Ok, I have used Trillian, MSM, YIM, AOL, ICQ AND GAIM (on BOTH platforms)... I have accounts in all FOUR of the "big IM" systems. So for me, it is simply a choice of Gaim or Trillian.
Trillian is good, not free (well the 'OK' version is), it allows all accounts to run through it... But, it doesn't come with an integrated spell checker for the "free" version, fine, pay for it right? No... It's pretty but still too "glamorous" as far as I care.
Personally, I can NOT STAND the advertisement BS that comes with MSM, YIM, AIM and ICQ. They SUCK as far as my opinion goes. In addition they don't have all the features that Gaim and Trillian come with.... (multiple accounts, spell checker, NO ADS, etc.)
So, GAIM ROCKS!!!! I use it at home on my linux systems and on my windows systems at work. In addition I have it installed on my USB key so that I don't have to be without IM anywhere I go. It stores all logs on the key and I have it working with both linux and windows off the key. How cool is that??? (also have Thunderbird and Firefox on it as well)
So, Gaim... o Spell checker o No Adds o Simple yet POWEFUL interface that works with ALL FOUR of my accounts
Sure it doesn't have those "sissy", "GUI-Skins" and Advertisements that the author apparently likes, but as far as I am concerned... Simple, complete, powerful... GAIM (for windows AND linux) Top THAT bitch!!!
I am so tired of... "well linux doesn't have a pretty this or a fancy that..."
Then DON'T use it. Shut up and go back to your windows box or worse your Mac... (sorry mac fans, I'm in rant mode, I know plenty of fine Mac users.:) No hard feelings right?;-) )
Very Nice!!!:) If you don't say anything apathy will take over and usually change things for the worse...
While I don't agree 100% I like it.
I have participated in about 6 anti-war demonostration, not recently but when this whole thing with Iraq started I was involved. We are there now, there is NO easy way out... In any event... My opinion is I support our troops they are simply doing their JOB. BUT, I do NOT support the Monkey that put them there...
I couldn't TELL you the number of people, mostly older then myself(early to mid 30's), that would get in my face and be all sorts of pissed. They would tell me how I couldn't do both, and I would explain to them till I was blue in the face, but they could NOT wrap their mind around supporting people doing their jobs but not supporting the decision to be there... One of my favorite arguements from these Chimps, was that "their son (or daughter) was over there, how could I say such a thing..." I then would go into great detail about my younger BROTHER being over there and what he was telling about what is going on over there and how I feared for his life... They simply walked away and within 5 mins were back to harassing some of the other kids (usually less then my age, so less then early to mid 30's) that were anti-war who didn't stand as much of a chance arguing with some pissed off mother, father, religious zealot, etc.
Oh well... I know I use labels like Monkey and Chimp... and while I know it is not the best thing to do in a discussion because it leads to name calling. That is the way I feel about many people in this country. Many people I believe are no more evolved societally (socially), then chimps and monkeys.
I mean look at how much a simple car wreck will cause traffic issues because of people rubber necking... That shows a lot right there.. I look quickly to see if anyone is hurt, if so, is anyone calling or is there anyone there helping... If so I don't think more of it... If not I continue to drive at a safe speed to navigate around the incident and call 911 on my cell, tell them what I saw, where it was, and who I am...(I am a trained professional rescuer) If it looks really bad and nothing appears to be happening I will stop unless I have my family and kids with me... in which case it will be back to the cell call to 911. If I have my kids I will NOT put them in a position that may get them hurt in anyway... So, pulling off the side of the road is NOT a good idea...
Every time I think of rubber neckers all I can think of is a chimp going "Oooo OOooo OOooo" pointing at the incident... like they are watching a train wreck or something. If it's a car fire it's even more animated... I picture them Ooo Ooo ing and Aaahh Ahhh ing and jumping up and down pointing... If you are not part of the solution you are part of the problem. Pay attention to what you are doing and FREAKING DRIVE... If you want to help, HELP... If not stop holding the rest of us up...
Wow!! Lots of soap box time today...
I know I'll get an offtopic for this one.. Oh well... don't really care.:-P
I don't like, nor do I believe in, labels. I look at information, read it, watch it, talk about it and form my opinion.
Truth be told... I liked Dean even after the overly used "Hiiyahh!!!"... That really annoyed me how much the media abused their power. (That is another story all together).
I am not an "anybody but bush" type person, I certainly felt the desire to be that way when looking at the 2K and 2K4 elections, but it was mainly because I really felt so strongly against having this incapable buffoon in office...
An extremist from either side of the spectrum is the same the world around... Meaning, anyone that is an extremist in religion, politics, or anything for that matter, is not better or worse than any other extremist. Personally, I believe in the big gray middle, BUT given the times as they are, some of us consider it offsetting the balance to move a little over the left side of center to counter the huge majority of people that are sitting on the right hand side of the spectrum as it pertains to US politics...
There are FAR more "righty" radio and tv programs out there then there are "lefty" shows... So, being a little (ok so maybe not a "little":) ) off to the left is my way of ranting...
Oh well this is my opinion, which so far I can voice or is that not allowed anymore...:-D In addition if you look at my history of comments you'll find that when I find new information out not ONLY do I post my inaccuracy from time to time but I also dig up the facts to back up my argument or prove my failing.
So, judge me however you like, I don't care, but labeling me when you don't look very deeply into the facts of the matter is not the way to go.
Besides, these represent MY opinions, I don't care if you agree or disagree.
You are, of course, correct about... "your apparent acceptance of the "red state / blue state" meme." being an oversimplification... I simply don't have the time at my disposal to go into an essay to clarify every single statement I make.
I realize a "county-by-county" vote looks different, but what you miss is that the rural (not the urban) communities, which are the poorist sections of those states voted for Bush. THAT is where my confusion lies. I know that a larger majority of the weatlthy voted for Bush. Hell he is even quoted as calling the "Elite", "the Haves" (as upposed to the have nots), etc. are his base.
So, why so many of the poor in our society voted for him I have no idea.
After re-reading this post of mine... I decided to put a pre-emptive disclaimer.. If you like Bush... Don't read further. In addition EraserMouseMan, this is not directed at you, it is simply a rant that your post sparked,and I agree with you... "So this article is just more fuel for the flames and really does nothing else." I agree with the other things you posted but this rant is an example of the above quote....
