All the above suggestions are good but they don't go far enough.
Our forefathers had it right when the first horseless buggy came out, requiring a man with a red flag to precede the vehicle.
And as a bonus, think of what that would do for unemployment!
But then why should my tax dollars be spent keeping you alive in the event of an illness or accident that comes as a result of your life choices?
If you wish to take risks with your life, that's your call, but then it's also your call to accept the consequences.
Cycling to work is a great way to keep fit, or at least justify eating more 'fuel'.
As far as being an introvert, cycling is actually a perfect activity. You don't need to wait for anyone to go for a ride.
Try not to get bitten by the bug though. My plan was to use cycling to save on transport costs. Instead I've got my eye on a second carbon fibre bike (AU$3000 or so!) for dry weather, and after two and half years, I've yet to recoup my expenditure on the original bike, plus the myriad of accessories...but I just love riding to work now!!!!
I don't see big business jumping for this deal. Anyone who has done IT support work for large companies will know the pain that is involved with an Office upgrade - making sure that existing documents will still be readable, template files, macros, those third party apps that hook into functionality provided by the current Office instance.
From a big business point of view, I think they would be more likely to just buy the licence for their existing Office version outright and settle on one version (or at least as few versions as possible), for as long as possible, rather than allow Microsoft introduce instability into their Office environment.
Some local knowledge is important here - later this year an election is to be held, and the Howard Government is currently trailing in opinion polls.
This government has only recently (as in the last few months) begun to give enviornmentally friendly policies priority. I consider this decision to be a cynical and desperate move to build some environmental credibility - a bit difficult considering that for the past 10 years the government has been in office, they have been denying that global warming exists...
But considering that half the population is of below average intelligence, they'll probably get through again...dammit.
Some local knowledge is pertinent...this move by the Howard Government is a cynical exercise - you may not be aware but this is an election year and it's only been in the last couple of months that the PM has decided to give environmentally friendly policies a higher priority.
This change in direction comes after about 10 years of denying global warming exists...
You raise a good point and I agree with you.
I recall seeing a documentary some time ago where the narrator suggested that the corporation could be inadvertantly actively seeking out psychopathic individuals.
While this sounds like a wild statement, consider this: have you ever seen a job advertisement where a company wants to employ someone who will do 'whatever it takes' to achieve a goal. A person who would be willing to lie, cheat, assault would be ideal for such a position because they clearly are willing to do 'whatever it takes'!!
Each individual has ultimate responsibility for their own actions.
I accept what you are saying but ultimately each consumer has to make that decision for themselves.
I probably should have mentioned that I am what one would call a hardware scavenger. Except for hard disks, I have been able to grab old and out of spec bits and pieces from work and cobble together a few machines. My highest spec machine has a 1.1GHz processor with about 512MB RAM. There ain't a chance in hell that Vista is going to be able to play happily on that box!!!! But for my purposes, it serves quite adequately. I (personally) don't need to upgrade for the sake of extra candy.
(as an aside, I actually attempted to run XP on slightly higher than the recommended minimum specs [333MHz processor + 64MB RAM] and it was agonizing).
Not particularly. Microsoft are shooting themselves in the foot with these licencing obligations that they are forcing on their customers. I'm quite happy to watch the show from the sidelines.
[Begin rambling thoughts]
At work I will be forced to learn how to use and administer Vista, but that's my company's money that will be spent, not mine. At home I have begun the transition from Microsoft to Linux.
I mean, do you really see new features in Office 2007 that aren't currently available in, say, Office 2000 or OpenOffice? Are you really that desperate to get the latest and greatest shiny toys from Microsoft? I really can't justify the need for a 4GHz processor to run a spreadsheet, or a simple database. Vista and Office 2007 simply don't offer anything that make it a compelling purchase. Technically, this isn't an anti-Microsoft rant but simply the choice of an IT consumer.
I can't see Microsoft listening enough to make any significant changes to their EULA anyway...
It was really quite sickening to read the replies to the blog - so many replies of the form "Oh wow, Microsoft is so great, so generous, I love Microsoft, I want to have Microsoft's baby..."
I couldn't help thinking that some of the replies were written by Microsoft's marketing department...
