There is a world of difference between small town gossip with five people pulling over the side of the road when they see someone they know in a traffic accident and a government body actively tracking the movements of the entire population.
Well said - and a point that seemed to be overlooked in the discussion.
"Catholics are encouraged to read the Bible.". There are 2 problems with that position. 1 - Being encouraged to read a book the Church constructed. I don't see a difference between getting the word from the mouth of the priest, or the pen. 2 - Stipulating that is is a "boon" of some sort, it has nothing to do with virtue on the Church's part. That had more to do with external societal pressures like the Reformation, the Enlightenment. The printing press. The internet.
Given their druthers, I expect the Church would prefer us under their thumb. They are no more benevolent than any other large institution.
And I'm sure the people at RSA are doing the same thing that every other large institution/business is doing: Cutting costs. Those imaginary people at RSA you speak of cost money to train and retain. This was bound to happen, as soon as the primary focus switched from providing secure products to maximizing profits. I'm imagining a scenario like this:
Executive 1: Q2 close is coming up. Are we going to make our numbers? Accountant 1: No sir, it doesn't look like it Executive 1: Let's cut costs. Lay off some folks, freeze pay increases. I want my bonus.
Time goes by...
Executive 1: Q2 close is coming up. Are we going to make our numbers? Accountant 1: No sir. Our most popular product was compromised. Executive 1: Goddamn employees. It's their fault!
I don't mean to bash money-making. I'm a fan. A bit of balance would be nice. Companies don't require to report "record-making profits" every quarter.
Sens. Harry Reid (D-Nev.), Charles Schumer (D-NY), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Tom Udall (D-NM) asked Scott Forstall, the head of Apple's iPhone software group, to pull an unspecified number of apps from the company's App Store. The senators also made similar requests of Google's CEO Eric Schmidt and Research in Motion's (RIM) co-CEOs, James Balsillie and Michael Lazaridis.....
4 Democrats, who would've guessed? The party that thinks it can save us from ourselves. Look guys, you want to help? Get me some of that money like you gave to the Wall Street guys. How come no one wants to "save me from myself" in that fashion?
What would the difference be between a nuclear plant and some other type of plant.? Really? Any catastrophic failure of a power plant could involve explosions and damage.
Yes, it would suck, but will the suckage be of a greater magnitude that the suckage from a coal plant exploding?"
I don't think "nuclear" is terribly important in this case. It just sounds scarier. Change the fuel to your favorite fossil fuel, and drop that plant in the middle of an earth quake...What would be the real difference, in terms of risks or potential threats?
Cops like to do this to scare people from recording them. Many of the instances I've read about, this ends up being thrown out. They want to cover their ass, rather than serve and protect. This type of "scope creep" should be strongly discouraged.
When you use the phrase "natural extension" of a law; I can't help thinking that makes it whimsical. "The law is what I SAY it is!"
A Church is a secular construct, whose goal is secular power and influence. It is a human institution, and as such it is subject to all of the failings of humanity. Especially when the institution (and it's members) tries to pretend differently.
When did freedom of religion become freedom from rule of law?
I don't know of a time when religion wasn't used in that way. The catholic church has a long , proud history of being equal but apart from the societies in which is operates. When your institution is that powerful, you can get away with it. Other religions have taken note, too. You might be surprised at what is permitted under the label of religion.
1 Location. 2 It's inconsiderate. But kids don't think. They really believe the world is there for their whims.
The school closet, or a school dance is a school function, not a private one. If they want some privacy for sex they can get a room, or take a chance on doing it in a car.
Robert Anson Heinlein, "The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress" is the title of one of his best. What do they teach kids these days? Although to fair, no one taught me about Heinlein. I discovered his books in our high school library. I was hooked immediately. Good times
Slashdot Mirror
Both
There is a world of difference between small town gossip with five people pulling over the side of the road when they see someone they know in a traffic accident and a government body actively tracking the movements of the entire population.
Well said - and a point that seemed to be overlooked in the discussion.
"Catholics are encouraged to read the Bible.". There are 2 problems with that position.
1 - Being encouraged to read a book the Church constructed. I don't see a difference between getting the word from the mouth of the priest, or the pen.
2 - Stipulating that is is a "boon" of some sort, it has nothing to do with virtue on the Church's part. That had more to do with external societal pressures like the Reformation, the Enlightenment. The printing press. The internet.
Given their druthers, I expect the Church would prefer us under their thumb. They are no more benevolent than any other large institution.
