"...devices or computer programs who's primary use is to..."
Announcing the latest and greatest version of "ps". Its primary purpose is to show the process running on your system. But now we've added the "--root_host_x" switch. If you use this switch, it launches a root attack against any foreign system. Totally legal! --
An abstained vote is a vote for Bush and Gore.
"How does restricting people from looking at porn in a library have anything to do with human rights?"
Here's how: define "porn". Give me a hard-edged, deterministic, objective definition for exactly those items you want to make unavailable from a library computer. Is the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue porn? How about pictures of breast cancer sufferers? How about the the "sexual reproduction" entry of the encyclopedia (you know, the one with the drawings of genitalia)? The Starr Report? How about any court documents or news stories about sexual harassment? --
An abstained vote is a vote for Bush and Gore.
Hook the school/library/kiosk computers up to card readers. Issue cards to the people who want to use those machines. Give "full-access" cards to adults, "custom access" cards to minors. Let parent's configure the minors' cards to say what software (if any) and what levels within that software the child is limited to.
Viola! Personalized filtering that affects ONLY your child.
Possible downsides with comments:
Setting it up. No big deal with a true multi-user system (especially one where you can install multiple filtering technologies). Alternatively you could use filters that are online.
Child A has "full access" and show porn to Child B. Unavoidable in any system. Child A could bring a dead-tree copy of Playboy to school, it's no different.
Privacy violations if tracked by card? So don't do that. Print the name of the person on the card (or even a photo) but don't encode it for the computer to read. Just encode the settings.
--
An abstained vote is a vote for Bush and Gore.
"Forcing everyone to the same "standard" od morality is rediculus."
"I believe the decision rests in the hands of the cities and counties alone."
So forcing "everyone" in a city or county is to the same level *is* OK? How about we make it a local decision in the sense of a single person or (in the case of a minor) that person's parent(s)/guardian(s)? --
An abstained vote is a vote for Bush and Gore.
...and that's good, because he won't. What I do want is for the other candidates to adopting his ideas in an attempt to get the Green Party voters to vote for them. Just like Clinton adopted "balance the budget" from Perot in '92 and '96. --
An abstained vote is a vote for Bush and Gore.
No, actually a protest vote makes a LOT of difference. Why do you think we got a balanced budget in the late 90's? Because Perot almost won with that promise in 1992. "Run the gov't like a business" was Perot's rallying cry. He scared the bejesus out of the Powers That Be and they changed their tune, fast.
Given the close race that Bush and Gore are running the votes that Nader/Browne/Buchanan get could have been decisive for either candidate. Both parties will be trying to figure out how to attract those votes for 2004...
As for the Supreme Court: If that were the biggest issue, I would instead hold my nose and vote for Bush. On nearly all other topics he is an idiot, but he is right on one issue: The Supreme Court is supposed to uphold the Constitution, not be social activists. --
An abstained vote is a vote for Bush and Gore.
My tiny utility has had nearly 1000 downloads. And what have I gotten in my inbox? One patch, maybe two bug reports and possibly as many as 5 "thanks". I'm not complaining, I'm just saying that a very very small percentage of the people who download, use. And a very very small percentage of the people who use, contribute. --
An abstained vote is a vote for Bush and Gore.
Reading newsgroups and mailing lists, I occasionally come across people who have problems that could be solved with software I have written and made available. I have a hard time coming up with a way to point them towards my software without coming across as some kind of big-headed, know-it-all, "my software cleans your floor and does your taxes" loser. What to do? --
An abstained vote is a vote for Bush and Gore.
The biggest issue this year is "Who is government working for?". And until this question is answered, no other issue even makes sense to talk about. You can't decide how (or if) to fix social security or respond to terrorist attacks unless you know who your constituents are and what they believe.
THAT'S why I'm voting for Nader. Bush and, to a slightly lesser extent, Gore are both working for Big Business. Nader, Browne and Buchanan are all working for The People (or subsets thereof). Buchanan's subset is the religious right and therefore I'm not voting for him. Browne is working for people, but defines businesses as people--which I don't agree with and therefore I'm not voting for him.
