You ask who holds the people in law enforcement responsible. We do. The people do. They're supposed to protect and serve us, but increasingly they protect and serve each other, and oppress us. Television programs would have you believe that most police are good people, trying to keep the peace, protect freedom and justice, and stay alive. I believe this is no longer the case.
What Malcolm X said on behalf of the oppressed black people of the United States, I say on behalf of all humanity:
"We declare our right on this earth... to be a human being, to be respected as a human being, to be given the rights of a human being in this society, on this earth, in this day, which we intend to bring into existence by any means necessary."
Putting people who aren't terrorists and who aren't likely to become terrorists on a terrorism watch list should either be a firing offense or a criminal offense.
I'm also in favor of criminalizing certain actions routinely carried out by law enforcement (police, prosecutors, etc.). Usually when excessive force is used by a police officer, the worst thing that happens is the officer is suspended or fired, even if the victim dies. Occasionally a police officer is fired. Even more rarely the police officer in question is charged with a crime. Also, if a prosecutor knowingly withholds exculpatory evidence, the most that happens is that the convicted person gets a new trial or is granted an appeal.
I'll give an example of how I think things should work, though I don't know that something like this has ever happened in the United States. Let's say a prosecutor withholds possibly exculpatory evidence in order to win a case where one of the possible penalties is death. Let's also say that the person charged is found guilty, and after exhausting all appeals is put to death. The original prosecutor should be charged with murder, first degree or second degree depending on the strength of the withheld evidence. If this happens in a death penalty state and the charge is first degree murder, then the death penalty should be on the table. If the prosecution can prove beyond a reasonable doubt* that the original prosecutor knowingly withheld the exculpatory evidence then the original prosecutor should be convicted by a jury and given an appropriate sentence.
People in law enforcement should be held to higher standards than the general public, not lower.**
*If such a case were to occur, an independent prosecutor should be appointed, since in most jurisdictions prosecutors all know each other and aren't likely to vigorously prosecute such a case.
**I know this isn't likely to ever happen. I simply think it would be more just than the current system.
You're absolutely right. There is a marked bias on Slashdot against people who are unwilling to learn *insert whatever the commenter's favorite thing is.* Personally I find this annoying. I'll give an example why. When I was a kid, it seemed like all the adults in my life were spending a lot of energy encouraging me to learn various sports. I had no interest in doing so. I wanted to read books, play with my chemistry set, and see what would happen if I shot a bottle rocket down a toilet. When I was in my late teens I took up running to stay thin - that's the closest to an interest in sports as I've ever had.
As far as I'm concerned, people can do whatever they want with their time, as long as they don't infringe the rights of other people. If this means they don't want to play sports, or learn Linux, or study Medieval Latin poetry, that's fine with me. When people ask me what I think they should do with their time (this happens occasionally), the most I'll say is "Do what makes you happy without hurting anybody else."
I can understand why you became a bit defensive. Many Slashdotters are libertarians except when it comes to the things they want to force other people to do.
I agree, there isn't anything wrong with those people. They're simply mistaken about the nature of the device they're using. It takes some learning and practice to use Windows and the Mac OS also. It even requires some knowledge to learn how to drive a car, or use a microwave oven, or a DVD player. "Too lazy" isn't necessarily pejorative; it simply means "unwilling to put in the necessary effort to perform a certain task." For example, I'm too lazy to learn how to replace the transmission in my car. I'd rather just pay somebody else to do it. I know people who are too lazy even to learn how to use email - they have their secretaries do it for them. This doesn't mean there's anything wrong with them - they're making a choice about what to do with their time.
Nevertheless, if people choose not to put in the effort to learn some things about how to use Linux, they won't know how to use in Linux.
My comment was only about the difficulty of introducing a new technology where one which does the same thing already exists, not an attack on people who do not wish to learn Linux. As I already stated, I don't really care what OS other people use, or if Linux ever has a larger share of the desktop/laptop market than it already does.
I've been hearing about "The Year of Linux on the Desktop" for years. I think at this point many Linux distributions are ready for the desktop, at least for many common tasks. Perhaps one of the things we didn't take into account is that many home computer users are too lazy to learn something new.
For myself, I don't care whether most people use MS Windows or OS X or whatever. I just want Linux and/or *BSD to be there for me, which is why I contribute what I can monetarily to various projects, including my preferred Linux distribution.
You don't have to pay $130+shipping for Das Keyboard. You can get it from thinkgeek.com for $80+shipping. It's out of stock right now but is estimated to be back in stock in 1-3 weeks. This is the model with no markings on the keys.
