The republicans did recently relinquish control of congress after a lost election.
One Republican to go next January...
By the way, my comment about Bush potentially refusing to leave office was a joke as indicated by the:-)
Thinking about it though, Congress-critters and the President refusing to vacate are two ather different situations. While Congress makes the laws, the President controls the military and actually enforces the law (or not).
A tyrannical government has to have countless minions to execute their tyrannical orders.
Granted, but define tyrannical. Not to politicize this discussion, but the current US administration has gotten away with a quiet a few questionable acts (wiretapping, holding prisioners at Gitmo, harassing people at airports for simply asking a question, etc).
Many "orders" may even actually be determined to be lawful in the end, but still perhaps (at least slightly) tyrannical. Minions, good or bad, always follow lawful orders.
My comment was overly broad and your comments are well made. I'll grant that the argument is relatively complex on either side, but consider the following (also overly broad) comments to your reply.
They said the same thing about the colonies with regard to Great Britain, which at the time was arguably the primary superpower.
Granted, but Great Briton was 3,000 miles away and fought on unfamiliar territory. The Colonists had a home-field advantage.
Nobody I ever met in the US military would be willing to pull the trigger to send a howitzer round raining into a US village filled with US citizens.
The Civil War being the notable exception - which is probably what any civilian/government conflict would devolve into. [Though your comment stands as I'm sure you don't really know anyone from that era:-)]
I'm a bit suprised nobody has mentioned Tiennenmen Square when an unarmed student stopped a Chinese tank by standing in front and not backing down. Maybe I've missed it though.
According to Wikipedia, as many as 3,000 people died in that demonstration and "tank man" was eventually pulled aside for his safety. It's probably only luck and video cameras that kept that man alive. I don't think the heads of the Chinese government have lost any sleep over the incident.
It's funny that people think and post as you have. A small family can keep a US military unit at bay for two weeks (Ruby Ridge), a small compound of people can keep an unit of military troops and armored vehicles (not tanks) at bay for two months (Waco), yet entire communities, cities, and states of armed citizens are somehow powerless.
It's not funny thinking at all. If the government wanted those situations resolved, regardless of any casualities, they would have been over in a minute.
The military is obligated to follow any lawful order of the civilian government. If something's not clear, but they can be convinced an order is lawful, it will probably be followed.
Furthermore, the resources supporting the Government are not limited to the military. You think Homeland Security, the FBI or NSA, etc... really cares about us? Try asking a TSA officer a few questions at an airport... I'll come visit you in detention. Lastly, any rebelious action is going to get labeled a "terrorist threat" and someone's getting a trip to Gitmo.
Hint: a government that will voluntarily relinquish power after a lost election, or the expiration of a term limit doesn't qualify.
If you're hinting at the present US administration, this remains to be seen. After all, Bush has implied that he can do anything as CIC during a time of war...:-)
The day the Stormtroopers come knocking at your door, you'll wish you had a gun.
The people can only overthrow a tyrannical government if they have weapons which enable them to do so.
Yes, yes. I'm sure the AR-16 (or any weapons for that matter) I have stashed in my basement will deter any US military and/or Police force that comes knocking. I'm sure that will be 30 seconds well spent.
The notion that a civilian force could "overthrow a tyrannical government" in the US today is quaint at best.
...check your e-mail, shop for a book on Amazon, place some bids on EBay...
Of course to this stuff and most other things of interest, the browser will need SSL, JavaScript, Flash, Java, etc... That and considering they don't mention what browser means now one will have to worry about patching the auto-pc lest it get pwned. Just what I've always dreamed of: Patch Tuesday in a LeBaron...
Perhaps if Chrysler concentrated on making a better car instead of another useless gimmick... [Not that I care, I drive a Honda.]
kid isn't really a "threat" to society or someone who needs to be, what's the word they like to use now? - rehabilitated... It's just a dumb kid who needs to be taught a lesson.
Sure, maybe now. Or, perhaps he's someone who has no respect for others or their property, and/or only cares about himself. Perhaps he's just a dumb kid, or perhaps he'd grow up into an Enron exec, a Bear Stearns account rep, or worse...
Besides, the summary of charges are to ensure they will convict him of *something* and gives a little wiggle room for negotiations.
he wanted 'great financial strength so we would have the flexibility to do software in the new way, or whatever we wanted to do'
So very much could be said about this statement I don't even know where to begin... I'll simply offer that with regard to "do software in a new way" and "do whatever we wanted to do", there has been less of the former and more of the latter.
