The more people (even pirates) who use Windows, the better off Microsoft is.
I have heard that many times - sometimes it sounds to me like "the more people (even thieves) who use [insert any product], the better off [product's company] is".... maybe i should go steal a Mercedes from the factory, you know, me Greek, helping the German economy a bit!
If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is. All that talk about pirates getting free Windows 10 upgrades? Not happening.
Since when it is "good" to reward pirates, and to who (other than pirates!) it sounded "good"?
The Security community, maybe... Not all Pirates are smart Pirates. Some end up getting scurvy (trojans, spyware, etc) as a result of their pirating ways.
O.K., i accept that as a logical answer to the second part of my question, but it sounds a bit like the Medical community would prefer rapist to choose children because it helps their battle against the spread of herpes - you know, the less chances for a rapist to get herpes, the better for public health...
LOL.
First, All of America's gov. sats use American launchers. 2 launchers use Russian parts, of which 1 of them blew up several months ago.
Secondly, SpaceX's F9 is SAFER, and MUCH CHEAPER than the Russian Rockets. In addition, within another year, they will be even cheaper again. Right now, SpaceX has over 1/2 of the commercial launch business that is available for the future.
First of all: i did not mentioned specificaly USA (other than to inform you that an American company is partner with the Russian that operates the Russian Protons), but just "Western", because i wanted to avoid THIS...
Also, i used the word "usually": USUALLY, *commercial* satelites are launched with Russian rockets nowdays because of economic reasons - something i find o.k. (note: i am Greek/European - we are "competitors" AND "partners" also!)
About this "SpaceX has over 1/2 of the commercial launch business that is available for the future": FOR THE FUTURE...
Not everything is "YOU/US" against "THEM" - you will be suprised if you learn in how many fields WE cooperate
Russian space tech has been known to be inferior to virtually everything made in the west.
But being cheap is a virtue too (unless it loses *your* satellite).
Since probably you are referring to rockets i think you are wrong: Russian rockets are well known to be at least as good as the best Western made (and cheaper). The reason you those failures exist as news is because even *YOUR* satelites are usually launced with *THEIR* rockets! The Russian Proton rockets (with a Western -American- company as a partner to the Russian one who operates them) have a good enough failure rate of about 1 in 10 launches.
Also keep in mind that some Western rockets use Russian engines and other technology...
You overestimate EU's intelligence and/or underestimate our Greek "intelligence"... i.e., too much credulity from "barbarians" and some Greek trickery, and we have a problem!
Anyway, my issues with EU are mostly social-politic (e.g., "anti-racist/sexist/discrimination/e.t.c." laws/directives that are in reality "gag" laws) and not so much economic - actually i blame us Greek for our current "crisis", not any European (althrough they are not exactly "innocent victims"!). But as i wrote already, i am still pro-European, and i agree with what you wrote about the positive aspects of our union - it is just that i am not so ready for this (con-)federalism of ours... yet!
The GOP continues to gut funding for development of manned private space launch, but will continue to pour money into the SLS, AND having Russia do the manned launches. Fucking insane
The International Launch Services who operates those Proton rockets is a joint venture between a primary private Russian and an American (i think Lockheed Martin) partner - plus, those Proton rockets have a failure rate about 1 in 10 launches, which is good enough. So i think both the economic and the "patriotic" reasons you mention are covered enough right now. Of course more development is always good, but...
Extremely off-topic, but just to touch on the 'who decides' - those with deep pockets, of course. That's not me - it might be you, but I suspect not:)
It is me who must be blamed for your "off-topic" comment, since i ask you a question (and thanks for your answer). By the way... no, i am not one with deep pockets!
Let's face it, we can ask the same thing about our national governments, regional governments, municipal governments and local pseudogovernments.
That's something that always strikes me as hilarious about U.S. politics. Case in point: same sex marriage. Several state legislators are arguing the case that the Federal Government should have no say in this and that it should be up to the people whether or not same sex marriage should be allowed. But when they say "the people",they really mean that it should be up to the states. Imagine if Travis County, TX (home to Austin, TX) made much the same argument that the state shouldn't have a say in this, that it should be up to the people voting in county level politics. The state would smack that down in a heartbeat - while letting counties having free reign on various other matters.
