Dear Doctor Amy Farrah Fowler,

The Genetics Industry Association of America (GIAA) understands you have been using a "genetic sequencer" device to decode genetic sequences that members of our association own as their intellectual property.

We are reminding you that your activities are strictly prohibited as you do not have a license for the sequences in question. We therefore require you to CEASE AND DESIST all such activities and destroy all devices you have been using to illegally decode other's intellectual property.

Attached please find an invoice for 30 million US dollars for fines, damages, legal fees, etcetera.

Most sincerely,

THE GENETICS INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION OF AMERIKA (GIAA)

Right, because Apple is the only company that found it had to move manufacturing to China. Apple was actually pretty late to the party in China, I believe they kept manufacturing in America longer than a lot of companies did. (party pun intended)

Whatever we do, let us not wonder what it is about our national character (I want stuff cheap) or our national trends (cutting local labor _always_ boosts stock price) or national policies (yes we subsidize moving jobs overseas) that creates a situation where a whole buttload of manufacturing went to China, including Apple's

congrats! you're now a small, on-foot, homeless loser who minimized a trivial expense and lowered your income potential and your quality of life. w00t?

okay, seriously, debt is a tool, not a sin. as a tool, you can injure yourself with it or build something useful. and to throw another cliche, for every problem there is a short, simple solution that's wrong. or in your case, not exactly wrong, just sub-optimal

H. A. N. D.!

It seems to me that no one cares about a flip-flop if the issue is technical. If some pol flip-flops over which agency should oversee Big Tobacco, who cares?

I would submit that people only care about flips and flops when the issue is moral and or ideological. Romney is despised because he flip-flopped abortion (moral) and healthcare (ideological). Plus he's a MoMo

And since we live in a country where the majority view nearly everything as ideological, a pol changing a position on almost anything is going to piss somebody off

Now if that's a reasonable explanation of why flip-flopping matters, can we move on to why everything has to be so ideological? As in "No, lowering tax rates really doesn't increase tax revenue - where the fuck is your head at, Newt?" Holding on to the lies that the Sainted Ronald of Reagan mumbled oh so many years ago just has to be ideological since it is so clearly not rational

In the original story, the Grinch has a change of heart and gives Christmas back.

In the current story, The Gingrinch keeps everything he gets his filthy paws on, including the Roast Beast (obviously eating it all himself) then he dumps his wife after she finds out he's been having an affair with little Cindy Lou Who.

Your'e a foul one, Mister Gingrinch... You've got the sunny disposition of a seasick crocodile...

As other posters have said, the not-in-my-backyard effect means any proposal along these lines is dead-on-arrival in the United States for the near-term.

However, in the long-term there is likely going to be a "come to Jesus" moment when Texas turns to desert or California burns to the ground, when even hard-core skeptics will realize something has to give. Then maybe a plan like this would be dusted off and put into practice.

Wasn't it W. Churchill who said "You can trust the Americans to do the right thing after they've exhausted all other possibilities." Maybe we'll pull our heads out but it'll be a long time coming.

Things will have to get desperate, such as the situation in Galena Alaska where remoteness means energy costs are crazy high. As long as the dollar costs of coal extraction are low and there's not an undeniable disaster in progress due to climate change then coal-fired will burn on.

Pre-crime is Philip K Dick as interpreted by Steven Spielberg

Orwell warned about a totalitarian state directing every action and every thought

We are already living in the brave new world Huxley predicted. I'd say we rocketed past Huxley twenty years ago, we are currently Orwellian, and we're one lab-experiment-gone-wrong away from "I Am Legend" (Richard Matheson)

In my perfect libertarian world, whoever gets to the intersection firstest with the mostest guns wins. Stopping or even slowing down would never be mandatory, unless you're one of those bitches driving a Prius.

And shouting "Fire!" in that mythical crowded theatre is okay, but shouting "Firepower!" and following it up with a few rounds into the ceiling is even better.

So Sandeep, since the USA is getting its fear and loathing on, and wouldn't really want you or your talent or your genius or your money because you're a dirty furriner, why don't you fly to Canada and I'll put you and Prakash on a boat headed south off the coast of a country that fears you and mistrusts you?

Just think of all the work you'll get done when you're near America yet completely cut off from distractions like scenery, clubs, fast cars and women and fun. Think of how close you'll be with your shipmates when you're with them day after endless, miserable day. Think of the convenience of getting all of your foods out of a can. Think of those quaint old English nautical customs everyone loves: the rum! and the buggery! and the lash! You do miss the English right? I knew you did!

What's that? You're just going to stay in Canada? Their money's actually worth something? You fucking hate Brits but Canada's not so bad? The Canadians aren't rocketing backwards into totalitarianism and ignorance and incompetence? Well mister, obviously you've never been to Toronto....

The Nook Tablet (unrooted) is slightly more open than the Kindle Fire (unrooted)

Some links:

• side-loading apps to the Nook Tablet
• lightweight comparison
• slightly better comparison

My takeaway is if you have your gold geek card, get the Fire (less money) and root it. If you're less adventuresome, get the Nook for more openness, but get an micro-SD card or you're stuck with only 1GB of free memory.