I had a lengthy response to this... but I decided that I don't wanna get into this particular pissing contest.
One clarification: I never said anything about being stupid for having pride in ancestry. I decried the display of a symbol of imprisonment. There is a difference.
You may now rant away, but don't expect a response.
I imagine that a hundred years from now we'll still be having the same conversation. All the slaves and slave owners are dead and gone, but it's embedded in the american psyche.
It doesn't help any that some dumbasses in the south still fly the confederate battle flag...
As an aside... Looking like I do (big white boy, irish/scottish background), people assume I'm a racist... guess I fit the stereotype too well. When I was in school, this texan dude walks up to me and goes "he maaan, what's the deal with all these derned wetbacks 'round here?" I told him that it was (at the time) the year 1998, not 1798. Catch up or go the fuck back to texas... he left quietly...
There's a difference between political correctness (dumbass term) and using racial slurs. The former is an overreaction to a potential slight, the latter is an attempt to offend.
For what it's worth, I find it interesting that folks always assume this is a racial (specifically, about black slaves) issue. Slavery has been around for millenia, as anything from a way to pay off a debt (fairly rare, and different from indentured servants) to the penalty for losing a battle in war.
This is NOT a concept that is 'owned' by any one group of people.
Incidently, I appreciate the work you are doing. It's pretty scummy the way some folks are still treated.
Art Bell can be really funny. I like to listen and just marvel at the shoddy logic that he and his guests pull out... my favorite 2 are:
1) Well, if there's no proof that X (doesn't matter what X is) is false, than it's clearly true! 2) X (the gov't, nasa, authority-of-choice) denied it, so you know it must be true!
I feel bad for the occasional decent scientist who comes on the show, and who gets blindsided by some weird question like:
(while explaining that we just got missed (1 million miles) by some big asteroid) "That's interesting... so, do you think aliens might be behind this? Why isn't the government telling us?"
Now, I'll grant you that there are some weird things out there that science doesn't get yet (millions of credible people see ghosts, aliens, etc.), but this concept of "for lack of proof, any answer will do" is odd. Entertaining though...
If I was really in a hurry... probably 30 seconds. In practice (at the range) usually takes a minute or so to get the piece out, load it (of course it is stored with an empty clip in it) and do a quick readiness check.
I own a gun because I enjoy target practice, and it's cheaper than renting a gun every time. I don't have it for self defense. I live alone and don't have any possessions worth killing to defend.
1) You'd be liable for negligence for not watching the kid.
2) You might be sued, but are very unlikely to lose just because someone stole your car. Now, if you allowed the brakes to be poorly maintained and they failed, causing the death, you might lose.
3) At least by California law, you would be liable for the gun charge, presuming you stored the gun irresponsibly. As long as it is handled properly, you are probably OK.
(For example, my pistol is locked in a 'lifejacket' - a locking metal case that wraps around the complete piece - and then locked inside a metal case. The keys and ALL ammunition are stored separately. It would require an extreme effort to get the gun and hurt yourself. I am legally OK, as the law doesn't protect idiots who go out of their way to shoot themselves. I made a good faith effort to keep the gun safe. In CA, no lock is required, but if an unlocked gun is used, the owner is responsible)
Incidently, I heard LOTR on a books-on-CD thing (56 disks... took MUCH longer than reading it...) and they included the 'Annals of the kings and rulers' at the end. I've never red much of the appendices to ROTK, but this was really cool. The back story of Gondor and Rohan (back to the Numenoreans), the story of Helm Hammerhand, etc. were pretty cool.
I've always said that it wasn't the story that made LOTR so good (fallen king destroys evil and becomes king again is an ancient story), it was all the back stories/history. The thousands of years of history make the relatively short War of the Rings so interesting. (The war being of course caused by much of that backhistory).
I didn't see it as 'bad', just so anticlimactic that it really didn't warrant the # of pages it took up. If it only took a couple of pages, or appeared in the appendices, it would be more appropriate.
1)The extended version of The Two Towers comes out November 18 2) Yes, there are many things fleshed out. Apparently, the Huorns are present, as well as an extended treatment of the Denethor/Boromir/Faramir triangle.
The day we all start following a flag is the beginning of the end folks. The strength of the 'community' of computer/electronic geeks comes from its diversity, not its 'branding'.
