With most multiplexes showing this movie on multiple screens there is a show around every half-hour during the day. The merchandising industry is in full swing and you would be hard pressed to walk into any major store in a mall and not be inundated with Star Wars crap. And if that isn't enough..just run on down to your local KFC or Taco Bell and pick yourself up one of their promo tie-ins. Have a Pepsi while you're at it. No..actuall I think there is too much supply of this. Having half empty theaters at every show since opening night is not doing wonders for the marketing department...they have to fend off critisisms from the media that the film *only* made $100mil in the first 5 days.
"Yeah..but the theater was half-empty...aren't you disappointed George?"
Or did you mean that there isn't enough illegal bootleg copies of the movie so all the warez kiddies can feel 3l33t on irc?....In that case, you're right..there isn't enough of that sort of supply. But who cares about warez kiddies on irc?
And if BSD has kernel upgrades..they're posted here. If MacOS has kernel upgrades..they're posted here. If, don't hold your breath, Windows ever release 2000, it *will* be posted here.
With 40% of tech workers saying if they had it to do all over again they would choose something else and 50% of non-techs saying they wanted to be more technical, it quite obvious that the old saying is still true...
While I get the point you were trying to make with your "$foo was different" stuff...I think you are a little off the mark with Hitler. Hitler's success was in a large part due to the fact that he was *exactly* like the rest of Germans at that time. Disillusioned after a crushing defeat in WWI, looking for scapegoats (ie. Jews), fiercely nationalistic and looking for some payback. Hitler didn't kill 6,000,000 Jews by himself. It takes a level of coordination and effort on a national scale to pull something like that off.
Hitler tapped into many themes and attitudes that Germans were haboring at that time. His greatest success was being one of the people. You don't get to be appointed chancellor of your country by being different. Maybe different from the rest of the politicians..but not by being different then the people at large. That's one of the real tragedies of Germany in the 30's and 40's. Not enough people were willing to be different and go against the popular opinion.
Now that's an interesting parallel...Nazi Germany in the 30's and 40's compared to the halls of our high schools these days. Most people simply go along with the crowd...persecuting those who are different. On one level, they can say that they were just doing what the *cool* people told them to do..just trying to fit in so to speak. On another level...there has to be a certain amount of predisposition to put down those who are different. You just can't blame it on *following the crowd*.
While I certainly allow you your opinion....and I do think that these discussions should move to another server for bandwidth considerations, I do question your statement... "I want to hear about new stuff, stuff that matters, if you will." I am troubled by a society that feels that hearing about the latest linux kernel, or the fastest AMD chip somehow *matters* more than the issue that is being discussed here. Sorry folks...chips and kernels really don't matter all that much in comparasion. Just my opinion
And out of that 600,000 - 2.5 million number lets subtract the number of them that wouldn't even have been necessary had the criminals had not had such easy access to guns in the first place. Now we're talking some real numbers.
I'm all for defending myself...however..don't you think it would be smarter to think of ways to REDUCE the number of armed confrontations in the US to begin with?
What do you think is more likely....a) the misuse of firearms, be it accidents, robberies, murders, etc. etc, or b) you getting your chance to play Dirty Harry on that rapist?
It may be worth trying to figure out how many of these 600,000 - 2,000,000 crimes NEVER would have happened in the first place if the US would enact gun-control laws with teeth. No one is naive enough to think that ALL crime would miracuously disappear with more gun-control but I'm willing to start somewhere.
I asked the question "How many kids have to die..?" based on the simple fact that you have commented that saving one child isn't worth you giving up your guns. You apparently want to hang on to your Dirty Harry image. I simply want to know how many would be worth it to you?
And yes..it is an emotional topic to me. I've been a gun user or a gun owner ever since it has been legal for me to do so. I was once a member of the NRA. But after attending a funeral of a family member who was killed by a punk wielding a handgun I've *thought* about this plenty. And unlike you, I seem to be able to grasp both sides of the issue. I don't like the current gun crazy society we live in. I'm not advocating *banning* anything. But I would like to see the US gun-advocates stop running around yelling "2nd Amendment! 2nd Amendment!" as if it is the end all, be all of the argument. I'm sorry..but I fear the potential for harm if everyone has your Dirty Harry attitude towards firearms, more than I perceive a benefit on the off chance that I am going to stop some mugger or rapist in my home.
