Our flashy cell phones make people mumble, "Gee whiz- look how important he is, his life must rule!" You'll get a tumor, but on your surgery day The doc will see it and say, "Wow, you must really be cool!"
The idea behind doing this was to make a big fuss so that what was going on in Congress yesterday would be covered by the news.
Yes, that much becomes glaringly obvious when the ostensibly "spontaneous" walk-out ends in front of a bunch of microphones and cameras conveniently set up on the House steps.
"We will not stand here and watch this floor be abused for pure political grandstanding at the expense of our national security.... Let's just get up and leave," Republican Leader John Boehner advised his colleagues as they dramatically left the floor Thursday afternoon.
Yes, the House can enforce the contempt citation without the aid of the Justice Department. Under the rules for inherent contempt, after the citation is passed, the cited party would be arrested by the Sergeant-at-Arms for the House and brought to the floor to answer charges. However, the statutory procedure, which is the one that involves the Justice Department, has been used more often since its inception in 1857, and the inherent procedure hasn't been used since 1934.
Agreed (although I would qualify the adjective 'slow' with the adverb 'relatively'). Wi-Fi is fast becoming an expected service, as ubiquitous and taken for granted as electricity and running water. When you go out to eat, do you get charged for using the restroom? Do you pay a fee for the electricity used while you ate your meal? The pay-for-WiFi model is becoming just as ridiculous.
The orbit of Solar Max, a 5,000-pound satellite that collected information on solar flares for nine years, has deteriorated to the point that the spacecraft should crash back to earth late this week, the space agency said today.
Most of the craft will burn up in the atmosphere, but about a dozen pieces of three to five pounds each, plus one piece of about 100 pounds, are expected to come back down to earth. The debris could fall anywhere on earth from 28 degrees north to 28 degrees south of the Equator.
And from TFA (again, emphasis mine):
It is not known where the satellite will hit. But officials familiar with the situation say about half of the 5,000-pound spacecraft is expected to survive its blazing descent through the atmosphere and will scatter debris -- some of it potentially hazardous -- over several hundred miles.
It doesn't seem as if "shooting down" the satellite is really going to cause much more damage than re-entry and impact will...for this reason, my money's on either target practice for our benefit, or, more likely, a not-so-subtle demonstration of our space superiority.
It seems to me that there's no real reason to "shoot down" this satellite, except as a test/demonstration of our ability to shoot down satellites (not necessarily our own)...
The ISPs, of course, think that the record companies -- or whoever else wrongly identified the file sharers -- should be the ones to pay out any such judgments. The British Phonographic Industry, however, disagrees and wants the ISPs to simply use their Terms of Service to disconnect people. Apparently, that means they think that the ToS should be able to remove any legal recourse people might otherwise have against being misidentified."
The BPI MIght think that, but that does not make it true. The ISPs have their collective asses hanging out in the wind, and they know it. It's too bad they didn't see this coming, when they started agreeing to take sides in this mess in the first place.
If you exercise authority, you incur liability. Pure and simple.
A mission out to Titan to collect a load of hydrocarbons would cost far more energy than the load would be worth. We'd be much better off investing in an orbital solar power station.
Ever consider that if they were really practical and provided the return you thought they did, someone would be doing them?
Ever consider that the projects require a substantial NRE? Ever consider that the only entities capable of footing such a bill are either a) too rich to care, b) have a vested interest in maintaining the status quo, or c) both a & b?
I work in the space industry, and most people have no damned idea was a pain in the arse it is to do anything.
Well, with that attitude, I'm glad you didn't work in the space industry in the 60s...
The FCC prohibits network operators from blocking applications but opens the door to interpretation with a footnote in a policy statement that provides for an exemption for "reasonable management."
So who determines what measures fall under the vague umbrella of "reasonable management"? Sure, Comcast can't block applications, but if they slow throughput from said applications down to a crawl, it constitutes a de facto block.
This should be interesting to watch unfold, especially since I myself use Charter. ^_^
You said "what a waste". That is in no way equivalent to "we should be doing more".
Failing to take advantage of the opportunity we have now is a waste.
I don't know if you were genuinely unable to grasp the above, or were merely being deliberately obtuse, but one thing is quite clear: you're not interested in discussing the subject...you're only interested in picking a fight. I don't know why I expected better of someone who goes by the moniker of "FUCK-U-MODS"...