BTW: These are privacy comments by the following characters:
Stark: My side, your side. My side, your side....
From Farscape, episode 19-119 "Nerve (Part 1)", Stark telling new cellmate John Crichton what's whos.
Ophelia: You sleep on the couch.
From Trading Places, Jamie Lee Curtis letting Dan Aykroyd know what's free and what's not.
Brad: Doesn't anyone knock anymore?
From Fast_Times_at_Ridgemont_High, Brad commenting after getting caught wacking-off in the bathroom fantasizing about Phoebe Cates.
Old Guy: Get off of my lawn.
Generic "Old Guy" comment about getting off his lawn.
This is the whole point, bikes don't cause dangerous/deadly accidents when they hit each other, why should we have to follow the same rules? This is the way a lot of people think.
True enough. I would add that bicyclists that ignore the road rules put themselves in danger from moving vehicles and others in danger should those vehicles need to avoid the bicycle. Basically they're discounting any unexpected consequences of their unexpected actions.
Just because people are too fat/lazy/dumb and... need traffic lights to tell them when to stop so they don't end up killing each other. You don't see traffic lights on bike paths.
What a stupid statement. There are no traffic lights on bike paths because the "vehicles" aren't going that fast and can't cause that much damage in an accident to each other (relatively speaking, of course). If bicycles weighed 1500 lbs and went 50 mph, there'd be traffic lights on bike paths.
As an example, while they don't have lights, the bike paths next to the beach boardwalk in my city have traffic markers painted on them where they intersect with pedestrian crossings. Please note that the pedestrian crossing have no markers (or lights for that matter).
Many books and courses teach critical thinking skills, but what is the best way to encourage and teach someone to maintain a healthy dose of skepticism
Ensure they have to use, maintain, destroy what they create. In other words, question yourself too, not just others.
I've always thought (cursed) that people should be forced to work on things they design - usually when trying to reach that bolt on the engine that's impossible to reach or actually turn if ever reached.
Those that don't use IM really hinder my productivity at times.
Which would be my point: Who's productivity does IM help?
While my not using IM may hinder your productivity, not using it helps mine. Anyone who needs me can send email and I'll get back to you when I can, or, if really important, call or stop by.
Seriously, unless you're choking on a pretzel or on fire, my time is more important than yours (generically, yours) -/. doesn't read itself you know.:-)
Cool. A voice of reason where others froth at the mouth at the mere mention of a SUV. Personally, I think the *HUGE* SUVs, like Hummer, Tahoe, Expedition, etc... are unnecessary abominations, but that the smaller unibody crossovers, like CR-V and Rav4 aren't too bad.
Slashdot Mirror
One Republican to go next January...
By the way, my comment about Bush potentially refusing to leave office was a joke as indicated by the :-)
Thinking about it though, Congress-critters and the President refusing to vacate are two ather different situations. While Congress makes the laws, the President controls the military and actually enforces the law (or not).
Granted, but define tyrannical. Not to politicize this discussion, but the current US administration has gotten away with a quiet a few questionable acts (wiretapping, holding prisioners at Gitmo, harassing people at airports for simply asking a question, etc).
Many "orders" may even actually be determined to be lawful in the end, but still perhaps (at least slightly) tyrannical. Minions, good or bad, always follow lawful orders.
They said the same thing about the colonies with regard to Great Britain, which at the time was arguably the primary superpower.
Granted, but Great Briton was 3,000 miles away and fought on unfamiliar territory. The Colonists had a home-field advantage.
Nobody I ever met in the US military would be willing to pull the trigger to send a howitzer round raining into a US village filled with US citizens.
The Civil War being the notable exception - which is probably what any civilian/government conflict would devolve into. [Though your comment stands as I'm sure you don't really know anyone from that era :-)]
I'm a bit suprised nobody has mentioned Tiennenmen Square when an unarmed student stopped a Chinese tank by standing in front and not backing down. Maybe I've missed it though.
According to Wikipedia, as many as 3,000 people died in that demonstration and "tank man" was eventually pulled aside for his safety. It's probably only luck and video cameras that kept that man alive. I don't think the heads of the Chinese government have lost any sleep over the incident.
It's funny that people think and post as you have. A small family can keep a US military unit at bay for two weeks (Ruby Ridge), a small compound of people can keep an unit of military troops and armored vehicles (not tanks) at bay for two months (Waco), yet entire communities, cities, and states of armed citizens are somehow powerless.
It's not funny thinking at all. If the government wanted those situations resolved, regardless of any casualities, they would have been over in a minute.
