Just a comment on your ridiculous sig. To say that the court "ran out the clock" is like saying that a referee "ran out the clock" by not letting a football game go 65 minutes because he knew that the better team would eventually win. You can't change the rules during the frickin' game, moron. Thank God the Supreme Court recognized that.
And you are a pedant. We have democratic elections, so we are a democracy. We also have a constitution, which limits the rule of democracy, of course, but that does not mean that we are not a democracy. Your semantic distinctions are pedantic and pointless.
This is typical of the baloney Horowitz constantly faces. Rather than respond directly to his arguments, his adversaries usually revert to ad hominem attacks against his character. So, Horowitz is an "asshole," eh? And why is that? Oh, because you disagree with him. I see. And his ad was an "attack on blacks," eh? And why is that? Oh, because you disagree with him. I see again.
Just for the record, Horowitz is sincerely trying to help blacks. I realize some of you will never accept that fact, but he actually meets with conservative black leaders in LA and tries to develop a strategy to help them. He believes that they need real educational reforms (e.g., vouchers), not the phoney reforms that the teachers unions propose.
By the way, I believe that Horowitz has an African-American son-in-law (or daughter-in-law, one or the other), whom he accepts fully into his family. The notion that he is a racist or bigot is nothing but a politically motivated slander.
You misunderstood me. I did not claim that left-wing fascists are a minority at Berkeley (though they may well be, I don't know). What I am saying is that they are a fringe minority of the general public, thank God.
Was it Berkeley or some other campus where some lefty-loonies went out and confiscated all the copies of the newspapers with Horowitz's ad. Ah, now there's free speech!
Yes, I was there. And the rest of your comment is just as accurate as your false assertion that I wasn't. By the way, how could possibly know if I was there or not? You Berkeley fascists are frightening. Thank God you are a small fringe minority.
So-called free speech at Berkeley is a joke. Sure, you can say whatever you want, as long as your views are squarely to the left. Otherwise you get shouted down and threatened. Ask David Horowitz, a former prominent Berkeley sixties radical who is now an articulate conservative writer. He wrote a now-famous ad for the Berkeley paper on why reparations for slavery are a bad idea. Although his views are shared by something like 80% of the public, he was labeled a racist bigot by the newspaper, which was pressured into formally apologizing for the ad. It's a new McCarthyism, folks, and it's coming from the left this time.
Horowitz recently spoke at Berkeley (his alma mater), where the administration at first refused to guarantee his physical security despite threats of violence. At the event, a large group of protesters chanted communist slogans through a bullhorn (even Al Gore and Ralph Nader are too far to the right for them) and denounced Horowitz as a bigot. Find out what is going on in our so-called institutions of higher learning, folks. It is nothing short of chilling.
The ideal length of a patent should be based on how long it would reasonably take for someone else to independently discover the idea. Granted, this is a subjective criteria that cannot be determined accurately in many cases. However, in some cases it can be estimated fairly easily and accurately. For the "1-click" idea, someone else would have certainly "discovered" it within a year or two, so the patent should not be valid any longer than that.
Please read "Tornado in a Junkyard", "Darwin's Black Box, and "Evolution: A Theory in Crisis", or even just one of these books, before you make up your mind. I don't have time here to write a long post that will ultimately get rated "1", but rest assured that the original article is complete and utter bullshit. You can stay in the dark of open your eyes.
The article says the cables are cooled with liquid nitrogen. But how? Does the liquid nitrogen flow down the center of the cable? It seems that the logistics of cooling would be a major drawback.
Every time you've had to stop for an accident, it was caused by "a lame driver who didn't look both ways"? How could you possibly know what caused an accident that held you up for a half hour?
If you think that speeding rarely causes accidents, I say you are a fool. Do you realize that kinetic energy is proportional to the *square* of speed? Also, it's often the heavy speeders who do the stupid things like weaving in an out of traffic.
If you don't believe that speeders cause accidents, check with any insurance company. They keep statistics on this stuff.
I'm not suggesting that the proposed tracking system isn't cause for concern, I'm just saying it could have some benefits.
