Checks: Pros - 1) Variable payment. 2) Can be made on the spot. 3) More convenient (can only be deposited by who it is made out to, and is not valid without a signature). 4) Safer (Not carrying around a massive billfold, especially for large amounts). 5) Can be post-dated. Cons- 1) Can be stolen. 2) Signature can be forged. 3) Very slow clearance time (Because retailers like to sit on them and wait for them to hatch!).
E-Banking: Pros- 1) Fast(er). 2) Paperless 3) Less to worry about getting stolen. Cons- 1) Need some form of access to Internet. 2) Electronic passwords can be stolen. 3) Account information easier to steal. 4) Transaction dates do not necessarily reflect actual dates (The idea of a 'Valid Transfer Date' is absolutely USELESS!). 5) E-Banking using your CrackBerry/iPhone/PDA may require the purchase of data plans, and additional data/usage charges. 6) Technical issues can make simple purchases impossible.
Before a move is made to switch away from checks, there needs to be a level of compatibility and functioning that is several orders of magnitude higher than the level that we are at now:
1) Single Standard - Every bank and vendor uses the SAME standard, so there are no technical issues. Software vendors and credit card companies all like to think that *THEIR* product is the best, and try to 'lock-in' as many businesses as possible, leading to problems. An example of this is where certain retailers only accept certain credit cards.
Some businesses only accept certain cards for certain things. My University, CSU Monterey Bay, accepts different cards for different things: Parking tickets, making payments in person, making payments on-line (PLUS a $2.00 'convenience' fee). If online payments are going to be used, then the convenience fee needs to be outlawed, since people will be trapped, and the charge can be imposed at will by either the retailer or credit card issuer, or both.
There needs to be some regulation where retailers/vendors must accept ALL cards, and not pick and choose which ones they want to carry.
""I personally do not believe that you can be anonymous and bash people and get away with it under the First Amendment," he said. "I will stay with this case, and I will get the names that I am requesting. I will pursue this until the Supreme Court tells me I can't get them."" -John Scherer, President & CEO of Video Professor.
The EAS is already a joke. Here in CA, you may have your TV or radio programming interrupted to inform you of an emergency in an area that is nowhere near you. I'm on the coast in Monterey County, so a flooding alert for Santa Cruz is just going to piss me off and give me reason to ignore alerts.
The only thing this is going to do is piss off a lot of people and reduce awareness. People will start ignoring alerts when their games are interrupted for emergency alerts that do not affect them. And, if there actually is an emergency that is affecting them, they probably won't be gaming. Would you sit and play Call Of Duty if there was flooding in your area? You would probably be dealing with the emergency instead of gaming, making the Gaming EAS idea meaningless.
"In 1984, the iconic American company ran a popular commercial for its new Macintosh computers that said the machines would show users "why 1984 won't be like '1984,' " a reference to the George Orwell book about a society ruled by a mind-controlling regime. "
Wow. Talk about shooting one's self in the foot..... But then again, what do you expect from a company that strives to maintain COMPLETE control of their products?
Sony should use this as an opportunity to capitalize on the public's sever disdain for idiots like these by developing a game called:
GAMING THE SYSTEM.
Honestly, this clown purchases a video game, knowing that he will have trouble SEEING THE GRAPHICS?! I think he has a Mental Impairment, along with his Visual Impairment.
"The Americans with Disabilities Act states that, "No individual shall be discriminated against on the basis of disability in the full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations of any place of public accommodation by any person who owns, leases (or leases to), or operates a place of public accommodation."
-"by any person who owns, leases (or leases to), or operates a place of public accommodation.": Sony's games are not public property or goods, as the ownership is transferred from one person to another. Further, Sony has no legal obligation to make their products ADA-compliant, as they are not public products. Also, there are other places to sell games, not just through Sony's service, such as Gamestop, flea markets, Amazon, EBay, etc. This moron has many other places to sell his used games. Additionlly, this kid proceeded with purchasing his games knowing full well that it was a VIDEO game, a visually-oriented product, that may not be suitable for his vision.
For all you ADA Bleeding Heart lawsuit slingers, this post is not ADA compliant for the visually, auditorally, or mentally impaired.
".....more than fifteen hundred remote sensing devices have been sold to Iraq's Ministry of the Interior, at prices ranging from $16,500 to $60,000 each."
-Guess who's money they used. No, really, go on and guess!
"The devices are used for bomb and weapon detection at checkpoints"
-The only time these things detect bombs is after the bomb detonates, the force of which moves the 'antenna' when the device is suddenly sent flying through the air, along with the unfortunate officers manning the now former checkpoint.
"...they work on the same principle as a Ouija board"
-It's called the Bullshit Effect, which is part of the 'Bullshit Paradox', i.e. "You can't bullshit a Bullshitter". Like real bullshit, it keeps accumulating until someone shoots the offending bull, or in this case, the officer that keeps touting the effectiveness of the devices. As long as those officers are still alive, this kind of bullshit will only keep accumulating.
