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Wittfogel spent his career underestimating the savagery of the Old World, eventually fleeing to America to escape the Nazis. "Despotism" is his explanation of how communism was distorted by ruthless Russian culture. But even there he draws parallels between South American empire building and "oriental" empires like Russia and China. Other historians have drawn many such parallels. But there's little evidence for genocide by the Incas, Mayas or Aztecs, and even less three-quarters of a century ago. And no evidence of genocide in North America. Cultural extinction in the Americas appears to have come by way of assimilation. If you weren't so bent on violent conquest yourself, you'd envy not only the end of independent tribal identities, but also the peaceful means to their end. Instead you grope for any rationalization of the savage European conquest, even ignoring the genocide that almost claimed Wittfogel himself. Your denial of the vast European genocide in the Americas over several centuries is repugnant. It's apparently not exclusive to you, as it's being discussed, and rejected, outside this dinky little thread. I'd prefer to introduce you, sometime, to some friends of mine with American tribal ancestry, so they could explain the true history to you properly.

Here is a little blurb on stanford's and U of V's policies policies (Taken from here, speaking of plagiarizing :P )
[Stanford] gives students and the community full responsibility of themselves and of upholding the honor law. The university puts all the pressure of academic integrity on its students and it trusts them enough not to cheat so that the faculty is not constantly reminding them of the Code, "The faculty on its part manifests its confidence in the honor of its students by refraining from proctoring examinations and from taking unusual and unreasonable precautions to prevent [...] dishonesty [...]. The faculty will also avoid, as far as practicable, academic procedures that create temptations to violate the Honor Code." (S. U.) Another school where this idea of ienforcementi is put into effect is the University of Richmond in Virginia. This school lets students "leave the classroom during an exam or [...] may even take the exam home" (U. of V.). The professors trust the students because of the enforcement factor. Instead of faculty breathing down the student's neck about cheating, the student knows it is his/her responsibility not to cheat. Millersville University would benefit by adopting this honor code. The students here are trustworthy and would also benefit from the fact that they are trusted by their instructors.

That's already happened.

blame gun manufacturers

New York Sues Gun Makers

blame car manufacturers

Car manufacturers, dealers and mechanics are sued for consequences of breakdowns

blame alcohol manufacturers

Bourbon Drinker Sues For Son's Birth Defects

>(too lazy to html in the morning).

In the time that it took you to type that sentence, you could have produced a clickable link.

You're just as lazy as he is!

While you are right that Heron's steam Aeolipile would not have been capable of much power, what IS amazing is the fact that the ancient Greeks had all the essentials for a true steam engine, but didn't take the route of combining the elements to create such a machine.

The knew of valves and pistons - Heron even had an automatic temple door system that relied on air pressure drawing up water to activate the doors to open when a fire was burned on an alter nearby. Other uses were various automata for stage plays and productions, and for various waterworks (fountains and such).

The truth of the matter probably revolves around the fact that they didn't need such machines - there isn't much practical benefit of a machine that only somewhat works, when slaves are much, much cheaper (and in plentiful supply)...

Worldcom - Generation Duh!

• Save his daughter's life (a) mediacally, (b) nutritionally
• Feed himself
• Deal with the soldiers

I have had laser eye surgery recently (LASIK procedure), and I must recommend it completely to anyone who is seriously considered it and has talked to his/her doctor about it.

I am 19 years old and had bad vision in only my right eye (about 20/400). After talking to my eye doctor and considering the different options, we settled on the LASIK procedure for about $2500 including follow-up for a year. The actual procedure went flawlessly, I had no problems with pain or otherwise during or after the actual procedure. After the correction I con now see 20/25 - 20/20 in my right eye...no more contacts or cumbersome glasses again.

While there are some risks involved, they are minimal and the benefits far outweigh the risks. If anyone has more specific questions for someone who has gone through the surgery, please feel free to post them, and I will answer them as completely as I can.

Carlos Noguera
Web Development
Millersville University

Having not seen the MTV "documentary", I can't coment directly on how badly the show portrayed /hackers/ but I can surmise.

First, one has to realize that MTV is not a reliable source of fact for any thinking member of our society. Rather, it is more like a big advertisement, telling us the youth what we should be, look, and act like. Consequently, it is no surprise they f'd up the portrayal of hackers and serious computer people. They will not be reporting on what is ttrue whet is real, just on what sound like it'd sell or be cool.

Second, we need to see that (unfortunately) this is what most people think of us. I cannot describe how annoying it is for computer-stupid and technlogy-ignorant people to come up to me and ask me about how to hack this, or do that...just because they saw that that's what people like us do (on TV) when in reality, if they bothered to get some real information, they'd see how skewed their view really is.

It is equally annoying that some people regard our line of work as trivial or unimportant, even dangerous (evil hackers!) especialy after seeing something like the MTV show. Unfortunately that is a widespread general stereotype that cheapens who we are as well as what we do.

I'd personally like to see a program that explores the real *computer geekdom* and portrays us as regular human beings with an interest in technology. Especially in regards to youth, who usually don't get much respect from older people, I'm sure the documentary did not help matters any. As a Web Developer for Millersville University (not responsible for the page design - please no flames - *grin*), I am a youth (19) with a serious computer job, with serious responsiblities, and would like to be treated by others outside the computer community with some degree of professional respect. As it is, I'll probably be viewed as a haX0r due to the way I prefer to dress and what I do.

Anyway, sorry to get off on a tirade like that, but I just wanted to put in my 2 on this issue.

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kayser_soze
(aka Carlos Noguera)
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"if it's not one thing.....it's probably not that thing."