Actually..Denver area news outlets and sheriff department spokesmen have been quoted as saying all of the fatalities were the results of gunshot wounds. There was at least one of the wounded who received bomb shrapnel...but as of the last report no fatalities due to bombs...only guns.
How bout if it was your wife, mad at you for leaving her for someone else, pointing the gun at your head? Are you going to go on about HER right to bear arms in that situation?
The previous poster had a very good statement, one that could lead to an interesting discussion..he would be willing to give up his right to bear arms if only 1 child could be saved. The whole state of nature vs society argument, where citizens agree to give up certain rights and privledges and agree to live under certain rules and conditions for the better of society....a very interesting point, a worthy argument..
but you had to fuck it up and be cute. That line of reasoning is very tenuous, asking someone to make gun control/death penelty choices while faced with physical harm to themselves or loved ones. That's probably why we don't let victims of crimes sit on the jury, or even let relative/friends of victims sit on juries.
I just wonder how many kids have to die before people really start engaging in real dialogue on the gun-control issue? 15? 150? 15000? How many deaths have to occur before people re-think their need to pack heat?
I wonder what the odds are in an accidental shooting occuring on any given day versus the odds on some Dirty Harry wannabe actually walking in on some person raping his wife, having a loaded gun on his person, having the presence of mind to shoot the rapist and somehow manage to not shoot himself or his wife by accident? I don't have any hard facts on that, but my money is that an accidental shooting is much more likely to occur.
First off...where in my post do I bring up banning anything? Nowhere...So your post is irrelevant as a point of debate. I was responding to someone who was making a point that "he" was a responsible gun owner. "He" only used his gun deep in the woods...therefore we had nothing to fear from him. The point of my post was to illustrate that accidents do happen, even to the most well-intentioned people.
I grew up in a very gun-oriented community. All of the guys (and some of the girls) in high school who were of age would take off of school on the first day of deer hunting season. My father was (and still is) one of the hunter safety instructors in the county. I won many a competition trap/skeet shooting contest for my age group at the time. So please don't deem to lecture me on the safe use of firearms. I have lived and breathed firearms and firearm safety for longer than I can remember.
That being said, all of the things in my post, as well as all of the things in your post DO happen. Guns "accidentally go off", people "accidentally" shoot others. And yes, people DO drive drunk, cars do slip into gear and kill people...
But to use this argument...
Object A kills people. Object B kills people. We can't get rid of Object B, that would be absurd, therefore we shouldn't do a damn thing about A..
This is one of the weakest excuses for serious debate that I have ever seen. People whose only mode of give and take on a subject is that of taking things to their most absurd conclusion, in the hopes of making the other side look foolish, really aren't interested in a serious discussion.
Do I think banning is the answer, no..and nowhere in any of my posts could you possibly think I did. But something needs to be done. Making absurd analogies is NOT one of those things, walking around, deluding yourself that *you* are a safe gunowner, therefore nothing could *ever* go wrong with the use of *your* firearm is also NOT an answer.
The answer lies in serious people talking seriously about the issues, not absurdities and self-delusion.
After all is said and done..after all the politcos, religious leaders and school officials have their minute in the limelight...if something isn't done about this..meaning the way high school students interact and treat each other...if something isn't done about this basic fact, then we will be no better of then we were before the tragedy.
All the gun control in the world will not stop kids, feeling desparate and backed into corners, from lashing out. I think sometimes, given the cruelty in schools that is not amazing that some students just lose it and go on similar rampages, but rather it is amazing that more don't do it. Adults could get arrested for felony menacing and assult over things that happen on a daily basis in high schools, where nothing is ever done.
Good post and some damn good comments on this thread.
Oh I see...let's take every proposal out to it's most absurd conclusion, laugh at it and then do nothing. That takes real intelligence. Hmm...we can't stop every form of weapon so we should just do nothing. Brilliant! What great way to address society's problems you have formed here. Absurdity.
No..you going out, deep in the woods to hunt deer does not scare me. What scares me is this:
You coming home and taking your gun out of your vehicle, accidentally forgetting it was loaded, and it goes off killing my 2yr old playing in our yard.
Your 15yr old son, home before you after school just fooling around, accidentally shooting his best friend.
You, coming home from a 6hr bender at the local tavern and getting fed up with your spouse nagging you constantly about the bills, just "losing it" and shooting her dead on the spot.
You, hearing a "noise" in the middle of the night, coming down stairs with your SKS, discharging it and finding out that the burglar you thought you just thwarted was in reality, your 17yr old daughter coming home late from a date.
