You're right. Debian is your best fit, that's the beauty of multiple distributions.

Why you chose Ubuntu for your use-case in the *first* place is the bit that's beyond me, and I say that as a happy Ubuntu user.

This. Yes, seriously, I've had my share of administering servers, I just can't be arsed doing the same for my desktops.
Underneath it's debian unstable anyway so I can get done anything I need to, and I don't have to think about how to configure the desktop, because to be honest I don't really care and the canonical people *do*.

Apple has started suing other companies over meaningless software patents, they need to be bashed, and bashed hard.

"Tit for tat" sure, maybe, but Apple's assault on HTC is amazingly below the belt compared to any of the other stuff.

Good god man, close those parentheses, I'm getting a migraine here.

Interesting post though.

Restricting the conversation to seriously destructive imports I'd say the next ones would be cats, foxes and european carp.

Particularly cats, disgusting destructive pest animals those things are.

Yeah, because the skeptics are being suppressed by lawsuits for libel.

Oh, wait, they're not! Score 1 for free speech.

Just because we have to let you talk doesn't mean we have to listen.

First: The majority of society are not wackjobs living in mountains, so understandably they could give a shit about sacrificing significant gains just to support that idiot's way of life.

Second: "While you were still technically supposed to file taxes, etc., no one really cared if you didn't apply for the tax credits and social programs you'd almost certainly be eligible for." -- This is exactly the same as that.

The pink batts "failure" was actually a failure of the media and spin:
http://blogs.crikey.com.au/pollytics/2010/02/24/did-the-insulation-program-actually-reduce-fire-risk/
http://blogs.crikey.com.au/pollytics/2010/02/24/risk-and-incompetence-in-an-insulated-media/

I don't recall at any point someone coming out and saying it's "not censorship", and I can't find any reference to anyone saying it.
Censorship is *old* and established in Australia. The chaotic nature of the Internet is causing light to be thrown on it and shaking things up. This is a *good* thing.

The problem is, it's old and established because quite a lot of people are happy with it.

Good explanation, just one addendum: The High Court really only deals with interpretation of the constitution, as it holds sway over both the states and the fed.

The Federal govt doesn't have supreme courts, the states do. As far as state law is concerned they *are* the "Supreme" court for that state.

"the law recognises no positive obligation on any person to protect the copyright of another," - Justice Cowdroy

Ah, reasonable, rational, and direct. Love it.

Have I missed something here? I'm not from the US but I'm pretty sure that you can declare bankruptcy there.

not all "consumption" is passive. The GP was talking about passive consumption, but my consuming the linux kernel by putting it to work running a machine in a factory is hardly the same thing.

Right. No market for lemons ever existed.