I don't know how anybody can equate blogs with journalism, blogs are mostly opinions, and as such, how much value do they have?

To answer that hypothetical for myself; blogs have zero to negative value. Most blogs have little to no information, they often are overloaded with hyperbole -- as such, I only read blogs when I want to be annoyed.

I scan the NY Times and when there's an interesting story I read it, it has value and it took journalism resources to create it, and it takes a flair for efficient communications to make it flow. It both costs real money and has real value to the reader. I should also point out that I very rarely read editorials or Maureen Dowd, facility with the written word alone doesn't compel me, the ideas and information behind those words do.

I understand journalist have a hard time, but nobody can make the argument to me that bloggers are making it tougher -- bloggers are not journalists!

I know journalism when I see it.

I'm the type of engineering nerd who uses applications optimized for specifically this type of dual-quad computer (hours of execution time).

The really big thing here for me is the value -- go to the Dell web site and check out how much such a server will cost. A few months ago, I priced servers like this and came up with prices in the 10 to 20 K range, and I don't think they ran at 3 GHz. What the heck, go to the TigerDirect web site and cost out such a server (if you can), I think the prices you mention compare very favorably.

Now, if I get such a turn-key computer with an OS and warranty -- I'd be very happy. The last server I built was a big effort on my part, single quad, nominal memory, RAID for reliability, and I had to put it together and load in the OS (Linux X64).

I think Apple is moving into a new market.

Finally, 10 to 15 years ago I new that I would eventually have all the power of the then current Cray super-computer available to me in a laptop -- I believe that the day has come and Apple's products signify that. I really can't describe in the space of this letter the types of problems such a computer makes possible -- let's just say you can run a Google with a couple of them.

...Dan

Crunchette;

I concede that when you add the options a professional would want, that's when Apple starts to make money (but as you pointed out, it's a wash). But for a screaming, non-mission-critical PC that can run OS-X, Linux and Windows on 8 cores, I still like it.

Consider this, Apple has always been happiest with servicing the desktop user and ceding servers to it's neighbor, Sun Microsystems, I think that wall is coming down.

BTW: One quad core is a subtract $500 option.

BBTW: I'm not ready to get one yet, but will be keeping an eye on them.

...Dan

I think we should look at the products people are not buying when they buy bottled water, namely, soda. I'll be the first to admit it, I buy bottled water for the cheap, "disposable", convenient bottle, not the water within it.

Some people would argue that for just a little more money (sometimes less), we can buy a Coke, with it's phosphoric acid, corn syrup or artificial sweetener and similar, handy-dandy-disposable bottle. Whatever the environmental impact of bottled water, the impact of the bottled soda/pop/softdrink is obviously worse!

Why is it people make a big stink over bottled water? I think because it's replacement is so obviously available at the sink -- the concerns over bottled water as are discussed with regards to environment are easily dismissed until the whole environmental impact of soft drinks in general are considered.

Bottled water is better than bottled sodas, or even juices for environmental impact -- bring in the health aspects, and the argument for bottled water becomes even more compelling.

...Dan

BTW: What's the environmental impact of a waxed cardboard 8 oz container of refrigerated milk, including steroids?

What is described here doesn't seem that much different than that 1979 movie, Americathon. Yes, the players are different, and it's more a secret auction instead of a telethon, but the absurdity and hilarity are right on.

Deleting an article of the constitution is not an amendment, it is a fundamentally new constitution. Article 6 states, "This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land;". We might as well get rid of Article 1 (and congress and representative government) while we're at it, and the executive can now be named the "Great Poohba", who speaks only to God.

Obviously, the framers knew exactly what they were doing with Article 6, had they wanted to make the constitution subservient to the Pope, or a divine king or emperor, Article 6 is exactly where they would have done that.

I think it's perfectly reasonable to state that Huck is anti-US-constitution.

The last part of the interview is interesting. Consider this, Marianna describes how she really enjoys watching people watch her film, who are watching Marianna, watch and get off on soft core porn.

I suppose her sentiments stand by themselves, I also suppose it would be fruitless to point out the circular logic of it, or it's meta-ness. Kind of a "Matrix" thing, but attainable, and no Neo.

...Dan