I don't know about the ESRB rating system, but whatever definitions they use, it is not of legal value. The only thing that determines whether or not a game contains pornography (or is directly calling for the violent overthrow of the US government) is the actual content, not what label the ESRB assigns to it
There is no law about selling video games with specific ratings in the US. If such a game happens to contain pornography (I'm not sure about the legality involved with Hot Coffee), it is illegal to sell that. The ratings system is enforced by stores which choose to inforce it, same as the movie rating system, not by law. See US Constitution, Amendment 1.
Any of us young enough to have asked our parents to buy games which had ratings (myself included) knew this. Trying to tell teenagers what they can and cannot see is stupid, and will not work. Anyway, "Most parents think their child is mature enough so that these games will not influence them." (the article.)
Microsoft cannot bring a criminal case to trial. The only people who can bring a case are the Attorneys General of the US, and wherever he was commiting the crime (in this case all 50 states). Microsoft brought a civil suit because Microsoft's mail servers were affected by his actions. Anyone who was affected by his actions is free to sue him for the damages he caused. Only the government can bring charges resulting in jail time however. If you have proof that he damaged you, hire a lawyer and sue his ass.
The problem with trying to take all cases to trial is that you can, and often do, lose the trial. Technology trials are long, costly (you have to hire expert witnesses to inform non-slashdot using jurors) and can result in a not guilty verdict. The advantage of getting a settlement is that it is over, and cannot be appealed. Oh, and this case could never have reslted in jail time because it was a lawsuit, not a criminal prosecution.
I am a high school student with a laptop, and I take notes on it in class. I am a faster typist than writer, and I can get much more done on my computer than I could with pen and paper. Also, having typed notes allows me to do text searches of everything I have. While using laptops in (high school) class is not that common yet, I think that it will become more common as time goes on.
the terrorists aren't stupid
The higher level inspirational ones (Bin Laden, Al Zwahiri) aren't, but some of them really are not very smart. They do things like try to set off shoe bombs in their seats instead of the plane bathroom. Also, encrypting a website or an e-mail can sometimes act as a tip-off.
I was under the impression that the images Google used were not copyrighted. Even if Google were to block them or blur them out, what would stop a terrorist from just finding the photo somewhere else?
My friends and I (none of whom were/are stoned) recently finished watching season 2 in our dorm. RvB is hilarious and no, we do not watch the dancing jesus.
"The World Health Organization has a special study program on the effects of electromagnetic fields on human health which periodically examines the scientific evidence on these aspects. So far (the next report is scheduled for 2006-2007) it has concluded that there are no demonstrable effects of EMF used in mobile phones and wireless telecommunication systems on human health." - Wikipedia
This would be a fine idea if there were not millions of people indoctrinated into "health" fads who are afraid of any sort of radio transmission. I am refering to the sort of people who buy this. http://waveshield.com/
It is worth noting that, as with any astronomical discovery outside our part of the Milky Way, the black holes may or may not exist now (or be in the same place) since we are seeing them as they were billions of years ago. They are "seen as they existed when the universe was young." [The Article] The speed of light causes the long delay between occurance and observation.
I am sorry to anyone who is offended by that last post. I was more concerend with trusting your money to someone who makes a gramatical error in the subject line.
Anyone who would open an e-mail with the subject line "Congratulation! You Are Our Lucky Winner!" and then proceed to send that person $5000 sight unseen deserves it.
While you may disagree with "intelligent design" (and I certianly do) it does have a place in a philosophy classroom. Specifically it is a representation of a metaphysical belief in faith, and epistemology of mystic insight. This goes back as far as Plato. I happen to disagree with this entire metaphysical idea (go Aristotle!) but to say it "doesn't have any philosophical bearing." is a fallacy.
Intelligent design was included in the philosophy class I am taking right now, and I am no worse for it.
Oh, and by the way, Aristotle and Plato were European too.
Slashdot Mirror
I don't know about the ESRB rating system, but whatever definitions they use, it is not of legal value. The only thing that determines whether or not a game contains pornography (or is directly calling for the violent overthrow of the US government) is the actual content, not what label the ESRB assigns to it
There is no law about selling video games with specific ratings in the US. If such a game happens to contain pornography (I'm not sure about the legality involved with Hot Coffee), it is illegal to sell that. The ratings system is enforced by stores which choose to inforce it, same as the movie rating system, not by law. See US Constitution, Amendment 1.
