there is also a certain amount of logic to the view that if those substances weren't illegal, none of that shit would have been going on at all,

Right, because legalizing something instantly removes the criminal aspect. Look at Colorado. Legalized marijuana and the Mexican gangs are moving in to supply cheaper product.

Of course the real issue people will say is, "The government shouldn't be involved with this. People should be free to drink/smoke/inject what they want." Then, in the next breath they say, "Oh, btw, the government needs to provide money to treat these people."

Apparently just like the banking industry or Wall Street firms, government regulation is evil until the government is needed to intervene, in which case no amount of taxpayer money is sufficient.

Here's the deal. You want to legalize this stuff, go for it. However, don't expect anyone to pay for what you do to yourself. If you don't want government intervention you can't be a hypocrite and expect it to intervene on your behalf. If you can afford to buy drugs you can afford to pay for your own treatment.

I know they're evil words but personal responsibility comes into play in this situation. Everyone knows what happens to people who use various drugs, yet if one is going to ignore reality then there is no reason for anyone to come to their rescue because they ignored science (see the current and ongoing measles and whooping cough outbreaks).

Maybe I'm missing something, but it is repeatedly said that everything should be free.

So how is it that this guy needed money to continue his work? Isn't it free? Why would he mysteriously need money when everything is free?

Free things don't cost anything so are we sure he's not pocketing the money?

Most jets are made with 11 inches of steel.

I defy you to find one jet whose skin is 11 inches of steel.

Yes, I do have that much money available but I'm not the one forcing people to hand over their money to a private company.

If someone WANTS to do so, that's fine, but the government telling people they MUST hand over their money, at virtual gun point, is not the way to go.

Considering how adamantly opposed to the government sticking its nose into people's personal lives and the rantings against corporations, it sure is funny how you folks have managed to laud and support both the things you despise.

If we don't know how many atoms are in this precise sea wave, we won't be able to conquer the universe. How else are we going to manipulate time and space so we can move off this rock if we don't know such things?

Just because the law was followed does not mean justice was done.

The guy knowingly created a way for drug traffickers, human traffickers, pedophiles and others to meet in one location and do business with the intent to attempt to keep things private. How is convicting him not justice?

So what you want is for someone else to do all the work then hand it over to you? Stop being a leech and do your own research.

This shit costs money.

Hard to believe someone wasn't handing their money over to a private company because the government told them they had to, isn't it? Imagine that, someone taking responsibility for themselves rather than being forced to pour their money down a black hole just to make sure some CEO gets their bonus.

The mind wobbles.

and placed with some kind of sign.

They were. The linked story doesn't say it but this one does. Specifically:

Photos of other cameras show them attached to trees, fences and windows around the city. Some include notes that identify the soda can as a "Georgia State Art Project." Some instruct passersby to "Please do not take down!"

Meanwhile, why are we even building flammable houses?

Because we don't want to live in caves? Because concrete is too cold in the winter unless you add tons of flammable materials to keep one warm?

In the interest of openmindedness, kindly elaborate on what you think we should be making houses with such that they don't burn.

"people in general are honest"

Except that Dr. Gregory House would remind us all. . .

Everyone lies.

I'm in the Northeast and this *&%!@ snowstorm is keeping me from viewing the stars.

Many people in your group go around denying the reality of addiction, saying it is just a choice, as easy as choosing soup over salad for lunch

It is a choice. No one is born needing to shoot heroin or smoke a cigarette since they've never experienced. They make the conscious choice to do so despite the overwhelming evidence of what happens when you use both.. At that point one could argue it becomes an addiction, but no one is born being addicted (assuming their mother didn't make the choice for them).

That explains why there is so much lens flare in his movies. He's trying to recreate what he sees every day.

Except in Microsoft's recent pattern, FINDING those items is much more difficult and less intuitive. What was once a single-click to see all your options from 'View' (for instance), is now a "click and hope" funfest as you meander from ribbon to ribbon trying to come across what you're looking for.

The layouts are not intuitive, they have moved items from where they used to be, have buried items in sub-entries and it takes longer to accomplish what you want.

By any measure, that is not an upgrade no matter how many people wish it to be so.