We should remember that our citizens are largely neutral on this issue, as they see it, because it's never been made concrete. They see it in very abstract terms as though it doesn't affect the ordinary man and woman. We should always present the issue as one which grabs each citizen by his testicles, by her vaginal area, and as an issue which affects the most active citizens. Thus, "The Government has a copy of every photograph your lover sends of his package; the NSA has a photo of your breasts, if you took a selfie to send to your lover!" Do know that the government can copy your sexting, and does? This scares young people, and lots of people, and pisses them off. Well, it ought to do so. The internet today is more and more used for intimate purposes; we should use our damn heads!

Very slick, dan, and you nailed me on the first try, effortlessly. Lol.

This remark is based on a fundamental misunderstanding of knowledge and learning. In any field in which the knowledge must be demonstrated, used, and applied, from Medicine to Computer Programming, learning is not a one-way process, and "learning a subject" cannot be done well by oneself. For example, nobody can learn computer programming well by themselves; the subject begs for criticism from expert programmers. A self-taught programmer has had an idiot as professor, and his work is liable to be scarred by the fact. I remember none of the administrators, but a few of the profs I've had were instrumental.

I never taught my sons non-violence, and nor did I preach gathering evidence for authorities. I taught them both that the proper response to bullying was to choose the biggest aggressor and then hit him as hard as possible in the nose and balls, to cause as much bleeding and pain as possible. When my oldest son was attacked by a larger boy, and came to me crying, complaining about being hit in the stomach, I told him where to hit the other guy, and after a short hug, made him go and do it. He has been grateful to me for the rest of his life, because that guy was so shocked and scared he never hit my son again. I taught my sons, "If you're hit and fight back fiercely, you will only get in one fight a year--at most. Otherwise, you'll have to take shit all your days at school." Non-violence is utter bullshit, as a tactic, and the "authorities" are not there to deal with petty issues.

Speed is a problem. The oligopolistic practices of companies like Verizon are a major factor. I took my laptop in to get an internet connection, and was told that "no wireless provider existed for Linux" because Linux only was an operating system that worked on minicomputers and large business computers, not on home pcs. (One of the salespeople had experience in the movie industry.) They only served Mac and Windows. When I opened my laptop and booted up Linux, they were amazed, as if I'd shown an effing miracle. This is in Alhambra, California, fifteen minutes from CalTech, so it's not quite in the sticks, except culturally. So why is a public utility permitted this lattitude?

A remarkable tale. Not only is Woz reported as having farted at the Church service, we are to believe that he expected applause for his flatulence? But no, this must be a '/. beta bug', coming out of the closet.

The first commenter who alleged that Canonical / Ubuntu has a NIH syndrome may or may not be right. I use the damn Ubuntu just because it looks fair and it can be twisted into shape so I can crunch out some code, look at the 'net, and track my mail. If I want to write, I use Libre Writer. If someone is making some bucks from this, I am happy. I am glad to see Linux making some effing money for someone. I wish Red Hat as a corporation and Canonical as a corporation a bunch of luck, and all kinds of profit margins. Maybe they could throw their weight around in this country so MS and Apple aren't the only voices in the room. Purity and virginity are equally worthless. I am the only guy who looks at /. who isn't an addict to computer games, and I'm possibly one of the few who has never played one. But they are as popular as masturbation, so that's fine with me, if you need your desktop / laptop for games. I have my own weirdness: I read books. So who am I to criticize others? So long as Canonical delivers a fair - looking screen that can be forced into a haven for my command - line preferences, let them make a profit. Shuttlesworth isn't out litigating and trying to patent stuff, so let him fart around a little, once in a while. We're being cornholed every minute by a benevolent government that is trying to imprison its populace. Inequality of incomes is squeezing a huge part of the populace into penury. Idiots are successfully repealing laws that allowed black people to vote. A nation that isn't supposed to have an empire is now in the business of maintaining a world - wide empire of novel savagery in the name of morality. You've heard of the NSA, and you're complaining that Canonical is nosy? Some perspective, please.

Taco Cowboy has some novel information. Not only was Ed Snowden a Security Guard (did he mow lawns, as well?), but the Cowboy has a new kind of poker. I've played five and seven card stud, jacks or better to open draw poker, and even lowball. Once or twice I was in a game with deuces wild. I've never seen guys play with trump cards. This is a cat with some new and wild ideas.

I was in myself, for misdemeanor resisting arrest, some damn thing like that, when helping others bust up a Klan rally. But a month for a misdemeanor is no big deal, just something that has to be done. A felony is a different matter, so I've kept myself out of trouble since. The only way to deal with the law is to steal billions, and to do it with a corporation. Then you make the law, and sometimes pay fines in millions for earnings in billions.

The Mythical Reptile is making a decent point, and we ought to listen to him. If we agree with Abelson or not, we had best not shovel him into a false category. He's more than a representative of a generation or an apologist for the University. I think we can agree with him, or not, and still realize that the prosecutor was not acting in the public interest. I think we can even argue with him with some civility. Abelson's record ought to show that he is worth listening to, and that the details of the Swartz case might make some parties actions not so clear-cut as they appeared at first.

I certainly am. There's no other sort. While there's no guarantee that violence in itself will bring satisfaction, the current regime is held in place with massive violence. If it is to be overthrown, it will be done with violence and bloodshed. We can argue politely about lesser evils, and we can speak about peaceful change. We'll see none that's meaningful. So long as that is certain, the need for an armed revolution, it makes sense to compete in detailing how one can progress from a successful revolutionary military command to a successful leadership of a divided nation, given victory.

What is particularly insidious about this announcement is that Google discriminates against linux. Their free email is one thing they have done well, so far. In their other software efforts, they show a general and understandable concern to get things right for MS and Apple, who have the dominant share of the market; they haven't much regard for the shaggy 1%. Their mail works as it is.

When I took my laptop into the Verizon store and asked for wireless support for Ubuntu Linux, I was told that "Linux was not available on personal computers. It was only for big, expensive computers such as those in Universities and in Hollywood." One of the kids at the store had briefly worked at Pixar. I booted up my laptop to show them, and they were astounded, as if I'd brought a tiger or a cobra into the store. Sprint, by accident, supports Linux on broadband. Verizon is casual about the responsibilities of their position as a utility. Why shouldn't they be casual? This is the United States of America, where near-monopolies are encouraged, right? Their only duty is to provide profits for shareholders, and otherwise they've already paid for ... what was on sale when the government auctioned the airwaves. Ask Verizon about Apple, then, or Windows. Or ask for a phone. Or ask for directions elsewhere.

Skarecrow77 is really hitting the nail on the head, here. I and many of my pals are not rich, and many of us are poor. It is a real pain in the butt to have to navigate in my little flat, because I have about a hundred and fifty couches. I can barely pick my nose, I have so many damned couches. I no longer can use a desktop computer, because of all the couches I have bought; I have to write code with a laptop. I can't afford to drink or to do drugs, but the couches, ach!