Combine that with Cardinal Richelieu's (of inquisition infame) statement of needing seven lines from the finest man, to find something to hang him, and you got to the core of the problem.
You're comparing the inquisition to the modern justice system? Have you been smoking crack?
Point is: There is no such thing as freedom or fair law
Well if you're defining your concept of fairness from the point-of-view of the criminal, then yea, no law can ever be fair. However, that is a completely asinine way of judging fairness.
Like a government: Those some thousands or tenthousands of people could not withstand hundreds of millions of people. Ever. But they still are the strongest in the people's minds.
Except that you're creating a false division. You're pretending to be living under some oppressive dictatorship, where it's possible to draw clear lines between "us" and "the", and incite the crowds to rise up against their oppressors. And while I'm sure that drama-queens like yourself get a huge kick out of pretending to be the leaders of the revolution, the fact of the matter is that WE ARE the government, and we're not going to rise up against ourselves.
we are their employer and as their employer we should have every right to monitor them to ensure they do the job we pay them to do, and to ensure they perform that job PROPERLY
I've had a word with your boss, and he's very pleased to hear that you feel this way. He's assured me that you will immediately be placed under 24/7 surveillance, with all your private details posted to a blog. After all, your direct supervisor, the CEO of the company, and all of the shareholders all need to monitor your every move in order to make sure you're doing your job. That's a perfectly normal proposition, right?
Any reasonable citizen of this country has those same arrest powers - Citizen's Arrest.
Actually, for the sake of accuracy I should point out that there is a difference between the two. Citizens can only perform an arrest for a crime which they have personally observed, while police can perform arrests based purely on suspicion.
But yeah, that doesn't make the original argument any less silly. I suppose firefighters are never off duty either, since they always have the ability to fight fires. And let's not forget computer programmers! Ludicrous.
Oh so you're a big fan of slavery then, are ya? As long as they work for you, their lives are yours to do with as you please. If only those damn northern states hadn't messed things up for you....
Of course we should be making it better on taxes to hire American workers than foreign workers, and that doesn't just go for visa holders; we should be taxing companies that use outsourced labor overseas, too. If they don't want to pay the tax, they can move their factories and resources back to the States.
Or you could... I dunno.... maybe SIMPLIFY THE TAX CODE and get rid of these dumb laws which create these idiotic problems in the first place? How much longer do you expect to be able to keep adding bandaids on top of one another?
I meant one topic at a time. It's distracting and overwhelming to jump all over the place even when you're trying to teach a kid one-on-one, let alone with several. Some structure is required. Other than that, I certainly agree that a diverse education is a good thing.
Thanks for the info, but I don't seem to be able to find any relevant sources. Maybe my google-foo is weak at the moment. Could you link a couple for me?
People, especially young people, just wait until someone tells them what happens next.
Nonsense. Young people are naturally curious. Only after years of exposure to a spoon-feeding "educational system" do they become mindless drones waiting to memorize the next factoid. If we can change the system to work WITH their natural curiosity, it won't be difficult to motivate them - the hard part will be trying to keep them focused on just one topic.
I'd give up if I were you. Any time you see someone suggest that Pearl Harbor was invaded by Americans rather than the Japanese, you know that you are dealing with an individual who is a few dozen cards short of a full deck. You're not going to talk sense into him - you'll just end up going in circles until either you give up in disgust or he gets his medication adjusted.
You know, I'm not exactly a fan of Gandhi, but this is the first time I've seen someone claim he was a mass murderer. I get the feeling you may be stretching the truth quite a bit, but I'd be very interested in knowing how you've come to that conclusion.
Ernest Sonnier, one of those I cited that was cleared, was convicted partly because of eyewitness testimony
Partly, maybe, but he was also convicted on DNA evidence. Ergo, his case does nothing to support the original claim.
But I guess you didn't read any of the links I provided, that was said on the very first page I provided a link to.
No, I didn't, because the summary you provided clearly showed that he was convicted based on DNA evidence. Why should I bother following the links when your own words contradict the claim that you're trying to support?
Uhuh... and what does that have to do with eyewitness testimony?
Does ANYONE on Slashdot ever actually respond to the question asked? It may be a bit naive of me, but I really do expect people to try and support their claims instead of moving the goal-posts.
