the Dems seized control of the Congress in 2006 and could have cut off funding - we are still in Iraq
I am so SICK of people pointing to the Democrats in congress and complaining that they alone have not turned things around. People have to remember that it takes a 2/3 majority to make a bill VETO proof - and with the very slim majority the Democrats have in congress currently, they need support from Republicans. Unfortunately, the Republicans are in virtual lockstep with the current administration so of course they opposed the Democrats every chance they get - and then laugh at them for not being able to change things.
Until the people either elect a Democratic 2/3 majority and/or a Democratic President, things are not going to change.
Personally, I would prefer a congress controlled (2/3's) by one party, and the administration controlled by the opposing. In that situation, the two sides would HAVE to work together - and we'd have true checks and balances. (Ok - so maybe not a 2/3's - but close - so the majority party in congress could not simply ignore the president)
Having congress in perfect lockstep with the president (circa pre-2006) allows government to run TOO efficiently - and efficient governments tend to run roughshod over the populace.
Oh - and it is also not helpful that a lot of people have been deluded that if you are not for the war - then you are anti-american. I believe the best way to support our troops (a tired cliche that means whatever the person saying it wants it to) is to bring them home safe NOW and let the cesspool fend for itself.
As frequent buyer on eBay, I heartily agree that it seems the new trend is sellers will only give positive feedback if I give them positive feedback first. I use paypal on 99.9% of the auctions I win - so I have usually paid for the item before the seller even knows it has sold. What really gets me though, is on eBay "neutral" is a dirty word - and in most peoples eyes the same as "negative". If I win something on ebay, promptly pay, and it takes 4 weeks of me asking via email where my item is - and finally having it arrive way later than promised - why the heck should I give that seller the same degree of feedback (positive) as I give someone who is very prompt with his packages - and is quick to reply to email queries.
I feel that NEUTRAL feedback should be the most common type given out on ebay - and POSITIVE or NEGATIVE reserved for the extreme cases.
Why bother giving feedback at all - if the seller demands positive in order for you to receive positive?
My first gaming experience was playing Colossal Cave on a teletype machine that was connected via acoustic coupler modem to a timeshare service while in High School. Every time I would input my move, it would print out on the "endless" roll of paper what I saw - and for good measure, it also recorded the output on a roll of paper tape. Since the timeshare service cost the school big $$$ - we were told to strictly use it for programming purposes, but an upper classman showed me the game once - and of course, I had to try it for myself.
After being banned from using that machine, I invested in a Model 1 TRS-80 which allowed me to play a variation of the game titled "Pyramid 2000", which was quite similar to Colossal Cave - and allowed me to continue where I had "left off".
Soon after Pyramid I discovered "Scott Adams" Adventure games - and the holy grail of gaming (at that time) an editor that allowed you to write your own Adventures - and to alter Scotts! (not that I would ever do such a thing)
My Adventure games were similar to later "Sierra Online" games, in that the simplest mistake would get you killed;-)
Great attitude. Forget working within society's existing frameworks and threaten violence when someone in authority does something you don't like. Where have I seen this behavior before?
I know how fashionable it is to bash the USA, but if you think we're ahead in that race, then you need to visit a few more countries. I could tell you about places where people believe in witchcraft and have been known to hack their neighbors to pieces over it, and I'm not talking about things that happened centuries ago.
Actually - there are quite a few folks who believe in and practice witchcraft in the good ol' US of A - and they don't go around hacking their neighbors to bits while doing it.
Since this probably is a big surprise to you - check out www.witchvox.com some time - you'd be amazed how many groups there are - maybe one in your own home town:-)
And yes - it is quite fashionable to bash the USA for it's right leaning politics. It's also fashionable to try to do something about it - like raising awareness, instead of pointing fingers at other countries like a small child and saying "but look at what they are doing!"
but it's still an asshole move most often capitalized upon by people with less active lives that have time resources to snipe in whenever their auction of interest happens to be ending.
