Your body uses roughly the same metabolic process to metabolize alcohols, whether ethanol, methanol, or isopropanol. They are turned into various metabolic by-products, that are either metabolized further, or are toxic.
Methanol becomes formic acid.
Isopropanol becomes formaldehyde
Ethanol becomes acetylaldehyde (and is further metabolized).
The first two alcohols have metabolic byproducts are quite poisonous (as you might well guess... formic acid is used by some ant species to deter predators... formaldehyde is bad for obvious reasons).
If you drink the methanol from your laptop, your body will convert it to formic acid. Formic acid is directly toxic to the optic nerve, and you will go blind.... hence the term "blind drunk" from people drinking wood alcohol from homemade stills.
Note that methanol poisoning is far from the only problem with homemade stills... people that distill their own booze often do it with field-expedient materials (rather than proper glassware)... like using automotive radiators as condensors, or brewing their corn mash in big iron tubs. The former method creates problems because the soldered joints in the radiator cause heavy metal poisoning (lead, mercury) due to the metal leaching into the distillate. The latter method produces iron toxicity (used to be common in South Africa, where the product was referred to as "Kaffir Beer.")
A little chemistry can be a dangerous thing if you don't know what you're doing.
promulgated by the "million man march" in Washington DC circa 1996, set up and sponsored by the Nation of Islam.
The goals of the march were noble (no government assistance, personal responsibility, family responsibility), but more than a few people had serious reservations about the march, particularly the Nation of Islam's Leader, Louis Farrakhan, who in the past has made some mighty anti-semitic statements.
According to any number of sources, the final tally was nowhere near a million attendees.
So, maybe the MML people are secretly NOI members... or maybe they just like Alliteration.
Or maybe, in typical/. fashion, we're just being a bit too pedantic.
I remember some of my own carpool experiences as a young man (those of us old enough remember the Energy Crisis and the Oil Embargo... carpooling was popular for a while there).
Ever ride with any of these people?
The Pen clicker?
The Knuckle cracker?
The Coffee Slurper?
Riding with your own family was bad enough (those of you with a brother or sister know what I'm talking about here)... how well are people going to tolerate complete strangers? Think of the bloodshed over radio stations alone.
Heheheh... I've used that as my sig for years, even professionally (I am a physician)... it's an old martial arts proverb (from the Kendo discipline) that I heard from one of my instructors (and he heard from one of his instructors).
The underlying message is "don't ever give up," but you're right... it does raise eyebrows. Touche`
Yes, your point is valid; of course he could be right... and he could be wrong.
The problem is one of public perception, which, like it or not, we must take into consideration. Any entity that does business with the general public depends on the goodwill of that public for survival; to say otherwise is to deny reality. Unfortunatly, Mr. Cinege apparently made his political views a large part of who he is, and what he does... and opened the door to criticism as a result. Business is business, and it really should be kept on that level to avoid the unnecessary consequences of fringe political advocacy.
Yes, he could be right... but he drew his criticism with his own radical statements, and has called the validity of his views into question in some people's minds, because they are considering the source. They see the messenger, rather than the message. Unfortunate, but such is human nature.
A raving, drooling, psychotic nutcase could be spot-on, but nobody listens to such a spokesman, so the intellectual battle is lost before it's even begun.
Well then... now's your chance. Judging by the LRP website, I think Cinege would welcome your offer of employment.
I have libertarian sympathies myself... but I've sure as hell never led cops on a 2-county chase, or exhorted people to kill police officers. That's just a bit out of bounds, I'd say... but maybe it's just me. Then again, if you so passionately share Cinege's views, then maybe you two could get together and do a Thelma and Louise thing.
"Cap a few before they took him down"... well, if that's your best hope for your political fellows, you're probably not to win much popular support.
I've nothing personal against the militia types... in fact, I'm glad they feel strongly about their rights, and I hope every one of them goes to the ballot box (hopefully BEFORE they reach for the ammo box).
"Simpering running dog lackey of murdering fascists" *Laughing* Wow... that's quite a poison pen you have there! You've really tickled my funny bone... thank you.
You know, I've heard about guys like this, but I've never actually met one, or (knowingly) used any of their software.
Frightening... "technically" a convicted felon? Car chases? "Kill a cop"? Now, all the evidence we have on this is a few Usenet posts... anyone in the Tampa/St. Pete area care to verify that this is the same guy? If he's a felon, there's gotta be a public record of such.
And this guy is writing software I've actually explored using? We've got some unconventional thinkers in the Free Software movement, but I've never seen anything like this.
You know, you have freedom of speech in America, but you don't have freedom from other people's opinion of your speech. This is particularly important if you are dependant on the goodwill of others, or the public, for your livelihood (Helloooo Hollywood... Garafolo, Penn, et al). If you were an employer, would you employ an openly a radical Klansman, or a government-hating radical that advocates violence?
Heh... did I date myself there? I owned a couple of 33s and 45s (maybe even a 78 or two), even had some 8-tracks...but only really started accumulating music in the cassette era.
You are quite correct; singles most certainly do predate the cassette tape.
Yep... I'll probably lose my Dr. Who/Trek/Jedi decoder ring just for that one post.
I had no idea what/who Lenox was until I got married... my bride dragged me through store after store of household items that I couldn't see the need for (I'd never needed such items in 30-odd years of living... why would I need them now?). However, even being only slightly smarter than the average bear, I quickly realized that if I didn't let my wife have everything exactly the way she wanted for the wedding, I would NEVER, EVER hear the end of it... we'd be 90+ years old, in a nursing home, and she'd still be berating me for some "wedding disaster." Take my advice if you're getting married... capitulate on the wedding stuff... it's not worth the fight.
