So, all cops are worthless and deserve to suffer and die because a couple of a--holes harassed you for a while... for which they were themselves punished. Gives me a warm feeling to know I live in a world populated by such rational and civilized people as you.
/sarc
Now, that said, it is true that police are frequently given too much arbitrary authority, and that the unions (who also have too much power) often prevent those who are truly undeserving of a badge from being forced to seek other employment. The crux of the problem is the good cops are often punished or harassed for doing their jobs, the few bad cops are protected instead of punished (which increases their numbers) and we all continue to ignore property and violent crimes because we don't want to "get involved", which makes criminals stronger and bolder... yet we all sit around and wonder why our freedoms are continuously eroded away.
Absolutely right!
Even an extraterrestrial publicity stunt like this, if privately funded, would be worthwhile... more so if they include a low lunar orbit satellite with a webcam to stream continuous video to Ustream or some similar service. Anything which helps to make the point that we do not have to limit ourselves to a single world is worthwhile.
Amazing, it is as if all the great feats of space exploration in the 60's and 70's, and the grand plans we had to follow up with space colonies, lunar colonies, space power and asteroid mining are all just strange myths from a distant past.
This was all conceived back in the 70's. http://www.nss.org/settlement/ColoniesInSpace/colonies_chap03.html It was even remotely possible back then. It can certainly be done now.
Would it be safe? Yes. Would it be practical? Possibly, depending on how it is done. Is it less objectionable than other forms of energy? Not to those who understand it, want it, and appreciate the long term benefits... but they are few.
We can't use abundant, cheap coal because of irrational fears of CO2. We can't use nuclear because of only slightly less irrational fears of radioactive waste. We can't use wind because it's big and noisy and no one wants it near them. We won't be able to use Orbital Solar Power because "the microwaves will cook us", "the energy balance of the Earth will be disrupted", "the big satellites will ruin the night sky" and a host of other silly reasons.
Such a pity. Building these first PowerSats could herald the new age of Space Colonization. More likely fear and ignorance will keep us trapped on this muddy little rock for the rest of time.
A. Your reply seems to suggest that I favor the old definition. I do not. B. I never said the Illinois action was not asinine; you are just projecting. C. My favored Planetary Classification is described here: http://www.boulder.swri.edu/~hal/PDF/planet_def.pdf
1. This classification would benefit from further refinement, but represents a more logical (i.e. less asinine) approach.
2. This classification provides for upper as well as lower mass boundaries and allows inclusion of esoteric bodies like rogue planets and double planets.
3. Yes, this would result in a larger number of "new" planets... so what? The IAU approach irrationally favors fewer planets. D. Your attempt to appear scholarly in your reply is juvenile and an excellent example of my use of the term "slashdot dweeb". An adult response would have been "What method of classification do you prefer and why?" or "What about the IAU method do you find objectionable?"
The new "definition" by the IAU is asinine and was voted on by just 424 self-appointed members of a 9000 member group of astronomers who do not even represent all of the world's astronomers. The people of Illinois have as much right as the IAU, scientists or not.
In related news, 500 geographers get drunk at a convention in Las Vegas and officially adopt the Dymaxion Map of the world as the official description of the Earth, and declare that there is only one Continent comprising all the worlds land masses surrounded by a single World Ocean. The move is condemned by most of the public, but is fiercely defended by a bunch of dweebs on Slashdot as "really cool".
Was it all those sailing ships the European explorers used to exploit the world? Maybe they trapped the winds and caused a shift in global air currents!
For that matter, what was up with the Cambrian, Jurassic, and Cretaceous eras, when it was as much as 10 degrees C hotter than today (global average). Was that due to flatulent herbivorous dinosaurs?
The entire "global warming" sham is the most egregious abuse of science for political benefit since eugenics.
Thank you, thank you... that is exactly right. It is not as if any car company can sell electric cars only to a handfull of geeks who think EV's are really cool and "promise not to sue" if the battery acid leaks all over them.
Car companies are in business to SELL CARS. If there really was a market for electric cars, one that was profitable and not filled with liability landmines, they would sell electric cars. They would sell cars that ran on water if they could. Anything to sell more cars. They don't care any more about the profits of oil companies than restaurant chefs care about the profits of farmers.