Nader is the only candidate that recognizes that government belongs to people and businesses are NOT people. Therefore he gets my vote. But not because I want him to win. I want to use Nader's candidacy as a medium through which I can send my message: I want goverment to be of, by and for the people. --
An abstained vote is a vote for Bush and Gore.
One of the things that keeps me from playing games is the way they like to put files EVERYWHERE (and not just little ones, either). But do they really need to use the harddrive for this? Why can't I play ALL games from the CD with no install? --
An abstained vote is a vote for Bush and Gore.
"BTW, I don't see how preventing people with criminal records from purchasing guns is "unconstitutional"."
Well, for one thing, the Second Amendment doesn't say anything about criminals, it just says "the people". Are convicted felons stripped of their First Amendment rights?
Second, I don't see why a law about how to purchase a gun is going to keep a criminal from purchasing one. How about we limit library checkouts to 3 items for 2 days so that criminals have less opportunity to research how to make bombs? --
An abstained vote is a vote for Bush and Gore.
"The Constitution was meant to evolve over time. That's why provisions were set in place to let it happen.
That doesn't change the fact that gun-control laws are unconstitutional. If you want to get rid of guns legally you are going to have to remove the Second Amendment.
As for your other gun-related comments, you seem to have trouble reading simple English. The "well-regulated militia" clause does not modify the "the rights of the people clause".
Example: "Respect of cattle being important to our religion, everyone must be vegetarian."
Can I eat cats? No, because I must be vegetarian. But cats aren't cattle. Doesn't matter, the first clause isn't modifying the second. --
An abstained vote is a vote for Bush and Gore.
"Surely Ralph knows that federal law prohibits the use of the SSN as an identifier for any purpose other than Social Security benefits?"
Could you provide a reference for this? My understanding is that the prohibition is on using the card itself for identification, not the number printed thereon. --
An abstained vote is a vote for Bush and Gore.
If the answer is things like "Internet access" or "word processing" or "programming homework" they could just as well (and more cheaply) use desktops. The only conceivable reason to use dlaptops is so they can lug them to classes--but why would you need (or even want) a laptop in class? Imagine the shuffling around as everyone tries to find a (working) power/network outlet. The beeping and "you've got mail!" sounds around the room. The time it takes to do a shutdown when the class is over. The compatibility problems (student/student, student/teacher, student/administration, student/self).
If they want to be "interactive" why even attend classes? Just do video conferencing right to the dorms on desktops. Attendence would skyrocket. --
An abstained vote is a vote for Bush and Gore.
"Any information penetrating my home is deliberatly chosen."
It's easy to take this too far, though. Sure, you don't want commercials blaring at you from every surface--but neither do you want to be unaware of options OR lose your critical thinking skills.
When my wife and I watch TV together we generally leave the commercials unmuted--so we can mock them. We don't just say things like "nice hair, stupid" (although we say that, too)--we also point out the logical contradictions or hidden assumptions (it sounds boring when put like that, but really the race to be the first one with a snappy-but-accurate one-liner is fun). --
An abstained vote is a vote for Bush and Gore.
"Well, I guess we're in agreement that a preferential voting system is necessary?"
We're in agreement that it would be interesting the try.
"I'm not buying into this whole "voting for them gives them more power" thing."
Actually, it's a certified legal fact. I just heard Nader on NPR this morning talking about it. First, if they get a certain percentage (I think it's 5%) of the vote, they get money next time. Can't win without money. Second, the more votes the Greens get, the more attention they will get from current lawmakers (many of whom vote the way the wind is blowing). --
An abstained vote is a vote for Bush and Gore.
"...the solution is (somehow) getting a preferential voting system."
"Somehow", indeed. You think the Republicrats are going to implement a system like that? The only way to get something like that in is to give the third parties more power--which means voting for them. --
An abstained vote is a vote for Bush and Gore.
And if you don't like Gore or Bush, vote third party. Nader, Browne, Buchanan. They won't win, but:
1) If they get a certain percentage of the vote this election, they get more official money and recognition in the next election and more power between times
2) It's a form of protest. If you are sick of the system as is, protest vote for a third party. --
An abstained vote is a vote for Bush and Gore.
