As for your support of extending this type of age-restriction law to cover ALL media -- you're welcome to your opinion, but I don't share it because it is overly broad. Games are not books. Sure, some books deal with very troubling topics (like war, death, hatred or disease, for example) but books are not uniquely entertainment-oriented materials. Neither are periodicals. Neither are films. In general, I'm of the camp that wants to avoid as much censorship as possible, and also avoid as much big government intrusion into people's lives as possible.
I always smirk to myself when I hear libertarian/anarchist arguments against censorship. I will admit that I was once a libertarian, and an anarchist. The problem with both of those systems is that you think that "big government" is what's doing the censorship; that "big government" is invading your privacy; that "big government" is evil and will take away all of our freedom. You need to realize the truth...government may do these things to a certain degree, but it is never as intrusive as what Private Corporations will do.
Private corporations will put spyware on your computer; private corporations will track your spending habits and income; private corporations wantyou brainwashed to purchase their goods.
My friends, Laissez Faire Economics is intrusive to your life. With all the "Microsoft is the most evil thing that ever existed" hype going on here on slashdot, I can't believe how many libertarians and republicans there are.
For everyone screaming "This is Censorship!", I've got news for you: the media censors itself; movie makers deliberatly censor their own movies; video game makers censor their own products. The answer is obvious: you can't make ass-loads of money if your product only appeals to a small percentage of people. Despite what you see here on slashdot, most people don't want to see endless hours of porn on TV/in the movies/in their videogames; people don't want to take their kids to see bloodfest2005. They want to take their kids to see Disneyproduct#3224532124355 or Finding Shrek 5. The MPAA is a private organization.
To anyone who calls themselves a libertarian, take this into consideration: when big government is decreased, when things are deregulated, who takes advantage? Who reaps the rewards? I assure you whatever freedom you think you gain is a mere illusion. If you still insist the government is evil, then have fun in The United Corporate Conglomerate of America, ruled by the Walmart Police Force and protected by Big Oil Para-Military. Meanwhile, I'll be relaxing with my 35 hour workweek, universal healthcare, and my kids will have free college.
No, the 10 year old kid goes to federal, pound-me-in-the-ass prison for 1 year, where the inmates are allowed to rape him/her and do with as they please. Then, the child is fined $5,000, which they must work off in a sweat shop. Custody is taken away from the parent, and given to "The State". The child is then raised in a 10'X 10' white room, with no windows, TV, Books, or other entertainment. Meals are slid under the door, and the child never gets to leave the room (except for their re-education sessions, which brainwash the child to support public service laws, universal healthcare, free college, and legalized medical weed). At 18 the child is let free, but not told where or who his/her parents are, because liberals hate parents. For the rest of the childs life, his/her records are flagged with "Potential Violent Individual", and he/she must tell each new neighbor that they may go psycho and kill everyone they see because they attempted to buy a violent videogame when they were 10.
Puhleeze. I'm sure the sale of alcohol/tabacco is potentially punishable by prison time, that doesn't mean anyone ever gets it. All that ever happens is a ticket and a slap on the wrist. Please stop being so melodramatic, you're starting to sound like Fox News.
Jesus, for someone who is soooo concerned about your rights as a parent, you don't even RTFA? All that is being discussed in the law is an enforcement of the labeling system for videogames. From the VERY first sentence: "Gov. Rod Blagojevich is proposing to make it a misdemeanor for businesses to sell violent and sexually explicit video games to minors, a step that other states have tried with little success."
I don't see how this could possibly be a problem; it's not like we let our kids buy porn and guns. There is NO issue here. Most likely, if this law passes, some big businesses will start carding for "M" rated games, but I'm sure your savy 15 year old will be able to get a copy of GTA/Doom/whatever if they really want it (with or without parental permission; I know I could get smokes, alchohol, drugs, you name it, at 15).
I fail to see how this could possibly be construed as some type of censorship, or some left-wing conspiracy to steal your precious children away.
I seriously hope you didn't just compare the sale of virtual items to rape and murder. One being an interesting copyright issue which may not even be illegal, the others being rape and murder
Yeah, because it would be simply ridiculous to compare two things that have absolutely no similarities whatsoever...oh, wait; all the things you speak of are illegal because of societal distinctions between right and wrong.
If Blizzard decides that the sale of virtual items is illegal in its virtual society, then it is; just like many cultures have decided that rape and murder are wrong.
As for what cpu. go for a64 if you really want to deal with all the issues that may happen. It's getting a lot better, but there will be random issues every so often for awhile. Get dual procs if you really want performance.
p4's are good, solid performaers that will last awhile.