Besides, is this _really_ the flag bearer you want? Not for me...
Actually, he has every right to tell you to shut up. _That's_ your freedom of speech right there. Of course you have every right to reply in kind, flame, agree, curse, ignore, whatever.
I would suggest (Will I get yelled at for suggesting, I wonder?) that this is not a big deal. The editor made a statement (that this statement was a clarification of fact is not particularly relevant), who the hell cares? He didn't hurt anyone, he just had a thought for himself.
Correction: The majority of people are christians (or at least there are more christians than other faiths). The laws we have are largely based on a long judeo-christian tradition, but those traditions should not be considered the absolute standard.
To its credit, this country (or at least the more enlightened citizens) tries to tolerate the beliefs of others. This is by no means a universal thing.
If you remove the base assumptions (in this case 'morality'), any system will collapse. This does not preclude some basic mores, since your basic laws (taboos agains murder, rape, incest, theft, etc.) are nearly universal.
(Regarding tolerate vs 'respect'. I do not respect, for example, most christian beliefs... I think they are irrational and sometimes silly. I do, however, respect a christian's right to have that belief. I respect the believer, but reject the belief. Hence, tolerance. Any other way of thinking seems dangerous to me, since there is a very good chance that I (and 99% or the religions out there) are wrong... might as well be tolerant, with no negative connotation intended.)
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I had a lengthy response to this... but I decided that I don't wanna get into this particular pissing contest.
One clarification: I never said anything about being stupid for having pride in ancestry. I decried the display of a symbol of imprisonment. There is a difference.
You may now rant away, but don't expect a response.
I imagine that a hundred years from now we'll still be having the same conversation. All the slaves and slave owners are dead and gone, but it's embedded in the american psyche.
It doesn't help any that some dumbasses in the south still fly the confederate battle flag...
As an aside...
Looking like I do (big white boy, irish/scottish background), people assume I'm a racist... guess I fit the stereotype too well. When I was in school, this texan dude walks up to me and goes "he maaan, what's the deal with all these derned wetbacks 'round here?" I told him that it was (at the time) the year 1998, not 1798. Catch up or go the fuck back to texas... he left quietly...
The word, I dunno... the concept is old.
Were your people enslaved en masse at one point? (My european history is bad enough that I can't tell if you are joking...)
Speaking of which... What's up with this whole motherboard/daughterboard thing?
No Daddyboards? Nephewcards? As part of the largest minority in the world (that is, men), I am offended.
If only I had the ability to pass dumbass policies...
There's a difference between political correctness (dumbass term) and using racial slurs. The former is an overreaction to a potential slight, the latter is an attempt to offend.
And yeah, I know it was probably for effect.
For what it's worth, I find it interesting that folks always assume this is a racial (specifically, about black slaves) issue. Slavery has been around for millenia, as anything from a way to pay off a debt (fairly rare, and different from indentured servants) to the penalty for losing a battle in war.
This is NOT a concept that is 'owned' by any one group of people.
Incidently, I appreciate the work you are doing. It's pretty scummy the way some folks are still treated.
Just to be a pain... (sorry, my geek tendencies won't let it slide)
The earth/moon are less than 2 light seconds apart (about a quarter million miles, light being 186,000 mi/sec)
The sun is (on average) 9 minutes
Jupiter is about an hour, neptune around 2 or 2.5 hours out
Good point about the micrometeorites... man, that's gonna mess up the paint...
Art Bell can be really funny. I like to listen and just marvel at the shoddy logic that he and his guests pull out... my favorite 2 are:
1) Well, if there's no proof that X (doesn't matter what X is) is false, than it's clearly true!
2) X (the gov't, nasa, authority-of-choice) denied it, so you know it must be true!
I feel bad for the occasional decent scientist who comes on the show, and who gets blindsided by some weird question like:
(while explaining that we just got missed (1 million miles) by some big asteroid)
"That's interesting... so, do you think aliens might be behind this? Why isn't the government telling us?"
Now, I'll grant you that there are some weird things out there that science doesn't get yet (millions of credible people see ghosts, aliens, etc.), but this concept of "for lack of proof, any answer will do" is odd. Entertaining though...
Yeah, it does seem to keep rising from the dead...
