Seriously, though. GM crops are such a hotly debated topic that it's hard to see past the extremes of each viewpoint and come to a reasonable consensus regarding the issue. Americans have been eating GM food for years and have managed not to grow too many extra limbs unless you count the abundance of jelly rolls turned extra sets of titties that have graced the upper halves of many an American.
Genetic modification of foods can be used responsibly. However, I'm uncomfortable with GM crops possibly not being adequately contained. I think that should be the largest of our worries. There should be more freedom of choice and GM foods should be labeled as such.
Problem is that I no longer trust the "trustworthy" news sources. CNN tries to sound balanced but just ends up repeating whatever the US administration said today. FOX is so absorbed in jingoist dogma that they repeat whatever the administration said today and then gush about how wonderful it is. ABC/CBS/NBC/whatever don't cover enough actual news to be worth noticing.
I don't consider any news source trustworthy. I simply have to gather the "facts" from as many news sources as possible and then formulate an opinion. I may watch Fox (although I try to avoid doing so at all costs, the people I live with love it and I hear it in passing), CNN, and BBC News; read the Guardian, Le Monde, NY Times and The Daily Mail or Telegraph (UK) in order to examine an issue.
Each newspaper has an agenda. American journalism aims to be objective which makes for dull reading. I love to read the Guardian because of its blatantly left-leaning nature, for example. The agenda is always there, even in so-called "objective" news sources, it is just not as blatant.
I think it is a good idea and it would be interesting to see it widely implemented. I'll be 21 not too long from now and still won't have a driver's license. I've failed the driving portion of the test twice in the past 4 months because my turns are too sharp.:-P
What is the point in running if you aren't doing it to escape the humdrum life of geekdom? You're never going to get any hotties if you run in such a manner. Get your shorts on - hike them up so that you'll get a tan with minimal lines - put on your non-child-labor-produced sneakers, and be off with yourselves.
Follow the instructions given in this article if you hope to never get laid.
No-knock raids have been going on in America for quite some time to combat those crazy marijuana and crack users. It's about time that other countries pick up on the value of no-knock raids in taking down corporations that violate anti-trust laws. Had it gone down American-style, someone would have ended up dead.
There is no further privacy invasion needed to protect American citizens from terrorist attacks. The intelligence failure that allowed 9/11 to be carried out should be addressed. The security measures that were already in place should have been properly implemented. The reason for the additional laws is to make us feel safer. It is simply politically expedient for new laws and "overhauls" of the system to be championed.
Although, you must admit...Christian fundamentalists are a little bit less scary than Islamic fundamentalists. Christian fundies just want to speak in tongues, pass out after being filled with the holy ghost and stop the virus that is pr0n, yo!...Fundie Muslims on the other hand, they just want us to stop. Existing.
I don't think sex is all that taboo in America. It is discussed freely on television, in magazines...it is taboo only to the religious who feel that sex is a cherished act between a married man and woman...No anal play allowed, lest they violate the Word.
The religious who are in power seek to keep it taboo though. Take the Governor's Program on Abstinence that was instituted in my home state of Louisiana. We were not allowed to be taught about the technicalities of sex or about birth control in my high school health class. Only that we shouldn't do it and condoms don't really work that well. Which sent the message: "Don't bother with a condom - doesn't work anyway!" And we had a woman from the local anti-abortion "Women's Health" clinic telling us about sex. No bias there.
This is what bugs me so much about these ultra-conservatives. I may or may not feel that porn is wrong, but I don't want them deciding it on my behalf!
Rallying against porn isn't the pet project of only ultra-conservatives. Some feminists, for example, feel that pornography violates women by virtue of it turning them into objects to be gawked at. But I digress.
I guess they have nothing better to do... no terrorists left to hunt for, so they're going after "immoral" people. *sigh*
Obviously, they do have terrorists to hunt. However, that doesn't mean that aren't going to pursue their puritanical agenda. Whether it involves drugs, pornography or whatever vice on which attention can be focused so as to divert attention from the administrations shortcomings, they will do this. It is to be expected in politics, whether it is a Democrat or Republican in office.