Didn't run it past the FBI--because it is content-free. Check this:
"Any electronic surveillance involves balancing needs for effective enforcement of the criminal laws and protection of national security against threats of invasion of privacy."
The second clause (in bold) doesn't appear to be written in English. What would it mean to threaten to invade the privacy of national security?
The first clause is more frightening: We (the people) allow laws to be created that "can't possibly be enforced" and then his first clause comes into play: "effective enforcement of the criminal laws". First you define the criminals, then figure out how to catch them.
This is EXACTLY why we (in the US) have a Bill of Rights. It says that, no matter what "criminal laws" you think you have to enforce, you can't do X, Y and Z. There is no "balancing"--the Fourth Amendment says you cannot search/seize my property without a warrant PERIOD. Carnivore violates that amendment, therefore it is unconstitutional. Catch your "criminals" another way.
--
An abstained vote is a vote for Bush and Gore.
"...looks like it was designed by school children."
No, the iMac looks like it was designed by school children. The Vaio looks like it was designed for school children. Print out the picture and take it to the "My First Laptop" section of Toys R Us and you'll see what I mean. --
An abstained vote is a vote for Bush and Gore.
Yes, we do. But you can't just make that happen by saying it. Here's the REAL issue:
We need a more intelligent, better-educated populace!
Education is known to increase IQ plus it is a lot easier to control the quality of (unless you want to have a Genetic Screening Board) so that is the area we need to focus on. Intelligent, educated people will make smart choices, including raising intelligent children intelligently.
I'm all for defense and "military readiness"--but can't we take 3% of the defence budget in order to triple (or more?) our education spending? More teachers, higher standards (for both teachers AND students), public involvement, PR work to counter anti-intellectualism, etc. Get smart, the rest will follow. --
An abstained vote is a vote for Bush and Gore.
Slashdot Mirror
"...devices or computer programs who's primary use is to..."
Announcing the latest and greatest version of "ps". Its primary purpose is to show the process running on your system. But now we've added the "--root_host_x" switch. If you use this switch, it launches a root attack against any foreign system. Totally legal!
--
An abstained vote is a vote for Bush and Gore.
"How does restricting people from looking at porn in a library have anything to do with human rights?"
Here's how: define "porn". Give me a hard-edged, deterministic, objective definition for exactly those items you want to make unavailable from a library computer. Is the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue porn? How about pictures of breast cancer sufferers? How about the the "sexual reproduction" entry of the encyclopedia (you know, the one with the drawings of genitalia)? The Starr Report? How about any court documents or news stories about sexual harassment?
--
An abstained vote is a vote for Bush and Gore.
"How is that supposed to work?"
Like this
--
An abstained vote is a vote for Bush and Gore.
"...if the community wants to put filters in schools or libraries, then that is the choice of the community."
"...if the community wants to put blacks in separate schools or libraries, then that is the choice of the community."
Local option is no more moral than federal mandate.
--
An abstained vote is a vote for Bush and Gore.
Hook the school/library/kiosk computers up to card readers. Issue cards to the people who want to use those machines. Give "full-access" cards to adults, "custom access" cards to minors. Let parent's configure the minors' cards to say what software (if any) and what levels within that software the child is limited to.
Viola! Personalized filtering that affects ONLY your child.
Possible downsides with comments:
Setting it up. No big deal with a true multi-user system (especially one where you can install multiple filtering technologies). Alternatively you could use filters that are online.
Child A has "full access" and show porn to Child B. Unavoidable in any system. Child A could bring a dead-tree copy of Playboy to school, it's no different.
Privacy violations if tracked by card? So don't do that. Print the name of the person on the card (or even a photo) but don't encode it for the computer to read. Just encode the settings.
--
An abstained vote is a vote for Bush and Gore.
"Forcing everyone to the same "standard" od morality is rediculus."
"I believe the decision rests in the hands of the cities and counties alone."
So forcing "everyone" in a city or county is to the same level *is* OK? How about we make it a local decision in the sense of a single person or (in the case of a minor) that person's parent(s)/guardian(s)?
--
An abstained vote is a vote for Bush and Gore.
...and that's good, because he won't. What I do want is for the other candidates to adopting his ideas in an attempt to get the Green Party voters to vote for them. Just like Clinton adopted "balance the budget" from Perot in '92 and '96.
