Phones are more than a device. They are now a fashion statement (white earphones) and the portal into an infrastructures (Android or iOS). The people who shop just price are not supporting either, and don't have much money anyway. Cheap phones enable non-banking finance and true capitalism. But, when a very few of the cheap phone owners make a decent living, one of their first purchases will be a high end Apple/Android -based phone. $100 smart phones will not significantly affect Apple. They may have a negative affect on some Android vendors. Proof point is the PC market.

GW 'researchers' are getting further out there in the quest for Mo' Money. Got to feed that University pig trough. Mo' Money! The faculty swimming pool pump needs to be repaired.... better get another GW grant.

Vegetarians are the worst salesmen for their cause.

Somehow, that won't make the news.

Both are needed to continue academics massive weight gain.

I met him briefly several times, but, other than being thrown out of a meeting for disagreeing, have no direct personal knowledge of his antics. I have, however worked closely with several people near his level who behaved as Jobs is alleged to have. In all those cases, the people bragged about taking acid in their youth. There is something about dropping that changes personalities, or at least brings out latent tendencies. No one matters but them, and they feel that they are above the law. There seems to be many more of these types in Congress than in industry, I observe. I cannot prove the change is from LSD, but I do have several data points. It would be interesting to see if there is a correlation.....

OK, so what becomes of a Gender Studies graduate who got through a PhD program and never took a real science class? Today's Politicians.

These types of defenses always seem to come from fully entrenched Academics who have a cushy tenured job. I have to wonder if you polled 100 PhDs in a variety of liberal arts subjects, especially after they have been out of school for 5 years, the points would be considered valid. I do not debate the importance of a wide base of knowledge. I do, however, object to using tax payer money to crank out millions of college grads with no job skills and little prospects of paying their own way in the world. For a reality check, tag along on a college tour at a randomly selected college. You will see first hand what is being sold these days. 95% is leafy campus, beautiful people, great football team, 'social responsibility', Nobel prize winners (whom you will never see or hear from), cafeteria, and Greek system. They use the word 'diversity' a LOT, but there really isn't much.... mostly Asians and Whites. My son attends one of the 'other' types. Before the college tour, we saw nice kids in good physical shape, and seemingly happy. The intro presentation started with the following statement "our goal is to provide a great education, with an undergrad degree in 4 years leading to a job in the selected major course of study". And. they are doing that. Compare with a tour at another college in the same public system where we were bombarded with political correctness and reminded of the exact numbers of minorities at the school. Then, we were told how they have the biggest Gender Studies department in the country. The parents looked at each other, and a number of us started laughing out loud. Things went downhill from there..... If we are truly trying to create a more 'aware' student, then lets start with better reading, writing, and math skills. And, lets dump tenure in the early grades so we can focus on TEACHING, not politics. But, hey, the teacher unions are now the number one campaign contributor to the current administration in Washington.

Most HP test equipment from the 60s and 70s. I still use an HP analog volt/ohm meter (HP427), a waveform generator, and a frequency counter to repair audio and old radios. Probably paid $20-40 each at a swap. Once tuned up, they last forever. They were way over built and priced for the cost-no-limit aerospace market at the time.

Next, seizure of assets from political groups that oppose Obama agenda. 'When you see lots of people in Brown Shirts with Obama logos walking around, be VERY worried'

Behind the 'science' or environmental science has always been the race for more funding. The University gets their slice off the top, the Profs get chairs, raises, and lower teaching loads, grad students get yet another opportunity to avoid the real world. GW is the perfect source of income, as it is an ignition point for the left, and a new source of income for Wall Street. Money from Wall Street flows downhill to Washington DC, as we saw in the mortgage fiasco. Universities are great preaching grounds for the left and GW, as the students are naive and subject to political bullying from those who benefit from the latest political fad. I have no idea if GW is real or not- I am an engineer and have an above average knowledge of basic science, but this is complex stuff. In my mind, the signs are there of a fraud when you hear/see things like ....'everyone knows', 'all experts', UN involvement, large parties with rock stars and Hollywood bimbos, Al Gore traveling circus, etc.

"Companies do not want regulation...that pretty much explains the entire "climate debate" " No, the KEY issue is that people do not want significant, negative changes to their lifestyles. Politicians do not want to deliver 'bad' news. Academics 'need' controversy to generate research money. Everyone wants to party with rock stars in Denmark. Despot African dictators need to find UN jobs for their lazy relatives. Journalists need sensational stories. Throw all that in a blender and you get the current GW controversy.

Other extreme has worked too well either.

Without the GW debate, a huge number of lifetime academics would have to find useful, boring work. GW=Funding Funding=Great parties Therefore GW=Great parties

California has had a HIPA plan for people unable to get private insurance for a long time. Similar to the high risk auto insurance pool. If you REALLY were looking for insurance, any broker would have directed you to this plan. Want to lower healthcare costs? Start with the lawyers...