Yeah, but where the HELL were these people when it was time to vote?!?! In BOTH elections 2K and 2K4 I would have RATHER had ANYONE but HIM... In addition I would have voted for the independent party candidate but I knew my ONLY chance of keeping Bush out of office was Democrat and that failed too...
I certainly, am not happy about what has transpired since 2000... I hated the thought of "Monkeyboy" being in office in 2000 and with everything that has gone on since has furthered my assertion that I was right. He was a bad choice then and continues to be the wrong guy for the job...
He is bad at just about everything he does except one thing... He is somehow charismatic with the rednecks and impoverished people of the "red states"... I don't understand how, for example, in Iowa (and another 'I' state I don't remember) there are LINES Hundreds of people long waiting to get food because they are so poor and there are no jobs that they can't afford to put food on the table. Yet theses states went "red" in both elections...
I just can't figure it out... It's like a HUGE portion of this country has lost the intellectual/logical side of it's collective brain...
He continues to damage this country in numerous ways and yet lots of people like him, in fact, many love him still. I am not talking about the rich republicans that are obviously happy with him nor am I talking about the religious right that is happy with him either... I am talking about the "common" men and women that still like his decisions.
It confuses me to this day how this continues. It's like a bad dream. Every week I see something new in the news that he has decided or because of a person he chose for a position has screwed up SO badly that it is completely inexcusable yet "that's ok... He's just a little slow..."
No! He's the leader of THE MOST POWERFUL nation in the WORLD... If ANYONE of us (making less then $250K/year) were to screw up this frequently we be fired and be hard pressed to find another job... (Side Note: the $250K/year is a wag estimate, meaning those making about that much would find a financial way to weasel out of it)......
Oh well, this rant won't change anything but I at least won't "bottle it up".
You are "so" pro-SE that I think you are glossing over these issues as "passe".
"Almost all other issues, such as terrorism / securing the base station / wind / lightning / discharging the ionosphere / lunar and solar tidal effects / atomic oxygen erosion / radiation damage / collisions with the ISS / swarf infall / cyclic heating and cooling / broken ribbon fragments landing on people or damaging the environment etc. either turn out to be insignificant or are fairly easily solved with a little thought and effort."
To my knowledge these are not "insignificant". In every endeavor I have seen it's these "insignificant" issues that end up causing the biggest problems and budge overruns. With the price tag so high, I do not see this device lasting long enough to make if feasible.
Personally, the money would be better spent on the materials (like you said CNT, that is a good technology that will help other industries) research, and wake up from the dream of SE.
I would fight spending any money on SE simply because at some point it will come crashing down to the earth and when that happens there would be an enormous amount of damage not "just" to where it lands but it would cause tsunami, and other disasters of similar ilk. Not to mention the possible affect it would have on the rotation of our planet...
Sadly, you and I understand each other and they will never get it.
I also agree with the other comment you replied to of mine, about a stockage not being possible and you site South Africa as an example. (to use the original poster's information...:) they couldn't even do it in Star Wars Episode I, the Queen got through because of a robot.)... couldn't help it.;)
Sorry, it is late and yes I need my sleep. I wanted to comment because I just realized that narrow minded fools who really don't think about what they say have long since forgotten that they ever posted what we have replied to and discussed.
Sad but true.
Realistically, you and I are probably the only two still reading what this topic is about and seeing if anyone replied.
The thing that KILLS me and rips me up inside is that there are people out there who THINK that way... It just... I don't know... I have even tried, really TRIED to understand that perspective. I simply can't, I know too much, I am educated by more then movies and the "E" channel. Thanks for posting, I enjoy an intelligent discourse when I can.:)
gnight.
PS, your keyboard should have come with an "Enter" key...;) I know "cheeky"...:-P
Very interesting, I still do not like the idea of the President (least of all this President) being able to launch a "football" without checks and balances. That still gives the executive branch more power then I think the position deserves. Especially considering it is being written to allow for "pre-emptive" strikes.
I was a little incensed by the complete "Nukem-from-orbit-it's-the-only-way-to-be-sure" attitude. I got carried away.
I do, however, believe that we would have a larger impact then you think. Just my opinion. I know that our economic power is so great (being number one) that number two and three combined don't equal HALF of our economic influence.
The problem is, what I am suggesting (Cut-them-off), would require a complete ISOLATION of that country. THAT would work. Even if it means completely hindering their ability to ship goods into or out of their country.
Oh well, I write to my local politicians frequently. I support those products I believe to not support Oil Barons. I guess that is the most I can do. I am not Rich, so that is out.:)
That movie is EXACTLY what I was thinking as I read the article and SOME peoples' posts...
Thanks for the laugh...
GENERAL JACK D. RIPPER Now, as soon as you've done that, double- up on all base security teams. Our enemies are plenty smart, and there might even be an attack on the base by saboteurs.
MAJOR MANDRAKE Yes, sir.
GENERAL JACK D. RIPPER And lastly, all privately owned radios are to be immediately impounded. They can be used to issue instructions to saboteurs. Air Police will have lists of all owners.
It is NOT being a coward!!! It is NOT "standing up to the plate"!!!
That line of thinking is childish, idiotic, knee-jerk, and reactive!!!
Bombing one of "their" cities only BREEDS MORE TERRORIST you IDIOT!
How do you KNOW which cities are "theirs"?
So killing hundreds of THOUSANDS of civilians is a good idea? Killing civilians (and a few terrorists) to "prove a point"?
You know what??? THAT!!! Sounds like a terrorist!!! "Killing people (mostly civilians) to prove a point" You just sunk to THEIR level!!! NICE!!! Good JOB!!!
Can you see it or are you too BLIND to read what you are talking about?
Are you HIGH? Seriously, do you REALLY believe what you just put up there?
So, you would get your rhetoric and information from movies to make your decisions? What? Is your news channel the "E" channel and/or FOX?
