You can't have a police-state without police. It is impossible for the government to provide all the services you want, and to put all the restrictions on behavior that your demand, without putting together massive databases and tracking / survalence of the population. So the government is creating yet another database.
What? Now you're making sense. [Common sense] has no business in political affairs.:)
I sometimes regret my cynical worldview.
I would like to believe that government is like an open-source operating system -- our votes, our participation in the process, would provide the maintenance and drive the improvements.
You haven't worked for any really big corporations, have you?:)
Not the giants, no... I did tech support for the University of Minnesota for several years -- pretty big school -- not so much inefficient (although it was), more like... indifferent.
In any case, I stand by my original implication: really inefficient businesses are vulnerable to competition. Really inefficient governments, even when faced with formidable competitors, have ways of reducing competition, e.g. armed force.
No single viable corporation, perhaps. But the reality is that many corporations compete for [goverment] influence, which creates the same kinds of inefficiencies that are present in committees, for example.
Oh my God... goverment by committee, by corporate proxy. With internecine competition between government agencies, in parallel with competition between corporate sponsors. Twice the detachment -- twice the inefficiency!
Evil is only profitable in that it concentrates power in a few hands. It is not profitable in that it destroys wealth and potential.
Well put, and I agree. Thanks for the commentary.
I'm reminded of "People of the Lie" by M. Scott Peck, which defines Evil as a psychiatric category. There are several characteristic traits of Evil, according to Peck.
* Conceals itself (lies, deception);
* The evil one is all that matters, everyone else is worthless -- evil lauds itself, blames everyone else. E.g.: evil people do evil deeds, then blame the deeds on the victims.
None of the above does anything to create wealth. It may acquire great wealth via deception and stealth, but in such a manner as to damage the economy for everyone else.
Because the system is run by the governemnt, which is run by the corporations, which make profits off of the patents.
Corporations do profoundly influence government, but they don't run it. Much of what government does, it does on its own. No viable corporation would run an operation so inefficiently as the government of the United States.
....in that they will eventually both be eclipsed by a newly emerging company at some point down the road which has a better proprietary search algorithm with a better plan to capitalize on it.
Alternately: Google and/or Yahoo are eclipsed by an established company that has no search algorithm whatever, but does have a better (read: uber-predatory) takeover plan.
Google in particular may prove vulnerable, if it really truly lives by the code of "Do No Evil" -- a company not willing to do Evil may itself be a prime target for Evil machinations.
Then again, I don't think the Do No Evil ethos will last forever at Google -- Evil is simply too fucking profitable.
All of the above is speculative, I am not an economist.
No, we need to bust up the monopolies, for real this time.
In America? You propose Federal Anti-Trust actions, in this day and age? Just when we're getting used to Patriot III or whatever? I think you overestimate our chances.
Just as a thought experiment, let's assume (o noble dreamers) that there exists some possibility, however slim, of breaking up large, vigorous monopolies -- specifically Microsoft.
Under this assumption, I recommend an alternate approach: nationalizing the source code. For the good of the country, you understand. Similar to the manner in which Presidents of past centuries have said Coal is a national priority, this strike is illegal, your union is busted, you men get back to work.
But that's just a thought experiment. I think a better approach is abandoning all hope of doing good deeds at the Federal level
I grew up playing in the local woods and creek with minimal tech until our first computer when I was 13. I hear stories from coworkers how some of their kids/grandkids hating going outside because it is boring and they'd rather stay indoors.
Kids raised indoors on computers will adapt better than their parents to a career in cubicle indenture.
I've been shopping at the Micro Center in Saint Louis Park (Minnesota/US) for several years now. Selection is good, prices are good, usually there's enough help so I don't have to wait long, usually the help seems well-informed.
Can the FSF trademark the word "Gnu" if it's already the name of an African antelope?
FSF can and will run roughshod over the rights of antelope, in Africa and around the world -- unless you help. Put your money where your heart is. Give generously to the Save the Antelope Foundation.
You may be too young to remember, but old farts like me used to rent pornographic videos on tape. Using two videotape decks, we'd copy our favorite sex scenes (omitting the plot, acting, and so on).
Hell, I'm old enough to remember when pornography was printed on paper. Back in those days, we'd clip out the best pictures from Playboy, then "mix" the pictures using collage techniques.
the eurpoean male porno renters dont feel weird and shamefull when they walk to the clerk?
please do a reality check and forget your current knowledge about Europe. Cause it was never knowledge.
1. Europeans who have visited America tell me that Europeans males can unshamefully rent various kinds of porn.
-Proviso #1, there *are* shameful forms of porn as well, e.g. Shit Porn in Germany.
-Proviso #2, Europe is a diverse place, not a monolith.
-Proviso #3, shy or shame-ridden men exist everywhere.
