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Babbage, A Look Back
A reader writes "System Toolbox just started a new computer history section in an effort to get us geeks in touch with our "roots." The current article in the monthly column focuses on Charles Babbage. The editor and author hope to raise awareness of our past so that scenes like this won't continue to take place. A big hill to climb, but worth the effort."
I'm one of the several hundred thousand Europeans protesting against USA-sponsored terrorism.
By writing that as your sig on Slashdot? Kewl, now there's a way to troll flamebait online without ever having to think up anything cogent or even rise from your keyboard. You must be one of those over-privileged '1337 Eurotrash kids who reads comics instead history, smug in your nanny continent that the USA wrenched from tyranny and then rebuilt and protected from another vile menace for decades, not too long ago. You don't have to be grateful for that (after all, most of it probably happened before you were born). But you do need to understand that when the United States is attacked by tyrants or terrorists, we will proceed to kick ass and take names, make no mistake about it! We won't be asking any permission for self-defense.
I passed through Europe on the way to Kuwait, six months before Iraq invaded to kick off the Gulf War. The Lockerbie bombing of Pan Am 103 was recent history. There were armored personnel carriers on the tarmac at Hamburg airport and very visible security guards in the terminal carrying automatic weapons. Luggage was matched to an individual passenger. Europe was cleaning up small cells of home-grown communist terrorists (Red Brigades, Bader Meinhof, etc.). (Switzerland was even tighter on the trip back - I had to go to an isolated corridor, identify my bags, and open them for search.) Acting out in that environment could have easily gotten you shot dead, official explanations later if ever. You are hopelessly naive.
...that's naive! Especially when the US amry displays a fondness for hitting targets like a Red Cross warehouse.
I don't usually reply to AC's, but... _if_ that was an errant bomb (and not a vicious Taliban ruse) it was an error. These things happen, even including "friendly fire" casualties among one's own troops (as happened, unfortunately, in the Gulf War). It's a war. People die. They started it. Remember that.
But they all know Ada was a babe.
Right? :-)
Anyone quoted by a reporter knows how little they understand
Don't believe what you read is the truth.
Please, we are not al ignorant. Unfortunatly many Americans are under educated and do not feel the need to study on their own....even if it is just watching the history channel.
I am the Alpha and the Omega-3
They who? the afghani people? The red cross?
A few non-afghani terrorists commited a horrific act. The USA started a war.
So, do you hire them?
Apologies in advance for the horribly OT post - but where did your .sig come from? I used to have a college roommate who would tell me that every time I'd forget an assignment ("You forgot your homework? Then you must fight the bear!").
If it ain't broke, it doesn't have enough features yet.