You are the classic example of what has become of this nation. ("pop-culture", "pop-mentality", "pop-psychology", a nation of lolli-pop-heads). You must be like what, early twenty something? Have you EVER been outside of this country? Have you EVER been to Europe? Mexico? Canada? Cuba? I don't mean just the little tourist traps where you see what "their" government wants you to see, but explored some of these other countries? Met people from other nations, had ANY kind of friendly relation with a person from another country/culture?
So, we should just ATTACK!! Damn the torpedoes FULL speed ahead... Nukem till they GLOW!!! Despite the FACT that those involved with 9/11 weren't from IRAQ, but MOST were from our BUDDIES the SAUDIS!!! Why then haven't we ATTACKED THEM?
YES we are THE MOST POWERFUL nation but that power comes with an even GREATER amount of responsibility and required temperance. ALSO, it requires a certain amount of intelligence and wisdom to think BEFORE we act.
Oh that's right, responsibility is something Americans (most) don't believe in anymore. Temperance, thought BEFORE action, instead of RE-action, that's right these too don't mean a DAMN thing...
I believe in taking action but NOT before we KNOW who is responsible! We KNOW who is responsible, but because the RICH have connections and TIES to those responsible AND have a strong control of the GOVERNEMENT (OUR government), the PROPER course of action is NOT being taken. Nor will it...
PROPER action should be taken to severely pressure the governments of Saudi Arabia and the surrounding countries, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Syria, Isreal, Palestine, Turkey, Iran, in fact MOST of the nations in that area to cough up those that are terrorists. You want to cripple a nation? CUT THEM OFF!!! Don't NUKEM! That just makes us MORE enemies, it makes US the enemy. Then EVERYONE sees us as an enemy if we just go in and without THINKING blow shit up!! Also, that crap that drugs lead to terrorism? What about the FACT that the country we liberated but don't care about because they don't have oil (Afghanistan) is one of the LARGES OPIUM producers of ANY nation? That certainly sounds like "feeding grounds" for terrorism.
Solution? CUT THEM OFF!!! Cut them off financial, economically, trade... everything!!! Show them we don't need a DAMN thing that comes from them... I guarantee they will be BEGGING to talk with us inside of 3 months!!! Turn their oil tankers around, don't let ANY of their people INTO or OUT of our country. Don't buy JACK SHIT from them.
SURE it will mean hard times for us, but it will be worth it in the long run.
BUT because the rich and the businesses control our government this will NEVER happen. It would take and EVEN GREATER amount of Chutzpah and BALLS to do it then it would to NUKEM! That's the EASY way out... but without THINKING about it, we wouldn't realize till it was too late that we have just turned EVERY OTHER NATION against us. You want WW3? Go ahead support that CHILDISH, TWO year old mentality.
We should have been researching new technologies to replace fuel when we figured out (twenty years ago) that we would start running out of crude oil around 1999/2000. (In other words we are using more then the capability is to produce and pump out.) HAVE YOU SEEN what the Saudis have in terms of riches? The opulence of those palaces? The CACHES of MONEY, Au (that's Gold for those that don't remember chemistry), Ag (Silver), jewels are SO vast!!! It is mind boggling to see.
If you want to nuke someone Nuke the Saudis, start saving for a hybrid car that gets BETTER then 45mpg to use less OIL, use more natural fabrics not ones which are petroleum based to use LESS OIL, and for GOD's sake do a little research before saying anything THAT m
The POINT, as *I* see it, is NOT whether the Pentagon should, or should not be thinking about and investigating every contingency...
BUT...
Do we give this power to the President as an option without having to go through Congress? with NO checks and balances?
This is insane! We have already given the executive branch of the government FAR to much power. When our government was designed it was designed WELL. There were a few tweaks that were necessary to PROVIDE civil liberties and freedom to slaves and women... See the difference here?
PROVIDE not TAKE AWAY... (civil liberties being the subject)
BUT this adminisstration has done far more damage to our government and society then ANY Terrorist could EVER have done...
I understand the need for the military to prepare for and plan for every possibility in terms of the defense of our nation...
BUT the decision to take these kinds of actions require the decision of not one single person. It is FOOLISH to do so.
Just like telling the police to use DEADLY FORCE to clear CIVILIANS out of New Orleans. Thank the POWERS that be that some of them had sense enough to see the severity and stupidity of those kinds of actions.
WOW!!! I simply cannot believe how far we have fallen...
"According to myth, the Earth was created in six days. But watch out, here's Genesis, we'll do it for you in six minutes." -- McCoy, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
Just sounded appropriate considering the outlandish claims.
Besides if it were real, don't you think SOMEONE would have found out about this BEFORE this "announcement"?
In addition it would be more believable if the T's were G's.... So, instead of 1TB of RAM, it would be 1GB of RAM, and instead of 2 TB's of HD it would be something like 640GB of HD (couldn't help it...:) )...
So long "Hair Club for Men" and all that LOT!!! Just a bunch of "witch doctors" if you ask me...
~GO
PS... before I clicked 'Submit' I thought of something else... THIS technology would be the downfall of the "Plastic" Surgery industry as well (and I MEAN industry). Could you imagine? Growing bigger boobs, lips, 'schwantzes' would be non-surgical...
The technology mentioned in the article doesn't "directly" apply to this 'PS', but it could lead in that direction.
he he... Here honey just take this pill I would like you to have bigger breasts... (few days to weeks later)... Honey your breast are HUGE!!!
Of course the other obvious one pertains to male anatomy as well. >:}
"Will glamorizing science in the movies make kids pay better attention in chemistry class?"
NOT likely, there are several flicks (Sci-Fi and others) that "glamorize" the scientist but they always pair them with an "action HERO"... Thus downplaying the scientists to be second fiddle.
The money would be better spent in education, starting at PRE-SCHOOL!!! This may NOT put kids into science but at least it will raise the overall intellect of society.
Here's an idea... Start teaching THREE languages at age 3-4... (English, Spanish, and Mandarin) Spend MORE money on education right down to Preschool. Teach musical instruments at a younger age. They don't have to be experts or even intermediate, but exposing children to a broader view of what they are capable of will only benefit them. Teach athletics at a younger age. THIS goes without saying, just look at all the obese people in this country. When I went to school the "Presidential Challenge" was taken seriously and rewarded. Now, that I am older I am a little wider but obesity is wide spread (ha ha) in this country. And for GOD's SAKE(!), teach HISTORY(!) at a younger age. Spend money to make sure children know history, geography, art, social studies, etc. (Humanities in general) Spend the money to make it interactive, THAT is what will make them stay focused on it. Strong Museum for kids here in Rochester, NY is world renowned as one of the most kid friendly museums and is recognized nationally with awards.