Don't you geeks realize that we're not getting the chicks as it is because we can't dance and then you go invent a robot that dances better than us.
Inside each geek there is a paragon of hottness bursting to get out. Here's a couple of tips from a semi-geek girl who still managed to make it just fine with non-geek fellows:
Go to the gym, flex that shit
For your skin: Little less online porn, little more sunshine
Canada, Germany, Britain, Italy, Spain, Denmark, Holland, Norway, Sweden, (gasp) France (gasp), Greece, AND MOST OF THE FUCKING CIVILIZED WORLD have single-payer medicine
My favorite part of the National Health Service in the UK was the part where if you want to do anything beyond seeing a General Practitioner, you're screwed. And the waiting lists are tremendous, with many hospitals "fiddling" the figures in order to conceal the extent to which waiting lists are a problem. These systems are not without their flaws. Having used that system while I lived abroad, I find that private insurance is infinitely better.
However, I have seen the other side. I have a cousin who has 6 children, but the husband was the only person who worked and refused to get insurance for anyone but himself. Additionally, he wouldn't/couldn't sign up for government-provided health care. I can remember one of their children breaking his arm and the father saying not to bring him to the hospital. My grandmother brought him anyway, but it was most bizarre.
"Republicans, appealing to the lowest common denominator since 1978."
Democrats do the same. Most politicians within this two-party system do the same. They appeal to the lowest common denominator.
I used to feel that my intelligence was insulted everytime I heard a politician speak on an issue. Over time, I have realized that politicians must appeal to their bases: people who are fanatical about the political party to which they belong, which makes them too blind to examine the issues beyond taking their candidates proclamations as gospel and people who are too dumb to examine the issues in any way, shape or form and vote for a particular party because that's what they've always done. The rest of the electorate is forever voting for the lesser of two evils.
But then again, there are many different British accents. And British English is a evolved version of Old English. So none of us are speaking true and natural English. Such is the nature of language and progress.
The internet has helped to relieve the political stagnation that occurs when news sources are limited to the major newspapers and television networks. On the internet, you can be exposed to so many differing opinions regarding political current events that it is possible to have a more fully-informed opinion (or at least believe that you do).
The internet also provides an outlet through which the average somewhat Internet-savvy person can do their own pissing and moaning about the state of things.
Those who live under tyrannical governments do not be an outlet through which they can express their opinion without their being repercussions, therefore the internet as a political tool is largely irrelevant in said countries.
But the internet has been a tremendous tool in turning the tides against political apathy. That, or those who were already politically aware and active are just using a new tool to get their views out. Regardless, it can only be viewed as a good thing in terms of it leading to more political awareness.
Well, Bill, I don't think they will sell any of this stuff by strapping it to 250 pound pasty white geek guys with a bottle of Dew in one hand.
But 250 pound pasty white geek guys have so much to love. Plus, their girth provides considerable space on which advertisers could take advantage. Over the years, designer logos have become more important on a piece of clothing than the quality of the clothing itself. 250 pound pasty white geek guys would provide ample space on which to splash larger-than-life logos. 250 pound pasty white geek guys will have an edge over 90 pound models before you know it.
Not just science ed, but the basic skill of critical thinking. I can't speak for how things are going in the rest of the world, but here in the US it's gotten particularly sad. People as a whole just don't seem able or willing to be bothered by thinking for themselves.
Additionally, those who do think for themselves are considered a bit of a weirdo. I can't tell you how interesting it was to grow up in Smalltown, USA in the Bible Belt. During a debate with someone who presented me with Bible scripture, I said, "I don't believe in the Bible." There was a collective gasp that echoed throughout the room.
Ignorance is rewarded in this [part of the] country by way of social acceptance.
I think what I appreciated about Europe was that there was little dumbing down of news stories. While on American new stations, you get newscasters saying, "Now what does that mean, exactly?" to everything an 'expert' has to say on a subject. Television news in England seemed to be something that educated people could watch without wanting to pull their hair out.