"Even though the device has been debunked by the US Military, the US Department of Justice, and even Sandia National Laboratories, the Iraqis are thrilled with the devices."
-You expect anything less from people who think they will get 72 virgins in heaven if they kill an infidel?
"Whether it's magic or scientific, what I care about is it detects bombs,' said Maj. Gen. Jehad al-Jabiri, head of the Ministry of the Interior's General Directorate for Combating Explosives."
-I think Baghdad Bob changed his name, because this sounds exactly like something he'd say.
When you have a society that says it's OK to be fat and overweight, what do you expect? Designer stores are selling HUGE sizes for men and women, magazines are proclaiming "Big is beautiful", and designers are selling clothes for people who should be on a treadmill, and not in their stores.
I'm sick of hearing people say that it is OK to be overweight - It's not.
Used, in fair condition. Needs work, but a good "Fixer-Upper". Breathtaking views of the San Francisco/Bay Area. Located in close proximity to major cities, recreational areas, marinas, beaches, city hot-spots, and only a short drive from Giant's Stadium. Historical and famous.
*****Now accepting bids*****
Contact:
Arnie Schwartzenegger State Capitol Building Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone: 916-445-2841 Fax: 916-558-3160 das_governator@gov.ca.gov
"You don't complain that a regular model train isn't powered by a scale replica steam engine."
-No, when I mean under it's own power, I mean that it moves itself. The train in the article doesn't move itself.
For example, Lionel trains and cars move themselves, and they draw electrical power from the tracks. The cars and tracks are all independent from the tracks and each other.
The article describes a plastic tube carved to look like a train, cars, and tracks, with the tube connected to a motor.
Not even close to being a model train. The train moves WITH the tracks. It's technically a plastic tube with the end cut to look like a train AND tracks.
A true "Model Train" would move under it's own power (it's own electric motor being powered by electricity from the tracks), and move independently of the tracks.
This is an animated miniature diorama of a train, NOT a miniature train.
I could do the math if a rocket scientist teaches it, because a dance teacher can't.
The classes cost the same, but the actual value of what you learn isn't.
What you can learn in an:
1) Engineering/Science classes: Mathematics, chemistry, physics, biotechnology, and a lot more. 2) Art classes: How to draw, who Monet was, Dadaism, etc. 3) Dance classes: Interpretive dances, twirling, etc.
In the big picture, art and dance classes are academically worthless. Colleges should be teaching people the skills to innovate, develop, and create things that will advance mankind, instead of learning how to perform an ancient African tribal dance or yoga.
Ya know, if it wasn't for the Eco-Nazis that squash technological developments like this, the U.S. could have started developing these A LONG TIME AGO.
Unfortunately, we have castrated ourselves in sole favor of "environmeltally freindly" technologies.
Eco-Nazis, coupled with the severe Dumbing-Down of U.S. education, especially in the fields of physics, biology, mechanics, and electrical engineering, pose the biggest threat to the future of the United States as a hotbed of technological development.
Next thing you know, other countries will be developing spacecraft with advanced technologies, while we will pioneer the development of a patchouli-and-love-powered VW microbus.
Yes, I know that sounds terribly cynical, but the state of American education is terrible: We give English tests in other languages, encourage kids to fiddle with their iPhones and video games, and place more value on extra-curricular activities than actual academics. The BEST after-school program is an academic one.
For example, the piss-poor university that I have to go to (unless I want to go broke attending school in either San Francisco or the L.A. area), CSU Monterey Bay, cuts academic classes like Biology, Chemistry, and Psychology, and claims 'budget concerns' and 'classroom space' as the reason. YET, they can still offer Yoga, Dance, and plenty of other academically meaningless classes.
If we cut out all the CRAP in American schools, and offered academically important courses instead, budget concerns would be less of a problem, and students would spend their time learning things that can be used to develop important technologies, ranging from reducing environmental impact to advanced materials and systems, and space travel.
I don't want to sound too harsh, but they'd better be DAMNED sure to include a screensaver. The last thing you want is to have an undesirable image 'burned-in' (not literally, but I'm pretty confident that overstimulating receptors could lead to degeneration) so that you see it constantly.
If they do use screensavers, I hope they include:
1: Lunitic Fringe 2: Starfield 3: Flying Toasters
Honestly, the market potential for a new version of AfterDark is huge!!!1!
Why do game companies follow software companies and do stupid stuff like this?
It all seems to follow one general timeline of events:
1) Make top-selling product. 2) Reap millions. 3) Follow up top-selling game with sequel, with plenty of fanfare. 4) Reap more millions. 5) Follow up sequel with yet another sequel. 6) Make horrible, blatant mistake that customers tell you NOT to do. 7) Defy customers and release product anyways. 8) Lose millions. 9) Keep product franchise on life support with mediocre sequels. 10) Franchise dies. 11) Lose millions more. 12) Blame customers, second-hand sales, piracy. 13) Be replaced by other company's products.