Spending money on the older kids is after the damage has been done. They are ill-prepared for life.
Teaching science and "glamorizing" it is great but lets make "whole" kids instead. Well rounded kids, who will grow to become more then their parents narrow views. Making "scientists" and non-scientists is not the solution either.
We need better EDUCATED kids, THAT is the way to change society. Children that understand history make better politicians and citizens. Children that know Math/Science AND Languages/Humanities are well rounded, well adjusted, productive and better people.
Sadly, those that back and create these "knee jerk" reactive laws (patriot act, England's variation) don't have a clue that their actions are causing more people to become terrorists. In addition the direction we are going politically will LEAD to more terrorists in our OWN country. "terrorists of the state" will more then likely happen.
Eventually we will have a dictatorship because we (well not me anyway) continue to give out leaders MORE and MORE power over our fellow countrymen. (and women)
Protect me!!! Take my liberties away!!! I "trust" you'll use them for good and protect us.
Stupid MONKEYS!!!! The lot of you... It's like McCarthy-ism... The "Burning Times"... The Inquisition!!!
Any company that tries to take MY land, like that poor guy in CT, they had better expect bullets to fly... I don't give two shits... Eminent domain is ONE thing, but that is NOT what happened there.
See, that is a classic example of "terrorist of the state"... A good citizen "turn to the dark side" because the government and/or a corporation is taking advantage of the powers you MONKEYS have given them.
The only way to beat it is to have money but that is... well... always a goal.
A quote from one of my favorite Sci-Fi shows... "The avalanche has already started. It is too late for the pebbles to vote." ~Kosh
That is what will happen. By the time the "monkeys" of this country figure out what has happened it will be too late.
So, we know everything there is to know about the way the universe works? Is this what you and all the other "inside-the-box" thinking science types believe?
I am convinced we don't.
I am confident someone or a group of persons in the say... 4+ decades from now will conceive of a new rule/theorem/postulate that will fit within relativistic space/time "rules" and will allow for alternate transportation.
You cannot convince me otherwise, just as I cannot convince you that the rules you cling to are all we know for-the-moment and the in the future we will figure out more about the nature of the universe.
I don't believe it will be like current SF. Who knows what it will be. I simply believe we do NOT know all there is to know about the nature of the universe.
How about the idea of a stable wormhole between two points in space? Those are still debated as possible within the rules we know.
How about this?
When a plane is approaching the speed of sound at the altitude and weather conditions of its location a compression wave and subsequent cloud forms around the nose of the plane as it starts to pass the speed of sound. The thrust requirements involved do go up. The pressure/compression going on is greater. Once you surpass the sound barrier you see the plane before you hear it.
Now, just a thought here, but what if something like this is similar as it pertains to light. Light acts like a wave and particle. What if as we approach the speed of light we are having a similar problem. Ok in open space there is "no" light? Not likely, light is traveling every which way from billions and billions of stars. So, as we approach the speed of light "what if" part of the problem is the light all around the ship that is passing in all directions? I think it might even be part of the problem. So, as a ship approaches the speed of light around the nose of the ship you start to see light or specific shifts (probably red shifts at first) in light. Then, when the ship passes the speed of light there is a large FLASH and the ship is actually ahead of it's "visible" location. I would even propose that it would leave an almost ranbow like "after image" of itself.
I REALIZE that is far fetched and is not within the confines of our current known rules and theorems of space/time. It is just something that makes me, personally, curious. It could be (and based on our rules, is) completely impossible (Im sure that is what you think), but I don't think we "know everything" and therefore in my mind it's possible, however slight that chance is.
I don't expect to convince you and you will not convince me (unless we have proved it with a ship). So, it's a case of disagreement, but I don't like comments like "people who think sci-fi is real must be proven wrong because 'we' have a postulate"... A POSTULATE, not even an accepted rule... You have your rules, but it's usually the inspiration of someone thinking out of the box that makes a huge change and shift in what is known. Look how much crap anyone in the past has received when trying to express their "radical" and new ideas.
I don't think fiction is reality. It's fiction something someone created just like I created the idea of the "optical flash" when exceeding the speed of light. Heck, I may not have even come up with it. It is something I have been thinking about for years (since age 8, Dad was a fighter pilot (retired now), I knew what MACH 1+ meant, and had seen photos of jets exceeding the sound barrier at that time). So, someone else may have thought of it before but I didn't hear of it. If someone did and I am writing it as mine, sorry.
Oh well, have a good evening. I am getting dinner.
Just a thought that hit me while reading your post...(liked the post btw)
The gravitational lense affect of stars/planets/"massive enough objects" in space has been shown to "bend" light around based on the gravity of the object.
The thought is this.
Is it possible this gravitational affect could accelerate the light being bent? Just a question. I know most will say NOPE with out thinking about it but it does have a bit of logic to it considering modern physics.
Some science types have made the rules of physics their religion, which is not necessarily a bad thing, but they protect it and fight based on it just as rabidly as those of other theological religions.
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Ok, I have used Trillian, MSM, YIM, AOL, ICQ AND GAIM (on BOTH platforms)... I have accounts in all FOUR of the "big IM" systems. So for me, it is simply a choice of Gaim or Trillian.
:) No hard feelings right? ;-) )
Trillian is good, not free (well the 'OK' version is), it allows all accounts to run through it... But, it doesn't come with an integrated spell checker for the "free" version, fine, pay for it right? No... It's pretty but still too "glamorous" as far as I care.
Personally, I can NOT STAND the advertisement BS that comes with MSM, YIM, AIM and ICQ. They SUCK as far as my opinion goes. In addition they don't have all the features that Gaim and Trillian come with.... (multiple accounts, spell checker, NO ADS, etc.)
