Alright - I admire Assange. I despise Manning. House? He's on the positive end of that scale. Anyone with the balls to tell a grand jury to go screw themselves deserves some respect. So - on a scale of 1 to 10, House deserves at least a 4, and probably more.
Fraud, theft by deception, con, whatever term one chooses to apply, the end result is the same. I'm promised something, which I don't ever get, in exchange for my payment or investment. And, it's theft, just as surely as a burglar commits theft when he removes property from my home.
This parsing of words, in an attempt to hide the fact that theft is indeed theft, only benefits those dishonest individuals who are committing the thefts. White collar thieves want to be distanced from common thieves, so they have created an entire vocabulary for thievery. Some words are applied to common criminals who are to stupid to steal millions. Other words apply to the smarter criminals who have the means to steal millions, or even billions.
Perhaps you've not been paying attention in class.
Goldman Sachs employs former government officials, both elected and appointed.
The government has a large number of officials who are former Goldman Sachs employees.
If you're not familiar with the concept, I'll offer you the term, "Revolving Door", which has often been used regarding government officials bouncing between jobs in the "defense industries".
It's impossible to completely separate Goldman Sachs from government, just as it's impossible to completely separate the defense industries from government.
The Golden Bull? I remember that from Palma Majorca. Funny, the loudest, most popular bar on the island turned out to be a gay bar . . . but, yeah, that would be the golden calf grown to adulthood!
As for being turned into an orangutan - I just thought is sounded funny. (For some people, that would actually be beneficial, I think.)
The bees? True - no one knows for certain yet what is causing honey bee colony collapse. But, an awful lot of credible evidence points to pesticides. Both pesticides that are applied to crops, as well as pesticides produced by genetically modified crops. Bayer's pesticide is the leading suspect, at this point in time. Bee colony collapse is global, but pesticide usage is also global.
Java games aren't ported to LInux. But, I play those Java games, all the same. Java applications aren't ported to Linux, but I can use any that I care to use. The wife makes extensive use of Java applications on Linux.
Oh - did I mention that pesticide, marketed by Bayer, which is very strongly suspected to be responsible for the honey bees dying off? That's one of the best examples of the FDA failing to do QA on a product brought before them. No scientist outside of Bayer and/or it's contractors ever did any research on the pesticide. And, the very limited research done by Bayer was so flawed, a junior high school student who can properly define what "science" is, could have spotted the flaws!
It seems like the FDA is a failed institution, anyway. It seems that almost every year, some "approved" medical treatment is recalled. It turns out the drug in question has serious side effects, from turning you into a corpse, to turning you into an orangatan. Meanwhile - other "drugs" such as quinine, which have been in use worldwide for millenia are suddenly regulated, and taken off the market, so that some bunch of freaks can properly "research", then market quinine.
I'm glad that you're happy, and feel secure, about the FDA doing all this "quality assurance". I'd rather see them doing real QA on the products brought before them. Screw all those trade secrets, and "intellectual property".
As things stand right now, the FDA is a failure. How 'bout all that food on the market, full of growth hormones, antibiotics, pink slime, and genetically engineered crap? Failure, after failure, after failure. The FDA isn't there to protect fools like you and me. It's there to protect corporations, and government. You and I mean less than nothing to them. That's NOT how it was supposed to be.
If any of my computers had ever started sweating, I think I would have just quietly stood up, and backed away from the damned thing. Very quietly. And, backed very far away. Scary idea . . .
At some point - even pharmaceuticals won't "get it up" for you. Hugh was an old bastard decades ago. I wouldn't make any bets on him "shtupping" anything these days.
You're probably right. What's scary is - the government isn't a whole lot better at this stuff. I seem to recall a recent transatlantic telephone conference, involving multiple "intelligence" and/or "enforcement" agencies that was recorded by the very people being discussed.
Yeah, I really want some alphabet soup dude from Washington looking out for my internet security.
I love reading - but you can't believe everything you read, either. A lot of articles are mere speculation, put forth by people who hope to be noticed. Farming increases average temperatures? Uh-uh, don't think so.
Staving off the next ice age? Hardly. Look back at the time lines of the ice ages. The interglacials have all been MUCH warmer than we have experienced in the last few thousand years. That little mini-ice age that we experienced was a tiny, tiny burp in the process of warming up, on the way to the interglacial.
And, THAT is what makes me so skeptical of all the "anthorpomorphic global warming" frenzy.