Now maybe in another 10 years, with carbon nanotube capacitor batteries (http://www.physorg.com/news10525.html) and some sort of safety circuit to isolate the battery in case of an accident, we may see "I, Robot/Demolition Man" style electric cars zipping through our cities. Until then, all of the conspiracy theorists should just keep their tinfoil hats firmly duct-tapped to their heads.
1) Forbid viewers from switching channels during commercials.
2) Forbid viewers from turning off their TV's.
3) Get promoted to CEO of Network 23.
4) Rule the World!
...and all it took was twelve years of lies and propaganda. Next goal, convince the Americans that 70% taxation and no property rights is good for them. Pretty soon the US will be just as stupid and inept as most of western Europe.
(Oh, don't get all upset, it's just cheap hyperbole. I'm not going to waste my time actually trying to convince people of what should be completely obvious. Reason matters little to environmental zealots.)
How about whatever it takes?!
There are only two options for Iraq now, success and freedom, or failure and chaos. Only idiots or monsters would suggest quitting now and dooming those people to a dismal fate.
Aw man! You guys had me all worked up! I was about ready to start calling all of my Libertarian buddies and fire off some nasty letters to Washington.
Then I read the actual New York Times article (the whole article) and find out that the names and phone numbers of these few hundred "Americans" were first retrieved from the cell phone and laptop of a captured Al Qaeda leader, and that they were only monitoring international communications, no domestic calls at all. And to top it off, the intel they got from this operation helped them catch a sleeper who was planning to bomb a New York bridge and subway.
So, they really did nothing wrong, immoral, or un-Constitutional at all. They are not "reading all of your email", and you have nothing to worry about unless Osama Bin Laden is in your IM Buddy list and you exchange recipies daily. If that is the case, let me know and I'll be glad to save the Men in Black the trouble and take care of you personally.
BTW... yes, I put the word American in parenthises above on purpose. Regardless of resident or birth status, anyone who helps foreign powers plot and commit acts of sabotage and mass murder against this country is a traitor and deserves prison or deportation at the very least. If they want to listen in on a few phone calls first, or even throw him in a hole for a few months to cook some intel out of him, that is fine by me.
It's sad that this needs to be said, but... Folks, almost all pillows, including feather pillows, are machine washable. You should wash them, at home or a laundry mat, at least four times a year. Read that little white tag sewn onto the pillow for specific washing instructions.
Yes, some exposure to bacteria and funguses are needed to keep the immune system responsive. Intentionally overexposing yourself through poor hygiene is just disgusting and very unhealthy.
At least not all publishers are adverse to the idea of open access to electronic versions of their publications.
Check out the Baen Free Library at
http://www.baen.com/library/
Baen is a publisher of Science Fiction and Fantasy literature.
Sure you can. When President Kennedy was sworn into office in 1961, he set a goal for the end of the decade that we would "send a man to the moon and bring him safely back to Earth."
And, in so doing, doomed manned missions to the moon to a political and practical dead end. NASA had to use technology which was suitable to a fast track to the moon, but incapable of providing a lasting infrastructure to maintain a presence. We were quite capable of a permanent presence in orbit and on the moon by the mid eighties, and a leader with real vision would have realized the benefit, both political and practical, which that would have had over a moon race.
This bill is fourty years too late and twenty years out of date. NASA should not be tasked with developing new launch vehicles. They should open that market to continuing competition by purchasing launch vehicles and space craft the same way they purchase air craft. By "blessing" a single design, they stiffle development. Ideally, NASA should be downsized to a pure research organization to design and fly unmanned probes, collect data, and research new base technologies.
Unfortunately, spending taxpayer dollars is what keeps politicians in business, and appears to be the only ting government knows how to do well.
Anyone else think of Larry Niven when they read this? Thank goodness quantum teleportation won't work on people... yet.
(see http://www.wordspy.com/words/flashcrowd.asp if you don't know what I mean.)
Slashdot Mirror
So, all cops are worthless and deserve to suffer and die because a couple of a--holes harassed you for a while... for which they were themselves punished. Gives me a warm feeling to know I live in a world populated by such rational and civilized people as you.
/sarc
Now, that said, it is true that police are frequently given too much arbitrary authority, and that the unions (who also have too much power) often prevent those who are truly undeserving of a badge from being forced to seek other employment. The crux of the problem is the good cops are often punished or harassed for doing their jobs, the few bad cops are protected instead of punished (which increases their numbers) and we all continue to ignore property and violent crimes because we don't want to "get involved", which makes criminals stronger and bolder... yet we all sit around and wonder why our freedoms are continuously eroded away.