I'm sure you're itching to unleash what you consider wit, so I'll leave you to it. Have fun.
Re:What a waste is right, why be so hard on yourse
on
The Shadow Space Race
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· Score: 1
My "argument" is that we could (and should) be doing a lot more than we are...nothing more. Your weather satellite example disproves nothing.
If you want to discuss this further, I'd be happy to. If, however, all you're interested in is picking a fight, then look elsewhere. It's too early for that sort of nonsense. I haven't even had a chance to drink my coffee yet.
Re:What a waste is right, why be so hard on yourse
on
The Shadow Space Race
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· Score: 0, Troll
Uh huh...and I suppose none of these advances would be realized from a project other than a spy satellite?
We could be developing new medications, formulating new exotic alloys, growing large, perfect crystals, metal whiskers, carbon nanotubes, and thin films in industrially significant quantities, tapping the sun's power to end our dependence on fossil fuels, etc., etc., etc....and what are we doing?
Spying.
Sure, I realize that warfare is the spur that traditionally drives technological development, but if all you're going to use the development for is more warfare, what exactly is the point?
I have no interest in discussing something with someone that puts ad hominem's in every single post.
I have no interest in discussing something with someone who is so intellectually dishonest he can't bring himself to answer a simple question.
Don't worry...you don't have to answer. Your continued prevarication has told me all I need to know.
You can use the posts to sit and guess at my position on issues using supposition and conjecture all you like - doesn't mean a thing.
I never "guessed"...I merely made simple observations based upon what you did say. If you don't like my observations, perhaps you should modify your stance on the issue. I also gave you multiple opportunities to clarify your position....opportunities you seem almost hysterically eager to avoid.
A "discussion" with the likes of you is scarcely a discussion at all. You needn't worry about having to evade me any longer, as I have become too bored with you to continue pursuing this.
Coward. In your previous post, you waxed poetic about how good the detainees have it. In fact, waterboarding is used on a "vast minority", right?
Answer the question. Is waterboarding torture? Also, please explain how it's OK to just waterboard a "vast minority". If I were to torture you, you're just a "vast minority" of the population, right? That makes it OK, right?
Right. I was speaking of armed checkpoint on freeways, stopping people on their way to work. You brought up border crossings for some reason.
Perhaps you should have said so, then, instead of "I've seen police states. I've had to pass through checkpoints and answer questions about where I was going, why I was going there and when I plan on being back.". Again, don't blame me for your inability to express yourself.
Flying is not a right. You are free to take the bus, train or drive.
You're kidding, right? So, flying is not a right, but other forms of transport are? Please quote the relevant laws, if you would.
Still, every country secures their airports. Are all countries police states?
Still trying to make this into a all-or-nothing argument, aren't you? It was people like you, obstinately refusing to see what was happening right in front of them, that enabled the Nazis to develop their power unchecked. Nazi Germany wasn't built in a day, either.
(Yes, Godwin, I know, but when you talk about the Titanic long enough, the subject of icebergs is going to come up.)
Despite idealist claims to the contrary, not all torture is the same. Especially when the claims of torture include ludicrous things like forcing people to watch a Koran being flushed down the toilet.
The claims of torture also include waterboarding. Care to comment?
There's also a difference based on who is being tortured -- innocent people or violent thugs.
Many of the "detainees" are simply people who were rounded up after their neighbors dropped the dime on them, for various reasons. I'd caution you that you can't characterize all the detainees as "violent thugs" until this allegation is proven, but apparently, quaint, old-fashioned ideas like "innocent until proven guilty" have gone out of style.
Sounds a lot like you're denying the allegations of torture and extraordinary rendition, although you've neatly avoided committing yourself to that with so many words.
Strict border control does not make a police state.
Perhaps you should have been clearer on what you consider a police state, then.
A state is deemed a police state by how it treats its law abiding CITIZENS, not foreign nationals who wish to enter the country.
I'm speaking as a citizen, not a "foreign national".
If border control and airport security is how you judge police states, can you show me a country that is NOT a police state? Is Canada a police state too? France? Japan?
