Competitors submit their solutions to the competition server and are scored on the elegance of their solution and the quality of their source code.
It would appear that quality of code and solution are critical factors in determining the winner. I actually didn't see any reference to the time taken in the article, though I would assume there is some kind of upper limit. The actual performance characteristics of the code would probably fall under the "elegence of their solution".
This means little to most slashdotters... We dont use Musicmatch Jukebox...
I have found Musicmatch to be a great little MP3 player with some nice features (Auto-DJ, stay on top, etc.). While I do not use the online portions of the software, I have not found another MP3 player that I like better (iTunes came close but it didn't work with my keyboard buttons). A little while back, I remember Musicmatch was recommended by PC Magazine, and it has a fairly substantial user base. Just because you don't use a product does not mean that there aren't others out there that do.
Not too mention that some of us do not find the idea of throwing oneself out of a perfectly good airplane a particularly thrilling one, especially when you have to pay for it! For people who are afraid of heights, this may be the only way we would ever experience free-fall in perceived safety. There is a big difference between throwing yourself out into the open air with only a parachute to save you and falling within an enclosed space which (you hope) is under control.
- Helpful Kiosks that can give you directions
- A new use for natural language database queries (i.e. Ask the computer what last quarter's net sales were.)
- Voice controlled robots ("You missed a corner, vacuum cleaner")
- Data search by voice ("Find me a channel that plays Star Trek")
While I agree that this is a great investment, voice recognition does not equal artificial intelligence. Even if the computer is able to tell that you spoke the words what+were+last+quarter's+net+sales, it would not know what that meant without some configuration (create a "last quarter's new sales" report). Your other ideas were far closer to reality (helping the blind, turning on/off lights, etc).
That said, this technology would bring us closer to a Star Trek world, but a lot of work needs to be done on language parsing and artificial intelligence for that gap to be closed.
Then please enlighten me. I am well aware that there are far more movies dating back into the early previous century that were good Sci-Fi (perhaps the original Frankenstein, The Time Machine, and Planet of the Apes). However, as I said in my post, these were all I could remember at the time of posting, and I knew I was missing a whole slew of other films. The three I mentioned I thought were quite interesting Sci-Fi films -- good enough to be on a list. It was certainly not my intention to snub the fine films that have come before.
Here are a couple missing sci-fi films that should be considered. They were not exactly blockbusters, but they made for good sci-fi.
Gattaca - This was a very interesting sci-fi that looks into the ramifications of cracking the genetic code. Can you get insurance or a good job if you have the wrong genes?
Minority Report - An interesting view of future law enforcement and questions of infallibility.
A.I. - While the last 20 minutes was suspect, the previous couple hours were quite good and offered an interesting look at the "humaness" of advanced robots.
I know I am forgetting a whole host of other options, but at least this is a start.
I don't really know of anyone who is "terrorized" by defaced web sites and high lag times, but I could be wrong.
If the Internet is your livelyhood, then the threat of being shutdown or defaced (thereby damaging your company's reputation) is very real. While it is not life-threatening, a successful cyber attack could be very distruptive. If, for example, someone was able to shut down a large percentage of the Internet, what effect could that have on the US economy? It would not take long for serious repercussions on a world-wide scale due to loss of productivity.
No, they are not terrorists in threatening people's lives, but if they can prove that they can hit the economy, they accomplish the same goal: to create fear. Remember, one of the goals of 9/11 was not just to kill people but to hurt the US economy. Is this something to be worried about? What kind of wide-spread damage could a "cyber-terrorist" cause on the Internet?
BTW, I realize that this was a mis-quote, but it does bring up interesting questions.
It would be nice to actually see if they can get some no name actors that actually know how to act.
Actually, they did. His name is Ewan McGregor who at the time was an unknown but very talented actor. Currently, he is the only reason why I might see the last film. His scenes were the hilights of the films ("You don't want to sell me deathsticks...") and a breath of fresh air from all of the terrible acting. He somehow even manages to make his bad lines lively and almost believable. It is a real shame that they were not able to make movies to match his skill. I just hope that Star Wars doesn't stifle his career.