Don't misunderstand, my wife is the greatest thing ever... but wedding registries? Tool of the devil.
If I read your dismissal action correctly, you are prohibited from trading/transmitting/etc/etc/ad nauseum any sort of copyrighted works via your phynd service.
It also states that the "defendant shall not engage in or sell" software that encourages copying, trading, blah, blah, blah.
How are you keeping your Phynd service up again(or are you just offering it for download)? Is it your contention that your software is intended to do nothing of the sort (ie. just a tool to be used for good OR evil)? That's the only loophole I can see in that document... anyone better with legalese than myself find something different?
This is like buying an entire set of china or silverware when you only like one or two pieces.
If you only liked the highball glasses out of a set of Lenox (that's LENOX, not LINUX, my fellow geeks... Lenox makes china, glasses, knick-knacks), why should you be required to buy the entire set?
Besides, singles have been available ever since cassette tapes were introduced.
Most cops DO have better things to do than nail some PFY serving up copies of Warcraft III on his cable connection. However, this is the FBI we're talking about, not local cops... the FBI is beholden only to the FedGov. If you think your local PD can be unresponsive, try dealing with the FBI.
Thing is, the FBI is not feeling too good lately. They hunted for Eric Rudolph for years, and spent tens of millions of dollars and who busts him? A rookie local cop with less than a year on the force, who catches him dumpster diving and puts bracelets on him... beautiful.
Then there's Eric Luster... some bounty hunter nails him in Mexico, and all the FBI can do is say what a terrible, vigilante action this was, instead of helping get the bounty hunter out of a mexican jail (you really don't want to be in a mexican jail).
The FBI already has their hands full with the anti-terrorist mission... no way they've got the manpower or resources to even dent P2P.
The man published the partial SSN's after the vote, so he wasn't trying to extort the legislators to vote for the bill. I'd say the extortion/threatening charges are a bit out of line for this.
Heheh... what a great poke-in-the-eye to the legislators, and a great demonstration of what the issue was really about.
No full SSN's were given out, so no harm was really done here... just some angry lawmakers... Let's hope they have the introspection to learn from this jab.
That is the most reasonable post I've seen yet, and very well-stated.
I care about rights, yours and mine, and I always have. I had the foresight to realize that I wouldn't be a cop forever. This is what amuses me about cops who have the "only cops should have guns" attitude in the concealed carry debate... I guess they don't think that one day they might NOT be a cop anymore. It's a bad day if that happens, and they run across somebody they once arrested... somebody who might want a pound-o-flesh for past "wrongs"... I've seen that happen; bad scene.
I wouldn't violate anyone's rights, and I wouldn't tolerate a partner who did. I'm a civil liberties advocate, believe it or not; something that brought me a bit of flack in my police academy... some lively debates, I have to tell you.
Hang onto your rights sir... I'll be right there next to you.
"Don't presume to lecture me about my own hometown, bucky: I know it a lot better than you." Well, you certainly told me... unfortunate that you haven't demonstrated any of that knowledge yet.
I was a cop in Ohio, in a department not far from Cincy, so don't tell me that I don't know anything about it. In fact, I WILL presume to lecture you about your own hometown, because your own knowledge is total FUD. Are you simply parroting the speeches that you heard at your last anti-police march? OF COURSE the cops are backing off in Over-the-Rhine, for the reasons I gave in my previous post. You outlined the dilemma perfectly... now what are you going to do about it, aside from bitching? If you want a drop in the crime rate, then let the cops do their jobs... If you don't... well, you've seen the results. It's divided the critics, because some of them are having second thoughts about the collateral damage in their racist cop witch-hunt. Assuming you lived in Over-the-Rhine, which would YOU want, Mr. AC?
Now, why don't you tell me about all those "unarmed" shootings you thought were so unjustifiable. Did you mean 12yo Courtney Mathis? No... he was dragging a Cincy cop with his vehicle (that cop died from the dragging). Jeffrey Irons? No... he tried to take an officers gun (and succeeded). Timothy Thomas? No... it's unwise to act like you're going for a weapon when the police are chasing you... it cost Timothy his life. Of those 15 police shootings that have been so bandied about, 12 of them were of perpetrators armed with some kind of weapon (vehicle, gun, bludgeon). Also, don't even pull the racial card here... the Cincy force is 1/4 black, and 1/4 of their shooting are by black officers. African americans are 78% of the shooting "victims" in Cincy, but that's also the exact percentage of violent felony arrests that are attibuted to African Americans. That's not to say there weren't sloppy procedures and such, but the Cincy cops are NOT the Klan. Don't you read the Cincinnati Enquirer? They did a whole series a few years back about those "unarmed" shootings.
Also, don't bullshit me and give me the line that "maybe I have tried." You have done nothing of the sort... you already said so. Don't embelish now. Also, I didn't bring politics into this at all; I never accused you of being a liberal bedwetter, so don't put words in my mouth. I accused you of being an anonymous troll... pretty much fits, I'd say.
I don't expect you to take my word about police work... Go find out for yourself. This means get some FIRST HAND info, not from your friends, or Jesse Jackson. Do you take everything that's told to you on its face? Any possibility your friend might be spinning the story a bit? How about that reporter on the news... that information about the incident is now fourth-hand... do you trust it? I guess you do, as long as it fits with your worldview. My original challenge stands; get in the arena... then you can speak with significantly more authority.
The reality is this: You are an anonymous coward slashtroll, without even the stones to post under your actual account. You will never work to better the system and risk the realization that you might be wrong, because you're not even willing to risk some worthless karma. You have no solutions, only accusations that the cops are racists, ineffective, and wanton killers of innocent unarmed black men.