"I pollute a hell of a lot less with this setup than some Yuppie Schmuck in their SUV who owns a SUV because they may need to use the "Truck abilities" of the SUV, but of course lug around all of that extra mass EVERYWHERE."
-What "truck abilities"? SUVs handle HORRIBLY off-road, have crappy clearance without an expensive lift kit, and even with a lift kit, handle even WORSE due to the increased drag and higher center of gravity, making them more prone to rollovers. Anyone who NEEDS a vehicle with 'truck' abilities will buy a truck, not an SUV. If you need something with 'truck abilities' you will know it.
SUVs are nothing more than glorified shopping carts.
If you:
1) Transport many children, buy a minivan. For larger families, buy a van. YOU DON'T NEED AN SUV. 2) Shop, buy a smaller car, unless you routinely buy sofas or big-screen TVs. YOU DON'T NEED AN SUV. 3) Haul livestock/dirt/wood/maintenance equipment/tools, buy a truck. YOU DON'T NEED AN SUV. 4) Routinely cross off-road terrain (on the order of muddy roads/worksites, and other earthen terrain, not puddles), buy a truck. YOU DON'T NEED AN SUV. 5) Use as your work vehicle (fill it chock full of tools, repair machinery, materials, etc., and not just drive it to your place of business), buy a truck. YOU DON'T NEED AN SUV. 6) Drive to school, buy a small car. YOU DON'T NEED AN SUV. 7) Traverse hazardous terrain (icy/wet/flooded/muddy/rocky/snowy roads), buy a truck. YOU DON'T NEED AN SUV.
There is no legitimate reason that can justify ownership of an SUV. I challenge anyone to find one.
"Sport-Utility Vehicle" is a polite way of telling the world you have a small pecker, lots of money, and no brain.
CARB is the *ONLY* reason I keep my old diesel truck. The only other reason other than CARB is the fact that my truck simply will not die. It smokes (just legally), lacks expensive pollution control, is exempt from regulations restricting performance parts, and can easily be converted from 'polluting' (Ringelmann #2 or greater. I crank it up to #5 if I'm feeling especially vindictive) to 'legal' (Ringelmann #1 or less) whenever someone reports me to CARB for an "Excessively Smoking Vehicle". And yes, that is legal, just in case you were wondering. For all you Liberals out there screaming "Bloody murder!", think of this as a PROTEST in the form of civil disobedience against an unjust authority. Your types seem to be familiar with that, yet you can't seem to recognize one whenever they pop up and rear their ugly heads.
CARB has the authority to impose regulation at will. This coupled with the fact that despite the lead "scientist" for one of its new diesel regulations FAKED HIS CREDENTIALS yet they still voted for the new rules, shows that they are so corrupt and inept that even open fraud among their own is not enough to stop them. The fact that CARB will not allow fraud among one of its own to impede their decisions is reason enough to strip them of their authority to impose rules without a vote among those that they are regulating. This is akin to Congress acting without public votes or support, but with Congress Critters being appointed by the President for indefinite terms, and not voted into office by the people. Imagine how well *that* would go over.....
CARB's at-will regulation, willful disregard of internal corruption, and unchecked power over the citizenry is reason enough to strip them of their regulatory powers. However, CARB *should* be reduced to an advisory body, composed of TRUE SCIENTISTS that study proposed regulatory ideas for their effect, and advise voters to approve or disapprove proposed regulations. CARB is currently an Oligarchy; They propose and impose whatever regulations that they see fit at will, and the citizenry is required by law to follow those regulations under threat of penalty, be it a massive fine or imprisonment or BOTH.
Oh, and if any CARB sympathizers are reading this: NEENER NEENER NEE-NER! YOU CAN'T TOUCH ME! I'M POLLUTING AND YOU CAN'T STOP ME! SMOG CHECK? MAKE ME! GO AHEAD AND TRY!
"but the group of 72 members of the House of Representatives sent a letter Thursday to FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski, saying they're concerned that new regulations would slow down investment in broadband networks."
-How on Earth could this slow down investment in networks any more that it is NOW?!? This would force providers to invest in their networks, because not doing so would cause congestion problems, as is ALREADY EVIDENT!
Special Interest groups are like drugs to Politicians: They make politicians feel good, but turn them into complete idiots.
When will people learn that these grandiose 'predictions' are simply cheap publicity attempts?
This, and articles that have false and misleading titles (especially the SlashDot article that stated students were able to take photos from outer space for $150) really hurt credibility, and harm articles that actually tell the TRUTH?
These kind of blatant lies (not like ones that are open to interpretation) are becoming more and more prevalent, with copy editors shitcanning the truth and allowing hack, half-witted pseudo-journalism to take it's place.
This is yet another reason print media is dying. The internet-version of absolute journalistic crap, iReport.com, isn't helping improve the tarnished image of journalism.
"We are talking about putting a person in jail, depriving them of their liberty, because of the click of a button."
