"IMHO all political advertising in all media should be forbidden"
That is truly fascist and totalitarian. One of the cornerstones of free and progressive societies is the unfettered ability to speak out on political issues and candidates. Your idea is not new, or rare. In fact, it's downright medieval in nature and is also practiced by the worst modern societies. That's how they do it in North Korea (a nice completely socialist country, by the way).
"If a candidate can not spend his election money on ads, he might be less inclined to start smearing"
"Smear" being a subjective term for criticism someone does not like. How about this: if you don't like what someone says, ignore it?
Probably, or they are ignorant of history. Tens of millions died as socialism was implimented in Central and Eastern Europe during much of the 20th century. There's also the element that the socialist parties in Western democracies. Even though they want to increase government oppression, are not really that socialist.
"Socialism in my book is about the gouvernment behaving socially. Maybe your ideal is more like each man for himself?".
It's always every man for himself. That's not an ideal, that's just how it is. Socialism is the proven best method for one man to get the most for himself at the expense of all of society. It appeals to the worst in people. As for a "book" definition of socialism, why not look at wikipedia first? It mentions greedy government control first: "As an economic system, socialism is often associated with state or community ownership of the means of production."
"they're no more "anti-Israel" than many other news sources who don't fawn helplessly to the grandchildren of a much sinned-against population, who have become terrible sinners themselves"
Only if they are "Terrible sinners" for daring to insist they have a right to live, and to fight back against unreleting aggression from those who want to exterminate them.
There was such a media terrible bias against the real victim in this last Israel-Lebanon war. Because of this misleading reporting, there are so many that do not know that this war was started when Lebanon invaded Israel.
Only for the people who are in government, yes. Everyone else loses out. The more socialism there is, the more powerful the ruling elites are and the less people are able to control their own lives and affairs.
"I know these countries called themselves socialist, but they all had a communist party".
In general usage, the term "socialism" is used to describe systems where there is varying degrees of ruling elites controlling private/personal economic matters. The term "communism" tends to get used for the systems that are completely socialist (the ruling elites control and own everything, instead of just some).
"There are plenty of of socialist gouvernments that function in a true democracy"
Are you thinking of Sweden? Germany? Those countries are only a little more socialist than the US is. Even in these places, most private property remains in the hands of the people, instead of the state.
Generally, it is best if matters are left to the people (the private sector) and not the rulers (the state). However, there are certain instances of innovation coming out of government-controlled agencies.
I actually did not care so much about the quality of the article. It's been worth it for the even better stories posted as replies. Like the one about the dead rat PC.
"We also had a person bring in a PC that wouldn't work. The technician opened the case, and there was a big dead rat in the case. Not a mouse, a rat, nest and all."
I wonder if it was some prank further up the line. How many PCs have a rat-sized hole in them for this to happen? And what about the stench? Did someone have an "Oh, I thought Gateways were supposed to smell this way" excuse?
The story summary said at the outset that it is the experiences of a data recovery company regarding data problems on damaged hardware. So what's the problem? It's not like that such a company is not a great source if you are looking to find out actual data loss/recovery anecdotes. Perhaps if you don't like such information, you should configure slashdot so you don't see "hardware" stories.
It always slows things down, and often has idiotic upgrade messages to wade through. Thankfully, Google often offers HTML translations of PDF files it links to. I only wish they offered this for ALL pdf files, instead of just some. PDF for web content is a nuisance to be bypassed.
Someone I know had an important data disc that he used with no problems. Everything was going fine until he decided to get a little more educated about computer commands. He read a statement somewhere that said you need to "format discs before you use them." After reading this, he made sure to format the data disc before the next time he tried to access it.
It's not "underhanded". It's merely the presentation of information. Take it or leave it. Besides, nonprofit groups don't have "an agenda" any less than corporations. Or anyone else, for that matter.
Interestingly misleading. Never mention that Lebanon invaded Israel repeatedly, forcing Israel to retaliate? Hint: there were other terrorist groups located in Lebanon, operating with approval from the Lebanese government, before Iran created its Hesbollah army.
"Special taxes? If you live in the U.S., the federal tax is 18.4 cents/gallon, and state taxes average about 22"
....both of which are special taxes, above any typical sales tax you would pay on a gallon of milk, for example. These increase the price by a significant percentage, and even exceed the oil company's profit for each gallon.