Just a thought...
If I was really in a hurry... probably 30 seconds. In practice (at the range) usually takes a minute or so to get the piece out, load it (of course it is stored with an empty clip in it) and do a quick readiness check.
I own a gun because I enjoy target practice, and it's cheaper than renting a gun every time. I don't have it for self defense. I live alone and don't have any possessions worth killing to defend.
1) You'd be liable for negligence for not watching the kid.
2) You might be sued, but are very unlikely to lose just because someone stole your car. Now, if you allowed the brakes to be poorly maintained and they failed, causing the death, you might lose.
3) At least by California law, you would be liable for the gun charge, presuming you stored the gun irresponsibly. As long as it is handled properly, you are probably OK.
(For example, my pistol is locked in a 'lifejacket' - a locking metal case that wraps around the complete piece - and then locked inside a metal case. The keys and ALL ammunition are stored separately. It would require an extreme effort to get the gun and hurt yourself. I am legally OK, as the law doesn't protect idiots who go out of their way to shoot themselves. I made a good faith effort to keep the gun safe. In CA, no lock is required, but if an unlocked gun is used, the owner is responsible)
Incidently, I heard LOTR on a books-on-CD thing (56 disks... took MUCH longer than reading it...) and they included the 'Annals of the kings and rulers' at the end. I've never red much of the appendices to ROTK, but this was really cool. The back story of Gondor and Rohan (back to the Numenoreans), the story of Helm Hammerhand, etc. were pretty cool.
I've always said that it wasn't the story that made LOTR so good (fallen king destroys evil and becomes king again is an ancient story), it was all the back stories/history. The thousands of years of history make the relatively short War of the Rings so interesting. (The war being of course caused by much of that backhistory).
I didn't see it as 'bad', just so anticlimactic that it really didn't warrant the # of pages it took up. If it only took a couple of pages, or appeared in the appendices, it would be more appropriate.
Coupla things:
1)The extended version of The Two Towers comes out November 18
2) Yes, there are many things fleshed out. Apparently, the Huorns are present, as well as an extended treatment of the Denethor/Boromir/Faramir triangle.
The day we all start following a flag is the beginning of the end folks. The strength of the 'community' of computer/electronic geeks comes from its diversity, not its 'branding'.
Besides, is this _really_ the flag bearer you want? Not for me...
huh? What makes you think the strip (by illiad) isn't called User Friendly? Or have I missed the point (not the first time, nor the last, I'm sure)
'twas a joke son. If you didn't see the commercial it wouldn't be funny...
I'm pretty sure that 300,000 ft tower Nextel built is the biggest...
It does! I'm 6'5" and consistently pay more for bigger clothes... I consider this pay increase a fair thing...
OK, I'm a fairly intelligent guy, but that question confused me... maybe I need coffee.
For what it's worth, I believe that 'morality' is subjective and arbitrary.
Thanks, but I thought it was funny.
People lose all inhibitions online, and I've been told/called much worse in the last 10 years, I assure you.
There you go! :)
Actually, he has every right to tell you to shut up. _That's_ your freedom of speech right there. Of course you have every right to reply in kind, flame, agree, curse, ignore, whatever.
I would suggest (Will I get yelled at for suggesting, I wonder?) that this is not a big deal. The editor made a statement (that this statement was a clarification of fact is not particularly relevant), who the hell cares? He didn't hurt anyone, he just had a thought for himself.
Correction: The majority of people are christians (or at least there are more christians than other faiths). The laws we have are largely based on a long judeo-christian tradition, but those traditions should not be considered the absolute standard.
To its credit, this country (or at least the more enlightened citizens) tries to tolerate the beliefs of others. This is by no means a universal thing.
If you remove the base assumptions (in this case 'morality'), any system will collapse. This does not preclude some basic mores, since your basic laws (taboos agains murder, rape, incest, theft, etc.) are nearly universal.
(Regarding tolerate vs 'respect'. I do not respect, for example, most christian beliefs... I think they are irrational and sometimes silly. I do, however, respect a christian's right to have that belief. I respect the believer, but reject the belief. Hence, tolerance. Any other way of thinking seems dangerous to me, since there is a very good chance that I (and 99% or the religions out there) are wrong... might as well be tolerant, with no negative connotation intended.)