So, GAIM ROCKS!!!! I use it at home on my linux systems and on my windows systems at work. In addition I have it installed on my USB key so that I don't have to be without IM anywhere I go. It stores all logs on the key and I have it working with both linux and windows off the key. How cool is that??? (also have Thunderbird and Firefox on it as well)
So, Gaim...
o Spell checker
o No Adds
o Simple yet POWEFUL interface that works with ALL FOUR of my accounts
Sure it doesn't have those "sissy", "GUI-Skins" and Advertisements that the author apparently likes, but as far as I am concerned... Simple, complete, powerful... GAIM (for windows AND linux) Top THAT bitch!!!
I am so tired of... "well linux doesn't have a pretty this or a fancy that..."
Then DON'T use it. Shut up and go back to your windows box or worse your Mac... (sorry mac fans, I'm in rant mode, I know plenty of fine Mac users.
Very Nice!!! :) If you don't say anything apathy will take over and usually change things for the worse...
:-P
While I don't agree 100% I like it.
I have participated in about 6 anti-war demonostration, not recently but when this whole thing with Iraq started I was involved. We are there now, there is NO easy way out... In any event... My opinion is I support our troops they are simply doing their JOB. BUT, I do NOT support the Monkey that put them there...
I couldn't TELL you the number of people, mostly older then myself(early to mid 30's), that would get in my face and be all sorts of pissed. They would tell me how I couldn't do both, and I would explain to them till I was blue in the face, but they could NOT wrap their mind around supporting people doing their jobs but not supporting the decision to be there... One of my favorite arguements from these Chimps, was that "their son (or daughter) was over there, how could I say such a thing..." I then would go into great detail about my younger BROTHER being over there and what he was telling about what is going on over there and how I feared for his life... They simply walked away and within 5 mins were back to harassing some of the other kids (usually less then my age, so less then early to mid 30's) that were anti-war who didn't stand as much of a chance arguing with some pissed off mother, father, religious zealot, etc.
Oh well... I know I use labels like Monkey and Chimp... and while I know it is not the best thing to do in a discussion because it leads to name calling. That is the way I feel about many people in this country. Many people I believe are no more evolved societally (socially), then chimps and monkeys.
I mean look at how much a simple car wreck will cause traffic issues because of people rubber necking... That shows a lot right there.. I look quickly to see if anyone is hurt, if so, is anyone calling or is there anyone there helping... If so I don't think more of it... If not I continue to drive at a safe speed to navigate around the incident and call 911 on my cell, tell them what I saw, where it was, and who I am...(I am a trained professional rescuer) If it looks really bad and nothing appears to be happening I will stop unless I have my family and kids with me... in which case it will be back to the cell call to 911. If I have my kids I will NOT put them in a position that may get them hurt in anyway... So, pulling off the side of the road is NOT a good idea...
Every time I think of rubber neckers all I can think of is a chimp going "Oooo OOooo OOooo" pointing at the incident... like they are watching a train wreck or something. If it's a car fire it's even more animated... I picture them Ooo Ooo ing and Aaahh Ahhh ing and jumping up and down pointing... If you are not part of the solution you are part of the problem. Pay attention to what you are doing and FREAKING DRIVE... If you want to help, HELP... If not stop holding the rest of us up...
Wow!! Lots of soap box time today...
I know I'll get an offtopic for this one.. Oh well... don't really care.
I don't like, nor do I believe in, labels. I look at information, read it, watch it, talk about it and form my opinion.
:) ) off to the left is my way of ranting...
:-D In addition if you look at my history of comments you'll find that when I find new information out not ONLY do I post my inaccuracy from time to time but I also dig up the facts to back up my argument or prove my failing.
Truth be told... I liked Dean even after the overly used "Hiiyahh!!!"... That really annoyed me how much the media abused their power. (That is another story all together).
I am not an "anybody but bush" type person, I certainly felt the desire to be that way when looking at the 2K and 2K4 elections, but it was mainly because I really felt so strongly against having this incapable buffoon in office...
An extremist from either side of the spectrum is the same the world around... Meaning, anyone that is an extremist in religion, politics, or anything for that matter, is not better or worse than any other extremist. Personally, I believe in the big gray middle, BUT given the times as they are, some of us consider it offsetting the balance to move a little over the left side of center to counter the huge majority of people that are sitting on the right hand side of the spectrum as it pertains to US politics...
There are FAR more "righty" radio and tv programs out there then there are "lefty" shows... So, being a little (ok so maybe not a "little"
Oh well this is my opinion, which so far I can voice or is that not allowed anymore...
So, judge me however you like, I don't care, but labeling me when you don't look very deeply into the facts of the matter is not the way to go.
Besides, these represent MY opinions, I don't care if you agree or disagree.
You are, of course, correct about ... "your apparent acceptance of the "red state / blue state" meme." being an oversimplification... I simply don't have the time at my disposal to go into an essay to clarify every single statement I make.
I realize a "county-by-county" vote looks different, but what you miss is that the rural (not the urban) communities, which are the poorist sections of those states voted for Bush. THAT is where my confusion lies. I know that a larger majority of the weatlthy voted for Bush. Hell he is even quoted as calling the "Elite", "the Haves" (as upposed to the have nots), etc. are his base.
So, why so many of the poor in our society voted for him I have no idea.
After re-reading this post of mine... I decided to put a pre-emptive disclaimer.. If you like Bush... Don't read further. In addition EraserMouseMan, this is not directed at you, it is simply a rant that your post sparked,and I agree with you... "So this article is just more fuel for the flames and really does nothing else." I agree with the other things you posted but this rant is an example of the above quote. ...
...
Yeah, but where the HELL were these people when it was time to vote?!?! In BOTH elections 2K and 2K4 I would have RATHER had ANYONE but HIM... In addition I would have voted for the independent party candidate but I knew my ONLY chance of keeping Bush out of office was Democrat and that failed too...
I certainly, am not happy about what has transpired since 2000... I hated the thought of "Monkeyboy" being in office in 2000 and with everything that has gone on since has furthered my assertion that I was right. He was a bad choice then and continues to be the wrong guy for the job...
He is bad at just about everything he does except one thing... He is somehow charismatic with the rednecks and impoverished people of the "red states"... I don't understand how, for example, in Iowa (and another 'I' state I don't remember) there are LINES Hundreds of people long waiting to get food because they are so poor and there are no jobs that they can't afford to put food on the table. Yet theses states went "red" in both elections...
