Don't know where you heard this, but it's not true. The Utah state legislature is in session now, grappling with ways to close the budget deficit, including an across-the-board 7% cut in agency funding, and early release for large numbers of convicts in state prisons.
I emphatically did not intend to say 'and how's this new?' Even though such things have happened many times before, each new incident is an outrage. The FBI wants to be treated as the most respected law enforcement agency in the nation, and yet demonstrates complete disrespect for the letter and spirit of the law. I am thus angry and skeptical, and frustrated that more others are not.
Thank you for your spirited, and accurate, defense of my original comment. I was particularly thinking of officials in both law enforcement and government when I chose the phrase 'act surprised.' They cannot be excused on the basis of ignorance. Even for the general populace, FBI misconduct has been so frequent and so blatant that only the newest of newbies will not have encountered it before.
In every decade since I was born (in the early 50's), the FBI has engaged in egregious misconduct, although sometimes we didn't find out about it until years later. I am amazed that they have any credibility left, and puzzled that people continue to act surprised when these things come to light.
I strongly disagree. Most users do not watch the cursor moving around on the screen, but rather concentrate on a region of interest as the cursor moves into the desired position. I would contend that the ability to move the cursor predictably, without focusing directly on either the mouse or the cursor itself, offers major advantages.
If I ask for "citations, please," I hope you will take it not as an expression of skepticism, but rather as coming from a genuine desire to be able to quote authoritative sources for this information.
I have read that the largest contributors to the campaign against Prop 19 are the makers and distributors of alcoholic beverages, but certainly the prison industry also has a horse in this race.
But of course U.S. publishers do routinely revise books for the American market. For example, "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" in the U.S. was originally "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" in the UK (which makes a lot more sense, if you know any history at all - apparently something the publishers don't expect from American readers).
Not a very good movie? Some people may not have liked it, but it won 6 Academy Awards and was on more Top Ten lists than any other movie in 2009. Whether or not it's your cup of tea, I think it deserves to be taken seriously - none of which is really relevant to the present discussion of piracy.
The whole world watched as 5 Allied divisions landed at Normandy - while at the same time, 120 Russian divisions were aimed at Berlin. And that was only one segment of the Eastern Front!
I would like to point out that 'filthy lucre' is a pejorative term for - money! So, whatever you intended to say, what you actually said was "FUD about schools being hotbeds of sickness and money."
Seriously? The sentence scans perfectly well - puerile refers to style, and the three nouns offered as instances are snark, whining, and fearmongering. It should be easily understood by anyone with a high school education.
Your use of the word 'restore' suggests that you believe that, sometime in the past, China had some form of democratic government. The larger assumption is that the Chinese people, as a whole, *want* government by the people. The historical and cultural evidence indicates otherwise.
Bonch, I don't cite a source because I was there: I experienced it firsthand; I am my own primary reference. Make of that what you will. I sold VCRs when they first came on the market; I remember the introduction of both Betamax and VHS, and I had friends who were starting video rental businesses back when the studios were still trying to prevent them from renting out movies.
This is not as big a deal as our discussions might make it appear. Porn was certainly not the only factor, but it was a strong driving force, and early on a major profit center in my friends' stores. Prior to the advent of the VCR, porn on film was rare and a huge hassle. Just as you say, suddenly it became cheap and easy to produce and distribute, and there was a huge demand. And yes, it was more private - no more stag nights at the men's club.
As for the Internet, I hope nobody is claiming that porn is responsible for the growth of the World Wide Web. But from the days of the first bulletin boards, it made up a substantial fraction of all online content, and that remains true today. It does not drive the development or introduction of new technology, but unquestionably plays a significant role in its adoption.
People have somehow become confused about this over the past three decades. The correct and verifiable historical claim is that porn drove rapid initial adoption of video recorders in general. Porn has been a major factor in the introduction and acceptance of a number of technologies.
So these guys studied a poem entitled "Year of Meteors [1859-60]" which mentions "the strange huge meteor-procession," and were able to determine that it refers to the great meteor procession of 1860? Wow, that is some impressive detective work!
So are you saying that you are against sex education, based on the empirical evidence? Because every bit of the (plentiful) empirical evidence I have seen points in the other direction.
Yours is a deeply disturbing point of view. Yes, we all need to acquire some resilience, and we need to learn to get back up when the world knocks us down. But you are suggesting that we should accept even profoundly antisocial behaviors from both children and adults - that it is better for the meek to learn to deal with abuse than for the strong to be held to basic social standards of courtesy and respect - and you are absolutely wrong.
As a community and a society, we have a right to define and expect acceptable ways of interacting with each other. That is what civilization is all about, and an essential aspect of it is holding people accountable for the consequences of their actions. The benefits are irrefutable. Things are never going to be perfect, but it is important that we keep trying.
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One of the most insightful comments in this entire discussion - but I have no mod points today!
Don't know where you heard this, but it's not true. The Utah state legislature is in session now, grappling with ways to close the budget deficit, including an across-the-board 7% cut in agency funding, and early release for large numbers of convicts in state prisons.
