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Comment Re:Actually... (Score 1) 449

And that is exactly how english should be. It turns out fear and demonization are much more common in the western world, largely thanks to western religions, and as such, these ideas have shaped society. I hope it's safe to say we're finally getting over that hump. We shouldn't be ashamed of profanity or naked bodies. If they serve the purpose, let's worry about purpose, and be a more purposeful society.

Comment Re:Is this a Godwin-invoking comment? (Score 1) 764

Conservation leads to what you might call a taliban society.

Because the Native Americans are just like the Taliban. Kill em all! Wait, that's exactly how America thinks. Hey, are you an American or something? Conservation = Taliban-lke poisonous species. I love it. You will be a serious contender against Palin in the 2012 primaries.

Comment Re:Why mining? (Score 1) 444

Why rockets?

I don't really know the first thing about getting an asteroid into our orbit, but would rockets really be the best way? What about harnessing energy from strategically placed nuclear explosions. We could calculate the minimal trajectory modifications required (versus cost and time) to reach the earths orbit. Even if it takes 50-100 years, if we are persistent, then eventually we'll have a steady flow for mining.

Comment Re:For all his complaints (Score 1) 482

Yeah, the author struck me as an idiot too.

His logic against green roofs was non-existent. Green roofs are a good idea, and not necessarily a maintenance nightmare. You don't need to grow a lush garden with many species, as the author implies in his joking ignorance. There are specific grasses known to minimize problems, and my guess is we'll engineer even better species to make green roofs even more attractive and longer lasting than their asphalt counterparts.

And fewer windows aren't necessarily better. You need to strategically place windows. Try a pergola with vines for green cover in the summer. Also use shade trees to prevent some sun beating down on your roof, and to aid microclimate control in the areas near the house. Further, with proper wind-blocks in the winter, you can change the wind patterns resulting in a more favorable pressure envelope that reduces leakage.

A house isn't just a single structure, but should be designed around it's location. Estimating energy and resource cost is a realistic goal, and if you can't, then don't assume noone can.

Comment Re:Nice move (Score 0, Offtopic) 438

If I were a swedish citizen I _would_ vote for someone who bites off more than they can chew. It's better than the opposite - doing nothing - which is the status quo. And the reality is that most political parties do worse than simply doing nothing. I saw an essay when Gerald Ford died claiming he was the best president in the last 50 years simply because he's done less than any other president.

Comment Re:Sounds reasonable (Score 1) 830

We don't build airplanes with flapping wings either, machines can emulate the functionality of a living being without need to simulate the exact details.

This isn't quite right. You can functionally emulate something. But "functionally" and "emulate" all depend on how complex your model is of that thing. To "approximate the behavior" means we first need to understand the behavior. This requires assumptions. Things can (and do) get complicated quickly.

Comment Re:So much for freedom of speech (Score 1) 1088

We aren't responsible enough as a society at viewing all that information fairly to be trusted with it indiscriminately.

And why not? I hear this argument so many times, it has to be one of the greatest unsubstantiated claims of all time. Greatest, in the sense that this logic more than anything else, reinforces our ignorance and our ignorant obedience to the powers that tell the big lie. The problem is that war is a racket, in that few people truly understand what is going on. Not because they can't handle it and it's beneficial, as you unsubstantiatingly suggest, but because if people _really_ knew, there would be mass civilian outrage.

So the real sitaution, perhaps what you mean to say, is this: The government lies all the fuckin time. In order to tell a big lie, big misconceptions must be held by the public to prevent outrage in a "democracy" where people believe they really are in charge (hey, how can we responsibly elect our leaders, if as you suggest, we can't handle the information that our leaders are elected to act upon? A bit of a contradiction that results in leaders electing themselves... sound familiar? You like it this way?)

So now, when information is leaked, big media, which is on the same side as the fuckin government that lies, needs to put their own spin on it. So now you have true stories creating instability because of a backlog of lies, and it appears the true story is creating the problem.

Lucky for you, "We aren't responsible enough as a society" is just not something that you can ever substantiate, so you kinda get a free pass here because I can't prove you're wrong, but the let the record show the tactics you employ to make your case, and what contradictions they imply.

Comment IP tracking too? (Score 1) 281

So does google track your IP when you log out of gmail, and continue to log your google queries and clicks? Methinks yes, especially after the latest wifi snooping scandal. I bet they even go as far as to have an inference network for public computers, so if you're googling, and then you log into your gmail within, say 5 minutes of the search, then they apply let's say a 50% confidence, or higher depending how closely the "anonymous" queries match your general profile. I know I would do that if I were google, and I were evil, which they are.

Comment Re:Idiot (Score 1) 489

the forces that don't allow girls schools have been empowered by US militarism. I guess you left that out perhaps an oversight? And the roads we build, yeah, those are mostly for shipping resources, or perhaps for the rich of that country to use. Seldom the poor. Assuming that we have best interests in mind is what you're "supposed" to believe as a good citizen. Congratulation. Unfortunately, the good citizen is a bad one as far as "informed" and unbiased goes.

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