"They bothered because there wasn't any native Alpha NT programs at the time"

Yeah that was kinda my point though....DEC had VMS and Tru64, which smoked NT 4.0. I blame Compaq ;-)

I could never figure out why DEC even bothered with FX!32, or why MS bothered with Alpha for that matter. I mean, PowerPC OS X Apps didn't run that slow on Intel when using Roesetta.....how did FX!32 get it so wrong?

One of the big reasons for a manned space program has been so-called technology "spin-offs" resulting from the program, but I think that they pale in comparison to the list of spin-offs that we receive from military technology. Here's a short list off the top of my head:

The Internet (Eisenhower created DARPA, and packet-switching was created as a way to maintain communications during a nuclear attack)
Electronic Computers (Alan Turing's "Bomb", ENIAC for ballistics tables, etc)
Rocketry and Jet Propulsion (The V-2, which is weird because it's a spinoff from war that made it's way to space)
Chemotherapy (Mustard Gas was the basis for the first chemotherapy drug)
RADAR/SONAR (a modern airport would be near-impossible without RADAR)
Nuclear Fission (energy production)
Submarines (another "spin-off" that has moved over to undersea exploration)
Plastic Exposives (used for construction, better than blackpowder)
Encryption (has been around for centuries, probably invented for military purposes)
Synthetic Rubber (such as Ameripol)
GPS is pretty pervasive too

All of these things have had a significant impact on our civilization, and to be honest, we wouldn't have a space program without some of them....It's just horrible that so many millions of people had to die for these things to come about. If a manned space program could provide these sorts of technologies, most people would be on board.......but ask them what the International Space Station has provided, and they would be hard pressed to tell you.

"Prove it: name a single white person unjustifiably killed by police in the last 3 years."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D...

It was almost 4 years ago, so I'll give you that.

"Too bad that the "racism" thing had to enter the picture when cops have been brutalizing people of all races, but if that's what it takes to raise awareness, so be it."

This is what irritates me about the recent Baltimore case. It’s being passed as “cops vs. blacks”, when in reality it’s “cops vs. everyone”. Take a look at the racial makeup of the 6 cops that are facing charges (3 are black). Hell, even the Baltimore police chief is black.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05...

"(e.g. Germany, France, Finland)."

So how is this situation handled in the countries you mentioned? Do they have an H1-B/Green Card equivalent for non-Europeans?

Sounds like you need to find a new wife while you're at it ;-)

"He cannot force her to give them up any more than he could force her to abort the fetus or give the child up for adoption"

So can she not force him to pay child support if it's her decision to keep them?

"mostly spent on the military."

Although military spending is a nice chunk of the federal budget, most of it is spent on Social Security and Medicare:

https://static.nationalpriorit...

LOL (seriously, I did) :-)

"If you're a Type I diabetic like myself"

Ditto. I love coffee (and caffeine by extension), but don't like it unsweetened. I usually use Splenda when available.

I'd be interested in Stevia, but there really doesn't seem to be much effort behind producing ready-made drinks with it. I did see Coca-Cola with Stevia in the market the other day, but it was 50% Stevia with the rest sugar, which wouldn't do us much good.

I'm a type 1 diabetic you insensitive clod! I have no insulin to respond with! ;-)

"Should your data usage exceed 15GB in a 30 day period and your usage affect other network users, we reserve the right to limit your Service."
http://www.three.ie/terms-cond...

It may not be a cap, but I'd definitely not call that "unlimited". Take it for what it's worth.

"well-regulated = well-trained"

I know what you're aiming for here, but that doesn't guarantee any more level of safety against incidents like this from happening. The pilot in this situation was well-trained, and I'm sure went through a psych-eval during his career. Nidal Malik Hasan was also well-trained and vetted, and a member of the military (the people you WANT to have guns), and that didn't stop what happened at Fort Hood.