I've already given you my solution; invest in community relations, bridge-building, and partnerships with community members (like me, AND you). What was your solution again?
You're leveling that lecture at the wrong slashdotter, sir... I worked night shift for years.
I worked, and enjoyed, my nocturnal schedule, but I recognized that it was very different from the life that most people lead. I also realized that this might garner me some attention that wouldn't otherwise be drawn to a normal person in the typical 8-5 throng... when you're going out for a burger at 4AM on your night off (because that's when I typically ate on my night shifts), you might be the only car on the road, and liable to attract the attention of a 3rd shift cop (you might be the only vehicle he's seen for miles).
I also take evening strolls (runs, actually, to stay in shape) in the wee hours. Even in my own neighborhood, I was stopped several times by patrolling police officers (once for questioning about some vehicle burglaries that had just occurred... Having a LE background, I keep my eyes open at night for exactly that kind of thing, so I gave them a vehicle description/plate that I thought looked suspicious). Other than that, I've never had a problem. Once I explained to them that I'm a 3rd shifter like them, and am only on my normal schedule, they usually lighten up. Frankly, I think they enjoy the occasional citizen contact and conversation during the graveyard shift, particularly from someone who's not lying to them, or pissed that the Poh-leece are interrupting the "discussion" they're having with their old lady.
I agree you shouldn't be harassed for taking an evening stroll... but I also recognize that my existence is very different from most people, and that it sometimes raises an eyebrow. Personally, I like having inquisitive, proactive officers working for me, and I wouldn't consider it harassment.
Constrain MY FUD? Do you really want the Klan back? Because that's what you're going to get. The Klan originally started as groups of southern landowners back when there wasn't any law enforcement... they took care of their own problems, and look at the incredible evil that came of it. We are a nation of laws, not a nation of men; you really don't want the latter.
Are you seriously advocating road-ragers running grandma off the road? I've got a grandma... you probably do too. Oh yes, you'd see some of that vigilante justice you're talking about if punks ran peoples' grandmothers off the road because they forgot to set their alarm clocks, and were late for the taco bell job. Maybe your son would come home beaten to a pulp, or even in a body bag, because some grandmother's son took exception to YOUR son running her off the road.
What if your daughter is Tawana Brawley, and lied about the boy next door raping her? Maybe it was consensual, but he didn't call the next day, or may be it was consensual but you walked in on it and she was too afraid of you to admit it (I've personally seen both of these scenarios). On the basis of that, you're going to take someone's life?? Good God man... that's why courts came about, because the kind of justice you're talking about so often went terribly wrong.
Incidently, I personally agree wholeheartedly with you that police cannot protect individuals. The bad guys far, far outnumber the cops, and bad guys go to great lengths to avoid committing crimes in front of the police, which is why I support people carrying concealed weapons... you'd be surprised the number of cops who don't have a problem with that. That's right... you heard it here first... a (former)cop who thinks people should be able to defend themselves. With some training, I think it's a fine idea whose time has come.
You Britts will, of course, disagree... but the US is way past the point of no return with guns. 200 million+ are not going to EVER be rounded up, so you might as well level the playing field for joe citizen. Seems fair to me...
So you're in Cincinnati? Your police department has really been through it the last few years, starting with Timothy Thomas, and the riots.
Unfortunatly for you, your city has swung the other way. Cincy cops are so much under the microscope that they have backed off from doing parts of their jobs... they don't want be pilloried, sued, and fired. If you want "ineffective" law enforcement, then you've got it... right there in your own hometown, and you've got only the anti-cop factions in your own city to blame. How do you like it? Do you live in Over-the-rhine, where violent crime is up >50% because of less-agressive enforcement? Those folks sure don't like it, but you cannot have it both ways... you must choose.
BTW, depending on where the original poster lived, do you have any idea what the odds are of recovering that laptop? How terrible most security camera footage is, and how worthless? (ever see those TV snippets they show you of bank robbers with the caption "be on the lookout for this man!"... I've yet to see one I could use for a positive ID). If the OP lives in a big city, then the cops don't even have the manpower to cover major crimes, let alone a lost laptop.
I know the OP thinks his laptop is the most important thing in the world... but a cop who's running from call to call does NOT have time for a special, prolonged investigation just for the unfortunate OPs precious laptop. The reality is this: you file a police report and collect from your insurance company, and that's the end of it. "Ineffective" law enforcement? Try realistic law enforcement.
"I wish this was an isolated incident, but I hear too many stories like the ones shared here to believe it anymore." Sooo... rather than volunteer your time, see for yourself, and work to make it better, you'd rather just take the word of every AC slashgeek (just like yourself) in an anonymous forum... well, that's certainly easier, that's for sure. It makes your opinion equal to that of a chattering magpie, but it's definitely easier.
You also state that police departments are "sooooo receptive to criticism"... and you've clearly never tried, and aren't willing to ("Why should I?"). Until you show yourself as something other than a naysayer, someone who's actually interesting in community improvement, you'll get written off, and your self-fulfilling prophesy will come true. If you want to influence things, show you give a shit by investing something of yourself in the process. Or, you could just anonymously bitch about it on slashdot... your choice... your way is certainly easier.
I'm not here to defend bad cops, and I refuse to pay for their sins in this forum.
Here's the deal. If being a cop is not your only job (ie. you're reserve, or you're a volunteer), you are not beholden to that system like a full-timer is. You don't have to worry about about what being a whistleblower will do to your career... you can simply walk away... which is what I would do if I witnessed something seriously wrongful and they covered it up.
Wow, you're thin-skinned. Doesn't that big chip on your shoulder make you walk funny?
Did they beat you? Did they call you everything but a white boy? Were you put in handcuffs? Thrown on the ground?
