hmmm sacrifice... I have a $10 Tracfone that costs me about $15/month to make all of the calls I need. Since my second job is OnForce, I HAVE to have a cell phone (and, hence, the Internet). That $15 includes my business-related calls, so a landline (at $25/mo + $69 setup, here) would be a large waste of money. I've never had trouble caused by my cell not working, so that 'safety net' would be a complete waste of income. The only dialup available here without incurring long distance fees costs around $20/month. So yeah, my snail-racer cable is the cheapest option available to me.
Oh, and in my original post, I forgot to mention that I would like a diet of Kraft. I have 'Great Value' $.55 mac'n'cheese at least 3 meals a week. And $.10 Maruchan Ramen typically at least twice. So don't talk to me about needing to make sacrifices for the better good of mankind. After all, I've been to the doctor once in the last 10 years (and it cost me $250 for him to give me prescription for cough medicine for my chronic sinus condition I've had all my life). Sure, medical reform is sorely needed... but fining me for not having insurance is ridiculous. There are people out here living in a grand a month. Before taxes.

That's what the parent said; I get to keep my house and food. I never claimed to have a TV [of any size] or high-speed Internet (although I am forced to pay $38/mo for 256kpbs cable Internet. I'd just use the library WiFi, except my second job requires I have Internet access, and I don't have a phone [except a Tracfone], so this is cheaper than Dialup). I'd hardly call my $2 jeans from Goodwill 'fancy'. I work two jobs, and I've signed an agreement with Immigration (because my wife is from Canukland) that I will never accept any public assistance program. I'm already living paycheck to paycheck, and can't afford $700/year for a fine, or any non-subsidized insurance. Thanks, B.O., for driving my family into debt.

That is the most awesome thing from the 'tube I've seen in ages.

That's a week's wages for me, you insensitive clod!

Exactly! I would say more, but you just nailed it!

Amen, Brotha!

Someone mod the parent up, this is the most spot-on comment here. Why do you need pressure sensitive touch when pressure sensitivity is for capturing handwriting, which is most naturally done with a stylus, which can commonly support sensitivity with current technology?
For a perfect example of this, check out the LifeBook T-4310 or T-4410.

Wow, that sounds like a really bad testimony for homeschooling. Of course, I've heard bad testimonies before -- from both sides of the fence. Speaking as a homeschool graduate, I can give you a great testimony for homeschooling (and tell you that from what you wrote, my parents had a much different approach than yours, which may or may not relate to why the outcomes were different); I had friends, I socialized with others at homeschool group events on a weekly basis, and after graduating, I've held multiple jobs that required constant social interaction. My wife, on the other hand, went to public school K-12, and refuses to work in any job that requires any serious social contact. I've also known personally several people who did very poorly with public school, had no friends, and were fairly suicidal. Should we use them as examples of why public education is bad?
My point is that there are many variables; you can't use one case to define an entire group. I know several reasons why homeschooling has benefited many people; I also know reasons why some people prefer public institutions. Ultimately, however, it is up to the individual; to take away one's freedom to homeschool (as Germany and many other countries have done) is an encroachment on human rights.

This should be a poll, not an article.

The Doctor... and Marvin? methinks someone needs a lesson in British SciFi...

That having been said, I'd love to see them make an HG2G II.

Someone please mod the parent up, this is so important to say. If the law isn't there, we need to make a new law, not try to force everyone into whatever we want. If freedom is to exist, everyone needs to be subject to the laws; even the government.