"contempt of court" is that all-encompassing non-offense that occurs anytime somebody fails to treat a pathologically vain cross-dresser with a gavel like a vacationing Olympian deity. - William Grigg
Thank you for your reasoned reply, but I have to disagree. For starters, you made the all too common mistake of citing slavery as the cause of the war.
As usual, the war was about power and money - the same as the motivation for most all modern wars. Slavery was a minor issue compared to power and money.
I understand why you would think that civil war was the primary cause of the war, as that is the myth that U.S. public schools students are indoctrinated to believe, but if you do ANY independent research (ignoring the liberal-approved textbooks) - you'll discover that this just isn't true. (Remember, official historical textbooks are written by the victors in a war.) It doesn't take much effort to find the truth, but the causes of the "War of the Rebellion" (the official Yankee name of the war) are worth researching. Because when you do, you uncover the basis of where everything went wrong in U.S. government, and why we find ourselves in this mess today.
As for as the likelihood of somehow the southern Confederate states reverting back into either slavery (impossible) or even some sort of separatist/apartheid mess, do you really, REALLY believe that can happen today? Sure, there are still plenty of bigots around (of all colours, and not just in the South). But something like that would NEVER be allowed to happen. There are far too many militant civil rights activists and organizations nowadays that would raise 100 different kinds of hell if Whitey every tried anything like that.
Besides, in case you haven't noticed, the white folks are the #1 most cowed and complacent herd of sheep that exist in the world today. A few hardcore bigots and "yahoos" (as you say) aren't gonna motivate the rest of the herd to do anything that extreme.
The fact is, that the U.S. Empire is destined to collapse. All empires fail eventually. And all the signs are pointing to an imminent collapse within this generation. We might as well start planning for it now. Many scholars have predicted that the U.S. will eventually break up into several regions, and it is likely that the southern states will band together again, even though Southerners have been largely "Yankeeized" nowadays anyway. It won't be a return to the romantic "Gone with the Wind" version of the old South that some hope for - far from it. But it will happen, eventually. And everyone will be better off when it does.
> "a bunch of "the south will rise again!" yahoos down in the Confederacy"
So... You do realize that the ideas you are espousing are basically the same as those people you derisively call "Confederate yahoos" - Right? We are talking primarily about States Rights here.
Yo... Don't diss us Rebels 'cause we wuz right all along, homey!:)
I've been the Network Admin for my County Library branches for over a decade, and I have also been an Assistant Librarian at a small branch library, so I think I can speak with some experience on this.
The small Ozark county where I live and work is pretty darn conservative - and that is reflected in the composition of our library Board of Directors, and the Executive Director and her staff hired by the BoD. (This isn't one of those "whacko liberal library culture nests" by any stretch.)
But even they, in their own very conservative way, realize that Freedom of Speech isn't only necessary in a Public Library, it is inevitable. If you censor too much in your library, people will find an "alternative library" to patronize. Same goes for computer labs, and social networks in general.
This is too much like CIPA (the Child Internet Protection Act) that has caused librarians and library techs alike so much trouble over the past few years. CIPA has been a huge failure, because it gives clueless parents the false sense of security to turn their kids loose on the library computers, thinking that they are somehow "protected from porn" because the library complies with CIPA. The fact is, no matter how hard the library tries, and no matter how insanely strict you configure your internet filtering solution, it doesn't actually work very well.
For instance, we use the "State Sponsored and Hosted" Internet Filtering program (its a big-name operation, and supposedly one of the strictest). When configured "correctly" it blocks "most" sites that fall under the CIPA restrictions. But it doesn't prevent the occasional inappropriate image from somehow finding its way on the screen, even if the child isn't intentionally looking for it. But if the kids IS looking to find trouble... Oh man! It is SO EASY for tech-savvy teens to find a way around the filtering. For instance, almost ALL filtering of any type can be circumvented by using an anonymous web proxy. And no, you can't just block all the proxy servers, because they change IP's and URL's regularly, just to prevent being blocked so they can stay useful and relavent.
(So before you blast the proxy hosts, keep in mind that if it wasn't for them, people in China and other repressive regimes - even more repressive than "US" - wouldn't be able to access "dangerous" informational keywords like "freedom" and "liberty!")
Most all libraries have computer use policies that are perfectly reasonable. It should remain in the hands of local communities to decide what is and isn't acceptable. If your local library, or school, has policies that you don't agree with, you and your neighbors who agree with you can take it to the local Board and effect change. When a mandate happens at a federal level, you're not going to be able to change anything, without a LOT of time, lobbyists, and MONEY (if then).