"Today in the US - people falsely believe we have a "free press"
It's actually probably the most free press in the world: looking at the combination of the sheer huge diversity and number of "publications" with the fact of very small government involvement in the media (compared to almost everywhere else). Not sure what your example of Fox News means. They are just one example of the free press (no government control). They aren't that influential, anyway. I've found many references to Fox's "Foley = Democrat" mistake all over the media, but have never seen Fox itself do this mistake.
"or even worse; a Liberally Biased newsmedia."
The left-wing bias accusation is true, but only of most of the major TV networks.
"....that it was pure propaganda"
I see that you are running with a vague definition of "propaganda" that means 'information that you happen not to like."
"Yeah. Never mind the air strike on a Lebanese family picnicing on the beach"
Chalk it down to a successful effort by Hesbollah to turn Lebanon into a war zone and to use civilians as human shields. Imagine all the bad things that would not have happened if Lebanon and not invaded Israel.
"The enablers and excuse-makers in the US media"
I sense a careful dancing around code-words here. Tempted, you are, to tell us "who owns the media", right? Anything to justify the barbarism of the unreasoned and unprovoked aggression by Israel's neighbors.
"but you certainly can't blame the whole war on that one incident. It's a childish and ill-informed position to take"
You have a good point. It would be childish to blame it on that one incident. There are, in fact, many years of entirely unprovoked aggression against Israel by Lebanon. Not surprising: Israel has always supported the right of the Lebanese to live, but Lebanon does not recognize the rights of the Israelis to exist. Israel at times gets fed up with the constant one-way attacks and decides to retaliate every once in a while. It's only reasonable. Nobody would criticize such actions unless they have some sort of illogical reason to hate the country that keeps getting attacked and finally decides to fight back.
Slashdot Mirror
"IMHO all political advertising in all media should be forbidden"
That is truly fascist and totalitarian. One of the cornerstones of free and progressive societies is the unfettered ability to speak out on political issues and candidates. Your idea is not new, or rare. In fact, it's downright medieval in nature and is also practiced by the worst modern societies. That's how they do it in North Korea (a nice completely socialist country, by the way).
"If a candidate can not spend his election money on ads, he might be less inclined to start smearing"
"Smear" being a subjective term for criticism someone does not like. How about this: if you don't like what someone says, ignore it?
"It could be that they all are being decieved"
Probably, or they are ignorant of history. Tens of millions died as socialism was implimented in Central and Eastern Europe during much of the 20th century. There's also the element that the socialist parties in Western democracies. Even though they want to increase government oppression, are not really that socialist.
"Socialism in my book is about the gouvernment behaving socially. Maybe your ideal is more like each man for himself?".
It's always every man for himself. That's not an ideal, that's just how it is. Socialism is the proven best method for one man to get the most for himself at the expense of all of society. It appeals to the worst in people. As for a "book" definition of socialism, why not look at wikipedia first? It mentions greedy government control first: "As an economic system, socialism is often associated with state or community ownership of the means of production."
"they're no more "anti-Israel" than many other news sources who don't fawn helplessly to the grandchildren of a much sinned-against population, who have become terrible sinners themselves"
Only if they are "Terrible sinners" for daring to insist they have a right to live, and to fight back against unreleting aggression from those who want to exterminate them.
There was such a media terrible bias against the real victim in this last Israel-Lebanon war. Because of this misleading reporting, there are so many that do not know that this war was started when Lebanon invaded Israel.
"Sense, Damage, Compensate!" just doesn't have the same ring to it. Give me a robot that intones "Crush! Kill! Destroy!" anyday.
If you don't like online casinos, stay away from them. There, problem completely solved (except for the nagging problem of online casino spam...).
"... and thing your a fucking expert"
I thing not!!!!
"Socialism is about the (rights of) the people."
Only for the people who are in government, yes. Everyone else loses out. The more socialism there is, the more powerful the ruling elites are and the less people are able to control their own lives and affairs.
"I know these countries called themselves socialist, but they all had a communist party".
In general usage, the term "socialism" is used to describe systems where there is varying degrees of ruling elites controlling private/personal economic matters. The term "communism" tends to get used for the systems that are completely socialist (the ruling elites control and own everything, instead of just some).
"There are plenty of of socialist gouvernments that function in a true democracy"
Are you thinking of Sweden? Germany? Those countries are only a little more socialist than the US is. Even in these places, most private property remains in the hands of the people, instead of the state.
Generally, it is best if matters are left to the people (the private sector) and not the rulers (the state). However, there are certain instances of innovation coming out of government-controlled agencies.
"If Israel has a problem with Hezbollah's tactics, then they should file a formal complaint with the UN"
And then the UN can protect Israel the same way it protected Srebrenica.
