Climate models suck - It's the programming
in [Cobol]
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From: Howard Brazee on 21 Jan 2010 11:15 On Thu, 21 Jan 2010 16:47:21 +1300, "Pete Dashwood" <dashwood(a)removethis.enternet.co.nz> wrote: >That's why I believe Democracy, while not being a perfect form of >Government, is the only one that guarantees freedom. There are no such guarantees in life. -- "In no part of the constitution is more wisdom to be found, than in the clause which confides the question of war or peace to the legislature, and not to the executive department." - James Madison
From: SkippyPB on 21 Jan 2010 12:11 On Thu, 21 Jan 2010 09:15:07 -0700, Howard Brazee <howard(a)brazee.net> wrote: >On Thu, 21 Jan 2010 16:47:21 +1300, "Pete Dashwood" ><dashwood(a)removethis.enternet.co.nz> wrote: > >>That's why I believe Democracy, while not being a perfect form of >>Government, is the only one that guarantees freedom. > >There are no such guarantees in life. Actually there are two guarantees in life. First, it is guaranteed you will die. Second, it is guaranteed you will pay taxes. All else is optional. Regards, -- //// (o o) -oOO--(_)--OOo- "If a candle factory burns down, does everyone just stand around and sing Happy Birthday?" -- George Carlin ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Remove nospam to email me. Steve
From: SkippyPB on 21 Jan 2010 12:15 On Wed, 20 Jan 2010 11:00:20 -0700, Howard Brazee <howard(a)brazee.net> wrote: >On Wed, 20 Jan 2010 12:48:57 -0500, SkippyPB ><swiegand(a)Nospam.neo.rr.com> wrote: > >>Nanotechnology is lot closer than people realize. It is just not a >>front page topic. See the US's effort (1.6 Billion budgeted for 2010 >>research) at: >> >>http://www.nano.gov/ >> >>In addition, there are many things being discovered and built in that >>arena that will be commercially available soon. One of the leaders is >>my alma mater. You can read about that here: >> >>http://www.purdue.edu/dp/nanotechnology/ >> >>These things will be a reality sooner rather than later. > > >But what we see won't be quite what we're expecting. Same thing >with quantum dots. > >It never is. True, but baby steps are being taken and, as with a baby, longer strides are not that far off. Regards, -- //// (o o) -oOO--(_)--OOo- "If a candle factory burns down, does everyone just stand around and sing Happy Birthday?" -- George Carlin ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Remove nospam to email me. Steve
From: Howard Brazee on 21 Jan 2010 12:25 On Thu, 21 Jan 2010 12:11:42 -0500, SkippyPB <swiegand(a)Nospam.neo.rr.com> wrote: >>>That's why I believe Democracy, while not being a perfect form of >>>Government, is the only one that guarantees freedom. >> >>There are no such guarantees in life. > >Actually there are two guarantees in life. First, it is guaranteed >you will die. Second, it is guaranteed you will pay taxes. All else >is optional. Note the "such". If I die right now, someone else will my taxes. I was thinking, besides the "guarantee" part of the top quote, there is considerable ambiguity in the word "freedom". A Singaporean type dictatorship gives one a high degree of freedom from bandits, but you'd better not get caught chewing gum. Democracies, when working correctly only mean that the majority get to make the rules - as long as it doesn't have outside limits (I very much value limiting the power of all states). -- "In no part of the constitution is more wisdom to be found, than in the clause which confides the question of war or peace to the legislature, and not to the executive department." - James Madison
From: Anonymous on 21 Jan 2010 12:38
In article <7rq12bFqu7U1(a)mid.individual.net>, Pete Dashwood <dashwood(a)removethis.enternet.co.nz> wrote: >docdwarf(a)panix.com wrote: >> In article <7ro791Fsd3U1(a)mid.individual.net>, >> Pete Dashwood <dashwood(a)removethis.enternet.co.nz> wrote: >>> docdwarf(a)panix.com wrote: >>>> In article <gLmdnT37kbeSMMjWnZ2dnUVZ_q-dnZ2d(a)earthlink.com>, >>>> HeyBub <heybub(a)NOSPAMgmail.com> wrote: >> >> [snip] >> >> >>> This was NOT an evil family; they were normal, law-abiding, decent >>> folk. But there was an ingrained, handed-down, bigotry, that was >>> wrapped in religion. >>> >>> The experience chilled me. >> >> E'en more bloodcurdling, Mr Dashwood, might be to remember that there >> seem to be more folks who hold to such opinions than to the ones you >> espouse... and by the Laws of Democracy that makes them Right, no? >> > >No, Democracy gives you the right to be wrong. Democracy, literally, is a rule of the people. If you wish to assert that it is the method of rule that gives rights there may be a few folks who disagree with that. >I believe it is a right we >should protect above all things. You can hold an opinion and speak about it >(as long as we have Free Speech) and, by doing that, you may even change >some minds. No matter how odious to me personally your opinion might be, I >would defend vigourously your right to hold it and express it. An opinion can be expressed by words or in actions... so when others believe that what you call 'your property' is subject to confiscation without due recompense you'll defend their rights to do so? Somehow I doubt this. > >That's why I believe Democracy, while not being a perfect form of >Government, is the only one that guarantees freedom. I believe that the only guarantee is that there are no guarantees, this statement included. > >And that, in passing, is the main reason I value this forum :-) > > >>> >>> Reading your post above, I can see the roots of her family's >>> attitude. >>> >>> How do you change people's minds about this? How long does it take? >> >> I do not change minds, Mr Dashwood... I'se jes' a COBOL-codin' fool. > >That's a cop out. That's a statement of existence. I do not change minds, I speak as I see fit (within the limits of the law) and how others choose to integrate it into their lives is something over which I have no control. Some may react with 'Hey, I never thought of it that way before...' and others might dismiss it with 'Another book-learned know-nothing stringing together fancy words to try and make me think I know Something That's Wrong isn't'. >Before being a COBOL codin' fool you are a part of the >society that permits you to be a COBOL codin' fool.. If you want to continue >being a COBOL codin' fool you need to ensure that the society which allows >it, continues to allow it, and that may require changing some minds... :-) Once again, I do not change minds... were I able to do so there might be fewer folks who gaze with longing on the Oldene Dayse when a man, his children and his children's children were subject, by law, to chattel slavery, when children were permitted to be chained to factory machinery for 12-hour workdays and when education was available primarily to those whose parents were able to afford them the leisure - L. 'scholium' - for schooling. >(You might even change your own mind...in a Democracy you have the same >rights as everybody else... :-)) In a democracy one needs to be on guard against the demagoguges, as well. >. >> Some say the answer is found in early-age education, as pointed out >> in the musical play/film 'South Pacific' (see 'You've Got to be >> Carefully Taught')... >> >Yes, I remember your previous post on this. It is excellent. Shucks... I'd blush, were I able to remember how. DD |