Re: news not linked

[http://dummy.us.eu.org/robert (Robert)]

 > From: Simon <http://www.wlu.edu/~s>
 > Date: Mon, 05 Jul 2004 16:23:19 -0400
 >
 > On Thu, 2004-07-01 at 18:36, Robert wrote:
 > 
 > > I have had a number of problems with my Windows machine, too.  Basically,
 > > I've become distrustful of everything at this point.
 > 
 > It's a pretty simple problem, I think: IF IT AIN'T BROKE, DON'T FIX IT!
 > For me, part of the promise of Linux was that it would take the overall
 > Unix approach - do a great job on small apps that serve a specific
 > function, and then don't mess with them much after they work.
 > 
 > Instead, Linux has bought into the same market model as Windows (and
 > automobiles and lots of other crap) -- add features or die.  Microsoft
 > at least has the excuse that they're a traditional, hype-driven
 > corporation.  The tragedy of Linux (Red Hat) is that they seem to have
 > embraced the same toxic model.
 > 
 > > I could definitely see that.  Yesterday, I went to a matinee with a couple
 > > of people from my job-seeking group and the movie was $8!  For a matinee!
 > > Sadly, it seems like DVDs may end up being our fate, too -- and not
 > > because we lack time!
 > 
 > It's another great example of market inefficiency.  James Surowiecki,
 > and economist who writes for the New Yorker and has also criticized
 > bloated executive salaries, had an article there explaining how
 > irrational the pricing for movies is.  There is no law saying they have
 > to charge the same for admission to all movies, but they do, mainly
 > because of tradition.  So there is no law of supply and demand at work,
 > less popular movies end up costing too much, and blockbusters end up
 > being impossible to see.
 > 
 > >   OTOH, it could not possibly
 > > be worse than what we have now.
 > 
 > Oh, things can always get worse :^(
 > > .
 > > 
 > > Yeah.  I'm tempted to vote Green (I'm a registered Green), but I think
 > > I'd never hear the end of it from Noelle (who personally blamed me for
 > > letting George Bush win ;-).
 > 
 > You should be angry at Noelle for taking a vote away from Nader,
 > throwing away her vote on a candidate she didn't like.  Why do Democrats
 > think their party has moved so far to the right, and is basically
 > playing Linux to the Republicans' Microsoft (see above)?  It's because
 > Democrats keep voting for these loser candidates, who care only about
 > holding office. As long as Dems have a "lesser of two evils", or "vote
 > AGAINST the Republican" attitude, the Republicans are going to continue
 > turning this country into a corporate theocracy.
 > 
 > >  > -- Simon