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What part of "no dogs" don't people understand?
Yesterday I did a 15 mile run on my usual course and started about 8 am (amazing I got out of bed that early). I saw a number of dogs when I started the run and I thought they were violating the no dogs regulation; I later found the sign and it said that after 9 am they were violating the regulation. Even after 9 am, there were a number of dogs there. To top it off, some dogs were off leash which is never permitted. Dogs on the path are just another obstacle I have to avoid. If the regulations were enforced, maybe people would stop bringing their dogs.
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Being handy is a double edged sword
I grew up learning how to fix things around the house, from the simple changing a light bulb to the complex installing a ceiling fan (which almost took out my head when my dad hadn't quite secured it and yanked me out of the way just in time). Then when I owned my own house, I taught myself about network wiring, replacing a garbage disposal, and then stereo installation. Being handy, does however, come at a price. Just because I can do something doesn't mean I want to, but I can't justify paying someone else to do something I can do myself. There are exceptions to this, but things like fixing a toilet don't justify calling a plumber for $65 an hour to replace the flush handle or something like that. I don't enjoy many aspects of do-it-yourself work, but since I have the knowledge, I do it anyway. My next little project is to figure out why the toilets occasionally run (it has something to do with the stupid chain from the lever to that plastic flap); I dread it, but I'd feel like an idiot calling out a plumber to do a simple task like that.
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Excess packaging
It seems like many things I buy come in boxes that have bags and bags in them along with manuals, CDs, etc. I usually keep boxes and packaging for stuff I buy for 6 months to a year depending on what it is in case I have to return it or have it repaired under warranty. Yesterday, as I periodically do, I tossed a bunch of packaging that I no longer needed. As I was going through it, I realized that there is a lot that isn't needed. First off, blister packs are just awful to recycle as you really can't; cardboard boxes are much easier to recycle. However, marketers like people being able to see the contents. Second, I find the documentation in plastic bags. Is it really needed when there is scant documentation anyway? Then there is the CD. Is it really needed? Most times I download newer versions anyway. For those that can't download, how about a number they call to request the CD; these days there can't be that many people with that problem. In my process of tossing stuff, I separate out the paper/cardboard and plastic stuff. I recycle the paper/cardboard. How many people really do that? If the packaging were reduced and people were as conscientious as I, we could have a huge reduction in the amount of waste we send to the landfill.
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Did another class action suit against Microsoft really hurt?
Today's newspaper is reporting that Microsoft has settled a lawsuit with city and county governments in California. It has the same premise as all the other anti-trust suits against Microsoft in that Microsoft is a monopoly and used it to overcharge for software. I had to almost laugh with the settlement agreement...Microsoft will pay $70 million for qualifying computer hardware and software. Let's see, I bet most of that software will be Microsoft software. Now who is the big loser in this suit? I think that would be the taxpayers, as usual.