Nice completely random bash on AMD. All of the experience I've had says the opposite; most reviewers also emphasize AMDs reliability. If you're buying intel you're probably also buying from some crap company like Dell; there's a whole slew of problems associated with that. Are you an intel employee or something?
My AMD 64 3200+ has not had a single problem in the year I've had it; runs great. Now that intel has finally given up and accepted that the AMD 64 architecture is better than it's own 64 bit arc we will probably be seeing some 64 bit applications (especially games) within the life of a new computer.
In fact, FarCry was supposed to come out with a special 64 bit version available for free download; don't think it has happened yet though.
If you really want performance, get a 939 pin Mobo and a AMD FX chip. I still don't trust Pentiums, even though they have improved over the "clock speed iz teh pwner" mindset they had...AMD chips can often do more work than intel, despite having a slower clock speed.
I believe a law was recently passed that allows the U.S. to drop off Illegal immigrants in central Mexico rather than on the border of Mexico. Bush surely had something to do with this law.
What if they live by the border?
And Bush likes Mexicans 'cause his friends that own huge corporations can outsource manual labor to Mexico (among other places) and save massive amounts of money.
The only true way to fight against anything is to get your message to the people; if you are so staunch in anti-consumerist ideals that you can't make money, surely the cause will die.
The attitude that illuminata is exhibiting reminds me of the people that would bitch about RATM because they "sold out" by playing concerts and selling CD's. The point is that the GOOD stuff, with an intelligent--or at least thought provoking--message, should reach the largest audience. We do not want a country that does not trade anything, and thereby does not advance at all. We want a country that does not waste money on consumer items, but still is willing to suport that wich makes life richer and more full.
Real punk was destined to die (it did, by the way, in the '80s).
Yeah, and yet another advantage of having an industrial complex in earth orbit is that all the garbage and debre in orbit will prevent aliens from invading our planet!
But then again, we will probably have problems leaving...
I worked as a sorter at UPS; when boxes would get backed up, people just started kicking them onto conveyor belts to get them out of the way. And with the perpetual state of part-time employment UPS keeps most of its workers in, there's not too much of a chance the situation will get any better.
I *never* send anything UPS.
Re:Depends on the kind of graffiti
on
Reverse Graffiti
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· Score: 0
"Nice sounding words, but unless you have permision by the owners, all you are doing is damaging the property of others. Using property you did not pay for. It's not art at all, it's just vandalism. It's roughly of the same morals as writing a computer virus."
It's okay for you to not understand the differences between the two; you are ignorant. I have a hunch you live in some droll suburb and are occasionally subjected to the whims of the ignorant youth that you breed in those farms. Where you see REAL graf is in the city: on freight trains, on dilapidated buildings, on obnoxious billboards, on crumbling underpasses. Now I know how you would love to sit and appreciate the decaying beauty of an old building, but that same building, in the same environment, with a mural making an intelligent statement is much more aesthetically pleasing.
Hell, freight trains and dilapidated buildings aren't even allowed to exist in the protected, propaganda rife suburbs that the majority of middle-class white americans live in. They have Zoning laws to keep out the "undesireables". Allow some counter-propaganda in for Christsakes.
Computer viruses do nothing to increase the beauty of your computer; graf DOES blend in with its environment AND convey social commentary and/or intellectual ideas.
I suggest that if you don't want ignorant/irresponsible kids "Peeling out in your yard and T.P.ing your trees" you should spend some money or social programs to bring GOOD ideas to children both rich and poor. And maybe do something with your children other than watching TV.
The hardest games were all on the old platforms. These new PS2 and Xbox games are dumbed down for the slow reactions of adults.
BlasterMaster (NES) was one of the best games ever made, but it was hard as hell. No saves, limited lives, and incredibly difficult levels (especially the last).
I agree. We should read everyones email and arrest people without trying them for anything. Then we can hold them without letting them see lawyers. We could call it something cool, something patriotic; like...the PATRIOT ACT!
I'm surprised nobody has mentioned Operation: Desert Storm. The best were those commercials that had a screen shot of Saddam in the cross-hairs of a sniper rifle. After gettin' blunted and seeing that it was hard not to laugh at the elementary propaganda in the game.
Saddam has Nuculeer WMDs with icbm range that can blow up any city in the US. Even more, he has them thought activated so he can fire them at will.
Be AFRAID. Be very AFRAID of the evil middle-easterns. they will kill you!
I hate to let the secret out of the bag, but the island of atlantis does not exist on earth.
No, not at all.
