Yeah I've seen a similar sort of logic with locally with some VERY large corporate slaughter houses. They claim that they MUST rely on illegal immigrant labor, otherwise nobody would work out on the "floor" and the business would essentially cease to exist. The funniest part is that they have the entire local population convinced of the same thing. And it's true the locals are not particularly interested in doing that job! However, I'm pretty sure that if they needed workers real badly, they might find some ways to entice the local population to work there. But why would they do that when they can hire illegals for much less $$ and trouble? (Illegal workers are VERY good workers, they don't complain about abuse and they don't dare claim a sick day, or ask for help if they get injured, the savings goes far beyond the hourly rate.)

If money is a CEO's chief or only motivating factor, chances are they are not the ones you want for the job anyways. I'm pretty sure an offer of 6 figures along with all the power, responsibility and challenge would have tons of candidates interested in the position. I find it odd that the often the same people who would find offense in idea that the workers "deserve a good slice of the pie" cling to the idea that good leadership deserves rewarding with a "good slice of the pie." As far as I'm concerned the CEO's were simply doing their job. The fact that they managed to grow a company, should look great on their resume. Shouldn't that be compensation enough? The main reason for the outrageous bonuses and salaries is that a corrupt process cannot survive on honest wages.

Yeah I guess the part about the "throat" probably just muddied the water. I was suggesting that proficiency at defending and attacking the chin might cross over to defending/exploiting the throat. Likewise I would never participate in a class where taking a hit to the throat is expected :)

Just thought would throw my two cents in as a boxer. Not all boxers beat the shit out of each other during every workout, and you don't have to to enjoy and learn the art. In fact even during legitimate hard sparring most guys pull the punches to the head. I've seen guys practicing for professional bouts (and winning them afterwards) who were still greatly limiting the power in their punches to the head. If you want to learn boxing you can do it safely. Wearing head gear, 16 oz gloves and only sparring with people you can trust minimizes the risk greatly, if not totally eliminating it. Most sparring while a legitimate physical contest, is not about getting a "knockout" blow. If you are going to actually box a match against a guy who does not want to loose, well yeah chances are you might take some hits you would rather not. And still with proper gear your risk is greatly minimized. 10 oz gloves and no headgear is a whole different kettle of fish... As far as avoiding martial arts "where being struck in the head is seen as a core part of training" Well a quick hit on the jaw or throat for that matter, is a good way to drop someone, or be dropped. It may not be the be all and end all of martial training, but it should be a very real concern.

Large front end loaders can be had with wheel, or joystick control. And they can go plenty fast too (for a loader atleast).... After having witnessed joystick controlled loaders in action, after having asked our operators how they felt about them, and having used them myself. I can say they work really well. There wasn't a strong preference for wheel or joystick among the operators, but I was surprised at how quickly they accepted and became comfortable with the joystick. Perhaps raising speeds to 80mph might throw a wrench in the works, but I doubt it. Nobody ever complained about handling the loader at top speed with one vs the other. As far as arm fatigue I dunno, but our operators would use them for 10 hours a day straight, day in and day out. The joystick was mounted at the side of the chair, and the arm rested on a rest. I cant imagine it being any worse than having to reach forward and hold a steering wheel for 10 hours. While a large loader is different than a car, given my experience I would guess that you could probably make an automobile be controlled by a joystick just fine.

"not everyone involved is trustworthy." Hear, Hear!!! I'll second that. My consolidated student loans were bought up by a management company of sorts that has been very difficult to deal with. They have repeatedly applied additional payments to the principle incorrectly. And have been impossible to deal with. In the attempts to sort everything out I have been given different names and employee numbers from people who sound distinctly familiar. In over a year I have never spoken to the same person twice (despite the fact that one girl has a very distinct voice). They claim to not use e-mail, and they claim that their phone system does not allow me to contact a chosen employee or manager. Each time I go through the menu driven system. Each time I am told "no sir, i am sorry I cant transfer you to jane doe, and I'm sorry that she gave you an extension number, I cant do anything with that. Each time I am told the problem is "fixed" but will take 30 days to go through the "system" So I wait 30 days and guess what? Nothing is different. Last go around I was told that the problem is actually fixed, and that it's just not being reflected online.... Repeated requests for statements in writing have gotten me nowhere. I haven't received a scrap of paper from this company in years. I have serious doubts that I would manage to get a forbearance or deferment from this company. However they have at least given me credit of some sort or another for every penny they have received. I have heard of others not being so fortunate. I feel very uncomfortable having a loan as serious as a student loan being serviced by a company with such unscrupulous business practices.