So, the only reason for speed limits is to "get more money." Bzzzzt. Wrong. Go back and correct your homework, and please use your brain this time. Real driving is not a video game.
I'm not saying I like the idea of being tracked, but this does have a positive side if it is used properly (a big "if").
Several months ago I was driving 70 mph on the freeway and I was about to switch lanes. An instant before I did, some idiot can flying by me at what must have been 120 mph. It scared the piss out of me. Had I switch lanes a second earlier, I might not be here to write this. There *is* a reason for speed limits, and there *is* a reason to enforce them!
Consider also that the idiots who would be most inconvenienced by this tracking system are usually also the same idiots who cause cause those traffic jams that waste a half hour of your time every couple of weeks.
Actually, if they set the thing to trigger at about 10-15 mph over the actual speed limit I don't think I would mind it.
I will turn the question back to you and ask why you think the ABM treaty should continue to be propped up when we can unconditionally withdraw within six months. What is the point of a treaty that only serves to tie our own hands behind our back, preventing us from even trying to defend ourselves? Do you honestly think it will slow down the Russian ABM program? Be serious now! The only effect of the treaty is to help the Democrats stop our ABM program.
I am always amazed that people still believe the baloney you spout. First of all, the Soviets violated the ABM treaty before the ink was even dry. Secondly, the Soviet Union, which the treaty was signed with, no longer exists. Thirdly, the ABM treaty had a provision for unconditional withdrawal with a six-minth notice. The fact that we haven't yet withdrawn proves beyond any doubt that that we in the US are complete fools.
By the way, if you want me to read any response, please email me. I don't have time to follow this nonsense.
The integrity of electronic voting can be ensured only if the following precautions are taken:
always generate and use paper backup ballots
use open computer architecture and open-source software
prohibit online voting (except in exceptional circumstances)
Please see ElectionMethods.org for critical information on alternative election methods.
Are you really for freedom?
on
"Traffic"
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· Score: 2
Well, well, it seems that a lot of libertarian-minded folks read this site. I am one myself, and I am all for legalizing drugs. But there's one catch. All government funded or subsidized drug treatment must end too. If you really believe in freedom, you should also believe in my freedom to not pay for someone else's addiction.
Open source is very appropriate for general purpose software such as operating systems, web browsers, web servers, etc. It is also good for general purpose programming tools such as compilers, editors, debuggers, etc.
Why is it good for these types of applications? Because the markets are huge, and even if you can't make money directly, you can make a name for yourself and gain tremendous influence and/or future income potential.
Consider Linus Torvalds and Richard Stallman. I'm sure they love what they do, but do you think they would have done it if they had to remain anonymous? Where do you suppose Torvalds would be today if he had tried to "sell" Linux the conventional way? And do you think Stallman doesn't try to use the influence he has earned when he broadcasts his technical and political opinions?
Open source will never be appropriate for niche or custom software--at least not until the niche has been filled for some time with conventional commercial software. Programmers have to get paid somehow, whether it be with actual money or with recognition. The latter translates into influence and/or future income potential.
If you look at the news at CBS, NBC, ABC, and CNN it quickly becomes apparent that they're not quite news either. They're left-wing advocacy sites. If it is not so apparent to you, then you are one of their pawns, and you need to read more of WorldNet Daily.
I've been a NASA aerospace engineer for nearly 20 years. You probably think I'm totally incompetent. Actually, I have a Masters from Stanford and I am very competent.
Why do I continue to work for the government? First, because I get to work on challenging and important problems (currently in air traffic management) and I get enough independence to be creative. Second, I don't have to work long hours. I usually work a standard 40-hour week. However, I often lie in bed thinking of creative solutions to difficult problems. Some of my best ideas have come to me in bed or otherwise away from work. Does that count as work time? I would detest a job in which I did grunt work for 70 hours a week.
I make a bit under $90K/yr in Silicon Valley with a Masters and 19 years experience. I am a competent C++ programmer. I have also done some significant "hobby" programming in Tcl/Tk and am learning Python. Am I shortchanging myself?
