I could hate you for bringing me back to reality. But, you're right. The ultimate goal, is to get mankind out there among the stars. And - that may never happen. Every attempt may fail. We MAY not even establish any self sustaining colonies here in the solar system. But, I sure as hell don't want to accept that idea as likely. I suppose you've seen this little video?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

That's the short take from a longer video, which is somewhat less "exciting" I guess the term might be.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

Give a man a fish, and he eats for a day. Teach a man to fish, and he can eat for a lifetime.

I would if I could - we ALWAYS seem to have mod points here, but not me, not today. I agree with AC. Like him, I grew up relatively poor, in a rather wealthy town. It wasn't until I walked the streets of Djibouti that I saw genuine soul grinding, body destroying poverty. No, rich people don't understand poverty - and in fact, there are only a small percentage of Americans who probably have seen it face to face.

I'm well aware of fake "philanthropy". Some of the more respectable philanthropy even fails. Supposing that some billionaire actually funds the lab that finds the cure for cancer - he has bought and paid for his brand of immortality. The world doesn't need or want any more pyramids, so cancer will do the trick.

All the same - if enough people are competing to accomplish something is space, SOMEONE is going to succeed.

Yeah, I buy it. Hell, I'd work for little more than a pretty meager wage if I could be reasonably sure of ACCOMPLISHING something meaningful in space.

Uhhhh - wow. That one looks pretty damned slick. The backlight shines THROUGH the keys, right? Double shot mold, you've got the clear plastic inside, opaque outside, so the letters/numbers will never wear off. You've got me seriously tempted on that one. $150? Not right now, right after Christmas, but maybe in a month.

Yeah, I touch type all the time, but sometimes, I do lose my place on the keyboard. So, I keep a light on beside the desk because the monitors aren't bright enough to show the faded out letters on my keyboard.

Lighting for the sake of cool doesn't cut it with me, but THIS lighting looks useful.

One last question - that thing feels like an IBM springy while you're typing - or close to it, at least? I'm almost sold here. Thanks for the link!

I clicked the link, and looked at the keyboards being touted. Power users? Really? WTF? Whatever happened to the concept of KISS? They've got frigging LIGHTS under the keyboard!!! WTF needs LIGHTS to type with? And, why introduce yet another component that can go bad?

I'll second the IBM/Unicomp model M nomination for POWER USERS!

Seriously? Lights? That makes me think of the posers who put lights on their car's wheels. "Oh, look at me, I'm so cool!"

Cite the policy. Please, cite the exact policy.

The real policy is, that officers will not obstruct the airway - that is they won't "choke" people. The hold used by the officer in question did not obstruct the airway. There was no "choking" taking place.

Some fat slob resisted arrest, he was taken down to the ground so that he could be cuffed, and his medical problems killed him. The cop didn't kill that fat man, his own medical conditions coupled with his unwillingness to cooperate with police killed him.

I am not arguing semantics here, not at all. There is a very definite meaning of "choke hold". No choke hold was used here.

Talk to any wrestler, talk to any martial arts expert, talk to any cop. Get any of those individuals whom you have trust in to demonstrate the difference between a choke hold, and any number of other holds.

A reasonably healthy person can be held all day long in any hold which is not a choke hold, and he may suffer some pain, but his life will NOT be in jeopardy.

A choke hold, by definition, is a life threatening hold, which WILL kill the healthiest of men within minutes.

Semantics my ass.

Go look at that video again. It wasn't a "choke hold". FFS - did you never wrestle as a kid? Have you never watched collegiate wresting? PLEASE don't cite any of the professional wrestlers - they are all as queer as a three dollar bill. You may cite just about any martial arts expert with a belt. Ask Chuck Norris, if you like.

It wasn't a choke hold.

Yep - seems a no-brainer to me. Anyone who ever went to school knows that the bully isn't going to hammer the snot out of you while the teacher is watching. He waits until Teach has gone back inside to grade paper!

From the summary: "The battles in Battle of the Five Armies are deadly boring, bereft of suspense, excessively padded, and predictable to the point of being contemptuous of the audience."

That pretty much describes all 3 movies to a Tee.

Apparently, Ghostery is pretty effective at blocking doubleclick. I do not get those personalized advertisements. The ONLY place where "ads" are even somewhat accurately aimed at me, is Amazon. If/when I clear cookies, and browse without signng in, their limited accuracy disappears.

If the cops actually have to do their JOB to get the job done, they aren't so eager to infringe on your rights.

All nations who trace their laws back to English Common Law supposedly require warrants before they invade your privacy. Funny how many of those nations have been ignoring that requirement.

Really? Well - the funny thing that I see, is that liberals run the schools in the ghettos, and young black children get a substandard education. Outside the ghettos, conservatives have a stronger voice, and the schools improve. The best schools are almost invariably private schools, with very conservative ways.

Imagine that. No, the gap will never close, the way things are now.

So, you see it as your mission in life to ensure that fuckups never get to fuckup? You see yourself as the saviour who can prevent anyone ever answering for their fuckups?

What arrogance.

Imbeciles like me? Isn't that interesting. I'm nearing 60 years old. I've changed careers multiple times in my life. I've changed jobs so many times I can't count them. I've mastered more than one craft, but I'm an imbecile - because I happen to disagree with Hognoxious? Yes - that is very interesting.

Tell me - are you into eugenics, as well?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

You don't understand that THIS IS THE WAY IT SHOULD BE!

If a school board chooses wisely, the people will benefit, and the economy will grow.

If the board chooses less wisely, less benefit, less economic growth.

If the board truly fucks up - the locals suffer, the board gets shit canned, and a new board takes a stab at getting things right.

There is no good reason for the monoculture we have in education today. There should be different approaches to things. Those systems that excel are likely to be copied in various was. Those systems that fail dismally won't be copied - they'll fall by the wayside.