I don't see a whole lot of green and blue on this map. Greece is doing pretty good. Granted, it's disappointing that USA ranks right up their with Russia and China, but you can't really expect much privacy anywhere unless you take steps to ensure it yourself (GPG, Tor, Freenet, etc).
IMHO the trend we're seeing is the downside of moving to an information-based society: if information is free for the taking, you betcha they're going to take it. Governments have been spying on citizens since there were governments, regardless of any policy-based protections; getting all wired up just makes things easier.
Not only that, but your skin is crawling with "good" bacteria and how does it know the difference between the "bad" bacteria to break down and the "good" bacteria on your skin? "Yes folks, another great product from the people who brought you antibacterial soap and the vicious unkillable superbugs that infest your local hospitals! Enjoy!"
The world will be a better place when people realize that a bacteria-free environment is only desirable in one place: a surgeon's clean field.
Seriously folks... I love technology as much as the next/.er, but if sticking it in the ground is the way it's always been done, that's good enough for me.
My thoughts exactly.... If it breaks down the cell wall of bacteria, it can do the same to your own cell walls. There's no structural difference between the two. Maybe it doesn't react to the keratin which composes the the outermost layer of skin, but still. There's going to be somebody out there who exfoliates a little too much, puts on their favorite self-cleaning shirt, and develops a nasty rash as soon as they step outside.
Oh, and the obligatory:
"Luckily,/.ers are safe from both exfoliation and sunlight."
Slashdot Mirror
http://www.privacyinternational.org/article.shtml?cmd%5B347%5D=x-347-559597
I don't see a whole lot of green and blue on this map. Greece is doing pretty good. Granted, it's disappointing that USA ranks right up their with Russia and China, but you can't really expect much privacy anywhere unless you take steps to ensure it yourself (GPG, Tor, Freenet, etc).
IMHO the trend we're seeing is the downside of moving to an information-based society: if information is free for the taking, you betcha they're going to take it. Governments have been spying on citizens since there were governments, regardless of any policy-based protections; getting all wired up just makes things easier.
The world will be a better place when people realize that a bacteria-free environment is only desirable in one place: a surgeon's clean field.
Seriously folks... I love technology as much as the next /.er, but if sticking it in the ground is the way it's always been done, that's good enough for me.
My thoughts exactly.... If it breaks down the cell wall of bacteria, it can do the same to your own cell walls. There's no structural difference between the two. Maybe it doesn't react to the keratin which composes the the outermost layer of skin, but still. There's going to be somebody out there who exfoliates a little too much, puts on their favorite self-cleaning shirt, and develops a nasty rash as soon as they step outside.
/.ers are safe from both exfoliation and sunlight."
Oh, and the obligatory:
"Luckily,