Life is not about equality, it is about equal rights to our bodies and the property we worked hard for.
Today, no one but the ultra-wealthy have a vote. Your ballot choices means zilch -- everyone you vote into office just extends the future power of that office.
In a true free market, every ollar is vote, but being a billionaire isn't total control of the poor.
How much can a billionaire buy in respect to need? Only so many bananas, eggs and gallons of milk. Overbuying leads to waste and loss of wealth.
Maybe the wealthy will buy all the land? How will they maint in it? How will they build on it? How will they clean it, paint it, power it?
Hording doesn't make wealth, hard work does. Many children of the wealthy lose the family fortunes. I know of 3 100-year old contractors in the Midwest that went bankrupt at the hands of the third generation.
Money in the hands of the majority middle class has more power than the minority, except with regards to government. Don't be fooled by what is mostly class hatred. The poor have more opportunities to become rich in a free market than in a regulated one.
All good points. I'm not sure forcing our morals on others is the right goal.
We've become desensitized to some terrible property rights violations in this country (U.S.). Smoking bans, minimum wage laws even zoning laws are all inherently evil, yet the majority of/. readers will think I'm nuts for saying so.
If governments are beating their people or hampering any natural rights, I'm concerned.
As long as our own government continues to breech their responsibilities, I honestly can't focus on other countries.
Great to see more AnCaps here. I appreciate the debates and have reformed many opinions.
If not, that's a form of fraud.
I am an AnCap who disagrees with criminalizing non-contract fraud. If we agree I won't lie or deceive you, then I do, I breeched a contract. If no contract exists, there's no reason you should listen to me.
Threats of violence are exactly what the government uses to violate the rights of individuals, and that is what we as AnCaps are against.
Government has the RIGHT to commit violence, we don't.
I need the right of expression to allow me to preach violence. When tyranny is too great, I will not be silent.
If I convince you to murder, you're the guilty one, not me.
To me, that is a form of aggression against another person, and initiation of aggression against others is a violation of libertarian theory.
Fear != Violence. If I scare you, leave. If I don't let you leave, I have violated you.
It is funny when I believe in voting only with your dollars (political voting is evil always), and get slammed for it. Yet here is proof that money is the only non-force mechanism for change. Unfortunately, no one external to a corrupt government can really stick to the capital solution for long. The problems in our own lives eventually take precedence.
Even if Cisco stops dealing with Badmanistan, the Badmanistanians can still import from other countries. How do you stop the use? Maybe DRM restricting what country an item works in? I don't think so. Yet funny if the thought crossed your mind.
Maybe we can make a more concerted effort. Get the U.N. involved and completely stop technology from getting there. I'm sure the hospitals and schools can get by without technology.
Here's a solution. Smuggle guns and ammo into countries with no respect for private property. Let the inner hope of revolution make real change. Rights won't be protected with sanctions. Only by blood do we truly stop those who dare to take our lives, our properties and our natural right to both.
Maybe after we've brought true freedom to everyone else, someone will kindly help us find it, too.
I want my private properties to be private. I want to invite who I want to, and avoid who I want to.
It is not your property.
You want to tell me what I can do with my property. You want to force me to congregate with either everyone or no one. I have to rights in my property according to you. I have to be your slave, invest my time and money so you can create your better world, your utopia for all.
I don't care about that. It is my property. My private property.
True, but I know of at least one case where a landlord refused a couple because said couple was gay. Problem: he said it to their face, and they had recorded it with a small MP3 player (because the landlord was known to dislike gay people).
The gays were idiots, I'd refuse to rent them an apartment out of the knowledge that they use their homosexuality to produce a benefit unavailable to others.
It is the landlord's place. He doesn't need a reason to say no.
They should buy a building and refuse to rent to straights. That's their right.
So then, as a matter of principle, you won't be suing me when I rent a few billboards near your house and put your name, address, and photo on them, along with labeling you a known liar, thief, and pedophile. Hope you produce some seriously high-quality products, my man.
Billboards by my businesses run $1500/month with a 24 Month contract.
You won't do it, and no one els would, either. Your statement is ridiculous.
I'm generally not discriminatory, but I am prejudice. I don't see anything wrong with private non-violent racism.
A restaurant who refuses to serve midgets is a Bad Idea. I won't eat there. But to me, the OWNER of the PROPERTY is free to use his property that way.
