Anything by Iain M. Banks (or plain Iain Banks if you want to read some of his multi award winning non sci-fi stuff). Anything by China Mieville. Greg Egan's "Permutation City" Olaf Stapledon's "Last and First Men" and "Starmaker." Anything by Greg Bear. That's just off the top of my head. Never read "His Dark Materials," heard it was good, though.
Something for children, adolescents, and overgrown man-children who lack the sophistication to appreciate the subtle beauty of the real world. Never mind that that is simply not true, as the genre includes some of the most beautiful and mature artistic works ever published. People who are into "literature" as opposed to "reading books" tend to be elitist snobs.
Yes, everyone reads the FAQ of a website. And I never said to ignore him, now did I? If that was what you picked up from what I wrote, well, there isn't much I can do to clear up your misunderstanding that I haven't already done. And my pointing it out, rather than hurting his reputation, has enhanced it, as people such as yourself actually read his FAQ and learned more about him when they never would have bothered before, thereby helping put what he wrote into the appropriate context. More information and understanding all around never hurt anyone.
Bloggers need to disclaim their biases in their articles, not some FAQ. If I thought he was a shill, I would have called him one flat out. However, others are not as trusting as I am. For them, a disclaimer would make it appear he has nothing to hide, while a lack of a disclaimer is tantamount to proof he is a shill. That's just the reality of today's money driven media, and the cynicism it breeds. Ignore it at your own peril.
Did I say he was an Apple shill? No. I said, someone who works for a company for ten years and then goes on to write about them should disclose his relationship in the articles he writes. "As an e ex Apple employee, let me just say yadda yadda yadda." is not that hard to include. Not including it leaves the impression one is hiding something.
But thanks for your opinion, it added a lot to the discussion.
If you haven't worked there for ten years, and have been critical since, all the more reason to include a disclaimer. People will make their own assumptions if you don't. Sad but true, the world we live in is full of very mercenary people, and very wealthy corporations who will pay them quite a bit of money to say the right things. The best agents keep a few disagreements in their back pocket to trot out and show the unbelievers. I'm sure that's not the case with you, you sound sincere enough, but why not let your readers make up their own minds?
Yes, it says that pretty clearly, right there on the blog.
In the FAQ. Nowhere in the summary or in the linked article do I find the sort of disclaimer that any reputable journalist with a conflict of interest such as yours would add. I'm not saying, "this guy is an ex employee of Apple so don't listen to a word he says." I'm just adding the sort of disclaimer that you, as a blogger and not a trained journalist, most likely simply forgot to add. You're welcome.
Well, excuse my misinterpretation, you were trying to insult me by implying that I wash car windshields for a living, which is even more witty. I did apologize for insulting the military, and I really didn't mean to bring back those traumatizing memories from when you saw such horrific combat in the (snicker) Canadian military.
You are simply adorable, trying to insult me by implying that I am unemployed. Did I hurt your feelings by insulting the military industrial complex? I'm sorry, lil' guy, you can play soldier all you like, I'm not trying to take that away from you. You're Canadian, right? How precious.
This reprint of a reprinted Lockheed Martin press release is simply awesome and it has convinced me to enlist in the Air Force. I have also decided to call all my elected representatives and ask for more funding for Lockhe... the military. You should all do the same! And by the way, I totally do not work for Lockheed Martin and have no interest in promoting their excellent products... because they are so awesome, I don't need to! Now lets go blow up some brown people.
Bet you're wrong on all counts. But your prejudices certainly paint a clear picture of who you are and what you stand for.
Ah, the old, "I have a black friend, thus I can't be a racist" argument.
You are an intolerant, racist pig, yes.
The Muslim religion is not different from Christianity. All religions want to convert others, and infidels will burn eternally in hell-fire. You have no proof the majority of Muslims really want to convert anyone. You have no proof they treat 'infidels' differently, you are just asserting racist, bigoted nonsense without proof.
The Muslim religion is not separate from those who practice it. Therefore, it is idiotic to say that Muslims can be tolerant while their religion is not.
Do not expect ANY respect or tolerance from me, though. I don't respect assholes, and I don't tolerate intolerance. Just FYI, I don't like you, and I don't respect you.