I think the new films need to be judged on their own merits to see if they truly do make good films. The problem is that in at least three of the changes in episodes IV-VI the changes have created problems within the continuity and/or flow of the new story.
Han/Guido - The point of this scene is twofold: show that Han Solo is being hunted by Jabba and that he is not a good guy. The problem here is that there is already a scene with Jabba showing that he is a wanted man. This removes one of the reasons for this scene. Regarding being a not-so-good guy, there is only the off-hand remark "sorry about the mess". Is this scene even necessary anymore? Without Han firing first, the scene really has no power and should be cut (or reverted).
Han stepping on Jabba's tale - This totally destroys our image of Jabba as a frightening foe. A mafia leader is not going to allow that kind of an affront to his person. It is simply not realistic for Jabba to overlook this offense, and while somewhat comical, it destroys the mood of the scene and weakens Jabba's character significantly.
New song/dance in Jabba's palace - Again, this weakens the entire sequence considerably. While at times the palace is portrayed as dark and sinister, this scene totally destroys that mood making the scene far too comical.
Many of the changes made to the films improved them (the adding of windows to the scenes at the end of episode V, new fighter sequences in episode IV). However, in my mind, these three examples weaken the new trilogy, and show evidence of bad film making.
A perfect example of "learning how to trounce the US 'Dream Team'" was displayed by the Detroit Pistons. Rather than focusing on the big stars, they developed a team that actually played as a team. Other countries have realized that this combined with the zone defense you spoke about and just executing good plain fundamentals will give all those over-hyped NBA stars a run for their money. We don't need a collection of stars on our olympic team. We need a team that can play together.
I stopped actively watching the NBA several years ago because it had ceased to be a team sport. It seemed that every game came down to this: 1) point guard brings down the ball, 2) pass the ball to the star player, 3) star player plays one-on-one against other star player and shoots fade away or dunks (after a modest, uncalled travel). This is not basketball. This is marketing and hype. The only basketball worth watching in the US anymore is the March Madness, and even here the stardom is starting to interfere with good play.
Personally, I was glad to see our olympic team lose. Now maybe they can forget their egos and start playing team ball.
I understand and agree with you completely, but my post had nothing to do with comparing MySQL with Oracle. The point was that there was more than just native Windows support that drove people to favor MySQL over PostgreSQL.
Actually, PostgreSQL is starting to look very inviting -- especially as the performance gap is narrowing. However, a switch will have to wait at least a year or two until the native Windows version is stable and supported (yes, we run a Windows shop... *sigh*).
I think Windows support is the only reason MySQL is so popular...ahead of MySQL in terms of everything but
speed. (emphasis added)
You cannot overlook the speed aspect as well. For many, many databases, the special features of foreign keys, stored procedures, etc. are not required. I have worked extensively with Oracle databases in the past, so I am well aware of the advantanges of these advanced features. However, in my current company, there has been no need. Most of our databases, while large, consist of a very small number of tables. The vast majority of our searches are performed on a single table, and these searches are completely optimized for speed. Stored procedures will not help in these scenarios, and foreign keys are not needed. I imagine there are a lot of web sites and applications that have the same characteristics.
I will not deny that the Windows support is huge, but it is not the only factor in MySQL's court. Speed is a huge issue, especially in the database world.
This is exactly what they are doing. By taking the time to make sure that the patch is "in order", they are avoiding an even bigger backlash if they released a buggy patch.
I also do not see voice recognition ever replacing the keyboard. When I think about trying to do my day to day job without a keyboard, it very quickly becomes impossible (I program for a living). This is the case not just for programmers but anyone who is particular about spelling or dealing with words that are rare or easily confused (think scientific or medical terms) or when special characters are required. Voice recognition will help -- especially when dictating a slashdot post -- but there will always be a place for the keyboard. If this does ever change, it will not be for a long, long time.
its the driving people to 40wpm and more that I find unnesessary.