If you are a under about 30 years of age, you should be very concerned about the fact that uncle Sam is fleecing you to the tune of 15% and putting it into a Ponze scheme known as Social Security. Bush has proposed a major step in the right direction toward privatization of SS, but Gore thinks you are too stupid to even know you are getting screwed. This alone is reason enough to vote for Bush.
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Just a comment on your ridiculous sig. To say that the court "ran out the clock" is like saying that a referee "ran out the clock" by not letting a football game go 65 minutes because he knew that the better team would eventually win. You can't change the rules during the frickin' game, moron. Thank God the Supreme Court recognized that.
And you are a pedant. We have democratic elections, so we are a democracy. We also have a constitution, which limits the rule of democracy, of course, but that does not mean that we are not a democracy. Your semantic distinctions are pedantic and pointless.
What went wrong at BeOpen.com?
This is typical of the baloney Horowitz constantly faces. Rather than respond directly to his arguments, his adversaries usually revert to ad hominem attacks against his character. So, Horowitz is an "asshole," eh? And why is that? Oh, because you disagree with him. I see. And his ad was an "attack on blacks," eh? And why is that? Oh, because you disagree with him. I see again.
Just for the record, Horowitz is sincerely trying to help blacks. I realize some of you will never accept that fact, but he actually meets with conservative black leaders in LA and tries to develop a strategy to help them. He believes that they need real educational reforms (e.g., vouchers), not the phoney reforms that the teachers unions propose.
By the way, I believe that Horowitz has an African-American son-in-law (or daughter-in-law, one or the other), whom he accepts fully into his family. The notion that he is a racist or bigot is nothing but a politically motivated slander.
You misunderstood me. I did not claim that left-wing fascists are a minority at Berkeley (though they may well be, I don't know). What I am saying is that they are a fringe minority of the general public, thank God.
Was it Berkeley or some other campus where some lefty-loonies went out and confiscated all the copies of the newspapers with Horowitz's ad. Ah, now there's free speech!
Yes, I was there. And the rest of your comment is just as accurate as your false assertion that I wasn't. By the way, how could possibly know if I was there or not? You Berkeley fascists are frightening. Thank God you are a small fringe minority.
So-called free speech at Berkeley is a joke. Sure, you can say whatever you want, as long as your views are squarely to the left. Otherwise you get shouted down and threatened. Ask David Horowitz, a former prominent Berkeley sixties radical who is now an articulate conservative writer. He wrote a now-famous ad for the Berkeley paper on why reparations for slavery are a bad idea. Although his views are shared by something like 80% of the public, he was labeled a racist bigot by the newspaper, which was pressured into formally apologizing for the ad. It's a new McCarthyism, folks, and it's coming from the left this time.
Horowitz recently spoke at Berkeley (his alma mater), where the administration at first refused to guarantee his physical security despite threats of violence. At the event, a large group of protesters chanted communist slogans through a bullhorn (even Al Gore and Ralph Nader are too far to the right for them) and denounced Horowitz as a bigot. Find out what is going on in our so-called institutions of higher learning, folks. It is nothing short of chilling.
For some good information on voting methods, please see ElectionMethods.org.
Please read "Tornado in a Junkyard", "Darwin's Black Box, and "Evolution: A Theory in Crisis", or even just one of these books, before you make up your mind. I don't have time here to write a long post that will ultimately get rated "1", but rest assured that the original article is complete and utter bullshit. You can stay in the dark of open your eyes.
The article says the cables are cooled with liquid nitrogen. But how? Does the liquid nitrogen flow down the center of the cable? It seems that the logistics of cooling would be a major drawback.
Every time you've had to stop for an accident, it was caused by "a lame driver who didn't look both ways"? How could you possibly know what caused an accident that held you up for a half hour?
If you think that speeding rarely causes accidents, I say you are a fool. Do you realize that kinetic energy is proportional to the *square* of speed? Also, it's often the heavy speeders who do the stupid things like weaving in an out of traffic.
If you don't believe that speeders cause accidents, check with any insurance company. They keep statistics on this stuff.
