Posts by Mike Stillion

Senate outlaws genetic discrimination

Insurance rates go up... but down?

WHEN, sir, has your insurance ever gone DOWN over time, unless you switch to a different company with better rates? That has never happened to me...

The new payment model that ALL businesses go for now is best described this way: Demand goes up, price goes up. Demand goes down, price goes up. For car insurance, it's similar. Have an accident, price goes up. Have no accident, price goes up a smaller amount because of "rising costs". For health insurance, it's like getting an adjustable rate mortgage! Have no claims, price goes up due to "rising costs". Have claims, price goes up due to "rising costs".

It's a better deal instead to try increasing your standard of living - increase your means - and insure yourself. Whatever you do, you GOTTA stop relying on those insurance companies to have your best interests at heart. Insurance companies have a sort of morality that suffers from industrial age thinking, which states that people are just bugs making the wheels of progress turn round. They don't care about you - and they never will! They care about what they can get from you. They only care about that part of you that is capable of signing checks, and that part of you that is capable of carrying the wallet.

New York lawmakers approve 'Amazon Tax'

Taxes everywhere

Sure, we here in the States complain about taxes. We Separatists left and founded a place with low taxes, had a tea party to spoil the plans of the good King to continue collecting taxes from us, and generally don't appreciate others helping themselves to the contents of our wallets.

So to hear some say "Well, I don't feel bad for the Yanks, because look at how much we pay HERE in the EU"... That's like telling someone who just had their eye poked out "Well, you've still got another eye, and look, you're better off than that bloke who lost both legs in that gas explosion!" I'm not going to be happy just because I've lost LESS than someone else. I want to avoid the LOSS altogether - and I want the OTHER GUY to avoid the loss as well!

We Separatists wouldn't mind taxes going up if there was some indication that some gain or improvements were being made because of the increase. But that doesn't happen. Now, Liberal New York is like Liberal California in that the people there seem to like voting themselves tax increases, and keep electing people that like to increase taxes spontaneously without votes, so THAT is why I don't feel sorry for what's happening in NY.

The tax is wrong, governments need to find a way to tighten belts list like those whom they claim to serve. NY and CA govts seem to feel they are entitled to OPM (other people's money) at will, and the people continue to permit the behavior. But each state is entitled to do so. My state of Georgia does NOT follow this "Tax Em Good" model, so I live in relative happiness. So don't feel sorry for NY. But DO hope that Amazon makes a sensible decision and either boldly, brazenly, and with much fanfare passes on the tax to NY netizens or discontinues business in NY. yeah! Like that's gonna happen!

Windows Genuine Advantage cries wolf (again)

You MUST be joking

"if you don't do anything wrong, you have nothing to hide"? Is it possible to be more ignorant? Let's not assume that people only want to hide things that are wrong. Even you, sir James, have PLENTY of things about your life you wish to keep private and for good reason - bank statements anyone? How many kids? Can I see their pictures? Of course not. We don't give others information they have no right to know, and we don't give others privileges on machines they have no right to control.

Well, that is unless you use Windows. I'm a Microsoft consultant, been drinking the kool-aid for over 15 years now. I'm not sure why Microsoft thinks they have the right to do anything like disabling features on a simple user's machine. Who gave them the right to have that much control over my computer? Oh, that's right - MICROSOFT GAVE THEMSELVES THAT RIGHT.

Microsoft was wrong to disable windows functionality just because a server could not be contacted. Less than 10% of the Windows customer base is composed of pirated copies, yet the other 90% of us must endure putative action? 90% of users did nothing wrong, and yet their software was disabled. Oh, sorry "only 12,000 systems", not 90% of all Windows users. I think I'd be in trouble if I pissed off 12,000 customers by "reducing functionality" of software I'd provided. The vast majority of the 90% also are not technically capable of simply re-installing or restoring a working Windows, as the 10% thieves would most likely be able to do. Windows only made computers easier (not easy) to use. And Vista is a step of the backwards variety.

Windows Vista - It's "pretty", but loaded with DRM and Microsoft Self-Declared Authority Services (SDAS). I can't WAIT for the day when Vista disables or removes sound and video drivers for 12,000 customers because of some errant "DRM violation". MS might be shamed into removing that crap from Windows with the next release IF AND ONLY IF the poor customers demand it and stop buying new PCs till it changes.

Linux is such a cool idea, but again, only technical people can install and use it. If it was pre-installed on all new machines, MS would never have added that DRM crap in the first place. If people knew that the OS was free, the Office products are free and just as good as MS office (and can read the same file formats!), MS would have to shape up. Right now ignorance is on the side of the Giant. But that will change, my friends... that WILL change.

Darwin Mr Popular again in Kansas

ID and God are NOT NOT NOT linked

What's really fascinating: When Creationism was the established belief system, those that supported it fought HARD against those that believed in the new science of Darwinism, but creationism was eventually replaced by Darwinism anyway. Now Darwinism is the entrenched belief, the "common wisdom", and those who believe in Darwinism are fighting to prevent the next thing from replacing their beliefs! Whether it's I.D., which DOES explain what Darwinism does NOT explain, or some other idea, Darwinism WILL be replaced. To believe otherwise is to believe that we have all knowledge and wisdom right now, and that we cannot have any new wisdom or knowledge in the future.

In other words, those who believe Darwinism and who are actively fighting (not just trying to refute, make no mistake) any new opinions to the contrary are progress-deficient. What are they going to do when they realize "the world isn't flat"?