So what? They are features that are listed separately on the GIMP road map, which I cut/pasted into my post.

I am more than happy to shell out hundreds of dollars every couple of years for a product that saves me scores of hours of work compared to a free alternative, and I'm just a hobbyist. If you're a pro, it's really a no-brainer.

Dude, you've named more than two features yourself. Jesus.

Nobody's saying that GIMP isn't a capable program, but for certain things that are quite common & useful for pros (like adjustment layers) the GIMP ain't there yet. The lack of adjustment layer functionality BY ITSELF pretty much excludes GIMP from being used in pro workflows. And as you yourself point out, GIMP will not be able to implement many features until fully ported to GEGL - which is not a small task.

Further, features such as Filter layers, Layer effects, Non-destructive editing, and "Smart objects" aren't slated until after version 3.0 - IOW, not for years. Photoshop has those things NOW.

The judges in this matter are in fact appointed for life.

I've always supported the apprehension of meals, especially those from the middle east.

Truth, Justice and The American Way!

I'm not trying to build a case for anything, other than for folks to read the transcript and draw their own conclusions. I find that to be a better course of action than reading through a bunch of links to old news from outlets that thrive on sensationalism.

What is it YOU are making a case for? (rhetorical question; your motives are pretty obvious)

Apparently you have no knowledge whatsoever of what informs my conclusions. Apparently.

Uh huh. Apparently you're persuaded by the "journalists" at The Moscow Times. I think that's just adorable. .

LOL. So have you always considered The Moscow Times to be a reputable source, or is your trust in them something new?

I read the transcript and I am perfectly capable of reaching my own conclusions without relying on The Moscow Times.

Nope. One, NATO was not a party to The Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances. Two, the BMSA doesn't require any of the parties to "defend" Ukraine militarily. Three, you might want to stop referring to Ukraine as "the Ukraine".

When you read the quote in its full context (posted below), you'll find that Putin made no threat. This submission is simply cold fjord attempting to rouse the rabble. Unfortunately, /. editors seem to be complicit in the act.

OK, I guess this "story" qualifies as "stuff that matters", but can we at least get something more than a smattering of links to stories that are yesterday's news? Putin made his comment 4 days ago, and damn near every think in the summary points to stories that are three days old (and contain more than their share of unsubstantiated speculation).

I'm not normally one to make "why is this on slashdot?" posts. But taking into account the predilections of the submitter, I gotta say this comes off as a troll submission.

The Budapest Memorandum is not a treaty. In any case, the US has met it's obligations under the agreement.