-Lose the drama. It just sounds ignorant. It wasn't because of the click of a button, it was because of the NO CONTACT ORDER that a JUDGE saw fit to issue to the plaintiff. What you feel is "The spirit of the law" is very different, and meaningless, compared to what actually *IS* the law.
"People can also be harassed by having unjust restraining orders applied against them."
-No, a *JUDGE* determines if a request for an order is substantiated. You can't get them just because you ask for them. You have to prove a serious and compelling reason, and when they are granted, have a set time limit. Once the time limit expires, you can request to renew it, but again have to prove a serious and compelling reason. Also, the JUDGE determines what actually is harassment and what isn't, NOT the defendant. No, they do not require a trial by jury, but by the same token, neither does Traffic Court. Yet, they are both perfectly legal and legitimate.
"The perpetrator logs onto facebook, see's her adversary, and clicks a button. This is similar to the perpetrator seeing her adversary at the grocery store and looking at them, or even winking or waving at them. A "poke" is not a well formed sentence. It is different than what I think the law suggests as a form of communication. What did she communicate exactly?"
-She didn't have to communicate anything. She made contact. Period. Hence the term NO CONTACT ORDER. Even with NCOs, they can even restrict how close someone can get. Even going to the grocery store and looking at them is making *visual* contact. A "poke" is, on Facebook, intended to be the electronic equivalent of walking up to somebody and "poking" them. If the recipient is notified that you specifically "poked" them, then you have made contact with them, thus violating the Terms & Conditions of your NCO.
"I do not agree with depriving someone of their liberty because of one "poke"."
-So you agree with violating a lawfully-issued NO CONTACT ORDER? More specifically, a NO CONTACT ORDER lawfully issued by a JUDGE in a COURT OF LAW?
I'm guessing you're the type of delusional, bleeding-heart, "group-hug" hippie that sides with burglars when they get shot by the hardworking homeowners they try to victimize.....
"The biggest stories in the media are the number of CHILDREN who have succumb to the virus. So in reality all school aged children all the way up through graduate school should be the population receiving mandatory vaccinations."
-Did you ever stop to think that stories about children will get FAR MORE attention than stories about the 90 year old senior citizen?
"Previous rate of hospital acquired flu infection are so low that they often fly under the radar, whereas SCHOOL acquired flu transmission is extremely high. The most common hospital acquired infection is a skin staph infection."
-Did you stop to think WHY the rate is so low? It's low in hospitals because of the PRECAUTIONS that are taken. The rate is higher in schools because the only precautions taken in schools are hand-washing. Do pneumonia patients spend their time outside getting scraped up in the dirt playing kickball? No. If a hospital worker were to get sick, they could still unknowingly transmit the virus to other patients before they realized it.
With your obvious ignorance, and strong "drug-company" conspiracy undertone, I am at a loss on how on Earth you managed to become a "Health Service PROFESSIONAL". I'm guessing you work in the cafeteria.....
"Since the iPhone is exclusive to AT&T (in the US) AT&T might be able to run under-capacity without losing too many customers."
-AT&T is already at capacity. Just like the telcos offering "Blazing broadband", AT&T is has oversold itself. If it can't figure out that signing a huge contract with Apple for a product that is going to be locked into it's networks, then it is in for a big reality check. AT&T will become the bastard child of Comcast.
But as other smartphones become more usable, I believe that the same issue will hit all carriers,"
-The issue is hitting other carriers. Again, AT&T is not understanding the basics: More sales/contracts means more congestion.
".....at which point competition will force them to increase capacity."
-Competition shouldn't be needed to increase capacity, network congestion should. This is the same exact problem that is occurring with ISPs: Too much overselling = too much congestion. Waiting for another carrier to come around that is big enough to seriously threaten your market share isn't a good business strategy. Customer base is not as important as infrastructure when it comes to carriers and the massive user bases that they have. Comcast isn't going to be upgrading its network capacity because they HAVE NO SERIOUS COMPETITION. Their business model legally eliminates competition from critical markets by gaining legal monopolies in cities. Competition is non-existent in markets with legal monopolies so, according to your logic, there will be no need to upgrade. And, shuld there service become so poor that the city refuses to renew a contract with them, they will move on to another city rather than upgrade their network, since signing a contract with another city is cheap compared to an upgrade done just to renew a contract. The new carrier will do just the same as Comcast.
"Waiting for competition to force an upgrade" is what got us into this mess, so it certainly won't get us out of it.
Slashdot Mirror
Checks:
Pros -
1) Variable payment.
2) Can be made on the spot.
3) More convenient (can only be deposited by who it is made out to, and is not valid without a signature).
4) Safer (Not carrying around a massive billfold, especially for large amounts).
5) Can be post-dated.
Cons-
1) Can be stolen.
2) Signature can be forged.
3) Very slow clearance time (Because retailers like to sit on them and wait for them to hatch!).
E-Banking:
Pros-
1) Fast(er).