When the total collapse of the United States finally occurs, well, they'll have only themselves to blame.
I emphatically did not intend to say 'and how's this new?' Even though such things have happened many times before, each new incident is an outrage. The FBI wants to be treated as the most respected law enforcement agency in the nation, and yet demonstrates complete disrespect for the letter and spirit of the law. I am thus angry and skeptical, and frustrated that more others are not.
Thank you for your spirited, and accurate, defense of my original comment. I was particularly thinking of officials in both law enforcement and government when I chose the phrase 'act surprised.' They cannot be excused on the basis of ignorance. Even for the general populace, FBI misconduct has been so frequent and so blatant that only the newest of newbies will not have encountered it before.
In every decade since I was born (in the early 50's), the FBI has engaged in egregious misconduct, although sometimes we didn't find out about it until years later. I am amazed that they have any credibility left, and puzzled that people continue to act surprised when these things come to light.
I strongly disagree. Most users do not watch the cursor moving around on the screen, but rather concentrate on a region of interest as the cursor moves into the desired position. I would contend that the ability to move the cursor predictably, without focusing directly on either the mouse or the cursor itself, offers major advantages.
Dear Cmdr Taco: The past tense of 'forecast' is just 'forecast.'
If I ask for "citations, please," I hope you will take it not as an expression of skepticism, but rather as coming from a genuine desire to be able to quote authoritative sources for this information.
Great sig, by the way.
The central pit, or courtyard, was standing room only, but it was surrounded by three tiers of stadium seating.
I have read that the largest contributors to the campaign against Prop 19 are the makers and distributors of alcoholic beverages, but certainly the prison industry also has a horse in this race.
But of course U.S. publishers do routinely revise books for the American market. For example, "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" in the U.S. was originally "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" in the UK (which makes a lot more sense, if you know any history at all - apparently something the publishers don't expect from American readers).
Not a very good movie? Some people may not have liked it, but it won 6 Academy Awards and was on more Top Ten lists than any other movie in 2009. Whether or not it's your cup of tea, I think it deserves to be taken seriously - none of which is really relevant to the present discussion of piracy.
The whole world watched as 5 Allied divisions landed at Normandy - while at the same time, 120 Russian divisions were aimed at Berlin. And that was only one segment of the Eastern Front!
I would like to point out that 'filthy lucre' is a pejorative term for - money! So, whatever you intended to say, what you actually said was "FUD about schools being hotbeds of sickness and money."
Seriously? The sentence scans perfectly well - puerile refers to style, and the three nouns offered as instances are snark, whining, and fearmongering. It should be easily understood by anyone with a high school education.
Your use of the word 'restore' suggests that you believe that, sometime in the past, China had some form of democratic government. The larger assumption is that the Chinese people, as a whole, *want* government by the people. The historical and cultural evidence indicates otherwise.
Bonch, I don't cite a source because I was there: I experienced it firsthand; I am my own primary reference. Make of that what you will. I sold VCRs when they first came on the market; I remember the introduction of both Betamax and VHS, and I had friends who were starting video rental businesses back when the studios were still trying to prevent them from renting out movies.
This is not as big a deal as our discussions might make it appear. Porn was certainly not the only factor, but it was a strong driving force, and early on a major profit center in my friends' stores. Prior to the advent of the VCR, porn on film was rare and a huge hassle. Just as you say, suddenly it became cheap and easy to produce and distribute, and there was a huge demand. And yes, it was more private - no more stag nights at the men's club.
As for the Internet, I hope nobody is claiming that porn is responsible for the growth of the World Wide Web. But from the days of the first bulletin boards, it made up a substantial fraction of all online content, and that remains true today. It does not drive the development or introduction of new technology, but unquestionably plays a significant role in its adoption.
People have somehow become confused about this over the past three decades. The correct and verifiable historical claim is that porn drove rapid initial adoption of video recorders in general. Porn has been a major factor in the introduction and acceptance of a number of technologies.
So these guys studied a poem entitled "Year of Meteors [1859-60]" which mentions "the strange huge meteor-procession," and were able to determine that it refers to the great meteor procession of 1860? Wow, that is some impressive detective work!
So are you saying that you are against sex education, based on the empirical evidence? Because every bit of the (plentiful) empirical evidence I have seen points in the other direction.
He was, obviously, joking.
Absolutely!
Yours is a deeply disturbing point of view. Yes, we all need to acquire some resilience, and we need to learn to get back up when the world knocks us down. But you are suggesting that we should accept even profoundly antisocial behaviors from both children and adults - that it is better for the meek to learn to deal with abuse than for the strong to be held to basic social standards of courtesy and respect - and you are absolutely wrong.
As a community and a society, we have a right to define and expect acceptable ways of interacting with each other. That is what civilization is all about, and an essential aspect of it is holding people accountable for the consequences of their actions. The benefits are irrefutable. Things are never going to be perfect, but it is important that we keep trying.