I've had mine for about five months, and I love it. It's helped me improve my touch-typing, it has great tactile feedback, and the sound of those keys clicking is very nice.
Sure, it's not the Model M, and it doesn't have multimedia keys, but if you use Windows or Linux (can't speak for the Mac, don't have one), it's a very nice keyboard.
Tolkien didn't really write these stories for an audience. He wrote them for his own enjoyment, out of his love for languages, for the mythical world he had created, and for the characters who populated that world.
The Hobbit he wrote for his children, and The Lord of the Rings he wrote for all of the readers who wanted to know more about Hobbits.
1) I find Linux very practical for my needs and so do a lot of other people. Linux distributions are generally much easier to use now than they were even a few years ago. Also, with Linux you don't have to worry about viruses or spyware breaking your system. Those are just a few practical considerations among many.
2) People announce things that aren't so all the time. Just the other day some homeless dude announced to me that he needed money to feed his kids.
This is just baseless speculation. It sounds like this guy just pulled the whole thing out of his bunghole. Then again I have to admit I've always hated AICN.
No way I'm going for this. I like to use my phone as a phone, and that's it. For a PC, I like a nice big case that I can put 3-4 hard disks in, a big LCD monitor, and my big Model M keyboard. I don't even really like laptops/notebooks, much less PDAs, the keyboards are too small. This is one Microsoft "innovation" I won't be interested in.
I suppose I'm some sort of dinosaur.
A lot has already been written about various reasons for not using Windows - stability issues, control, viruses, cost, customization, and so on. I agree with all these reasons, but I'll add another which I don't think has been stated: I stay away from Windows and use Linux because it's more fun.
I have fun tinkering with my OS. You can't do a lot of that with Windows, but you can with Linux. I'm not a developer, but I can still get a kick out of compiling my own kernel, editing a config file, or trying out a different window manager. I know a lot of people don't find fun in these things, but I do. This isn't my only reason for not using Windows, but it's important to me.
I've had one of these for a while. The thing you have to remember is that it's not like a regular mouse, so you really have to learn "mousing" skills all over again. Once I got used to mine, I stopped consciously thinking about it (just like riding a bike, using a manual transmission, tying your shoes, etc.). The price is high, but it's a fun toy.
I've never owned an Apple/Mac, and don't particularly want to, but this is an important anniversary. Apple has innovated more over the years than just about any other computer company. Apple has had it's ups and downs, but it could be argued that they've been more loyal to their customers than anyone could have expected. The fact that so many of their customers are loyal to them - well, that should tell you something about what kind of company this is. Hats off to Apple for 20 years of the Mac!
All right, the Debian installer can be kind of tough, but it's not the end of the world. If you can't handle it, try MEPIS. MEPIS installed on my machine in about 1/2 hour, correctly identified and installed all my hardware (including my scanner, a first), and was up and running in no time. It was easier than Mandrake. If you want Debian but don't want to hassle with the installer or use Guillem Jover script to install a base system, try MEPIS or Libranet.
2004: New Worm Spreads Via MSN Messenger
2005: MSN Virus Spreads Through Talking About Windows
2010: Virus Becomes Airborne
2012: Virus Overwrites C:\Brain\Personality
2015: Kalahari Bushmen last remaining humans on planet arguing about whether Linux or FreeBSD is better
Gandalf was one of the Maiar (as was Sauron), of the same kind as the Valar, but of lesser power. There is even an allusion to this in The Two Towers, when Faramir quotes Gandalf: Many are my names in many countries, he said. Mithrandir among the Elves, Tharkun to the Dwarves; Olorin I was in my youth in the West that is forgotten, in the South Incanus, in the North Gandalf; to the East I go not.
It seems that Olorin was Gandalf's name as a Maia in Valinor.
and therefore Gandalf letting Frodo inherit the ring was a fundamentally dangerous thing to do
Don't forget that Gandalf didn't know that Bilbo's ring was the One Ring until he threw it into the fire at Bag End. He suspected something, but had to go to Minas Tirith and interrogate Gollum in order to discover the history of the One Ring.
Slashdot Mirror
As long as we're not venting drive plasma, we're good to go.
That is, unless somebody left a sweater in one of the warp plasma conduits.
"Ubuntu" -- an African word, meaning "Slackware is too hard for me".
