As an owner of a Samsung Galaxy Nexus, I just have three words for Google: more battery life. Seriously, I love the phone but it sucks down the juice like there's no tomorrow. And that's with an extended capacity battery pack and App Killer set on Aggressive.
I'm sure the citizens suffering the aftermath of Katrina and Sandy know how quick and responsive the federal government is, right? Or the shop keepers in Koreatown during the LA riots. Bottom line is, why on earth would I want to rely solely on the government for my own safety and self-defense?
If the hypothesis that "more guns = more crime" were true, then as the number of guns increased, violent crime should also increase. However, we see the opposite is true. US violent crime is down for the fifth straight year since 2006: http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/29/justice/us-violent-crime/index...
"Purchases of handguns and rifles, which had held steady throughout the early part of the decade, began to surge in 2006 and have nearly doubled since then, according to FBI data."
So a doubling of gun sales coupled with a declining violent crime rate over a 5 year period should handily dispatch the notion that "more guns = more crime", correct?
Furthermore, the suicide rate in “gun-free” Japan, at Number 7 on the global list of national suicide rates with 23.8 per 100,000, dwarfing the comparable rate of 11.8 in the heavily-armed United States, which comes in at Number 41.
"The latest Government figures show that the total number of firearm offences in England and Wales has increased from 5,209 in 1998/99 to 9,865 last year - a rise of 89 per cent.
In some parts of the country, the number of offences has increased more than five-fold."
"I ask, Sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people. To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them."
George Mason
Co-author of the Second Amendment
during Virginia's Convention to Ratify the Constitution, 1788
"Firearms stand next in importance to the constitution itself. They are the American people's liberty teeth and keystone under independence . from the hour the Pilgrims landed to the present day, events, occurrences and tendencies prove that to ensure peace security and happiness, the rifle and pistol are equally indispensable . the very atmosphere of firearms anywhere restrains evil interference - they deserve a place of honor with all that's good."
George Washington
"The supposed quietude of a good man allures the ruffian; while on the other hand arms, like laws, discourage and keep the invader and plunderer in awe, and preserve order in the world as property. The same balance would be preserved were all the world destitute of arms, for all would be alike; but since some will not, others dare not lay them aside . Horrid mischief would ensue were the law-abiding deprived of the use of them."
Thomas Paine
"Those who hammer their guns into plowshares will plow for those who do not."
Thomas Jefferson
"The constitutions of most of our States assert that all power is inherent in the people; that . it is their right and duty to be at all times armed. "
Thomas Jefferson
"The best we can help for concerning the people at large is that they be properly armed."
Alexander Hamilton
And my car's GPS navigation system is 10 times more likely than both Apple and Google to take me on unexpected detours. Frankly the level of accuracy and the sheer amount of data for mapping software boggles the mind if you think about it.
What about using aggressive targets set for milestones and deliverables, then letting the team loose to achieve them as they see fit? I personally don't care what or how my employees spend their time so long as they get what they have to do, by when they need to.
Price isn't a competitive differentiator unless you're one of the rare birds like Walmart, Costco or Dell. Otherwise, ask any one of the hundreds of no-name Asian electronic companies how well competing on cost alone fares.
If they ask for donations, it seems fair to know what their operating costs are as others have pointed out. As a point of reference, all of the non profits I donate to have annual reports that specify exactly where the monies go, and are audited. People will indeed donate if they believe the money is going to a good cause and there's adequate transparency. See Kiva.org and the job they've done in that area.