Again, don't fault me for your specious logic. You're the one who said, "I've seen police states. I've had to pass through checkpoints and answer questions about where I was going, why I was going there and when I plan on being back.". Your definition, not mine.
Also, I noticed how you managed to completely sidestep the airport security issue. Don't think I didn't.
I said you could start with manifest destiny. Now that you've admitted that your initial claim of "The only land the US has taken is for cemeteries for their dead soldiers." is false, perhaps now you can move on and actually learn something...
...or perhaps you can't. Judging from the quality of your posts thus far, I doubt that you have much capacity to learn.
I really don't care either way. As I said earlier, it's not my job to educate you.
Slashdot Mirror
From You've Got A Lot To See, performed by Brian Griffin:
Our flashy cell phones make people mumble,
"Gee whiz- look how important he is, his life must rule!"
You'll get a tumor, but on your surgery day
The doc will see it and say, "Wow, you must really be cool!"
The idea behind doing this was to make a big fuss so that what was going on in Congress yesterday would be covered by the news.
Yes, that much becomes glaringly obvious when the ostensibly "spontaneous" walk-out ends in front of a bunch of microphones and cameras conveniently set up on the House steps.
From the Raw Story article:
Yes, the House can enforce the contempt citation without the aid of the Justice Department. Under the rules for inherent contempt, after the citation is passed, the cited party would be arrested by the Sergeant-at-Arms for the House and brought to the floor to answer charges. However, the statutory procedure, which is the one that involves the Justice Department, has been used more often since its inception in 1857, and the inherent procedure hasn't been used since 1934.
I thought the Republican walk-out was staged in response to the Dems daring to bring contempt citations against White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten and former counsel Harriet Miers.
Was this a different walk-out?
Agreed (although I would qualify the adjective 'slow' with the adverb 'relatively'). Wi-Fi is fast becoming an expected service, as ubiquitous and taken for granted as electricity and running water. When you go out to eat, do you get charged for using the restroom? Do you pay a fee for the electricity used while you ate your meal? The pay-for-WiFi model is becoming just as ridiculous.
...it would seem that access to said information also wants to be free.
And from TFA (again, emphasis mine):
It doesn't seem as if "shooting down" the satellite is really going to cause much more damage than re-entry and impact will...for this reason, my money's on either target practice for our benefit, or, more likely, a not-so-subtle demonstration of our space superiority.
It seems to me that there's no real reason to "shoot down" this satellite, except as a test/demonstration of our ability to shoot down satellites (not necessarily our own)...
The BPI MIght think that, but that does not make it true. The ISPs have their collective asses hanging out in the wind, and they know it. It's too bad they didn't see this coming, when they started agreeing to take sides in this mess in the first place.
If you exercise authority, you incur liability. Pure and simple.
A mission out to Titan to collect a load of hydrocarbons would cost far more energy than the load would be worth. We'd be much better off investing in an orbital solar power station.
What are these wondrous other things we could be doing in space?
I mentioned just a few examples here.
Ever consider that if they were really practical and provided the return you thought they did, someone would be doing them?
Ever consider that the projects require a substantial NRE? Ever consider that the only entities capable of footing such a bill are either a) too rich to care, b) have a vested interest in maintaining the status quo, or c) both a & b?
I work in the space industry, and most people have no damned idea was a pain in the arse it is to do anything.
Well, with that attitude, I'm glad you didn't work in the space industry in the 60s...
So who determines what measures fall under the vague umbrella of "reasonable management"? Sure, Comcast can't block applications, but if they slow throughput from said applications down to a crawl, it constitutes a de facto block.
This should be interesting to watch unfold, especially since I myself use Charter. ^_^
You said "what a waste". That is in no way equivalent to "we should be doing more".
Failing to take advantage of the opportunity we have now is a waste.
I don't know if you were genuinely unable to grasp the above, or were merely being deliberately obtuse, but one thing is quite clear: you're not interested in discussing the subject...you're only interested in picking a fight. I don't know why I expected better of someone who goes by the moniker of "FUCK-U-MODS"...
I'm sure you're itching to unleash what you consider wit, so I'll leave you to it. Have fun.
My "argument" is that we could (and should) be doing a lot more than we are...nothing more. Your weather satellite example disproves nothing.