Someone breaking into your house, stealing your precious deer rifle, and then taking it to school to kill 13 of his classmates.
The poster above just told you how content and happy he was in his life and you call that being mediocre? You somehow feel empowered to sit in judgement on his definition of success?? It makes absolutely no difference how much money he makes, how many cars he drives...what in the hell gives you the right to call his life mediocre?
Well, that might make a difference if I was the judge. As I am not, I have no obligation to uphold the whole "innocent until proven guilty" routine.
I can form a judgement as early in the process as I want...even before any formal charges are brought. Doesn't mean I am going to be correct in my opinion, but I am entitled to it.
I believe your analogy falls apart when you realize that emails are in essence written down and can be stored for an indefinite time whereas phone conversations are generally not and you have an expectation that they (phone conversations) are not.
These days, everyone knows that email from years back can come back and haunt you.
Not 100% certain on how it works in Canada, but in America, where such verdicts seem to happen all the time, it just goes to show how STUPID a jury of 12 idiots, who aren't even smart enough to get out of jury duty, can be.
Man, if I'm ever accused of something, the last thing I want is a group of 12 people, who have demonstrated that they have no clue about anything, deciding my fate.
.....Really, if I have a child who, no matter what I try, still looks at pr0n, plays violent video games, and role playing games, then goes out and shoots someone, what was I supposed to do[?]......
If you have a child and you have to ask this question then it is obvious that you should NEVER have the brat in the first place. He/she should be taken from you immediately, if not sooner, for the good of society and the child. Nothing makes me sicker than to see some parent who cannot control their child...in the supermarket, in the restaurant..wherever. People like that should be slapped repeatedly. They should never have been allowed to spread their idiotic genes.
Whenever this subject comes up I always point out that you need a license for a gun , a car, even a freakin dog!...why don't people have to show even a modicum of skills to be a parent??
>>>Someone might try, but that nasty software license will get in the way, you know, the part about Microsoft making no warranty or guarantee of suitability for their products other than being liable for replacing the media they come on... This license, like every other license, contract and/or agreement, was written by lawyers, for lawyers. Hence, it can be broken by lawyers, modified by lawyers and challenged by lawyers. Just because some company slaps a string of words on a product does not make it legally binding for all time IF there is indeed demonstratable negligence involved.
Case in point..amusement park rides. They all have their standards disclaimers.."ride at own risk" sort of things. But if one of them fails mechanically and it is due to negligence, you can bet the lawsuits would be flying fast and furious. Disclaimer or no disclaimer.
I too was getting the black boxes on the side. The only why I was able to fix the darn thing was to edit my cookie file and delete the slashdot entry. Then stop/restart the browser and log back into/.
A community needs some sort of direction and decision making. Rob provides that.
I for one do not see how this site can be made to be anymore open and not spiral down into a cesspool of flamers, trolls and idiots. I can't see how you would want that, if you care about the site as much as you seem to. Or, are you more upset that Rob had the gall to say what the reality of this site is? That it is ultimately _his_ site and when he posts things, it will be things _he_ finds interesting. What's wrong with that? Did he say that no one else can post anything? I fail to see how this site somehow took a big Orwellian turn due to this post.
The decision to post such authors as Katz give this site some semblence of being able to expand beyond the nuts-n-bolts of the computer world and into the more intangible areas. This is a Good Thing(tm).
So what if he hasn't read the book? As he stated above, he posts things that he wants to read and thinks other people might like to as well. Isn't that enough? He's stated he likes Jon's other work. Doesn't it then follow that, in all likelyhood (not guaranteed though), he will like this as well, thus meeting the threshold for posting?
I don't see why you feel the need to question the motives of the owner of this site. It's not rocket science (hell, not even remedial calc) to figure out that since we don't pay membership fees here, it still can be considered Rob's personal site. The rest of us are guests. I think more/. readers should at least think about that more and stop thinking that their *entitled* to something or another.
Slashdot Mirror
Not enough supply? What are you talking about??
With most multiplexes showing this movie on multiple screens there is a show around every half-hour during the day. The merchandising industry is in full swing and you would be hard pressed to walk into any major store in a mall and not be inundated with Star Wars crap. And if that isn't enough..just run on down to your local KFC or Taco Bell and pick yourself up one of their promo tie-ins. Have a Pepsi while you're at it. No..actuall I think there is too much supply of this. Having half empty theaters at every show since opening night is not doing wonders for the marketing department...they have to fend off critisisms from the media that the film *only* made $100mil in the first 5 days.
