Why not? Lots of things that plants, and even humans, need are pollutants in sufficient quantities or concentrations.

Because by that ridiculous standard EVERYTHING is a pollutant.

I'd agree with the points you made if CO2 were actually a pollutant; it's only very recently been classified as one in order to justify the taxes they want to apply.

So now plant "food" is a "pollutant."

Agree with fluxsmith... the 10th amendment quite clearly limits the powers of the federal government to specifically what is outlined in the constitution, and leaves the rest to the states (or individuals).

That we don't follow the constitution doesn't negate the fact that it's already right there.

I disagree, and it's why we're (strictly speaking) not a full blown democracy (so that's the first point I disagree with... by your standard, 80% of the white people could demand slavery be re-instituted by repealing amendments - obviously they wouldn't, but by your reasoning it would be OK if they did).

Secondly, the constitution of the U.S. gives a specific list of the responsibilities of the federal government... and leaves EVERYTHING else to the states.

Yes, it's true that we already are not following the constitution as it was written, but that's besides the point if you're arguing about a specific topic.

Lastly, you can take your carbon tax and shove it up your %$#@^$. The whole concept is complete $#^$#@, and the ONLY reason government should be taxing citizens is to pay for the operation of the government, not for social change, income redistribution, or "out of fairness."

Yeah... about 7 or 8 years ago I got Lasik; about 2 years ago I started needing reading glasses (I'm 43 now).

I'm going to find out if I can correct that, too. I don't want implanted lenses, though.

First I've heard of any problems, and I've been using Ubuntu since 7.x... so... sounds like someone's muck raking to me, probably a small group of "disenfranchised" users.

I liked it... and I didn't know it was cancelled until just now.

I guess I live under a rock.

Yeah, but the MPAA doesn't have the authority to demand anything... a judge might, but they'd have to prove their case first.

By what authority does the MPAA have the power to disconnect ANYONE from the internet?

No argument here.

Well... I can't answer you entirely, but I can say this (as someone working professionally as a software developer for nearly 20 years).

1. Ubuntu doesn't make it any harder to purchase a webcam. Installing it is usually easier than windows (if it's supported, there's usually nothing extra to install, or Ubuntu might say it needs to download something and ask if you want to do it). Skype comes as a .deb package, so it's easy to install. This is something I've done before... I don't like skype, I don't have it any more, but this was several years ago and it worked just fine. Of course, that's if it's supported. Linux users may have to actually look it up before clicking on "order" at newegg.

2. Don't see why that would be a problem... Open Office is supposed to handle .docx. I've never tried though. All the other documents I've received in MS format have worked with the only exception that people who didn't know how to format documents properly usually ended up with something that looked terrible.

3. No iTunes. I use Banshee, though. It's similar in layout and the way you use it to iTunes. No iTMS, of course. But you make playlists and sync them with your iPod. This is something I currently do on probably a weekly basis to change out music on my old Nano. Recently I've started recording my old LPs using a USB turntable... I didn't have to even install any software or drivers on Linux... it just worked.

4. Never tried it beyond just using line-out, so wouldn't know.

I will say this, though - I've been using Ubuntu for several years. I still boot to Windows for games, but don't really play that often, so I'm on Linux like 99% of the time for my own use. Everyone else in my house uses Windows. My son plays a lot of games; my daughter less so. My wife uses iTMS still. I don't pay extra for MS products anyway, so even on Windows we all use Open Office.

There's always going to be something someone comes up with that "requires" Windows. I don't hate or blame Windows users, but it still seems to me that for most people, the only problem with Ubuntu is it's not Windows. They conflate "different" with "hard," and call Linux "hard" because they already learned Windows and Ubuntu is different.

Overall, over the past few years, most hardware upgrades and installs actually ended up being easier with Ubuntu... the ones that weren't were usually complete fails, though.

Of course, when you're account is deactivated and you're not using it, you're not "paying" for the service, so you couldn't claim any loss.

Agreed... opt out is BS, it should ALWAYS be opt-in, and default browser behavior should be to NOT send such information at all.

I don't make those choices; individual businesses do.

The problem isn't that people choose what they want, it's that they often choose out of ignorance of what's available.

There's reality, and there's the Linux Enthusiast Reality Distortion Field.

Maybe, but if you're applying that sentiment to me then you're just being a jackass - I never belittled anyone for choosing MS, I'm lamenting the fact that people think that's ALL there is.