unfortunately 'good will' doesn't usually factor into such calculations. There's plenty of benefit for IBM, just not financial.

It's a good news/bad news situation.

Good News: Currently IP law *is* abandonware. It sunsets the monopolies.

Bad News: It sunsets about as fast as a Venusian day

We obviously need to fix the latter, but fortunately the Founding Fathers new these things should be 'limited'.

A *rifle* isn't something anyone is using for crime these days. It's handguns. Much like the 3D printed gun.

There is an epidemic of gun violence in this country, mostly of recent vintage with high capacity assault rifles. Do you agree we should do *something* about it?

Show me where I said anything of the sort? I'm a firm believer in 3D printing and am planning on purchasing one in the not too distant future (sooner if they do actually try to ban them).

3D printing is no different than printing the anarchists cookbook on your printer. The fundamental difference is that a stack of paper can't be used to kill anyone. We need to address the societal issues we have with violence and guns are at the heart of it.

And I'll agree 'gun control' is going to become more and more misguided. Because guns can be created at home by absolutely anyone with no skill whatsoever.

But 'more' guns on the streets isn't ever going to be a good thing. We need to find a way to regulate ammunition then, or black powder or something because simply giving everyone a gun is a very very bad idea.

Do you agree with that?

You mean the violence rate has fallen at the same time as gun ownership have fallen? 'Shocking'. It proves that fewer guns mean fewer deaths...

Did you see what you missed there? Gun violence is 'down'. However, so is gun ownership, so your point is moot. And of course that we're still wildly ahead of other civilized countries in deaths per capita by guns. Maybe people would use other weapons, heck even likely, but a knife can't kill as many people as quickly or as surely as a gun. And a 5 year old is going to be hard pressed to kill an adult with a knife.

No they don't. Source?

Just wow. violence is a 'good' thing?

Pipe dreams are nice things. That's not what's happening today so it's irrelevant.

Seems like just everybody qualifies then....

Given the gun violence rate in this country...maybe their correct?

First off, your guns are made of metal. Making a usable firearm isn't something the average person can do. you need tools, machining equipment etc. now can you make something that fires a round or two cheaply and badly? Sure. But those things are more likely blow up when you practice with them than do any serious damage to the public.

This is simply push a button get a gun technology. You can't see the difference between those things? Perhaps you shouldn't be handling guns then...

Is there hype over 3D printing? Sure, but the potential of this technology (that I'm in favor of) is going to disrupt so many things you take for granted it's not funny. When they develop food safe plastics to use? Good bye sales of low end dinner sets. Plastic silverware industry? Completely upended. Dead? Maybe not but when a good chunk of the population can print their own at home, the 'market' is vastly changed.

Push a button, get a widget is a huge change. But when that widget is capable of being hidden from metal detectors...and can shoot people? Big big difference.

You might want to check out those pacific island communities that are literally flooded at high tides *NOW*

Uh, it's not an either or situation...

Yes, yes it is. It's what's called a Feedback Loop. Take a balanced seesaw with 1 lb on one side and 10 lbs on the other at distances that make the forces equal.

Now move the 1lb weight outward a bit or add a some weight. Once the 10lb ball starts rolling it's going to be 10x harder to stop.

Now multiply by the scale of an atmosphere and it's *really* a bad idea to play chicken with that type of situation.

If we nudge water vapor to increase more heat, it keeps getting stronger as more water evaporates due to the higher temps...

Indeed. So is reading. Ever heard of ice cores? They have the ACTUAL ATMOSPHERIC GAS from all those years trapped in them to be measured. No guessing, no assumptions, the ACTUAL GAS.

so instead do it next to a volcano?

Just kidding, the juxtaposition just sounds hilarious :)

sheesh. 640 kilayears should be enough for anybody