Yes.
Absolutely right!
Even an extraterrestrial publicity stunt like this, if privately funded, would be worthwhile... more so if they include a low lunar orbit satellite with a webcam to stream continuous video to Ustream or some similar service. Anything which helps to make the point that we do not have to limit ourselves to a single world is worthwhile.
Insanity.
State issued electronic ID Cards, ubiquitous surveillance, bans on freedom of expression, loss of property rights...
Insanity.
Last sentence, 2nd paragraph should have read "Yes, to those who understand it, want it, and appreciate the long term benefits... but they are few."
Apologies.
Amazing, it is as if all the great feats of space exploration in the 60's and 70's, and the grand plans we had to follow up with space colonies, lunar colonies, space power and asteroid mining are all just strange myths from a distant past.
This was all conceived back in the 70's. http://www.nss.org/settlement/ColoniesInSpace/colonies_chap03.html It was even remotely possible back then. It can certainly be done now.
Would it be safe? Yes. Would it be practical? Possibly, depending on how it is done. Is it less objectionable than other forms of energy? Not to those who understand it, want it, and appreciate the long term benefits... but they are few.
We can't use abundant, cheap coal because of irrational fears of CO2. We can't use nuclear because of only slightly less irrational fears of radioactive waste. We can't use wind because it's big and noisy and no one wants it near them. We won't be able to use Orbital Solar Power because "the microwaves will cook us", "the energy balance of the Earth will be disrupted", "the big satellites will ruin the night sky" and a host of other silly reasons.
Such a pity. Building these first PowerSats could herald the new age of Space Colonization. More likely fear and ignorance will keep us trapped on this muddy little rock for the rest of time.
Hardly.
A. Your reply seems to suggest that I favor the old definition. I do not.
B. I never said the Illinois action was not asinine; you are just projecting.
C. My favored Planetary Classification is described here: http://www.boulder.swri.edu/~hal/PDF/planet_def.pdf
1. This classification would benefit from further refinement, but represents a more logical (i.e. less asinine) approach.
2. This classification provides for upper as well as lower mass boundaries and allows inclusion of esoteric bodies like rogue planets and double planets.
3. Yes, this would result in a larger number of "new" planets... so what? The IAU approach irrationally favors fewer planets.
D. Your attempt to appear scholarly in your reply is juvenile and an excellent example of my use of the term "slashdot dweeb". An adult response would have been "What method of classification do you prefer and why?" or "What about the IAU method do you find objectionable?"
The new "definition" by the IAU is asinine and was voted on by just 424 self-appointed members of a 9000 member group of astronomers who do not even represent all of the world's astronomers. The people of Illinois have as much right as the IAU, scientists or not. In related news, 500 geographers get drunk at a convention in Las Vegas and officially adopt the Dymaxion Map of the world as the official description of the Earth, and declare that there is only one Continent comprising all the worlds land masses surrounded by a single World Ocean. The move is condemned by most of the public, but is fiercely defended by a bunch of dweebs on Slashdot as "really cool".
...what made it so hot 400 years ago?
Was it all those sailing ships the European explorers used to exploit the world? Maybe they trapped the winds and caused a shift in global air currents!
For that matter, what was up with the Cambrian, Jurassic, and Cretaceous eras, when it was as much as 10 degrees C hotter than today (global average). Was that due to flatulent herbivorous dinosaurs?
The entire "global warming" sham is the most egregious abuse of science for political benefit since eugenics.
Been done.
n s.html
See H.P. Lovecraft's At the Mountains of Madness. http://sprg.ssl.berkeley.edu/~wcoburn/hpl/mountai
Thank you, thank you... that is exactly right. It is not as if any car company can sell electric cars only to a handfull of geeks who think EV's are really cool and "promise not to sue" if the battery acid leaks all over them.
Car companies are in business to SELL CARS. If there really was a market for electric cars, one that was profitable and not filled with liability landmines, they would sell electric cars. They would sell cars that ran on water if they could. Anything to sell more cars. They don't care any more about the profits of oil companies than restaurant chefs care about the profits of farmers.
Now maybe in another 10 years, with carbon nanotube capacitor batteries (http://www.physorg.com/news10525.html) and some sort of safety circuit to isolate the battery in case of an accident, we may see "I, Robot/Demolition Man" style electric cars zipping through our cities. Until then, all of the conspiracy theorists should just keep their tinfoil hats firmly duct-tapped to their heads.
