Only if you follow the "Austrian School" line of thinking, and then it becomes largely a matter of definitions and values. Even the article you link to admits that: "What is objected to here is not that the free market has flaws, but that the term “market failure” is a persuasive definition (see How to Think Straight, para 5.47), seeming to say more than it really does by improperly applying the emotive word failure.". They recognize the phenomenon but object to the chosen label.

Not that I agree with that article. Another quote: "Market failure, if the term is to mean anything useful, must mean that there are fundamental defects in the nature of human ability to achieve certain goods through voluntary, as opposed to coercive, institutions. With this definition, the case for market failure is synonymous with the case for government intervention.". Economists like Friedman argue against this line of thinking, and even many statists recognize that where market failure exists, state intervention isn't always the solution and may make matters worse.

That's market failure caused by government failure. Why do you think those laws to limit competition were put in place?

I think that government should not try and compete in a functioning market, but they definitely should have the right (and the inclination) to step in when the market fails. Set a reasonable minimum service, e.g. allow muni broadband if there are less than 3 market players having offered a plan with x Mb/s with an allowance of y GB/month for at most €z/month in the last 12 months or whatever. The incumbent telcos then have a choice to join the 21st century, or compete against the municipality.

Also, if local government is using public funds to run fiber, allow other telcos the use of that fiber at cost. Same as many countries forced the incumbent, formerly state owned telcos to open up part of their infra to newcomers on the market.

Phalanx-like systems are set up for fast inbound targets and have excellent radar tracking and accurate (and self correcting) firepower. What's the issue to reprogram these for slower drones? Maybe it's overkill, but the system's already installed.

What kind of goldfish? An African one, or a European? Or a demented goldfish living in a bowl of cheap tequila?

Exactly. For some years we've had a blissful interbellum between two loudness wars, when most site owners thought that simple, mostly static banner ads were fine. And they were fine: easily ignored, quick loading. But things have degenerated quite a bit; that Canvas ad thing is a good example of the next level of "loudness" to catch the viewer's attention.

Back in the days of banner ads, I didn't know anyone who'd go out of their way to block them. Now, adblockers are common and they are increasingly being promoted and used not just to get rid of annoying ads, but also to make browsing a faster and safer experience. Advertisers (and indirectly site owners like Bryant) simply crapped the bed they sleep in.

Men might still be prevalent in positions of power and influence, but there are developments on this issue that worry some people (not all of them men either). Not because man's position of power is threatened, but because in some cases the pendulum swings a bit far the other way. For instance, primary schools (and increasingly high schools as well) are thoroughly feminized institutions these days, and it isn't helping education. Political correctness spurred by feminists gets picked up by mainstream media and politics, and sometimes taken to ridiculous lengths. And I do not doubt that this sort of thing has its influence on Hollywood as well. Bill Maher said it right when claiming that it has become somewhat politically incorrect to be a man.

Without arguing the rights and wrongs of each of these examples, it's not a surprise that a "men's rights" movement has sprung up. And it's also not a surprise that this group apparently mirrors the feminist movement: with some level-headed people bringing real issues to the public's attention, and with some moronic cretins who see social injustice in everything

Women in the UAE are allowed to drive, and can dress (more or less) as they would at home. On the other hand, if you (as a woman) get raped, do not report it! Chances are that you'll be charged with "extramarital sex", a serious offence, and with some other charges piled on top like consumption of alcohol in a public area. The UAE is actually quite liberal compared to most other countries in the area, but they aren't quite there yet.

That is just too funny. In the same spirit, I suggest we send up Celine Dion and Justin Bieber on that asteroid buster mission. They won't be of any help when things go wrong, but if the primary mission succeeds, we will not only have won back out world, we will have made it a better place.

I am often in the opposite situation: I am trying to buy something and being in a small market (the Netherlands) it can be tough to find a local source for things like electronic components or gun parts. Search results often only yield spec sheets or discussions on a forum, so I frequently add the word "kopen" (buy) to my search queries. It helps but only to some degree, and I too would like to see Google to treat the word "buy" (or the absence of it) with special care.

Well, "square lattice of superconducting qubits" just rolls of the tongue, doesn't it. It sounds like something you'd find on the menu of an avant-garde restaurant.

I offer 2 rules to improve your software development project (and surprisingly they work for a lot of other business activities too)
1) Pay attention to who you hire and who you select for your team. Software development is about people.
2) Do not replace thinking with process and methods.
Process and methodologies provide useful structure and standardization but it will not turn crap employees into good ones. They do however have the potential to turn great employees into mediocre ones.

Islam is nothing like christianity. Christ (the new testament) at least teaches love and forgiveness. In islam it is the very prophet that incites and orders followers to commit those atrocities. Those muslims are not ignoring the words of their prophet but acting in accordance with god's command, which is exactly the problem.

Some engineers design for Satan. Ever used SAP?

Indeed. And for those who cannot cope with this idea, I say in the tradition of Rousseau: "Let them drink bottled water". By all means offer them a choice, but at their expense.