Racism and discrimination by government is terrible. As a biracial person, I hate government discrimination but I will protect the private individual's right to congregate with whomever they want.
So it would be alright for someone to say you have sex with goats and children? Doctor photographs of you that seem to show you in those acts?
Sure. This is a good point, actually. Your manner with others is what protects you from such charges. If you're a jerk, a liar and shady, people might say "Hmm, well he was a bit weird."
Accusations make not fact.
The concept of a "natural right" is very odd as well. Who grants this natural right? It is not a not a physical law. Who or what grants these rights?
Natural rights are rights shared by everyone at birth. Some people believe a creator granted them, others believe they come from an inside moral fiber or just from being human.
If you play your stereo so loud that I can hear it in my home or even in my car while I am driving you are then expressing yourself on my property.
I guess that could be called trespass or pollution, but not by me. If the form of expression causes o physical damage, it's fine. I tell people who don't want to see pink houses next door to buy 100 acres of land and live in the woods. Don't want your neighbors keeping you up at night with their hump-hump-monkey-love? Don't rent.
The court system in the US really does work most of the time. I bet the one in Canada does as well.
It rarely works in either.
The court originally was intended to enforce the law. The law was intended to protect private property and the right to be free from others damaging your property or person.
Today, I can not put chemicals into my body of my choice. I can not rent the use of my body by others. I can not tell others I don't like to get out of my store. I am forced to watch what I say in my business to my employees.
If I call your (Significant other), parents, employer, all of your clients, (clergyperson), the managers of all the nearby grocery stores and tell them all that you're a child molester and a rapist don't you think you'd be harmed?
I won't be harmed. Do it, my client list is google-able. You'll be hurt in the time you're wasting. Your credibility will be harmed as well.
If I posted your picture, phone number and address on my blog and said all of those same things, why shouldn't you be able to sue me for libel?
Someone I fired did something similar, online. I believe the site lasted a year with no updates and no one except a girlfriend asked me about it. The site might still exist, but with a 2001 date it is pretty meaningless.
My time becoming productive creates wealth for me, your time being unproductive destroys your wealth.
To an AnCap, a natural right is a limitless right. The freedom of expression is limitless, as long as the following is true:
1. You are on your own property or the public property. 2. The form of expression causes no physical damage to the physical property of others 3. The form of expression doesn't breach any contracts you are committed to.
To me, all speech is a natural right as a form of expression. Swearing, discrimination, yelling fire in your own theater, or even preaching the murder of another. If you don't like a certain form of expression, don't allow it on your property.
I don't believe in libel or slander. Words, in the long run, can damage a reputation -- but creating a quality product will always trump it. Did the fallout of criticism over DIVX make people stop shopping at Circuit City? No.
I could care less about what media companies might do with the freedom to libel. Who cares. If you're in the public eye, accept it. If you run a big business, combat it with great quality of service.
For every report that says unfluoridated communities have high cavity rates, I also see reports that say that they don't, or that they have lower arthritis rates, or they have lower osteoporosis rates.
The damn studies are too vague to get a grasph on what is right and what is wrong. What I can tell is that many dentists admit that fluoride IS needed, but for only a very small portion of the population.
Another thing that helps my teeth is my "lower carb" diet. By reducing all my simple sugars entirely, I'm sure it has helped more than getting rid of fluoride.
I hate spelling these words. From now on I decree that fluoride will be called Pagul, osteoporosis will be called Bemar, and arthritis is now Foobot. So much easier.
A good friend of mine's father is a dentist, and he's ambivalent on fluoridation of water and the use of fluoride. I guess it's a common debate between dentists.
I do agree that 3rd world dentistry can be horrid. The dentist I went to was a dentist for european movie stars and even politicians, which I trusted more than the jackasses I've been seeing for years in the states. I had a friend who had major work performed in India by a very highly respected oral surgeon, and his surgery ended up being only $30,000 versus nearly $200,000 here. He also paid a US doctor to oversee his recovery, and I believe that wasn an additional $15,000 or so.
I'm not kooky and continually research the research. For now, my teeth ARE better. My U.S. dentists both agree there is a markable change over the past 6 years. I still have one tooth that is failing repeatedly, but only orthognathic surgery will probably help it (second root canal is now necessary and there is almost no tooth left anyway).
I can appreciate that not even dentist is a nut, just as even chiropractic "doctor" isn't one either. But I don't trust those that don't have a good grasp of the realities of life -- everyone is different, and treating everyone equally is just plain wrong.