I too am not a huge fan of Whedon's other recent stuff (namely, Buffy & Angel). But I am a HUGE fan of Serenity & Firefly. This is truely GREAT scifi, folks.
So if you're not a Joss Whedon fan, don't let it stop you from seeing Serenity (& getting into the Firefly DVD set).
I was lucky enough to get a ticket for the last Serenity preview showing in K.C. - I talked with a lot of people while waiting in line to get in, and though most were huge Joss fanatics, not everyone was. (And did I ever get some dirty looks from a few of the Whedonesque faithful when I admitted to not liking Buffy & Angel! Oh well!)
Now... Please let's have more Serenity sequels... Or maybe a new Serenity series on the SciFi channel... But please don't let it become "Buffy in Space" with all the focus on River. (Ya gotta see the movie to know what I'm talking about here.)
Go see Serenity. If you like a good scifi flick, you'll LOVE it. Seriously.
I submitted a story very similar to this 2 days ago, plugging the Serenity trailer (which I'm sorry to see they didn't mention anywhere in the Slastdot blurb.)
And I also mentioned the passing of the 30,000th member on the Browncoats site that DizzyEllie got the link credit for... But they didn't mention that either.
Yeah, yeah, sour grapes. I know.
Go ahead and mod me OffTopic if ya wanna, but I had to get that one off my chest!
Mean ol'Slashdot... Unfair... Growl, grumble...:P
--- Well, my days of taking you seriously are certainly coming to a middle.
I can see how this all got started. Some M$ guy watches the movie "AI" and then get the idea:
"Hey, that kids actually LISTENS and TAKES THE ADVICE OF that little robot Teddy bear... Here's our new meal ticket! Whoo-hoo!"
Its only a matter of time before the kid's new best friend "Teddy" starts talking up Micro$oft products... And any other company that's willing to pay big bucks to M$ to advertise to a very receptive young audience.
How long before the robot "G.I. Bill" doll? I can see it now:
"Come'on little Trooper! Let's go frag some Terrorists and help good 'ol Uncle Sam spread some Democracy!"
Re:What happened to conservatism?
on
Saving the Net
·
· Score: 1
Since the "Neo-Conservatives" (read: Bushite big military-indusrial complex goons) have co-opted true conservativism, it does get confusing. Nowadays, the old conservative view you are talking about is called "paleo-conservative."
You may find useful this article that offers nicely simplified definitions of the various political belief systems:
And even better, if you are curious about where you stand, try this Ideology Selector that gives you feedback about how well your views "fit" with each of the wide range of political beliefs discussed:
It is a very well done test. I've taken it and recommended it to many of my friends, and it has been very accurate with its picks.
The test asks you "Yes/No/Not Sure" questions like:
Do you support NAFTA? Should immigration into the US be greatly reduced? Do you support state lotteries as a means of raising revenue? ETC...
And then asks: "What priority do you place on your selection?" (High/Medium/Low) to balance the test even better.
I was surprised to see that I had a strong paleo-conservative leaning, even though it ranked me most likely to be paleo-libertarian. (Which I believe is very accurate. I am signed up for the Free State Project if that gives you a hint about my views.)
Give it a try. It can be a real eye-opener... (Especially to find out what your friends and family think!)
OK, let's talk some REAL reform... Let's take a step backwards to the days when things actually WORKED:
Think HTML 2.0 http://www.w3.org/MarkUp/html-spec/html-spec_toc .h tml
WHAT IF we incorporated a new concept into the WWW: An "Information-Focused" web that was incorported into existing HTTPD server software, that REQUIRED all pages it served to be fully HTML 2.0 compliant - (or they wouldn't be served), without any of the bandwidth-wasteing junk like Flash/Shockwave/Java/Script/Etc...
OK, now you're probably laughing. But think about it... It would be GREAT for web sites that should be information-oriented (news & tech support-type sites, as opposed to entertainment-oriented MTV.com stuff). Simple HTML code, simple formatting, simple (preferably small) images only where necessary. All in a format that not only displays perfectly on "any browser" - but also on a tiny cell phone/PDA screen.
