5/25    http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,275445,00.html
        "Damn those sneaky yellow bastards!!!"
        \_ I get the feeling that NASA really cares about random floating
           crap in near orbit (yes we put most of it there) and China
           does not.

5/25    Sharper Image is selling weightlessness for less than $4K USD:
        http://www.sharperimage.com/us/en/catalog/product/source__29047/sku__ZG001/cm_ven__siem/cm_cat__239/cm_pla__29047cm_ite=t3

5/26    Rosie O'Donald's departure prompted me to watch a snippet of
        The View, and OMG it is pretty much a bunch of old hags yapping
        and screaming about... nothing. This show is a totaly POS. I can't
        believe people actually watch this crap.
        http://www.hecklerspray.com/rosie-odonnell-some-other-woman-in-10-minute-tv-screechfest/20068448.php

5/26    http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18868904
        A generation ago, American men in their thirties had median annual
        incomes of about $40,000 compared with men of the same age who now
        make about $35,000 a year, adjusted for inflation.
        \_ After unions and WWII, manufacturing jobs overpaid for low-skill work.
           Now globalization is letting anyone else with the same set of skills
           do those jobs, for relatively less in wages (though well paid in their home
           country.) Getting an education and a job in industries that are America's
           strengths is the path to prosperity. Cutting student loan subsidies was
           a huge mistake.
        \_ After unions and WWII, manufacturing jobs overpaid for
           low-skill work.  Now globalization is letting anyone else
           with the same set of skills do those jobs, for relatively
           less in wages (though well paid in their home country.)
           Getting an education and a job in industries that are
           America's strengths is the path to prosperity. Cutting
           student loan subsidies was a huge mistake.
           \_ Getting an education in what? Software? Bad idea. Medicine?
              Bad idea. I guess we'll all have to be attorneys, huh?
              Seriously, what would you recommend an 18 year old be
              educated in? I can't think of anything that's not threatened
              except maybe soldiers, FBI, NSA, and such.
              \_ Nursing, surgery, auditing, anything that requires the person
                 to actually be onsite in America to do the job. There should
                 be a huge demand for medical professionals as the population
                 ages, but you don't want to be in something like radiology,
                 that can be outsourced. ER doctor is probably safe.
                 \_ I am not sure medicine is a good place to be. I
                    understand your point, but the reality is that the
                    American standard of living is not sustainable no
                    matter the profession. Global competition will whittle
                    away at the standard of living in all Western
                    countries in all professions - even doctors, lawyers,
                    and engineers. So why is it worth it to spend an
                    ever-increasing amount of $$$ on education when it
                    doesn't guarantee you anything? If only the strong
                    will survive, then I think the strong will make it no
                    matter what initials follow their names. Bill Gates
                    never even graduated college. I am not worried about
                    the strong. I am worried about Joe Blow Cal State grad
                    and his some-college wife. What will become of them?
                    Will they have to move to Calcutta to find a lifestyle
                    they find satisfactory? Will some Eastern Euro doctor
                    move here to a 2 BR house and think he has it made,
                    such as is happening in Spain? I don't weep for the
                    MDs driving Acuras instead of Porsches, but it will
                    have a trickle down effect. I think the idea that
                    getting an education somehow makes one "safe" or helps
                    ensure one of maintaining his current lifestyle
                    (forget about improving on it) is dated. I think an
                    education is for personal satisfaction only at this
                    point, because, really, how often does the average
                    employee at the average firm employ the depth of his
                    education? I know quantum mechanics. Maybe some other
                    guy doesn't. It won't help me sell any more cars or
                    perform more audits or even stitch up any more ER
                    patients.
              \_ My point was getting a college degree for the knowledge economy
                 vs.  HS diploma or drop out. Still only 25% get a 4 year
                 degree. There won't be enough low-skill, lower middle class
                 jobs to soak up the rest.
                 http://www.census.gov/acs/www/Products/Ranking/2003/R02T040.htm
                 Manufacturing jobs have actually increased last 2 years, as
                 they find niches, do high value, quick turn-around work. Our
                 economy is huge and will adapt, but 25% with bachelors degree
                 will not cut it for 21st cent.
                 \_ I see. I agree with that. However, what I am seeing is
                    that even people with graduate degrees are struggling
                    to maintain a middle-class lifestyle. You almost need
                    to be a two income family with both spouses having
                    a graduate or professional degree just to have the
                    standard of living a motivated high school graduate
                    had just 40 years ago. I do not see education as being
                    the answer. I think we are actually overeducated as
                    it is for the numbers and types of jobs available.
                    Many of my colleagues have PhDs and find themselves
                    overqualified or "stuck" in jobs that they did not need
                    a PhD to do.

5/26    Will people start to tolerate living in the city more as gas
        prices increase, or will they stick to the same suburban
        lifestyle that they've grown accostomed to for many generations?
        In another word will the price of traveling affect the price of
        my crappy city home due to the natural laws of supply/demand?
        \_ Most people worldwide prefer to live in cities, so I guess
           I don't understand your question. It depends a lot on why
           your city home is crappy. Is it poorly maintained or something?
           \_ If you didn't understand the question, what was the thing that
              "depends a lot on why your city home is crappy" you're talking
              about?
        \_ Yeah, I have a similar problem I need to ask the MOTD about.
           I bought a crappy city home, with neighbors on both sides of me,
           a tiny lot and no garage, about four years ago. I looked on zillow
           and now it is worth $600k more than I paid for it! Should I sell
           it, along with its ten minute commute, walking distance to stores,
           cafes, restaurants and my daughter's school and move to beautiful
           suburban Antioch, where I can get a nice big 4 bedroom, 2 bath
           home on a big lot with just the equity in my shitty city home?
           I figure I can buy a nice big Hummer for the 1 hour each way
           commute. Wouldn't I be much happier if I did that?
           \_ Go back to your country you fucking Eurotrash.    -American
           \_ If you were serious I'd answer your question but you're not.
              To the OP, the price of your home already reflects the closeness
              to jobs, etc.  Move the same house to the suburbs and the value
              would be near-zero.  Your entire value is based on short distance
              to other desirable locations not the place itself.  A suburban
              house here will cost more than a 'crappy city home' in a place
              like Dallas.  Why?  Because jobs here are higher paying, etc,
              and Dallas is dead.  Some people are willing to drive or BART
              into the city to get a nicer home elsewhere.  Other people
              actually live and work in the suburbs and *never* go anywhere
              near the city and somehow survive, while others never leave
              the city for any reason if they can at all help it.  To each
              his own.
              \_ My question is certainly more serious than the OP's. -PP

5/25    Sharper Image is selling weightlessness for less than $4K USD:
        http://urltea.com/n0r (sharperimage.com)

5/26    I'm watching Nascar Fox. Can someone please explain to me what
        the appeal is about a bunch of fast noisy cars going in circle
        over and over again?                            -Nascar ignorant
        \_ Watch this video and you'll see why you'll never understand
           why people watch it and hold it dear to them:
           http://www.devilducky.com/media/57748
           \_ Most of these people also voted for GWB
        \_ Think you wouldn't get the same response with a few 'special
           phrases' painted on your car in SF?
        \_ Well, here's a reason to like auto racing in general:
           http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQOnOXXc-ps
           Note he goes from about 12th to 1st in one lap. This doesn't
           happen much in the pros because they are all at the same high level.
           Also, you can see the whole track at an oval, instead of just a pack
           of cars wizzing by you at 150 mph. All auto racing is best watched on TV.

5/25    brains
        http://www.focalmatter.com/zombies