Sidenote: We've been dealing with the vet lately over a sick cat with cancer. I can honetly say that the vets are the WORST at screwing people over. Playing with heartstrings and taking advantage of the pet owners is so commonplace that it shocks me that people fall victim. After getting a $3000 estimate, we said we were going to check with other vets. Within a week it became a $2000 estimate, and now its down to $700. As soon as its $500 I'll pay, but I know many pet owners who'd tearfully accept the $3000 original bill.
I have no faith in monopolies. The AMA, the ADA, and many other medical organizations are unions and lobbyists to maintain the medical monopolies we see in the States. I'm sick of it.
Unfortunately, the costs are tremendous, and I've spoken with many people online who had WORSE TMJ-related problems after the surgery. One lady spent over $160,000 and she's suicidal from the new pain. No thanks.
Plus, orthognathic surgery would change my profile and look -- in a notably good way (more attractive). My profile has always been part of my persona, even something I've sold myself with. Growing up feeling ugly and being able to turn it into an attraction is something one isn't so hip on getting rid of:) Even the lady loves the profile and gets mad every time I think about the surgery.
My TMJ-related pains are really reduced from smoking (which I haven't done in a few weeks now unfortunately) and exercise. I also find that getting rid of a pillow when I sleep really reduces teeth grinding. Chewing gum, in my case, helps with my TMJ-related pain, too.
I'm really interested in some new developments in growing natural teeth. I can't remember if its related to stem cell magic, but I know of 3 research studies right now that are regrowing teeth right in the jaw base. If that happens, I'll reinvestigate the orthognathic surgery.
For those interested in what my surgery would entail, the doctors would cut my mandible out of my mouth entirely. They'd remove about 1" of excess, reinstall it into my mouth, and grind my distorted chin to a smaller profile. Then, they'd extend my top toothline (maxillary) about 1/2", making my nose smaller and less hooked, and perform plastic surgery to reduce the rest of my nose profile. I'd have to have my teeth bound shut for up to 6 months, and the side effects of the surgery and medicine would mean puking often, but "fortunately" I'd be on an all fluid diet so I'd just puke back through my teeth. In the long run, there would need to be minor corrections.
Oh yeah, for up to 2 years before the surgery, I'd need braces to turn my teeth up to 20 degrees outward so when the actual surgery repositions my jaw, the teeth would fit. Very sexy, right?
Fluoride research on the web is very tainted by tinfoil hat wearers, but the offline research I reviewed shows that fluoride is positive only in baby teeth.
The history of water fluoridation is really interesting. I don't believe in the benefits.
I've been burdened with bad teeth all my life. Cavities galore, crooked, cracks.
I always brushed and lossed. Flouride treatments and cleanings ahead of schedule. No good.
I have a mandibular excess, causing TMJ "pain" and massive nightly grinding. It was likely the source of my problem.
I saw a dentist in Poland about 7 years ago for a toothache. She explained to me the "conspiracy" of the ADA: pro-flouride, pro-abrasive cleanings, pro-short term fixes.
I did some research and found flouride is a poison that makes bones (and teeth) brittlel Yet I used it, drank it, showered in it.
I also found that most fillings are a massive amount of weak bonding agent, mercury and other toxins.
Finally I discovered, in my opinion, that many dentists are frauds like the chiro industry: fix you up enough so you still have to come back.
I stopped flouride intake (whole house filter, no toothpaste). I replaced my fillings (4-6 year lifrspan) with gold. I eat more friendly-bacteria.
My teeth are stronger. They don't hurt. Grinding hasn't ruined them much. My gums are healthy and my breath is significantly better.
The solution is mouth bacteria to consume the bad decay. Cut flouride, cut the US educated dentist. I now go to a foreign dentist who charges me WAY less per visit.
1. "The Internet is the web," whoever makes the content wins (I call it the super BBS text file repository)
2. "The Internet is about connecting people together through my rose-colored lenses."
Both business markets are not ally valid anymore. Smaller ISPs seem to gain users by not making themselves visible as the middleman. The more you've noticed your ISP, the more I bet you've been frustrated.
Creating web content is better performed by billions of people than by dozens. CmdrTaco edits an article, but people come here for the +5'd comments. CmdrTaco couldn't get many +5's on his own (maybe -1 Redundants).
