You do realize that words have commonly-accepted meanings, right? Your argument makes as much sense as me going around claiming that up is down and black is white and insist that because there's no institute of official English language my use of those words is perfectly valid.

"ir" == "not"
"regard" == "consideration"
"less" == "without"

ir- + regard + -less == "not (without consideration)" == "worthy of consideration"

Yes, one could argue that "irregardless" is a valid grammatical construction, but it's invariably used to mean the opposite of what the construction would imply (to anyone who gives a shit about language and effective communication of ideas).

That doesn't make them any less stupid. Anyone with even a basic understanding of prefixes and suffixes should flag "ir-" + "regard" + "-less" as nonsensical in context. "not" + ("regard" + "without") == "with regard", or worthy of consideration. It's right up there with "I could care less" in the retarded language department.

For the record, I twitch at most uses of the word "decimate" as well. It's rare that one would get to use it properly in most conversation, and rarer still that it would both be used properly and understood properly by the recipient. I don't use it, personally.

...

As opposed to weak purposes? I think the phrase you're looking for is "for all intents and purposes".

I'm sure you could care less about getting it right, but irregardless, that is a rediculous goof-up.

Called into question by whom? Who has serious doubts about anthropogenic climate change (ACC)? You? Are you a climate scientist with a PhD in climate science from an accredited institution (aka fancy book lernin')? No? OK. So, you have your doubts, but you're not a climate scientist. So, on what are you basing your assertion that the research behind ACC is in serious question? You read stuff on the internets? You watch/listen to FOX and other contrarian sources? On what are they basing their assertions that ACC is a liberal hoax? "Research" funded by the fossil fuels industry?

Why on earth would thousands of climate scientists back the assertion that the earth is, on average, warming significantly due to the CO2 that we're dumping into the air at a prodigious rate? What's in it for them? Do they get paid off by Al Gore and his SuperLiberalFriends(tm) task force? Do they use it for pickup lines at the bar (hey baby, it's gettin' hot in here, and I know why...)? Assuming that there is SOME reason for all of these scientists to band together and promulgate this enormous falsehood, do you really think that such a major conspiracy could hold for very long, with so many people participating in it?

OK, so you don't actually believe that there's a vast left-wing conspiracy. You're smarter than that. The problem isn't that climate scientists are all consciously trying to hoodwink us, it's just that they're mistaken. They're misinterpreting the data. Almost all of them. All except a few (who just so happen to be employed by or otherwise funded, directly or indirectly, by fossil fuel companies, but that wouldn't affect anything) who have bravely stood up to go on FOX and tell us all about the Big Lie (or Mistake, if we're being generous/sane/whatever).

Please explain to me. I want to understand, truly I do.

I hope that was a joke!

Ha, yeah. Got it, thanks! Also got the "exceeded capacity" message, boo. Hopefully it will work later. They didn't count on the /. effect. :)

Hi! jerkbob_at_pobox_thatthingsunwas_com please and thanks very much!

So you're not anti-environment, you're just anti-social. The world is your ashtray, eh? I have few strong pet peeves, but that is one of the big ones for me. I guess you wouldn't mind if I brought my dog over to your house and let him shit on your driveway, huh? At least the shit decomposes eventually.

Yes.

http://www.afge.org/index.cfm?Page=PressReleases&PressReleaseID=1265&from=home

Seconded. Without giving too much away, I'll just say that it felt like dating in middle school. All buildup with no payoff.

I tried to make a car analogy but the wheels fell off.

crankyanongeezersezwuh?

/me calls the waaaaahmbulance

would you like some cheese with your whine?

It wasn't connected to the internet. That's a major part of the brilliance that is Stuxnet. The worm infected machines all over Europe and Iran, and spread via USB sticks. At some point (or more likely several points), the infected drive or drives found their way into the machines used to program the Iranian SCADA systems, and then the worm moved into its next phase of infection. It's pretty incredible, the way the authors targeted the iranian systems used for uranium enrichment and only the iranian systems.

Along those lines, since the context is a traffic stop, the following may also help to achieve a resolution of the situation in your favor:

Turn off your engine. Turn off your radio. If it is dark, turn on your overhead light. This will show the officer that you are not planning to flee, and that you're not attempting to conceal anything or anyone. He is already going to be shining his light around looking for empties or other problems, so making it easier for him to determine that there's nothing to see doesn't cost you anything and should be appreciated by the officer.

After you've turned on your lights, roll down your driver-side window halfway. Halfway because it is enough room for you to hand out the documents he will be asking for, but not enough room for you to easily reach out and grab him or his weapon.

Finally, while waiting for the officer to approach your window, put your hands up on the steering wheel, and ask any passengers to keep their hands plainly visible.

Some might say that this is all cowardly acquiescence to power, but the reality is that most cops (especially state troopers) just want to get their shift finished and go home without getting shot. Every traffic stop is a potentially deadly confrontation for them (just skim through traffic stops on youtube) because they don't know if you're just a regular citizen or a wanted violent felon. If you make the stop less stressful for them, they are more likely to let you go with a warning. Politeness and consideration are often reciprocated (it's worked for me on several occasions). Not always, though. Especially when you've been pulled over by local yokel Fife because he's trying to fill his quota for the month. Still, it never pays to be a dick to the cop who's holding your drivers' license and registration.

Note, however, that the advice regarding what one should SAY to a cop is the same. Don't admit to speeding or some other violation -- they will be obligated to cite you then. Don't allow them to search your car without a warrant. Basically, do assert your rights, but don't be an ass about it.

Speaking as someone who was at Sun for the last couple of years of the ride, the problem was a complete lack of senior leadership. Sun was composed of a number of warring and squabbling fiefdoms controlled by big personalities. It was a great place in some respects -- the inmates were running the asylum. That resulted in some brilliant tech (and some brilliant mistakes), but the lack of leadership to set a clear corporate direction led to much wasted time, money, and effort. I'm no Solaris weenie, but I have to grudgingly admit that the OS is quite well engineered. And a lot of Sun's x86 gear (particularly the stuff developed after Andy came back) was absolutely top-notch and a pleasure to work with. Sadly, the various successes of the past half-decade were not enough to offset the toxic infighting and sabotage which led to a drastically weakened company.

In some ways, acquisition by hard-nosed biz people is probably the best thing that could have happened, given the way the world's changed. Oracle has and will continue to cut and cut until they streamline to profitability. Unpleasant for those used to the laissez-faire engineering-driven environment, but at least there's some hope (for those who believe in the technology) that it will survive in service of Oracle's bottom line.

Note that I'm no Larry sycophant -- I got out as soon as I could because that's not the kind of environment I want to be in. Personally, I think that Oracle and companies like it are a dying breed. They've still got a lot of mass and sharp teeth for now, though.

As I've mentioned elsewhere, my original post was intended as a joke to which many dog owners can relate.

Regarding the protein levels in cat shit, I agree that it is likely a motivator. My dog doesn't restrict himself to that, though. He'll happily scarf down some "trail cookies" when we're out in the woods if I let him. He's a lab, though. Constantly hungry, even though he's fed a very high-quality dog food twice daily and has the correct weight for his size (as confirmed by the vet who is always happy to see a lab who isn't a hulking overweight pig). I think he just likes it.

Bleah. I'm getting agida just thinking about it.