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Comment: Re:An Example... (Score 1) 1059

by pwagland (#38622766) Attached to: Ask Slashdot: What's the Best Way To Deal With Roving TSA Teams?

Our society is shifting in dark and unpleasant ways, and I fear that if the public at large doesn't do something soon, the window of opportunity to put things right may pass us by.

The problem with expecting the public to do anything is that they won't. You need to do something. Join the EFF, write your legislator, turn up to council meetings. And when you say that this is too hard, realize that you are the public, and that they won't do anything

Comment: Re:No Such Thing as Free Speech (Score 1) 371

by pwagland (#36124984) Attached to: Disorderly Conduct Charge for Offensive Classmate Ratings
Freedom of Speech does not imply the freedom to be a dick.

The [French] Declaration provides for freedom of expression in Article 11, states that:

"The free communication of ideas and opinions is one of the most precious of the rights of man. Every citizen may, accordingly, speak, write, and print with freedom, but shall be responsible for such abuses of this freedom as shall be defined by law."[6]

According to the Freedom Forum Organization, legal systems, and society at large, recognize limits on the freedom of speech, particularly when freedom of speech conflicts with other values or rights.[36] Limitations to freedom of speech may follow the "harm principle" or the "offense principle", for example in the case of pornography or hate speech.[37] Limitations to freedom of speech may occur through legal sanction or social disapprobation, or both.[38]

In "On Liberty" (1859) John Stuart Mill argued that "...there ought to exist the fullest liberty of professing and discussing, as a matter of ethical conviction, any doctrine, however immoral it may be considered."[38] Mill argues that the fullest liberty of expression is required to push arguments to their logical limits, rather than the limits of social embarrassment. However, Mill also introduced what is known as the harm principle, in placing the following limitation on free expression: "the only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilized community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others."[38]

See Wikipedia

Comment: Needless Whining (Score 1) 386

by pwagland (#36112356) Attached to: Ask Slashdot: How Should Sony Compensate PSN Users?
To quote from the summary:

I would have been satisfied with the free credit protection. Now that they want to offer me 2 games, why can't I pick any 2 games that I want?

Seriously! Stop whinging. If they are giving you more than you wanted, just accept the extra, or throw it in the bin. But don't come here whinging about it, that is just needless whinging.

Comment: Re:What are you smoking ? Not worth it ??? (Score 1) 374

by pwagland (#35088994) Attached to: Statistician Cracks Code For Lottery Tickets
Add to that, that in most places small winnings such as these are tax free... that 12-15K per month becomes equivalent to 18-30K a month, depending on your tax regime. There aren't many who would turn that down... However, there is also a non-trivial chance that it wouldn't last for that long, especially not once the trick was noticed. As well, most scratchie based schemes are only around for six months or so. And you might well get a lawsuit about committing fraud if you were ever caught, which, even if you eventually win, would also add to your operating costs.

Comment: Re:Molykote? (Score 3, Informative) 169

by pwagland (#35053434) Attached to: Molybdenite As an Alternative To Silicon

Isn't this just Moly disulphide, the lubricant in Molykote? http://www.dowcorning.com/content/molykote/anniversary.aspx?bhcp=1

Possibly, from the article:

This mineral, which is abundant in nature, is often used as an element in steel alloys or as an additive in lubricants. But it had not yet been extensively studied for use in electronics.

That is this material has been known about for quite some time, however it's applications to electronics are only now being investigated, and he initial results appear to be quite favourable.

Work expands to fill the time available. -- Cyril Northcote Parkinson, "The Economist", 1955

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