Damn Cataracts!
I'm due for surgery, if they ever open up for elective stuff.

If I remember, it was up to the O/S what the file/tape blocks looked like.  On one system, it was "FEFEFEFE".  On another it was "FFFFFFFF".  We could force anything in that block we wanted if we knew how, but normally we used the predefined labels for BOF/EOF and BOT/EOT.  Cartridges didn't have the shiny foil marks, so we had to initialize them by running a job to mark the BOT, wind the tape to the end, back up a certain length, write EOT, then rewind to the beginning.  PITA, especially when you needed to finish making the tape before going home. 

The early drives took FOREVER!  I really liked when the DAT2 drives replaced the DAT series.  The speed improvement was mostly due to compression.  The bummer was, we had to normally disable compression for distribution tapes to ensure the broadest compatibility.  Not much worse than getting a late night call that the tape you busted ass to send out by the deadline could not be read by the people setting up for an exercise.

Since when is it the government's role to control the inner workings of commerce?  For someone who thinks our military is not something the gov't should be funding, you sure are hot for government control of US industries.

There are already federal, state and local laws and agencies to assist with EEO complaints, OSHA complaints, and so on.  The remedies for someone running THEIR business in a way the YOU don't like are: (A) suck it up and play by their rules, (B) Find a way to change their rules from inside -- i.e. become part of management, form a union, ..., (C) go somewhere you do enjoy working, or (D) start your own business and run it how you see fit.

You totally ignore my premise, which is worker protections and standard of living that currently exist were not possible, if it were not social justice individuals who protested, organized strikes, and lobbied government intervention and legislation to make the changes that all workers enjoy today.

The point is the game is always being corrupted and it is the responsibility of the government to keep the game fair for all.

It is not the government's place to interfere in the LEGAL ways a business conducts itself.  We really don't want to make it so.

If America had it your way, things like child labor and working with asbestos would still be practiced today, as they were all legal to do prior to social justice warriors that worked to put an end to those things.

Damn Cataracts!
I'm due for surgery, if they ever open up for elective stuff.

Without reading glasses, stuff like 11111111111101111110111111 looks very similar to 1111111111101111111011111 

Getting old sucks. . . 

Let’s not make excuses for people who make the conscious decision to NOT better themselves.

That’s not what I am saying at all. That is what you guys keep saying in order to avoid point I am trying to make which is we have a responsibility to make sure there is an even playing field aka equality of opportunity. You are claiming that no matter what kind of unspeakable horror people have to live through, everyone has a chance at success via the magic of the free market economy. That is a dangerous delusion which completely ignores history, sociology and anthropology, ironically In a way that reverse mirrors communism’s complete lack of understanding of how humans actually operate.

The evidence is in and trickle down economics creates more suffering and death than opportunity. It is confounding that this is still disputed.

That’s not what I am saying at all. That is what you guys keep saying in order to avoid point I am trying to make which is we have a responsibility to make sure there is an even playing field aka equality of opportunity. You are claiming that no matter what kind of unspeakable horror people have to live through, everyone has a chance at success via the magic of the free market economy. That is a dangerous delusion which completely ignores history, sociology and anthropology, ironically In a way that reverse mirrors communism’s complete lack of understanding of how humans actually operate.

The evidence is in and trickle down economics creates more suffering and death than opportunity. It is confounding that this is still disputed.

Well, first of all I never ignored your point, I proved it wrong with specific real world examples. Which is more than I am seeing from you. You keep saying at a high level that  society needs to do something, but I have yet to see real world examples with specificity where society has interfered with capitalism and made the playing field perfectly equal. And it worked without unintended consequences. Where are your real world examples? It seems to me that you are the one guilty of exactly what you are accusing me of. It feels like to me, you are ignoring my real world examples like they are completely meaningless. If I missed your real world examples, then please point them out. So I ask that you not make that statement again.

We are not a Socialist society. It is delusional that the utopia you describe can be obtained. No where in this world as we know it has it even been obtained. And even in a socialist or communist society where equality of the masses is supposed to be the ultimate goal, it cannot be and has never been obtained. So there can never be a level playing field of opportunities. Capitalism offers everyone an opportunity of one form or another that wants to take advantage of those opportunities. Note, not all opportunities are the same for everyone. It is only that in capitalism everyone has an opportunity. Those who choose not to take advantage of those opportunities do not get them and do not deserve them. Therefore it should not be the job of society to force those who choose not to take advantage of them to force people take those advantages. You cannot force anything down peoples throats in a free society. Especially here in Hawaii the disparity of opportunity is rampant. Kuleana and I discussed it at great length here in this thread. Let me give you an example as to why your utopia of equal opportunities for the masses can never be obtained. Prejudice. Society cannot control prejudice. All anyone can do is to punish those who act on their prejudice. The fact that we have to have laws against prejudice means people are acting on their prejudice. The hiring manager who has a preference for hiring Kamehameha grads is acting on his prejudice. We all know it happens. We all know it cannot be stopped. Is it fair? No. It can never be fair. And unless he fully admits his prejudice so he can be prosecuted, society can never stop it. How about the hiring manager who hires nephew instead of the Kamehameha grad because family? These hiring practices are already illegal so more laws won’t help. It is rampant in Hawaii. Happens all the time. It means that there can never be a level field of opportunity. Give me a specific example of how society can prevent this from ever happening again?

