My biggest complaint about plasma option was energy related. My TV is on a lot, between video games, movies, hooked up to a media pc for music etc...

The Plasma uses a ton of electricity compared to an LED backlit LCD. The plasma would cost noticeably more to run.

I also like the weight of the LED/LCD and I find them considerably better for clarity when used as a computer monitor. (as i said, I have a PC hooked up to it...)

I agree the plasma wins out still for absolute picture quality, particularly with blacks when watching movies. And I agree its ultimately a personal choice thing.

I have no regrets about my LED/LCD; just as its apparent you have no regrets about your plasma. :)

Those numbers are Apples and oranges. You can't compare them meaningfully.

I would say... 1/3-2/3 of Windows tech persons don't even understand how to manage files well

IMO those aren't techs. Many people administering windows systems aren't techs... :p Ditto for macs.

And that is the reason why MS is bringing this ISO mounting to new windows, because it really needs to be much easier for Windows techs.

Not sure what you are trying to say here. Making it easier so its just a few mouse clicks makes it the same as Mac and Linux. I guess those techs must be even worse than windows techs then..

I doubt that's your intended argument, but that's pretty much what you just argued.

The Porsche 911 only has a six cylinder engine. You need the turbo to get respectable performance.

I can only imagine you've never driven one.

Cherry pick much ? from the same site:

2011 Porsche 911 Targa 4S 0-60 mph 4.5
2011 Porsche 911 Black Edition 0-60 mph 4.6
2011 Porsche 911 Black Edition Cabriolet 0-60 mph 4.8
2011 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 Cabriolet 0-60 mph 4.9
2011 Porsche 911 Carrera S Cabriolet 0-60 mph 4.6

So... which Porsche 911?

It looks like pretty much any normally aspirated Porsche 911... which is most of them out there. Your Carrera, Carrera 4, Carrera S, Carrera 4S, Targa, Targa, Targa S, Targa 4S, Carrera 4 Cabriolet, Carrera S Cabriolets... outnumber the Turbo variants by a wide margine.

Hmm. "I may be an idiot," I said to my colleagues, "but I can't figure out how to mount this ISO file."

This post seems fake to me. Even your average "mac tech" should have enough passing familiarity with windows to be able to figure this out.

"Burn it," they said.

This part is especially fake sounding. Where did you find a windows tech who didn't know how to deal with an iso file?

Half the PCs out there come with some sort of 3rd party CD burning software that can deal with opening and extracting ISOs just fine.

On the rest I usually just use 7zip portable to extract isos to a folder. Its what? an 8 second download that doesn't need to be installed.

I agree I'm boggled that it wasn't built in in Windows Vista/7 as well, but its hardly like it was a hard problem to solve.

Instead, let's just choose a definite ending point where we know the dollar value: when the stock is sold. If you buy low, sell high, you pay money. If you buy and sell at the same price, you don't pay taxes.

Oh, wait, that's how the system currently works.

And the system as its currently set up is fine ... except:

Firstly, for some reason, the tax rate on income earned on these share price capital gains is MUCH LOWER than that earned on actually working your ass off.

So the bottom line is that the wealthy pay a lower tax rate on their income then someone who actually works, because a big chunk of their income is capital gains vs actually working.

If they were taxed at the same rate, it would be a lot more fair.

Secondly, as the larry ellison example demonstrated -- he was able to spend a pile of money based on the capital gains he made -- WITHOUT having to sell the stocks to get the money. Thereby effectively getting his money out of the stocks, and avoiding paying any taxes on it.

Sure eventually he has to pay back the loan, and eventually has to sell the shares to do it in theory... but there are all kinds of games to play... he gets to spend the money when he wants at the peak of his career, and then can pay the taxes when he wants... say a year when he takes a huge loss so he can offset those taxes with a huge tax deduction... or in small chunks after he's 90 years old... or even after his death.

meanwhile the average family has to pay the taxes in the year they earn them. they don't get to play these games.

If I am going to invest into an idea, it will be for equity in that idea, not a free ride for someone else to possibly make millions..

Agreed. If you have enough money to invest then that is the correct route to take.

But this model is more for people who just want to toss $1-$20 at something and you'll probably not bother getting your lawyer involved.

Now, each year when your house gets worth more, you will be happy to get a tax bill?

For starters, I already do. Property taxes aren't new.

But wait, there are a lot of people who buy them as investments instead of other investing, why should they be given tax shelter?

Again, where I live, your primary residence is already given some tax relief. People who have multiple houses as investments pay larger property taxes on the ones they don't live in.

In which case, when that old great aunt dies and leaves you a nice big house, you dont mind ponying up the 'tax' to be allowed to keep it?

Why exactly should I be entitled to get it anyway?

It wasn't MY wealth, so if I should be counting myself lucky to get any of it. In any case, as far as my wealth is concerned its income. Why exactly shouldn't I be taxed on it?

And if she didn't leave me enough money to cover the taxes too, and I have to sell it or rent it ouot to cover the taxes... why exactly is that a huge travesty?

What part of the american dream was "live in a house your great aunt gave you tax free"?

Hugh Pickens is completely wrong, Ellison DOES pay tax on that superyacht, and there is no avoiding it - as he has to
pay back the loan! to do that he must use tax paid money!

Unless he borrows more money against his share equity to finance the interest payments on a revolving line of credit.

Then he eventually sells the boat at loss, and pays the difference with "tax paid money" except that he gets a tax deduction of the loss on the superyaht so the "tax paid money" amounts to no tax paid.

They also provide the growth that the US is addicted to - attack them, and see how the economy looks in ten years!

A yes, the mythical job creators... attack them and the economy will tank... oh wait... it also tanked THANKS to them. Guess we can't win.

The sleight of hand actually occurred when the wealth grew to a larger amount of wealth without its owner ever needing to describe this "increase in wealth" as "income".