It's been happening since the dawn of slashdot. What are technology cry-babies, except for hipsters that aren't cool (Just like the stereotype hipster who "likes everything before you ever did" isn't cool.

Listening to slashdot members cry tears over people using the internet in ways they don't approve (facebook, twitter, flash, ipods, etc) is so parallel to the stereotype of a hipster, but with programs replacing music and art.

No, being politically correct is respecting diversity and realizing that, for example, the white mens' club is extremely offensive to racial minorities, women, political minorities, etc. For example, being politically correct means that having a business meeting at a strip club is now frowned upon. Or, perhaps a black person might like to work in an office where being referred to as a "nigger" is banned. This is not tiptoeing. This is common fucking courtesy.

Unfortunately, many members of said club disliked losing their former free reign and exaggerated the practice to walking on eggshells, lest they make the slightest transgression against the smallest of sub-groups. This cartoon of political correctness is a shame, because most sane people believe they should be able to work in an environment without prejudice or bigotry.

There are also, however, instances when the smallest of sub-groups cry wolf and raise a big fuss. Overall theses annoyances are worth the tradeoff. For example, women can now wear pants in the workplace, which makes them much more fun to chase.

Well, she's certainly more influential than a sweaty nerd who wouldn't understand talent or normal human sexuality if it were walking around right outside his mother's basement bedroom window.

I am in love with this idea! I'm sure that this will do so much better than my fax-me-a-burrito service that I drove into the ground in the early 90s.

Would you prefer that Google scanned your emails and figured out she was your ex-wife and kept her off the list?

Yes, I am a technical creator. The difference between us, is that I choose not to reinvent the wheel. Lazy? How about wise. You sound like an indie rock snob, except with technology. #digitalHipster #withEnoughHashtagsMaybeYouWillExplode

I finally got a sense of why so many people feel this way (That *every* time someone uses a gadget while driving it is an unacceptable distraction). I recently visited the Massachusetts area where the roads were extremely curvy and you could not see hundreds of yards in advance like you can in the Midwest.

No, I am not special. I can, however, look at the road and figure out how much time I can not look at the road based upon my speed and the obstacles that are ahead. I think that two seconds to look down at my phone is reasonable on a highway when there are no other cars around. I think that it's terrible that so many people default to nanny government mode and pass a law that punishes competent drivers from making educated decisions that put very little additional risk to the situation.

Or, the phrase that precipitated you title: Just because you can't do it safely, and you have data to prove that other people can't do it safely, doesn't mean that everyone can't do it safely. It is within the bell curve of cognitive capability. I may be deluding myself, but there are people who are just that smart. I don't see it happening, but a reasonable compromise is a license to drive distracted.

And finally, my fallback comment that although completely truthful, is still intended on trolling: I really don't pay attention when I drive. Driving really isn't that hard. When I'm using my cell phone, I'm actually paying more attention. No, I am not the guy who drives too slow, or too fast, or the guy who cut you off. It's just not that hard to be a conscientious driver and not pay attention. Sorry.

The marketing department can save your job. Be nice to them. Bear in mind, they do two things. 1) Promote existing products 2) Figure out what the available market is for a given product. As far as #2 goes, there is an incredible market segment to take away from competitors.

Picasa has a wide user base, but it is still unknown to large swaths of the web. You and I know that Google owns blogger, but do most people? Rebranding is important to create a unified product portfolio. Especially, if they can get more users / eyeballs onto Picasa and off of competing photo sharing sites (*cough* Facebook)

This is a surprise to you? There are many kind, wonderful people in this country of ours. There are many individualists who strive to not step on others. And, there are plenty of people who act in completely self-centered ways, whether it helps them or not.

Love is just projection anyways. This seems to qualify.

Am I the only person who sees this post as crazy?

I don't live in the middle of nowhere. I live in a city.

I make better wages, have better benefits, and better working conditions than the trades.

Again, I don't live in a remote country town. Granted, I have to commute to the suburbs, but I can still live in a city.

I feel like I'm raised onto a pedestal. I feel respected whenever I meet people and they ask what my profession is. I date a lot and girls always get a little misty eyed when they find out (Yes, lots of interesting and attractive women actually respect brains).

Also, the work is AWESOME! Oscilloscopes, Logic Analyzers, Firmware, Software, Fixtures.

It really doesn't get better than this.

Just because *you* have the darkness inside of you to force suicide and you see it in others, doesn't mean that the people who are in control will be doing so. "As has always happened in the past?" Please be mindful of your absurd absolute statements. I think that fear of abuse is real, but saying that it is inevitable is missing the point of free will and the good that is in many of us.

You're missing the point. They don't expect awesome pay and benefits as a part timer. Most retail companies cap the number of full time employees and over-hire part time employees. Granted, this results in more jobs, but also limits the amount of good benefits.

Apple should be free to enact whatever compensation they choose and employees should be free to achieve whatever kind of collective bargaining they can convince their fellow employees to agree to. It's called the invisible hand and it works both ways.

I'm sorry, I thought you were a programmer.