2) Paperless
3) Less to worry about getting stolen.
Cons-
1) Need some form of access to Internet.
2) Electronic passwords can be stolen.
3) Account information easier to steal.
4) Transaction dates do not necessarily reflect actual dates (The idea of a 'Valid Transfer Date' is absolutely USELESS!).
5) E-Banking using your CrackBerry/iPhone/PDA may require the purchase of data plans, and additional data/usage charges.
6) Technical issues can make simple purchases impossible.
Before a move is made to switch away from checks, there needs to be a level of compatibility and functioning that is several orders of magnitude higher than the level that we are at now:
1) Single Standard - Every bank and vendor uses the SAME standard, so there are no technical issues. Software vendors and credit card companies all like to think that *THEIR* product is the best, and try to 'lock-in' as many businesses as possible, leading to problems. An example of this is where certain retailers only accept certain credit cards.
Some businesses only accept certain cards for certain things. My University, CSU Monterey Bay, accepts different cards for different things: Parking tickets, making payments in person, making payments on-line (PLUS a $2.00 'convenience' fee). If online payments are going to be used, then the convenience fee needs to be outlawed, since people will be trapped, and the charge can be imposed at will by either the retailer or credit card issuer, or both.
There needs to be some regulation where retailers/vendors must accept ALL cards, and not pick and choose which ones they want to carry.
From one of the related articles:
""I personally do not believe that you can be anonymous and bash people and get away with it under the First Amendment," he said. "I will stay with this case, and I will get the names that I am requesting. I will pursue this until the Supreme Court tells me I can't get them."" -John Scherer, President & CEO of Video Professor.
-Sounds like another Bill Gates in the making.
The EAS is already a joke. Here in CA, you may have your TV or radio programming interrupted to inform you of an emergency in an area that is nowhere near you. I'm on the coast in Monterey County, so a flooding alert for Santa Cruz is just going to piss me off and give me reason to ignore alerts.
The only thing this is going to do is piss off a lot of people and reduce awareness. People will start ignoring alerts when their games are interrupted for emergency alerts that do not affect them. And, if there actually is an emergency that is affecting them, they probably won't be gaming. Would you sit and play Call Of Duty if there was flooding in your area? You would probably be dealing with the emergency instead of gaming, making the Gaming EAS idea meaningless.
Now they can start on that 'Bomb Proof' school desk that my parents hear so much about when they were kids.....
FTFA:
"In 1984, the iconic American company ran a popular commercial for its new Macintosh computers that said the machines would show users "why 1984 won't be like '1984,' " a reference to the George Orwell book about a society ruled by a mind-controlling regime. "
Wow. Talk about shooting one's self in the foot..... But then again, what do you expect from a company that strives to maintain COMPLETE control of their products?
So where are the Apple Fanbois on this one?
Sony should use this as an opportunity to capitalize on the public's sever disdain for idiots like these by developing a game called:
GAMING THE SYSTEM.
Honestly, this clown purchases a video game, knowing that he will have trouble SEEING THE GRAPHICS?! I think he has a Mental Impairment, along with his Visual Impairment.
"The Americans with Disabilities Act states that, "No individual shall be discriminated against on the basis of disability in the full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations of any place of public accommodation by any person who owns, leases (or leases to), or operates a place of public accommodation."
-"by any person who owns, leases (or leases to), or operates a place of public accommodation.": Sony's games are not public property or goods, as the ownership is transferred from one person to another. Further, Sony has no legal obligation to make their products ADA-compliant, as they are not public products. Also, there are other places to sell games, not just through Sony's service, such as Gamestop, flea markets, Amazon, EBay, etc. This moron has many other places to sell his used games. Additionlly, this kid proceeded with purchasing his games knowing full well that it was a VIDEO game, a visually-oriented product, that may not be suitable for his vision.
For all you ADA Bleeding Heart lawsuit slingers, this post is not ADA compliant for the visually, auditorally, or mentally impaired.
".....more than fifteen hundred remote sensing devices have been sold to Iraq's Ministry of the Interior, at prices ranging from $16,500 to $60,000 each."
-Guess who's money they used. No, really, go on and guess!
"The devices are used for bomb and weapon detection at checkpoints"
-The only time these things detect bombs is after the bomb detonates, the force of which moves the 'antenna' when the device is suddenly sent flying through the air, along with the unfortunate officers manning the now former checkpoint.
"...they work on the same principle as a Ouija board"
-It's called the Bullshit Effect, which is part of the 'Bullshit Paradox', i.e. "You can't bullshit a Bullshitter". Like real bullshit, it keeps accumulating until someone shoots the offending bull, or in this case, the officer that keeps touting the effectiveness of the devices. As long as those officers are still alive, this kind of bullshit will only keep accumulating.
"Even though the device has been debunked by the US Military, the US Department of Justice, and even Sandia National Laboratories, the Iraqis are thrilled with the devices."