To sum this up, capitalism is not perfect. It does not provide the same opportunities to everyone. But at least it DOES provide opportunities to everyone. It is the one economic force that has raised more people out of poverty than any other economic process. If you can stomach 15 minutes of your time I ask you to watch these 3 videos. I know I will never change your mind, nor will you change mine. But these videos are compelling and if you do watch them, please provide me with some real world examples as to why they are wrong. Thanks.

https://www.prageru.com/video/as-the-rich-get-richer-the-poor-get-richer/

https://www.prageru.com/video/if-you-hate-poverty-you-should-love-capitalism/

https://www.prageru.com/video/capitalism-vs-socialism/

"You keep saying at a high level that  society needs to do something, but I have yet to see real world examples with specificity where society has interfered with capitalism and made the playing field perfectly equal."

"No where in this world as we know it has it even been obtained."

May I offer the eight hundred pound gorilla on the planet, who is currently the second largest and projected to the lead the World in GDP by mid-21st century, the Peoples Republic of China.  China, who is officially a socialist nation, is the most economically successful socialist nation in World history, whose centrally planned economy has raised more people out of poverty than any other nation on Earth, since opening up its economy to the rest of the World.

And even in a socialist or communist society where equality of the masses is supposed to be the ultimate goal, it cannot be and has never been obtained. So there can never be a level playing field of opportunities.

I humbly disagree.

Even though its far from perfect, China's commitment to maintain a fair playing field than that of the US in recent years is a major reason for their current and ongoing domestic economic success.

A real world example would be the labor movement. All those cushy benefits we are used to taking for granted would not exist if people had not fought and died for them. Maybe having children chained to sewing machines is your idea of a capitalist utopia.

Also the environmental movement. All those pesky regulations mean less money for corporations. Maybe you long for the days where rivers would actually catch fire from all the pollution.

And as far as your real world example of job discrimination, are you jealous of people who successfully stand up against illegal hiring practices because you did not take the opportunity to stand up for yourself? At some point you made the decision to go along with the corruption even through it meant stifling your career and a loss for the taxpayers. The only people who benefit from those arrangements are the criminals, and at great expense of everyone else. By choosing to not resist you enabled it. Is that the magic of the free market at work?

Greed is a great motivator but not a virtue (actually the opposite) which is why we have laws to stop it from destroying opportunities for everyone except a handful of wealthy psychopaths.

anybody own stocks?

May I offer the eight hundred pound gorilla on the planet, who is currently the second largest and projected to the lead the World in GDP by mid-21st century, the Peoples Republic of China.  China, who is officially a socialist nation, is the most economically successful socialist nation in World history, whose centrally planned economy has raised more people out of poverty than any other nation on Earth, since opening up its economy to the rest of the World.

I humbly disagree, to an extent. Here is a description I pulled off of WorldAtlas.com. I couldn’t get the link to copy so my apologies for it:

“Some economic experts claim that China's economy represents state capitalism rather than a socialist market economy. This claim emerged in the 1980s and the 1990s after the country experienced various industrial and economic reforms. Additionally, the argument for state capitalism is linked to the way in which the country runs the enterprises that it owns. The Chinese government operates these enterprises the same way that privately owned firms operate, meaning that the government keeps all profits. However, in a true "socialist" system, these profits would be distributed in a way that benefits the entire population. Therefore, critics question whether the word "socialist" should be used to describe China’s economy.”

I agree with this statement. Their market is much more Capitalist than it is Socialist. Partly because they allow the market to determine prices. Either way the way the state runs the economy is certainly Capitalist. That economy, if your claims are correct, is the economy that has pulled so many people out of poverty. Not a very good representation of a true Socialist economy. So while the economy might belong to a Socialist nation, it is still state run Capitalism that is doing so much good for China. So my statement that Capitalism has pulled more people out of poverty than any other system still holds true.

I humbly disagree.

Even though its far from perfect, China's commitment to maintain a fair playing field than that of the US in recent years is a major reason for their current and ongoing domestic economic success.

I’m glad we can disagree.