You ask who holds the people in law enforcement responsible. We do. The people do. They're supposed to protect and serve us, but increasingly they protect and serve each other, and oppress us. Television programs would have you believe that most police are good people, trying to keep the peace, protect freedom and justice, and stay alive. I believe this is no longer the case.
What Malcolm X said on behalf of the oppressed black people of the United States, I say on behalf of all humanity:
"We declare our right on this earth ... to be a human being, to be respected as a human being, to be given the rights of a human being in this society, on this earth, in this day, which we intend to bring into existence by any means necessary."
Putting people who aren't terrorists and who aren't likely to become terrorists on a terrorism watch list should either be a firing offense or a criminal offense.
I'm also in favor of criminalizing certain actions routinely carried out by law enforcement (police, prosecutors, etc.). Usually when excessive force is used by a police officer, the worst thing that happens is the officer is suspended or fired, even if the victim dies. Occasionally a police officer is fired. Even more rarely the police officer in question is charged with a crime. Also, if a prosecutor knowingly withholds exculpatory evidence, the most that happens is that the convicted person gets a new trial or is granted an appeal.
I'll give an example of how I think things should work, though I don't know that something like this has ever happened in the United States. Let's say a prosecutor withholds possibly exculpatory evidence in order to win a case where one of the possible penalties is death. Let's also say that the person charged is found guilty, and after exhausting all appeals is put to death. The original prosecutor should be charged with murder, first degree or second degree depending on the strength of the withheld evidence. If this happens in a death penalty state and the charge is first degree murder, then the death penalty should be on the table. If the prosecution can prove beyond a reasonable doubt* that the original prosecutor knowingly withheld the exculpatory evidence then the original prosecutor should be convicted by a jury and given an appropriate sentence.
People in law enforcement should be held to higher standards than the general public, not lower.**
*If such a case were to occur, an independent prosecutor should be appointed, since in most jurisdictions prosecutors all know each other and aren't likely to vigorously prosecute such a case.
**I know this isn't likely to ever happen. I simply think it would be more just than the current system.
You're absolutely right. There is a marked bias on Slashdot against people who are unwilling to learn *insert whatever the commenter's favorite thing is.* Personally I find this annoying. I'll give an example why. When I was a kid, it seemed like all the adults in my life were spending a lot of energy encouraging me to learn various sports. I had no interest in doing so. I wanted to read books, play with my chemistry set, and see what would happen if I shot a bottle rocket down a toilet. When I was in my late teens I took up running to stay thin - that's the closest to an interest in sports as I've ever had.
As far as I'm concerned, people can do whatever they want with their time, as long as they don't infringe the rights of other people. If this means they don't want to play sports, or learn Linux, or study Medieval Latin poetry, that's fine with me. When people ask me what I think they should do with their time (this happens occasionally), the most I'll say is "Do what makes you happy without hurting anybody else."
I can understand why you became a bit defensive. Many Slashdotters are libertarians except when it comes to the things they want to force other people to do.
I agree, there isn't anything wrong with those people. They're simply mistaken about the nature of the device they're using. It takes some learning and practice to use Windows and the Mac OS also. It even requires some knowledge to learn how to drive a car, or use a microwave oven, or a DVD player. "Too lazy" isn't necessarily pejorative; it simply means "unwilling to put in the necessary effort to perform a certain task." For example, I'm too lazy to learn how to replace the transmission in my car. I'd rather just pay somebody else to do it. I know people who are too lazy even to learn how to use email - they have their secretaries do it for them. This doesn't mean there's anything wrong with them - they're making a choice about what to do with their time.
Nevertheless, if people choose not to put in the effort to learn some things about how to use Linux, they won't know how to use in Linux.
My comment was only about the difficulty of introducing a new technology where one which does the same thing already exists, not an attack on people who do not wish to learn Linux. As I already stated, I don't really care what OS other people use, or if Linux ever has a larger share of the desktop/laptop market than it already does.
I've been hearing about "The Year of Linux on the Desktop" for years. I think at this point many Linux distributions are ready for the desktop, at least for many common tasks. Perhaps one of the things we didn't take into account is that many home computer users are too lazy to learn something new.
For myself, I don't care whether most people use MS Windows or OS X or whatever. I just want Linux and/or *BSD to be there for me, which is why I contribute what I can monetarily to various projects, including my preferred Linux distribution.