I have to strongly disagree with this statement. Can you get around with less than 40 wpm? Yes, but you will be far less productive than someone who can type faster. This even applies when programming. I find that having the ability to type quickly allows me to get my thoughts into code quickly which contributes to shorter development times.
In regards to the main post, I find it a crime to exchange a definable typing skill with a nebulous "general computer knowledge". What exactly does this mean? Which programs will they be taught to use? How in depth will this training go? Is it teaching problem solving or just making them "comfortable" with computers (as if this is a problem for kids)?
Typing is measurable and very beneficial in life, especially in this age where computers are everywhere. Even when we get good voice recognition, having a strong typing skill will still be critical in those fields where precision of typed communication is essential (use of scientific/medical terms, programming, text formatting, etc.).
As an aside, I see this as just another step in the downward spiral known as public education in America. They are exchanging definable, testable education in the basics (spelling, grammar, math, science, now typing) for more theoretical concepts. The problem is that children are not ready for these creative concepts until they have mastered the basics, but we skip past the basics (the multiplication table, for example) and effectively throw the kids into the deep end before they really know how to swim. It is no wonder that our education is failing our kids.
Sorry about going into ranting mode, but the advent of "creative" spelling and "creative" math are bogus concepts that are basically creating stupid kids (politically incorrect, I know). Keep the calculators and computers out of the classroom until junior high or high school or when the students have proven that they have the basics of math and communication (written and verbal) down. Then we can start the process of expanding their horizons. It is like the old adage: learn all of the rules first and then you can break them.
That's one of the reasons why it is so important to use open source alternatives
Or buy software from companies that give you bug fixes and updates for free. My company, for example, will never charge for bug fixes. We only charge for upgrades when significant improvements have been made to the product. There are many other companies that run with this mindset. If a company provides quality service then I see no reason not to support them.
Furthermore, companies whose products you have purchased have better reason to get improvements out to you quickly. Since they know that you have paid good money for their product, they will work that much harder to make sure they keep you as a customer. Some open source projects are really good about this as well, but you are really up to the whims of whoever has the knowhow to make the fix (a lot of us just don't have the time to dig into the code and fix it ourselves).
There really isn't an inherent advantage of open source to closed source here. Both can be hit or miss. We just need to support those organizations that do things right.
As another reply to your post indicated, Europe is far more densely populated than the United States, and there are vast sections in the west where public transportation is not feasible (like here in Montana). For most of the western and plain states, people could get to work in less time than it would take to wait for the next bus or train. We just don't have enough people to justify (or pay for) the expense, and it is too inconvenient even for those of us not particularily fond of driving.
It doesn't make any sense to make a really good nation-wide train system, though it would make sense to build one back east and on the west coast where the big population centers are located.
Are there any scientific studies that actually prove that there are not problems caused by pornography? It has been a long held belief that it is wrong, so perhaps the burden of proof does not lie on the camp that finds it wrong but rather on the group that insists there is nothing wrong with it. It may very well be that a "scientific" study is not possible or practical from a logistic or economic standpoint.
As for discussing sexuality with my children, I plan to do that as well. Sex is a beautiful gift that should be well understood within the right context and with the right commitment and relationship. Porn, with all of its deviations and perversions, distracts from the true purposes of sex: to express love between a man and a woman and to produce offspring -- an additional blessing.
You probably did not even notice the mentioned studies at the bottom of that article.
Also, I am not saying that the government should be involved. I do not think they should. Rather, I am disagreeing with the philosophy that there is absolutely nothing wrong with pornography when there is certainly evidence that there is.
No, to cram it into an itty bitty little box marked "only after marriage, only with one partner, everything else is a sin" degrades it.
And this is precisely why America has all of the crime and hardships: the family is being attacked from every side. Take a look at the studies at the bottom of this page.