The future, to me, is how to collect all those billions of opinions and creations and make it specifically friendly to every individual user.
Google is heading in the correct direction. I let most of my domain names lapse because of Google. Yet they're still not there yet.
The ultimate web company has to be able to give you what you want, immediately, but also correctly give you items you need even if you didn't realize you needed them.
*Targeted ads you really want to see. *Content that may be different than what you're used to, but still informative or useful to you. *Access to information by only knowing some vague part of it. Find that TV show from a line or two. Find that song or book the same way. *Compensate content creators somehow.
AOL is none of these things. They're an online newspaper and amusement park. *Yawn* I wouldn't pay $5 for them.
Plus, how many people "hate" the name over their junk mail and bad cancellation policy?
As for Time Warner stock, would you want a part of Time? Warner? Maybe in 1985.
I'm not anti-ecommerce, but I see how it can kill local communities. I own some ma&pa stores that sell skateboards and paintball and the dotcoms slaughtered us -- until we raised prices and offered much better service, great hours and a know-your-customer attitude.
I even will shop my local Wal*Mart, as they send me a TON on skate&paint customers. I also know who the cheapskate ecommerce customers of mine are, and raising prices made sure they wouldn't return.
I'm not worried about online competition anymore. Great service, knowledge of my customers' needs and my friendly staff trump a dotcoms "great price" mentality.
Slashdot Mirror
Life is not about equality, it is about equal rights to our bodies and the property we worked hard for.
Today, no one but the ultra-wealthy have a vote. Your ballot choices means zilch -- everyone you vote into office just extends the future power of that office.
In a true free market, every ollar is vote, but being a billionaire isn't total control of the poor.
How much can a billionaire buy in respect to need? Only so many bananas, eggs and gallons of milk. Overbuying leads to waste and loss of wealth.
Maybe the wealthy will buy all the land? How will they maint in it? How will they build on it? How will they clean it, paint it, power it?
Hording doesn't make wealth, hard work does. Many children of the wealthy lose the family fortunes. I know of 3 100-year old contractors in the Midwest that went bankrupt at the hands of the third generation.
Money in the hands of the majority middle class has more power than the minority, except with regards to government. Don't be fooled by what is mostly class hatred. The poor have more opportunities to become rich in a free market than in a regulated one.
Circuit City created DIVX:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DIVX
All good points. I'm not sure forcing our morals on others is the right goal.
/. readers will think I'm nuts for saying so.
We've become desensitized to some terrible property rights violations in this country (U.S.). Smoking bans, minimum wage laws even zoning laws are all inherently evil, yet the majority of
If governments are beating their people or hampering any natural rights, I'm concerned.
As long as our own government continues to breech their responsibilities, I honestly can't focus on other countries.
I like your example!
If I'm walking on a public thoroughfare and someone impedes my movement, they've committed violence towards me. I will use force to defend myself.
Yet they can shout discriminatory words at me. They're free to.
Words are not physical actions.
Great to see more AnCaps here. I appreciate the debates and have reformed many opinions.
If not, that's a form of fraud.
I am an AnCap who disagrees with criminalizing non-contract fraud. If we agree I won't lie or deceive you, then I do, I breeched a contract. If no contract exists, there's no reason you should listen to me.
Threats of violence are exactly what the government uses to violate the rights of individuals, and that is what we as AnCaps are against.
Government has the RIGHT to commit violence, we don't.
I need the right of expression to allow me to preach violence. When tyranny is too great, I will not be silent.
If I convince you to murder, you're the guilty one, not me.
To me, that is a form of aggression against another person, and initiation of aggression against others is a violation of libertarian theory.
Fear != Violence. If I scare you, leave. If I don't let you leave, I have violated you.
How do you differ in your beliefs?
It is funny when I believe in voting only with your dollars (political voting is evil always), and get slammed for it. Yet here is proof that money is the only non-force mechanism for change. Unfortunately, no one external to a corrupt government can really stick to the capital solution for long. The problems in our own lives eventually take precedence.
Even if Cisco stops dealing with Badmanistan, the Badmanistanians can still import from other countries. How do you stop the use? Maybe DRM restricting what country an item works in? I don't think so. Yet funny if the thought crossed your mind.
Maybe we can make a more concerted effort. Get the U.N. involved and completely stop technology from getting there. I'm sure the hospitals and schools can get by without technology.