-You expect anything less from people who think they will get 72 virgins in heaven if they kill an infidel?
"Whether it's magic or scientific, what I care about is it detects bombs,' said Maj. Gen. Jehad al-Jabiri, head of the Ministry of the Interior's General Directorate for Combating Explosives."
-I think Baghdad Bob changed his name, because this sounds exactly like something he'd say.
When you have a society that says it's OK to be fat and overweight, what do you expect? Designer stores are selling HUGE sizes for men and women, magazines are proclaiming "Big is beautiful", and designers are selling clothes for people who should be on a treadmill, and not in their stores. I'm sick of hearing people say that it is OK to be overweight - It's not.
FOR SALE:
One (1) Bridge.
Used, in fair condition. Needs work, but a good "Fixer-Upper". Breathtaking views of the San Francisco/Bay Area. Located in close proximity to major cities, recreational areas, marinas, beaches, city hot-spots, and only a short drive from Giant's Stadium. Historical and famous.
*****Now accepting bids*****
Contact:
Arnie Schwartzenegger
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916-445-2841
Fax: 916-558-3160
das_governator@gov.ca.gov
"You don't complain that a regular model train isn't powered by a scale replica steam engine."
-No, when I mean under it's own power, I mean that it moves itself. The train in the article doesn't move itself.
For example, Lionel trains and cars move themselves, and they draw electrical power from the tracks. The cars and tracks are all independent from the tracks and each other.
The article describes a plastic tube carved to look like a train, cars, and tracks, with the tube connected to a motor.
Not even close to being a model train. The train moves WITH the tracks. It's technically a plastic tube with the end cut to look like a train AND tracks.
A true "Model Train" would move under it's own power (it's own electric motor being powered by electricity from the tracks), and move independently of the tracks.
This is an animated miniature diorama of a train, NOT a miniature train.
Still neat though.
I could do the math if a rocket scientist teaches it, because a dance teacher can't.
The classes cost the same, but the actual value of what you learn isn't.
What you can learn in an:
1) Engineering/Science classes: Mathematics, chemistry, physics, biotechnology, and a lot more.
2) Art classes: How to draw, who Monet was, Dadaism, etc.
3) Dance classes: Interpretive dances, twirling, etc.
In the big picture, art and dance classes are academically worthless. Colleges should be teaching people the skills to innovate, develop, and create things that will advance mankind, instead of learning how to perform an ancient African tribal dance or yoga.
Ya know, if it wasn't for the Eco-Nazis that squash technological developments like this, the U.S. could have started developing these A LONG TIME AGO.
Unfortunately, we have castrated ourselves in sole favor of "environmeltally freindly" technologies.
Eco-Nazis, coupled with the severe Dumbing-Down of U.S. education, especially in the fields of physics, biology, mechanics, and electrical engineering, pose the biggest threat to the future of the United States as a hotbed of technological development.
Next thing you know, other countries will be developing spacecraft with advanced technologies, while we will pioneer the development of a patchouli-and-love-powered VW microbus.
Yes, I know that sounds terribly cynical, but the state of American education is terrible: We give English tests in other languages, encourage kids to fiddle with their iPhones and video games, and place more value on extra-curricular activities than actual academics. The BEST after-school program is an academic one.
For example, the piss-poor university that I have to go to (unless I want to go broke attending school in either San Francisco or the L.A. area), CSU Monterey Bay, cuts academic classes like Biology, Chemistry, and Psychology, and claims 'budget concerns' and 'classroom space' as the reason. YET, they can still offer Yoga, Dance, and plenty of other academically meaningless classes.
If we cut out all the CRAP in American schools, and offered academically important courses instead, budget concerns would be less of a problem, and students would spend their time learning things that can be used to develop important technologies, ranging from reducing environmental impact to advanced materials and systems, and space travel.
I don't want to sound too harsh, but they'd better be DAMNED sure to include a screensaver. The last thing you want is to have an undesirable image 'burned-in' (not literally, but I'm pretty confident that overstimulating receptors could lead to degeneration) so that you see it constantly.
If they do use screensavers, I hope they include:
1: Lunitic Fringe
2: Starfield
3: Flying Toasters
Honestly, the market potential for a new version of AfterDark is huge!!!1!
"What If They Turned Off the Internet?"
-I'd have to go get a real-life girlfriend.
But, seeing as how the Internet is still up and running, Seven-Of-Nine will suffice nicely.....
As much as I hate Rickrolling, the idea of doint it door-to-door actually sounds kinds funny.....
Why do game companies follow software companies and do stupid stuff like this?
It all seems to follow one general timeline of events:
1) Make top-selling product.
2) Reap millions.
3) Follow up top-selling game with sequel, with plenty of fanfare.
4) Reap more millions.
5) Follow up sequel with yet another sequel.
6) Make horrible, blatant mistake that customers tell you NOT to do.
7) Defy customers and release product anyways.
8) Lose millions.
9) Keep product franchise on life support with mediocre sequels.