Of course, you probably didn't read my links above, but anything that damages a marriage damages the children of that marriage. "Only after marriage, only with one partner, everything else is a sin" is a protection against actions that will only make marriage even more difficult than it already is. It is the free love (which is neither free nor love) movement of the 60's that has launched us to where we are today: >50% divorce rate. And the studies are starting to show more and more what devastating effect divorce is having on the parents as well as their children.
It is truly sad that people have exchanged sex for what it was designed (beautiful expression of love between a committed man and woman) to nothing more than animal instinct and debasement. However, this is Slashdot, so I shouldn't expect anything less.
Agreed. There have been many studies
about the negative effect pornography has on people. It is truly a dangerous, destructive thing. People who argue that it "helps" people are deluding themselves. Pornography destroys far more relationships than it "helps" -- if it can actually help any relationship.
Porn is harmless. Sex is harmless. Repression is harmful.
Porn is far from harmless. It ranks right up there with adultery. Do you really think that women don't mind if their husband/boyfriend enjoys looking at other naked women? It is unfaithfulness just as much as actually sleeping with another woman. It creates doubt in her mind: is he thinking of another woman as he is making love to me? Porn is the great enemy of faithful marriages, and studies show how valuable marriages in are in the lives of children as well as adults.
In regards to children, porn and illicit sex introduce them to activities and lifestyles that fly in the face of what true love and faithful relationships mean. Sex is not a one-night stand with a pretty woman; sex is the expression of deep, committed love between a man and woman dedicate to spending the rest of their lives together. To teach anything more is to degrade sex to just another physical urge and destroys all of the true pleasure and lasting joy that can result from it.
Sex misused has destroyed more of our society and families than possibly any other thing in life. Furthermore, if I "repress" my child's urge to fling themselves off a cliff to their death, is that wrong?
Bill Gates has formerly apologized for producing bloated, buggy software and forcing it down people's throats by making computer manufacturers install it on all new machines. "We will be issuing out a free version of Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Office to all existing customers that will remove all of the unnecessary bloat that we have been adding over the years and fix all of the bugs and annoyances we have introduced," Gates said at a press conference today. "We acknowledge that our customers can probably think for themselves better than we can think for them. Clippy and all those other annoying animations will be no more!"
He also expressed regret over allowing Internet Explorer to languish for so long. "With the example of the innovative browsers like Firefox and Opera, it has become obvious that our browser is severely lacking. With new versions of Windows, the user will be presented with the option of installing the browser of their choice."
Microsoft plans to slash their prices on all new Windows merchandise and remove the restrictions on computer manufacturers to allow "greater freedom in the software market". The new initiative is for "smaller, faster, cleaner" throughout their product lines. They have also expressed plans to release a free update to Visual Studio.NET to fix its many bugs. "We have come to the realization that we need to trust programmers to write their own code, especially since our employees have no clue how to write clean HTML code. There is no reason that we should force our customers to purchase an update with such a gross oversight."
Well, if a spammer can apologize, maybe, just maybe... nah.
Slashdot Mirror
From the article...
It would appear that quality of code and solution are critical factors in determining the winner. I actually didn't see any reference to the time taken in the article, though I would assume there is some kind of upper limit. The actual performance characteristics of the code would probably fall under the "elegence of their solution".
I have found Musicmatch to be a great little MP3 player with some nice features (Auto-DJ, stay on top, etc.). While I do not use the online portions of the software, I have not found another MP3 player that I like better (iTunes came close but it didn't work with my keyboard buttons). A little while back, I remember Musicmatch was recommended by PC Magazine, and it has a fairly substantial user base. Just because you don't use a product does not mean that there aren't others out there that do.
Not too mention that some of us do not find the idea of throwing oneself out of a perfectly good airplane a particularly thrilling one, especially when you have to pay for it! For people who are afraid of heights, this may be the only way we would ever experience free-fall in perceived safety. There is a big difference between throwing yourself out into the open air with only a parachute to save you and falling within an enclosed space which (you hope) is under control.