And I'm sure the people at RSA are doing the same thing that every other large institution/business is doing: Cutting costs. Those imaginary people at RSA you speak of cost money to train and retain. This was bound to happen, as soon as the primary focus switched from providing secure products to maximizing profits. I'm imagining a scenario like this:
Executive 1: Q2 close is coming up. Are we going to make our numbers?
Accountant 1: No sir, it doesn't look like it
Executive 1: Let's cut costs. Lay off some folks, freeze pay increases. I want my bonus.
Time goes by...
Executive 1: Q2 close is coming up. Are we going to make our numbers?
Accountant 1: No sir. Our most popular product was compromised.
Executive 1: Goddamn employees. It's their fault!
I don't mean to bash money-making. I'm a fan. A bit of balance would be nice. Companies don't require to report "record-making profits" every quarter.
Cheap > Quality. Thank you WalMart and Microsoft
Then get the dangerous driver off the road. Sobriety checkpoints aren't the way to do that.
In typical bureaucratic fashion, we get an approach that penalizes everyone, without effectively addressing the real problem.
Sens. Harry Reid (D-Nev.), Charles Schumer (D-NY), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Tom Udall (D-NM) asked Scott Forstall, the head of Apple's iPhone software group, to pull an unspecified number of apps from the company's App Store. The senators also made similar requests of Google's CEO Eric Schmidt and Research in Motion's (RIM) co-CEOs, James Balsillie and Michael Lazaridis.....
4 Democrats, who would've guessed? The party that thinks it can save us from ourselves. Look guys, you want to help? Get me some of that money like you gave to the Wall Street guys. How come no one wants to "save me from myself" in that fashion?
Until the Government's Department of Education became involved, I would've agreed with you.
You could be commenting on the culture change at DEC after Ken Olsen or hp after Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard.
Not limited to Google.
Those same concerns apply to fossil fuels.
Yeah, right. Only CO2, H2O, and heat...and SO2. and NOx. and particulate matter. hydrocarbons. Mercury.
What would the difference be between a nuclear plant and some other type of plant.? Really? Any catastrophic failure of a power plant could involve explosions and damage.
Yes, it would suck, but will the suckage be of a greater magnitude that the suckage from a coal plant exploding?"
I don't think "nuclear" is terribly important in this case. It just sounds scarier. Change the fuel to your favorite fossil fuel, and drop that plant in the middle of an earth quake...What would be the real difference, in terms of risks or potential threats?
Better yet - no mobile phones, period. Parents with compelling needs can go find another school to cater to them.
There is no "need" for cell phones.
1 The charge itself is effectively a punishment.
2 The Wiretap statute doesn't apply.
Abuse.
Cops like to do this to scare people from recording them. Many of the instances I've read about, this ends up being thrown out. They want to cover their ass, rather than serve and protect. This type of "scope creep" should be strongly discouraged.
When you use the phrase "natural extension" of a law; I can't help thinking that makes it whimsical. "The law is what I SAY it is!"
Found my wife in a very similar manner. Experience is such a great teacher - if it doesn't kill you :).
Figuring out what you don't want is the best lesson.
> Does it want your money? Does it want your mind? Does it want to govern your life? It's a cult.
How is that different from government? :-) No, seriously?
It isn't. Both are institutions. Institutions demand control.
... But they want your ultimate loyalty to be to God, not people or their institutions...
I disagree. That might be the sales pitch, but in practice, they very much want secular power and influence.
A Church is a secular construct, whose goal is secular power and influence. It is a human institution, and as such it is subject to all of the failings of humanity. Especially when the institution (and it's members) tries to pretend differently.
When did freedom of religion become freedom from rule of law?
I don't know of a time when religion wasn't used in that way. The catholic church has a long , proud history of being equal but apart from the societies in which is operates. When your institution is that powerful, you can get away with it. Other religions have taken note, too. You might be surprised at what is permitted under the label of religion.
Some of the behavior is benign, some isn't
I think that was the reason he had a tutor.
1 Location.
2 It's inconsiderate. But kids don't think. They really believe the world is there for their whims.
The school closet, or a school dance is a school function, not a private one. If they want some privacy for sex they can get a room, or take a chance on doing it in a car.
"simulate"?
Why would they stop? It's an institution, the answer doesn't have to make sense. It just has to conform to the question.
Robert Anson Heinlein, "The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress" is the title of one of his best. What do they teach kids these days? Although to fair, no one taught me about Heinlein. I discovered his books in our high school library. I was hooked immediately. Good times
It was a work of fantasy