Here's a solution. Smuggle guns and ammo into countries with no respect for private property. Let the inner hope of revolution make real change. Rights won't be protected with sanctions. Only by blood do we truly stop those who dare to take our lives, our properties and our natural right to both.
Maybe after we've brought true freedom to everyone else, someone will kindly help us find it, too.
I know an awful lot of well heeled people. I can't imagine any wasting their money that way.
I also think I'd get more attention and business out of it. In fact, I welcome the attention as I can easily counter it.
No, that's not it. Let me boil it down:
I want my private properties to be private. I want to invite who I want to, and avoid who I want to.
It is not your property.
You want to tell me what I can do with my property. You want to force me to congregate with either everyone or no one. I have to rights in my property according to you. I have to be your slave, invest my time and money so you can create your better world, your utopia for all.
I don't care about that. It is my property. My private property.
True, but I know of at least one case where a landlord refused a couple because said couple was gay. Problem: he said it to their face, and they had recorded it with a small MP3 player (because the landlord was known to dislike gay people).
The gays were idiots, I'd refuse to rent them an apartment out of the knowledge that they use their homosexuality to produce a benefit unavailable to others.
It is the landlord's place. He doesn't need a reason to say no.
They should buy a building and refuse to rent to straights. That's their right.
So then, as a matter of principle, you won't be suing me when I rent a few billboards near your house and put your name, address, and photo on them, along with labeling you a known liar, thief, and pedophile. Hope you produce some seriously high-quality products, my man.
Billboards by my businesses run $1500/month with a 24 Month contract.
You won't do it, and no one els would, either. Your statement is ridiculous.
I'm generally not discriminatory, but I am prejudice. I don't see anything wrong with private non-violent racism.
A restaurant who refuses to serve midgets is a Bad Idea. I won't eat there. But to me, the OWNER of the PROPERTY is free to use his property that way.
Racism and discrimination by government is terrible. As a biracial person, I hate government discrimination but I will protect the private individual's right to congregate with whomever they want.
So it would be alright for someone to say you have sex with goats and children? Doctor photographs of you that seem to show you in those acts?
Sure. This is a good point, actually. Your manner with others is what protects you from such charges. If you're a jerk, a liar and shady, people might say "Hmm, well he was a bit weird."
Accusations make not fact.
The concept of a "natural right" is very odd as well. Who grants this natural right? It is not a not a physical law. Who or what grants these rights?
Natural rights are rights shared by everyone at birth. Some people believe a creator granted them, others believe they come from an inside moral fiber or just from being human.
If you play your stereo so loud that I can hear it in my home or even in my car while I am driving you are then expressing yourself on my property.
I guess that could be called trespass or pollution, but not by me. If the form of expression causes o physical damage, it's fine. I tell people who don't want to see pink houses next door to buy 100 acres of land and live in the woods. Don't want your neighbors keeping you up at night with their hump-hump-monkey-love? Don't rent.
The court system in the US really does work most of the time. I bet the one in Canada does as well.
It rarely works in either.
The court originally was intended to enforce the law. The law was intended to protect private property and the right to be free from others damaging your property or person.
Today, I can not put chemicals into my body of my choice. I can not rent the use of my body by others. I can not tell others I don't like to get out of my store. I am forced to watch what I say in my business to my employees.
The law is a farce. I shall disregard it.
If I call your (Significant other), parents, employer, all of your clients, (clergyperson), the managers of all the nearby grocery stores and tell them all that you're a child molester and a rapist don't you think you'd be harmed?
I won't be harmed. Do it, my client list is google-able. You'll be hurt in the time you're wasting. Your credibility will be harmed as well.
If I posted your picture, phone number and address on my blog and said all of those same things, why shouldn't you be able to sue me for libel?
Someone I fired did something similar, online. I believe the site lasted a year with no updates and no one except a girlfriend asked me about it. The site might still exist, but with a 2001 date it is pretty meaningless.
My time becoming productive creates wealth for me, your time being unproductive destroys your wealth.
I own stores, they're my property. If I don't want a communist shirt on my property, it's my right.
If I'm a landlord and I don't like a tenant, I shouldn't be forced to accept them. It is my property.
Yes, some racist white guy may say no to a black family. What stops another landlord from saying no problem? Competition opens doors shut by others.
