So, I guess you haven't noticed the OTHER THINGS that are going on? Oh, I don't know . . . maybe the ECONOMY, for one: While we were being robbed by Wall Street, et al, the robbery was actually deliberately ignored (or even deliberately abetted) by Bush/Cheney and their cronies. They knew they were bankrupting us, and they kept at it, because they knew they would profit from the chaos they caused . . . and that the Dems wouldn't be able to do anything progressive, because they would be busy trying to fix the Bush/Cheney mess.
Of course, what's saddest of all, some -- the useless idiots -- will swallow the 2012 GOP campaign slogan: "Four years is enough."
Breeding microbes to solve this problem only gives rise to others. For example, it's likely that the effort to breed them in a sufficiently controlled manner would require in vitro cultivation. Unfortunately, our symbiotic bacteria are almost certain to develop quite differently when raised outside of their accustomed environment. (After all, they're symbionts.) Thus, to breed them successfully, one would be forced to do it in vivo -- likely by using humans as microbe farms. Now, I don't know about you, but I see potential ethical problems in that strategy.
Perhaps if you considered the impact of "third-hand" smoke, you'd see there actually is a problem. I think you'll agree that "second-hand" smoke is deposited on the computer, inside and out, by owners/operators who smoke. This residue -- a noxious mix of volatile organic compounds, many of which are proven carcinogens -- is re-heated when the device is powered up, as it routinely is during repair/maintenance. These VOCs are put back into the air -- and into the noses of the repair technicians -- where they can wreak havoc similar to 2nd-hand smoke. Does that make sense to you? It does to me.
In addition, there is the whole quality of life issue -- something that is VERY APPLE. As an ex-smoker, I can tell you smokers don't realize how bad they smell because their olfactory system is deadened by their habit. I wouldn't want a smoker's computer operating inside my house, and I sure as hell wouldn't stick my nose into it under any circumstances.
That said, Apple needs to stipulate that smoking voids the warranty up front. Applying the change ad hoc is hard to defend.
To a point, I agree with you. However, if we consider what led to Russia's sacrifices in WWII -- i.e., Adolph H. launched Operation Barbarossa in 1941, effectively turning Germany's former Axis partner into a de facto Western ally -- it's hard to feel too sorry for them. Then again considering how the War would have likely turned out otherwise, I deeply respect their sacrifice (and heartily applaud Hitler's stupidity).
Actually, I think all the 'thanks' is actually owed to Macromedia, who created both formats and steadfastly maintained them as overlapping (and therefore confusing) functionalities, until Adobe stepped in and bought them up.
Sorry, as a long-time user of both OSs, Mac OS products are rock-solid in comparison to Windows counterparts. You may argue that that's because Apple also controls the hardware side of the equation . . . but that's the whole point to paying a bit extra for the seamless, solid and ultimately satisfying experience that is Apple.
Thank you, tenzig, for crafting this extraordinarily funny, stunningly accurate, analogy. I read your post aloud to my wife, and we're still laughing . . .
Your grasp of the facts might be improved if you actually had opposable thumbs.
In terms of putting us in a financial hole, GWB takes the cake -- the one awarded by the Marie Antoinette Society for Smugly Stupid Ruling Class Twits. He and his cronies looted the US treasury like uncommon criminals, turning a surplus of billions of dollars into a deficit of trillions of dollars. Yes, President Obama has increased the deficit, but his actions were forced by the catastrophic destabilization of our national and world economies engineered by the Bush/Cheney cabal. And the healthcare fixes are driven by common decency.
It seems to me that if the Nobel committee wants to honor him for changing directions to prevent a global meltdown, rational people (and even so called Real Americans) would actually applaud rather than ridicule the award and its recipient.
It seems pretty clear they did it "pro bono" -- i.e., free and for the public good.
It may not be the way you personally choose to act, but you should be able to at least imagine that other people could be guided by impulses more altruistic than your own.
I don't think ridicule is the kind of attention they crave, nor from a marketing perspective, need.
I do see, however, an 'art imitating life' scenario here: Taking Steve Jobs and Bill Gates to be symbolic as well as de facto embodiments of their respective firms, Apple ads are much like the former, Microsoft's, much like the latter.
Merits of their products aside, I know which one I'd invite to a party.
Are you saying that this movie is as good/groundbreaking as Star Wars orThe Matrix? I am somewhat dubious.