If the IETF/W3 would just agree, this could work ALONGSIDE existing web sites. Maybe agree that all such sites on a server should be prefaced with "h2" or something quick and simple like that - as in h2.domain.com (Kind of an alternative to providing a "text-only" version of a site.) So that way, if you want the regular, bandwidth and hardware-hungry site with all the bells & whistles, just go to www.domainname.com - but if you wanted to access "Just the Facts" without all the junk, you'd go to h2.domainname.com
Yeah, I know this is more a pipe dream than anything else. But the difference is it would be totally simple to implement. All it would take is the user community's desire to do it, and a little cooperation from Apache coders...
I live just an hour south of that plant in Carthage, in McDonald county, the self-professed "Poultry Capital of the U.S." (Yeah, I know...)
Anyway, I can say from lifelong experience that this IS a Good Thing(tm) for lots of reasons.
1) Oil and related products at a reasonable cost, potentially a reduced cost.
2) Turkey waste is abundant in this area - too abundant. Far too often poultry farmers around here end up spreading it on fields. Anything that produces something good from that cr*p is better than the current alternatives, as long as it isn't cost-prohibitive.
3) As for the arguments I've seen here saying that fuel is wasted on transport... What they fail to realize is that that same waste is currently being transported ANYWAY - either to dumps for processing or to farm fields, where it eventually ends up in our otherwise crystal-clear spring waters... And hurts our canoeing industry. (Didn't I mention that we are also the self-professed "Canoe Capital of the Ozarks"??? http://www.4noel.com *grin*)
This IS a Good Idea(tm) - I'm just waiting ot see how the greedy and ignorant powers-that-be screw it up.
NOT FUNNY - mod down - Re:Everyone together now...
on
The Free State Project
·
· Score: 3, Interesting
Mod this sucker down. Here's why...
I've been signed up for the FSP for months. I don't need a bunch of clueless kiddies signing up for the project with no intention of following through, THIS IS MY LIFE you're messing with, kids.
So you don't agree with the project.... Cool. Don't want your type anyway, shut up and go play xbox. Let us alone to succeed or fail on our own merits.
Slashdot Mirror
"contempt of court" is that all-encompassing non-offense that occurs anytime somebody fails to treat a pathologically vain cross-dresser with a gavel like a vacationing Olympian deity.
- William Grigg
Thank you for your reasoned reply, but I have to disagree. For starters, you made the all too common mistake of citing slavery as the cause of the war.
As usual, the war was about power and money - the same as the motivation for most all modern wars. Slavery was a minor issue compared to power and money.
I understand why you would think that civil war was the primary cause of the war, as that is the myth that U.S. public schools students are indoctrinated to believe, but if you do ANY independent research (ignoring the liberal-approved textbooks) - you'll discover that this just isn't true. (Remember, official historical textbooks are written by the victors in a war.) It doesn't take much effort to find the truth, but the causes of the "War of the Rebellion" (the official Yankee name of the war) are worth researching. Because when you do, you uncover the basis of where everything went wrong in U.S. government, and why we find ourselves in this mess today.
As for as the likelihood of somehow the southern Confederate states reverting back into either slavery (impossible) or even some sort of separatist/apartheid mess, do you really, REALLY believe that can happen today? Sure, there are still plenty of bigots around (of all colours, and not just in the South). But something like that would NEVER be allowed to happen. There are far too many militant civil rights activists and organizations nowadays that would raise 100 different kinds of hell if Whitey every tried anything like that.
Besides, in case you haven't noticed, the white folks are the #1 most cowed and complacent herd of sheep that exist in the world today. A few hardcore bigots and "yahoos" (as you say) aren't gonna motivate the rest of the herd to do anything that extreme.
The fact is, that the U.S. Empire is destined to collapse. All empires fail eventually. And all the signs are pointing to an imminent collapse within this generation. We might as well start planning for it now. Many scholars have predicted that the U.S. will eventually break up into several regions, and it is likely that the southern states will band together again, even though Southerners have been largely "Yankeeized" nowadays anyway. It won't be a return to the romantic "Gone with the Wind" version of the old South that some hope for - far from it. But it will happen, eventually. And everyone will be better off when it does.
> "a bunch of "the south will rise again!" yahoos down in the Confederacy"
:)
So... You do realize that the ideas you are espousing are basically the same as those people you derisively call "Confederate yahoos" - Right? We are talking primarily about States Rights here.
Yo... Don't diss us Rebels 'cause we wuz right all along, homey!
I've been the Network Admin for my County Library branches for over a decade, and I have also been an Assistant Librarian at a small branch library, so I think I can speak with some experience on this.