Now you too can snipe w/out having to sacrifice your active lifestyle. Just configure it with the auction number to snipe - the amount you want to snipe - and go on with life.
Most of the time, as an IT employee with ties to the management/accounts/administration side of things I have always had full access to company data and know exactly where to look to find what I want. The only real restrictions have been my contract/confidentiality/non-disclosure agreement.
Interesting that you didn't list "integrity" as one of the restrictions.
I'm glad that devices like these exist because as much as it's important for people to peaceably assemble, if a mob of people gets rowdy and starts destroying peoples' property en masse, they have abused their right and ought to be dispersed.
So - you're all for using these devices on congress and the Bush administration I assume?
Brainwashing (from dictionary.com): The application of a concentrated means of persuasion, such as an advertising campaign or repeated suggestion, in order to develop a specific belief or motivation.
Sounds pretty close to what is happening to me. As the tobacco companies say "You get 'em young and you got 'em for life".
Weird - I always thought that was the definition of organized religion....
Slashdot Mirror
They'd ban children from attending churches until they were old enough to think for themselves.
"I never thought I'd see a resonance cascade, let alone create one."
Cool - I've always wanted an autofac.... Or two.... Or three...
the Dems seized control of the Congress in 2006 and could have cut off funding - we are still in Iraq
I am so SICK of people pointing to the Democrats in congress and complaining that they alone have not turned things around.
People have to remember that it takes a 2/3 majority to make a bill VETO proof - and with the very slim majority the Democrats have in
congress currently, they need support from Republicans. Unfortunately, the Republicans are in virtual lockstep with the current administration
so of course they opposed the Democrats every chance they get - and then laugh at them for not being able to change things.
Until the people either elect a Democratic 2/3 majority and/or a Democratic President, things are not going to change.
Personally, I would prefer a congress controlled (2/3's) by one party, and the administration controlled by the opposing.
In that situation, the two sides would HAVE to work together - and we'd have true checks and balances.
(Ok - so maybe not a 2/3's - but close - so the majority party in congress could not simply ignore the president)
Having congress in perfect lockstep with the president (circa pre-2006) allows government to run TOO efficiently - and efficient governments
tend to run roughshod over the populace.
Oh - and it is also not helpful that a lot of people have been deluded that if you are not for the war - then you are anti-american.
I believe the best way to support our troops (a tired cliche that means whatever the person saying it wants it to) is to bring them home safe NOW and let the cesspool fend for itself.
As frequent buyer on eBay, I heartily agree that it seems the new trend is sellers will only give positive feedback if I give them positive feedback first.
I use paypal on 99.9% of the auctions I win - so I have usually paid for the item before the seller even knows it has sold.
What really gets me though, is on eBay "neutral" is a dirty word - and in most peoples eyes the same as "negative".
If I win something on ebay, promptly pay, and it takes 4 weeks of me asking via email where my item is - and finally having it arrive way later than promised - why the heck should I give that seller the same degree of feedback (positive) as I give someone who is very prompt with his packages - and is quick to reply to email queries.
I feel that NEUTRAL feedback should be the most common type given out on ebay - and POSITIVE or NEGATIVE reserved for the extreme cases.
Why bother giving feedback at all - if the seller demands positive in order for you to receive positive?
My first gaming experience was playing Colossal Cave on a teletype machine that was connected via acoustic coupler modem to a timeshare service while in High School.
;-)
Every time I would input my move, it would print out on the "endless" roll of paper what I saw - and for good measure, it also recorded the output on a roll of paper tape.
Since the timeshare service cost the school big $$$ - we were told to strictly use it for programming purposes, but an upper classman showed me the game once - and of course, I had to try it for myself.
After being banned from using that machine, I invested in a Model 1 TRS-80 which allowed me to play a variation of the game titled "Pyramid 2000", which was quite similar to Colossal Cave - and allowed me to continue where I had "left off".