Apparently, they read in a book that after the body gets used to not having food, it draws the energy from the body itself and doesn't need food anymore.
Whoa! Maybe I should give anorexia another go. I must have been doing something wrong to have low blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, decreased body temperature and dizziness. Ask your doctor friend how one can successfully starve, would you?
There are constructive ways to seek change, and destructive ways to seek change. Wholesale P2P fuelled piracy is a destructive avenue to the change you, and all of us are seeking.
Hm. This is a really good idea, IMO. I think that the allure of P2P is entirely too strong for this to become viable. It's so much easier to hop on Kazaa, download a tune and then download the next, than it is to sift through the contents of a band's website in order to find a sound clip.
It is my firm belief that terrorism is less of a threat than tyranny.
But the public is not going to believe that. The contrast in European media coverage of the War on Terror and the threat toward America and America's coverage is shocking, to say the least. I moved to Europe shortly after 9/11 and lived there before and during the war in Iraq.
Terrorism is not new to Europe. Their coverage regarding potential attacks on America were quite balanced. You can argue that they have an anti-American bias, but their coverage regarding America's color coded alert system, for example, was correct in highlighting its absurdity.
Having moved back to America and been once again exposed to its media, one would think that America will be attacked at any moment. The media's fear-mongering is unlike anything I've ever seen.
Terrorism is less of a threat than tyranny. However, the latter will be justified by the government as a solution to the former. And people will accept it because they want to feel safe.
I don't believe I could have said it better myself. I often download songs before buying the album. I can remember a friend of mine buying the Chumbawumba album because of the song, "I Get Knocked Down." I don't think I've ever listened to an album more horrid than that, excluding the classical music CD a friend's aunt bought her that had chirping and screeching birds accompanying the music.
But I digress. "The people" are speaking in their refusal to pay $20 for a CD until they know that it is of decent quality. I always d/l the contents of a CD before spending an hours hard work of cash. I've been disappointed too many times. But I love to support an artist whose music I enjoy.
The monopolistic nature of the record companies is being challenged. They have responded to it only by trying to punish the consumers, which has already caused a mild public backlash. The sooner they realize the ramifications of charging top bucks for crap music, the sooner they will realize that they have to start working to please the consumer.
And with that, I'd like to say, Fat Chance. I can imagine nothing short of an industry-wide revolution changing the way the record companies operate.
I see you provided a link to the Libertarian Party website. While I agree with quite a few of the LP's platforms, they are not electable. They focus entirely too much on the war on drugs and not enough on general government largesse. Besides, the collective wants big government. You get big government whether you vote for Republicans or Democrats. The political stagnation that stems from the two-party system would have to be challenged by a third party that focused less on specific issues and had a more broad program they would seek to implement.
"War" has become a meaningless term because of its overuse in terms such as the 'War on Drugs', and of course, what will be the neverending 'War on Terror.'
The word "patriotic" became meaningless as well when it took on the form of waving flags and singing the Star Spangled Banner. When dissent became "unpatriotic", patrotism was cheapened, left to describe only those who hold back on criticizing government.
Certainly, the current meaning of the word "freedom" eludes me.
Does the same to me. I'd like to define freedom as the ability and right to do anything one pleases without infringing on the rights of others. However, it is not really practiced that way in the U.S.
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Seriously, though. GM crops are such a hotly debated topic that it's hard to see past the extremes of each viewpoint and come to a reasonable consensus regarding the issue. Americans have been eating GM food for years and have managed not to grow too many extra limbs unless you count the abundance of jelly rolls turned extra sets of titties that have graced the upper halves of many an American.
Genetic modification of foods can be used responsibly. However, I'm uncomfortable with GM crops possibly not being adequately contained. I think that should be the largest of our worries. There should be more freedom of choice and GM foods should be labeled as such.
I don't consider any news source trustworthy. I simply have to gather the "facts" from as many news sources as possible and then formulate an opinion. I may watch Fox (although I try to avoid doing so at all costs, the people I live with love it and I hear it in passing), CNN, and BBC News; read the Guardian, Le Monde, NY Times and The Daily Mail or Telegraph (UK) in order to examine an issue.