So they asked to see your ID, that's all. And you're upset? you cannot be serious. Think about it, there's few reasons for most people to be walking around at 3AM, and a lot of them have to do with various social pathologies... things scoflaws are often involved in. The cops were just curious, and you think they're "assholes" for that? You didn't even have to show them your ID; you could have politely declined and walked away (unless you were violating some obscure law, like a curfew... You're allowed to assert your "rights" to a cop, and be as big a smartass about it as you want.... but be sure you're not breaking the law before you antagonize a police officer, otherwise you'll blow any chance that he might cut you a break.) I'll bet if you had groups of youths wandering through your neighborhood at 3AM you'd wonder what they were up to... and those cops were wondering the same thing.
At least the cops knew something about geeks, enough to make a joke about it anyway... Jolt cola and pizza... heheh... That's actually pretty funny.
"assholes?" For that? You've got to lighten up, my friend... that angst is going to poison you.
I fail to see what any of this has to do with republicans OR democrats... You've gotta troll better than that.
What you are referring to applies to military officers. The sources of their authority to command are twofold: from their rank, and their moral authority (they are held to a higher moral standard). Because of this, they can be prosecuted for obeying an order that they know (or should know) to be illegal or unlawful. Commissioned miltary officers have an obligation to evaluate their orders, and are trained NOT to blindly follow whatever they are told. That said, if you invoke that doctrine and disobey an order, you had better be on damned solid footing, or you will be court-martialed.
The nazi death camp guards tried to plead at Nuremburg that they were "only following orders," when the orders they were following were clearly unlawful AND immoral.
This has little or nothing to do with the previous discussion, unless you are trying to argue that the cops should have the final say regarding what laws should be enforced. Legislature, executive branch, judge, jury, executioner... all rolled into one? That's the LAST thing you want.
I hardly have a monopoly on idiocy in this forum, as many of these posts, including your own, unfortunately demonstrate. I'm surprised, because I've read some of your other posts, and you seem like an educated, even eloquent man. This is not up to your usual standards, sir.
Define "ineffective" law enforcement. If by this you refer to your own personal solipsistic view of what cops should or should not enforce, I expect you will be disappointed. Society decides what law enforcement focuses on, through our elected legislatures. If you don't like the laws... change them; you're stuck with them until that happens. If society doesn't agree with you, then start your own society... or break the laws at your own peril.
You believe there is a need for law enforcement and "the original poster, methinks, would agree?" Please... "F*ck the police" expresses a desire for law enforcement? Not a very solid defense of the original posters demagoguery.
It's unfortunate that you view the system as so corrupt that you refuse to to help change it. If you hope to change the system by destroying it in some anarchistic orgasm, you should recalculate your odds. Such entrenched systems often change when those WITHIN them change them. Also, your statement that you "refuse to subsidise" them is wishful thinking; you pay taxes, so you're already subsidising them... don't you want to make sure you're getting your money's worth? I hope you are not one of those loathsome souls who complains about their elected representative, and then never votes... Why don't you join a civilian review board, meet and talk with your police chief, make friends with some cops, and see what it's like out there. Are you so convinced of your own rightness that you won't even try? There's much to be learned when you challenge your own worldview.
If your beef is with society, then focus your anger appropriately, ie. not at the individual cop who's just trying to do his job.
Folks, this isn't flamebait, it's the truth. Moderators, do your worst.
I love all the "I hate the X&!#@ Cops!!" trolls that inhabit this place; youthful rage directed at "the man"... with no concept of what it would be like to live without them.
Here's my challenge to all those who hate the police so much: If you think you can do their job so much better than they can, go help them out. I'm serious... this is a put-up-or-shut-up challenge. I want you to spend some time in the belly of the beast.
When I was a teen, I didn't like cops... but a funny thing happened to me on the way to my current job, I became a police officer, and it's got to be one of the nastiest jobs in the world. As a doc, I deal with drunks/pimps/bangers/dealers all the time, but thankfully they are usually cuffed and/or exhausted by the time they get to me (and some of them STILL fight... ER workers get assaulted all the time by these types. Fortuntately, the pharmacy is mighter than the sword). I deal with them, but I have a full contigent of burly guys +/- drugs to help me out... taking them on mano-a-mano on the street is a very different scenario. I take care of the bad people, but I also take care of the cops that get hurt fighting them. BE THANKFUL cops are out there... you don't even want to know the kind of sociopaths cops deal with everyday, for pretty low pay. You want to live in a world without cops? Go ahead, but be prepared to do your own dirty work. Think you've got what it takes? You'd better be right, because you're betting you life and the lives of your family on it.
Yes, I can hear the "boo hoo! poor cop! go eat more donuts!" trolls now... save it. You trolls can scoff all you want. Feel free to live in your "no cops" world... sounds great on the surface... but getting your ass kicked by some gangbangers when you're walking home from the LAN party some night might change your tune.
If you've got a beef with the "racist, motherf*cking police" and want to change things, then quit complaining and start working. Learn something about the police... volunteer some of your time (it's called community service; look into it). Go to a reserve police academy and get sworn, do some ride-alongs, or donate some of your 3l337 technical skills to their investigative unit (maybe they need computer forensics help).
Try to make things better instead of indulging in typical slashdot cop-bashing... in addition to the satisfaction of helping out your community, you might be surprised by what you learn.
Slashdot Mirror
of your own body's enzymes.
Your body uses roughly the same metabolic process to metabolize alcohols, whether ethanol, methanol, or isopropanol. They are turned into various metabolic by-products, that are either metabolized further, or are toxic.
Methanol becomes formic acid.
Isopropanol becomes formaldehyde
Ethanol becomes acetylaldehyde (and is further metabolized).