So, really, which government decides anything in Austin, TX? Travis County? Texas State? The U.S.?
It's not much different in the EU - the EU just has the additional hassle of the law of the handicap of a head start; cultures progressed quickly but individually here, so now a bunch of legislation that really should apply to all European countries instead has to trickle down through each nation's own legislation, bubble back up to the EU when they hit a snag, come back down, etc.
We are indeed very good with bad ideas - but we do have a few good ones once in a while as well; executing on them remains a problem:)
As a Greek, i have *some* control to my national government (i think/hope!) - but i feel i have not any for my/our new (con-)federal European "goverment". I don't know in which level of our complex bureaucracy is discussed right now and even who is going to decide about the issue of the story: i am afraid that i will wake up tomorrow, this will be a law, i will ask my representetives in my national goverment, they will answer me "it is EU's law, we must inforce it as required", and when ask then my representetives in the European parliament, they will answer "it was a directive from some commity, we never decided something like that... sorry". I am very pro-European (excluding our -many- very bad ideas...), but we don't have a (con-)federal tradition as USA (or, we Greeks, not even as Germany for example), so this becomes problematic, even more because of our cultural differences. Anyway... i guess we European citizens can at least decide the winner of Eurovision!
Seems tempting, but then you realize that they actually plan on taking money from the advertising companies to start allowing ads again:
The idea is to specifically target Google, blocking advertising on its websites in an attempt to force the company into giving up a cut of its revenues.
Also keep in mind that this almost requires them to play MITM with certs, inspect your traffic, etc. which can then further be monetized, and new content injected. Phorm comes to mind.
And "Phorm" it is!
Add to that the slippery slope, and it should be evident to anybody that this is a bad idea - and one that has been struck down in the EU in the past already.
We Europeans are very good with our bad ideas - and don't forget that what has been struck down in the past has a "right to be forgoten"...
As much as people may dislike ads, having them blocked at the ISP level is a patently terrible idea. I, for one, am hoping the legal weasels haven't found loopholes that would make legislators nod in agreement that this would be a-ok.
Since we are both Europeans as i understand, and since you seem to know enough about the subject, can you answer me this: I am pro-European, but... WHO DECIDES in our union my fellow European? Who is in charge? I am afraid that our (Con)-Federalism is going too fast and without citizens even knowing the basics about it.
Are you annoyed by youtube videos that cannot be viewed from a mobile device? Expect more of that. Provides will simply not serve content to the ad-free devices. Why should they?
Vajk
I don't care about what you write. You know what i really care about? Mark Wilson. I love this guy. Well, o.k., to be honest, i don't know him... but i only have one request: to just exist... oh, my dear anonymous... you don't know how much i wish this might be the case.
"I am Greek..." and "...and there is not such thing as 'UN-limited budged' for anything..." appear to be contradictory. Your economy appears to have run as if it was unlimited...
Once again we Greeks educate the barbarians - so: this should be a lesson for the rest of world...
Trash?
Why, because you don't agree with scientific exploration? It's a real world proof of concept and will give a real basis to build upon this technology and technique. Besides, those 3 cubesats in it are more than just com systems, though the data from even that has some value. As far as satellites and probes go, this is small and cheap, so it's bang for the buck is better than most.
I don't agree with scientific exploration just because i think that this is already proven and tested concept (from NASA and other national space agencies)? What new "data" this will provide? Did you read something i didn't?
"bureaucrats"...
You mean the old sods that can't figure out the value of anything other than bribes, err, campaign contributions, and pork, err, vote buying by spending money on local though dubious projects? Yeah, that means nothing. In case you haven't noticed, our current crop of politicians are lucky they can read.