"Yeah..but the theater was half-empty...aren't you disappointed George?"
Or did you mean that there isn't enough illegal bootleg copies of the movie so all the warez kiddies can feel 3l33t on irc?....In that case, you're right..there isn't enough of that sort of supply. But who cares about warez kiddies on irc?
Yeah...that's right! By golly ...the fact that you found that .1% of ROMS out there are legal totally invalidates this whole thing.
Silly Nintendo...what were they thinking? People who use these ROMS *always* have purchased a legal copy. Yesirree...nothing illegal going on here.
And if BSD has kernel upgrades..they're posted here. If MacOS has kernel upgrades..they're posted here. If, don't hold your breath, Windows ever release 2000, it *will* be posted here.
Stop getting your panties in a bunch.
With 40% of tech workers saying if they had it to do all over again they would choose something else and 50% of non-techs saying they wanted to be more technical, it quite obvious that the old saying is still true...
The grass is always greener on the other side.
Unless it's the Dark Side! =)
While I get the point you were trying to make with your "$foo was different" stuff...I think you are a little off the mark with Hitler. Hitler's success was in a large part due to the fact that he was *exactly* like the rest of Germans at that time. Disillusioned after a crushing defeat in WWI, looking for scapegoats (ie. Jews), fiercely nationalistic and looking for some payback. Hitler didn't kill 6,000,000 Jews by himself. It takes a level of coordination and effort on a national scale to pull something like that off.
Hitler tapped into many themes and attitudes that Germans were haboring at that time. His greatest success was being one of the people. You don't get to be appointed chancellor of your country by being different. Maybe different from the rest of the politicians..but not by being different then the people at large. That's one of the real tragedies of Germany in the 30's and 40's. Not enough people were willing to be different and go against the popular opinion.
Now that's an interesting parallel...Nazi Germany in the 30's and 40's compared to the halls of our high schools these days. Most people simply go along with the crowd...persecuting those who are different. On one level, they can say that they were just doing what the *cool* people told them to do..just trying to fit in so to speak. On another level...there has to be a certain amount of predisposition to put down those who are different. You just can't blame it on *following the crowd*.
While I certainly allow you your opinion....and I do think that these discussions should move to another server for bandwidth considerations, I do question your statement... "I want to hear about new stuff, stuff that matters, if you will." I am troubled by a society that feels that hearing about the latest linux kernel, or the fastest AMD chip somehow *matters* more than the issue that is being discussed here. Sorry folks...chips and kernels really don't matter all that much in comparasion. Just my opinion
And out of that 600,000 - 2.5 million number lets subtract the number of them that wouldn't even have been necessary had the criminals had not had such easy access to guns in the first place. Now we're talking some real numbers.
I'm all for defending myself...however..don't you think it would be smarter to think of ways to REDUCE the number of armed confrontations in the US to begin with?
What do you think is more likely....a) the misuse of firearms, be it accidents, robberies, murders, etc. etc, or b) you getting your chance to play Dirty Harry on that rapist?
I'm betting (a) happens more often.
It may be worth trying to figure out how many of these 600,000 - 2,000,000 crimes NEVER would have happened in the first place if the US would enact gun-control laws with teeth. No one is naive enough to think that ALL crime would miracuously disappear with more gun-control but I'm willing to start somewhere.
I asked the question "How many kids have to die..?" based on the simple fact that you have commented that saving one child isn't worth you giving up your guns. You apparently want to hang on to your Dirty Harry image. I simply want to know how many would be worth it to you?
And yes..it is an emotional topic to me. I've been a gun user or a gun owner ever since it has been legal for me to do so. I was once a member of the NRA. But after attending a funeral of a family member who was killed by a punk wielding a handgun I've *thought* about this plenty. And unlike you, I seem to be able to grasp both sides of the issue. I don't like the current gun crazy society we live in. I'm not advocating *banning* anything. But I would like to see the US gun-advocates stop running around yelling "2nd Amendment! 2nd Amendment!" as if it is the end all, be all of the argument. I'm sorry..but I fear the potential for harm if everyone has your Dirty Harry attitude towards firearms, more than I perceive a benefit on the off chance that I am going to stop some mugger or rapist in my home.
