As skeptical as I am about the effectiveness of the US government, I do think the White House staffers who set up We the People understand the democratic process a hell of a lot better than Bennett does.
The presence of a silly Death Star petition doesn't worry me. What worries me is the ability of well-organized groups to introduce severe sampling bias to the system Bennett proposes.
the bat-mo-people are arguing trademark with a crossover into copyright and derivative works.
That's what I think, too. Batmobile should be a trademark issue and the copyright argument seems like an unwarranted stretch. I'm kind of glad I'm not a lawyer, since I don't need to attempt to persuade a judge that up is down and black is white.
Your insinuation that only lawyers are entitled to an opinion on the application of copyright is misguided. Understanding copyright is everybody's business. Unless you never write a line of code or post to a blog or Twitter, copyright's ever-widening reach ensnares you, too. Know the basics, or risk finding yourself on the wrong end of a lawsuit.
Obviously, the more financial stake you have in the output of your keyboard, the more research and expert consultation you'll require.
If you disagree with grandparent, argue on the merits of his/her interpretation.
Either way, don't bring ethics into it. You're talking about taking someone's money for "the greater good". And you're forcing them to participate.
Taking someone's money for the "greater good" is called tithing, and it's optional in the U.S. Taxes are taking someone's money to fund the functions of government that the people deem necessary, such as providing armed forces to defend the natural resources from which businesses extract wealth, or highways so businesses can transport their goods at higher speeds and lower costs than any time in history, or a court system to enforce contracts and enable businesses to trust one another.
So taxes are for your own good. By the way, in a democracy, sometimes the consensus decision is the one you disagree with. Suck it up, indeed.
If you are actually paying a higher percentage of your income than your workers, then you're doing it wrong. Yes, rates at your income level are higher, but you also (should) have more options with which to shelter your income. Warren Buffet pays a lower percentage of his income in taxes than his secretary. So I think your sense of indignation that you pay a higher rate is misguided.
If you want to harass someone, get to the root cause: the politicians who created the TSA and who approve, even demand, its invasive practices. Blaming the TSA employee for the abusive system is like blaming a hospital orderly for the high costs of health care.
Are we willing to throw out the whole 3D printing movement as a result?
The Slashdot readership probably isn't willing to do that, but broader society might be. Consider the pieces that are in place:
3D printing has the potential to transform (some would say "destroy") both manufacturing and retail. Big business has much to fear from progress in this technology.
Since 9/11, politicians have found it useful to play to people's fears and spend billions on security theatre.
America has a longstanding tradition of reactive, sweeping, and hysterical national policies: the PATRIOT Act, internment of Japanese-Americans, marijuana prohibition, alcohol probibition...
I see trouble ahead.
I think the economic power of 3D printing will win in the end, but it may be a long, ugly fight to get there.
If you sort on gun-homicides, you will see that the USA is 14th. Most of the "winners" are in Latin America.
You'll also see the gun-homicide rate in the US is about four times that in Canada, which is still quite striking even after the hyperbole has been cleared away.
Churchgoer here. I already consider it socially and morally reprehensible to blame atheists for the world being screwed up. Frankly, the world was screwed up long before atheism was cool! And I'd add, some of my best friends are atheists.
Gingrich and Huckabee make a career out of thumping the Bible. To them I say: Matthew 6:5
Gingrich and Huckabee would have more credibility on this if they belonged to a pacifist Christian sect like the Quakers or Amish. They don't. Unless I am confusing these men with someone else, they are both historically pro-death-penalty, pro-gun-rights, and pro-imperialism in foreign policy.
So I question whether the religion they seek to insert back into government institution (namely public schools) will serve the purpose of discouraging violence. I don't even think that is their real agenda when they suggest it.
So much for the idea that Slashdot readers never look at TFA. However, I remain undaunted, and will now proceed to discuss the article even though no one can read it!:-)
I read TFS the same way. If we're right, I certainly don't see how this counts as a "new" threat as the headline says, since the good-faith exemption only applies to old cases.