Please dude, i am Greek, i don't pay for NASA, but it was those "bureaucrats" (with USA's citizens money) that also helped advance space/scientific exploration, benefiting the whole world.
not a meaningful "experiment"
Great, just tell me what the actual acceleration it would achieve is, and what all the data it's other sensors (whatever those will be) will send back, and I'll accept that statement of yours. You can't? Well of course not, that's why we do these kinds of things. We can make mathematical models and analyze those all we want, but until we get realworld data, we just don't know if there's anything else out there to mess with the results. Did you know there has been anomalous thrust on the pioneer and voyager probes? Funny how we would have no idea something like that could happen until we actually sent those probes for real. By the way, they are still studying that data, and they think they've figured that mystery out, but it's not up to the whole seven sigmas thing yet.
what new "data" this will provide? did you read something i didn't? what "sensors"???
NASA does not waste its limited budget
I'm glad you recognize NASAs budget limitations and understand that at the current funding levels and lack of appropriate launch vehicles they can't even keep up with their current orbital responsibilities. You do know that our network of both communication, weather, and GPS satellites is in poor repair and greatly in need of new satellites? Well it's true.
Of course i recognize recognize NASAs budget limitations (i.e., i recognize that USA citizens can't fund space exploration, benefiting the whole world, without limits), so i don't like it when someone (not you- the guy i responed to his comment) tries to imply that NASA (so, USA citizens) should waste money for projects not meaningfull as EXPERIMENTS anymore.
Are you worried that all this research and exploration of space has no apparent benefit to us? Well let's put it this way, it has been reported that less than 2 measly centuries ago, early pioneers of electricity were ask of what use electricity had. At that time, they just didn't know. These days, you probably can't imagine living without it.
BUT WHAT NEW "DATA" THIS WILL PROVIDE AND WHAT "SENSORS" WILL THIS HAVE? DID YOU READ SOMETHING I DIDN'T???
Someone else replied to my comment yesterday and i managed to make the connection with Scientology, something i totaly had missed, and something you confirm - not much Scientology here in Greece (thank God - i am religious -Greek Orthodox Christian-, you can say whatever you want about us, but i am telling you that the very few of these Greek Scientologist guys -about a dozen, not more- are seriously crazy... hospitalized crazy...).
I will certainly concede a lack of knowledge on Greek religious culture, and as long as your characterization is accurate (and I have no reason to doubt it) I would guess Greek religious tendencies have more to do with a strong religious culture than their economic woes. They are certainly not unique in the world, although they are fairly unique in the developed world.
This "Greek strong religious culture" is not unique, since it has many commons with the Catholic Northern-Europe and Latin-America, just different (note: different, not better or worse) from the Protestantic. Greeks have more religious practices OUTSIDE the church's bulding (and i don't mean in the yard!). In many cases (pleasant or sad) you will have a priest present for blessings. In most gatherings about a "happening" you will have a priest. Most of the times when in church you will be alone, with few others, or with only the priest, but not as in a service, but as in a "church visit". But most Greeks attend some usual services, almost all attend the major 10 services in a year, and all attend at least few because of social reasons (but even those are in a normal "official" religious practice, based on Orthodox -and Catholic i must add- ways).
TOTALY anecdotical, but from personal knowledge (for Russia and other Slavic countries): It is the young people that return! Old people are influenced by communism - either as fanatic communists (so fanatic Atheists) OR still afraid that "the monster may return, lets keep our heads down, stupid young people should not expose their belief". Keep in mind that those Slavic states are Orthodox also.
Here [pewforum.org] is the first study I came across detailing the demographics or religious belief in Russia. It appears that in 2008, 53% of 16-29 year old Russians believe in God, compared to 69% of ages 70+. It also showed that the religious beliefs of ages 16-69 are pretty constant, it is only those ages 70+ which are more religious. So I guess we can both see what we want to see from those stats, since even though there is a sharp drop-off for those under 70, there is no additional drop-off for the millennial generation.
Just to clarify my previous point: i meant that younger people RETURNING to religion - i.e., from families not religious (or not exposing their religion because of the reasons i mentioned). In any other ways of examining the data the numbers should be as expected. (by the way, very interesting study - but i must repeat something i often meet in such studies, that are obvious to me because i am an "outsider" to the "examiner" but "insider" to the "examined": cultural differences create problems for methodologies influenced by foreign norms).
It is odd that belief in God was inversely related to belief in the afterlife. I have no idea what to make of that.