Now, I'm always one of the first to go gunning for Randroids, but I think you may have gotten it wrong here. I believe what Seumass was trying to say is "Getting a job and earning some money so you can take care of yourself" is FAR more motivating than getting a cape. He was trying to point out how utterly condescending the whole thing is, not saying that unemployed people should just go get a job and stop being unemployed. Lack of motivation isn't the problem, as you say, having one job for every five seekers is the problem.
Um, okay. I get that. Punish the Muslims who are evildoers, by insulting all of them. Great plan. And let me point out, the reasoning behind your sig is crystal clear and unambiguous, everyone can tell that you are standing up to the extremist minority and not just being a bigoted dick.
The thinking goes, the magnetron is basically an antenna, right? So it can pick up as well as transmit energy. If an electric charge builds up and arcs stright into the magnetron, it can blow up. Or something like that. I've never seen it happen, and I've blown up a lot of stuff in microwaves over the years.
A quick google search for "blow up the magnetron" turned up this answer from a microwave engineer:
2. metals in the microwave oven - they will not destroy the oven or cause it to blow up. I routinely heat my coffee with a spoon in the cup. I also did the definitive early research on this in the late 70's and early 80's. But it is possible for metals to arc (spark) under certain conditions. This can be dangerous especially with things like metal twist ties and steel wool. Also, things like the metal trim (silver or gold) around the rims of fine china is dangerous in that the dish or cup can easily beak or shatter - but this due to the trim not being perfectly continuous like a wire that would carry current, Instead the trim has microscopic gaps and that can cause micro-arcs and temperatures exceeding 1000 F locally.
Don't you just love the Internet? We get to be wrong more often, but not for as long.
I'm saying a jaded negative attitude is unhealthy and unproductive. I am also supporting TechnoGrl's contention that the idea expressed by JoeMerchant, that "people do not want to change," is an example of the jaded, negative sort of cynicism. It demotivates rather than motivates.
No, Slashdot is has liberals, conservatives, and an unusually large number of libertarians. I think you see that meme not because of any political leanings of the members here, but rather because many people here confuse cynicism with intelligent analysis.
I was not comparing optimism and pessimism. Pessimism was not mentioned in this thread until now. I was comparing optimism to cynicism, and specifically the current popular sense of cynicism as jaded negativity, rather than Diogenes original philosophy of virtue and self control.
I'm very disappointed in Obama, as he has proven himself to be, at the very least, unduly influenced by Wall Street. Still, the Democrats appear to be fighting against major parts of the corporate agenda. Democrats oppose killing collective bargaining, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and the EPA. So, yes, it matters a great deal which way they lean.
You know what really helps with the shameless self promotion? Being too stupid to realize everyone finds you uninteresting. It also helps if you think of your fellow human beings as objects to be manipulated. Having the sort of deep seated insecurities that make a person unable to self-asses honestly also helps take that self promotion to the next level. Now, I'm not saying kkleiner aka Jeremy Ford is a narcissistic attention whore... oh wait, yes I am.
Optimism inspires effort, movement, and change. Cynicism inspires fear, hopelessness, and stasis. Optimism may be unrealistic, but it is exactly that unrealistic belief in the possible that motivates people to find a way to make it possible. The only good cynic was Diogenes, and he wouldn't even recognize what his philosophy has become. Cynicism is the last refuge of the lazy and weak.
You both simplify religion down to a cardboard caricature of itself. It is neither all good nor all bad.
That does not explain why I've only ever heard Conservatives propagate the meme that Republicans and Democrats are the same. There are degrees of "bought and paid for." Some people would sell out their deepest convictions for the right price, while others might compromise themselves, but never fully. It almost seems as if conservatives are simply trying to get liberals to give up hope and not vote.
Now, if Democrats and Republicans are both equally bought and paid for by corporate America, how come only Republicans are trying to gut the EPA, dismantle Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security, and kill collective bargaining? Those are all core pieces of the corporate agenda. Corporate America doesn't seem to be getting its money's worth from the Democrats.
Slashdot Mirror
Anything by Iain M. Banks (or plain Iain Banks if you want to read some of his multi award winning non sci-fi stuff). Anything by China Mieville. Greg Egan's "Permutation City" Olaf Stapledon's "Last and First Men" and "Starmaker." Anything by Greg Bear. That's just off the top of my head. Never read "His Dark Materials," heard it was good, though.