The first two alcohols have metabolic byproducts are quite poisonous (as you might well guess... formic acid is used by some ant species to deter predators... formaldehyde is bad for obvious reasons).
If you drink the methanol from your laptop, your body will convert it to formic acid. Formic acid is directly toxic to the optic nerve, and you will go blind.... hence the term "blind drunk" from people drinking wood alcohol from homemade stills.
Note that methanol poisoning is far from the only problem with homemade stills... people that distill their own booze often do it with field-expedient materials (rather than proper glassware)... like using automotive radiators as condensors, or brewing their corn mash in big iron tubs. The former method creates problems because the soldered joints in the radiator cause heavy metal poisoning (lead, mercury) due to the metal leaching into the distillate. The latter method produces iron toxicity (used to be common in South Africa, where the product was referred to as "Kaffir Beer.")
A little chemistry can be a dangerous thing if you don't know what you're doing.
promulgated by the "million man march" in Washington DC circa 1996, set up and sponsored by the Nation of Islam.
/. fashion, we're just being a bit too pedantic.
The goals of the march were noble (no government assistance, personal responsibility, family responsibility), but more than a few people had serious reservations about the march, particularly the Nation of Islam's Leader, Louis Farrakhan, who in the past has made some mighty anti-semitic statements.
According to any number of sources, the final tally was nowhere near a million attendees.
So, maybe the MML people are secretly NOI members... or maybe they just like Alliteration.
Or maybe, in typical
I remember some of my own carpool experiences as a young man (those of us old enough remember the Energy Crisis and the Oil Embargo... carpooling was popular for a while there).
Ever ride with any of these people?
The Pen clicker?
The Knuckle cracker?
The Coffee Slurper?
Riding with your own family was bad enough (those of you with a brother or sister know what I'm talking about here)... how well are people going to tolerate complete strangers? Think of the bloodshed over radio stations alone.
Heheheh... I've used that as my sig for years, even professionally (I am a physician)... it's an old martial arts proverb (from the Kendo discipline) that I heard from one of my instructors (and he heard from one of his instructors).
The underlying message is "don't ever give up," but you're right... it does raise eyebrows. Touche`
Yes, your point is valid; of course he could be right... and he could be wrong.
The problem is one of public perception, which, like it or not, we must take into consideration. Any entity that does business with the general public depends on the goodwill of that public for survival; to say otherwise is to deny reality. Unfortunatly, Mr. Cinege apparently made his political views a large part of who he is, and what he does... and opened the door to criticism as a result. Business is business, and it really should be kept on that level to avoid the unnecessary consequences of fringe political advocacy.
Yes, he could be right... but he drew his criticism with his own radical statements, and has called the validity of his views into question in some people's minds, because they are considering the source. They see the messenger, rather than the message. Unfortunate, but such is human nature.
A raving, drooling, psychotic nutcase could be spot-on, but nobody listens to such a spokesman, so the intellectual battle is lost before it's even begun.
Well then... now's your chance. Judging by the LRP website, I think Cinege would welcome your offer of employment.
I have libertarian sympathies myself... but I've sure as hell never led cops on a 2-county chase, or exhorted people to kill police officers. That's just a bit out of bounds, I'd say... but maybe it's just me. Then again, if you so passionately share Cinege's views, then maybe you two could get together and do a Thelma and Louise thing.
"Cap a few before they took him down"... well, if that's your best hope for your political fellows, you're probably not to win much popular support.
I've nothing personal against the militia types... in fact, I'm glad they feel strongly about their rights, and I hope every one of them goes to the ballot box (hopefully BEFORE they reach for the ammo box).
"Simpering running dog lackey of murdering fascists" *Laughing* Wow... that's quite a poison pen you have there! You've really tickled my funny bone... thank you.
You know, I've heard about guys like this, but I've never actually met one, or (knowingly) used any of their software.
Frightening... "technically" a convicted felon? Car chases? "Kill a cop"? Now, all the evidence we have on this is a few Usenet posts... anyone in the Tampa/St. Pete area care to verify that this is the same guy? If he's a felon, there's gotta be a public record of such.
And this guy is writing software I've actually explored using? We've got some unconventional thinkers in the Free Software movement, but I've never seen anything like this.
You know, you have freedom of speech in America, but you don't have freedom from other people's opinion of your speech. This is particularly important if you are dependant on the goodwill of others, or the public, for your livelihood (Helloooo Hollywood... Garafolo, Penn, et al). If you were an employer, would you employ an openly a radical Klansman, or a government-hating radical that advocates violence?
The answer is not only "No," it's "Hell no."
as quothe the above poster: "55808 is actually DA00 in hexa"
Or maybe it was written by Warez d00ds
Or perhaps Harry Belafonte has a HUGE fan out there somewhere (let's pretend for a moment)
"DA00! DA00! Daylight come and me wan' go home"
OK... sorry... you may mod me down now.
Heh... did I date myself there? I owned a couple of 33s and 45s (maybe even a 78 or two), even had some 8-tracks...but only really started accumulating music in the cassette era.
You are quite correct; singles most certainly do predate the cassette tape.
Yep... I'll probably lose my Dr. Who/Trek/Jedi decoder ring just for that one post.
I had no idea what/who Lenox was until I got married... my bride dragged me through store after store of household items that I couldn't see the need for (I'd never needed such items in 30-odd years of living... why would I need them now?). However, even being only slightly smarter than the average bear, I quickly realized that if I didn't let my wife have everything exactly the way she wanted for the wedding, I would NEVER, EVER hear the end of it... we'd be 90+ years old, in a nursing home, and she'd still be berating me for some "wedding disaster." Take my advice if you're getting married... capitulate on the wedding stuff... it's not worth the fight.
