OT: I Remember When

[Atrocities]

I remember when my computers high speed connection was just that, high speed. When I would click on a download and download it at 200k +, now I am lucky to get 40k. Thanks AT&T.

I remember when I could drive on the streets of my city at night and not see another car, now its like driving at night has become the hobby of billions, and they all drive on my streets.

I remmber when I knew that what I did at work mattered, and that working was important. Now, I don't work, and everything I thought was important at work wasn't.

I remember when I had money, now I don't.

The one thing that really bugs me is what big business has done and how those in our government have screwed us all over.

The rich pay fewer taxes than a coctail waitress while I was paying 27%. Heres a guy like Bill Gates who mades on average (Reportedly) of about $600,000 + bonuses a year, and only paid 9% in taxes while I made $40,000 and paid 27%. (He should also have had to pay 27%!) The rich get richer while the poor get poorer.

I remember when Insureance companies only raised your rates after you caused an accident. Now they use everything from your credit rating to how many cups of coffee you drink in a day.

I think that it should be made illegal to use a persons credit rating to determine their insurance as one has absolutely nothing to do with the other. And to try and make us think they do is utter and complete bull ****. Its simply fruad. A way for big insurance companies to steal money from us. Its theft by fruad. They lie to use, and we accept it and pay the money. I wonder how much all of the ex-Enron employees auto and home insurance is going to increase now that they are out of work.

What I would love to see is the heads of every Insurance company's CEO, P, and VP on a pole out side the local Federal building with a sign dangling from their lifies bodies stating they were lieing, cheating, thevies with no morals or values. Wait, I forget these very things that we all find repugnate are a'ok in the world of big business and politics.

In the end, I only want to remember when it was all right to be kind, fair, helpful, courticies, and civil to one another.

To hell with big business, insurance companies, banks, and those who drop the ball in our government.

Oh ya, if your paying intrest on it, ITS NOT AN ASSET!

[ September 22, 2002, 09:34: Message edited by: Atrocities ]

[Grandpa Kim]

I remember when business men actually cared about the quality of their product. Now nothing matters but the bottom line. If you are a quality worker, a "professional", someone who gives a **** about his workmanship, use caution when asking for a raise. All they want is the job done on time. They'll be quite happy to hire someone from cash corner to slop together whatever you've been doing so well.

Yeah, buddy, I hear ya', I hear ya...

Kim

Addendum:

I remember when the product inside was more important than the shiny package.

I remember when salesmen would tell the truth, not just whatever it takes to make the sale.

[ September 22, 2002, 13:32: Message edited by: Grandpa Kim ]

[Gryphin]

I remember when I made mufins on location at a Mr. Donut and they were like the ones my mother made.

I remember when I was top computer salesman for a small mom and pop store, (12 years ago) and admired by all of my customers because I would sell what they needed, not what they could afford. I can remmeber getting repeat business and refferals. Then my boss found out I was telling the truth and "Down Selling" my customers.

I can remember when "Until Death do Us Part" meant something. If you had a problem you stood together to work it out.

I remember when there were only a few STDs and Penicillen would clean them up, (though you never forgot you had it)

I remember when a Gentlman would stand up to shake hands. It was a deliberate insult not to.

I remember when "Utilize" had a different meaning than "Use". People started to employ "Utilize" because it was more "sophisticated".

[geoschmo]

I remember when we didn't connect at 40k because the modems only ran at 14.4, and the old timers complained about connecting at 2400.

[tesco samoa]

Gandalph 300

[Arkcon]

I remember when I said "Please" "Sorry" "How are you today", and "I'm fine" only when I meant them.

Now I mumble them out robotically to all I meet.

A few tortured souls will actually call me on that.

Do they really want me to tell them, to paraphrase Douglas Addams, "Zark Off"?

Thank you for this vent space Atrocities.

Take care.

And I mean that.

I just don't have any practical advice or real solutions is all.

[ September 22, 2002, 19:02: Message edited by: Arkcon ]

[DavidG]

I remember when web pages were well designed and did not try to cram a thousand pieces of information and a few dozen adds all onto one page

[Arkcon]

Originally posted by DavidG:
I remember when web pages were well designed and did not try to cram a thousand pieces of information and a few dozen adds all onto one page

I remember when web pages were text, with a few graphic icons. There was a small amount of pages with a few nekkid pictures, but mostly you could find free information on a usefull topic a person at some university or govt site felt like posting.

Now any google search gives you 10 pages of p0rn, 10 pages of advertisments, 10 homepages of commercial sites with links that don't work, and a search for a scientific topic gives you a title and how much you can pay for an article reprint.

Someone should mod the internet into SE4. A culture reaches a certain tech level in computer science and production and research grind to a halt

[ September 22, 2002, 21:41: Message edited by: Arkcon ]

[capnq]

I remember when the "high speed" setting on my modem was 1200 baud (normal speed was 300).

My first computer programming class (senior year of high school, '76-'77) used acoustic couplers to connect a teletype to the mainframe. We used punched paper tape for local storage. We also had a programmable calculator bigger than an electric typewriter which was programmed using punched cards (which had to be punched by hand).

I remember seeing _Star Wars_ in a first-run theater, before it was called Episode IV.

[tbontob]

I remember in 1981 when printers were well in excess of $1,000.00.

What I did was modify a IBM Selectric II correctable typewriter into a printer. It was a lot of fun working with all those solinoids etc.

Worked very well. And the printout was very professional.