There's a reason why many people had little more than an 8th grade education - after that you were expected to join the world of work..... As resource bases contract and the world goes back to a solar economy, expect the teenager to disappear.
Wow... so what you're saying is that Africa and the Middle East are actually progressive! Damn. We westerners are so ignorant....
I'm sorry that you apparently believe your personal Magic Man to be more legitimate than others. However, if you expect me to apologize for a frank and accurate statement of fact.... don't hold your breath. All religions are a ridiculous figment of human imagination - Scientology only sticks out because it is more recent.
The Russian people are a rational and coherent group of people.
Really? Wow. What's their secret? Because, to date, I haven't run into a single group of people which could universally be described as rational and coherent. These "Russians" of yours must be something really special!
Scientology is a set of pretentious make-believe faiths designed to extort money from fools
So are communism and theocratic monarchies, and they cover pretty much all of Russian history.
Seriously, their history books may have improved slightly since the cold war ended, but last time I checked you'd have just as much luck getting accurate reporting out of North Korea.
Oh, and one last thing:
a fake "religion".
Scientology is as real as any other religion. That you chose to put it in a separate category says more about you than about them.
The defendant is forced to pay for them. Try avoiding paying taxes, and see how far you get.
Fine - if you're ever in court and I happen to be there, I'll be sure to whip your penny right back at you. I'll aim for the eyes. Meanwhile, if you have nothing productive to add, stay out of discussions which don't involve you.
I've always thought it hubris for scientists to take a set of gene sequences, the functions of which are not yet understood, and proclaim them "junk." From time to time an article like this comes along, proving me correct.
Um, no, it just means that you don't understand the name. Nobody (well, ok, nobody with half a brain) ever suggested that junk DNA is completely useless. It was simply a term used to refer to segments of DNA which appeared to have no current function. It's a place-filler name, like "dark matter" - just a useful word to use until we have a chance to figure it out better.
If you had a choice between getting your name on the version notes next to, "Added speech capability" or "Fixed legacy bug that nobody has had a problem with in over a million years", which project would you sign on to?
Well, the result of the former is that after coitus you have to listen to her talk, whereas the latter means that afterward you don't die.
Do you honestly think that shooting fish DNA into a tomato to give it (hopefully) better resistance to cold is the same thing as saving seeds from a tomato plant that was least damaged by an early frost?
No, they're not the same. The former is faster.
I don't see the issue. That tomato already has "fish DNA", as do you. DNA is DNA, regardless of the species you extract it from. It's like saying that it's dangerous to take Microsoft code and put it in Linux. Ok, ok, bad example, but you get the idea... If you're afraid that we'll suddenly be overrun by giant Killer Tomatoes, you've been watching too much TV.
Slashdot Mirror
You're comparing the inquisition to the modern justice system? Have you been smoking crack?
Well if you're defining your concept of fairness from the point-of-view of the criminal, then yea, no law can ever be fair. However, that is a completely asinine way of judging fairness.
Except that you're creating a false division. You're pretending to be living under some oppressive dictatorship, where it's possible to draw clear lines between "us" and "the", and incite the crowds to rise up against their oppressors. And while I'm sure that drama-queens like yourself get a huge kick out of pretending to be the leaders of the revolution, the fact of the matter is that WE ARE the government, and we're not going to rise up against ourselves.
I've had a word with your boss, and he's very pleased to hear that you feel this way. He's assured me that you will immediately be placed under 24/7 surveillance, with all your private details posted to a blog. After all, your direct supervisor, the CEO of the company, and all of the shareholders all need to monitor your every move in order to make sure you're doing your job. That's a perfectly normal proposition, right?
Actually, for the sake of accuracy I should point out that there is a difference between the two. Citizens can only perform an arrest for a crime which they have personally observed, while police can perform arrests based purely on suspicion.
But yeah, that doesn't make the original argument any less silly. I suppose firefighters are never off duty either, since they always have the ability to fight fires. And let's not forget computer programmers! Ludicrous.
Oh so you're a big fan of slavery then, are ya? As long as they work for you, their lives are yours to do with as you please. If only those damn northern states hadn't messed things up for you ....