The small Ozark county where I live and work is pretty darn conservative - and that is reflected in the composition of our library Board of Directors, and the Executive Director and her staff hired by the BoD. (This isn't one of those "whacko liberal library culture nests" by any stretch.)
But even they, in their own very conservative way, realize that Freedom of Speech isn't only necessary in a Public Library, it is inevitable. If you censor too much in your library, people will find an "alternative library" to patronize. Same goes for computer labs, and social networks in general.
This is too much like CIPA (the Child Internet Protection Act) that has caused librarians and library techs alike so much trouble over the past few years. CIPA has been a huge failure, because it gives clueless parents the false sense of security to turn their kids loose on the library computers, thinking that they are somehow "protected from porn" because the library complies with CIPA. The fact is, no matter how hard the library tries, and no matter how insanely strict you configure your internet filtering solution, it doesn't actually work very well.
For instance, we use the "State Sponsored and Hosted" Internet Filtering program (its a big-name operation, and supposedly one of the strictest). When configured "correctly" it blocks "most" sites that fall under the CIPA restrictions. But it doesn't prevent the occasional inappropriate image from somehow finding its way on the screen, even if the child isn't intentionally looking for it. But if the kids IS looking to find trouble... Oh man! It is SO EASY for tech-savvy teens to find a way around the filtering. For instance, almost ALL filtering of any type can be circumvented by using an anonymous web proxy. And no, you can't just block all the proxy servers, because they change IP's and URL's regularly, just to prevent being blocked so they can stay useful and relavent.
(So before you blast the proxy hosts, keep in mind that if it wasn't for them, people in China and other repressive regimes - even more repressive than "US" - wouldn't be able to access "dangerous" informational keywords like "freedom" and "liberty!")
Most all libraries have computer use policies that are perfectly reasonable. It should remain in the hands of local communities to decide what is and isn't acceptable. If your local library, or school, has policies that you don't agree with, you and your neighbors who agree with you can take it to the local Board and effect change. When a mandate happens at a federal level, you're not going to be able to change anything, without a LOT of time, lobbyists, and MONEY (if then).
Keep it smart, and keep it local.
I too am not a huge fan of Whedon's other recent stuff (namely, Buffy & Angel). But I am a HUGE fan of Serenity & Firefly. This is truely GREAT scifi, folks.
So if you're not a Joss Whedon fan, don't let it stop you from seeing Serenity (& getting into the Firefly DVD set).
I was lucky enough to get a ticket for the last Serenity preview showing in K.C. - I talked with a lot of people while waiting in line to get in, and though most were huge Joss fanatics, not everyone was. (And did I ever get some dirty looks from a few of the Whedonesque faithful when I admitted to not liking Buffy & Angel! Oh well!)
Now... Please let's have more Serenity sequels... Or maybe a new Serenity series on the SciFi channel... But please don't let it become "Buffy in Space" with all the focus on River. (Ya gotta see the movie to know what I'm talking about here.)
Go see Serenity. If you like a good scifi flick, you'll LOVE it. Seriously.
Yeah, I DID think of it...
:P
I submitted a story very similar to this 2 days ago, plugging the Serenity trailer (which I'm sorry to see they didn't mention anywhere in the Slastdot blurb.)
And I also mentioned the passing of the 30,000th member on the Browncoats site that DizzyEllie got the link credit for... But they didn't mention that either.
Yeah, yeah, sour grapes. I know.
Go ahead and mod me OffTopic if ya wanna, but I had to get that one off my chest!
Mean ol'Slashdot... Unfair... Growl, grumble...
---
Well, my days of taking you seriously are certainly coming to a middle.
I can see how this all got started. Some M$ guy watches the movie "AI" and then get the idea:
r ownnieReb
"Hey, that kids actually LISTENS and TAKES THE ADVICE OF that little robot Teddy bear... Here's our new meal ticket! Whoo-hoo!"
Its only a matter of time before the kid's new best friend "Teddy" starts talking up Micro$oft products... And any other company that's willing to pay big bucks to M$ to advertise to a very receptive young audience.
How long before the robot "G.I. Bill" doll? I can see it now:
"Come'on little Trooper! Let's go frag some Terrorists and help good 'ol Uncle Sam spread some Democracy!"
Not good. Just wait and see...
---------
Firefly returns as: Serenity (the major motion picture)
http://browncoats.serenitymovie.com/serenity/?u=B
Check out the movie news...
And join the Browncoats!
