I never got very far into the book, because the main character (I hesitate to say protagonist) had such a dark soul. So maybe it has a happier ending, but I couldn't get to it.
I'm not sure that's really true. If you look at how introductory calculus, algebra, and arithmetic are often (I think) taught, it's more about algorithm memorization than careful reasoning.
Not that those subject need to be logic-free, but they mostly seem to be. I was done with school before No Child Left Behind was enacted, but I could imagine that exacerbating the problem.
Mathematics is nothing less than the upmost tool of rationality. Lose it, and all progress decays.
Depending on what you call mathematics, I'd argue that formal logic is closer to the essence of rationality. (Although if you consider mathematics as reasoning about any system with mathematical structure, and consider logical formalisms to have mathematical structure, then I guess the argument goes the other way around and I'd agree with whole-heartedly.)
If the teaching is going to be bad either way, then Kahn costs a heck of a lot less to get the same result.
If Kahn and a unionized teacher are both bad, for Kahn the solution is for someone to upload a new lesson that's better. For the teacher, the solution is to suck it up because teacher unions demand that seniority trumps all other considerations.
I have no idea if Kahn or classroom teachers are ultimately the better choice. But the teachers unions better cobble together some damn good arguments for why they deserve the compensation and job protections they get, if Kahn offers way better bang for the buck.
It's hard for a craftsman to know if he's violating a patent, environmental law, or something that will make a TSA knuckle-dragger feel is a weapon of mass destruction.
Car manufacturers seem intent on specifically requiring special tools for their cars, and use patents to protect them.
The DMCA, copyright, and patent laws make it neigh illegal to tinker with electronic devices you've bought, because some a$$hole in Holywood bought some corrupt legislators. I mean, discussed how to make America more competitive in a global IP marketplace.
Finally, cheap manufacturing from Asia has lead to a situation where it's cheaper to replace consumer products than to repair them. So how are many people going to learn repair skills on them? It's certainly not a valid career path in the U.S.
If it had said "he", would you have made a similar post?
Nope. Because in English, "he" is the personal pronoun for males and for persons of unspecific sex. "She" is the personal pronoun for females and for personified objects such as ships and nations.
Microsoft is going to replace the hated "Ribbon" with a more-hated "Bow".
On the downside it will require untying to get at the menu item you want. On the bright side it will be configured as a Moebius strip, so if you don't find the menu item your looking for you can just keep clicking and you'll eventually get there.
My inertia mainly comes from a sense that I can't really change anything of import.
For example, I was deeply pissed off about the CIA exporting suspects for torture. But when I saw that a sizable fraction of Americans were like, "So what? They're terrorists, so they deserve it." or "They might be terrorists, and I'm really afraid of terrorism, so let's torture them just in case it's a ticking-bomb scenario.", I just felt like there was little point in trying. I would just be yet another protester with a placard in front of the White House being ignored by most people and mis-characterized by Fox News.
I have a different take on the issue you're (sort of) raising.
It may be that the U.S. trade representative and his puppetmaster lobbyists are pushing these treaties, but I'm a U.S. citizen and these guys sure as hell don't speak for me.
We ceased to be a real democracy approximately when corporations became people.
So investigate and raise hell and give people something to get riled up about.
The point is that this doesn't seem to have worked. If you look at the horrible things Congress and the President have done over the past 12-16 years, I don't notice a lack of information reaching the public. What I'm struck by is the general public's apathy and/or resignation.
The CIA tortures people. The executive branch (and now Congress as well) has suspended Habeus Corpus for anyone called a terrorist. The TSA violates the 4th Amendment with their VIPER program (traffic stops and searches on public roads without probable cause). Copyright extensions are written by RIAA and MPAA lobbyists, and become law without debate. Pelosi tells Congress that they'll need to pass the health care bill to find out what's in it, AND THEY ACCEPT THAT. We've lost our gold-plated credit rating, and we haven't passed proper budgets in several years (if I recall correctly).
These allegations are widely known and accepted, and yet for some reasons those in power have not been significantly held accountable.
My brother has worked for some major metro dailies in the Northeast, including as managing editor. He's recently decided to leave the industry at perhaps the peak of his career because he's convinced it's dying.
We discussed it and came to the same conclusion as you. The fundamental problem isn't the business model, it's an apathetic citizenry. If Americans cared deeply about civic issues and governance, rather than American Idol, they would find a way to fund good journalism. But if they don't, there's no business model that can keep good journalism going.
I only hope it takes something less than a national tragedy to re-invigorate the American people's concern for good governance.
Slashdot Mirror
Thank you for removing my last vestige of guilt for not having soldiered through the book.
I never got very far into the book, because the main character (I hesitate to say protagonist) had such a dark soul. So maybe it has a happier ending, but I couldn't get to it.
Your privacy laws also helped the Nazi party hide money they stole from the Jews, if I recall.
So yeah, 6 of one, half of another I guess.
With the U.S.'s non-enforcement of immigration law, the Texas datacenter could be staffed with Mexican citizens anyway.
I don't think that problem is peculiar to religion. It seems to pertain to most strongly-held views, especially politics.
Emo prof asks: Is anything necessary?
No, Emo prof cries, "Leave Algebra ALONE!!!!"
I'm not sure that's really true. If you look at how introductory calculus, algebra, and arithmetic are often (I think) taught, it's more about algorithm memorization than careful reasoning.
