It seems to me that the quality of the social link of facebook and twitter are dependent on the quality of the social unit involved in the link. If the social unit is strong, effective and determined then the use of these tools will necessarily augment their effect. If the social unit is weak and transitory then the effect of the tools will be weak and transitory.

Sewer rat might taste like pumpkin pie but I'll never know because I'm not going to eat it.

Why not just have everybody post their sexual orientation in a type of protest. Microsoft would rethink their policy if they were faced with kicking everybody off... Me, I'm a bisexual lesbian trapped in a man's body.

Your welcome. I always enjoy sharing ideas. You are right. Christianity was not at its best when the Church was at it power. Good luck with your spiritual quest. I wish you all the best...

Oh, and by the way, your comment about people who say they are Christian and yet the really don't know what the Christian faith is all about is a perfect example of how evangelicals approach "others" that don't agree with them. They are wrong and are condemned.

Very deep question--is Christianity harmful to society? I think that in the long run it has as many pluses as minuses. There is no question that many of the early movers of the modern era were men of faith... profound faith, if a little unorthodox. On the other hand, a lot of people have been persecuted, tortured, killed because of modern evangelical Christianity (I'm talking since the 17th century) While it is true that there is not a lot of torturing and killing going on currently, there is a good deal of persecution (you may call it evangelizing.) I feel leery of the evangelical group, like they are not quite trustworthy with the reins of power that they seem to crave so much. For sure they would ban abortions and gay life style. If they had the chance they would harshly suppress other religions in the public forum and who knows what restrictions they would impose on avowed atheists like myself.

Yet you believe that EVERYONE has SCREWED UP and deserves ETERNAL DAMNATION. That's why you love Jesus, because he has saved you from HELL. Sorry, my CAPS LOCK is broken. Ha ha? Seriously, unless you are a member of a different sect, you believe that I and my family are doomed to eternal pain and suffering because we are not Christians. Don't you? I am not damned. You are not damned. When you die you are re-absorbed into the universe just like every living thing. We don't know exactly what that means but it's not damnation. Damnation is so tribal. Ah, what am I wasting my fingers for. I very much doubt that I can change your mind.

I was engaging in a bit of irony (is that what it was?) I think that most people are nice because they are hard-wired that way and they only become mean when they perceive the target as outside of the moral bond that they belong to. So yes, loosing ones faith DOESN'T mean that one goes rampaging, though I think that a lot of Theists are afraid that is what it means. You follow?

Caught my eye it did. Did a double take.

People who think they are nice because God is watching really scare me. If for some reason their faith falters, does that mean they are going to rampage through the streets. I know, off topic, off topic. Bad robot. As far as being a care taker for the earth--that is the rub. Creationist put themselves (at God's command no less) at the head of the pyramid of life and land. Evolutionist understand that (or most of them I think) ((at least I understand)) we are in a fragile dance with the environment and that no matter how important we think we might be, there is no guarantee that we won't be expunged from the life-play of the planet. No seven trumpets--no falling stars or heavens rolled up, no final judgment and everlasting joy. Just no humans.

My 89 year old mother, who won't even say the word computer, is ready for the switch. I know, I know, anecdotal, I'm sure there are maybe dozens of people who will go to turn on their TVs and not get a signal and wonder, "Hey, this is supposed to be Dancing with the Stars?!" Seriously. The only people I have had any experience with that are confused about the process are the government and the politicians. Does that surprise me? NO! If the hype is to be believed there should be well over 1 in 100 that are not ready. Are YOU not ready? Where are you? Maybe if the stupidest of people don't get a converter box then there will be better programming on the TV.

I thought Linux was an alternative to MS more than 10 years ago. Unfortunately, MS pays me to promulgate their stranglehold on the market. I work hard to make sure that they don't release good software. Bwa ha ha ha!

I think that is a good point. Call me naive but I am a firm believer that the market should regulate software vendors like apple. Of course that assumes that the purchasers of software licenses READ the license agreement. There are plenty of novel alternatives to Apple, always have been.

Rats are highly intelligent creatures motivated to succeed. Try talking to them and telling them that their actions are causing pain to you and your employers. I'm sure they will understand and find some other fibrous object to make their nests out of. Or you could just nuke the little fur balls. Lots of poison, lots of traps...

Thanks.