A common practice in my city / country is to create huge landfill sites with all the waste that we throw out, cover this landfill with dirt, then a few years later, landscape it so that a golf course or a new housing estate can be built on top of it.
We simply cannot allow this technology to proceed if it means that we will have a future shortage of golf courses!!!!
Admittedly, my home computers are not quick, but my work machine is (3.8GHz processor, 2GB RAM etc...)
One thing that has always mystified me is that when XP plays it's startup noise, the computer IS STILL NOT READY TO BE USED. I find that I am waiting another 30s to a minute before I can click on the 'Start' button and have it respond within 5 seconds.
Pepsico wasn't showing any kind of corporate 'honesty' when it reported the rogue employees to Coca-Cola. Can you imagine the trouble Pepsi would have been in if/when they were caught with Coca-Cola's recipie?
They were merely covering their asses. You can bet that if they thought they could get away with it then you wouldn't have been reading this story...
I am suprised that no-one has considered the fact that using flash storage would remove one more moving part from your computer - the spinning hard disk.
Admittedly, disk noise has reduced considerably over the years, but has anyone had a listen to a HDD that has been running in a server for a year or so? You get that annoying high pitched whine (feel free to insert joke here...).
I must also admit that I am a bit of a scavenger when it comes to IT equipment - anything my company is throwing out is usually only a few years old and still usable, but I tend to draw the line with HDDs - they are just too noisy and I'm better off getting something new.
Regarding your comment to "don't give unauthorized users permission to install software". You try telling a GM who is one or two levels down from the CEO of a multi-billion dollar company that they can't have the latest toys on their computer...
Terrorism is currently the perfect weapon of governments around the world for distracting attention from issues they don't want their voters to know about.
Consider this...
In Australia, our annual death toll due to road accidents is about 1500 - 2000.
The annual death toll due to terrorism is about 0.
'Terrorists' are rank amateurs at killing. We are so much more efficient at killing ourselves!!!
I accept that terrorism exists but we could do so much more to combat it by being good regional and international citizens, than by introducing draconian measures (ID cards etc) that do nothing more that penalise the law abiding citizens.
Sorry, you've got the quote all wrong. It actually goes like this:
Give a man a fish and you'll feed him for a day
Teach a man to fish and he'll sit in a boat and drink beer all day...:-)
Theoretically, an F1 car can generate enough downforce to be able to drive upside down.
The catch is that many components within an F1 car are designed with gravity in mind (think of fuel pumps, oil pumps)
So while it is theoretically possible, you wouldn't be able to do it until you redesign some parts so they can actually work upside down...
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All the above suggestions are good but they don't go far enough. Our forefathers had it right when the first horseless buggy came out, requiring a man with a red flag to precede the vehicle. And as a bonus, think of what that would do for unemployment!
1 horsepower isn't enough to run a house.
And I thought you typed "1 horsepower isn't enough to run a horse"
What???!!
Can't resist :-)
X and Y are quite different FROM one another
The post subject says it all
But then why should my tax dollars be spent keeping you alive in the event of an illness or accident that comes as a result of your life choices?
If you wish to take risks with your life, that's your call, but then it's also your call to accept the consequences.
Cycling to work is a great way to keep fit, or at least justify eating more 'fuel'.
As far as being an introvert, cycling is actually a perfect activity. You don't need to wait for anyone to go for a ride.
Try not to get bitten by the bug though. My plan was to use cycling to save on transport costs. Instead I've got my eye on a second carbon fibre bike (AU$3000 or so!) for dry weather, and after two and half years, I've yet to recoup my expenditure on the original bike, plus the myriad of accessories...but I just love riding to work now!!!!
From a big business point of view, I think they would be more likely to just buy the licence for their existing Office version outright and settle on one version (or at least as few versions as possible), for as long as possible, rather than allow Microsoft introduce instability into their Office environment.
Flash based, the source of an office competition... http://onslaught.playr.co.uk/
This government has only recently (as in the last few months) begun to give enviornmentally friendly policies priority. I consider this decision to be a cynical and desperate move to build some environmental credibility - a bit difficult considering that for the past 10 years the government has been in office, they have been denying that global warming exists...
But considering that half the population is of below average intelligence, they'll probably get through again...dammit.
