Indeed, 1/3rd of Belizeans live in the USA, because the economic opportunities are lacking in their country, in no small part due to corruption of local politicians.

There also are incentives to move to Belize, allowing you to move your household possessions, cars, etc. down there tax-free. Just pay the government a small fee.

I've spent time down there, it's a beautiful country, but with an odd mix of enclaves of super-expensive housing developments for expats, and shanty towns for locals.

...but cell phones in Japan are so advanced, they are 5 years ahead of the iPhone, it'll never sell there.

Oh wait...

Here's some news about Munich.

Yeah, those damn leftist Russians and Eastern Europeans and Middle Easterners. And let's not forget the socially liberal Chinese, they are commies in name only, so they are leftists.

Oh right, what I meant to say is that Europe is not "the rest of the world." Despite how much as some would like to think so.

Name the states. Because what you're stating is misinformed urban legend.

I've heard variants on this argument for years ("Japanese phones are so much more advanced than what we have here!"), and having been to Japan on a number of occasions, I just never saw it. Other than streaming TV shows onto surprisingly bulky phones, I just didn't see anything particularly advanced or interesting.

Now that the iPhone is the best selling cell phone in Japan (not just smart phone, best selling cell phone), perhaps it's time to put these arguments aside. Hell, people are lining up to get on waiting lists for the new iPhone. Granted, people in Japan seem to love lining up for almost anything, but it's still significant.

The iPhone has done extremely well. Even in Japan. Perhaps that's why Nintendo sees Apple as a threat.

Ah yes, and in that anthropology class, you will learn to embrace The Noble Savage myth like so many others.

And for his next trick, Dr Mark Gasson will insert an Atari 2600 controller into his anus, and proceed to control a Windows PC's mouse cursor with it. This is the first time a human has ever taken over control of a computer with the twitching of their rectal wall, and demonstrates the need for anal computer security.

All hail scientific achievement.

Your analysis of my post belongs in left field. I never stated any of the straw man assertions you raised.

I never stated our current system might not fail. I never stated that the current western system is the best humanity will discover.

Frankly, I don't even understand how you could glean that from reading my post. Please read the initial post that I was responding to, then read my post and understand it was in response to that.

Afterwards, perhaps a cold martini and some reflection, and you'll understand my points (and cease making up things which I did not say or imply, so that you can refute them).

I agree with the notion that the US should not have an overly inflated estimate of our importance... however your reasons why are beyond silly.

"Old" doesn't make something better. Ask any of the younger generations in the countries you've cited, you'll find that they by in large eschew all of this glorious ancient tradition (if they're even aware of it), and are more interested in modern (read: Western) style living.

Simply occupying the same bit of dirt on the planet for a length of time doesn't translate into some type of magical wisdom. Indeed, entities and institutions that have existed for too long very frequently exhibit backwardness and retardation from centuries of inbreeding.

Please read up on the history of India, China, etc. and the myriad of failed systems that have existed in the countries (India, China, etc) you've cited over the past 5,000 years. Then consider restating your opinion.

Again, I have no issue with your statement that the USA can often be caught up in its own hubris, which we should avoid. But the rest of your statements sound like something right out of the "noble savage" nonsense.

pedant> That's the historical definition of the word. These days, it literally means kill, destroy, or remove a large of /pedant>

Get with the times... ;)

I wondered the legality of this whole situation myself. As it turns out, the item would be considered "mislaid property" and what the person who found it was supposed to do was leave it with the property owner (the bar in this case) on the theory that the person would return to reclaim their mislaid item.

Given that this didn't transpire, the finder of mislaid items is the new owner, unless the original owner returns to claim it. The law also talks about the new finder making a "reasonable effort" to return the mislaid item.

The finder did apparently did try to contact Apple... but has since sold it to Gizmodo. Apple has made a formal demand for the property being returned to them, so it will be... but the damage has already been done, to an extent. I wonder if Apple has any recourse at all.

Here's the CA penal code on the matter: Lost and Unclaimed Property. Article 1. Lost Money and Goods.

See my reply here Re: Legality of "found" goods

I wondered the legality of this whole situation myself. As it turns out, the item would be considered "mislaid property" and what the person who found it was supposed to do was leave it with the property owner (the bar in this case) on the theory that the person would return to reclaim their mislaid item.

Given that this didn't transpire, the finder of mislaid items is the new owner, unless the original owner returns to claim it. The law also talks about the new finder making a "reasonable effort" to return the mislaid item.

The finder did apparently did try to contact Apple... but has since sold it to Gizmodo. Apple has made a formal demand for the property being returned to them, so it will be... but the damage has already been done, to an extent. I wonder if Apple has any recourse at all.

Here's the CA penal code on the matter: Lost and Unclaimed Property. Article 1. Lost Money and Goods.

RHETORIC IS NOT REALITY

UNSHAVEN HIPPIES SPEAKING IN TONGUES ARE NOT THE MESSIAH

You are taking the right to copy an original work from the artist who created it. You are depriving him or her of the right bestowed to him by law, just as freedom of speech is bestowed unto him or her by law.

You are taking the fruits of someone else's labor, the hours and days and years of study and work that culminated in the creation they put out on the free market for sale.

That the tools used didn't create a physical object you can fold, spindle, or mutilate means little. R&D costs are the bulk of most sophisticated manufactured goods, whether physical or ephemeral.