And my bad English fail me miserably (or is it just my usual stupidity? hmmm...), so i don't have any idea what you mean... sorry!
They most certainly do not "DIS-believe" in GOD(s) since they aren't sure GOD(s) DOESN'T exist. EACH Agnostic fill the full spectrum from assuming GOD(s) probably exist and assuming GOD(s) probably don't exist. But what ALL OF THEM lack is KNOWLEDGE BASED faith in a deity, or else they would not self-identify as agnostic. They would instead identify themselves as religious but still harbor some doubts, which probably describes most religious people.
When discussing religion, I guess I use the word "belief" as meaning religious belief. So lack of devotion to a deity is the same as lack of belief. So in this context the opposite of belief is not dis-belief, just lack of belief. I hope that adds clarity to my original statement, since I don't disagree with most of your more precise statements in the above quote.
I do disagree with the "EACH" qualifier you added in the second sentence though. Many agnostics bel
While i disagree (but not totally), your latest answer is honest enough and i respect that - what i can't accept is what the vast majority of Slashdoters do: pretend that they are better than a (Greek Orthodox) Christian, because... you know!
I hope some Americans will write a fucking letter to Europe as a reminder for our "right to remember", because WE stupid Europeans forgot it.
If you keep going down this road, we'll be on your doorsteps with war machines again. Our economy could use the help, though, so by all means continue. I'm too old and fat to be worth drafting anyway.
PLEASE COME! First write the letter i proposed, but then (since we are stupid enough to ignore you) JUST COME...
Your latest comment explains your previous my friend... so: you are a musician!
I am an (amateur - without formal education, just self–taught) musician - playing (among other instruments)... the clarinet, "Greek style" (any Slashdoter feeling angry with me for mentioning Greece again: the music is called "America" -it's about Greek immigration- so... fuck off!) and for non-Greek music (of any kind), plus the bouzouki, mostly for Greek music (any Slashdoter feeling angry with me for mentioning Greece AGAIN: the music is called... "Pulp Fiction movie's soundtrack it's originaly GREEK!" -you may recognize it- so... FUCK OFF!!!)
I intuitively recognize the similarities in the various flavors of "hot" music specific to cultures
You do - it helps a lot that you are a musician... but you are a musician because (including the good influences i mentioned earlier) you have the talent to recognize music!
You comment just helped me join the pieces and answer some questions i had about the movie - like an "epiphany": yes... Scientology, Travolta, the scenario...
And i glad someone other than me also finds it "NOT the worst movie ever" - actually, as i said I find it funny enough!
My dad had an old "Anatolian Feast" LP of Greek folk music - bouzouki stuff, odd meters, etc., that I couldn't take as a little kid, but I have some similar stuff I listen to now. Middle-eastern and Mediterranean music is superb. As is a lot of authentic folk music from almost anywhere in the world. Textured and interesting
That is what i am talking about my friend - and you described it excellent!
I prefer not to mention anything about Greek music because many fellow Slashdoters are getting angry with my frequent comments refering to something about Greece (i admit it's much of "Greek pride"!), BUT: you are a great example of what i mean, and why exposure in a young age to more than the usual "popular music" breaks the "monoculture" (common in USA i am afraid - if you are American, no offence i hope) AND "trains the ear", so you become an "educated listener". This is not some kind of "elitism" as many may think, on the contrary... since YOU can join ME in a BROADER AND DEEPER "common" (instead of the narrow and shallow "popular") culture: in the same way as i can enjoy the usual USA music (as most people around the world does).
Slashdot Mirror
Pirates will "reward" themselves. Yarr.
In Communist Slashdot, pirates reward ... - oh, never mind, just ignore me!
The more people (even pirates) who use Windows, the better off Microsoft is.
I have heard that many times - sometimes it sounds to me like "the more people (even thieves) who use [insert any product], the better off [product's company] is".... maybe i should go steal a Mercedes from the factory, you know, me Greek, helping the German economy a bit!
If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is. All that talk about pirates getting free Windows 10 upgrades? Not happening.
