I've had several where the connector itself broke. But I have 3 kids who seem to not be able to master the process of "gently pull straight out to remove the headphones" and instead yank the cord at about a 30 degree angle -- or put on headphones (attached to the computer) then spin their chair - wrapping the cord around the chair and again yanking the plug out at a weird angle. My oldest daughter (she's 15) seems to constantly break JUST the left earbud - the right one works and the left fails. Over and over.

I just don't get it. I really don't.... <sigh> never underestimate the destructive power of children.

At least we won't have to buy it from the Libyans any more. It's tough to get enough plutonium to reach 1.21 Jiggawatts at 88mph!

Mine survived an entire glass of ice tea. I took it into the shower & washed it. That was 5 or 6 years ago - still good as new today. Mine was manufactured in January 1989. It's old enough to legally drink!!

I've got 2 more in the closet, just in case something DOES happen. I doubt I'll ever need them though!

My model M is old enough to legally drink :) (mfg 01/89)

I have a couple spares too (just in case... No doubt I'll be buried with them!)

Cyanide.
TNT.

Neckties.
Contracts.
HIGH VOLTAGE!!

Which also explains why the numbers are lower for apple. The Galaxy S3 was released in June, if I remember correctly. They had the entire quarter for sales of their new crown jewel. With the iPhone 5 rumored to be coming, everybody was waiting for October and NOBODY was buying a 4S in Q3!

Make the test truly collaborative. Indicate that anyone can ask for help, anyone can offer help (more like a normal work environment). But indicate that credit for help is required. Put a spot by each question for "person asked" and "help given" -- that way person A has to mark "B helped me" on his test, and person B marks "I helped A." on her test. It'd be best if you can also make the questions unique. You want the help to be more than "pssst! what's the answer to number 2?"

Of course, helping someone else will also reduce the amount of time you have to complete your OWN test, so there's a certain amount of selfish time-management that has to occur as well.

You could then give a certain number of collaboration points for the test: "Person B assisted in 6 questions, and asked for assistance on 4 questions. She gets an additional 6 points, and loses 4 points - for a net gain of 2 points."

This encourages helping others, and discourages asking for help. If the names don't match up, then someone may be cheating....

here's some advice the lab boys gave me: "Do not get covered in the Polymer Gel." We haven't entirely nailed down what element it is yet, but I'll tell you this: It's a lively one, and it does not like the human skeleton.

300 years ago, England sent all their convicts to Australia. America got all their religious nuts.

Australia got a better deal.

Right now, at least, his post is modded "3: Insightful" and yours is modded "4: Insightful" -- you're winning!!

Why not let the Senators do the designs too? After all, it's not like it's Rocket Science!

I totally agree. I used to be a more-hardcore gamer but as I've gotten older & started a family (I have a 7 year old daughter and 6 month old twins), I am starting to graduate to the casual games. I have an xbox360 which I bought primarily to play the rockband games. I also have games such as Call of Duty, The Force Unleashed, Grand Theft Auto, Bioshock, etc.

None of those games are appropriate for for my 7-year old. I'm looking for some games we can play together and it's been difficult. I've found a few casual games (Worms Armageddon, for example) but for the most part, it's still pretty much hardcore games.

I don't want to have to invest in another console just for casual games, but it's starting to look like I don't have a lot of choice...

An Insightful goatse link??? that's... umm... wow.