Hobocop

lol They added some crazy-ass, non-existant link between the two towns and didn't weight it! The car basically travelled half that impossible distance in no time. That's why the software chose it!

Like the null pointers STILL in Windows, M$ has forgotten to clean up their loose ends again.

Ah... it wasn't a non-existant link (a ferry travels between those towns) but they did forget to weigh the ferry leg of the route with a duration.

Microsoft owns you....and your family...and your family's friends...and your friend's family......

Not yet... but soon...

I should patent my family before they do...or at least me....screw the rest of them.

Dave & I had another argument about M$. What a faq'ing surprise. I swear, we're like an old married couple sometimes... 'cept we could beat each other to ruddy pulps without domestic assault charges... just the good ol' fashioned, regular kind. Here's what it boiled down to:

Me: M$ is a monopoly -- or at least influential enough to partake in monopolistic practices -- and therefore worth concern; heart-pounding, knee-buckling, ulcer-forming amounts of concern. As long as any company retains as much influence as M$ does, they will continue to abuse it, leveraging it to gain more control.

Dave: M$ does partake in monopolistic practices but the company can't last forever. For example, when Gates dies, he'll divide his estate amongst living family members who will probably tear the company to shreds like ravenous wolves. Or some young upstart will discover a new IT market, grow to be larger than M$ and beat 'em out. Therefore, they aren't worth the worry.

Reflecting on that argument, I saw some uncanny correlations to a fictional argument that Jon Stewart might have with G. W. Bush:

Stewart: Only 4 and some years ago, our country had a considerable federal surplus. As a result, Social Security had a buffer zone. Shouldn't we be trying to find better ways to fund the existing system -- perhaps strive to recreate that surplus -- instead of scrapping it altogether? Who knows what could happen in the future?

Junior: Social security will be broke in 2040-something. Be a-scared; be VER' a-scared.

Evidently, both Dave and "our" President can see the future. Altho, the visions do eerily coincide...

President George W.Y.S.I.W.Y.G. Bush XI's second national address, 2042:
"Today, with heavy hearts, we face a serious challenge as a country. Bill Gates has died. In a surprising lack of foresight, he had neglected to establish his will. Therefore, the entirety of MicrosoftAOLTimeWarnerAmeritechDisneyWalMart -- of which he was chairperson, majority shareholder, and shadowy king -- will go into Probate.

Our national tragedy does not stop there. MicrosoftAOLTimeWarnerAmeritechDisneyWalMart (ticker symbol MATWADWAL) has lost 99.999999% of its value. Market analysts attribute the fallout to the company's sudden lack of ownership and what has been equated to an international 'run on the bank.' Needless to say, this has dealt a serious blow to our privatized Social Secutity system, lacking its former protection by governmental subsidy.

MATWADWAL was the single largest conglomerate in world history. Its collapse has left a vaccuum in the market just as unparalleled. It's my sad news to report that as MATWADWAL considers filing for bankruptcy and the nation declines into a depression which makes Black Tuesday '29 look like a 'market adjustment,' the federal government is forced to cut Personal Security benefits. The United Incorporated States of America will be unable to distribute benefits any greater than .0000015 cents on each dollar.

Former President G. W. Bush and former V.P. Dick Cheney were reported saying they will use their remaining benefits to, quote, 'Go see that hillarous new Jim Carrey Jr. movie.'"

Hey! It seems I can tell the future too!

No one cares what Dave thinks.

Dan I think you summed things up brilliantly, and I agree with your preidiction concerning MATWADWAL. Regarding social security we either import more illegals ASAP or we play musical chairs til the "MATWADWAL crisis" occurs and is a convenient scapegoat so no political party or members get left with the blame. No politician wants to tell the truth regarding the nature of SS. It could have been managed properly like other pyramid schemes (ahem floating currencies ahem), but it fell out of the hands of financiers and into the hands of rotating prom-king idiots. Oh and I'm still trying to convince my bank to allow me to borrow 7 trillion dollars, then photo copy the currency a 14 trillion times and pay it back. I have yet to receive a serious response.