Since when it is "good" to reward pirates, and to who (other than pirates!) it sounded "good"?
The Security community, maybe... Not all Pirates are smart Pirates. Some end up getting scurvy (trojans, spyware, etc) as a result of their pirating ways.
O.K., i accept that as a logical answer to the second part of my question, but it sounds a bit like the Medical community would prefer rapist to choose children because it helps their battle against the spread of herpes - you know, the less chances for a rapist to get herpes, the better for public health...
LOL. First, All of America's gov. sats use American launchers. 2 launchers use Russian parts, of which 1 of them blew up several months ago. Secondly, SpaceX's F9 is SAFER, and MUCH CHEAPER than the Russian Rockets. In addition, within another year, they will be even cheaper again. Right now, SpaceX has over 1/2 of the commercial launch business that is available for the future.
First of all: i did not mentioned specificaly USA (other than to inform you that an American company is partner with the Russian that operates the Russian Protons), but just "Western", because i wanted to avoid THIS...
Also, i used the word "usually": USUALLY, *commercial* satelites are launched with Russian rockets nowdays because of economic reasons - something i find o.k. (note: i am Greek/European - we are "competitors" AND "partners" also!)
About this "SpaceX has over 1/2 of the commercial launch business that is available for the future": FOR THE FUTURE...
Not everything is "YOU/US" against "THEM" - you will be suprised if you learn in how many fields WE cooperate
If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is. All that talk about pirates getting free Windows 10 upgrades? Not happening.
Since when it is "good" to reward pirates, and to who (other than pirates!) it sounded "good"?
Russian space tech has been known to be inferior to virtually everything made in the west.
But being cheap is a virtue too (unless it loses *your* satellite).
Since probably you are referring to rockets i think you are wrong: Russian rockets are well known to be at least as good as the best Western made (and cheaper). The reason you those failures exist as news is because even *YOUR* satelites are usually launced with *THEIR* rockets! The Russian Proton rockets (with a Western -American- company as a partner to the Russian one who operates them) have a good enough failure rate of about 1 in 10 launches.
Also keep in mind that some Western rockets use Russian engines and other technology...
Anyway, my issues with EU are mostly social-politic (e.g., "anti-racist/sexist/discrimination/e.t.c." laws/directives that are in reality "gag" laws) and not so much economic - actually i blame us Greek for our current "crisis", not any European (althrough they are not exactly "innocent victims"!). But as i wrote already, i am still pro-European, and i agree with what you wrote about the positive aspects of our union - it is just that i am not so ready for this (con-)federalism of ours... yet!
The GOP continues to gut funding for development of manned private space launch, but will continue to pour money into the SLS, AND having Russia do the manned launches. Fucking insane
The International Launch Services who operates those Proton rockets is a joint venture between a primary private Russian and an American (i think Lockheed Martin) partner - plus, those Proton rockets have a failure rate about 1 in 10 launches, which is good enough. So i think both the economic and the "patriotic" reasons you mention are covered enough right now. Of course more development is always good, but...
Extremely off-topic, but just to touch on the 'who decides' - those with deep pockets, of course. That's not me - it might be you, but I suspect not :)
It is me who must be blamed for your "off-topic" comment, since i ask you a question (and thanks for your answer). By the way... no, i am not one with deep pockets!