--
An abstained vote is a vote for Bush and Gore.
No, actually a protest vote makes a LOT of difference. Why do you think we got a balanced budget in the late 90's? Because Perot almost won with that promise in 1992. "Run the gov't like a business" was Perot's rallying cry. He scared the bejesus out of the Powers That Be and they changed their tune, fast.
Given the close race that Bush and Gore are running the votes that Nader/Browne/Buchanan get could have been decisive for either candidate. Both parties will be trying to figure out how to attract those votes for 2004...
As for the Supreme Court: If that were the biggest issue, I would instead hold my nose and vote for Bush. On nearly all other topics he is an idiot, but he is right on one issue: The Supreme Court is supposed to uphold the Constitution, not be social activists.
--
An abstained vote is a vote for Bush and Gore.
My tiny utility has had nearly 1000 downloads. And what have I gotten in my inbox? One patch, maybe two bug reports and possibly as many as 5 "thanks". I'm not complaining, I'm just saying that a very very small percentage of the people who download, use. And a very very small percentage of the people who use, contribute.
--
An abstained vote is a vote for Bush and Gore.
Reading newsgroups and mailing lists, I occasionally come across people who have problems that could be solved with software I have written and made available. I have a hard time coming up with a way to point them towards my software without coming across as some kind of big-headed, know-it-all, "my software cleans your floor and does your taxes" loser. What to do?
--
An abstained vote is a vote for Bush and Gore.
Get real.
The biggest issue this year is "Who is government working for?". And until this question is answered, no other issue even makes sense to talk about. You can't decide how (or if) to fix social security or respond to terrorist attacks unless you know who your constituents are and what they believe.
THAT'S why I'm voting for Nader. Bush and, to a slightly lesser extent, Gore are both working for Big Business. Nader, Browne and Buchanan are all working for The People (or subsets thereof). Buchanan's subset is the religious right and therefore I'm not voting for him. Browne is working for people, but defines businesses as people--which I don't agree with and therefore I'm not voting for him.
Nader is the only candidate that recognizes that government belongs to people and businesses are NOT people. Therefore he gets my vote. But not because I want him to win. I want to use Nader's candidacy as a medium through which I can send my message: I want goverment to be of, by and for the people.
--
An abstained vote is a vote for Bush and Gore.
One of the things that keeps me from playing games is the way they like to put files EVERYWHERE (and not just little ones, either). But do they really need to use the harddrive for this? Why can't I play ALL games from the CD with no install?
--
An abstained vote is a vote for Bush and Gore.
"Linux"? Isn't that an operating system? What's that doing here on PoliticsDot?
--
An abstained vote is a vote for Bush and Gore.
"BTW, I don't see how preventing people with criminal records from purchasing guns is "unconstitutional"."
Well, for one thing, the Second Amendment doesn't say anything about criminals, it just says "the people". Are convicted felons stripped of their First Amendment rights?
Second, I don't see why a law about how to purchase a gun is going to keep a criminal from purchasing one. How about we limit library checkouts to 3 items for 2 days so that criminals have less opportunity to research how to make bombs?
--
An abstained vote is a vote for Bush and Gore.
"The Constitution was meant to evolve over time. That's why provisions were set in place to let it happen.
That doesn't change the fact that gun-control laws are unconstitutional. If you want to get rid of guns legally you are going to have to remove the Second Amendment.
As for your other gun-related comments, you seem to have trouble reading simple English. The "well-regulated militia" clause does not modify the "the rights of the people clause".
Example: "Respect of cattle being important to our religion, everyone must be vegetarian."
Can I eat cats? No, because I must be vegetarian. But cats aren't cattle. Doesn't matter, the first clause isn't modifying the second.
--
An abstained vote is a vote for Bush and Gore.
"Surely Ralph knows that federal law prohibits the use of the SSN as an identifier for any purpose other than Social Security benefits?"
Could you provide a reference for this? My understanding is that the prohibition is on using the card itself for identification, not the number printed thereon.
--
An abstained vote is a vote for Bush and Gore.
Or "neither"
--
An abstained vote is a vote for Bush and Gore.