10) Franchise dies.
11) Lose millions more.
12) Blame customers, second-hand sales, piracy.
13) Be replaced by other company's products.
Lather, Rinse, Repeat.
"I pollute a hell of a lot less with this setup than some Yuppie Schmuck in their SUV who owns a SUV because they may need to use the "Truck abilities" of the SUV, but of course lug around all of that extra mass EVERYWHERE."
-What "truck abilities"? SUVs handle HORRIBLY off-road, have crappy clearance without an expensive lift kit, and even with a lift kit, handle even WORSE due to the increased drag and higher center of gravity, making them more prone to rollovers. Anyone who NEEDS a vehicle with 'truck' abilities will buy a truck, not an SUV. If you need something with 'truck abilities' you will know it.
SUVs are nothing more than glorified shopping carts.
If you:
1) Transport many children, buy a minivan. For larger families, buy a van. YOU DON'T NEED AN SUV.
2) Shop, buy a smaller car, unless you routinely buy sofas or big-screen TVs. YOU DON'T NEED AN SUV.
3) Haul livestock/dirt/wood/maintenance equipment/tools, buy a truck. YOU DON'T NEED AN SUV.
4) Routinely cross off-road terrain (on the order of muddy roads/worksites, and other earthen terrain, not puddles), buy a truck. YOU DON'T NEED AN SUV.
5) Use as your work vehicle (fill it chock full of tools, repair machinery, materials, etc., and not just drive it to your place of business), buy a truck. YOU DON'T NEED AN SUV.
6) Drive to school, buy a small car. YOU DON'T NEED AN SUV.
7) Traverse hazardous terrain (icy/wet/flooded/muddy/rocky/snowy roads), buy a truck. YOU DON'T NEED AN SUV.
There is no legitimate reason that can justify ownership of an SUV. I challenge anyone to find one.
"Sport-Utility Vehicle" is a polite way of telling the world you have a small pecker, lots of money, and no brain.
CARB is the *ONLY* reason I keep my old diesel truck. The only other reason other than CARB is the fact that my truck simply will not die. It smokes (just legally), lacks expensive pollution control, is exempt from regulations restricting performance parts, and can easily be converted from 'polluting' (Ringelmann #2 or greater. I crank it up to #5 if I'm feeling especially vindictive) to 'legal' (Ringelmann #1 or less) whenever someone reports me to CARB for an "Excessively Smoking Vehicle". And yes, that is legal, just in case you were wondering. For all you Liberals out there screaming "Bloody murder!", think of this as a PROTEST in the form of civil disobedience against an unjust authority. Your types seem to be familiar with that, yet you can't seem to recognize one whenever they pop up and rear their ugly heads.
CARB has the authority to impose regulation at will. This coupled with the fact that despite the lead "scientist" for one of its new diesel regulations FAKED HIS CREDENTIALS yet they still voted for the new rules, shows that they are so corrupt and inept that even open fraud among their own is not enough to stop them. The fact that CARB will not allow fraud among one of its own to impede their decisions is reason enough to strip them of their authority to impose rules without a vote among those that they are regulating. This is akin to Congress acting without public votes or support, but with Congress Critters being appointed by the President for indefinite terms, and not voted into office by the people. Imagine how well *that* would go over.....
CARB's at-will regulation, willful disregard of internal corruption, and unchecked power over the citizenry is reason enough to strip them of their regulatory powers. However, CARB *should* be reduced to an advisory body, composed of TRUE SCIENTISTS that study proposed regulatory ideas for their effect, and advise voters to approve or disapprove proposed regulations. CARB is currently an Oligarchy; They propose and impose whatever regulations that they see fit at will, and the citizenry is required by law to follow those regulations under threat of penalty, be it a massive fine or imprisonment or BOTH.
Oh, and if any CARB sympathizers are reading this: NEENER NEENER NEE-NER! YOU CAN'T TOUCH ME! I'M POLLUTING AND YOU CAN'T STOP ME! SMOG CHECK? MAKE ME! GO AHEAD AND TRY!
Ahhhhh, juvenile moments are so refreshing.....
"but the group of 72 members of the House of Representatives sent a letter Thursday to FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski, saying they're concerned that new regulations would slow down investment in broadband networks."
-How on Earth could this slow down investment in networks any more that it is NOW?!? This would force providers to invest in their networks, because not doing so would cause congestion problems, as is ALREADY EVIDENT!
Special Interest groups are like drugs to Politicians: They make politicians feel good, but turn them into complete idiots.
When will people learn that these grandiose 'predictions' are simply cheap publicity attempts?
This, and articles that have false and misleading titles (especially the SlashDot article that stated students were able to take photos from outer space for $150) really hurt credibility, and harm articles that actually tell the TRUTH?
These kind of blatant lies (not like ones that are open to interpretation) are becoming more and more prevalent, with copy editors shitcanning the truth and allowing hack, half-witted pseudo-journalism to take it's place.