No, actually he is mad because they wouldn't let him be a police officer....

Many fiddlers also alter the shape of the bridge and make it flatter. It's not a 100% sort of thing, but fiddles are often set up differently. My favorite explanation? A violin is carried in a case, a fiddle is carried in a sack :)

Place I used to work had cameras installed in some of the cement mixing trucks. Sounds like the same sort of camera, however I don't know if ours transmitted info back wirelessly. Talking to one of the people responsible for making the call to install them, our main motivation was to save money. Our insurance company gave us a break, and if the driver was at fault it gave us and the insurance company tremendous leverage against the driver. It was also pointed out that "they (the drivers) would probably pay more attention to what the hell they are doing if they knew they were being watched" The official explanation by our company though was "so that we can back you up if there is an accident" I am pretty conflicted over the whole matter though, cause while I chafe at the idea of big brother and cameras. We did have a marked drop off in accidents. The cameras were initially installed in a couple of trucks whose drivers seemed to have alot of "bad luck" The bad luck seemed to go away soon after the cameras were installed.

Well I haven't read the article yet, so I guess I am still eligible to post... Anyways, The folks I know who are "unschooling" Are essentially homeschooling, they are just not using the same methods and materials that public schools are currently using (Homeschoolers frequently just provide a "school environment" in their home.) Most importantly "unschoolers" are intentionally avoiding replicating the "school" atmosphere in their home. They feel that public school is mostly focused on making kids "obedient citizens" or "little robots". And they very much want their children to have "open minds" and not "be like the rest".

What gets my attention the most though, is that everyone I know who is doing this is very intelligent and usually well educated (Much more so than most elementary school teachers) This would not work for the average American family.... They lack the fundamental tools and education to pass on anything worthwhile to their children.

This is a trendy term for parents who look at our education system and think "I don't like what they are doing to my child, I don't like what he is learning there..." And most importantly "I think I can do a better job"

I think it's pretty sad that in most cases it's true. Our schools, staffed with trained professionals, sets the bar so low that just about anyone with some brains, and time could do a better job. Even though they lack any sort of formal training or devotion to said process. (in other words our specialists , suck so bad, that anyone can do their job, and do it better.)

"The only law they should pass is to make it a crime for an employer to offer health care as a benefit." You do this and you will screw alot of people. Especially as all these people have to go out and shop for new insurance. Health insurance companies wont provide for people who actually need health insurance. Those with pre-existing conditions will be out of luck. It happens all the time right now. I know one person who is screwed because his insurance company decided to no longer operate in his state of residence (dropped everyone in the state), and another who lost coverage after a divorce (was on wife's company insurance) Neither have insurance now, and both have lost every bit of savings and property they have. Try paying for heart surgery with no insurance. It costs even MORE to pay out of pocket.

Well yes, but when you are dealing with baking software peoples very health and welfare are at stake. Great scott man, raw eggs can kill! Banking software is not nearly as stringent.

Keep in mind that this legislation is mostly being pushed forward by corporate interest. The larger players involved are all FOR this. This process helps further consolidate and centralize the process "for your safety" you might as well say "think of the children." The people who are fighting against this are individual ranchers or smaller farmers. To phrase it another way, the current legislation being proposed is being written by corporate interests, and isn't really trying to help out small time farmers. The small farmers are realizing that this is going to cramp their style.... I'm sure that if a system was proposed that would give an advantage to these small time farmers they would shut up.... (and someone else would start complaining)

My understanding is that the current plan is to allow large corporate operations, that move large numbers of animals around at a time, to identify them as a "unit" While smaller farmers who don't source from a single location, nor sell to a single location will be required to chip each animal. This is one advantage this gives the corporate process. Add in the registration process and all the various laws and fees that are sure to accompany the process, and its probably going to place a pretty hefty and disproportionate burden on the small farmer who has only a few critters. (or at least that is their fear) For example a $500 fee to register a property probably wouldn't phase a large corporate operation, but the guy who sells me my eggs and has only a dozen chickens probably isn't going to pony up the $500. Personally I think a good look at many of the large corporations that handle our food, and the type of hardball they can and do play, make Micro$oft look pretty warm and fuzzy.