Yes, while we're at it we should do away with those leafy trees, billions of acres of them, sucking all the energy out of the breeze. Might as well put an end to all the small furry animals too, and I never did trust birds, beady little eyes on them.
Seriously, the green hysteria machine has a lot to answer for.
The essential missing ingredient in a lot of games, books, movies and similar artistic endeavours is mystery. When magic becomes commonplace, predictable, or well-understood, its then just another form of technology. People like the idea of a forest where a civilisation once thrived, but now they are gone, they like the idea that dark forces and pacts may be behind the wizard's rainbow lightshow. Routine, widespread, or industrial level arcane powers lose the magic of magic. As far as science goes, its not so much what you know that provides the mystery, its what you don't know, the unkown future, the unpredicted effect.
In a way its letting the reader/watcher/user do the work, but the imagination is a powerful thing that functions best under its own auspices.
There is a distressing tendency to try to put a dollar value on everything, I've noticed lately. Asking the cash value of a human life is like asking how many apples in an orange, they are different frames of reference. This is why the legal system doesn't apply a simple monetary fine for first degree murder, for example. The value of a human life might be expressed in ideals, for example dying in a struggle against tyranny, so that others might have a better future, it wouldn't be the aim of the game but if it happens, some would feel that there are worse reasons to go.
but there are so many lives on this earth that another will easily replace the lost one.
Human beings aren't mass produced pieces of biological machinery stamped out from a mould. Each is unique and is worthy of unique consideration. Alternately, if it was your own life on the line, what price would you put on it?
This doesn't represent an active threat though, its just for those who get fooled by the camouflage of scam sites. And if they get pwned on one computer, they can get pwned on another just as easily.
Too little too late sir, I say we nuke Belgium to a depth of fifteen meters and fill that in instead.
Who's with me?!
More seriously though, how would this work, wouldn't they need to pump the water out afterwards, or are they hoping for tidal flow forces to do that for them?
Not a bother, and well spoken sir. Ireland in particular was rated as the happiest country on earth in 2005 by the Economist for exactly those reasons you mentioned - family and cultural qualities.
Not too sure about the rest, but it certainly qualifies as old. Indian culture has no lessons to teach us that we haven't already learned, to be honest. Lets get that indoor plumbing thing sorted before we move on to cultural superiority hey?
Humans seems to be most happy with very close and extended families and lot of friends, which is usually lost in western cultures.
Might be a good idea to visit the majority of western cultures instead, I think, such as those in Europe. You don't need to turn your country into a soulless corporate rat run in order to advance technologically and socially, thats just the most profitable way of doing it.
And what happens when a DA declines to prosecute you and the guy's family decides his fate was undeserved and comes looking for you for vengeance? Where does it end?
We had a particularly egregious case here in Ireland where a lonely and blameless old farmer (Nally) out living by himself in the countryside snapped after being terrorised once too often by criminals, so he shot the man ("frog" Ward, a real piece of work whose rap sheet included threatening Guards with a slash hook) and walked after him beating him about the head and face as he tried to make his escape, and I quote "he bled like a badger", went back into his house, reloaded, came out again and shot him dead.
After a brief trial he served a grand total of one year in prison. The public uproar over the case, mostly in favour of Nally, and ensuing discussion led to stronger laws being enacted for home defence, so that householders aren't required to run from their premises in the case of intrusion, but can use lethal force to defend themselves.
Part of living in a civilized society is giving up your "right" to vengeance and letting the authorities take care of the problem. If they don't, the solution is to get better authorities, not to take the law into your own hands.
But I don't think two wrongs make a right, and feeding this guy to a woodchipper because the police wouldn't do their job, while maybe emotionally fulfilling, isn't right.
Isn't it though? The laws and justice system evolved originally to stop family feuds turning bloody and escalating, so justice would remain in the hands of the king, as in the code of Hammurabi. If the justice system fails badly, clearly, and obviously, along with the enforcement system, I personally would have no moral qualms about ensuring the punishment is exacted myself, by whatever means neccessary, up to and including a sharpened piece of metal. But only after exhausting all other possible avenues.
And I bet anyone else he had subsequently hurt wouldn't complain much either.
We are aware of this, and are trying as hard as possible to boot the bastards out in the face of 1950s-era politicans and the lunatic religious fanatics in the civil service.
Sincerely,
The people of Ireland.
You must be off your head, go out clubbing in any major Irish city and you'll see more fine young wans wearing large belts, halter tops, and sod all else, than you'll find almost anywhere. Thank god for that and guinness.
You clearly aren't one of the many pharma multinationals that have set up shop there so, and if you think their quality standards are lax, you have another think coming.
Sadly, the idea that Ireland's boom was a result of cutting business tax is a myth, and was covered extensively in this On Point broadcast. The real reason for Ireland's boom was easy credit, the same as everywhere else.
Sigh. There was a real boom before the bubble (1993 to 1999), and that was directly related to the low corporate tax. The property bubble was always a farce and should not be considred part of the Celtic tiger era.
Slashdot Mirror
I just bet you do.
Yes, while we're at it we should do away with those leafy trees, billions of acres of them, sucking all the energy out of the breeze. Might as well put an end to all the small furry animals too, and I never did trust birds, beady little eyes on them.
Seriously, the green hysteria machine has a lot to answer for.
Have you seen the iPad?
I'm waiting for the release of the footPad, with integrated iCosh(tm) technology. Being thrifty, I like my machines to pay for themselves.