To an AnCap, a natural right is a limitless right. The freedom of expression is limitless, as long as the following is true:
1. You are on your own property or the public property.
2. The form of expression causes no physical damage to the physical property of others
3. The form of expression doesn't breach any contracts you are committed to.
To me, all speech is a natural right as a form of expression. Swearing, discrimination, yelling fire in your own theater, or even preaching the murder of another. If you don't like a certain form of expression, don't allow it on your property.
I don't believe in libel or slander. Words, in the long run, can damage a reputation -- but creating a quality product will always trump it. Did the fallout of criticism over DIVX make people stop shopping at Circuit City? No.
I could care less about what media companies might do with the freedom to libel. Who cares. If you're in the public eye, accept it. If you run a big business, combat it with great quality of service.
I'll accept any law as long as I get back the following:
1. Every jury is composed of a truly random selection of my peers -- people from my community who know me and can judge if I am a criminal
2. Every jury is notified of their right to jury nullification. They can judge not only the defendant, but the law.
3. Every arrest is preceded by the charge of two witnesses, and the idea of "the People versus" goes away.
4. The penalties for any crimes are tripled for any employee of any government branch.
For every report that says unfluoridated communities have high cavity rates, I also see reports that say that they don't, or that they have lower arthritis rates, or they have lower osteoporosis rates.
The damn studies are too vague to get a grasph on what is right and what is wrong. What I can tell is that many dentists admit that fluoride IS needed, but for only a very small portion of the population.
Another thing that helps my teeth is my "lower carb" diet. By reducing all my simple sugars entirely, I'm sure it has helped more than getting rid of fluoride.
I hate spelling these words. From now on I decree that fluoride will be called Pagul, osteoporosis will be called Bemar, and arthritis is now Foobot. So much easier.
A good friend of mine's father is a dentist, and he's ambivalent on fluoridation of water and the use of fluoride. I guess it's a common debate between dentists.
I do agree that 3rd world dentistry can be horrid. The dentist I went to was a dentist for european movie stars and even politicians, which I trusted more than the jackasses I've been seeing for years in the states. I had a friend who had major work performed in India by a very highly respected oral surgeon, and his surgery ended up being only $30,000 versus nearly $200,000 here. He also paid a US doctor to oversee his recovery, and I believe that wasn an additional $15,000 or so.
I'm not kooky and continually research the research. For now, my teeth ARE better. My U.S. dentists both agree there is a markable change over the past 6 years. I still have one tooth that is failing repeatedly, but only orthognathic surgery will probably help it (second root canal is now necessary and there is almost no tooth left anyway).
I can appreciate that not even dentist is a nut, just as even chiropractic "doctor" isn't one either. But I don't trust those that don't have a good grasp of the realities of life -- everyone is different, and treating everyone equally is just plain wrong.
Sidenote: We've been dealing with the vet lately over a sick cat with cancer. I can honetly say that the vets are the WORST at screwing people over. Playing with heartstrings and taking advantage of the pet owners is so commonplace that it shocks me that people fall victim. After getting a $3000 estimate, we said we were going to check with other vets. Within a week it became a $2000 estimate, and now its down to $700. As soon as its $500 I'll pay, but I know many pet owners who'd tearfully accept the $3000 original bill.
I have no faith in monopolies. The AMA, the ADA, and many other medical organizations are unions and lobbyists to maintain the medical monopolies we see in the States. I'm sick of it.
Yup, been investigating it for about 10 years.
:) Even the lady loves the profile and gets mad every time I think about the surgery.
Unfortunately, the costs are tremendous, and I've spoken with many people online who had WORSE TMJ-related problems after the surgery. One lady spent over $160,000 and she's suicidal from the new pain. No thanks.
Plus, orthognathic surgery would change my profile and look -- in a notably good way (more attractive). My profile has always been part of my persona, even something I've sold myself with. Growing up feeling ugly and being able to turn it into an attraction is something one isn't so hip on getting rid of
My TMJ-related pains are really reduced from smoking (which I haven't done in a few weeks now unfortunately) and exercise. I also find that getting rid of a pillow when I sleep really reduces teeth grinding. Chewing gum, in my case, helps with my TMJ-related pain, too.
I'm really interested in some new developments in growing natural teeth. I can't remember if its related to stem cell magic, but I know of 3 research studies right now that are regrowing teeth right in the jaw base. If that happens, I'll reinvestigate the orthognathic surgery.