Wow - you're almost my hero. You did screw it up, though. You seem to be apologetic for your insensitivity. Don't apologize. Your friends don't need it, and your enemies won't believe or accept an apology. Just man up, and tell them, "I'm insensitive. I don't give much of a rat's ass that some punk called your twinky-ass son a 'doody-head'. You and your pussified son need to grow a pair!"
With your last sentence, I could launch into a rant on our political parties. Both parties like to have us feeling powerless, and dependent on them - but I'll leave that for another day.
I am poorly integrated socially. That doesn't make me suicidal. I'm going to stay around as long as possible to make all the sunsabitches who don't like me suffer!! Fuck suicide!
After I hit the submit button, I realized what I had done. Freudian slip? I don't know. I don't think I intended that "SS" in the manner you have pointed out.
What do you mean, "If you're right"? Perhaps you misread my post. I said that corrupting the SS into a political tool is unlikely - but possible. You find that to be incorrect, in some way?
Or, are you just arguing for the sake of argument?
Anytime a person or collection of people holds power, there is potential for abuse. The sheep don't give it any thought, and certainly don't worry about it. Responsible men and women do think about it - and they start worrying when signs indicate that abuse is growing more likely.
Today, the potential for abuse is considerably higher than it was when I was a kid. McCarthy ruined careers and reputations. Today's potential abuses can end freedom, and possibly even lives.
Two AC's have answered already, at least as well as I could have answered.
Am I ashamed of - ohhhh - let's say, the dark humor I shared with shipmates? Of course not. Would I share that same humor with a preacher? My wife? Some schoolkids? No way. It would be entirely out of context, and none of those people are likely to understand the context.
One of my sons has matured in a fashion, where he seems to appreciate some of that dark humor. One, of three.
Slashdot Mirror
Alright - I admire Assange. I despise Manning. House? He's on the positive end of that scale. Anyone with the balls to tell a grand jury to go screw themselves deserves some respect. So - on a scale of 1 to 10, House deserves at least a 4, and probably more.
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-theft-by-deception.htm
Fraud, theft by deception, con, whatever term one chooses to apply, the end result is the same. I'm promised something, which I don't ever get, in exchange for my payment or investment. And, it's theft, just as surely as a burglar commits theft when he removes property from my home.
This parsing of words, in an attempt to hide the fact that theft is indeed theft, only benefits those dishonest individuals who are committing the thefts. White collar thieves want to be distanced from common thieves, so they have created an entire vocabulary for thievery. Some words are applied to common criminals who are to stupid to steal millions. Other words apply to the smarter criminals who have the means to steal millions, or even billions.
Fraud is nothing more than a type of theft which involves no violence. Con jobs are thefts.
Perhaps you've not been paying attention in class.
Goldman Sachs employs former government officials, both elected and appointed.
The government has a large number of officials who are former Goldman Sachs employees.
If you're not familiar with the concept, I'll offer you the term, "Revolving Door", which has often been used regarding government officials bouncing between jobs in the "defense industries".
It's impossible to completely separate Goldman Sachs from government, just as it's impossible to completely separate the defense industries from government.
The Golden Bull? I remember that from Palma Majorca. Funny, the loudest, most popular bar on the island turned out to be a gay bar . . . but, yeah, that would be the golden calf grown to adulthood!
What's wrong with a little hyperbole?
As for being turned into an orangutan - I just thought is sounded funny. (For some people, that would actually be beneficial, I think.)
The bees? True - no one knows for certain yet what is causing honey bee colony collapse. But, an awful lot of credible evidence points to pesticides. Both pesticides that are applied to crops, as well as pesticides produced by genetically modified crops. Bayer's pesticide is the leading suspect, at this point in time. Bee colony collapse is global, but pesticide usage is also global.
Are you sure about that?
Java games aren't ported to LInux. But, I play those Java games, all the same. Java applications aren't ported to Linux, but I can use any that I care to use. The wife makes extensive use of Java applications on Linux.
Oh - did I mention that pesticide, marketed by Bayer, which is very strongly suspected to be responsible for the honey bees dying off? That's one of the best examples of the FDA failing to do QA on a product brought before them. No scientist outside of Bayer and/or it's contractors ever did any research on the pesticide. And, the very limited research done by Bayer was so flawed, a junior high school student who can properly define what "science" is, could have spotted the flaws!
It seems like the FDA is a failed institution, anyway. It seems that almost every year, some "approved" medical treatment is recalled. It turns out the drug in question has serious side effects, from turning you into a corpse, to turning you into an orangatan. Meanwhile - other "drugs" such as quinine, which have been in use worldwide for millenia are suddenly regulated, and taken off the market, so that some bunch of freaks can properly "research", then market quinine.