Don't misunderstand, my wife is the greatest thing ever... but wedding registries? Tool of the devil.
If I read your dismissal action correctly, you are prohibited from trading/transmitting/etc/etc/ad nauseum any sort of copyrighted works via your phynd service.
It also states that the "defendant shall not engage in or sell" software that encourages copying, trading, blah, blah, blah.
How are you keeping your Phynd service up again(or are you just offering it for download)? Is it your contention that your software is intended to do nothing of the sort (ie. just a tool to be used for good OR evil)? That's the only loophole I can see in that document... anyone better with legalese than myself find something different?
I'm a little confused here.
yep.
This is like buying an entire set of china or silverware when you only like one or two pieces.
If you only liked the highball glasses out of a set of Lenox (that's LENOX, not LINUX, my fellow geeks... Lenox makes china, glasses, knick-knacks), why should you be required to buy the entire set?
Besides, singles have been available ever since cassette tapes were introduced.
Pretty transparent, if you ask me.
Love your sig... one of the funniest I've ever seen on Slashdot.
Most cops DO have better things to do than nail some PFY serving up copies of Warcraft III on his cable connection. However, this is the FBI we're talking about, not local cops... the FBI is beholden only to the FedGov. If you think your local PD can be unresponsive, try dealing with the FBI.
Thing is, the FBI is not feeling too good lately. They hunted for Eric Rudolph for years, and spent tens of millions of dollars and who busts him? A rookie local cop with less than a year on the force, who catches him dumpster diving and puts bracelets on him... beautiful.
Then there's Eric Luster... some bounty hunter nails him in Mexico, and all the FBI can do is say what a terrible, vigilante action this was, instead of helping get the bounty hunter out of a mexican jail (you really don't want to be in a mexican jail).
The FBI already has their hands full with the anti-terrorist mission... no way they've got the manpower or resources to even dent P2P.
The man published the partial SSN's after the vote, so he wasn't trying to extort the legislators to vote for the bill. I'd say the extortion/threatening charges are a bit out of line for this.
Heheh... what a great poke-in-the-eye to the legislators, and a great demonstration of what the issue was really about.
No full SSN's were given out, so no harm was really done here... just some angry lawmakers... Let's hope they have the introspection to learn from this jab.
Bravo.
That is the most reasonable post I've seen yet, and very well-stated.
I care about rights, yours and mine, and I always have. I had the foresight to realize that I wouldn't be a cop forever. This is what amuses me about cops who have the "only cops should have guns" attitude in the concealed carry debate... I guess they don't think that one day they might NOT be a cop anymore. It's a bad day if that happens, and they run across somebody they once arrested... somebody who might want a pound-o-flesh for past "wrongs"... I've seen that happen; bad scene.
I wouldn't violate anyone's rights, and I wouldn't tolerate a partner who did. I'm a civil liberties advocate, believe it or not; something that brought me a bit of flack in my police academy... some lively debates, I have to tell you.
Hang onto your rights sir... I'll be right there next to you.
"Don't presume to lecture me about my own hometown, bucky: I know it a lot better than you." Well, you certainly told me... unfortunate that you haven't demonstrated any of that knowledge yet.
I was a cop in Ohio, in a department not far from Cincy, so don't tell me that I don't know anything about it. In fact, I WILL presume to lecture you about your own hometown, because your own knowledge is total FUD. Are you simply parroting the speeches that you heard at your last anti-police march? OF COURSE the cops are backing off in Over-the-Rhine, for the reasons I gave in my previous post. You outlined the dilemma perfectly... now what are you going to do about it, aside from bitching? If you want a drop in the crime rate, then let the cops do their jobs... If you don't... well, you've seen the results. It's divided the critics, because some of them are having second thoughts about the collateral damage in their racist cop witch-hunt. Assuming you lived in Over-the-Rhine, which would YOU want, Mr. AC?
Now, why don't you tell me about all those "unarmed" shootings you thought were so unjustifiable. Did you mean 12yo Courtney Mathis? No... he was dragging a Cincy cop with his vehicle (that cop died from the dragging). Jeffrey Irons? No... he tried to take an officers gun (and succeeded). Timothy Thomas? No... it's unwise to act like you're going for a weapon when the police are chasing you... it cost Timothy his life. Of those 15 police shootings that have been so bandied about, 12 of them were of perpetrators armed with some kind of weapon (vehicle, gun, bludgeon). Also, don't even pull the racial card here... the Cincy force is 1/4 black, and 1/4 of their shooting are by black officers. African americans are 78% of the shooting "victims" in Cincy, but that's also the exact percentage of violent felony arrests that are attibuted to African Americans. That's not to say there weren't sloppy procedures and such, but the Cincy cops are NOT the Klan. Don't you read the Cincinnati Enquirer? They did a whole series a few years back about those "unarmed" shootings.
Also, don't bullshit me and give me the line that "maybe I have tried." You have done nothing of the sort... you already said so. Don't embelish now. Also, I didn't bring politics into this at all; I never accused you of being a liberal bedwetter, so don't put words in my mouth. I accused you of being an anonymous troll... pretty much fits, I'd say.
I don't expect you to take my word about police work... Go find out for yourself. This means get some FIRST HAND info, not from your friends, or Jesse Jackson. Do you take everything that's told to you on its face? Any possibility your friend might be spinning the story a bit? How about that reporter on the news... that information about the incident is now fourth-hand... do you trust it? I guess you do, as long as it fits with your worldview. My original challenge stands; get in the arena... then you can speak with significantly more authority.