Actually..Denver area news outlets and sheriff department spokesmen have been quoted as saying all of the fatalities were the results of gunshot wounds. There was at least one of the wounded who received bomb shrapnel...but as of the last report no fatalities due to bombs...only guns.
Still want to stick to that line?
Or try this one out slick..
How bout if it was your wife, mad at you for leaving her for someone else, pointing the gun at your head? Are you going to go on about HER right to bear arms in that situation?
The previous poster had a very good statement, one that could lead to an interesting discussion..he would be willing to give up his right to bear arms if only 1 child could be saved. The whole state of nature vs society argument, where citizens agree to give up certain rights and privledges and agree to live under certain rules and conditions for the better of society....a very interesting point, a worthy argument..
but you had to fuck it up and be cute. That line of reasoning is very tenuous, asking someone to make gun control/death penelty choices while faced with physical harm to themselves or loved ones. That's probably why we don't let victims of crimes sit on the jury, or even let relative/friends of victims sit on juries.
I just wonder how many kids have to die before people really start engaging in real dialogue on the gun-control issue? 15? 150? 15000? How many deaths have to occur before people re-think their need to pack heat?
I wonder what the odds are in an accidental shooting occuring on any given day versus the odds on some Dirty Harry wannabe actually walking in on some person raping his wife, having a loaded gun on his person, having the presence of mind to shoot the rapist and somehow manage to not shoot himself or his wife by accident? I don't have any hard facts on that, but my money is that an accidental shooting is much more likely to occur.
Still think so highly of your argument slick?
First off...where in my post do I bring up banning anything? Nowhere...So your post is irrelevant as a point of debate. I was responding to someone who was making a point that "he" was a responsible gun owner. "He" only used his gun deep in the woods...therefore we had nothing to fear from him. The point of my post was to illustrate that accidents do happen, even to the most well-intentioned people.
I grew up in a very gun-oriented community. All of the guys (and some of the girls) in high school who were of age would take off of school on the first day of deer hunting season. My father was (and still is) one of the hunter safety instructors in the county. I won many a competition trap/skeet shooting contest for my age group at the time. So please don't deem to lecture me on the safe use of firearms. I have lived and breathed firearms and firearm safety for longer than I can remember.
That being said, all of the things in my post, as well as all of the things in your post DO happen. Guns "accidentally go off", people "accidentally" shoot others. And yes, people DO drive drunk, cars do slip into gear and kill people...
But to use this argument...
Object A kills people. Object B kills people. We can't get rid of Object B, that would be absurd, therefore we shouldn't do a damn thing about A..
This is one of the weakest excuses for serious debate that I have ever seen. People whose only mode of give and take on a subject is that of taking things to their most absurd conclusion, in the hopes of making the other side look foolish, really aren't interested in a serious discussion.
Do I think banning is the answer, no..and nowhere in any of my posts could you possibly think I did. But something needs to be done. Making absurd analogies is NOT one of those things, walking around, deluding yourself that *you* are a safe gunowner, therefore nothing could *ever* go wrong with the use of *your* firearm is also NOT an answer.
The answer lies in serious people talking seriously about the issues, not absurdities and self-delusion.
You also have a good night.
Spectra
After all is said and done..after all the politcos, religious leaders and school officials have their minute in the limelight...if something isn't done about this..meaning the way high school students interact and treat each other...if something isn't done about this basic fact, then we will be no better of then we were before the tragedy.
All the gun control in the world will not stop kids, feeling desparate and backed into corners, from lashing out. I think sometimes, given the cruelty in schools that is not amazing that some students just lose it and go on similar rampages, but rather it is amazing that more don't do it. Adults could get arrested for felony menacing and assult over things that happen on a daily basis in high schools, where nothing is ever done.
Good post and some damn good comments on this thread.
Oh I see...let's take every proposal out to it's most absurd conclusion, laugh at it and then do nothing. That takes real intelligence. Hmm...we can't stop every form of weapon so we should just do nothing. Brilliant! What great way to address society's problems you have formed here. Absurdity.
I stand in awe.
No..you going out, deep in the woods to hunt deer does not scare me. What scares me is this:
You coming home and taking your gun out of your vehicle, accidentally forgetting it was loaded, and it goes off killing my 2yr old playing in our yard.
Your 15yr old son, home before you after school just fooling around, accidentally shooting his best friend.
You, coming home from a 6hr bender at the local tavern and getting fed up with your spouse nagging you constantly about the bills, just "losing it" and shooting her dead on the spot.
