if you're running one the million- or billion-dollar companies [...] actually do anything, you're talking mainframes one way or another (call them a "cloud" if you must).

A cloud is usually a cluster a commodity computers, not a mainframe. A cluster can easily outperform a mainframe at lower cost, while having much higher reliability.

Certainly, the Fortune 1000 companies used-to run lots of mainframes, and they've got plenty running legacy apps, but today, they're just as interested in clusters of cheap PCs as the little guys. Google, Facebook, Amazon, et al, aren't interested in mainframes at all.

Religion survived, and even thrived, after the invention of the printing press... So access to information does not turn everyone into atheists.

And yet you are alone... So very alone...

If your opponent must throw rock 50% of the time, then you throw paper 100% of the time.

You will win AT LEAST 51% of the time, because you get the 50% gifted to you, and the other non-0% of the times that your opponent throws paper will cause a rematch.

Obama changed his mind, did Eich?

Lovely... So you're saying we get a whole 2-year window to jump on the latest bandwagon, before we get branded as bigots, fired from our jobs, and ostracized by the public at-large?

Either way is has no bearing on this issue as it's a company that can do as they wish.

Oh good... You wouldn't mind if he was being fired for his race then?

What is happening now with gay rights is what happened with racism in the 60's.

That's utter bullshit. I'm sure blacks in the south would have loved if the only problem they had in the world was not being able to get the tax breaks and entitlements that come from a state recognized marriage.

Is that was passes for oppression, these days? I'm inclined to go lynch 10,000 homosexuals, just so people would get to see what real discrimination looks like...

Such a first-world problem, that a group not getting the tax-breaks and incentives (that were always meant as incentives for child-bearing families) passes for discrimination these days.

I suppose it vary significantly, and may be me justifying liking new things, but here goes:
Your longer term big ticket items suggested are not necessarily more valuable than smaller items (though I don't know how "small" a car really is in comparison).

My thought process is as follows - There is significant uncertainty in whether a house or given college degree or early retirement is going to be worth the time or money, especially years on.

Houses just crashed a few years ago, and for lots of people it was a losing proposition. College degree costs vs jobs and actual increased income seem to be on a similar bubble path right now. Early retirement may not be desirable due to enjoying your job...

Your "trinket" items are also perhaps subject to significant potential disputes as to the worth of them. If all you want is a cell phone, any $30 e-bay flip phone is fine. But I would argue there is a significant value to be had in having a smartphone. It's not worth it for everyone, but a smartphone can do tasks the flip phone just can't. Newer smartphones don't get as big a bump, but there are apps that each successive phone can run that some older class of phones just can't. Go back 4 years on Android, and you might have gotten a 2.2 OS. There are many apps that are 2.3+ with functions in them that are 4+. This may be of no value to you, but I would argue there is a non "trinket" value to be had here.

The latest Big Screen TV may (and there are variables) use less energy due to being LED backlit vs Plasma or LCD. It might have a better integrated set of tools like Netflix and Amazon. It might play 4K media instead of 1080p or 720p. These are actual upgrades, though again, it superficially may look like it's doing the same thing. At the most superficial level a we all should still have CRTs. That's a potentially valid position, but I don't think we can say having a newer TV is a waste of money.

The latest model car is potentially the weakest "toy". I have a 2012 Legacy and am seriously thinking of upgrading to a 2015. Why? 1) CVT so better MPG by ~3MPG. 2) crash avoidance system. 3) Adaptive cruise control. 4) Built in back up camera. 5) Cross traffic sensors.

Now, this is a special bunch of upgrades in a particular model, and not there for every new model year. But each year, some car is coming out with non-trivial improvements to safety, fuel economy, and features. Buying new cars isn't an investment - you'll get no argument from me that it's a money loosing proposition. But no more so than buying vegetables at a grocery store and making a stir fry at home vs a value menu meal from McDonalds. That is to say, newer devices can have real benefits.

Now I agree if we're talking fashion, jewelry, the latest Madden release(but only for one year back, then there's the value of still having multiplayer over the net)...

I also think about inflation. Many smaller gadgets will last and function for years, they don't lose their value as fast as the cost goes up. Most consumer electronics don't follow this pattern, but many appliances seem to (Kitchen appliances such as Bosch Mixers etc), as do tools etc.

For many new "toys" it's buy it now and have it, or hope I can buy it later... Things I own would only go away if something catastrophic happened, and I'd still have lost the money I could have had instead - and money that's likely loosing purchasing power the longer I hold it.

Anyway I've rambled on, it's late, and we might actually agree.

"I'm not accepting any patches until you fix your bugs" is hardly suspending someone,

Only because that's an inaccurate misquote. Let's try the real thing:

"I will *not* be merging any code from Kay into the kernel until this constant pattern is fixed. This has been going on for *years*, and doesn't seem to be getting any better."

That's not a "fix this bug first" message... That's a much more general and sweeping "you suck, so you're fired," message.

Of course both Kay and Linus reserve the right to change their minds and play nice together in the near future, but that doesn't sound likely.

That certainly sheds some more light on your reservations.

I'd have to punch holes in the wall and I really don't want to do that.

Not sure what you mean... You just run wires from the reed switch up to the fixture, or down to the switch/electrical box. No holes in the walls needed. If you're talking about screw holes, you could opt for double-sided tape.

Even with LED bulbs being relatively efficient I see no point in leaving them turned on unnecessarily.

No reason for it, but there's the question of the cost of devices to automatically shut them off...

For your pantry/storage closet, I'd probably use an old $1 refrigerator door switch, or maybe a magnetic alarm switch like so:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GU...

OT musings on kitchen appliances:
Hmm, last time I looked for a Dishwasher (about a year ago) I had to go to a bit of a specialty store, but the Bosch 800 series and Melie competitor were within $100 of each other. The Bosh 800 was IMO a better design by far for the third rack. (and you really want to get a dishwasher with a third rack - far more efficient use of space than the basket for forks etc). I believe now you can get that in the Bosch 500 series, which is much more affordable.

Anyway, I am indeed a Bosch fan. I also have a Bosch Universal Plus stand mixer which is awesome.

Miele seems better in Vacuums IMO, though I haven't owned one - got an Oreck 7 yrs ago, and still have 15 or so years on the warranty.

I put a timer switch on a closet light my wife and I tend to forget to turn off. Automatically shuts off after 5 minutes as it is just a pantry/storage closet. I've got another spot with motion sensors. I have to turn the lights on but then a motion sensor turns them off if there is no motion in the room for X number of minutes. Good for locations like kitchens.

I hope those devices were cheap. With the efficiency (and low cost) of LEDs, it might take YEARS of energy usage to pay off those (also reasonably inexpensive) timers and motion sensors:

http://slashdot.org/comments.p...

They said CFL would last 7 years. Good luck having one last more than 2 years if it's used regularly. I replace my outside CFLs yearly.

CFLs are terrible for outdoor (cold location) use, and they're lousy anywhere they'll be turned on/off frequently. CFLs also have issues with failure if not mounted in the proper orientation they were designed for, or used in small fixtures that get hot.

LEDs have no such problems, and furthermore, the $10 Cree 60W equivalents come with a 10-year warranty from the manufacturer.