2. Americans friends of mine who have visited Europe tell the same tale.
Furthermore, Europe has public, legal brothels. Here in the states (outside Nevada anyways), prostitution is illegal. I haven't shopped around personally, but it seems obvious that a legal brothel arouses less shame (and less worry about diseases, etc.) than illegal hookers.
I could give detailed examples, but I dislike your condescending tone, so I'm done.
But isn't that the best argument for the death of VHS? More specifically, isn't pornography on the Internet the death knell for the VHS? Seriously, no longer do you have to stand the humiliation of having to go rent a pornographic video.
Two points here.
First, I've got favorite mix tapes on VHS. I'm too lazy or whatever to digitize them.
Second, I got over the humiliation, with practice. Stand tall, look the clerk in the eye, make your purchase -- it's just business. Moreover, it seems that while Americans are fettered by sexual shame, most Europeans have an open attitude about the matter. Granted, I'm an American -- but I'm no less a man than any Euro-porn-hound, I tell you what.
You may be too young to remember, but old farts such as myself used to watch porn on tape because there was no internet.
Hell, I remember before tape, pornography was actually printed on paper.
How we survived that dark age, I don't know. (Wait, yes I do -- a vigorous program of masturbation while closely scrutinizing the slick delights of Miss November... and God help the guy who caught his unit on a centerfold staple.)
Slashdot Mirror
If anyone thinks IBM or HP or any other company is embracing Linux for any warm and fuzzy reasons you are delusional.
Quite right. Corporations that delude themselves about profit are dangerously susceptible to more hard-headed competitors.
If there's going to be any delusional thinking about embracing Linux for warm and fuzzy reasons, it's up to motivated volunteers to delude themselves.
-kgj
You can't have a police-state without police. It is impossible for the government to provide all the services you want, and to put all the restrictions on behavior that your demand, without putting together massive databases and tracking / survalence of the population. So the government is creating yet another database.
Right on -- you hit that nail square on the head.
-kgj
Wow, I'm not sure if I want to read the article.
The original post is whiny and badly out of context, but the article itself is a damned good read.
-kgj
has anyone actually read the entire article ?
Yes -- I read the entire article.
-kgj
What? Now you're making sense. [Common sense] has no business in political affairs. :)
I sometimes regret my cynical worldview.
I would like to believe that government is like an open-source operating system -- our votes, our participation in the process, would provide the maintenance and drive the improvements.
But alas, it's not so.
-kgj
You haven't worked for any really big corporations, have you? :)
... I did tech support for the University of Minnesota for several years -- pretty big school -- not so much inefficient (although it was), more like ... indifferent.
Not the giants, no
In any case, I stand by my original implication: really inefficient businesses are vulnerable to competition. Really inefficient governments, even when faced with formidable competitors, have ways of reducing competition, e.g. armed force.
-kgj
No single viable corporation, perhaps. But the reality is that many corporations compete for [goverment] influence, which creates the same kinds of inefficiencies that are present in committees, for example.
... goverment by committee, by corporate proxy. With internecine competition between government agencies, in parallel with competition between corporate sponsors. Twice the detachment -- twice the inefficiency!
Oh my God
-kgj
Evil is only profitable in that it concentrates power in a few hands. It is not profitable in that it destroys wealth and potential.
Well put, and I agree. Thanks for the commentary.
I'm reminded of "People of the Lie" by M. Scott Peck, which defines Evil as a psychiatric category. There are several characteristic traits of Evil, according to Peck.
* Conceals itself (lies, deception);
* The evil one is all that matters, everyone else is worthless -- evil lauds itself, blames everyone else. E.g.: evil people do evil deeds, then blame the deeds on the victims.
None of the above does anything to create wealth. It may acquire great wealth via deception and stealth, but in such a manner as to damage the economy for everyone else.
-kgj
Because the system is run by the governemnt, which is run by the corporations, which make profits off of the patents.
Corporations do profoundly influence government, but they don't run it. Much of what government does, it does on its own. No viable corporation would run an operation so inefficiently as the government of the United States.
-kgj
....in that they will eventually both be eclipsed by a newly emerging company at some point down the road which has a better proprietary search algorithm with a better plan to capitalize on it.
Alternately: Google and/or Yahoo are eclipsed by an established company that has no search algorithm whatever, but does have a better (read: uber-predatory) takeover plan.
Google in particular may prove vulnerable, if it really truly lives by the code of "Do No Evil" -- a company not willing to do Evil may itself be a prime target for Evil machinations.
Then again, I don't think the Do No Evil ethos will last forever at Google -- Evil is simply too fucking profitable.
All of the above is speculative, I am not an economist.
-kgj
No, we need to bust up the monopolies, for real this time.
In America? You propose Federal Anti-Trust actions, in this day and age? Just when we're getting used to Patriot III or whatever? I think you overestimate our chances.
Just as a thought experiment, let's assume (o noble dreamers) that there exists some possibility, however slim, of breaking up large, vigorous monopolies -- specifically Microsoft.