Don't get me wrong, it looks a whole lot better than most sci-fi movies. I especially like how the first commercials I saw for it were public service announcements about District 9. Then commercials with non-human sympathizers being arrested. Then later you see a commercial with "glick gluck mcglorlock" (translation: "We just want to go home.") and you kinda realize that there's going to be more depth to the story than Starship Troopers (the movie, not the book). Looks interesting, I'll definitely Netflix it.
It might be the best sci-fi movie of '09 but you've still got
Gamer
The Fourth Kind
The Time Traveler's Wife
Pandorum
Splice
The Surrogates
2012
9
AstroBoy
The Box
The Sky Crawlers
Radio Free Albemuth
Hunter Prey
Deadland
While a lot don't have release dates yet and could be pushed back and most will probably suck, that's a lot of competition to dismiss at this point. And lastly, I have great hope for Franklyn (to be released here in the states).
You can probably scratch "The Time Traveler's Wife" and "2012" from your list. The first is being laughed out of theaters as we speak. The trailers for the second look like Michael Bay conceived of the "science."
He is also extremely popular with his constituents, who fully support the way he operates his office. The US Justice Department now has him as a target (since the Obama Administration came to power) due to his enforcement of Immigration laws. In Arizona he polls 11 points higher than Obama so he is popular statewide.
Bear-baiting and slavery also were 'popular with constituents' in their times . . . that doesn't seem to have been a very good argument for keeping them around.
Sorry, are you wearing blinders? Most cultures don't disappear simply because "no one chooses to adhere to it." Most cultures are actively destroyed or consumed by larger, more aggressive cultures. English-only laws are but one of many examples to be seen in the USA.
On the other hand, active preservation of languages and their related cultures can offer great value for a current dominant language and culture -- both inherently, and for some potentially unforeseen future crisis. (Or were you not aware that, If not for the Navajo 'Windtalkers', we might all be speaking German.)
Slashdot Mirror
A useful idiot is better than a useless one.
So, I guess you haven't noticed the OTHER THINGS that are going on? Oh, I don't know . . . maybe the ECONOMY, for one: While we were being robbed by Wall Street, et al, the robbery was actually deliberately ignored (or even deliberately abetted) by Bush/Cheney and their cronies. They knew they were bankrupting us, and they kept at it, because they knew they would profit from the chaos they caused . . . and that the Dems wouldn't be able to do anything progressive, because they would be busy trying to fix the Bush/Cheney mess.
Of course, what's saddest of all, some -- the useless idiots -- will swallow the 2012 GOP campaign slogan: "Four years is enough."
Great idea. We could phrase it along the lines of "formulating the Grafenburg Uncertainty Principle."
Breeding microbes to solve this problem only gives rise to others. For example, it's likely that the effort to breed them in a sufficiently controlled manner would require in vitro cultivation. Unfortunately, our symbiotic bacteria are almost certain to develop quite differently when raised outside of their accustomed environment. (After all, they're symbionts.) Thus, to breed them successfully, one would be forced to do it in vivo -- likely by using humans as microbe farms. Now, I don't know about you, but I see potential ethical problems in that strategy.
Whew, I guess beer goggles really can affect one's sense of perspective . . .
"If the power plant is downwind they could actually improve the air quality in the city."
Perhaps, but what would be the impact on everything else that is down-wind? The Pacific Northwest is full of counter-examples for your argument.
Perhaps if you considered the impact of "third-hand" smoke, you'd see there actually is a problem. I think you'll agree that "second-hand" smoke is deposited on the computer, inside and out, by owners/operators who smoke. This residue -- a noxious mix of volatile organic compounds, many of which are proven carcinogens -- is re-heated when the device is powered up, as it routinely is during repair/maintenance. These VOCs are put back into the air -- and into the noses of the repair technicians -- where they can wreak havoc similar to 2nd-hand smoke. Does that make sense to you? It does to me.
In addition, there is the whole quality of life issue -- something that is VERY APPLE. As an ex-smoker, I can tell you smokers don't realize how bad they smell because their olfactory system is deadened by their habit. I wouldn't want a smoker's computer operating inside my house, and I sure as hell wouldn't stick my nose into it under any circumstances.
That said, Apple needs to stipulate that smoking voids the warranty up front. Applying the change ad hoc is hard to defend.