The reality is this: You are an anonymous coward slashtroll, without even the stones to post under your actual account. You will never work to better the system and risk the realization that you might be wrong, because you're not even willing to risk some worthless karma. You have no solutions, only accusations that the cops are racists, ineffective, and wanton killers of innocent unarmed black men.
I've already given you my solution; invest in community relations, bridge-building, and partnerships with community members (like me, AND you). What was your solution again?
You're leveling that lecture at the wrong slashdotter, sir... I worked night shift for years.
I worked, and enjoyed, my nocturnal schedule, but I recognized that it was very different from the life that most people lead. I also realized that this might garner me some attention that wouldn't otherwise be drawn to a normal person in the typical 8-5 throng... when you're going out for a burger at 4AM on your night off (because that's when I typically ate on my night shifts), you might be the only car on the road, and liable to attract the attention of a 3rd shift cop (you might be the only vehicle he's seen for miles).
I also take evening strolls (runs, actually, to stay in shape) in the wee hours. Even in my own neighborhood, I was stopped several times by patrolling police officers (once for questioning about some vehicle burglaries that had just occurred... Having a LE background, I keep my eyes open at night for exactly that kind of thing, so I gave them a vehicle description/plate that I thought looked suspicious). Other than that, I've never had a problem. Once I explained to them that I'm a 3rd shifter like them, and am only on my normal schedule, they usually lighten up. Frankly, I think they enjoy the occasional citizen contact and conversation during the graveyard shift, particularly from someone who's not lying to them, or pissed that the Poh-leece are interrupting the "discussion" they're having with their old lady.
I agree you shouldn't be harassed for taking an evening stroll... but I also recognize that my existence is very different from most people, and that it sometimes raises an eyebrow. Personally, I like having inquisitive, proactive officers working for me, and I wouldn't consider it harassment.
Constrain MY FUD? Do you really want the Klan back? Because that's what you're going to get. The Klan originally started as groups of southern landowners back when there wasn't any law enforcement... they took care of their own problems, and look at the incredible evil that came of it. We are a nation of laws, not a nation of men; you really don't want the latter.
Are you seriously advocating road-ragers running grandma off the road? I've got a grandma... you probably do too. Oh yes, you'd see some of that vigilante justice you're talking about if punks ran peoples' grandmothers off the road because they forgot to set their alarm clocks, and were late for the taco bell job. Maybe your son would come home beaten to a pulp, or even in a body bag, because some grandmother's son took exception to YOUR son running her off the road.
What if your daughter is Tawana Brawley, and lied about the boy next door raping her? Maybe it was consensual, but he didn't call the next day, or may be it was consensual but you walked in on it and she was too afraid of you to admit it (I've personally seen both of these scenarios). On the basis of that, you're going to take someone's life?? Good God man... that's why courts came about, because the kind of justice you're talking about so often went terribly wrong.
Incidently, I personally agree wholeheartedly with you that police cannot protect individuals. The bad guys far, far outnumber the cops, and bad guys go to great lengths to avoid committing crimes in front of the police, which is why I support people carrying concealed weapons... you'd be surprised the number of cops who don't have a problem with that. That's right... you heard it here first... a (former)cop who thinks people should be able to defend themselves. With some training, I think it's a fine idea whose time has come.
You Britts will, of course, disagree... but the US is way past the point of no return with guns. 200 million+ are not going to EVER be rounded up, so you might as well level the playing field for joe citizen. Seems fair to me...
So you're in Cincinnati? Your police department has really been through it the last few years, starting with Timothy Thomas, and the riots.
Unfortunatly for you, your city has swung the other way. Cincy cops are so much under the microscope that they have backed off from doing parts of their jobs... they don't want be pilloried, sued, and fired. If you want "ineffective" law enforcement, then you've got it... right there in your own hometown, and you've got only the anti-cop factions in your own city to blame. How do you like it? Do you live in Over-the-rhine, where violent crime is up >50% because of less-agressive enforcement? Those folks sure don't like it, but you cannot have it both ways... you must choose.
BTW, depending on where the original poster lived, do you have any idea what the odds are of recovering that laptop? How terrible most security camera footage is, and how worthless? (ever see those TV snippets they show you of bank robbers with the caption "be on the lookout for this man!"... I've yet to see one I could use for a positive ID). If the OP lives in a big city, then the cops don't even have the manpower to cover major crimes, let alone a lost laptop.
I know the OP thinks his laptop is the most important thing in the world... but a cop who's running from call to call does NOT have time for a special, prolonged investigation just for the unfortunate OPs precious laptop. The reality is this: you file a police report and collect from your insurance company, and that's the end of it. "Ineffective" law enforcement? Try realistic law enforcement.
"I wish this was an isolated incident, but I hear too many stories like the ones shared here to believe it anymore." Sooo... rather than volunteer your time, see for yourself, and work to make it better, you'd rather just take the word of every AC slashgeek (just like yourself) in an anonymous forum... well, that's certainly easier, that's for sure. It makes your opinion equal to that of a chattering magpie, but it's definitely easier.
You also state that police departments are "sooooo receptive to criticism"... and you've clearly never tried, and aren't willing to ("Why should I?"). Until you show yourself as something other than a naysayer, someone who's actually interesting in community improvement, you'll get written off, and your self-fulfilling prophesy will come true. If you want to influence things, show you give a shit by investing something of yourself in the process. Or, you could just anonymously bitch about it on slashdot... your choice... your way is certainly easier.
right thing != easy thing.
Nothing, because I don't know any.
I'm not here to defend bad cops, and I refuse to pay for their sins in this forum.
Here's the deal. If being a cop is not your only job (ie. you're reserve, or you're a volunteer), you are not beholden to that system like a full-timer is. You don't have to worry about about what being a whistleblower will do to your career... you can simply walk away... which is what I would do if I witnessed something seriously wrongful and they covered it up.
