>> ^GDGD:
One reason WHY you might only use your desktop every few days is because it does not offer more functionality.

Good point, but the kind of functionality I want is more integrative than segregative, if that makes sense. I don't WANT to have to return to my desktop in order to find or do something. This is why I use things like Ubiquity (Firefox) and Autohotkey. Sure, there are other ways to accomplish what these apps/plugins do, but it is more intuitive and useful to me to have a quick keyboard shortcut than it is to clunk my way through any desktop interface to what I need.

The desktop seems to be a bounding point more than anything else, and if I can make my bound happen faster, I'm all for it. Honestly, even though I store a few files here and there on my desktop, I'm much more inclined to use the desktop toolbar from my start menu rather than minimizing everything, finding what I want, and then maximizing everything again (and yes, I'm aware of Windows+D).

Things like AutoHotkey and Ubiquity are the kind of computing innovations that I feel are really useful, because they actually contribute to overall workflow. A desktop redesign just doesn't do much to actually help workflow unless you're the kind of person who really likes launching everything from the desktop, but always forgets where the launcher for a given app actually IS . (and yes, I realize that these people exist, so if this helps them, great...I just don't see BumpTop as a revolution in computing for the average user)

>> ^Babymech:
And then, when I want to go out and meet my friend at the café, I call up Ubiquity and type GO NORTH > OPEN DOOR > GO NORTH > TAKE KEY > OPEN DOOR WITH KEY > USE KEY ON DOOR > OPEN DOOR > GO NORTH
Ubiquity: we make integrated web-use intoa text adventure game.


BEST. WEB EXPERIENCE. EVER.

>> ^Abducted:
All this innovating, for free? What do they want from us?


Our souls

And then, when I want to go out and meet my friend at the café, I call up Ubiquity and type GO NORTH > OPEN DOOR > GO NORTH > TAKE KEY > OPEN DOOR WITH KEY > USE KEY ON DOOR > OPEN DOOR > GO NORTH

Ubiquity: we make integrated web-use intoa text adventure game.

Yeah, that's fair enough I can agree with that. I don't mind getting into arguments at all so that's fine

I would suspect that racism or at least discrimination comes from two facets of human instinct. The need to find a scapegoat, or a way to offload any emotional baggage or problems onto others, failing to resolve them rationally; distrust of the uncertain as you pointed out; and the unwillingness to empathise or relate to someone who exists outside the immediate community or abides to different cultural norms and values.

The first one is certain to be reduced as developed and developing countries experience increasing living standards, economic prosperity and stability and the intra-dependence of global trade networks virtually eliminates the likelihood of a multilateral conflict. You're certainly still going to see scenarios like Rwanda in lesser developed countries, and you're still going to see governments categorically shift blame to minorities but on the whole I don't think you'll ever see it on the scale it has been prior in history.

In regards to the second and third, whereas intra-national sourcing of resources by corporations has created financial and economic interdependence, it is cheaper transportation and telecommunication developments that will help achieve a bridge of culture in the future. I doubt it has really dawned on the average consumer, just how global the production cycles of your typical set of groceries are. Actually on that note:

http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/5594/1195961793594xp0.jpg

Particularly as communication continues to improve and the ubiquity of it through the world expands, we'll see individual cultures more or less merge into one, to the point where any stark differences will become relatively narrow and any animosity or ethnocentricity will be greatly diminished. Or at least in theory That's why I'm quite sad to see, China the seemingly likely next superpower of the world, continuing to clutch to restriction freedom, access to information and communication, as well as propagandising a policy of 'us against them' nationalism.

All you posted is evidence of CFR's ubiquity among powerful and influential people. That is not evidence of its malignity. Your idea that Reagan lied about this is based on the unproven assumption that CFR is a shadow government and not just a private forum. Most of these same powerful and influential people also went to ivy league schools, but that doesn't prove that the ivy league is some kind of evil conspiracy.

I'm staring at this thinking - um - real?

Seems just chaotic enough to actually be the case - still weird to think that someone's first thought would be to starting recording, but no longer weird to think that someone would be *able* to record, given the ubiquity of video record-mode on cell phones these days.