Each newspaper has an agenda. American journalism aims to be objective which makes for dull reading. I love to read the Guardian because of its blatantly left-leaning nature, for example. The agenda is always there, even in so-called "objective" news sources, it is just not as blatant.
I think it is a good idea and it would be interesting to see it widely implemented. I'll be 21 not too long from now and still won't have a driver's license. I've failed the driving portion of the test twice in the past 4 months because my turns are too sharp. :-P
Follow the instructions given in this article if you hope to never get laid.
No-knock raids have been going on in America for quite some time to combat those crazy marijuana and crack users. It's about time that other countries pick up on the value of no-knock raids in taking down corporations that violate anti-trust laws. Had it gone down American-style, someone would have ended up dead.
You won't find any argument from me. It's a lot more socially acceptable for women to gawk at men, and very vocally. My point? I'm not sure. :-P
There is no further privacy invasion needed to protect American citizens from terrorist attacks. The intelligence failure that allowed 9/11 to be carried out should be addressed. The security measures that were already in place should have been properly implemented. The reason for the additional laws is to make us feel safer. It is simply politically expedient for new laws and "overhauls" of the system to be championed.
I don't think sex is all that taboo in America. It is discussed freely on television, in magazines...it is taboo only to the religious who feel that sex is a cherished act between a married man and woman...No anal play allowed, lest they violate the Word.
The religious who are in power seek to keep it taboo though. Take the Governor's Program on Abstinence that was instituted in my home state of Louisiana. We were not allowed to be taught about the technicalities of sex or about birth control in my high school health class. Only that we shouldn't do it and condoms don't really work that well. Which sent the message: "Don't bother with a condom - doesn't work anyway!" And we had a woman from the local anti-abortion "Women's Health" clinic telling us about sex. No bias there.
Rallying against porn isn't the pet project of only ultra-conservatives. Some feminists, for example, feel that pornography violates women by virtue of it turning them into objects to be gawked at. But I digress.
I guess they have nothing better to do... no terrorists left to hunt for, so they're going after "immoral" people. *sigh*
Obviously, they do have terrorists to hunt. However, that doesn't mean that aren't going to pursue their puritanical agenda. Whether it involves drugs, pornography or whatever vice on which attention can be focused so as to divert attention from the administrations shortcomings, they will do this. It is to be expected in politics, whether it is a Democrat or Republican in office.
Inside each geek there is a paragon of hottness bursting to get out. Here's a couple of tips from a semi-geek girl who still managed to make it just fine with non-geek fellows:
Go to the gym, flex that shit
For your skin: Little less online porn, little more sunshine
If you manage that, you're off to a good start.
My favorite part of the National Health Service in the UK was the part where if you want to do anything beyond seeing a General Practitioner, you're screwed. And the waiting lists are tremendous, with many hospitals "fiddling" the figures in order to conceal the extent to which waiting lists are a problem. These systems are not without their flaws. Having used that system while I lived abroad, I find that private insurance is infinitely better.
However, I have seen the other side. I have a cousin who has 6 children, but the husband was the only person who worked and refused to get insurance for anyone but himself. Additionally, he wouldn't/couldn't sign up for government-provided health care. I can remember one of their children breaking his arm and the father saying not to bring him to the hospital. My grandmother brought him anyway, but it was most bizarre.
"Republicans, appealing to the lowest common denominator since 1978."
Democrats do the same. Most politicians within this two-party system do the same. They appeal to the lowest common denominator.
I used to feel that my intelligence was insulted everytime I heard a politician speak on an issue. Over time, I have realized that politicians must appeal to their bases: people who are fanatical about the political party to which they belong, which makes them too blind to examine the issues beyond taking their candidates proclamations as gospel and people who are too dumb to examine the issues in any way, shape or form and vote for a particular party because that's what they've always done. The rest of the electorate is forever voting for the lesser of two evils.
But then again, there are many different British accents. And British English is a evolved version of Old English. So none of us are speaking true and natural English. Such is the nature of language and progress.