Not that those subject need to be logic-free, but they mostly seem to be. I was done with school before No Child Left Behind was enacted, but I could imagine that exacerbating the problem.
Mathematics is nothing less than the upmost tool of rationality. Lose it, and all progress decays.
Depending on what you call mathematics, I'd argue that formal logic is closer to the essence of rationality. (Although if you consider mathematics as reasoning about any system with mathematical structure, and consider logical formalisms to have mathematical structure, then I guess the argument goes the other way around and I'd agree with whole-heartedly.)
I think this speaks volumes about the amazing power of evolutionary processes, especially on a big planet over millions of years.
If you're impressed, I'd say credit God with setting up such an amazing system.
If the teaching is going to be bad either way, then Kahn costs a heck of a lot less to get the same result.
If Kahn and a unionized teacher are both bad, for Kahn the solution is for someone to upload a new lesson that's better. For the teacher, the solution is to suck it up because teacher unions demand that seniority trumps all other considerations.
I have no idea if Kahn or classroom teachers are ultimately the better choice. But the teachers unions better cobble together some damn good arguments for why they deserve the compensation and job protections they get, if Kahn offers way better bang for the buck.
It's hard for a craftsman to know if he's violating a patent, environmental law, or something that will make a TSA knuckle-dragger feel is a weapon of mass destruction.
Car manufacturers seem intent on specifically requiring special tools for their cars, and use patents to protect them.
The DMCA, copyright, and patent laws make it neigh illegal to tinker with electronic devices you've bought, because some a$$hole in Holywood bought some corrupt legislators. I mean, discussed how to make America more competitive in a global IP marketplace.
Finally, cheap manufacturing from Asia has lead to a situation where it's cheaper to replace consumer products than to repair them. So how are many people going to learn repair skills on them? It's certainly not a valid career path in the U.S.
How's NSFNet working out for you then?
Heh, my brain kept trying for like 10 seconds to unpack that as "Not Safe For..."
Before you ask, yes, I call Lent a "holiday", too.
Do you call Lent a holiday too? Oh crap, you just said I shouldn't...
If it had said "he", would you have made a similar post?
Nope. Because in English, "he" is the personal pronoun for males and for persons of unspecific sex. "She" is the personal pronoun for females and for personified objects such as ships and nations.
Funny, I didn't notice anything about the technology only working on females.
Microsoft is going to replace the hated "Ribbon" with a more-hated "Bow".
On the downside it will require untying to get at the menu item you want. On the bright side it will be configured as a Moebius strip, so if you don't find the menu item your looking for you can just keep clicking and you'll eventually get there.
My inertia mainly comes from a sense that I can't really change anything of import.
For example, I was deeply pissed off about the CIA exporting suspects for torture. But when I saw that a sizable fraction of Americans were like, "So what? They're terrorists, so they deserve it." or "They might be terrorists, and I'm really afraid of terrorism, so let's torture them just in case it's a ticking-bomb scenario.", I just felt like there was little point in trying. I would just be yet another protester with a placard in front of the White House being ignored by most people and mis-characterized by Fox News.
I have a different take on the issue you're (sort of) raising.
It may be that the U.S. trade representative and his puppetmaster lobbyists are pushing these treaties, but I'm a U.S. citizen and these guys sure as hell don't speak for me.
We ceased to be a real democracy approximately when corporations became people.
So investigate and raise hell and give people something to get riled up about.
The point is that this doesn't seem to have worked. If you look at the horrible things Congress and the President have done over the past 12-16 years,
I don't notice a lack of information reaching the public. What I'm struck by is the general public's apathy and/or resignation.
The CIA tortures people. The executive branch (and now Congress as well) has suspended Habeus Corpus for anyone called a terrorist. The TSA violates the 4th Amendment with their VIPER program (traffic stops and searches on public roads without probable cause). Copyright extensions are written by RIAA and MPAA lobbyists, and become law without debate. Pelosi tells Congress that they'll need to pass the health care bill to find out what's in it, AND THEY ACCEPT THAT. We've lost our gold-plated credit rating, and we haven't passed proper budgets in several years (if I recall correctly).
These allegations are widely known and accepted, and yet for some reasons those in power have not been significantly held accountable.
With all due respect, I haven't consumed enough Mountain Dew tonight to absorb eschatological theology :)
My brother has worked for some major metro dailies in the Northeast, including as managing editor. He's recently decided to leave the industry at perhaps the peak of his career because he's convinced it's dying.
We discussed it and came to the same conclusion as you. The fundamental problem isn't the business model, it's an apathetic citizenry. If Americans cared deeply about civic issues and governance, rather than American Idol, they would find a way to fund good journalism. But if they don't, there's no business model that can keep good journalism going.
I only hope it takes something less than a national tragedy to re-invigorate the American people's concern for good governance.
I think the icing on the cake is the fee of 5 mil to point them to a known fraudster.
Talk about the ultimate troll move. That surpasses being Rick Rolled.
I just figured out what their eternity in Hell is going to look like...
Yes, out of the tens of thousands of emoyees everyone is supposed to know what everyone is doing
And a few there found that l&h was a fraud before it blew up
If corporations are people, then they're responsible for the relationships between the different thoughts in their heads.
Did Goldman Sachs employees engage in some kind of fraud?
I would give my two left lugnuts to see white-collar crime like this vigorously prosecuted.
It's almost like in this sector, patents are hurting innovation. No wait, that can't be right...