For my PhD dissertation in Archaeology I studied the relationship between the Neandertalensis and Atlantis.
Here are my findings:
The Neandertals had a larger cranial capacity than humans, but the traditional belief is that this did not significantly affect their intelligence. Despite the fact that their brains had fewer convolutions than the homo sapien brain, their increased brain size more than made up for this differance. The idea that Neandertals were "simple" could not be further from the truth. The Neandertals were a technologically sophisticated race that surpassed even our level of scientific understanding. They came to realize the fundamental principles that underlie the primitive concepts of "space" and "time". Through this understanding they came to a level of existence that surpassed the "base" level that humans and all other living creatures reside on. With understanding came the realization of spiritual forms never before or since fathomed. With their ability to perceive time as a single unit of "everythingness" they could foretell the future, and seeing the bleak, hopeless future of a world inhabited with insignificant insects that could not understand anything deeper than the bottom of their Big Gulp, the Neandertals realized that they must leave until a time when their presence would be needed. Using Quantum engines and Dimensional rifts created through the concentration of psychokinetic energies, the Neandertals uprooted their floating Island-civilization and blasted off into the 4th dimension. This is where they reside until this day, ghostly observers of the universe until such time as their knowledge, powers and abilities are needed to correct the course of a faultering universe.
Slashdot Mirror
I always smirk to myself when I hear libertarian/anarchist arguments against censorship. I will admit that I was once a libertarian, and an anarchist. The problem with both of those systems is that you think that "big government" is what's doing the censorship; that "big government" is invading your privacy; that "big government" is evil and will take away all of our freedom. You need to realize the truth...government may do these things to a certain degree, but it is never as intrusive as what Private Corporations will do.
Private corporations will put spyware on your computer; private corporations will track your spending habits and income; private corporations wantyou brainwashed to purchase their goods.
My friends, Laissez Faire Economics is intrusive to your life. With all the "Microsoft is the most evil thing that ever existed" hype going on here on slashdot, I can't believe how many libertarians and republicans there are.
For everyone screaming "This is Censorship!", I've got news for you: the media censors itself; movie makers deliberatly censor their own movies; video game makers censor their own products. The answer is obvious: you can't make ass-loads of money if your product only appeals to a small percentage of people. Despite what you see here on slashdot, most people don't want to see endless hours of porn on TV/in the movies/in their videogames; people don't want to take their kids to see bloodfest2005. They want to take their kids to see Disneyproduct#3224532124355 or Finding Shrek 5. The MPAA is a private organization.
To anyone who calls themselves a libertarian, take this into consideration: when big government is decreased, when things are deregulated, who takes advantage? Who reaps the rewards? I assure you whatever freedom you think you gain is a mere illusion. If you still insist the government is evil, then have fun in The United Corporate Conglomerate of America, ruled by the Walmart Police Force and protected by Big Oil Para-Military. Meanwhile, I'll be relaxing with my 35 hour workweek, universal healthcare, and my kids will have free college.
Puhleeze. I'm sure the sale of alcohol/tabacco is potentially punishable by prison time, that doesn't mean anyone ever gets it. All that ever happens is a ticket and a slap on the wrist. Please stop being so melodramatic, you're starting to sound like Fox News.
I don't see how this could possibly be a problem; it's not like we let our kids buy porn and guns. There is NO issue here. Most likely, if this law passes, some big businesses will start carding for "M" rated games, but I'm sure your savy 15 year old will be able to get a copy of GTA/Doom/whatever if they really want it (with or without parental permission; I know I could get smokes, alchohol, drugs, you name it, at 15).
I fail to see how this could possibly be construed as some type of censorship, or some left-wing conspiracy to steal your precious children away.
Yeah, because it would be simply ridiculous to compare two things that have absolutely no similarities whatsoever...oh, wait; all the things you speak of are illegal because of societal distinctions between right and wrong.
If Blizzard decides that the sale of virtual items is illegal in its virtual society, then it is; just like many cultures have decided that rape and murder are wrong.
My AMD 64 3200+ has not had a single problem in the year I've had it; runs great. Now that intel has finally given up and accepted that the AMD 64 architecture is better than it's own 64 bit arc we will probably be seeing some 64 bit applications (especially games) within the life of a new computer.
In fact, FarCry was supposed to come out with a special 64 bit version available for free download; don't think it has happened yet though.
If you really want performance, get a 939 pin Mobo and a AMD FX chip. I still don't trust Pentiums, even though they have improved over the "clock speed iz teh pwner" mindset they had...AMD chips can often do more work than intel, despite having a slower clock speed.