The internet also provides an outlet through which the average somewhat Internet-savvy person can do their own pissing and moaning about the state of things.
Those who live under tyrannical governments do not be an outlet through which they can express their opinion without their being repercussions, therefore the internet as a political tool is largely irrelevant in said countries.
But the internet has been a tremendous tool in turning the tides against political apathy. That, or those who were already politically aware and active are just using a new tool to get their views out. Regardless, it can only be viewed as a good thing in terms of it leading to more political awareness.
But 250 pound pasty white geek guys have so much to love. Plus, their girth provides considerable space on which advertisers could take advantage. Over the years, designer logos have become more important on a piece of clothing than the quality of the clothing itself. 250 pound pasty white geek guys would provide ample space on which to splash larger-than-life logos. 250 pound pasty white geek guys will have an edge over 90 pound models before you know it.
The folks at General Hospital will be hearing from my attorney.
Additionally, those who do think for themselves are considered a bit of a weirdo. I can't tell you how interesting it was to grow up in Smalltown, USA in the Bible Belt. During a debate with someone who presented me with Bible scripture, I said, "I don't believe in the Bible." There was a collective gasp that echoed throughout the room.
Ignorance is rewarded in this [part of the] country by way of social acceptance.
I think what I appreciated about Europe was that there was little dumbing down of news stories. While on American new stations, you get newscasters saying, "Now what does that mean, exactly?" to everything an 'expert' has to say on a subject. Television news in England seemed to be something that educated people could watch without wanting to pull their hair out.
Whoa! Maybe I should give anorexia another go. I must have been doing something wrong to have low blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, decreased body temperature and dizziness. Ask your doctor friend how one can successfully starve, would you?
Hm. This is a really good idea, IMO. I think that the allure of P2P is entirely too strong for this to become viable. It's so much easier to hop on Kazaa, download a tune and then download the next, than it is to sift through the contents of a band's website in order to find a sound clip.
But the public is not going to believe that. The contrast in European media coverage of the War on Terror and the threat toward America and America's coverage is shocking, to say the least. I moved to Europe shortly after 9/11 and lived there before and during the war in Iraq.
Terrorism is not new to Europe. Their coverage regarding potential attacks on America were quite balanced. You can argue that they have an anti-American bias, but their coverage regarding America's color coded alert system, for example, was correct in highlighting its absurdity.
Having moved back to America and been once again exposed to its media, one would think that America will be attacked at any moment. The media's fear-mongering is unlike anything I've ever seen.
Terrorism is less of a threat than tyranny. However, the latter will be justified by the government as a solution to the former. And people will accept it because they want to feel safe.
But I digress. "The people" are speaking in their refusal to pay $20 for a CD until they know that it is of decent quality. I always d/l the contents of a CD before spending an hours hard work of cash. I've been disappointed too many times. But I love to support an artist whose music I enjoy.
The monopolistic nature of the record companies is being challenged. They have responded to it only by trying to punish the consumers, which has already caused a mild public backlash. The sooner they realize the ramifications of charging top bucks for crap music, the sooner they will realize that they have to start working to please the consumer.
And with that, I'd like to say, Fat Chance. I can imagine nothing short of an industry-wide revolution changing the way the record companies operate.
I see you provided a link to the Libertarian Party website. While I agree with quite a few of the LP's platforms, they are not electable. They focus entirely too much on the war on drugs and not enough on general government largesse. Besides, the collective wants big government. You get big government whether you vote for Republicans or Democrats. The political stagnation that stems from the two-party system would have to be challenged by a third party that focused less on specific issues and had a more broad program they would seek to implement.
The word "patriotic" became meaningless as well when it took on the form of waving flags and singing the Star Spangled Banner. When dissent became "unpatriotic", patrotism was cheapened, left to describe only those who hold back on criticizing government.
Certainly, the current meaning of the word "freedom" eludes me.
Does the same to me. I'd like to define freedom as the ability and right to do anything one pleases without infringing on the rights of others. However, it is not really practiced that way in the U.S.