Recent content by dderidex

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    Western digital Caviar Black 500GB, 640Gb? How Many platters?

    So the 640gb has much greater data density? 320gb/platter vs 250gb/platter on the 500 drive? Seems that would have some impact on the data throughput and seek time numbers, but the two drives are spec'd the same on WD's site...?
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    Difference between WD3000HLFS and WD3000GLFS

    Looking at said pics, I see another difference. The HLFS has a bunch of what look like jumpers just to the right of the power connections that the GLFS lacks. I know I've read that the Velociraptor couldn't be used in SATA 150 systems because it lacks the jumpers to "force" it to use SATA...
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    Can someone PLEASE explain the source of the current economic mess

    This would be a useful factoid to have in my arguments. Do you have a link to validate that?
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    Can someone PLEASE explain the source of the current economic mess

    The argument from the 'Ayn Rand fan club' (I'm aware of the term 'Objectivism', but I find it rather offensively mis-applied in this case) would be that said 'GREED' is in the best interest of society. Man behaves his most productive when this is most closely tied to greatest personal gain...
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    Can someone PLEASE explain the source of the current economic mess

    Obviously, at the highest level, those points are obvious. To me, anyway. I think everyone I'm talking with, too. HOWEVER...those factors have been true for much of the past 100 years. Since shortly after the industrial revolution, anyway, when mass production become more common and...
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    Can someone PLEASE explain the source of the current economic mess

    I understand what you are saying, but it doesn't really address the...let me pull a combo from above..."meta argument". Specifically, Ayn Rand followers (also: most Libertarians, etc) tend to argue "no legislation is best - companies poorly run will fail, making room for more space in the...
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    Can someone PLEASE explain the source of the current economic mess

    I see that, but...really? That's it? The whole thing? As soon as investment banks and commercial banks could merge, they did, and promptly started making bad decisions on their own that led to this mess? I dunno, the linked Wiki article seems to argue against that:
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    Can someone PLEASE explain the source of the current economic mess

    Any source to that, though? For example, which legislation was repealed that caused so much anguish? The (I'll call them for the time being) Ayn Rand worshipers also argue that the gov't additionally intervened too much by tacitly providing backing for any activity Fannie and Freddie...
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    Can someone PLEASE explain the source of the current economic mess

    I'm getting two very conflicting perspectives on the meta-cause of this. One group notes that there has been massive 'deregulation' under Bush's and Clinton's administrations, leading to permissive lending practices that led to the current banking crisis. The argument is that legislation...
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    Fireworks like crazy - it's like the 'Return of the Jedi' finale out here

    NW - over the alphabet district I've seen a number go off. Seemed to end a bit back, but were sputtering off from a few houses for much of an hour.
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    Fireworks like crazy - it's like the 'Return of the Jedi' finale out here

    I guess I'd suggest Lando. NOT because of the color question, but rather: A) Actual person to blow the Death Star up in 'Jedi' and end the reign of the Empire. B) His gibbering sidekick. Seriously. WTF was that guy saying? I don't think ANYTHING he said was intelligible. Everybody...
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    Fireworks like crazy - it's like the 'Return of the Jedi' finale out here

    No, really. Tell me - as Obama's acceptance speech was winding up and the music was playing, you didn't half expect it to break into this.
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    Fireworks like crazy - it's like the 'Return of the Jedi' finale out here

    No Ewoks, though. Not sure if that's a good or bad thing...
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    Ever notice that people who don't vote because "they're both bad..."

    This is why voting in Oregon is awesome. It's by mail. We got the ballots WEEKS ago, and has as long as we wanted to research every item on it in detail before voting on it. Didn't have to note them all down in one pass or anything. Could research one issue one day, vote on that, issue...
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    Fireworks like crazy - it's like the 'Return of the Jedi' finale out here

    ("Special Edition" finale, here, okay? Yeah, yeah, Lucas revisionism - whatever, it was a neat finale) Portland, OR, here. Fireworks going off fairly regularly. Nothing organized, but lots of individuals setting them off. Honestly, an unexpected response. Obviously, Oregon is very...