> the numbers of rats you'll find in places like .

I think this is the first time I've seen Unix "." used to mean "the current location" in the common English sense of the phrase. Kudos to you, sir! Now I will go ~ and smoke my |

>I suggest thinking vapid and friendly, like a labrador retriever, when you go into a job interview.

"Yes, I can write threaded code involving.... SQUIRREL!"

What a ridiculous idea. What condition do you think the convict will be in after 30 years equivalent of solitary confinement in a sensory deprivation tank? They will be completely psychotic

Guard: "Here's your cell phone and wallet, you are free. go enjoy life"
Prisoner: drool...drool...drool... whimper...

Why would we do this?

What does anyone gain by making the convict experience 1,000 years of mental torture? It doesn't improve the victim's life. It doesn't stop others from committing crimes. It doesn't do anything productive or helpful. It is just torture for the sake of revenge. It is stupid and sadistic.

Organized religion is a package of beliefs and behaviors that have been honed over tens of thousands of years to provide people with things they need both psychologically and socially. Until recently religious behavior couldn't really have been separated from the rest of tradition and society. It was one "package". Having all of these things wrapped up in one package makes it easier to teach and train people to follow good ideas, like "don't eat food that spoils quickly" and "don't spread STDs with promiscuous sex". Now that we have better understand of which behaviors are helpful we may not need all of the extra baggage that traditionally came with religion. But where is the new "package" of useful behaviors to replace the old ones? Often if you discard religious tradition you also discard good guidelines for living, and instead rely on random trends or worse profit-motive marketing for your guidelines.

I suspect religious people will get angry at this line of reasoning, thinking I am missing the entire "point" of religion. From one point of view I am discounting the whole purpose of their religion. But regardless of the supernatural truths of the universe, it is certainly true that religions carry a great deal of traditions and guidelines for living beyond the purely spiritual.

But, as someone who was not indoctrinated in religion when I was young and impressionable, how do I determine which of the following ideas to believe and follow:

1) Organized religion
2) Unicorns
3) Astrology

From my point of view these all share equal likelihood of being true, have equally convincing evidence, and all have proponents. Not being totally facetious here, from inside the "group" this may seem obvious to you, but from outside it doesn't. Why Jesus? Why not Buddha? Why not Zeus? Why not Wicca? Why not Xenu? And if I decide all but one of these ideas are poppycock, then how does one of them stand the same test of scrutiny?

I dup programming-language Forth loved! anything with-it could-do.

well done, sir. *golf clap*

No, if alcohol were prohibited it would not be "like" prohibition. It would be prohibition. That is what prohibition is.

Slashdot: All right, Did the shooter commit murder? The battle of wits has begun.
Me: But it's so simple. Someone shot someone else to death over an argument. So clearly he will fry for this!
Slashdot: You've made your decision, then?
Me: Not remotely. The shooter is a cop, so as a general rule he will be declared innocent and 'just doing what is right'.
Slashdot: Truly you have a dizzying intellect.
Me: Wait till I get going! Now, where was I?
Slashdot: A Cop.
Me: Yes, a cop. But he is an EX copy, so clearly he will be found guilty.
Slashdot: You're just stalling now.
Me: You'd like to think that, wouldn't you? He is an ex-cop, but this is FLORIDA. As everyone knows, Florida is entirely peopled with criminals, and criminals are used to having people shoot each other in the movie theater, so clearly he will get off.
Slashdot: You're trying to trick me into giving away something. It won't work.
Me: IT HAS WORKED! YOU'VE GIVEN EVERYTHING AWAY! I KNOW WHAT THE VERDICT IS!
Slashdot: Then make your choice.
Me: I will, and I choose - Look! Miley Rae Cyrus is twerking!

> "THAT IS TOO MUCH VERMOUTH."

In time, you will come to regard me not only with respect and awe, but with love.

> I think government should install a law that says that once strong AI is achieved by some company, the technology will belong to the people.

Ha ha ha ha. You're funny.

> government
I don't think that word means what you think it means.

I could use one of those on my moisture farm.

Researcher1: "Watson, I have fed you a set of symptoms, along with the total of all knowledge on the Internet. Please come up with a treatment plan."
Watson: "Apparently, if you put one molecule of poison in a cup of water, then dilute the mixture until there is nothing left but pure water it will cure anything. At least that's what my sources say."

You must mean 'Rule #37: IF DATA IS COLLECTED, THE NSA HAS A COPY OF IT'.
Rules #35 and #36 are already taken.