If the Japanese can't manage nuclear power, who can? If the Israelis can't defend against Chinese hackers, who can?
(Definitely blew away my misconception. I had no idea anyone in Israel was dumb enough to use a Microsoft product on their network.)
I'm not deserving, I'm undeserving. And I mean to go on being undeserving: I like it.
When you've achieved what you've been working for: ability to purchase quality products, convenient access to services, and a plethora of entertainment: what's the need to be politically active?
Oh, wait. That's right. To confront other people who are being politically active and using the system to demonize those ideals and take all that stuff away. The old world ideations have been realized and somewhere somehow some people have realized that all of this stuff the old world wanted is just hollow claptrap, and now these new enlighten people will now do their level best to destroy that old world realization. So by promoting old world's demise all they fail to realize that they too are held up by many of the old world's innovations -- until they finally get their way and outlaw any products that threaten to be "the quality" (can't have near monopolies!), regulate to impracticality the existence any convenient services, and only allow entertainment that affirms the destruction of the old world ideals. Until this society collapses into chaos or is overturned by a person who somewhere somehow realizes the world could be better place if people were free to make quality products, offer convenient access to services and create their own entertainment.
Really I agree with you that the upper middle class is probably apathetic and out of touch with "real" people, and probably mean and insensitive, and more than willing to the let the powers that be run things as they are. However:
As for the ones dependent on the state: You don't think that makes them pawns to be played by political players? Generational welfare conditions people to remain dependent: eventually coming to the view that the government is the only resource, they can only petition and hope the merciful rulers will hear their plea.
Whereas a person of some means has a choice if a local government brings down some crazy oppressive ruling: they can leave and deprive that local government of whatever taxes and local economic activity they may have contributed.
National oppressive government... well, there you don't have too much choice. So we're probably all screwed already anyway...
I think you missed the bit where he says poisonous water is naturally occurring in some places.
The worst of fracking is that it brings up naturally occurring Radon from underground.
Though I'm pretty sure this is easily handled by aerating the water.
Ah, yes.
The Welfare State.
Keeping people down by giving them enough to live comfortably whilst simultaneously destroying their self-respect and ambition.
Though that's not even a conspiracy...
To keep people calm and inactive and not blaming the government while they complete their police-state maneuvers.
Actually, its just been a stupid week, and crap articles like this having me blaming "the man" for everything that's wrong with the world.
Until you hit something that does require higher math.
Find the optimal coverage schedule for employees next week given their varied availability
As simple as this sounds, unless you're willing to wait for the computer to churn thru every possibility: you are going to need some higher math know how to program that answer.
I don't think Gary is a great example of design defeating purpose.
Gary's design is somewhat grotesque and awkward: but that's exactly the kinds of things he highlights about the human experience. So it fits.
Blame Julie Larson-Green.
She's responsible for this and the awful Office ribbon: perfect examples of graphic design stomping all over useability
Why she's still around: I think this is a case of people being swayed by her personal "charisma" and not facing the fact that Windows 8 "metro" is a gimmicky circus act that literally gets in the way of using Windows. Just terrible!
50% are of below-average intelligence
Assuming a Gaussian distribution. Given the rise of drug use and non-education in the United States I'm not sure that's true anymore.
The Tao doesn't take sides; it gives birth to both wins and losses. The Guru doesn't take sides; she welcomes both hackers and lusers.