To a point, I agree with you. However, if we consider what led to Russia's sacrifices in WWII -- i.e., Adolph H. launched Operation Barbarossa in 1941, effectively turning Germany's former Axis partner into a de facto Western ally -- it's hard to feel too sorry for them. Then again considering how the War would have likely turned out otherwise, I deeply respect their sacrifice (and heartily applaud Hitler's stupidity).
Anonymous pride? Hmm, I don't know, seems like an oxymoron to me.
Actually, I think all the 'thanks' is actually owed to Macromedia, who created both formats and steadfastly maintained them as overlapping (and therefore confusing) functionalities, until Adobe stepped in and bought them up.
Sorry, as a long-time user of both OSs, Mac OS products are rock-solid in comparison to Windows counterparts. You may argue that that's because Apple also controls the hardware side of the equation . . . but that's the whole point to paying a bit extra for the seamless, solid and ultimately satisfying experience that is Apple.
No. The logical thing to do is set up a government-subsidized public option . . . or do you trust insurance companies with your life?
Thank you, tenzig, for crafting this extraordinarily funny, stunningly accurate, analogy. I read your post aloud to my wife, and we're still laughing . . .
Your grasp of the facts might be improved if you actually had opposable thumbs.
In terms of putting us in a financial hole, GWB takes the cake -- the one awarded by the Marie Antoinette Society for Smugly Stupid Ruling Class Twits. He and his cronies looted the US treasury like uncommon criminals, turning a surplus of billions of dollars into a deficit of trillions of dollars. Yes, President Obama has increased the deficit, but his actions were forced by the catastrophic destabilization of our national and world economies engineered by the Bush/Cheney cabal. And the healthcare fixes are driven by common decency.
It seems to me that if the Nobel committee wants to honor him for changing directions to prevent a global meltdown, rational people (and even so called Real Americans) would actually applaud rather than ridicule the award and its recipient.
It seems pretty clear they did it "pro bono" -- i.e., free and for the public good. It may not be the way you personally choose to act, but you should be able to at least imagine that other people could be guided by impulses more altruistic than your own.
Were it as bad as their advertising, Windows 7 would have caused your computer to explode. If not accidentally, then on purpose.
I don't think ridicule is the kind of attention they crave, nor from a marketing perspective, need. I do see, however, an 'art imitating life' scenario here: Taking Steve Jobs and Bill Gates to be symbolic as well as de facto embodiments of their respective firms, Apple ads are much like the former, Microsoft's, much like the latter. Merits of their products aside, I know which one I'd invite to a party.
Are you saying that this movie is as good/groundbreaking as Star Wars orThe Matrix? I am somewhat dubious. Don't get me wrong, it looks a whole lot better than most sci-fi movies. I especially like how the first commercials I saw for it were public service announcements about District 9. Then commercials with non-human sympathizers being arrested. Then later you see a commercial with "glick gluck mcglorlock" (translation: "We just want to go home.") and you kinda realize that there's going to be more depth to the story than Starship Troopers (the movie, not the book). Looks interesting, I'll definitely Netflix it. It might be the best sci-fi movie of '09 but you've still got
While a lot don't have release dates yet and could be pushed back and most will probably suck, that's a lot of competition to dismiss at this point. And lastly, I have great hope for Franklyn (to be released here in the states).
You can probably scratch "The Time Traveler's Wife" and "2012" from your list. The first is being laughed out of theaters as we speak. The trailers for the second look like Michael Bay conceived of the "science."
He is also extremely popular with his constituents, who fully support the way he operates his office. The US Justice Department now has him as a target (since the Obama Administration came to power) due to his enforcement of Immigration laws. In Arizona he polls 11 points higher than Obama so he is popular statewide.
Bear-baiting and slavery also were 'popular with constituents' in their times . . . that doesn't seem to have been a very good argument for keeping them around.
Sorry, are you wearing blinders? Most cultures don't disappear simply because "no one chooses to adhere to it." Most cultures are actively destroyed or consumed by larger, more aggressive cultures. English-only laws are but one of many examples to be seen in the USA. On the other hand, active preservation of languages and their related cultures can offer great value for a current dominant language and culture -- both inherently, and for some potentially unforeseen future crisis. (Or were you not aware that, If not for the Navajo 'Windtalkers', we might all be speaking German.)