It's not a binary accept/reject, it's the amount of weight given to evidence.

And what does freedom of speech have to do with trying to make sure an intelligence agency isn't hiring double agents?

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

http://constitution.findlaw.co...

This is not a "yelling fire in a crowded theater" situation involving immediate clear harm. Rather, it's about freedom of the press in exposing polygraphy as a pseudoscience that is as valid as drowning women to find out if they are witches. The polygraphy book does this by showing exactly how polygraphy doesn't work.

The Government is using its substantial power to suppress this information contrary to the mandatory dictates of the First Amendment. When the US government ignores the Constitution, that is a far graver threat to America and its purported values than any terrorist or double agent could ever achieve, because it decouples the massive power the Feds have from any limitations at all -- it is in essence, the destruction of America from within.

Think about it like this: There is USA, the place, and America the vision as embodied by our Constitution. Given the US Federal Gov's all-out assault on the Bill of Rights, it's fair to say that _it_ is the greatest threat to the freedoms we as Americans are said to hold dear, in favor of protection of USA the place. It is of course a totally dubious assertion that the pseudoscience of polygraphy is even effective at protection of USA the place, but even if it was a valid technique, we should be asking if we want to have a Federal Government that is totally unrestrained in its exercise of power. If that is where we are heading, we should just acknowledge that post-constitutional USA is just another authoritarian dictatorship, and quit giving lip service to being a constitutional republic that values freedom and justice. It would save a lot of people a lot of prison time to know we are just another China, and to keep their mouths shut.

There have been plenty of Star Wars games over the years where I have taken great satisfaction in dispatching foes with energy weapons.

But beyond that, as long as they have Thermal Detonators, you will probably gets the gibs you are looking for.

Like EA would ever be that generous. 5 recharges, expiring after 24 hours, for 40 EA bucks (real value $19.99).

Is this industry BS, or is there something to this claim?

The power companies do actually have somewhat of a point but, in many ways, the issues are very similar to what's going on with internet technologies.

Part of your electric bill goes to maintaining the electric grid and the LV (Low Voltage) network that serves your neighborhood. Suppose there are 10 homes on an LV network and 2 of them install 7,000 watt solar arrays. Now the cost of maintaining the LV network has to be split among 8 homes instead of 10. At first that wasn't any big deal but, as more people add solar power, the power companies still have to maintain the grid and enough excess capacity to make up the shortfall on a cloudy day. As the use of solar power starts going up geometrically, it is really pounding the snot out of your local power company (not that they don't deserve a little of it).

So let's suppose we charge everyone a connect fee for grid maintenance. That covers the cost of maintaining transmission systems, LV networks and excess unused capacity. It will also raise the cost of utilities for the poorest fraction of society. I was shocked to learn that there is a large segment of utility customers who use very little electricity. A connect fee would, for many of them, be a significant price increase.

Some of these problems can be mitigated by smart grid technologies. Now we get into a pissing contest between utility companies and regulators about who is going to pay for the upgrade. Utility companies want the government to pick up the tab, even though that wasn't the deal when they were granted a monopoly. Just like telecos want the government to upgrade the internet so they can step back in and reap the profits. Free market corporate welfare. Utilities are hesitant to invest money in a rapidly diminishing market.

This points out one of the big reasons why privatizing utilities is such a monstrously bad idea. Once profit becomes the prime driver of utilities, the greater good is completely out the window.

The grid needs to be privatised. Electricity is something we all need, like roads and other basic infrastructure. It should work for the general good, not profit.

The exception is high demand labor of any kind. Someone able to run a company as CEO is going to get more money in the private sector than in the government's employ.

I don't think we're talking about overpaid suits here, we're talking about engineers and other technical people. The government is not known to pay them well either.

All those office workers are being paid better in DC than anywhere else in the country.

So basically a bunch of incompetent paper-pushers are being given largesse by the rest of the nation, and the economies in the rest of the nation would be better off if they seceded from the federal government, since they wouldn't have to spend so much funding all that waste?

If you don't get the employees you need for other parts of the organization to work properly, then people die (because the military missions fail). You don't get the employees you need if you don't pay enough.

I am a ham radio operator, I have a significantly higher chance of survival than the rest.

If people really cared about safety they would take the time to learn CPR, basic First Aid, and things like ham radio or gain knowlege in how to increase their odds.

Dancing with the stars and Americas got Talent are far more important to the general population.

No people want to feel like they are safe at the revocation of all freedoms.

Feeling safe is the most important thing to them. Help me feel safe Government! Bad people are allowed to buy electronics without a license! Bad people can build things! They must be TERRORISTS!

Save us from the people that have an IQ above 100 oh holy government!

Dumb people want security Smart people want freedom.

Sadly the smart are outnumbered by the dumb 3 to 1

However, not having FM support on my cell phone does significantly decrease my chances of hearing lite rock and smooth jazz.

All Cybersecurity guys I know will not tolerate testosterone fueled chain of command bullshit that is the backbone of the US military.

Exactly how do they think they will control and indoctrinate these people? Most are smart enough to know that most of the problems are CAUSED by the United States, and when ordered to do something unethical, they will say "go to hell"

So I am guessing threats of imprisonment is their motivator?

I send custom Transport protocols as well as the "wrong" protocols over port 80 that traverse NAT just fine.

Routers dont care about the content just the port, the firewall may freak out, but that has nothing to do with routing.

Even if Dr. Oz is a dunce advocating quackery, isn't that enough to boot him from the department without adding this?

I don't care about Dr Oz. He's a TV goofball and I couldn't pick him out of a lineup.

There is no place for democracy in matters concerning science.

It's not a matter concerning science. It's a matter concerning money, industry, the marketplace. I have no problem with the modification of genomes. Science is gonna do what they're gonna do.

The issue I've been raising has nothing to do with that. My issue comes up after the science is done and now it's industry selling a product to consumers.

Just disclose what's in the package in an honest and open way. It is not science to hide information from people. If you're afraid it's going to be too scary for consumers, then it's a matter for the marketing department, not for science.

Claiming this discussion is about "science" is a little bit dishonest, in fact.