You, hearing a "noise" in the middle of the night, coming down stairs with your SKS, discharging it and finding out that the burglar you thought you just thwarted was in reality, your 17yr old daughter coming home late from a date.
Someone breaking into your house, stealing your precious deer rifle, and then taking it to school to kill 13 of his classmates.
Those are the things that scare me.
Spectra
Hush!!
dammit..now everyone's going to want to work here!
Now they all know what John Denver really meant by "Rocky Mountain High"
WTF??!!
The poster above just told you how content and happy he was in his life and you call that being mediocre? You somehow feel empowered to sit in judgement on his definition of success?? It makes absolutely no difference how much money he makes, how many cars he drives...what in the hell gives you the right to call his life mediocre?
Just what the hell is your problem?
Well, that might make a difference if I was the judge. As I am not, I have no obligation to uphold the whole "innocent until proven guilty" routine.
I can form a judgement as early in the process as I want...even before any formal charges are brought. Doesn't mean I am going to be correct in my opinion, but I am entitled to it.
I believe your analogy falls apart when you realize that emails are in essence written down and can be stored for an indefinite time whereas phone conversations are generally not and you have an expectation that they (phone conversations) are not.
These days, everyone knows that email from years back can come back and haunt you.
Not 100% certain on how it works in Canada, but in America, where such verdicts seem to happen all the time, it just goes to show how STUPID a jury of 12 idiots, who aren't even smart enough to get out of jury duty, can be.
Man, if I'm ever accused of something, the last thing I want is a group of 12 people, who have demonstrated that they have no clue about anything, deciding my fate.
.....Really, if I have a child who, no matter what I try, still looks at pr0n, plays violent video games, and role playing games, then goes out and shoots someone, what was I supposed to do[?]......
If you have a child and you have to ask this question then it is obvious that you should NEVER have the brat in the first place. He/she should be taken from you immediately, if not sooner, for the good of society and the child. Nothing makes me sicker than to see some parent who cannot control their child...in the supermarket, in the restaurant..wherever. People like that should be slapped repeatedly. They should never have been allowed to spread their idiotic genes.
Whenever this subject comes up I always point out that you need a license for a gun , a car, even a freakin dog!...why don't people have to show even a modicum of skills to be a parent??
>>>Someone might try, but that nasty software license will get in the way, you know, the part about Microsoft making no warranty or guarantee of suitability for their products other than being liable for replacing the media they come on...
This license, like every other license, contract and/or agreement, was written by lawyers, for lawyers. Hence, it can be broken by lawyers, modified by lawyers and challenged by lawyers. Just because some company slaps a string of words on a product does not make it legally binding for all time IF there is indeed demonstratable negligence involved.
Case in point..amusement park rides. They all have their standards disclaimers.."ride at own risk" sort of things. But if one of them fails mechanically and it is due to negligence, you can bet the lawsuits would be flying fast and furious. Disclaimer or no disclaimer.
I too was getting the black boxes on the side. The only why I was able to fix the darn thing was to edit my cookie file and delete the slashdot entry. Then stop/restart the browser and log back into /.
Anyone else find another way around it?
A community needs some sort of direction and decision making. Rob provides that.
I for one do not see how this site can be made to be anymore open and not spiral down into a cesspool of flamers, trolls and idiots. I can't see how you would want that, if you care about the site as much as you seem to. Or, are you more upset that Rob had the gall to say what the reality of this site is? That it is ultimately _his_ site and when he posts things, it will be things _he_ finds interesting. What's wrong with that? Did he say that no one else can post anything? I fail to see how this site somehow took a big Orwellian turn due to this post.
The decision to post such authors as Katz give this site some semblence of being able to expand beyond the nuts-n-bolts of the computer world and into the more intangible areas. This is a Good Thing(tm).
So what if he hasn't read the book? As he stated above, he posts things that he wants to read and thinks other people might like to as well. Isn't that enough? He's stated he likes Jon's other work. Doesn't it then follow that, in all likelyhood (not guaranteed though), he will like this as well, thus meeting the threshold for posting?
/. readers should at least think about that more and stop thinking that their *entitled* to something or another.
I don't see why you feel the need to question the motives of the owner of this site. It's not rocket science (hell, not even remedial calc) to figure out that since we don't pay membership fees here, it still can be considered Rob's personal site. The rest of us are guests. I think more