"and tried at the Hague for crimes against humanity"
If you can call a years-long travesty in which the accused die of old age in their cells a "trial"....
Was that before or after Gore created it in Congress? :)
The point is, Darpa is a state run company, and has been rather innovative.
"State run companies *DO NOT INNOVATE*.
I love to read such claims on posted the internet.. Nice high irony factor.
I actually did not care so much about the quality of the article. It's been worth it for the even better stories posted as replies. Like the one about the dead rat PC.
"We also had a person bring in a PC that wouldn't work. The technician opened the case, and there was a big dead rat in the case. Not a mouse, a rat, nest and all."
I wonder if it was some prank further up the line. How many PCs have a rat-sized hole in them for this to happen? And what about the stench? Did someone have an "Oh, I thought Gateways were supposed to smell this way" excuse?
The borg guy's problem came from another entirely separate conversation in which he was defending a certain dictator as not being a dictator at all.
The story summary said at the outset that it is the experiences of a data recovery company regarding data problems on damaged hardware. So what's the problem? It's not like that such a company is not a great source if you are looking to find out actual data loss/recovery anecdotes. Perhaps if you don't like such information, you should configure slashdot so you don't see "hardware" stories.
"Can we at least *try* to avoid posting false news items that are really nothing more than thinly-disguised press releases?"
Can you please cite the false parts of this news item? If you can't, why call it false?
It always slows things down, and often has idiotic upgrade messages to wade through. Thankfully, Google often offers HTML translations of PDF files it links to. I only wish they offered this for ALL pdf files, instead of just some. PDF for web content is a nuisance to be bypassed.
Someone I know had an important data disc that he used with no problems. Everything was going fine until he decided to get a little more educated about computer commands. He read a statement somewhere that said you need to "format discs before you use them." After reading this, he made sure to format the data disc before the next time he tried to access it.
It's not "underhanded". It's merely the presentation of information. Take it or leave it. Besides, nonprofit groups don't have "an agenda" any less than corporations. Or anyone else, for that matter.
Interestingly misleading. Never mention that Lebanon invaded Israel repeatedly, forcing Israel to retaliate? Hint: there were other terrorist groups located in Lebanon, operating with approval from the Lebanese government, before Iran created its Hesbollah army.
Which of the dozens of policy differences between Democrats and Republicans do you want us to mention?
"Special taxes? If you live in the U.S., the federal tax is 18.4 cents/gallon, and state taxes average about 22"
....both of which are special taxes, above any typical sales tax you would pay on a gallon of milk, for example. These increase the price by a significant percentage, and even exceed the oil company's profit for each gallon.
"Starry-eyed members of the Church of the Invisible Hand."
Typically feared by those who worship in the Church of the Jackboot of Fascism.
"Today in the US - people falsely believe we have a "free press"
It's actually probably the most free press in the world: looking at the combination of the sheer huge diversity and number of "publications" with the fact of very small government involvement in the media (compared to almost everywhere else). Not sure what your example of Fox News means. They are just one example of the free press (no government control). They aren't that influential, anyway. I've found many references to Fox's "Foley = Democrat" mistake all over the media, but have never seen Fox itself do this mistake.
"or even worse; a Liberally Biased newsmedia."
The left-wing bias accusation is true, but only of most of the major TV networks.
"....that it was pure propaganda"
I see that you are running with a vague definition of "propaganda" that means 'information that you happen not to like."
"Yeah. Never mind the air strike on a Lebanese family picnicing on the beach"
Chalk it down to a successful effort by Hesbollah to turn Lebanon into a war zone and to use civilians as human shields. Imagine all the bad things that would not have happened if Lebanon and not invaded Israel.
"The enablers and excuse-makers in the US media"
I sense a careful dancing around code-words here. Tempted, you are, to tell us "who owns the media", right? Anything to justify the barbarism of the unreasoned and unprovoked aggression by Israel's neighbors.
"but you certainly can't blame the whole war on that one incident. It's a childish and ill-informed position to take"
You have a good point. It would be childish to blame it on that one incident. There are, in fact, many years of entirely unprovoked aggression against Israel by Lebanon. Not surprising: Israel has always supported the right of the Lebanese to live, but Lebanon does not recognize the rights of the Israelis to exist. Israel at times gets fed up with the constant one-way attacks and decides to retaliate every once in a while. It's only reasonable. Nobody would criticize such actions unless they have some sort of illogical reason to hate the country that keeps getting attacked and finally decides to fight back.