Vector integration is pretty easy, too, once you've got 12 years of mathematical preparation and half a semester of Calculus 201. That doesn't mean I expect celebrities to do it at home.
Stop blaming the victim. I've heard this so often, I'm finally going to snap. (Nothing personal.)
Make up your mind whether IT administration is easy or hard.
If it's easy, then the IT profession is perpetrating a massive scam and collecting fat paychecks for what is basically an easy job. I don't believe that, and I do not think you will find many people on Slashdot who support that position.
On the other hand, if IT is hard, then it's not fair to condemn non-professionals from being unable to do it. Rather than calling people "stupid" for not knowing things that we take for granted, we could actually try to promote public awareness and give people constructive advice.
2) The only technology that can meet power demands soon enough without causing climate change is nuclear. Wind/solar/etc simply don't have the technology, infrastructure, etc. to come online soon enough.
I agree with what you say, that developing solar and wind and hydro power can't keep up with the rate of growing demand. However, this article from last year's IEEE magazine points out there is enough renewable energy to meet the world's needs.
So, with enough discipline and forethought, one could use nuclear power as a transitional step away from fossil fuels, and later replace nuclear plants with wind and solar as they age and need to be decommissioned.
Contrary to Betteridge's Law, TFA says two reactors have already been restarted.
What it does not say is how Japan manages waste disposal from its reactors. In the US disposal is a big deal, politically, and we don't have a permanent solution. Does anyone know what Japan does with its nuclear waste?
I agree with your concept, but in this case it's pretty easy to measure out gas into a marked measuring container.
Would you seriously want to do that yourself? At every gas station? Be sure to also check that the "sell by" date on the milk in the convenience store is accurate, etc.
Re:Ever Heard of Capitalism?
on
The Web We Lost
·
· Score: 2
Wow this guy uses some pretty strong rhetoric for not having to explain how this is ever going to be fixed.
I wish I had mod points for you, sir. I did not like TFA at all and was not nearly as impressed by author as he was with himself. (I'm so glad he approves of Facebook and Twitter and Pinterest; I am sure their boards of directors are breathing a sigh of relief! Or not.)
Slashdot Mirror
As skeptical as I am about the effectiveness of the US government, I do think the White House staffers who set up We the People understand the democratic process a hell of a lot better than Bennett does.
The presence of a silly Death Star petition doesn't worry me. What worries me is the ability of well-organized groups to introduce severe sampling bias to the system Bennett proposes.
That's what I think, too. Batmobile should be a trademark issue and the copyright argument seems like an unwarranted stretch. I'm kind of glad I'm not a lawyer, since I don't need to attempt to persuade a judge that up is down and black is white.
Your insinuation that only lawyers are entitled to an opinion on the application of copyright is misguided. Understanding copyright is everybody's business. Unless you never write a line of code or post to a blog or Twitter, copyright's ever-widening reach ensnares you, too. Know the basics, or risk finding yourself on the wrong end of a lawsuit.
Obviously, the more financial stake you have in the output of your keyboard, the more research and expert consultation you'll require.
If you disagree with grandparent, argue on the merits of his/her interpretation.
Taking someone's money for the "greater good" is called tithing, and it's optional in the U.S. Taxes are taking someone's money to fund the functions of government that the people deem necessary, such as providing armed forces to defend the natural resources from which businesses extract wealth, or highways so businesses can transport their goods at higher speeds and lower costs than any time in history, or a court system to enforce contracts and enable businesses to trust one another.
So taxes are for your own good. By the way, in a democracy, sometimes the consensus decision is the one you disagree with. Suck it up, indeed.
If you are actually paying a higher percentage of your income than your workers, then you're doing it wrong. Yes, rates at your income level are higher, but you also (should) have more options with which to shelter your income. Warren Buffet pays a lower percentage of his income in taxes than his secretary. So I think your sense of indignation that you pay a higher rate is misguided.