For those interested in what my surgery would entail, the doctors would cut my mandible out of my mouth entirely. They'd remove about 1" of excess, reinstall it into my mouth, and grind my distorted chin to a smaller profile. Then, they'd extend my top toothline (maxillary) about 1/2", making my nose smaller and less hooked, and perform plastic surgery to reduce the rest of my nose profile. I'd have to have my teeth bound shut for up to 6 months, and the side effects of the surgery and medicine would mean puking often, but "fortunately" I'd be on an all fluid diet so I'd just puke back through my teeth. In the long run, there would need to be minor corrections.
Oh yeah, for up to 2 years before the surgery, I'd need braces to turn my teeth up to 20 degrees outward so when the actual surgery repositions my jaw, the teeth would fit. Very sexy, right?
Fluoride research on the web is very tainted by tinfoil hat wearers, but the offline research I reviewed shows that fluoride is positive only in baby teeth.
The history of water fluoridation is really interesting. I don't believe in the benefits.
I've been burdened with bad teeth all my life. Cavities galore, crooked, cracks.
I always brushed and lossed. Flouride treatments and cleanings ahead of schedule. No good.
I have a mandibular excess, causing TMJ "pain" and massive nightly grinding. It was likely the source of my problem.
I saw a dentist in Poland about 7 years ago for a toothache. She explained to me the "conspiracy" of the ADA: pro-flouride, pro-abrasive cleanings, pro-short term fixes.
I did some research and found flouride is a poison that makes bones (and teeth) brittlel Yet I used it, drank it, showered in it.
I also found that most fillings are a massive amount of weak bonding agent, mercury and other toxins.
Finally I discovered, in my opinion, that many dentists are frauds like the chiro industry: fix you up enough so you still have to come back.
I stopped flouride intake (whole house filter, no toothpaste). I replaced my fillings (4-6 year lifrspan) with gold. I eat more friendly-bacteria.
My teeth are stronger. They don't hurt. Grinding hasn't ruined them much. My gums are healthy and my breath is significantly better.
The solution is mouth bacteria to consume the bad decay. Cut flouride, cut the US educated dentist. I now go to a foreign dentist who charges me WAY less per visit.
...that government as an entity cares for its existence first and foremost.
The citizens wants their Blackberries, yet government says the Blackberry is illegal. Yet they need it, so they trump the law.
Most guns are illegal. Government can use any gun.
Killing is illegql. Guess who can kill without worry?
Here's the catch: government is composed of people who want control. People. The worst kind of people.
AOL seems rooted in two old-fashioned categories:
1. "The Internet is the web," whoever makes the content wins (I call it the super BBS text file repository)
2. "The Internet is about connecting people together through my rose-colored lenses."
Both business markets are not ally valid anymore. Smaller ISPs seem to gain users by not making themselves visible as the middleman. The more you've noticed your ISP, the more I bet you've been frustrated.
Creating web content is better performed by billions of people than by dozens. CmdrTaco edits an article, but people come here for the +5'd comments. CmdrTaco couldn't get many +5's on his own (maybe -1 Redundants).
The future, to me, is how to collect all those billions of opinions and creations and make it specifically friendly to every individual user.
Google is heading in the correct direction. I let most of my domain names lapse because of Google. Yet they're still not there yet.
The ultimate web company has to be able to give you what you want, immediately, but also correctly give you items you need even if you didn't realize you needed them.
*Targeted ads you really want to see.
*Content that may be different than what you're used to, but still informative or useful to you.
*Access to information by only knowing some vague part of it. Find that TV show from a line or two. Find that song or book the same way.
*Compensate content creators somehow.
AOL is none of these things. They're an online newspaper and amusement park. *Yawn* I wouldn't pay $5 for them.
Plus, how many people "hate" the name over their junk mail and bad cancellation policy?
As for Time Warner stock, would you want a part of Time? Warner? Maybe in 1985.
First we have to show local shops how to operate.
I'm not anti-ecommerce, but I see how it can kill local communities. I own some ma&pa stores that sell skateboards and paintball and the dotcoms slaughtered us -- until we raised prices and offered much better service, great hours and a know-your-customer attitude.
I even will shop my local Wal*Mart, as they send me a TON on skate&paint customers. I also know who the cheapskate ecommerce customers of mine are, and raising prices made sure they wouldn't return.
I'm not worried about online competition anymore. Great service, knowledge of my customers' needs and my friendly staff trump a dotcoms "great price" mentality.