Let's face it, we can ask the same thing about our national governments, regional governments, municipal governments and local pseudogovernments. That's something that always strikes me as hilarious about U.S. politics. Case in point: same sex marriage. Several state legislators are arguing the case that the Federal Government should have no say in this and that it should be up to the people whether or not same sex marriage should be allowed. But when they say "the people",they really mean that it should be up to the states. Imagine if Travis County, TX (home to Austin, TX) made much the same argument that the state shouldn't have a say in this, that it should be up to the people voting in county level politics. The state would smack that down in a heartbeat - while letting counties having free reign on various other matters. So, really, which government decides anything in Austin, TX? Travis County? Texas State? The U.S.? It's not much different in the EU - the EU just has the additional hassle of the law of the handicap of a head start; cultures progressed quickly but individually here, so now a bunch of legislation that really should apply to all European countries instead has to trickle down through each nation's own legislation, bubble back up to the EU when they hit a snag, come back down, etc. We are indeed very good with bad ideas - but we do have a few good ones once in a while as well; executing on them remains a problem :)
As a Greek, i have *some* control to my national government (i think/hope!) - but i feel i have not any for my/our new (con-)federal European "goverment". I don't know in which level of our complex bureaucracy is discussed right now and even who is going to decide about the issue of the story: i am afraid that i will wake up tomorrow, this will be a law, i will ask my representetives in my national goverment, they will answer me "it is EU's law, we must inforce it as required", and when ask then my representetives in the European parliament, they will answer "it was a directive from some commity, we never decided something like that... sorry". I am very pro-European (excluding our -many- very bad ideas...), but we don't have a (con-)federal tradition as USA (or, we Greeks, not even as Germany for example), so this becomes problematic, even more because of our cultural differences. Anyway... i guess we European citizens can at least decide the winner of Eurovision!
Seems tempting, but then you realize that they actually plan on taking money from the advertising companies to start allowing ads again:
Well, it could have been worse.
Also keep in mind that this almost requires them to play MITM with certs, inspect your traffic, etc. which can then further be monetized, and new content injected. Phorm comes to mind.
And "Phorm" it is!
Add to that the slippery slope, and it should be evident to anybody that this is a bad idea - and one that has been struck down in the EU in the past already.
We Europeans are very good with our bad ideas - and don't forget that what has been struck down in the past has a "right to be forgoten"...
As much as people may dislike ads, having them blocked at the ISP level is a patently terrible idea. I, for one, am hoping the legal weasels haven't found loopholes that would make legislators nod in agreement that this would be a-ok.
Since we are both Europeans as i understand, and since you seem to know enough about the subject, can you answer me this: I am pro-European, but... WHO DECIDES in our union my fellow European? Who is in charge? I am afraid that our (Con)-Federalism is going too fast and without citizens even knowing the basics about it.
Are you annoyed by youtube videos that cannot be viewed from a mobile device? Expect more of that. Provides will simply not serve content to the ad-free devices. Why should they?
Vajk
I don't care about what you write. You know what i really care about? Mark Wilson. I love this guy. Well, o.k., to be honest, i don't know him... but i only have one request: to just exist... oh, my dear anonymous... you don't know how much i wish this might be the case.
"I am Greek..." and "...and there is not such thing as 'UN-limited budged' for anything..." appear to be contradictory. Your economy appears to have run as if it was unlimited...
Once again we Greeks educate the barbarians - so: this should be a lesson for the rest of world...
I am Greek, i benefit from NASA, but i don't pay for NASA, USA citizens do - and there is not such thing as "UN-limited budged" for anything...
Trash? Why, because you don't agree with scientific exploration? It's a real world proof of concept and will give a real basis to build upon this technology and technique. Besides, those 3 cubesats in it are more than just com systems, though the data from even that has some value. As far as satellites and probes go, this is small and cheap, so it's bang for the buck is better than most.
I don't agree with scientific exploration just because i think that this is already proven and tested concept (from NASA and other national space agencies)? What new "data" this will provide? Did you read something i didn't?
"bureaucrats" ...
You mean the old sods that can't figure out the value of anything other than bribes, err, campaign contributions, and pork, err, vote buying by spending money on local though dubious projects? Yeah, that means nothing. In case you haven't noticed, our current crop of politicians are lucky they can read.
Please dude, i am Greek, i don't pay for NASA, but it was those "bureaucrats" (with USA's citizens money) that also helped advance space/scientific exploration, benefiting the whole world.
not a meaningful "experiment" Great, just tell me what the actual acceleration it would achieve is, and what all the data it's other sensors (whatever those will be) will send back, and I'll accept that statement of yours. You can't? Well of course not, that's why we do these kinds of things. We can make mathematical models and analyze those all we want, but until we get realworld data, we just don't know if there's anything else out there to mess with the results. Did you know there has been anomalous thrust on the pioneer and voyager probes? Funny how we would have no idea something like that could happen until we actually sent those probes for real. By the way, they are still studying that data, and they think they've figured that mystery out, but it's not up to the whole seven sigmas thing yet.
what new "data" this will provide? did you read something i didn't? what "sensors"???
