I like novels with some philosophy in them, for instance I really like the books by Jostein Gaarder. His book "Maya" is one of my all-time favourites.

Actually, here in the Netherlands, reporters can be freed from prosecution from breaking the law if in doing so, the greater good was served to report on some big issue that might otherwise have never been brought to light. For instance, a reporter who broke into an airport without authorization to show how sloppy the security was, was not prosecuted further after being charged. Note that breaking the law is still illegal, it's just that no penalty will be imposed.

No. It indeed showed (a fraction of) things I recently downloaded using torrents

it really does not. I still find the available plug-ins and interface reason enough to continue FF as my main browser even if it takes 2 second longer to load on start up...soit

Amazing the USA still has the funds allocated to develop such things

It never stops to amaze me that so many Americans equate Socialism with Communism. They really are vastly different. Most countries in Western Europe have had large "socialist" influence over the past decades and they have not been worse off for it.

so nothing to see here, I guess..

Finally a step in the right direction from Facebook regarding privacy

Politicians serving the industries instead of the public...news at 11

and then had to Google Alderaan ;)

This is not correct; some banks still accept money and you can withdraw money at the bank office (Rabobank does both, although maybe not in all of their offices) It is true that some banks indeed do not accept cash money at their offices anymore.

and you do? So he may have chosen a side in this conflict but (clearly) so have you. Both parties are committing immoral acts in this everlasting conflict, but that doesn't make them OK...

+1 Thanks for that. It is not uncommon that history lessons glorify the position of the own nation but what I've come across that American people think to be true is really amazing. And sad too.