At least M$ has a lot of competition in the "taking over your kid's brain" market...
r ownnieReb
It's called mainstream TV.
I don't know if "Bill the Friendly Robot" can out-brainwash "Dora the Explorer" - but I'd hate to find out!
---------
Firefly returns as: Serenity (the major motion picture)
http://browncoats.serenitymovie.com/serenity/?u=B
Check out the movie news...
And join the Browncoats!
Since the "Neo-Conservatives" (read: Bushite big military-indusrial complex goons) have co-opted true conservativism, it does get confusing. Nowadays, the old conservative view you are talking about is called "paleo-conservative."
You may find useful this article that offers nicely simplified definitions of the various political belief systems:
And even better, if you are curious about where you stand, try this Ideology Selector that gives you feedback about how well your views "fit" with each of the wide range of political beliefs discussed:
It is a very well done test. I've taken it and recommended it to many of my friends, and it has been very accurate with its picks.
The test asks you "Yes/No/Not Sure" questions like:
Do you support NAFTA? Should immigration into the US be greatly reduced? Do you support state lotteries as a means of raising revenue? ETC...
And then asks: "What priority do you place on your selection?" (High/Medium/Low) to balance the test even better.
I was surprised to see that I had a strong paleo-conservative leaning, even though it ranked me most likely to be paleo-libertarian. (Which I believe is very accurate. I am signed up for the Free State Project if that gives you a hint about my views.)
Give it a try. It can be a real eye-opener... (Especially to find out what your friends and family think!)
OK, let's talk some REAL reform... Let's take a step backwards to the days when things actually WORKED:
c .h tml
:)
Think HTML 2.0
http://www.w3.org/MarkUp/html-spec/html-spec_to
WHAT IF we incorporated a new concept into the WWW: An "Information-Focused" web that was incorported into existing HTTPD server software, that REQUIRED all pages it served to be fully HTML 2.0 compliant - (or they wouldn't be served), without any of the bandwidth-wasteing junk like Flash/Shockwave/Java/Script/Etc...
OK, now you're probably laughing. But think about it... It would be GREAT for web sites that should be information-oriented (news & tech support-type sites, as opposed to entertainment-oriented MTV.com stuff). Simple HTML code, simple formatting, simple (preferably small) images only where necessary. All in a format that not only displays perfectly on "any browser" - but also on a tiny cell phone/PDA screen.
If the IETF/W3 would just agree, this could work ALONGSIDE existing web sites. Maybe agree that all such sites on a server should be prefaced with "h2" or something quick and simple like that - as in h2.domain.com (Kind of an alternative to providing a "text-only" version of a site.) So that way, if you want the regular, bandwidth and hardware-hungry site with all the bells & whistles, just go to www.domainname.com - but if you wanted to access "Just the Facts" without all the junk, you'd go to h2.domainname.com
Yeah, I know this is more a pipe dream than anything else. But the difference is it would be totally simple to implement. All it would take is the user community's desire to do it, and a little cooperation from Apache coders...
Any cooperative Apache coders out there?
I live just an hour south of that plant in Carthage, in McDonald county, the self-professed "Poultry Capital of the U.S." (Yeah, I know...)
Anyway, I can say from lifelong experience that this IS a Good Thing(tm) for lots of reasons.
1) Oil and related products at a reasonable cost, potentially a reduced cost.
2) Turkey waste is abundant in this area - too abundant. Far too often poultry farmers around here end up spreading it on fields. Anything that produces something good from that cr*p is better than the current alternatives, as long as it isn't cost-prohibitive.
3) As for the arguments I've seen here saying that fuel is wasted on transport... What they fail to realize is that that same waste is currently being transported ANYWAY - either to dumps for processing or to farm fields, where it eventually ends up in our otherwise crystal-clear spring waters... And hurts our canoeing industry. (Didn't I mention that we are also the self-professed "Canoe Capital of the Ozarks"??? http://www.4noel.com *grin*)
This IS a Good Idea(tm) - I'm just waiting ot see how the greedy and ignorant powers-that-be screw it up.
Mod this sucker down. Here's why...
I've been signed up for the FSP for months. I don't need a bunch of clueless kiddies signing up for the project with no intention of following through, THIS IS MY LIFE you're messing with, kids.
So you don't agree with the project.... Cool. Don't want your type anyway, shut up and go play xbox. Let us alone to succeed or fail on our own merits.
.
.
"Micro$oft Hail$torm" = "UnNatural Disaster"