If you want to discuss this further, I'd be happy to. If, however, all you're interested in is picking a fight, then look elsewhere. It's too early for that sort of nonsense. I haven't even had a chance to drink my coffee yet.
Uh huh...and I suppose none of these advances would be realized from a project other than a spy satellite?
We could be developing new medications, formulating new exotic alloys, growing large, perfect crystals, metal whiskers, carbon nanotubes, and thin films in industrially significant quantities, tapping the sun's power to end our dependence on fossil fuels, etc., etc., etc....and what are we doing?
Spying.
Sure, I realize that warfare is the spur that traditionally drives technological development, but if all you're going to use the development for is more warfare, what exactly is the point?
So many ways we could be utilizing space for the benefit of the human race...and this is what we come up with?
We're not going to make it, and we don't deserve to.
I have no interest in discussing something with someone that puts ad hominem's in every single post.
I have no interest in discussing something with someone who is so intellectually dishonest he can't bring himself to answer a simple question.
Don't worry...you don't have to answer. Your continued prevarication has told me all I need to know.
You can use the posts to sit and guess at my position on issues using supposition and conjecture all you like - doesn't mean a thing.
I never "guessed"...I merely made simple observations based upon what you did say. If you don't like my observations, perhaps you should modify your stance on the issue. I also gave you multiple opportunities to clarify your position....opportunities you seem almost hysterically eager to avoid.
A "discussion" with the likes of you is scarcely a discussion at all. You needn't worry about having to evade me any longer, as I have become too bored with you to continue pursuing this.
Coward. In your previous post, you waxed poetic about how good the detainees have it. In fact, waterboarding is used on a "vast minority", right?
Answer the question. Is waterboarding torture? Also, please explain how it's OK to just waterboard a "vast minority". If I were to torture you, you're just a "vast minority" of the population, right? That makes it OK, right?
Right. I was speaking of armed checkpoint on freeways, stopping people on their way to work. You brought up border crossings for some reason.
Perhaps you should have said so, then, instead of "I've seen police states. I've had to pass through checkpoints and answer questions about where I was going, why I was going there and when I plan on being back.". Again, don't blame me for your inability to express yourself.
Flying is not a right. You are free to take the bus, train or drive.
You're kidding, right? So, flying is not a right, but other forms of transport are? Please quote the relevant laws, if you would.
Still, every country secures their airports. Are all countries police states?
Still trying to make this into a all-or-nothing argument, aren't you? It was people like you, obstinately refusing to see what was happening right in front of them, that enabled the Nazis to develop their power unchecked. Nazi Germany wasn't built in a day, either.
(Yes, Godwin, I know, but when you talk about the Titanic long enough, the subject of icebergs is going to come up.)
Despite idealist claims to the contrary, not all torture is the same. Especially when the claims of torture include ludicrous things like forcing people to watch a Koran being flushed down the toilet.
The claims of torture also include waterboarding. Care to comment?
There's also a difference based on who is being tortured -- innocent people or violent thugs.
Many of the "detainees" are simply people who were rounded up after their neighbors dropped the dime on them, for various reasons. I'd caution you that you can't characterize all the detainees as "violent thugs" until this allegation is proven, but apparently, quaint, old-fashioned ideas like "innocent until proven guilty" have gone out of style.
Sounds a lot like you're denying the allegations of torture and extraordinary rendition, although you've neatly avoided committing yourself to that with so many words.
So, do you deny the allegations? Yes or no?
Strict border control does not make a police state.
Perhaps you should have been clearer on what you consider a police state, then.
A state is deemed a police state by how it treats its law abiding CITIZENS, not foreign nationals who wish to enter the country.
I'm speaking as a citizen, not a "foreign national".
If border control and airport security is how you judge police states, can you show me a country that is NOT a police state? Is Canada a police state too? France? Japan?
Again, don't fault me for your specious logic. You're the one who said, "I've seen police states. I've had to pass through checkpoints and answer questions about where I was going, why I was going there and when I plan on being back.". Your definition, not mine.
Also, I noticed how you managed to completely sidestep the airport security issue. Don't think I didn't.
I really don't care either way. As I said earlier, it's not my job to educate you.
But enough of the dems voted for it to pass it, while enough voted against it to maintain the fiction of the false dichotomy.