Three words: British Broadcasting Corp.

You don't have to watch it, no. But trying to avoid all the drivel that surrounds it is nigh on impossible...

Stop!? WHY?!?!

That's pretty cool to know, cheers. Maybe you and I can get some cash from the guy above and send up one of our own, would also be pretty cool. Then it would also be a slashvertisement proper, I guess.

First of, I apologize for any lack of clarity - I'm way too tired to be thinking, let alone posting.

Secong, I just used the RIAA as an example a big nasty megacorp. Substitute whatever. My point wasn't about the **AA, or even any other corporate conglomerate. It's this: the goverment is (at least in theory) us, the people. It's in place to protect the minority from the tyranny of the majority. But also, and more imoprtant in this context: the purpose of government (as perscribed to us by modern political liberal tradition) is to protect the majority from the abuses of the few. Without regulation, we're screwed. With too much regulation, we're screwed. Our only hope is to keep fighting to keep the middle ground.

And yes, unfortunately I do believe we're heading in the direction you're predicting. It's sad, but it's true. Fact is, it's *always* true. Big lords/industrialists/corporations(/substitute whatever) will always try and gain as much power over the populace as it can, down to slavery if possible (been there, done that). Government will *always* try to control to the population, too. Down to slavery, if possible. It's nothing new. Thge solution isn't to abolish regulations. It's to balance out the powers in the most beneficial way. It's tricky, and it requires government regulation. And here my verbal diahorrea stops because I run out of words.

Again, sorry for the incomrehensibleness. (I doubt I made much sense at all.)

A slashvertisement for *who*? Raise you hand if you can afford a satellite!

A land war with Asia isn't too bad. It just kinda lays there, being rivers and mountains and stuff. It's those pesky Asians you need to worry about... ;)

I guess I see your point. After all, it is mellon's fault the restaurant owner (who presumably is in the business to make money, and not for the sheer fun of working 20 hours a day) made a poor choice a few years in designing a site that would load slowly over connections that were available at the time, and who since then decided to not update the website to actually be useful. Hell no, can't be the restauranteus for hiring a cheap dweeb to make an unusable website. Or not updating it in years.

The point is not necessarily about flash (although it is in this context). It's about the fact that if you're not telling me what I want to know, or making me jumps through hoops to find it out - you won't see my money.*

* Personally, I rarely choose restaurants by menu. I'm lucky enough to have friends who like to eat out and know the best spots. And when I'm not with them, the menu itself isn't the deciding factor of me going in. But that's just me and restaurants. The point stands for pretty much anything else.

I guess my vocal cord *could* get damaged if I scream too loud, but I'm not really sure what I'd learn from that. Maybe use oral lubrication next time? I don't know, need to find out!

It already feels like they do...

I dunno, I'm anxious to come and visit the US as soon as humanly possible. From this side of the pond it looks all it would take is pretty much anything you can scream loud enough about and there would be millions of dollars in lawsuits. I can't wait to visit your great country. My lungs are big, my throat is strong, and I can scream like a cicada. I'm gonna be rich!

Of course they are. Just think of the children! Just think of them, so young and innocent and fresh........and delicious....with syrup.

Without government control of the internet the same search logs would be kept and used against you by the RIAA. Who do you think is "more bad"? Which one do you trust less? Do you honestly think that without government regulation you'd be able to withstand the onslaught of megacorps (or whatever power structure would exit in the absence of said regulations)?

Fucking AWESOME!