Unlike actual philosophy, which is quite rigorous, apparently any statement can be modded up on Slashdot.

As someone else pointed out, when I wrote "rise" of China, I meant the recent economic growth since 1980.

I agree that the time before that was a disaster, one of the worst in human history. In fact, I find it absurd that China's Communist Party claims credit for the "rise". That's like burning down your own house, building a hut, and claiming credit for real estate development.

I genuinely hope it is successful. The rise of China is one of the great humanitarian stories in history, lifting hundreds of millions from poverty. I expect the people of China to make great contributions to the world.

However, it's still 2013 and China's government is still authoritarian, unaccountable and non-transparent, and the Chinese press is still restricted. If the mission failed, would they admit it, or release some photos anyway? (Could they get away with it? Could other governments or amateurs with telescopes see for themselves?)

Not really since 1990, but for awhile, In every bubble in history the predictions of collapse were wrong every time, except one.

Don't miss this tidbit from the NY Times version of this story:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/10/world/spies-dragnet-reaches-a-playing-field-of-elves-and-trolls.html

You understand the NSA programs, but you think posting as AC will protect you?

There's a beta product that I use; it seems a little buggy when I have to change permissions.

http://noscript.net/nsa/

Hmmm ... Android is built on Linux, Chrome uses Webkit, all their services are accessed via any web browser, their server farms are built on open source technology ... is there a larger user of open source?

Are the store customers informed about what they are giving up in return for free Internet access (which many already have via their cellular provider)? Do they understand it? (Also, is it personally identifiable information?)

One issue that makes me doubt the 'nobody cares about privacy' argument is that the organizations collecting information, including governments and businesses, are so secretive about it. Some disclose in long agreements that they know nobody reads, but very rarely do they really inform their targets about what they are doing. I wonder why?

You can keep your stinking healthcare! Oh wait...