The military is obligated to follow any lawful order of the civilian government. If something's not clear, but they can be convinced an order is lawful, it will probably be followed.
Furthermore, the resources supporting the Government are not limited to the military. You think Homeland Security, the FBI or NSA, etc... really cares about us? Try asking a TSA officer a few questions at an airport ... I'll come visit you in detention. Lastly, any rebelious action is going to get labeled a "terrorist threat" and someone's getting a trip to Gitmo.
If you're hinting at the present US administration, this remains to be seen. After all, Bush has implied that he can do anything as CIC during a time of war... :-)
The people can only overthrow a tyrannical government if they have weapons which enable them to do so.
Yes, yes. I'm sure the AR-16 (or any weapons for that matter) I have stashed in my basement will deter any US military and/or Police force that comes knocking. I'm sure that will be 30 seconds well spent.
The notion that a civilian force could "overthrow a tyrannical government" in the US today is quaint at best.
Of course to this stuff and most other things of interest, the browser will need SSL, JavaScript, Flash, Java, etc... That and considering they don't mention what browser means now one will have to worry about patching the auto-pc lest it get pwned. Just what I've always dreamed of: Patch Tuesday in a LeBaron...
Perhaps if Chrysler concentrated on making a better car instead of another useless gimmick... [Not that I care, I drive a Honda.]
I'm pretty sure that "opt-in" option wouldn't get exercised much, hence the opt-out requirement. Seriously, who chooses to be spied on?
Calm down before you fracture a kidney.
Sure, maybe now. Or, perhaps he's someone who has no respect for others or their property, and/or only cares about himself. Perhaps he's just a dumb kid, or perhaps he'd grow up into an Enron exec, a Bear Stearns account rep, or worse...
Besides, the summary of charges are to ensure they will convict him of *something* and gives a little wiggle room for negotiations.
Duct, Electrical, Masking or Transparent?
So very much could be said about this statement I don't even know where to begin... I'll simply offer that with regard to "do software in a new way" and "do whatever we wanted to do", there has been less of the former and more of the latter.
From Farscape, episode 19-119 "Nerve (Part 1)", Stark telling new cellmate John Crichton what's whos.
From Trading Places, Jamie Lee Curtis letting Dan Aykroyd know what's free and what's not.
From Fast_Times_at_Ridgemont_High, Brad commenting after getting caught wacking-off in the bathroom fantasizing about Phoebe Cates.
Generic "Old Guy" comment about getting off his lawn.
I first read this as "Anatomy of Runway Project" and thought of Heidi Klum.
I am *so* disappointed with the actual article...
You know, with a few minor edits that could be used to describe the sentiment of at least 50% of all /. posts. :-)
True enough. I would add that bicyclists that ignore the road rules put themselves in danger from moving vehicles and others in danger should those vehicles need to avoid the bicycle. Basically they're discounting any unexpected consequences of their unexpected actions.
What a stupid statement. There are no traffic lights on bike paths because the "vehicles" aren't going that fast and can't cause that much damage in an accident to each other (relatively speaking, of course). If bicycles weighed 1500 lbs and went 50 mph, there'd be traffic lights on bike paths.
As an example, while they don't have lights, the bike paths next to the beach boardwalk in my city have traffic markers painted on them where they intersect with pedestrian crossings. Please note that the pedestrian crossing have no markers (or lights for that matter).
Free stuff on the Linux partition, locked-down stuff on the Vista partition. :-)
Ust-jay eak-spay in ode-cay.
Ensure they have to use, maintain, destroy what they create. In other words, question yourself too, not just others.
I've always thought (cursed) that people should be forced to work on things they design - usually when trying to reach that bolt on the engine that's impossible to reach or actually turn if ever reached.
Chicken canon. (I think the Mythbusters have one to spare.)
Which would be my point: Who's productivity does IM help?
While my not using IM may hinder your productivity, not using it helps mine. Anyone who needs me can send email and I'll get back to you when I can, or, if really important, call or stop by.
Seriously, unless you're choking on a pretzel or on fire, my time is more important than yours (generically, yours) - /. doesn't read itself you know. :-)
there's a good "if the glove doesn't fit, you must acquit" joke there somewhere.
Cool. A voice of reason where others froth at the mouth at the mere mention of a SUV. Personally, I think the *HUGE* SUVs, like Hummer, Tahoe, Expedition, etc... are unnecessary abominations, but that the smaller unibody crossovers, like CR-V and Rav4 aren't too bad.