Land of the Republicans!
AND we can build a space elevator with them!
don't you mean worship Linux?
What if they live by the border?
And Bush likes Mexicans 'cause his friends that own huge corporations can outsource manual labor to Mexico (among other places) and save massive amounts of money.
The attitude that illuminata is exhibiting reminds me of the people that would bitch about RATM because they "sold out" by playing concerts and selling CD's. The point is that the GOOD stuff, with an intelligent--or at least thought provoking--message, should reach the largest audience. We do not want a country that does not trade anything, and thereby does not advance at all. We want a country that does not waste money on consumer items, but still is willing to suport that wich makes life richer and more full.
Real punk was destined to die (it did, by the way, in the '80s).
But then again, we will probably have problems leaving...
I worked as a sorter at UPS; when boxes would get backed up, people just started kicking them onto conveyor belts to get them out of the way. And with the perpetual state of part-time employment UPS keeps most of its workers in, there's not too much of a chance the situation will get any better.
I *never* send anything UPS.
It's okay for you to not understand the differences between the two; you are ignorant. I have a hunch you live in some droll suburb and are occasionally subjected to the whims of the ignorant youth that you breed in those farms. Where you see REAL graf is in the city: on freight trains, on dilapidated buildings, on obnoxious billboards, on crumbling underpasses. Now I know how you would love to sit and appreciate the decaying beauty of an old building, but that same building, in the same environment, with a mural making an intelligent statement is much more aesthetically pleasing.
Hell, freight trains and dilapidated buildings aren't even allowed to exist in the protected, propaganda rife suburbs that the majority of middle-class white americans live in. They have Zoning laws to keep out the "undesireables". Allow some counter-propaganda in for Christsakes.
Computer viruses do nothing to increase the beauty of your computer; graf DOES blend in with its environment AND convey social commentary and/or intellectual ideas.
I suggest that if you don't want ignorant/irresponsible kids "Peeling out in your yard and T.P.ing your trees" you should spend some money or social programs to bring GOOD ideas to children both rich and poor. And maybe do something with your children other than watching TV.
The hardest games were all on the old platforms. These new PS2 and Xbox games are dumbed down for the slow reactions of adults. BlasterMaster (NES) was one of the best games ever made, but it was hard as hell. No saves, limited lives, and incredibly difficult levels (especially the last).
I agree. We should read everyones email and arrest people without trying them for anything. Then we can hold them without letting them see lawyers. We could call it something cool, something patriotic; like...the PATRIOT ACT!
Sure, it was a tv show that starred Chris Elliot and one of the Murrays. One of the best shows ever.
I'm surprised nobody has mentioned Operation: Desert Storm. The best were those commercials that had a screen shot of Saddam in the cross-hairs of a sniper rifle. After gettin' blunted and seeing that it was hard not to laugh at the elementary propaganda in the game.
Saddam has Nuculeer WMDs with icbm range that can blow up any city in the US. Even more, he has them thought activated so he can fire them at will. Be AFRAID. Be very AFRAID of the evil middle-easterns. they will kill you!
I hate to let the secret out of the bag, but the island of atlantis does not exist on earth. No, not at all. For my PhD dissertation in Archaeology I studied the relationship between the Neandertalensis and Atlantis. Here are my findings: The Neandertals had a larger cranial capacity than humans, but the traditional belief is that this did not significantly affect their intelligence. Despite the fact that their brains had fewer convolutions than the homo sapien brain, their increased brain size more than made up for this differance. The idea that Neandertals were "simple" could not be further from the truth. The Neandertals were a technologically sophisticated race that surpassed even our level of scientific understanding. They came to realize the fundamental principles that underlie the primitive concepts of "space" and "time". Through this understanding they came to a level of existence that surpassed the "base" level that humans and all other living creatures reside on. With understanding came the realization of spiritual forms never before or since fathomed. With their ability to perceive time as a single unit of "everythingness" they could foretell the future, and seeing the bleak, hopeless future of a world inhabited with insignificant insects that could not understand anything deeper than the bottom of their Big Gulp, the Neandertals realized that they must leave until a time when their presence would be needed. Using Quantum engines and Dimensional rifts created through the concentration of psychokinetic energies, the Neandertals uprooted their floating Island-civilization and blasted off into the 4th dimension. This is where they reside until this day, ghostly observers of the universe until such time as their knowledge, powers and abilities are needed to correct the course of a faultering universe.
one word: MARVEL VS. CAPCOM 2
Not to mention the fact that the original quote quote said nothing about world war II...pretty damn quick with that card.