While I agree that this is a great investment, voice recognition does not equal artificial intelligence. Even if the computer is able to tell that you spoke the words what+were+last+quarter's+net+sales, it would not know what that meant without some configuration (create a "last quarter's new sales" report). Your other ideas were far closer to reality (helping the blind, turning on/off lights, etc).
That said, this technology would bring us closer to a Star Trek world, but a lot of work needs to be done on language parsing and artificial intelligence for that gap to be closed.
I'll check that out. Thanks!
Which is also, it seems, the reason why most of the extensions no longer work. They think 0.9 is larger than 0.10 too.
Then please enlighten me. I am well aware that there are far more movies dating back into the early previous century that were good Sci-Fi (perhaps the original Frankenstein, The Time Machine, and Planet of the Apes). However, as I said in my post, these were all I could remember at the time of posting, and I knew I was missing a whole slew of other films. The three I mentioned I thought were quite interesting Sci-Fi films -- good enough to be on a list. It was certainly not my intention to snub the fine films that have come before.
Please share some of your favorite Sci-Fi's.
Here are a couple missing sci-fi films that should be considered. They were not exactly blockbusters, but they made for good sci-fi.
I know I am forgetting a whole host of other options, but at least this is a start.
If the Internet is your livelyhood, then the threat of being shutdown or defaced (thereby damaging your company's reputation) is very real. While it is not life-threatening, a successful cyber attack could be very distruptive. If, for example, someone was able to shut down a large percentage of the Internet, what effect could that have on the US economy? It would not take long for serious repercussions on a world-wide scale due to loss of productivity.
No, they are not terrorists in threatening people's lives, but if they can prove that they can hit the economy, they accomplish the same goal: to create fear. Remember, one of the goals of 9/11 was not just to kill people but to hurt the US economy. Is this something to be worried about? What kind of wide-spread damage could a "cyber-terrorist" cause on the Internet?
BTW, I realize that this was a mis-quote, but it does bring up interesting questions.
Actually, they did. His name is Ewan McGregor who at the time was an unknown but very talented actor. Currently, he is the only reason why I might see the last film. His scenes were the hilights of the films ("You don't want to sell me deathsticks...") and a breath of fresh air from all of the terrible acting. He somehow even manages to make his bad lines lively and almost believable. It is a real shame that they were not able to make movies to match his skill. I just hope that Star Wars doesn't stifle his career.
I think the new films need to be judged on their own merits to see if they truly do make good films. The problem is that in at least three of the changes in episodes IV-VI the changes have created problems within the continuity and/or flow of the new story.
Han/Guido - The point of this scene is twofold: show that Han Solo is being hunted by Jabba and that he is not a good guy. The problem here is that there is already a scene with Jabba showing that he is a wanted man. This removes one of the reasons for this scene. Regarding being a not-so-good guy, there is only the off-hand remark "sorry about the mess". Is this scene even necessary anymore? Without Han firing first, the scene really has no power and should be cut (or reverted).
Han stepping on Jabba's tale - This totally destroys our image of Jabba as a frightening foe. A mafia leader is not going to allow that kind of an affront to his person. It is simply not realistic for Jabba to overlook this offense, and while somewhat comical, it destroys the mood of the scene and weakens Jabba's character significantly.
New song/dance in Jabba's palace - Again, this weakens the entire sequence considerably. While at times the palace is portrayed as dark and sinister, this scene totally destroys that mood making the scene far too comical.
Many of the changes made to the films improved them (the adding of windows to the scenes at the end of episode V, new fighter sequences in episode IV). However, in my mind, these three examples weaken the new trilogy, and show evidence of bad film making.
A perfect example of "learning how to trounce the US 'Dream Team'" was displayed by the Detroit Pistons. Rather than focusing on the big stars, they developed a team that actually played as a team. Other countries have realized that this combined with the zone defense you spoke about and just executing good plain fundamentals will give all those over-hyped NBA stars a run for their money. We don't need a collection of stars on our olympic team. We need a team that can play together.