This is yet another reason print media is dying. The internet-version of absolute journalistic crap, iReport.com, isn't helping improve the tarnished image of journalism.
"...like a time traveler who goes back in time to kill his grandfather."
-You mean, like the time Fry went back and killed his grandfather, and then "Did the nasty in the past-y"?
"We are talking about putting a person in jail, depriving them of their liberty, because of the click of a button."
-Lose the drama. It just sounds ignorant. It wasn't because of the click of a button, it was because of the NO CONTACT ORDER that a JUDGE saw fit to issue to the plaintiff. What you feel is "The spirit of the law" is very different, and meaningless, compared to what actually *IS* the law.
"People can also be harassed by having unjust restraining orders applied against them."
-No, a *JUDGE* determines if a request for an order is substantiated. You can't get them just because you ask for them. You have to prove a serious and compelling reason, and when they are granted, have a set time limit. Once the time limit expires, you can request to renew it, but again have to prove a serious and compelling reason. Also, the JUDGE determines what actually is harassment and what isn't, NOT the defendant. No, they do not require a trial by jury, but by the same token, neither does Traffic Court. Yet, they are both perfectly legal and legitimate.
"The perpetrator logs onto facebook, see's her adversary, and clicks a button. This is similar to the perpetrator seeing her adversary at the grocery store and looking at them, or even winking or waving at them. A "poke" is not a well formed sentence. It is different than what I think the law suggests as a form of communication. What did she communicate exactly?"
-She didn't have to communicate anything. She made contact. Period. Hence the term NO CONTACT ORDER. Even with NCOs, they can even restrict how close someone can get. Even going to the grocery store and looking at them is making *visual* contact. A "poke" is, on Facebook, intended to be the electronic equivalent of walking up to somebody and "poking" them. If the recipient is notified that you specifically "poked" them, then you have made contact with them, thus violating the Terms & Conditions of your NCO.
"I do not agree with depriving someone of their liberty because of one "poke"."
-So you agree with violating a lawfully-issued NO CONTACT ORDER? More specifically, a NO CONTACT ORDER lawfully issued by a JUDGE in a COURT OF LAW?
I'm guessing you're the type of delusional, bleeding-heart, "group-hug" hippie that sides with burglars when they get shot by the hardworking homeowners they try to victimize.....
"The biggest stories in the media are the number of CHILDREN who have succumb to the virus. So in reality all school aged children all the way up through graduate school should be the population receiving mandatory vaccinations."
-Did you ever stop to think that stories about children will get FAR MORE attention than stories about the 90 year old senior citizen?
"Previous rate of hospital acquired flu infection are so low that they often fly under the radar, whereas SCHOOL acquired flu transmission is extremely high. The most common hospital acquired infection is a skin staph infection."
-Did you stop to think WHY the rate is so low? It's low in hospitals because of the PRECAUTIONS that are taken. The rate is higher in schools because the only precautions taken in schools are hand-washing. Do pneumonia patients spend their time outside getting scraped up in the dirt playing kickball? No. If a hospital worker were to get sick, they could still unknowingly transmit the virus to other patients before they realized it.
With your obvious ignorance, and strong "drug-company" conspiracy undertone, I am at a loss on how on Earth you managed to become a "Health Service PROFESSIONAL". I'm guessing you work in the cafeteria.....
"Since the iPhone is exclusive to AT&T (in the US) AT&T might be able to run under-capacity without losing too many customers."
-AT&T is already at capacity. Just like the telcos offering "Blazing broadband", AT&T is has oversold itself. If it can't figure out that signing a huge contract with Apple for a product that is going to be locked into it's networks, then it is in for a big reality check. AT&T will become the bastard child of Comcast.
But as other smartphones become more usable, I believe that the same issue will hit all carriers,"
-The issue is hitting other carriers. Again, AT&T is not understanding the basics: More sales/contracts means more congestion.
".....at which point competition will force them to increase capacity."
-Competition shouldn't be needed to increase capacity, network congestion should. This is the same exact problem that is occurring with ISPs: Too much overselling = too much congestion. Waiting for another carrier to come around that is big enough to seriously threaten your market share isn't a good business strategy. Customer base is not as important as infrastructure when it comes to carriers and the massive user bases that they have. Comcast isn't going to be upgrading its network capacity because they HAVE NO SERIOUS COMPETITION. Their business model legally eliminates competition from critical markets by gaining legal monopolies in cities. Competition is non-existent in markets with legal monopolies so, according to your logic, there will be no need to upgrade. And, shuld there service become so poor that the city refuses to renew a contract with them, they will move on to another city rather than upgrade their network, since signing a contract with another city is cheap compared to an upgrade done just to renew a contract. The new carrier will do just the same as Comcast.
"Waiting for competition to force an upgrade" is what got us into this mess, so it certainly won't get us out of it.
Basically, Comcast is just going to be reminding users ( or "lusers", depending on your take) that they are running Vista.