I just can't figure it out... It's like a HUGE portion of this country has lost the intellectual/logical side of it's collective brain...
He continues to damage this country in numerous ways and yet lots of people like him, in fact, many love him still. I am not talking about the rich republicans that are obviously happy with him nor am I talking about the religious right that is happy with him either... I am talking about the "common" men and women that still like his decisions.
It confuses me to this day how this continues. It's like a bad dream. Every week I see something new in the news that he has decided or because of a person he chose for a position has screwed up SO badly that it is completely inexcusable yet "that's ok... He's just a little slow..."
No! He's the leader of THE MOST POWERFUL nation in the WORLD... If ANYONE of us (making less then $250K/year) were to screw up this frequently we be fired and be hard pressed to find another job... (Side Note: the $250K/year is a wag estimate, meaning those making about that much would find a financial way to weasel out of it)...
Oh well, this rant won't change anything but I at least won't "bottle it up".
You are "so" pro-SE that I think you are glossing over these issues as "passe".
"Almost all other issues, such as terrorism / securing the base station / wind / lightning / discharging the ionosphere / lunar and solar tidal effects / atomic oxygen erosion / radiation damage / collisions with the ISS / swarf infall / cyclic heating and cooling / broken ribbon fragments landing on people or damaging the environment etc. either turn out to be insignificant or are fairly easily solved with a little thought and effort."
To my knowledge these are not "insignificant". In every endeavor I have seen it's these "insignificant" issues that end up causing the biggest problems and budge overruns. With the price tag so high, I do not see this device lasting long enough to make if feasible.
Personally, the money would be better spent on the materials (like you said CNT, that is a good technology that will help other industries) research, and wake up from the dream of SE.
I would fight spending any money on SE simply because at some point it will come crashing down to the earth and when that happens there would be an enormous amount of damage not "just" to where it lands but it would cause tsunami, and other disasters of similar ilk. Not to mention the possible affect it would have on the rotation of our planet...
Sadly, you and I understand each other and they will never get it.
:) they couldn't even do it in Star Wars Episode I, the Queen got through because of a robot.)... couldn't help it. ;)
... I don't know... I have even tried, really TRIED to understand that perspective. I simply can't, I know too much, I am educated by more then movies and the "E" channel. Thanks for posting, I enjoy an intelligent discourse when I can. :)
;) I know "cheeky"... :-P
I also agree with the other comment you replied to of mine, about a stockage not being possible and you site South Africa as an example. (to use the original poster's information...
Sorry, it is late and yes I need my sleep. I wanted to comment because I just realized that narrow minded fools who really don't think about what they say have long since forgotten that they ever posted what we have replied to and discussed.
Sad but true.
Realistically, you and I are probably the only two still reading what this topic is about and seeing if anyone replied.
The thing that KILLS me and rips me up inside is that there are people out there who THINK that way... It just
gnight.
PS, your keyboard should have come with an "Enter" key...
You are correct sir.- football.htm
u sh.war.talk/)2 0021007-8.html) ... that occur.
http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/systems/nuclear
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_football
It is something I wasn't aware of, I thank you.
Very interesting, I still do not like the idea of the President (least of all this President) being able to launch a "football" without checks and balances. That still gives the executive branch more power then I think the position deserves. Especially considering it is being written to allow for "pre-emptive" strikes.
I would HATE to see a scenario like...
"He tried to kill my Daddy." -GWB (http://archives.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLITICS/09/27/b
"They have Weapons of Mass Destruction..." -GWB (http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/10/
"I think I'll NUKEM!" - possible GWB (I fear this)
I think "Anonymous COWARD" says it all... :)
Pussy!
Sigh. (I got some sleep :)
:)
:)
I appreciate your tempered comments.
I was a little incensed by the complete "Nukem-from-orbit-it's-the-only-way-to-be-sure" attitude. I got carried away.
I do, however, believe that we would have a larger impact then you think. Just my opinion. I know that our economic power is so great (being number one) that number two and three combined don't equal HALF of our economic influence.
The problem is, what I am suggesting (Cut-them-off), would require a complete ISOLATION of that country. THAT would work. Even if it means completely hindering their ability to ship goods into or out of their country.
Oh well, I write to my local politicians frequently. I support those products I believe to not support Oil Barons. I guess that is the most I can do. I am not Rich, so that is out.
Later, (got to get to work)
GO
Thank you SO much for posting!!!
That movie is EXACTLY what I was thinking as I read the article and SOME peoples' posts...
Thanks for the laugh...
GENERAL JACK D. RIPPER
Now, as soon as you've done that, double-
up on all base security teams. Our enemies
are plenty smart, and there might even be
an attack on the base by saboteurs.
MAJOR MANDRAKE
Yes, sir.
GENERAL JACK D. RIPPER
And lastly, all privately owned radios
are to be immediately impounded. They can
be used to issue instructions to saboteurs.
Air Police will have lists of all owners.
It is NOT being a coward!!!
It is NOT "standing up to the plate"!!!
That line of thinking is childish, idiotic, knee-jerk, and reactive!!!
Bombing one of "their" cities only BREEDS MORE TERRORIST you IDIOT!
How do you KNOW which cities are "theirs"?
So killing hundreds of THOUSANDS of civilians is a good idea? Killing civilians (and a few terrorists) to "prove a point"?
You know what??? THAT!!! Sounds like a terrorist!!! "Killing people (mostly civilians) to prove a point" You just sunk to THEIR level!!! NICE!!! Good JOB!!!
Can you see it or are you too BLIND to read what you are talking about?
Are you HIGH? Seriously, do you REALLY believe what you just put up there?
... everything!!! Show them we don't need a DAMN thing that comes from them... I guarantee they will be BEGGING to talk with us inside of 3 months!!! Turn their oil tankers around, don't let ANY of their people INTO or OUT of our country. Don't buy JACK SHIT from them.
So, you would get your rhetoric and information from movies to make your decisions? What? Is your news channel the "E" channel and/or FOX?