The essential missing ingredient in a lot of games, books, movies and similar artistic endeavours is mystery. When magic becomes commonplace, predictable, or well-understood, its then just another form of technology. People like the idea of a forest where a civilisation once thrived, but now they are gone, they like the idea that dark forces and pacts may be behind the wizard's rainbow lightshow. Routine, widespread, or industrial level arcane powers lose the magic of magic. As far as science goes, its not so much what you know that provides the mystery, its what you don't know, the unkown future, the unpredicted effect.
In a way its letting the reader/watcher/user do the work, but the imagination is a powerful thing that functions best under its own auspices.
I'm not sure a life is worth a million dollars.
There is a distressing tendency to try to put a dollar value on everything, I've noticed lately. Asking the cash value of a human life is like asking how many apples in an orange, they are different frames of reference. This is why the legal system doesn't apply a simple monetary fine for first degree murder, for example. The value of a human life might be expressed in ideals, for example dying in a struggle against tyranny, so that others might have a better future, it wouldn't be the aim of the game but if it happens, some would feel that there are worse reasons to go.
but there are so many lives on this earth that another will easily replace the lost one.
Human beings aren't mass produced pieces of biological machinery stamped out from a mould. Each is unique and is worthy of unique consideration. Alternately, if it was your own life on the line, what price would you put on it?
This doesn't represent an active threat though, its just for those who get fooled by the camouflage of scam sites. And if they get pwned on one computer, they can get pwned on another just as easily.
And ten points for the rare and difficult to achieve double-whoosh on the backspin, the crowd goes wild.
As per TFA:
TFA? TFA?? This is SLASHDOT!!
/kicks AC in the chest
The world renowned Dutch sense of humour
The Dutch are renowned for many things, a sense of humour isn't one of them. Unless you were trying to be funny, in which case I stand corrected.
Too little too late sir, I say we nuke Belgium to a depth of fifteen meters and fill that in instead.
Who's with me?!
More seriously though, how would this work, wouldn't they need to pump the water out afterwards, or are they hoping for tidal flow forces to do that for them?
Not a bother, and well spoken sir. Ireland in particular was rated as the happiest country on earth in 2005 by the Economist for exactly those reasons you mentioned - family and cultural qualities.
wise and profound old culture
Not too sure about the rest, but it certainly qualifies as old. Indian culture has no lessons to teach us that we haven't already learned, to be honest. Lets get that indoor plumbing thing sorted before we move on to cultural superiority hey?
Humans seems to be most happy with very close and extended families and lot of friends, which is usually lost in western cultures.
Might be a good idea to visit the majority of western cultures instead, I think, such as those in Europe. You don't need to turn your country into a soulless corporate rat run in order to advance technologically and socially, thats just the most profitable way of doing it.
find it absolutely despicable that there exists systems of government that require people to flee from their homes in the face of violence.
As mentioned, the law has been changed. It was based on UK law originally I believe.
And what happens when a DA declines to prosecute you and the guy's family decides his fate was undeserved and comes looking for you for vengeance? Where does it end?
We had a particularly egregious case here in Ireland where a lonely and blameless old farmer (Nally) out living by himself in the countryside snapped after being terrorised once too often by criminals, so he shot the man ("frog" Ward, a real piece of work whose rap sheet included threatening Guards with a slash hook) and walked after him beating him about the head and face as he tried to make his escape, and I quote "he bled like a badger", went back into his house, reloaded, came out again and shot him dead.
After a brief trial he served a grand total of one year in prison. The public uproar over the case, mostly in favour of Nally, and ensuing discussion led to stronger laws being enacted for home defence, so that householders aren't required to run from their premises in the case of intrusion, but can use lethal force to defend themselves.
Part of living in a civilized society is giving up your "right" to vengeance and letting the authorities take care of the problem. If they don't, the solution is to get better authorities, not to take the law into your own hands.
As it turns out, you can have both.
But I don't think two wrongs make a right, and feeding this guy to a woodchipper because the police wouldn't do their job, while maybe emotionally fulfilling, isn't right.
Isn't it though? The laws and justice system evolved originally to stop family feuds turning bloody and escalating, so justice would remain in the hands of the king, as in the code of Hammurabi. If the justice system fails badly, clearly, and obviously, along with the enforcement system, I personally would have no moral qualms about ensuring the punishment is exacted myself, by whatever means neccessary, up to and including a sharpened piece of metal. But only after exhausting all other possible avenues.
And I bet anyone else he had subsequently hurt wouldn't complain much either.
Thats because you're a bollock brained idiot. n/t
If you get the moustache just right you can do a passable Mr Potato Head.
Too right, I can't even look at a McDonalds these days without getting the quabblies.
Was that not Lolex?
Please read the read of the comments before mouthing off, you pleb.
We are aware of this, and are trying as hard as possible to boot the bastards out in the face of 1950s-era politicans and the lunatic religious fanatics in the civil service. Sincerely, The people of Ireland.
but its so conservative you wouldnt believe it.
You must be off your head, go out clubbing in any major Irish city and you'll see more fine young wans wearing large belts, halter tops, and sod all else, than you'll find almost anywhere. Thank god for that and guinness.
You clearly aren't one of the many pharma multinationals that have set up shop there so, and if you think their quality standards are lax, you have another think coming.
Sadly, the idea that Ireland's boom was a result of cutting business tax is a myth, and was covered extensively in this On Point broadcast. The real reason for Ireland's boom was easy credit, the same as everywhere else.
Sigh. There was a real boom before the bubble (1993 to 1999), and that was directly related to the low corporate tax. The property bubble was always a farce and should not be considred part of the Celtic tiger era.