NASA does not waste its limited budget I'm glad you recognize NASAs budget limitations and understand that at the current funding levels and lack of appropriate launch vehicles they can't even keep up with their current orbital responsibilities. You do know that our network of both communication, weather, and GPS satellites is in poor repair and greatly in need of new satellites? Well it's true.
Of course i recognize recognize NASAs budget limitations (i.e., i recognize that USA citizens can't fund space exploration, benefiting the whole world, without limits), so i don't like it when someone (not you- the guy i responed to his comment) tries to imply that NASA (so, USA citizens) should waste money for projects not meaningfull as EXPERIMENTS anymore.
Are you worried that all this research and exploration of space has no apparent benefit to us? Well let's put it this way, it has been reported that less than 2 measly centuries ago, early pioneers of electricity were ask of what use electricity had. At that time, they just didn't know. These days, you probably can't imagine living without it.
BUT WHAT NEW "DATA" THIS WILL PROVIDE AND WHAT "SENSORS" WILL THIS HAVE? DID YOU READ SOMETHING I DIDN'T???
Happy because people can get together and do something meaningful.
Sending trash to orbit is "something meaningful"?
Sad because bureaucrats can't be convinced this is a meaningful endeavor.
But you should be happy "bureaucrats" don't send trash to orbit, so "people" (i am just "people" myself) can do it and be "happy"...
NASA could have being a driving force in all this kind of apparently crazy experiments.
It is just "crazy", because sending trash to orbit is not a meaningful "experiment" anymore.
But is struggling with the quantity of pork distributed by politicians from the meager budget to their home states.
Thank God, NASA does not waste its limited budget by sending trash to orbit!
Someone else replied to my comment yesterday and i managed to make the connection with Scientology, something i totaly had missed, and something you confirm - not much Scientology here in Greece (thank God - i am religious -Greek Orthodox Christian-, you can say whatever you want about us, but i am telling you that the very few of these Greek Scientologist guys -about a dozen, not more- are seriously crazy... hospitalized crazy...).
I categorize kitchen appliances into two categories: Those that can make chicken wings and those that can't.
Only a chicken can make chicken wings.
Only an egg can make chicken wings.
I will certainly concede a lack of knowledge on Greek religious culture, and as long as your characterization is accurate (and I have no reason to doubt it) I would guess Greek religious tendencies have more to do with a strong religious culture than their economic woes. They are certainly not unique in the world, although they are fairly unique in the developed world.
This "Greek strong religious culture" is not unique, since it has many commons with the Catholic Northern-Europe and Latin-America, just different (note: different, not better or worse) from the Protestantic. Greeks have more religious practices OUTSIDE the church's bulding (and i don't mean in the yard!). In many cases (pleasant or sad) you will have a priest present for blessings. In most gatherings about a "happening" you will have a priest. Most of the times when in church you will be alone, with few others, or with only the priest, but not as in a service, but as in a "church visit". But most Greeks attend some usual services, almost all attend the major 10 services in a year, and all attend at least few because of social reasons (but even those are in a normal "official" religious practice, based on Orthodox -and Catholic i must add- ways).
TOTALY anecdotical, but from personal knowledge (for Russia and other Slavic countries): It is the young people that return! Old people are influenced by communism - either as fanatic communists (so fanatic Atheists) OR still afraid that "the monster may return, lets keep our heads down, stupid young people should not expose their belief". Keep in mind that those Slavic states are Orthodox also.
Here [pewforum.org] is the first study I came across detailing the demographics or religious belief in Russia. It appears that in 2008, 53% of 16-29 year old Russians believe in God, compared to 69% of ages 70+. It also showed that the religious beliefs of ages 16-69 are pretty constant, it is only those ages 70+ which are more religious. So I guess we can both see what we want to see from those stats, since even though there is a sharp drop-off for those under 70, there is no additional drop-off for the millennial generation.