How is China forcing IP from our companies fair? How is their stealing state secrets fair? How is their stealing corporate secrets fair? How is their incorporating hidden parts in their hardware that can be used for spying fair? How is their signing agreements with the US and then not playing by the terms that they signed fair? So what exactly are you referring to that China has a commitment to a fair playing field even mean? With all the unfair practices that China has committed in the past I really don’t know what you are speaking of? Please be specific.

To get back to our discussion regarding equal opportunities and social disparity, I will ask you then if the Communist Party members have the exact same opportunities as the average citizen? Based on historical records the party members ALWAYS have more benefits and opportunities than the average citizen. How about those high up in the government? Do they have more benefits and opportunities than the average citizen? Or even the average party member? Does the average citizen in a big city have the exact same opportunities as the average farmer in the remote areas of China? In a Communist country, you are told what you can and cannot do. So how can the farmer, who hates farming and wants to move to the big city do that if he is forced to be a farmer? What are the farmers opportunities exactly?

We as the citizens of the US have an opportunity to better ourselves. And even become millionaires. How many in a Communist nation have that same opportunity? Especially if they can only work the job they are told to work all of their lives?

There can never be equal opportunities for all in any system. Especially Socialist and Communist. JMHO

A real world example would be the labor movement. All those cushy benefits we are used to taking for granted would not exist if people had not fought and died for them. Maybe having children chained to sewing machines is your idea of a capitalist utopia.

Also the environmental movement. All those pesky regulations mean less money for corporations. Maybe you long for the days where rivers would actually catch fire from all the pollution.

And as far as your real world example of job discrimination, are you jealous of people who successfully stand up against illegal hiring practices because you did not take the opportunity to stand up for yourself? At some point you made the decision to go along with the corruption even through it meant stifling your career and a loss for the taxpayers. The only people who benefit from those arrangements are the criminals, and at great expense of everyone else. By choosing to not resist you enabled it. Is that the magic of the free market at work?

Greed is a great motivator but not a virtue (actually the opposite) which is why we have laws to stop it from destroying opportunities for everyone except a handful of wealthy psychopaths.

Dude, I thought we were having a decent conversation and now you come back condescending and making really snide comments. Is it my questions and my request to back up what you say with real world examples? I guess that got under your skin. This isn’t the first time you have done this.

I’m not going to discuss further with you since you can’t seem to hold back whatever anger you have.

anybody own stocks?

I own a small amount. Why do you ask?

I own a small amount. Why do you ask?

then we influence the direction of these greedy corporations

and China being the model for economic success with a centrally managed system?  ever been to China?

then we influence the direction of these greedy corporations

and China being the model for economic success with a centrally managed system?  ever been to China?

Yes these greedy corporations need better influences like China. :lol:

It’s more than just managed. In China the state owns the companies outright and takes all the profits and does not distribute the profits to the people as a good socialist country is supposed to do. As a SJW what should I do about that?

May I offer the eight hundred pound gorilla on the planet, who is currently the second largest and projected to the lead the World in GDP by mid-21st century, the Peoples Republic of China.  China, who is officially a socialist nation, is the most economically successful socialist nation in World history, whose centrally planned economy has raised more people out of poverty than any other nation on Earth, since opening up its economy to the rest of the World.



I humbly disagree.

Even though its far from perfect, China's commitment to maintain a fair playing field than that of the US in recent years is a major reason for their current and ongoing domestic economic success.

by this do you mean it's LONG track record of human rights violations?
smh

Maybe having children chained to sewing machines is your idea of a capitalist utopia.

Why do you always have to go to such extremes to prove your point? Where has anyone, capitalist or other, argued for the scenario you provided? The context of a free market, capitalist society has always been tied to our constitution. Therefore your child slavery scenario just could not exist today.

Yes these greedy corporations need better influences like China. :lol:

It’s more than just managed. In China the state owns the companies outright and takes all the profits and does not distribute the profits to the people as a good socialist country is supposed to do. As a SJW what should I do about that?

You can start by not buying iPhones and not buying Nikes.

You can start by not buying iPhones and not buying Nikes.

Too late. I bought my iPhone 8 three years ago.

Have not bought Nikes since the 90’s.

Too late. I bought my iPhone 8 three years ago.

Have not bought Nikes since the 90’s.

damnit....any mobile phones made in America?
bring back Motorolas and Honolulu Cellular

damnit....any mobile phones made in America?
bring back Motorolas and Honolulu Cellular

I heard Motorola is bringing back the RAZR. I loved my RAZR.

I heard Motorola is bringing back the RAZR. I loved my RAZR.

I used to have one of the brick Motorolas.

I had a Razr.  I think it was pretty good.  It was a long time ago though. . .