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Ya gotta love Slashdot moderation. This is flamebait? Dubya wasn't a good president, but if you want to use the word evil to describe him then what words do you have left for Stalin, Hitler, Pol Pot etc? He was misguided and we can all Monday morning quarterback because we have that luxury. I didn't vote for him, I didn't support the majority of his decisions but I find people who call him evil incredibly simple minded.

Go ahead and mod me flamebait or troll. It appears that is the necessary reaction to calling hyperbole what it is.

Two points. First, he isn't making a new allegation. Second, does the friggin' Telecom Immunity Bill ring a bell? Hellooooooo, McFly. They didn't decide to protect these people on a hypothetical.

Perhaps you're right and most likely there is something there. But you do realise that you can substitute almost any government bill in there and any industry and have a scary conspiracy theory.

Myself, I would prefer to have a bit more evidence before I break my pitchfork out.

I thought fingerprinting was reserved for people in jail?

In the UK not only are fingerprints taken, but DNA samples as well. It's all kept on one ginormous database.

Mind you, this isn't just for people in jail. It's for people that have been suspected of a crime or investigated whether they have been convicted, charged or even arrested for the crime. It isn't just serious crimes either; While I don't think they'll get your DNA for jaywalking, I read about a 10-year-old boy caught throwing eggs who is now in that database.

All I'm saying is having this info on your passport is pretty far down the list of what people, in the UK at least, should be up in arms about.

all you folks need to remeber that profanity is NOT covered in the first amendment, it protects political free speech, not calling each other names or the like.

It's scary how misguided you are. Here's the First Amendment.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Kindly point out where it states that only political speech is covered. Profanity is most definitely covered by the First Amendment. You are thinking of obscenity which is a different animal and one that has had a shifting definition. Saying you're a fucking nitwit is entirely within my rights.

You have to decide what your time is worth and what you want to do with your life. I spent six years as a nuke on a submarine. Out at sea for most of a year; often standing watch port and starboard then doing maintenance, training, field days etc. on "off-duty" time.

I decided it wasn't worth it and I wanted a bit more out of life so I got out.

Yeah :-) it's 3 hours away from my home, Brussels (thanks to the Eurostar) and London is one of my favorite cities :-). I have already visited twice this winter :-)

Sure, if you value your freedom and liberties, come to London! Only CCTV cameras everywhere (currently estimated to be 14 per person in the UK), police with stop and search powers, metal detectors at tube stations if you fit the 'profile' and freedom of expression if you don't actually offend anyone (http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/may/20/1). But no fingerprinting at the border!

I'm an American and I live in London. I think the States have gone overboard but there is a funny European tendency to somehow not see what is going on in their own living room.

Oh well. I'm just waiting till Jacqui Smith requires me to have my national ID card.

This is such an oft-repeated and never thought about statement that it just pisses me off. I have worked for a pharmaceutical company and if you think they're trying to string people along with treatments rather than cure a disease you're a bloody fool.

Of course given your proclivity to create a conspiracy theory based on anything whether it exists or not makes me doubt anything would change your mind.

Bugger, forgot the link. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacillus_Calmette-Gu%C3%A9rin I'm familiar with it in that I've had to use a lot of studies with a product called Immucyst that is essentially just this strain.

We already use the immune system to fight many cancers. Bladder cancer is often treated by filling the bladder via a catheter with a solution containing a strain of bovine tuberculosis originally developed as a tuberculosis vaccine.

It works by stimulating the immune system to fight the invader and it works quite well in killing off the cancerous tumours.

But it's frustrating to no end to drive past the subsidized housing on the way to work and see nicer cars than me. People crossing the street on iPhones and wearing brand new clothes. People that bitch they have no money but have plenty of money for 2 packs a day. Some people need to be taught the difference between Want and Need.

Frustrating? I think you are far too concerned with other people. Seriously, you sound like somebody who is doing well for himself so focus on your own life and stop worrying so much about what other people are doing, buying and how they live their lives.

"Codswallop" You can be honest here... every time you use a word like that, girls tend to get *even further* away, right? No seriously, if you used that word in public, random strangers would just punch you in the face for being such a douche bag.

As an American living in London I have an affinity for antiquated and bizarre English phrases. Besides 'codswallop' is a hell of a lot more fun to say than bullshit. Try it.

I know quite a few people with Macs that have no idea who Jobs is and don't care. It's anecdotal, sure, but I know more people with Macs than PCs. I still think there are a load of people who just want a computer for email, internet browsing, iTunes and an occasional video. Macs do appeal to those consumers quite well even if they're overkill for their needs.

As for your Harley analogy, how many bikers know, or care about, the Harley CEO?

I'm not saying losing Jobs wouldn't hurt Apple, just not for these 'cult of personality' reasons.

I figure one of these days I'll just get the data from a disc left on a train seat next to me. Won't have to pay anything for it.

Codswallop.

We know who Steve Jobs is because we're nerdy, we follow things like Apple's keynote address and read /. Do you honestly think the average consumer out there, you know, the ones who are buying up iPods, iPhones and switching to Macs are doing so out of adoration for Steve Jobs? They might be doing it on the merits, for fashion to follow the trends or whatever other reason but I seriously doubt it's due to a crush on a guy in a black turtleneck. Most people couldn't pick him out of a lineup.