Just to clarify my previous point: i meant that younger people RETURNING to religion - i.e., from families not religious (or not exposing their religion because of the reasons i mentioned). In any other ways of examining the data the numbers should be as expected. (by the way, very interesting study - but i must repeat something i often meet in such studies, that are obvious to me because i am an "outsider" to the "examiner" but "insider" to the "examined": cultural differences create problems for methodologies influenced by foreign norms).
It is odd that belief in God was inversely related to belief in the afterlife. I have no idea what to make of that.
And my bad English fail me miserably (or is it just my usual stupidity? hmmm...), so i don't have any idea what you mean... sorry!
They most certainly do not "DIS-believe" in GOD(s) since they aren't sure GOD(s) DOESN'T exist. EACH Agnostic fill the full spectrum from assuming GOD(s) probably exist and assuming GOD(s) probably don't exist. But what ALL OF THEM lack is KNOWLEDGE BASED faith in a deity, or else they would not self-identify as agnostic. They would instead identify themselves as religious but still harbor some doubts, which probably describes most religious people.
When discussing religion, I guess I use the word "belief" as meaning religious belief. So lack of devotion to a deity is the same as lack of belief. So in this context the opposite of belief is not dis-belief, just lack of belief. I hope that adds clarity to my original statement, since I don't disagree with most of your more precise statements in the above quote.
I do disagree with the "EACH" qualifier you added in the second sentence though. Many agnostics bel
While i disagree (but not totally), your latest answer is honest enough and i respect that - what i can't accept is what the vast majority of Slashdoters do: pretend that they are better than a (Greek Orthodox) Christian, because... you know!
I hope some Americans will write a fucking letter to Europe as a reminder for our "right to remember", because WE stupid Europeans forgot it.
If you keep going down this road, we'll be on your doorsteps with war machines again. Our economy could use the help, though, so by all means continue. I'm too old and fat to be worth drafting anyway.
PLEASE COME! First write the letter i proposed, but then (since we are stupid enough to ignore you) JUST COME...
Your latest comment explains your previous my friend... so: you are a musician!
I am an (amateur - without formal education, just self–taught) musician - playing (among other instruments)... the clarinet, "Greek style" (any Slashdoter feeling angry with me for mentioning Greece again: the music is called "America" -it's about Greek immigration- so... fuck off!) and for non-Greek music (of any kind), plus the bouzouki, mostly for Greek music (any Slashdoter feeling angry with me for mentioning Greece AGAIN: the music is called... "Pulp Fiction movie's soundtrack it's originaly GREEK!" -you may recognize it- so... FUCK OFF!!!)
I intuitively recognize the similarities in the various flavors of "hot" music specific to cultures
You do - it helps a lot that you are a musician... but you are a musician because (including the good influences i mentioned earlier) you have the talent to recognize music!
I hope some Americans will write a fucking letter to Europe as a reminder for our "right to remember", because WE stupid Europeans forgot it.
West Virginia and Mississippi being ahead of California in doing something involving common sense?
"STATE OF CALIFORNIA SAFETY WARING: Drinking water contributes to urination"
And i glad someone other than me also finds it "NOT the worst movie ever" - actually, as i said I find it funny enough!
My dad had an old "Anatolian Feast" LP of Greek folk music - bouzouki stuff, odd meters, etc., that I couldn't take as a little kid, but I have some similar stuff I listen to now. Middle-eastern and Mediterranean music is superb. As is a lot of authentic folk music from almost anywhere in the world. Textured and interesting
That is what i am talking about my friend - and you described it excellent!
I prefer not to mention anything about Greek music because many fellow Slashdoters are getting angry with my frequent comments refering to something about Greece (i admit it's much of "Greek pride"!), BUT: you are a great example of what i mean, and why exposure in a young age to more than the usual "popular music" breaks the "monoculture" (common in USA i am afraid - if you are American, no offence i hope) AND "trains the ear", so you become an "educated listener". This is not some kind of "elitism" as many may think, on the contrary... since YOU can join ME in a BROADER AND DEEPER "common" (instead of the narrow and shallow "popular") culture: in the same way as i can enjoy the usual USA music (as most people around the world does).