You don't have to pay $130+shipping for Das Keyboard. You can get it from thinkgeek.com for $80+shipping. It's out of stock right now but is estimated to be back in stock in 1-3 weeks. This is the model with no markings on the keys. I've had mine for about five months, and I love it. It's helped me improve my touch-typing, it has great tactile feedback, and the sound of those keys clicking is very nice. Sure, it's not the Model M, and it doesn't have multimedia keys, but if you use Windows or Linux (can't speak for the Mac, don't have one), it's a very nice keyboard.
Does this mean that some time soon Richard Stallman is going to tell us where the HURD kernel is?
I already know the answer: suck Satan's dick.
Page 48 " ... and the elves began to sing" flip flip flip flip flip flip flip flip flip flip flip flip flip flip flip flip, page 234 ..
Tolkien didn't really write these stories for an audience. He wrote them for his own enjoyment, out of his love for languages, for the mythical world he had created, and for the characters who populated that world. The Hobbit he wrote for his children, and The Lord of the Rings he wrote for all of the readers who wanted to know more about Hobbits.
1) I find Linux very practical for my needs and so do a lot of other people. Linux distributions are generally much easier to use now than they were even a few years ago. Also, with Linux you don't have to worry about viruses or spyware breaking your system. Those are just a few practical considerations among many. 2) People announce things that aren't so all the time. Just the other day some homeless dude announced to me that he needed money to feed his kids.
This is just baseless speculation. It sounds like this guy just pulled the whole thing out of his bunghole. Then again I have to admit I've always hated AICN.
I thought it was Escherichia coli.
No way I'm going for this. I like to use my phone as a phone, and that's it. For a PC, I like a nice big case that I can put 3-4 hard disks in, a big LCD monitor, and my big Model M keyboard. I don't even really like laptops/notebooks, much less PDAs, the keyboards are too small. This is one Microsoft "innovation" I won't be interested in. I suppose I'm some sort of dinosaur.
They may be idiots (though I don't think so), but you're a troll.
A lot has already been written about various reasons for not using Windows - stability issues, control, viruses, cost, customization, and so on. I agree with all these reasons, but I'll add another which I don't think has been stated: I stay away from Windows and use Linux because it's more fun.
I have fun tinkering with my OS. You can't do a lot of that with Windows, but you can with Linux. I'm not a developer, but I can still get a kick out of compiling my own kernel, editing a config file, or trying out a different window manager. I know a lot of people don't find fun in these things, but I do. This isn't my only reason for not using Windows, but it's important to me.
Steven Weinberg's article should be modded -1, Flamebait.
I've had one of these for a while. The thing you have to remember is that it's not like a regular mouse, so you really have to learn "mousing" skills all over again. Once I got used to mine, I stopped consciously thinking about it (just like riding a bike, using a manual transmission, tying your shoes, etc.). The price is high, but it's a fun toy.
I've never owned an Apple/Mac, and don't particularly want to, but this is an important anniversary. Apple has innovated more over the years than just about any other computer company. Apple has had it's ups and downs, but it could be argued that they've been more loyal to their customers than anyone could have expected. The fact that so many of their customers are loyal to them - well, that should tell you something about what kind of company this is. Hats off to Apple for 20 years of the Mac!
All right, the Debian installer can be kind of tough, but it's not the end of the world. If you can't handle it, try MEPIS. MEPIS installed on my machine in about 1/2 hour, correctly identified and installed all my hardware (including my scanner, a first), and was up and running in no time. It was easier than Mandrake. If you want Debian but don't want to hassle with the installer or use Guillem Jover script to install a base system, try MEPIS or Libranet.
2004: New Worm Spreads Via MSN Messenger
2005: MSN Virus Spreads Through Talking About Windows
2010: Virus Becomes Airborne
2012: Virus Overwrites C:\Brain\Personality
2015: Kalahari Bushmen last remaining humans on planet arguing about whether Linux or FreeBSD is better
Gandalf was one of the Maiar (as was Sauron), of the same kind as the Valar, but of lesser power. There is even an allusion to this in The Two Towers, when Faramir quotes Gandalf: Many are my names in many countries, he said. Mithrandir among the Elves, Tharkun to the Dwarves; Olorin I was in my youth in the West that is forgotten, in the South Incanus, in the North Gandalf; to the East I go not.
It seems that Olorin was Gandalf's name as a Maia in Valinor.
and therefore Gandalf letting Frodo inherit the ring was a fundamentally dangerous thing to do
Don't forget that Gandalf didn't know that Bilbo's ring was the One Ring until he threw it into the fire at Bag End. He suspected something, but had to go to Minas Tirith and interrogate Gollum in order to discover the history of the One Ring.