This change in direction comes after about 10 years of denying global warming exists...
While this sounds like a wild statement, consider this: have you ever seen a job advertisement where a company wants to employ someone who will do 'whatever it takes' to achieve a goal. A person who would be willing to lie, cheat, assault would be ideal for such a position because they clearly are willing to do 'whatever it takes'!!
Each individual has ultimate responsibility for their own actions.
I probably should have mentioned that I am what one would call a hardware scavenger. Except for hard disks, I have been able to grab old and out of spec bits and pieces from work and cobble together a few machines. My highest spec machine has a 1.1GHz processor with about 512MB RAM. There ain't a chance in hell that Vista is going to be able to play happily on that box!!!! But for my purposes, it serves quite adequately. I (personally) don't need to upgrade for the sake of extra candy.
(as an aside, I actually attempted to run XP on slightly higher than the recommended minimum specs [333MHz processor + 64MB RAM] and it was agonizing).
[Begin rambling thoughts]
At work I will be forced to learn how to use and administer Vista, but that's my company's money that will be spent, not mine. At home I have begun the transition from Microsoft to Linux.I mean, do you really see new features in Office 2007 that aren't currently available in, say, Office 2000 or OpenOffice? Are you really that desperate to get the latest and greatest shiny toys from Microsoft? I really can't justify the need for a 4GHz processor to run a spreadsheet, or a simple database. Vista and Office 2007 simply don't offer anything that make it a compelling purchase. Technically, this isn't an anti-Microsoft rant but simply the choice of an IT consumer.
I can't see Microsoft listening enough to make any significant changes to their EULA anyway...
[End rambling thoughts]
It was really quite sickening to read the replies to the blog - so many replies of the form "Oh wow, Microsoft is so great, so generous, I love Microsoft, I want to have Microsoft's baby..."
I couldn't help thinking that some of the replies were written by Microsoft's marketing department...
...before I can get my cat with a fricking laser on it's head?
We simply cannot allow this technology to proceed if it means that we will have a future shortage of golf courses!!!!
Time to retrieve all those Kenny Gee CDs - it's a long way to the top...:-)
Admittedly, my home computers are not quick, but my work machine is (3.8GHz processor, 2GB RAM etc...)
One thing that has always mystified me is that when XP plays it's startup noise, the computer IS STILL NOT READY TO BE USED. I find that I am waiting another 30s to a minute before I can click on the 'Start' button and have it respond within 5 seconds.
Yes, you're not the only one with their subconcious mind in the gutter.
Cheers!!!
They were merely covering their asses. You can bet that if they thought they could get away with it then you wouldn't have been reading this story...
I am suprised that no-one has considered the fact that using flash storage would remove one more moving part from your computer - the spinning hard disk. Admittedly, disk noise has reduced considerably over the years, but has anyone had a listen to a HDD that has been running in a server for a year or so? You get that annoying high pitched whine (feel free to insert joke here...). I must also admit that I am a bit of a scavenger when it comes to IT equipment - anything my company is throwing out is usually only a few years old and still usable, but I tend to draw the line with HDDs - they are just too noisy and I'm better off getting something new.
Regarding your comment to "don't give unauthorized users permission to install software". You try telling a GM who is one or two levels down from the CEO of a multi-billion dollar company that they can't have the latest toys on their computer...
Consider this...
In Australia, our annual death toll due to road accidents is about 1500 - 2000.
The annual death toll due to terrorism is about 0.
'Terrorists' are rank amateurs at killing. We are so much more efficient at killing ourselves!!!
I accept that terrorism exists but we could do so much more to combat it by being good regional and international citizens, than by introducing draconian measures (ID cards etc) that do nothing more that penalise the law abiding citizens.
Sorry, you've got the quote all wrong. It actually goes like this: Give a man a fish and you'll feed him for a day Teach a man to fish and he'll sit in a boat and drink beer all day... :-)
Theoretically, an F1 car can generate enough downforce to be able to drive upside down. The catch is that many components within an F1 car are designed with gravity in mind (think of fuel pumps, oil pumps) So while it is theoretically possible, you wouldn't be able to do it until you redesign some parts so they can actually work upside down...