What are they going to use the laptop FOR?
If the answer is things like "Internet access" or "word processing" or "programming homework" they could just as well (and more cheaply) use desktops. The only conceivable reason to use dlaptops is so they can lug them to classes--but why would you need (or even want) a laptop in class? Imagine the shuffling around as everyone tries to find a (working) power/network outlet. The beeping and "you've got mail!" sounds around the room. The time it takes to do a shutdown when the class is over. The compatibility problems (student/student, student/teacher, student/administration, student/self).
If they want to be "interactive" why even attend classes? Just do video conferencing right to the dorms on desktops. Attendence would skyrocket.
--
An abstained vote is a vote for Bush and Gore.
"Any information penetrating my home is deliberatly chosen."
It's easy to take this too far, though. Sure, you don't want commercials blaring at you from every surface--but neither do you want to be unaware of options OR lose your critical thinking skills.
When my wife and I watch TV together we generally leave the commercials unmuted--so we can mock them. We don't just say things like "nice hair, stupid" (although we say that, too)--we also point out the logical contradictions or hidden assumptions (it sounds boring when put like that, but really the race to be the first one with a snappy-but-accurate one-liner is fun).
--
An abstained vote is a vote for Bush and Gore.
"Well, I guess we're in agreement that a preferential voting system is necessary?"
We're in agreement that it would be interesting the try.
"I'm not buying into this whole "voting for them gives them more power" thing."
Actually, it's a certified legal fact. I just heard Nader on NPR this morning talking about it. First, if they get a certain percentage (I think it's 5%) of the vote, they get money next time. Can't win without money. Second, the more votes the Greens get, the more attention they will get from current lawmakers (many of whom vote the way the wind is blowing).
--
An abstained vote is a vote for Bush and Gore.
"...the solution is (somehow) getting a preferential voting system."
"Somehow", indeed. You think the Republicrats are going to implement a system like that? The only way to get something like that in is to give the third parties more power--which means voting for them.
--
An abstained vote is a vote for Bush and Gore.
And if you don't like Gore or Bush, vote third party. Nader, Browne, Buchanan. They won't win, but:
1) If they get a certain percentage of the vote this election, they get more official money and recognition in the next election and more power between times
2) It's a form of protest. If you are sick of the system as is, protest vote for a third party.
--
An abstained vote is a vote for Bush and Gore.
Didn't run it past the FBI--because it is content-free. Check this:
"Any electronic surveillance involves balancing needs for effective enforcement of the criminal laws and protection of national security against threats of invasion of privacy."
The second clause (in bold) doesn't appear to be written in English. What would it mean to threaten to invade the privacy of national security?
The first clause is more frightening: We (the people) allow laws to be created that "can't possibly be enforced" and then his first clause comes into play: "effective enforcement of the criminal laws". First you define the criminals, then figure out how to catch them.
This is EXACTLY why we (in the US) have a Bill of Rights. It says that, no matter what "criminal laws" you think you have to enforce, you can't do X, Y and Z. There is no "balancing"--the Fourth Amendment says you cannot search/seize my property without a warrant PERIOD. Carnivore violates that amendment, therefore it is unconstitutional. Catch your "criminals" another way.
--
An abstained vote is a vote for Bush and Gore.
"...looks like it was designed by school children."
No, the iMac looks like it was designed by school children. The Vaio looks like it was designed for school children. Print out the picture and take it to the "My First Laptop" section of Toys R Us and you'll see what I mean.
--
An abstained vote is a vote for Bush and Gore.
"we need better parents!"
Yes, we do. But you can't just make that happen by saying it. Here's the REAL issue:
We need a more intelligent, better-educated populace!
Education is known to increase IQ plus it is a lot easier to control the quality of (unless you want to have a Genetic Screening Board) so that is the area we need to focus on. Intelligent, educated people will make smart choices, including raising intelligent children intelligently.
I'm all for defense and "military readiness"--but can't we take 3% of the defence budget in order to triple (or more?) our education spending? More teachers, higher standards (for both teachers AND students), public involvement, PR work to counter anti-intellectualism, etc. Get smart, the rest will follow.
--
An abstained vote is a vote for Bush and Gore.