Soon after Pyramid I discovered "Scott Adams" Adventure games - and the holy grail of gaming (at that time) an editor that allowed you to write your own Adventures - and to alter Scotts! (not that I would ever do such a thing)
My Adventure games were similar to later "Sierra Online" games, in that the simplest mistake would get you killed
Ah, memories - 16k worth...
I've always liked Galaxina myself....
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080771/
Comparing terrorists to the founding fathers is completely wrong.
Says who?
I bet if you polled the Red Coats in 1776 - they'd tell you that George Washington et al was nothing but a bunch of
terrorists.
One mans terrorist, is another mans patriot.
Of course in this day and age - if you disagree with the administration - you're labeled unpatriotic or worse.
Great attitude. Forget working within society's existing frameworks and threaten violence when someone in authority does something you don't like. Where have I seen this behavior before?
This is way too easy.
How about Philadelphia - 1776?
Conservatives just don't appreciate the government taking their money and throwing more and more of it into historically poorly run welfare systems
Such as the current Iraqis "government"?
I don't like them taking my money and throwing it into the cesspool either.
I know how fashionable it is to bash the USA, but if you think we're ahead in that race, then you need to visit a few more countries. I could tell you about places where people believe in witchcraft and have been known to hack their neighbors to pieces over it, and I'm not talking about things that happened centuries ago.
:-)
Actually - there are quite a few folks who believe in and practice witchcraft in the good ol' US of A - and they don't go around hacking their neighbors to bits while doing it.
Since this probably is a big surprise to you - check out www.witchvox.com some time - you'd be amazed how many groups there are - maybe one in your own home town
And yes - it is quite fashionable to bash the USA for it's right leaning politics.
It's also fashionable to try to do something about it - like raising awareness, instead of pointing fingers at other countries like a small child and saying "but look at what they are doing!"
but it's still an asshole move most often capitalized upon by people with less active lives that have time resources to snipe in whenever their auction of interest happens to be ending.
Here:
http://www.jbidwatcher.com/
Now you too can snipe w/out having to sacrifice your active lifestyle.
Just configure it with the auction number to snipe - the amount you want to snipe - and go on with life.
Ziff Davis should have renamed CGW a LONG time ago - it went downhill fast after the original buyout.
It was never the same w/out Scorpia and that reporter with the paper bag on his head...
Yeah - let them eat cake!
What's next? Record all spoken conversations and submit copies for archiving and examination.
No need - Homeland Security is already handling that....
A political party for illegal actions? come on!
It works in the US of A.
This will never come to pass.
Why?
The legislators like to drive their cars.
Yep - just ask ol' Bill Janklow
Most of the time, as an IT employee with ties to the management/accounts/administration side of things I have always had full access to company data and know exactly where to look to find what I want. The only real restrictions have been my contract/confidentiality/non-disclosure agreement.
Interesting that you didn't list "integrity" as one of the restrictions.
There's nothing that get's me more than random apostrophe's that loose there meaning. ;)
:-)
Ok - I'll take the bait...
I believe you meant "...lose their..."
Happy to help
if he's always been this stupid, or was born that way....
One would assume that if he was born that way, then he has always been that stupid.
That's precisely why you should listen from orbit!
I'm glad that devices like these exist because as much as it's important for people to peaceably assemble, if a mob of people gets rowdy and starts destroying peoples' property en masse, they have abused their right and ought to be dispersed.
So - you're all for using these devices on congress and the Bush administration I assume?
never watched BSG either.... to much inter personal drama, not enough comedy and sci-fi for me.
Now THAT is talent! Never watching it - but able to form a crticial opinion on it none the less!
i've never understood this word, terrorism.
I'll bet back in the 1770s, England would have agreed that one man's terrorist is another man's patriot.
It's all a matter of perspective - which side you are on.
Brainwashing (from dictionary.com):
The application of a concentrated means of persuasion, such as an advertising campaign or repeated suggestion, in order to develop a specific belief or motivation.
Sounds pretty close to what is happening to me. As the tobacco companies say "You get 'em young and you got 'em for life".
Weird - I always thought that was the definition of organized religion....