But why should they be a part of the OS? They can be, and frequently are replaced with third party apps with different functionality. Having those remain apps that are separate from the OS allows this, as well as allows people to keep their phones up to date easier since they're not as reliant upon the manufacturers and carriers to push out updates to the OS. This is Google's way of dealing with the version fragmentation that has plagued Android. This is a good thing, in my opinion.

Camera, calendar, chrome, hangouts (messages), clock, google+, dialer, people (Contact manager), photos are all apps that are a pretty central part of an android phone. Not to mention the suite of Play apps (Movies, news, store, music, etc.) and other google services that aren't required but are very useful such as translate, google+, sky map, goggles, etc.

To buy or not to buy.

That is the question...

LK

So entitlement mentality (in this case, an arrogant disregard for the residents around you) is OK if you have a measure of success, but not if you don't?

I'm long gone. I went to Ubuntu back in 2009, primarily because there was an easy way to install TDE and Mandriva didn't have an option.

On some level, I'm happy for them but I don't think they'll be able to reclaim many of the users they lost to Mageia and Ubuntu.

LK

A portion of it was required reading when I was in high school (Early 90's). The entire section of the book dealing with the trial was omitted from what we read though, not like that was a major part of the book.

That doesn't disprove the issues in the US. All that it does is show other guest worker programs, where similar contempt exists.

In no particular order:

* The person who is fit/healthy is less likely to end up unable to wipe his own ass in a retirement home.
* Fit and healthy people get more attention from the opposite sex.
* Exercise is a natural anti-depressant.
* Exercise boosts libido.
* You'll sleep better.
* You can eat more.

Of course there are no promises. You could be in the best shape of your life and get hit by a bus tomorrow. Such is life.

If it's not (in any way) about wages, then there would be no problem for Congress to repeal the 1965 Immigration Act in its entirety, cancel all the programs enabled by it, and (via the market) actively/aggressively solicit long-term unemployed US citizens in their place - as regular workers. There are more than enough of them to go around to be not only qualified, but very well qualified. Unfortunately, citizenship in the US makes people expensive, even for hard-working, by-the-book immigrants that want to come to the US.

Truth of the matter is that "properly skilled" can be redefined to exclude otherwise-suitable US citizens too easily. In the eyes of an H1-b/L1/etc. supporter, "properly skilled" is equivalent to saying "has proper fear of an employer". If you were to go to the extreme end of business-friendliness (which spawned the H1-b preference), the ultimately qualified worker is a slave. They cost nothing and are the easiest to dispose.

Then get rid of what enables the abuse - every single guest worker program. After that, strict enforcement of immigration laws already on the books - SB1070 and similar laws show that it works.

The only proper limit for all guest worker programs is 0. If you want someone enough, they'll take up naturalization where they can't be corralled between sponsor employers. It might make them incur business-unfriendly "costs of freedom" (by being able to choose their employer), but the market also functions to raise prices.

No thank you, but China's reputation has been to make it worse in the name of making it "cheaper".

They've done it themselves, and do it to about every brand they touch.

Lenovo? They have the opposite of the Midas Touch - everything they touch becomes worse (Thinkpads, servers, etc.).
The GM H2/H3? It's not even a Suburban.
Buick? At least you could get a decent one before China was prioritized. Now it's Opels, Daewoos, and cut-down I4 mysterymeat cars everywhere.
Geely? They've devalued the Volvo brand in ways that no other country would dare.

No thank you, but I'll pass on something that had problems *before* China got involved.

I still prefer KDE 3.5.

It has less of a PlaySkool feel to it than what came later.

I'll give the new stuff a try eventually but I have no compelling reason to change yet.

LK

Netflix should seriously consider abandoning Canada. Or even, just take a week off and refund all of their customers 1/4 of their monthly payment.

People will call their elected representatives if they lose access to something they want.

LK

This line of thinking is how we end up with people like Andrea Yates, Jim Jones, and countless others. This thought scares rational people.

Have you actually read the Bible?

Matthew 15:3-7

John 15:5-6

Genesis 6:6-7

Numbers 31:15-41

As a side note, the Awkward Moments (Not found in your average) Children's Bible that these illustrations came from are great books.