Something for children, adolescents, and overgrown man-children who lack the sophistication to appreciate the subtle beauty of the real world. Never mind that that is simply not true, as the genre includes some of the most beautiful and mature artistic works ever published. People who are into "literature" as opposed to "reading books" tend to be elitist snobs.
Yes, everyone reads the FAQ of a website. And I never said to ignore him, now did I? If that was what you picked up from what I wrote, well, there isn't much I can do to clear up your misunderstanding that I haven't already done. And my pointing it out, rather than hurting his reputation, has enhanced it, as people such as yourself actually read his FAQ and learned more about him when they never would have bothered before, thereby helping put what he wrote into the appropriate context. More information and understanding all around never hurt anyone.
Bloggers need to disclaim their biases in their articles, not some FAQ. If I thought he was a shill, I would have called him one flat out. However, others are not as trusting as I am. For them, a disclaimer would make it appear he has nothing to hide, while a lack of a disclaimer is tantamount to proof he is a shill. That's just the reality of today's money driven media, and the cynicism it breeds. Ignore it at your own peril.
Did I say he was an Apple shill? No. I said, someone who works for a company for ten years and then goes on to write about them should disclose his relationship in the articles he writes. "As an e ex Apple employee, let me just say yadda yadda yadda." is not that hard to include. Not including it leaves the impression one is hiding something.
But thanks for your opinion, it added a lot to the discussion.
If you haven't worked there for ten years, and have been critical since, all the more reason to include a disclaimer. People will make their own assumptions if you don't. Sad but true, the world we live in is full of very mercenary people, and very wealthy corporations who will pay them quite a bit of money to say the right things. The best agents keep a few disagreements in their back pocket to trot out and show the unbelievers. I'm sure that's not the case with you, you sound sincere enough, but why not let your readers make up their own minds?
Yes, it says that pretty clearly, right there on the blog.
In the FAQ. Nowhere in the summary or in the linked article do I find the sort of disclaimer that any reputable journalist with a conflict of interest such as yours would add. I'm not saying, "this guy is an ex employee of Apple so don't listen to a word he says." I'm just adding the sort of disclaimer that you, as a blogger and not a trained journalist, most likely simply forgot to add. You're welcome.
He is David "Lefty" Schlesinger, a fellow who worked for Apple for ten years.
Thanks, I'll donate it to your armed services so they can buy you guys some better machine guns than those Belgian pieces of crap they make you use.
Well, excuse my misinterpretation, you were trying to insult me by implying that I wash car windshields for a living, which is even more witty. I did apologize for insulting the military, and I really didn't mean to bring back those traumatizing memories from when you saw such horrific combat in the (snicker) Canadian military.
You are simply adorable, trying to insult me by implying that I am unemployed. Did I hurt your feelings by insulting the military industrial complex? I'm sorry, lil' guy, you can play soldier all you like, I'm not trying to take that away from you. You're Canadian, right? How precious.
This reprint of a reprinted Lockheed Martin press release is simply awesome and it has convinced me to enlist in the Air Force. I have also decided to call all my elected representatives and ask for more funding for Lockhe... the military. You should all do the same! And by the way, I totally do not work for Lockheed Martin and have no interest in promoting their excellent products... because they are so awesome, I don't need to! Now lets go blow up some brown people.
Point by point:
Bet you're wrong on all counts. But your prejudices certainly paint a clear picture of who you are and what you stand for.
Ah, the old, "I have a black friend, thus I can't be a racist" argument.
You are an intolerant, racist pig, yes.
The Muslim religion is not different from Christianity. All religions want to convert others, and infidels will burn eternally in hell-fire. You have no proof the majority of Muslims really want to convert anyone. You have no proof they treat 'infidels' differently, you are just asserting racist, bigoted nonsense without proof.
The Muslim religion is not separate from those who practice it. Therefore, it is idiotic to say that Muslims can be tolerant while their religion is not.
Do not expect ANY respect or tolerance from me, though. I don't respect assholes, and I don't tolerate intolerance. Just FYI, I don't like you, and I don't respect you.