Under this assumption, I recommend an alternate approach: nationalizing the source code. For the good of the country, you understand. Similar to the manner in which Presidents of past centuries have said Coal is a national priority, this strike is illegal, your union is busted, you men get back to work.
But that's just a thought experiment. I think a better approach is abandoning all hope of doing good deeds at the Federal level
-kgj
Jesus! Have you ever heard of something called sarcasm ? ;)
....
I actually intended half-sarcasm, half-irony. Perhaps I shaved it a bit close to the bone
-kgj
Whoever modded this as funny has obviously not lived through the experience. The future is here.
Agreed. The future is here, and for some people -- the New Poor, to borrow John Brunner's phrase -- it sucks worse than ever.
-kgj
I grew up playing in the local woods and creek with minimal tech until our first computer when I was 13. I hear stories from coworkers how some of their kids/grandkids hating going outside because it is boring and they'd rather stay indoors.
Kids raised indoors on computers will adapt better than their parents to a career in cubicle indenture.
-kgj
From the CEO's desk at Blowfish Screwdrivers ...
Made me laugh!
I don't usually mod +Funny, but I'd make an exception here, if only I had mod points.
-kgj
I've been shopping at the Micro Center in Saint Louis Park (Minnesota/US) for several years now. Selection is good, prices are good, usually there's enough help so I don't have to wait long, usually the help seems well-informed.
-kgj
There was once a country which opposed these instruments of tyrrany. I'd like to see that country again someday.
Simple.
* If you are paying tribute or taxes to your oppressor, stop paying.
* If your oppressor billets his troops on your soil, kill them.
Not your country -- not somebody -- you personally must stop paying tribute, and kill the garrison troops. Such is the nature of revolution.
-kgj
A: Are you kidding? Russia is far from becoming democratic, more like sinking back to dictatorship.
B: Are you kidding? America is far from remaining democratic, more like sinking into a dictatorship.
You're both right. The propositions are not mutually exclusive.
-kgj
Can the FSF trademark the word "Gnu" if it's already the name of an African antelope?
The answer is unclear.
But the solution is obvious: open-source antelope.
-kgj
Can the FSF trademark the word "Gnu" if it's already the name of an African antelope?
FSF can and will run roughshod over the rights of antelope, in Africa and around the world -- unless you help. Put your money where your heart is. Give generously to the Save the Antelope Foundation.
-kgj
mix tapes? What're those, exactly?!
You may be too young to remember, but old farts like me used to rent pornographic videos on tape. Using two videotape decks, we'd copy our favorite sex scenes (omitting the plot, acting, and so on).
Hell, I'm old enough to remember when pornography was printed on paper. Back in those days, we'd clip out the best pictures from Playboy, then "mix" the pictures using collage techniques.
-kgj
the eurpoean male porno renters dont feel weird and shamefull when they walk to the clerk? please do a reality check and forget your current knowledge about Europe. Cause it was never knowledge.
1. Europeans who have visited America tell me that Europeans males can unshamefully rent various kinds of porn.
-Proviso #1, there *are* shameful forms of porn as well, e.g. Shit Porn in Germany.
-Proviso #2, Europe is a diverse place, not a monolith.
-Proviso #3, shy or shame-ridden men exist everywhere.
2. Americans friends of mine who have visited Europe tell the same tale.
Furthermore, Europe has public, legal brothels. Here in the states (outside Nevada anyways), prostitution is illegal. I haven't shopped around personally, but it seems obvious that a legal brothel arouses less shame (and less worry about diseases, etc.) than illegal hookers.
I could give detailed examples, but I dislike your condescending tone, so I'm done.
-kgj
But isn't that the best argument for the death of VHS? More specifically, isn't pornography on the Internet the death knell for the VHS? Seriously, no longer do you have to stand the humiliation of having to go rent a pornographic video.
Two points here.
First, I've got favorite mix tapes on VHS. I'm too lazy or whatever to digitize them.
Second, I got over the humiliation, with practice. Stand tall, look the clerk in the eye, make your purchase -- it's just business. Moreover, it seems that while Americans are fettered by sexual shame, most Europeans have an open attitude about the matter. Granted, I'm an American -- but I'm no less a man than any Euro-porn-hound, I tell you what.
-kgj
I'm guessing that even porn is going DVD - and sooooooo much easier to fast forward pass the "plot" and "acting" parts.
... lubricant for your data retrieval system.
Porn markup tags make the job so much easier. They're like
-kgj
but isn't [porn] what the internet is for???
... and God help the guy who caught his unit on a centerfold staple.)
You may be too young to remember, but old farts such as myself used to watch porn on tape because there was no internet.
Hell, I remember before tape, pornography was actually printed on paper.
How we survived that dark age, I don't know. (Wait, yes I do -- a vigorous program of masturbation while closely scrutinizing the slick delights of Miss November
-kgj