You are the classic example of what has become of this nation. ("pop-culture", "pop-mentality", "pop-psychology", a nation of lolli-pop-heads). You must be like what, early twenty something? Have you EVER been outside of this country? Have you EVER been to Europe? Mexico? Canada? Cuba? I don't mean just the little tourist traps where you see what "their" government wants you to see, but explored some of these other countries? Met people from other nations, had ANY kind of friendly relation with a person from another country/culture?
So, we should just ATTACK!! Damn the torpedoes FULL speed ahead... Nukem till they GLOW!!! Despite the FACT that those involved with 9/11 weren't from IRAQ, but MOST were from our BUDDIES the SAUDIS!!! Why then haven't we ATTACKED THEM?
YES we are THE MOST POWERFUL nation but that power comes with an even GREATER amount of responsibility and required temperance. ALSO, it requires a certain amount of intelligence and wisdom to think BEFORE we act.
Oh that's right, responsibility is something Americans (most) don't believe in anymore. Temperance, thought BEFORE action, instead of RE-action, that's right these too don't mean a DAMN thing...
I believe in taking action but NOT before we KNOW who is responsible! We KNOW who is responsible, but because the RICH have connections and TIES to those responsible AND have a strong control of the GOVERNEMENT (OUR government), the PROPER course of action is NOT being taken. Nor will it...
PROPER action should be taken to severely pressure the governments of Saudi Arabia and the surrounding countries, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Syria, Isreal, Palestine, Turkey, Iran, in fact MOST of the nations in that area to cough up those that are terrorists. You want to cripple a nation? CUT THEM OFF!!! Don't NUKEM! That just makes us MORE enemies, it makes US the enemy. Then EVERYONE sees us as an enemy if we just go in and without THINKING blow shit up!! Also, that crap that drugs lead to terrorism? What about the FACT that the country we liberated but don't care about because they don't have oil (Afghanistan) is one of the LARGES OPIUM producers of ANY nation? That certainly sounds like "feeding grounds" for terrorism.
Solution?
CUT THEM OFF!!!
Cut them off financial, economically, trade
SURE it will mean hard times for us, but it will be worth it in the long run.
BUT because the rich and the businesses control our government this will NEVER happen. It would take and EVEN GREATER amount of Chutzpah and BALLS to do it then it would to NUKEM! That's the EASY way out... but without THINKING about it, we wouldn't realize till it was too late that we have just turned EVERY OTHER NATION against us. You want WW3? Go ahead support that CHILDISH, TWO year old mentality.
We should have been researching new technologies to replace fuel when we figured out (twenty years ago) that we would start running out of crude oil around 1999/2000. (In other words we are using more then the capability is to produce and pump out.) HAVE YOU SEEN what the Saudis have in terms of riches? The opulence of those palaces? The CACHES of MONEY, Au (that's Gold for those that don't remember chemistry), Ag (Silver), jewels are SO vast!!! It is mind boggling to see.
If you want to nuke someone Nuke the Saudis, start saving for a hybrid car that gets BETTER then 45mpg to use less OIL, use more natural fabrics not ones which are petroleum based to use LESS OIL, and for GOD's sake do a little research before saying anything THAT m
The POINT, as *I* see it, is NOT whether the Pentagon should, or should not be thinking about and investigating every contingency...
BUT...
Do we give this power to the President as an option without having to go through Congress? with NO checks and balances?
This is insane! We have already given the executive branch of the government FAR to much power. When our government was designed it was designed WELL. There were a few tweaks that were necessary to PROVIDE civil liberties and freedom to slaves and women... See the difference here?
PROVIDE not TAKE AWAY... (civil liberties being the subject)
BUT this adminisstration has done far more damage to our government and society then ANY Terrorist could EVER have done...
I understand the need for the military to prepare for and plan for every possibility in terms of the defense of our nation...
BUT the decision to take these kinds of actions require the decision of not one single person. It is FOOLISH to do so.
Just like telling the police to use DEADLY FORCE to clear CIVILIANS out of New Orleans. Thank the POWERS that be that some of them had sense enough to see the severity and stupidity of those kinds of actions.
WOW!!! I simply cannot believe how far we have fallen...
"According to myth, the Earth was created in six days. But watch out, here's Genesis, we'll do it for you in six minutes."
:) )...
-- McCoy, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
Just sounded appropriate considering the outlandish claims.
Besides if it were real, don't you think SOMEONE would have found out about this BEFORE this "announcement"?
In addition it would be more believable if the T's were G's.... So, instead of 1TB of RAM, it would be 1GB of RAM, and instead of 2 TB's of HD it would be something like 640GB of HD (couldn't help it...
Oh well, back to reality.
LOL!!! hadn't thought about that one.
:)
"Repairing sports injuries"
I have heard doctors tell me it would have been better to break your ankle then to twist it this bad.
The "new" solution...
Twisted your ankle bad? NO PROBLEM!! We'll just Lop that old one off and you can regrow a new one.
LOL!!!
Oh my... just struck me as terribly funny.
If we could/can regrow appendages...
:)
then hair should be NOTHING!!!
So long "Hair Club for Men" and all that LOT!!! Just a bunch of "witch doctors" if you ask me...
~GO
PS... before I clicked 'Submit' I thought of something else...
THIS technology would be the downfall of the "Plastic" Surgery industry as well (and I MEAN industry).
Could you imagine? Growing bigger boobs, lips, 'schwantzes' would be non-surgical...
The technology mentioned in the article doesn't "directly" apply to this 'PS', but it could lead in that direction.
he he...
Here honey just take this pill I would like you to have bigger breasts... (few days to weeks later)... Honey your breast are HUGE!!!
Of course the other obvious one pertains to male anatomy as well. >:}
Serious case of little dog syndrome...
Just bouncing around you ankles yapping all the time, just waiting to get kicked.
Doesn't he get the point that (just about) nobody listens to him anymore?
Just GO AWAY!!!
"Will glamorizing science in the movies make kids pay better attention in chemistry class?"
NOT likely, there are several flicks (Sci-Fi and others) that "glamorize" the scientist but they always pair them with an "action HERO"... Thus downplaying the scientists to be second fiddle.
The money would be better spent in education, starting at PRE-SCHOOL!!! This may NOT put kids into science but at least it will raise the overall intellect of society.