I stopped actively watching the NBA several years ago because it had ceased to be a team sport. It seemed that every game came down to this: 1) point guard brings down the ball, 2) pass the ball to the star player, 3) star player plays one-on-one against other star player and shoots fade away or dunks (after a modest, uncalled travel). This is not basketball. This is marketing and hype. The only basketball worth watching in the US anymore is the March Madness, and even here the stardom is starting to interfere with good play.
Personally, I was glad to see our olympic team lose. Now maybe they can forget their egos and start playing team ball.
I understand and agree with you completely, but my post had nothing to do with comparing MySQL with Oracle. The point was that there was more than just native Windows support that drove people to favor MySQL over PostgreSQL.
Actually, PostgreSQL is starting to look very inviting -- especially as the performance gap is narrowing. However, a switch will have to wait at least a year or two until the native Windows version is stable and supported (yes, we run a Windows shop... *sigh*).
You cannot overlook the speed aspect as well. For many, many databases, the special features of foreign keys, stored procedures, etc. are not required. I have worked extensively with Oracle databases in the past, so I am well aware of the advantanges of these advanced features. However, in my current company, there has been no need. Most of our databases, while large, consist of a very small number of tables. The vast majority of our searches are performed on a single table, and these searches are completely optimized for speed. Stored procedures will not help in these scenarios, and foreign keys are not needed. I imagine there are a lot of web sites and applications that have the same characteristics.
I will not deny that the Windows support is huge, but it is not the only factor in MySQL's court. Speed is a huge issue, especially in the database world.
This is exactly what they are doing. By taking the time to make sure that the patch is "in order", they are avoiding an even bigger backlash if they released a buggy patch.
I also do not see voice recognition ever replacing the keyboard. When I think about trying to do my day to day job without a keyboard, it very quickly becomes impossible (I program for a living). This is the case not just for programmers but anyone who is particular about spelling or dealing with words that are rare or easily confused (think scientific or medical terms) or when special characters are required. Voice recognition will help -- especially when dictating a slashdot post -- but there will always be a place for the keyboard. If this does ever change, it will not be for a long, long time.
Then again, I could be wrong...
I have to strongly disagree with this statement. Can you get around with less than 40 wpm? Yes, but you will be far less productive than someone who can type faster. This even applies when programming. I find that having the ability to type quickly allows me to get my thoughts into code quickly which contributes to shorter development times.
In regards to the main post, I find it a crime to exchange a definable typing skill with a nebulous "general computer knowledge". What exactly does this mean? Which programs will they be taught to use? How in depth will this training go? Is it teaching problem solving or just making them "comfortable" with computers (as if this is a problem for kids)?
Typing is measurable and very beneficial in life, especially in this age where computers are everywhere. Even when we get good voice recognition, having a strong typing skill will still be critical in those fields where precision of typed communication is essential (use of scientific/medical terms, programming, text formatting, etc.).
As an aside, I see this as just another step in the downward spiral known as public education in America. They are exchanging definable, testable education in the basics (spelling, grammar, math, science, now typing) for more theoretical concepts. The problem is that children are not ready for these creative concepts until they have mastered the basics, but we skip past the basics (the multiplication table, for example) and effectively throw the kids into the deep end before they really know how to swim. It is no wonder that our education is failing our kids.
Sorry about going into ranting mode, but the advent of "creative" spelling and "creative" math are bogus concepts that are basically creating stupid kids (politically incorrect, I know). Keep the calculators and computers out of the classroom until junior high or high school or when the students have proven that they have the basics of math and communication (written and verbal) down. Then we can start the process of expanding their horizons. It is like the old adage: learn all of the rules first and then you can break them.
As another reply to your post indicated, Europe is far more densely populated than the United States, and there are vast sections in the west where public transportation is not feasible (like here in Montana). For most of the western and plain states, people could get to work in less time than it would take to wait for the next bus or train. We just don't have enough people to justify (or pay for) the expense, and it is too inconvenient even for those of us not particularily fond of driving.