1) Forbid viewers from switching channels during commercials.
2) Forbid viewers from turning off their TV's.
3) Get promoted to CEO of Network 23.
4) Rule the World!
Bwahhhahahahahaha!
...and all it took was twelve years of lies and propaganda. Next goal, convince the Americans that 70% taxation and no property rights is good for them. Pretty soon the US will be just as stupid and inept as most of western Europe.
(Oh, don't get all upset, it's just cheap hyperbole. I'm not going to waste my time actually trying to convince people of what should be completely obvious. Reason matters little to environmental zealots.)
How about whatever it takes?!
There are only two options for Iraq now, success and freedom, or failure and chaos. Only idiots or monsters would suggest quitting now and dooming those people to a dismal fate.
Aw man! You guys had me all worked up! I was about ready to start calling all of my Libertarian buddies and fire off some nasty letters to Washington.
Then I read the actual New York Times article (the whole article) and find out that the names and phone numbers of these few hundred "Americans" were first retrieved from the cell phone and laptop of a captured Al Qaeda leader, and that they were only monitoring international communications, no domestic calls at all. And to top it off, the intel they got from this operation helped them catch a sleeper who was planning to bomb a New York bridge and subway.
So, they really did nothing wrong, immoral, or un-Constitutional at all. They are not "reading all of your email", and you have nothing to worry about unless Osama Bin Laden is in your IM Buddy list and you exchange recipies daily. If that is the case, let me know and I'll be glad to save the Men in Black the trouble and take care of you personally.
BTW... yes, I put the word American in parenthises above on purpose. Regardless of resident or birth status, anyone who helps foreign powers plot and commit acts of sabotage and mass murder against this country is a traitor and deserves prison or deportation at the very least. If they want to listen in on a few phone calls first, or even throw him in a hole for a few months to cook some intel out of him, that is fine by me.
No, just you. :P
Take his car?!! For what he did?!!!
"Hangin's not good enough!
Burnin's not good enough!
He should be torn into itsy, bitsy pieces,
and BURIED ALIVE!!!!!"
Seriously, though... at least a public whipping till he needs hospitalization is in order.
It's sad that this needs to be said, but... Folks, almost all pillows, including feather pillows, are machine washable. You should wash them, at home or a laundry mat, at least four times a year. Read that little white tag sewn onto the pillow for specific washing instructions.
Yes, some exposure to bacteria and funguses are needed to keep the immune system responsive. Intentionally overexposing yourself through poor hygiene is just disgusting and very unhealthy.
Next Week: How to use soap when you bathe.
It's all just a bunch of tree-hugging hippie crap!
(Sorry, had to get the Cartman quote out of my system.)
Seriously though, who really cares about a bunch of brain damaged losers trying to save the world one reefer at a time?
At least not all publishers are adverse to the idea of open access to electronic versions of their publications. Check out the Baen Free Library at http://www.baen.com/library/ Baen is a publisher of Science Fiction and Fantasy literature.
Sheesh! Don't you people ever pick up a freaking encyclopedia?!
I read about the USSR's space program, including the rovers, in the 5th grade.
NEVER wait to be taught what you can learn yourself!
Read a Book!
Sure you can. When President Kennedy was sworn into office in 1961, he set a goal for the end of the decade that we would "send a man to the moon and bring him safely back to Earth."
And, in so doing, doomed manned missions to the moon to a political and practical dead end. NASA had to use technology which was suitable to a fast track to the moon, but incapable of providing a lasting infrastructure to maintain a presence. We were quite capable of a permanent presence in orbit and on the moon by the mid eighties, and a leader with real vision would have realized the benefit, both political and practical, which that would have had over a moon race.
This bill is fourty years too late and twenty years out of date. NASA should not be tasked with developing new launch vehicles. They should open that market to continuing competition by purchasing launch vehicles and space craft the same way they purchase air craft. By "blessing" a single design, they stiffle development. Ideally, NASA should be downsized to a pure research organization to design and fly unmanned probes, collect data, and research new base technologies. Unfortunately, spending taxpayer dollars is what keeps politicians in business, and appears to be the only ting government knows how to do well.
Anyone else think of Larry Niven when they read this? Thank goodness quantum teleportation won't work on people... yet. (see http://www.wordspy.com/words/flashcrowd.asp if you don't know what I mean.)