Or you could ... I dunno .... maybe SIMPLIFY THE TAX CODE and get rid of these dumb laws which create these idiotic problems in the first place? How much longer do you expect to be able to keep adding bandaids on top of one another?
I meant one topic at a time. It's distracting and overwhelming to jump all over the place even when you're trying to teach a kid one-on-one, let alone with several. Some structure is required. Other than that, I certainly agree that a diverse education is a good thing.
Thanks for the info, but I don't seem to be able to find any relevant sources. Maybe my google-foo is weak at the moment. Could you link a couple for me?
Nonsense. Young people are naturally curious. Only after years of exposure to a spoon-feeding "educational system" do they become mindless drones waiting to memorize the next factoid. If we can change the system to work WITH their natural curiosity, it won't be difficult to motivate them - the hard part will be trying to keep them focused on just one topic.
I'd give up if I were you. Any time you see someone suggest that Pearl Harbor was invaded by Americans rather than the Japanese, you know that you are dealing with an individual who is a few dozen cards short of a full deck. You're not going to talk sense into him - you'll just end up going in circles until either you give up in disgust or he gets his medication adjusted.
You know, I'm not exactly a fan of Gandhi, but this is the first time I've seen someone claim he was a mass murderer. I get the feeling you may be stretching the truth quite a bit, but I'd be very interested in knowing how you've come to that conclusion.
Partly, maybe, but he was also convicted on DNA evidence. Ergo, his case does nothing to support the original claim.
No, I didn't, because the summary you provided clearly showed that he was convicted based on DNA evidence. Why should I bother following the links when your own words contradict the claim that you're trying to support?
Uhuh ... and what does that have to do with eyewitness testimony?
Does ANYONE on Slashdot ever actually respond to the question asked? It may be a bit naive of me, but I really do expect people to try and support their claims instead of moving the goal-posts.
Wow ... so what you're saying is that Africa and the Middle East are actually progressive! Damn. We westerners are so ignorant ....
Easy - it's the desire to share!
I'm sorry that you apparently believe your personal Magic Man to be more legitimate than others. However, if you expect me to apologize for a frank and accurate statement of fact .... don't hold your breath. All religions are a ridiculous figment of human imagination - Scientology only sticks out because it is more recent.
Really? Wow. What's their secret? Because, to date, I haven't run into a single group of people which could universally be described as rational and coherent. These "Russians" of yours must be something really special!
So are communism and theocratic monarchies, and they cover pretty much all of Russian history.
Seriously, their history books may have improved slightly since the cold war ended, but last time I checked you'd have just as much luck getting accurate reporting out of North Korea.
Oh, and one last thing:
Scientology is as real as any other religion. That you chose to put it in a separate category says more about you than about them.
Fine - if you're ever in court and I happen to be there, I'll be sure to whip your penny right back at you. I'll aim for the eyes. Meanwhile, if you have nothing productive to add, stay out of discussions which don't involve you.
That's rather like studying Scientology from L. Ron Hubbards perspective.
Um, no, it just means that you don't understand the name. Nobody (well, ok, nobody with half a brain) ever suggested that junk DNA is completely useless. It was simply a term used to refer to segments of DNA which appeared to have no current function. It's a place-filler name, like "dark matter" - just a useful word to use until we have a chance to figure it out better.
Well, the result of the former is that after coitus you have to listen to her talk, whereas the latter means that afterward you don't die.
Yah. Sign me up for the legacy bug project!
Yes, but isn't it rather difficult finding replacement parts for steam engines?
Whose payroll would you like government witnesses to be on? Are you suggesting that the defendant should be forced to pay for them?
We do?
Ah, yes. That's why the words "breeder reactor" are in it's name. Because it's not a breeder reactor. Makes perfect sense.
No, they're not the same. The former is faster.
I don't see the issue. That tomato already has "fish DNA", as do you. DNA is DNA, regardless of the species you extract it from. It's like saying that it's dangerous to take Microsoft code and put it in Linux. Ok, ok, bad example, but you get the idea... If you're afraid that we'll suddenly be overrun by giant Killer Tomatoes, you've been watching too much TV.
I'm glad we agree.
And I should care because .... ?
Family farms can stay the fuck off my plate, and stop undermining scientific progress.