Wow, you're thin-skinned. Doesn't that big chip on your shoulder make you walk funny?
Did they beat you? Did they call you everything but a white boy? Were you put in handcuffs? Thrown on the ground?
So they asked to see your ID, that's all. And you're upset? you cannot be serious. Think about it, there's few reasons for most people to be walking around at 3AM, and a lot of them have to do with various social pathologies... things scoflaws are often involved in. The cops were just curious, and you think they're "assholes" for that? You didn't even have to show them your ID; you could have politely declined and walked away (unless you were violating some obscure law, like a curfew... You're allowed to assert your "rights" to a cop, and be as big a smartass about it as you want.... but be sure you're not breaking the law before you antagonize a police officer, otherwise you'll blow any chance that he might cut you a break.) I'll bet if you had groups of youths wandering through your neighborhood at 3AM you'd wonder what they were up to... and those cops were wondering the same thing.
At least the cops knew something about geeks, enough to make a joke about it anyway... Jolt cola and pizza... heheh... That's actually pretty funny.
"assholes?" For that? You've got to lighten up, my friend... that angst is going to poison you.
I fail to see what any of this has to do with republicans OR democrats... You've gotta troll better than that.
What you are referring to applies to military officers. The sources of their authority to command are twofold: from their rank, and their moral authority (they are held to a higher moral standard). Because of this, they can be prosecuted for obeying an order that they know (or should know) to be illegal or unlawful. Commissioned miltary officers have an obligation to evaluate their orders, and are trained NOT to blindly follow whatever they are told. That said, if you invoke that doctrine and disobey an order, you had better be on damned solid footing, or you will be court-martialed.
The nazi death camp guards tried to plead at Nuremburg that they were "only following orders," when the orders they were following were clearly unlawful AND immoral.
This has little or nothing to do with the previous discussion, unless you are trying to argue that the cops should have the final say regarding what laws should be enforced. Legislature, executive branch, judge, jury, executioner... all rolled into one? That's the LAST thing you want.
I hardly have a monopoly on idiocy in this forum, as many of these posts, including your own, unfortunately demonstrate. I'm surprised, because I've read some of your other posts, and you seem like an educated, even eloquent man. This is not up to your usual standards, sir.
Define "ineffective" law enforcement. If by this you refer to your own personal solipsistic view of what cops should or should not enforce, I expect you will be disappointed. Society decides what law enforcement focuses on, through our elected legislatures. If you don't like the laws... change them; you're stuck with them until that happens. If society doesn't agree with you, then start your own society... or break the laws at your own peril.
You believe there is a need for law enforcement and "the original poster, methinks, would agree?" Please... "F*ck the police" expresses a desire for law enforcement? Not a very solid defense of the original posters demagoguery.
It's unfortunate that you view the system as so corrupt that you refuse to to help change it. If you hope to change the system by destroying it in some anarchistic orgasm, you should recalculate your odds. Such entrenched systems often change when those WITHIN them change them. Also, your statement that you "refuse to subsidise" them is wishful thinking; you pay taxes, so you're already subsidising them... don't you want to make sure you're getting your money's worth? I hope you are not one of those loathsome souls who complains about their elected representative, and then never votes... Why don't you join a civilian review board, meet and talk with your police chief, make friends with some cops, and see what it's like out there. Are you so convinced of your own rightness that you won't even try? There's much to be learned when you challenge your own worldview.
If your beef is with society, then focus your anger appropriately, ie. not at the individual cop who's just trying to do his job.
Folks, this isn't flamebait, it's the truth. Moderators, do your worst.
I love all the "I hate the X&!#@ Cops!!" trolls that inhabit this place; youthful rage directed at "the man"... with no concept of what it would be like to live without them.
Here's my challenge to all those who hate the police so much: If you think you can do their job so much better than they can, go help them out. I'm serious... this is a put-up-or-shut-up challenge. I want you to spend some time in the belly of the beast.
When I was a teen, I didn't like cops... but a funny thing happened to me on the way to my current job, I became a police officer, and it's got to be one of the nastiest jobs in the world. As a doc, I deal with drunks/pimps/bangers/dealers all the time, but thankfully they are usually cuffed and/or exhausted by the time they get to me (and some of them STILL fight... ER workers get assaulted all the time by these types. Fortuntately, the pharmacy is mighter than the sword). I deal with them, but I have a full contigent of burly guys +/- drugs to help me out... taking them on mano-a-mano on the street is a very different scenario. I take care of the bad people, but I also take care of the cops that get hurt fighting them. BE THANKFUL cops are out there... you don't even want to know the kind of sociopaths cops deal with everyday, for pretty low pay. You want to live in a world without cops? Go ahead, but be prepared to do your own dirty work. Think you've got what it takes? You'd better be right, because you're betting you life and the lives of your family on it.
Yes, I can hear the "boo hoo! poor cop! go eat more donuts!" trolls now... save it. You trolls can scoff all you want. Feel free to live in your "no cops" world... sounds great on the surface... but getting your ass kicked by some gangbangers when you're walking home from the LAN party some night might change your tune.
If you've got a beef with the "racist, motherf*cking police" and want to change things, then quit complaining and start working. Learn something about the police... volunteer some of your time (it's called community service; look into it). Go to a reserve police academy and get sworn, do some ride-alongs, or donate some of your 3l337 technical skills to their investigative unit (maybe they need computer forensics help).
Try to make things better instead of indulging in typical slashdot cop-bashing... in addition to the satisfaction of helping out your community, you might be surprised by what you learn.
What have you got to lose? Do it.