Here's an idea...
Start teaching THREE languages at age 3-4... (English, Spanish, and Mandarin)
Spend MORE money on education right down to Preschool.
Teach musical instruments at a younger age. They don't have to be experts or even intermediate, but exposing children to a broader view of what they are capable of will only benefit them.
Teach athletics at a younger age. THIS goes without saying, just look at all the obese people in this country. When I went to school the "Presidential Challenge" was taken seriously and rewarded. Now, that I am older I am a little wider but obesity is wide spread (ha ha) in this country.
And for GOD's SAKE(!), teach HISTORY(!) at a younger age. Spend money to make sure children know history, geography, art, social studies, etc. (Humanities in general)
Spend the money to make it interactive, THAT is what will make them stay focused on it.
Strong Museum for kids here in Rochester, NY is world renowned as one of the most kid friendly museums and is recognized nationally with awards.
Spending money on the older kids is after the damage has been done. They are ill-prepared for life.
Teaching science and "glamorizing" it is great but lets make "whole" kids instead. Well rounded kids, who will grow to become more then their parents narrow views. Making "scientists" and non-scientists is not the solution either.
We need better EDUCATED kids, THAT is the way to change society. Children that understand history make better politicians and citizens. Children that know Math/Science AND Languages/Humanities are well rounded, well adjusted, productive and better people.
Chimpy-Mc-Flightsuit takes one step forward...
the whole country takes three steps back...
At this rate lets just all go back to being the Purtins that settled this country.
Will the insanity ever STOP?
Sadly, those that back and create these "knee jerk" reactive laws (patriot act, England's variation) don't have a clue that their actions are causing more people to become terrorists. In addition the direction we are going politically will LEAD to more terrorists in our OWN country. "terrorists of the state" will more then likely happen.
... well... always a goal.
Eventually we will have a dictatorship because we (well not me anyway) continue to give out leaders MORE and MORE power over our fellow countrymen. (and women)
Protect me!!! Take my liberties away!!! I "trust" you'll use them for good and protect us.
Stupid MONKEYS!!!! The lot of you... It's like McCarthy-ism... The "Burning Times"... The Inquisition!!!
Any company that tries to take MY land, like that poor guy in CT, they had better expect bullets to fly... I don't give two shits... Eminent domain is ONE thing, but that is NOT what happened there.
See, that is a classic example of "terrorist of the state"... A good citizen "turn to the dark side" because the government and/or a corporation is taking advantage of the powers you MONKEYS have given them.
The only way to beat it is to have money but that is
A quote from one of my favorite Sci-Fi shows...
"The avalanche has already started. It is too late for the pebbles to vote." ~Kosh
That is what will happen. By the time the "monkeys" of this country figure out what has happened it will be too late.
Wish I had mode points to give you (positive ones). I am glad to see someone post with an intelligent point.
So, we know everything there is to know about the way the universe works? Is this what you and all the other "inside-the-box" thinking science types believe?
:)
I am convinced we don't.
I am confident someone or a group of persons in the say... 4+ decades from now will conceive of a new rule/theorem/postulate that will fit within relativistic space/time "rules" and will allow for alternate transportation.
You cannot convince me otherwise, just as I cannot convince you that the rules you cling to are all we know for-the-moment and the in the future we will figure out more about the nature of the universe.
I don't believe it will be like current SF. Who knows what it will be. I simply believe we do NOT know all there is to know about the nature of the universe.
How about the idea of a stable wormhole between two points in space? Those are still debated as possible within the rules we know.
How about this?
When a plane is approaching the speed of sound at the altitude and weather conditions of its location a compression wave and subsequent cloud forms around the nose of the plane as it starts to pass the speed of sound. The thrust requirements involved do go up. The pressure/compression going on is greater. Once you surpass the sound barrier you see the plane before you hear it.
Now, just a thought here, but what if something like this is similar as it pertains to light. Light acts like a wave and particle. What if as we approach the speed of light we are having a similar problem.
Ok in open space there is "no" light? Not likely, light is traveling every which way from billions and billions of stars. So, as we approach the speed of light "what if" part of the problem is the light all around the ship that is passing in all directions? I think it might even be part of the problem. So, as a ship approaches the speed of light around the nose of the ship you start to see light or specific shifts (probably red shifts at first) in light. Then, when the ship passes the speed of light there is a large FLASH and the ship is actually ahead of it's "visible" location. I would even propose that it would leave an almost ranbow like "after image" of itself.
I REALIZE that is far fetched and is not within the confines of our current known rules and theorems of space/time. It is just something that makes me, personally, curious. It could be (and based on our rules, is) completely impossible (Im sure that is what you think), but I don't think we "know everything" and therefore in my mind it's possible, however slight that chance is.
I don't expect to convince you and you will not convince me (unless we have proved it with a ship). So, it's a case of disagreement, but I don't like comments like "people who think sci-fi is real must be proven wrong because 'we' have a postulate"... A POSTULATE, not even an accepted rule... You have your rules, but it's usually the inspiration of someone thinking out of the box that makes a huge change and shift in what is known. Look how much crap anyone in the past has received when trying to express their "radical" and new ideas.
I don't think fiction is reality. It's fiction something someone created just like I created the idea of the "optical flash" when exceeding the speed of light. Heck, I may not have even come up with it. It is something I have been thinking about for years (since age 8, Dad was a fighter pilot (retired now), I knew what MACH 1+ meant, and had seen photos of jets exceeding the sound barrier at that time). So, someone else may have thought of it before but I didn't hear of it. If someone did and I am writing it as mine, sorry.
Oh well, have a good evening. I am getting dinner.
Thanks for the discourse.
So, it's like a prismatic affect?
Just a thought that hit me while reading your post...(liked the post btw)
The gravitational lense affect of stars/planets/"massive enough objects" in space has been shown to "bend" light around based on the gravity of the object.
The thought is this.
Is it possible this gravitational affect could accelerate the light being bent? Just a question. I know most will say NOPE with out thinking about it but it does have a bit of logic to it considering modern physics.
Some science types have made the rules of physics their religion, which is not necessarily a bad thing, but they protect it and fight based on it just as rabidly as those of other theological religions.
Thanks for the good post.