Now, I'm always one of the first to go gunning for Randroids, but I think you may have gotten it wrong here. I believe what Seumass was trying to say is "Getting a job and earning some money so you can take care of yourself" is FAR more motivating than getting a cape. He was trying to point out how utterly condescending the whole thing is, not saying that unemployed people should just go get a job and stop being unemployed. Lack of motivation isn't the problem, as you say, having one job for every five seekers is the problem.
Um, okay. I get that. Punish the Muslims who are evildoers, by insulting all of them. Great plan. And let me point out, the reasoning behind your sig is crystal clear and unambiguous, everyone can tell that you are standing up to the extremist minority and not just being a bigoted dick.
Sure it counts. I'll even help you by taking the last word here. ;)
You make a very good point, and I agree completely. Amazing what a little bit of nuance can add to an explanation.
I was referring to the desire for self-improvement.
The thinking goes, the magnetron is basically an antenna, right? So it can pick up as well as transmit energy. If an electric charge builds up and arcs stright into the magnetron, it can blow up. Or something like that. I've never seen it happen, and I've blown up a lot of stuff in microwaves over the years.
A quick google search for "blow up the magnetron" turned up this answer from a microwave engineer:
2. metals in the microwave oven - they will not destroy the oven or cause it to blow up. I routinely heat my coffee with a spoon in the cup. I also did the definitive early research on this in the late 70's and early 80's. But it is possible for metals to arc (spark) under certain conditions. This can be dangerous especially with things like metal twist ties and steel wool. Also, things like the metal trim (silver or gold) around the rims of fine china is dangerous in that the dish or cup can easily beak or shatter - but this due to the trim not being perfectly continuous like a wire that would carry current, Instead the trim has microscopic gaps and that can cause micro-arcs and temperatures exceeding 1000 F locally.
Don't you just love the Internet? We get to be wrong more often, but not for as long.
I'm saying a jaded negative attitude is unhealthy and unproductive. I am also supporting TechnoGrl's contention that the idea expressed by JoeMerchant, that "people do not want to change," is an example of the jaded, negative sort of cynicism. It demotivates rather than motivates.
No, Slashdot is has liberals, conservatives, and an unusually large number of libertarians. I think you see that meme not because of any political leanings of the members here, but rather because many people here confuse cynicism with intelligent analysis.
I was not comparing optimism and pessimism. Pessimism was not mentioned in this thread until now. I was comparing optimism to cynicism, and specifically the current popular sense of cynicism as jaded negativity, rather than Diogenes original philosophy of virtue and self control.
I'm very disappointed in Obama, as he has proven himself to be, at the very least, unduly influenced by Wall Street. Still, the Democrats appear to be fighting against major parts of the corporate agenda. Democrats oppose killing collective bargaining, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and the EPA. So, yes, it matters a great deal which way they lean.
You know what really helps with the shameless self promotion? Being too stupid to realize everyone finds you uninteresting. It also helps if you think of your fellow human beings as objects to be manipulated. Having the sort of deep seated insecurities that make a person unable to self-asses honestly also helps take that self promotion to the next level. Now, I'm not saying kkleiner aka Jeremy Ford is a narcissistic attention whore... oh wait, yes I am.
Optimism inspires effort, movement, and change. Cynicism inspires fear, hopelessness, and stasis. Optimism may be unrealistic, but it is exactly that unrealistic belief in the possible that motivates people to find a way to make it possible. The only good cynic was Diogenes, and he wouldn't even recognize what his philosophy has become. Cynicism is the last refuge of the lazy and weak.
You both simplify religion down to a cardboard caricature of itself. It is neither all good nor all bad.
That does not explain why I've only ever heard Conservatives propagate the meme that Republicans and Democrats are the same. There are degrees of "bought and paid for." Some people would sell out their deepest convictions for the right price, while others might compromise themselves, but never fully. It almost seems as if conservatives are simply trying to get liberals to give up hope and not vote.
Now, if Democrats and Republicans are both equally bought and paid for by corporate America, how come only Republicans are trying to gut the EPA, dismantle Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security, and kill collective bargaining? Those are all core pieces of the corporate agenda. Corporate America doesn't seem to be getting its money's worth from the Democrats.