I'm not suggesting that the proposed tracking system isn't cause for concern, I'm just saying it could have some benefits.
So, the only reason for speed limits is to "get more money." Bzzzzt. Wrong. Go back and correct your homework, and please use your brain this time. Real driving is not a video game.
I'm not saying I like the idea of being tracked, but this does have a positive side if it is used properly (a big "if").
Several months ago I was driving 70 mph on the freeway and I was about to switch lanes. An instant before I did, some idiot can flying by me at what must have been 120 mph. It scared the piss out of me. Had I switch lanes a second earlier, I might not be here to write this. There *is* a reason for speed limits, and there *is* a reason to enforce them!
Consider also that the idiots who would be most inconvenienced by this tracking system are usually also the same idiots who cause cause those traffic jams that waste a half hour of your time every couple of weeks.
Actually, if they set the thing to trigger at about 10-15 mph over the actual speed limit I don't think I would mind it.
The Clinton Administration already took care of it.
I will turn the question back to you and ask why you think the ABM treaty should continue to be propped up when we can unconditionally withdraw within six months. What is the point of a treaty that only serves to tie our own hands behind our back, preventing us from even trying to defend ourselves? Do you honestly think it will slow down the Russian ABM program? Be serious now! The only effect of the treaty is to help the Democrats stop our ABM program.
I am always amazed that people still believe the baloney you spout. First of all, the Soviets violated the ABM treaty before the ink was even dry. Secondly, the Soviet Union, which the treaty was signed with, no longer exists. Thirdly, the ABM treaty had a provision for unconditional withdrawal with a six-minth notice. The fact that we haven't yet withdrawn proves beyond any doubt that that we in the US are complete fools.
By the way, if you want me to read any response, please email me. I don't have time to follow this nonsense.
Please see ElectionMethods.org for critical information on alternative election methods.
Well, well, it seems that a lot of libertarian-minded folks read this site. I am one myself, and I am all for legalizing drugs. But there's one catch. All government funded or subsidized drug treatment must end too. If you really believe in freedom, you should also believe in my freedom to not pay for someone else's addiction.
Open source is very appropriate for general purpose software such as operating systems, web browsers, web servers, etc. It is also good for general purpose programming tools such as compilers, editors, debuggers, etc.
Why is it good for these types of applications? Because the markets are huge, and even if you can't make money directly, you can make a name for yourself and gain tremendous influence and/or future income potential.
Consider Linus Torvalds and Richard Stallman. I'm sure they love what they do, but do you think they would have done it if they had to remain anonymous? Where do you suppose Torvalds would be today if he had tried to "sell" Linux the conventional way? And do you think Stallman doesn't try to use the influence he has earned when he broadcasts his technical and political opinions?
Open source will never be appropriate for niche or custom software--at least not until the niche has been filled for some time with conventional commercial software. Programmers have to get paid somehow, whether it be with actual money or with recognition. The latter translates into influence and/or future income potential.
I've been a NASA aerospace engineer for nearly 20 years. You probably think I'm totally incompetent. Actually, I have a Masters from Stanford and I am very competent.
Why do I continue to work for the government? First, because I get to work on challenging and important problems (currently in air traffic management) and I get enough independence to be creative. Second, I don't have to work long hours. I usually work a standard 40-hour week. However, I often lie in bed thinking of creative solutions to difficult problems. Some of my best ideas have come to me in bed or otherwise away from work. Does that count as work time? I would detest a job in which I did grunt work for 70 hours a week.
I make a bit under $90K/yr in Silicon Valley with a Masters and 19 years experience. I am a competent C++ programmer. I have also done some significant "hobby" programming in Tcl/Tk and am learning Python. Am I shortchanging myself?
If you are a under about 30 years of age, you should be very concerned about the fact that uncle Sam is fleecing you to the tune of 15% and putting it into a Ponze scheme known as Social Security. Bush has proposed a major step in the right direction toward privatization of SS, but Gore thinks you are too stupid to even know you are getting screwed. This alone is reason enough to vote for Bush.
Then check out