It doesn't make any sense to make a really good nation-wide train system, though it would make sense to build one back east and on the west coast where the big population centers are located.
.Are there any scientific studies that actually prove that there are not problems caused by pornography? It has been a long held belief that it is wrong, so perhaps the burden of proof does not lie on the camp that finds it wrong but rather on the group that insists there is nothing wrong with it. It may very well be that a "scientific" study is not possible or practical from a logistic or economic standpoint.
As for discussing sexuality with my children, I plan to do that as well. Sex is a beautiful gift that should be well understood within the right context and with the right commitment and relationship. Porn, with all of its deviations and perversions, distracts from the true purposes of sex: to express love between a man and a woman and to produce offspring -- an additional blessing.
You probably did not even notice the mentioned studies at the bottom of that article.
Also, I am not saying that the government should be involved. I do not think they should. Rather, I am disagreeing with the philosophy that there is absolutely nothing wrong with pornography when there is certainly evidence that there is.
And this is precisely why America has all of the crime and hardships: the family is being attacked from every side. Take a look at the studies at the bottom of this page. Of course, you probably didn't read my links above, but anything that damages a marriage damages the children of that marriage. "Only after marriage, only with one partner, everything else is a sin" is a protection against actions that will only make marriage even more difficult than it already is. It is the free love (which is neither free nor love) movement of the 60's that has launched us to where we are today: >50% divorce rate. And the studies are starting to show more and more what devastating effect divorce is having on the parents as well as their children.
It is truly sad that people have exchanged sex for what it was designed (beautiful expression of love between a committed man and woman) to nothing more than animal instinct and debasement. However, this is Slashdot, so I shouldn't expect anything less.
Agreed. There have been many studies about the negative effect pornography has on people. It is truly a dangerous, destructive thing. People who argue that it "helps" people are deluding themselves. Pornography destroys far more relationships than it "helps" -- if it can actually help any relationship.
Porn is far from harmless. It ranks right up there with adultery. Do you really think that women don't mind if their husband/boyfriend enjoys looking at other naked women? It is unfaithfulness just as much as actually sleeping with another woman. It creates doubt in her mind: is he thinking of another woman as he is making love to me? Porn is the great enemy of faithful marriages, and studies show how valuable marriages in are in the lives of children as well as adults.
In regards to children, porn and illicit sex introduce them to activities and lifestyles that fly in the face of what true love and faithful relationships mean. Sex is not a one-night stand with a pretty woman; sex is the expression of deep, committed love between a man and woman dedicate to spending the rest of their lives together. To teach anything more is to degrade sex to just another physical urge and destroys all of the true pleasure and lasting joy that can result from it.
Sex misused has destroyed more of our society and families than possibly any other thing in life. Furthermore, if I "repress" my child's urge to fling themselves off a cliff to their death, is that wrong?
Coming soon...
Bill Gates has formerly apologized for producing bloated, buggy software and forcing it down people's throats by making computer manufacturers install it on all new machines. "We will be issuing out a free version of Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Office to all existing customers that will remove all of the unnecessary bloat that we have been adding over the years and fix all of the bugs and annoyances we have introduced," Gates said at a press conference today. "We acknowledge that our customers can probably think for themselves better than we can think for them. Clippy and all those other annoying animations will be no more!"
He also expressed regret over allowing Internet Explorer to languish for so long. "With the example of the innovative browsers like Firefox and Opera, it has become obvious that our browser is severely lacking. With new versions of Windows, the user will be presented with the option of installing the browser of their choice."
Microsoft plans to slash their prices on all new Windows merchandise and remove the restrictions on computer manufacturers to allow "greater freedom in the software market". The new initiative is for "smaller, faster, cleaner" throughout their product lines. They have also expressed plans to release a free update to Visual Studio .NET to fix its many bugs. "We have come to the realization that we need to trust programmers to write their own code, especially since our employees have no clue how to write clean HTML code. There is no reason that we should force our customers to purchase an update with such a gross oversight."
Well, if a spammer can apologize, maybe, just maybe... nah.