Any of us young enough to have asked our parents to buy games which had ratings (myself included) knew this. Trying to tell teenagers what they can and cannot see is stupid, and will not work. Anyway, "Most parents think their child is mature enough so that these games will not influence them." (the article.)
Microsoft cannot bring a criminal case to trial. The only people who can bring a case are the Attorneys General of the US, and wherever he was commiting the crime (in this case all 50 states). Microsoft brought a civil suit because Microsoft's mail servers were affected by his actions. Anyone who was affected by his actions is free to sue him for the damages he caused. Only the government can bring charges resulting in jail time however. If you have proof that he damaged you, hire a lawyer and sue his ass.
The problem with trying to take all cases to trial is that you can, and often do, lose the trial. Technology trials are long, costly (you have to hire expert witnesses to inform non-slashdot using jurors) and can result in a not guilty verdict. The advantage of getting a settlement is that it is over, and cannot be appealed. Oh, and this case could never have reslted in jail time because it was a lawsuit, not a criminal prosecution.
I am a high school student with a laptop, and I take notes on it in class. I am a faster typist than writer, and I can get much more done on my computer than I could with pen and paper. Also, having typed notes allows me to do text searches of everything I have. While using laptops in (high school) class is not that common yet, I think that it will become more common as time goes on.
The US Army is a part of the US Government, and the "don't ask, don't tell" policy is a part of federal law. Specifically this one.
You can see an article about it here.
the terrorists aren't stupid The higher level inspirational ones (Bin Laden, Al Zwahiri) aren't, but some of them really are not very smart. They do things like try to set off shoe bombs in their seats instead of the plane bathroom. Also, encrypting a website or an e-mail can sometimes act as a tip-off.
This is all the more reason the US govt and the CIA need to invest heavily in recruiting and training Arabic translators.
I was under the impression that the images Google used were not copyrighted. Even if Google were to block them or blur them out, what would stop a terrorist from just finding the photo somewhere else?
My friends and I (none of whom were/are stoned) recently finished watching season 2 in our dorm. RvB is hilarious and no, we do not watch the dancing jesus.
That is not the funniest joke ever. That was the German attempt to counter the funniest joke ever. Oh, and it goes as follows:
Hitler: "My dog has no nose."
Crowd: "How does he smell?"
Hitler: "Awful."
"The World Health Organization has a special study program on the effects of electromagnetic fields on human health which periodically examines the scientific evidence on these aspects. So far (the next report is scheduled for 2006-2007) it has concluded that there are no demonstrable effects of EMF used in mobile phones and wireless telecommunication systems on human health." - Wikipedia
Air does the same thing too...absolutely nothing.
This would be a fine idea if there were not millions of people indoctrinated into "health" fads who are afraid of any sort of radio transmission. I am refering to the sort of people who buy this. http://waveshield.com/
It is worth noting that, as with any astronomical discovery outside our part of the Milky Way, the black holes may or may not exist now (or be in the same place) since we are seeing them as they were billions of years ago. They are "seen as they existed when the universe was young." [The Article] The speed of light causes the long delay between occurance and observation.
I am sorry to anyone who is offended by that last post. I was more concerend with trusting your money to someone who makes a gramatical error in the subject line.
Anyone who would open an e-mail with the subject line "Congratulation! You Are Our Lucky Winner!" and then proceed to send that person $5000 sight unseen deserves it.
Worst part of this whole thing is, the tin foil would probably work. Oh dear, here come the "paranormal experts." Run. Now.
None of which will matter if people do not put passwords on their networks that arent "default" "administrator" or "home." Oh, first post!
While you may disagree with "intelligent design" (and I certianly do) it does have a place in a philosophy classroom. Specifically it is a representation of a metaphysical belief in faith, and epistemology of mystic insight. This goes back as far as Plato. I happen to disagree with this entire metaphysical idea (go Aristotle!) but to say it "doesn't have any philosophical bearing." is a fallacy. Intelligent design was included in the philosophy class I am taking right now, and I am no worse for it. Oh, and by the way, Aristotle and Plato were European too.
In the initial flight of SpaceShipOne the pilot released M&Ms candy in the cockpit which indeed did float around the cockpit...WEIGHTLESS.