I'm glad that you're happy, and feel secure, about the FDA doing all this "quality assurance". I'd rather see them doing real QA on the products brought before them. Screw all those trade secrets, and "intellectual property".
As things stand right now, the FDA is a failure. How 'bout all that food on the market, full of growth hormones, antibiotics, pink slime, and genetically engineered crap? Failure, after failure, after failure. The FDA isn't there to protect fools like you and me. It's there to protect corporations, and government. You and I mean less than nothing to them. That's NOT how it was supposed to be.
If any of my computers had ever started sweating, I think I would have just quietly stood up, and backed away from the damned thing. Very quietly. And, backed very far away. Scary idea . . .
Quick - I'm to lazy to use Google to find out. WTF is Megan Garber, and how is her opinion relevant to any damned thing?
Who gives a rat's ass? I may go looking for a Samsung. Screw Apple, and screw the judges too. Whatever happened to the concept of free market?
Oooops, my bad. The market is only free if the rich sumbitches agree to make it free.
At some point - even pharmaceuticals won't "get it up" for you. Hugh was an old bastard decades ago. I wouldn't make any bets on him "shtupping" anything these days.
Is that a nice thing to say about an obsessive compulsive anal retentive person?
Your antivirus only protects you from old, obsolete viruses. It doesn't protect you from anything current. Go to infectymypc.com and check it out!
You're probably right. What's scary is - the government isn't a whole lot better at this stuff. I seem to recall a recent transatlantic telephone conference, involving multiple "intelligence" and/or "enforcement" agencies that was recorded by the very people being discussed.
Yeah, I really want some alphabet soup dude from Washington looking out for my internet security.
"$165 a month"
Dude - you can't possibly watch $165 worth of television in a month. There just isn't that much time in the month.
If I were hurt tomorrow, and was to be laid up in bed, and the television played 24/7 - the whole month wouldn't be worth five bucks.
Give me my internet, and you can keep every channel, every program, every reality show, and every run-of-the-mouth host.
I love reading - but you can't believe everything you read, either. A lot of articles are mere speculation, put forth by people who hope to be noticed. Farming increases average temperatures? Uh-uh, don't think so.
Staving off the next ice age? Hardly. Look back at the time lines of the ice ages. The interglacials have all been MUCH warmer than we have experienced in the last few thousand years. That little mini-ice age that we experienced was a tiny, tiny burp in the process of warming up, on the way to the interglacial.
And, THAT is what makes me so skeptical of all the "anthorpomorphic global warming" frenzy.
Wow - you're almost my hero. You did screw it up, though. You seem to be apologetic for your insensitivity. Don't apologize. Your friends don't need it, and your enemies won't believe or accept an apology. Just man up, and tell them, "I'm insensitive. I don't give much of a rat's ass that some punk called your twinky-ass son a 'doody-head'. You and your pussified son need to grow a pair!"
With your last sentence, I could launch into a rant on our political parties. Both parties like to have us feeling powerless, and dependent on them - but I'll leave that for another day.
I am poorly integrated socially. That doesn't make me suicidal. I'm going to stay around as long as possible to make all the sunsabitches who don't like me suffer!! Fuck suicide!
After I hit the submit button, I realized what I had done. Freudian slip? I don't know. I don't think I intended that "SS" in the manner you have pointed out.
The White House will be happy to cover this trivial cost. Just tell Barack that I said it was alright.
Great post - deserves to be modded up, even if it isn't very "geeky" or "nerdish". And, yes, I'm something of an introvert. ;^)
What do you mean, "If you're right"? Perhaps you misread my post. I said that corrupting the SS into a political tool is unlikely - but possible. You find that to be incorrect, in some way?
Or, are you just arguing for the sake of argument?
Anytime a person or collection of people holds power, there is potential for abuse. The sheep don't give it any thought, and certainly don't worry about it. Responsible men and women do think about it - and they start worrying when signs indicate that abuse is growing more likely.
Today, the potential for abuse is considerably higher than it was when I was a kid. McCarthy ruined careers and reputations. Today's potential abuses can end freedom, and possibly even lives.
Two AC's have answered already, at least as well as I could have answered.
Am I ashamed of - ohhhh - let's say, the dark humor I shared with shipmates? Of course not. Would I share that same humor with a preacher? My wife? Some schoolkids? No way. It would be entirely out of context, and none of those people are likely to understand the context.
One of my sons has matured in a fashion, where he seems to appreciate some of that dark humor. One, of three.