh! Is there any point?" Is that guy kidding me? One answer of "No." and he tucks his little tail between his legs and runs? I hope this isn't the first "No" in his life, I assure you without knowing him, it won't be the last. And let's stay away from the broken governemnt discussion. That is a waste of time and a mere distraction. There is no perfect government, never will be. Besides an important point might be getting lost there. The measure of a government is not what happens as things go well, it is what happens when thngs go poorly. So, this is an example of how well the government works. (what? I hear you ask.) What works about our government (and it worked here too) is that generally after contestants have fought, they are both alive at the conclusion of the contest. A vast improvement over so many other alternatives. (there are others, but I find this one particularly attractive.) Yes! be indignant! Yes! be upset. Yes! discuss it nightly for the forseeable months. And more importantly chart another course. Run your own candidate. Get involved. Put down that remote control and get to work. Meet people, collect signatures, attend meetings, register and run. Do not give up, do not grab your weapon and torch for a march on town hall... don't organize a sit in and petition the powers that be for a favor, don't continue to ignore the system laid before you. Run for office, Vote your mind. And whatever you do, do not give up.
Maybe you were kidding, but I used to have a dumb terminal emulator (VT100) for my HP48. I used it for checking the serial lines between the VAX11-780 and the various dumb terminals. It also offered kermit and other file transfer protocols (I think). So if you really want to, and your calculator version has that mini 4 pin RS232 connector on it, perhaps you can interface it to your linux box.
So imagine you're a politician, and somebody brings you this list.
Things that affect global surface temperature:
Orbit eccentricity
Angle of rotational axis eccentricity
The amount of ice currently on the surface
The size of the sun
Particulate in the atmosphere (volcanic ash and others)
Atmospheric gas composition
And the list goes on....
And you realize: Gosh! There's a really delicate balance here! Heck it's even possible that something we're doing is contributing to one of these. What do you conclude?
The time to extract funds from the populace could be in jeopardy! Best to kick it in gear right now and collect those extra fees before somebody proves it's all natural.
In Charlie's case, not only did he telecommute, but he was the boss. Heck, I don't think his employees ever saw him. Just a voice on the speakerphone. But then... his employees were angels.
Instructions: Please read all instructions before beginning this test. For this test you'll need:
Two #2 sharpened pencils
A non recessive IQ gene
Four sheets of blank paper
etc...
If you did not bring the proper pencils or paper, please see the administrator. If you lack the proper genes, please turn this test over and place your head down upon the table. Your test will be administered later; when we have time for you. If you cannot read this sentence, stare blankly out into space until somebody comes by to escort you away.
Yep, road signs too. Tear them down! Can't have invading armies, foreign spies, or any other unsavory elements knowing which road goes where! Darn it, who is running around spreading the nasty science of reading anyway? That's the root of this whole problem.
What statement do you really make by buying a car? I presume you think the statement is "you care". But about what? Technology? Fashion? The future? The economy? Some carmaker's bottom line? The promise of a great new world? The environment?
If it costs you more than other options producing similar mileage then you're not making a very good statement that you're saving resources.
Slashdot Mirror
They've found the television remote?
I second that opinion. It's not just an argument for voting. It's an argument for really participating. Run for office.
Here's what I'm hearing: "(whine) Oh! Is there any point?"
Is that guy kidding me? One answer of "No." and he tucks his little tail between his legs and runs?
I hope this isn't the first "No" in his life, I assure you without knowing him, it won't be the last.
And let's stay away from the broken governemnt discussion. That is a waste of time and a mere distraction. There is no perfect government, never will be. Besides an important point might be getting lost there. The measure of a government is not what happens as things go well, it is what happens when thngs go poorly. So, this is an example of how well the government works. (what? I hear you ask.) What works about our government (and it worked here too) is that generally after contestants have fought, they are both alive at the conclusion of the contest. A vast improvement over so many other alternatives. (there are others, but I find this one particularly attractive.)
Yes! be indignant! Yes! be upset. Yes! discuss it nightly for the forseeable months. And more importantly chart another course. Run your own candidate. Get involved. Put down that remote control and get to work. Meet people, collect signatures, attend meetings, register and run. Do not give up, do not grab your weapon and torch for a march on town hall... don't organize a sit in and petition the powers that be for a favor, don't continue to ignore the system laid before you.
Run for office, Vote your mind.
And whatever you do, do not give up.
Maybe you were kidding, but I used to have a dumb terminal emulator (VT100) for my HP48. I used it for checking the serial lines between the VAX11-780 and the various dumb terminals. It also offered kermit and other file transfer protocols (I think). So if you really want to, and your calculator version has that mini 4 pin RS232 connector on it, perhaps you can interface it to your linux box.
- Orbit eccentricity
- Angle of rotational axis eccentricity
- The amount of ice currently on the surface
- The size of the sun
- Particulate in the atmosphere (volcanic ash and others)
- Atmospheric gas composition
- And the list goes on....
And you realize: Gosh! There's a really delicate balance here! Heck it's even possible that something we're doing is contributing to one of these. What do you conclude? The time to extract funds from the populace could be in jeopardy! Best to kick it in gear right now and collect those extra fees before somebody proves it's all natural.In Charlie's case, not only did he telecommute, but he was the boss. Heck, I don't think his employees ever saw him. Just a voice on the speakerphone. But then... his employees were angels.
Please read all instructions before beginning this test.
For this test you'll need:
If you did not bring the proper pencils or paper, please see the administrator. If you lack the proper genes, please turn this test over and place your head down upon the table. Your test will be administered later; when we have time for you. If you cannot read this sentence, stare blankly out into space until somebody comes by to escort you away.
Yep, road signs too. Tear them down!
Can't have invading armies, foreign spies, or any other unsavory elements knowing which road goes where! Darn it, who is running around spreading the nasty science of reading anyway? That's the root of this whole problem.
What statement do you really make by buying a car? I presume you think the statement is "you care". But about what? Technology? Fashion? The future? The economy? Some carmaker's bottom line? The promise of a great new world? The environment? If it costs you more than other options producing similar mileage then you're not making a very good statement that you're saving resources.