If you want to harass someone, get to the root cause: the politicians who created the TSA and who approve, even demand, its invasive practices. Blaming the TSA employee for the abusive system is like blaming a hospital orderly for the high costs of health care.
The Slashdot readership probably isn't willing to do that, but broader society might be. Consider the pieces that are in place:
I see trouble ahead.
I think the economic power of 3D printing will win in the end, but it may be a long, ugly fight to get there.
You'll also see the gun-homicide rate in the US is about four times that in Canada, which is still quite striking even after the hyperbole has been cleared away.
Because Gingrich and Huckabee are dead wrong about the reason for this incident?
The idea that you're entitled to deride and ridicule *anyone* is the fantastic claim I am now asking you to prove.
Churchgoer here. I already consider it socially and morally reprehensible to blame atheists for the world being screwed up. Frankly, the world was screwed up long before atheism was cool! And I'd add, some of my best friends are atheists.
Gingrich and Huckabee make a career out of thumping the Bible. To them I say: Matthew 6:5
Gingrich and Huckabee would have more credibility on this if they belonged to a pacifist Christian sect like the Quakers or Amish. They don't. Unless I am confusing these men with someone else, they are both historically pro-death-penalty, pro-gun-rights, and pro-imperialism in foreign policy.
So I question whether the religion they seek to insert back into government institution (namely public schools) will serve the purpose of discouraging violence. I don't even think that is their real agenda when they suggest it.
So much for the idea that Slashdot readers never look at TFA. However, I remain undaunted, and will now proceed to discuss the article even though no one can read it! :-)
I read TFS the same way. If we're right, I certainly don't see how this counts as a "new" threat as the headline says, since the good-faith exemption only applies to old cases.
Seconded. After I wrote my first Python program, I don't think I will ever type #!/usr/local/bin/perl again. I threw out my Perl Cookbook.
Vector integration is pretty easy, too, once you've got 12 years of mathematical preparation and half a semester of Calculus 201. That doesn't mean I expect celebrities to do it at home.
Stop blaming the victim. I've heard this so often, I'm finally going to snap. (Nothing personal.)
Make up your mind whether IT administration is easy or hard.
If it's easy, then the IT profession is perpetrating a massive scam and collecting fat paychecks for what is basically an easy job. I don't believe that, and I do not think you will find many people on Slashdot who support that position.
On the other hand, if IT is hard, then it's not fair to condemn non-professionals from being unable to do it. Rather than calling people "stupid" for not knowing things that we take for granted, we could actually try to promote public awareness and give people constructive advice.
I agree with what you say, that developing solar and wind and hydro power can't keep up with the rate of growing demand. However, this article from last year's IEEE magazine points out there is enough renewable energy to meet the world's needs.
So, with enough discipline and forethought, one could use nuclear power as a transitional step away from fossil fuels, and later replace nuclear plants with wind and solar as they age and need to be decommissioned.
Contrary to Betteridge's Law, TFA says two reactors have already been restarted.
What it does not say is how Japan manages waste disposal from its reactors. In the US disposal is a big deal, politically, and we don't have a permanent solution. Does anyone know what Japan does with its nuclear waste?
OMG the oceans are FULL of uranium!!!!
(Sorry, couldn't resist. :-) )
So according to you, two wrongs make a right?
You trolls never rest, do you?
Parent is hilarious but I doubt many slashdotters will get the joke. :-)
Would you seriously want to do that yourself? At every gas station? Be sure to also check that the "sell by" date on the milk in the convenience store is accurate, etc.
I wish I had mod points for you, sir. I did not like TFA at all and was not nearly as impressed by author as he was with himself. (I'm so glad he approves of Facebook and Twitter and Pinterest; I am sure their boards of directors are breathing a sigh of relief! Or not.)