Disqus - Friends of keif

Re: Variety.com Puts a Price Tag on Content

David Ihnen — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 20:04:14 -0000

Its fine to have a paywall, but it should be priced reasonably - hundreds of dollars a year is absurd.

Re: Zero Electric Motorcycle | VIDEO

David Ihnen — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 00:26:58 -0000

Seriously? That is the best this motorcycle can do? That has got to be the tamest motocross footage I've ever seen, combined with the less than enthusiastic endorsements. Up the Amps already, make this bike blow a 'race bike' away on the motocross track!

Re: Comic Final Update! - Wolfire Games Blog

David Ihnen — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 01:10:44 -0000

The graphic novel form is one of the best forms of storytelling, I absolutely adore it. Your character designs are great. Your world is rich with drama. I feel for your characters and am eager to see where their plight leads them.

Now quit fooling around and post the REAL next panels.

Re: Good news for developers (and jobs)

David Ihnen — Fri, 14 May 2010 20:43:10 -0000

Hm, and I'm in the job market just today too! This is good news.

Re: LOST by the Numbers - Welcome to Imagevat.com - Free Image Hosting | Photo Sharing

David Ihnen — Sun, 23 May 2010 02:48:41 -0000

How can we possibly read it if its so small?

Re: Researchers demonstrate portable, solar-powered water desalination system

David Ihnen — Sun, 17 Oct 2010 00:38:19 -0000

Maybe we could give them a way that they can sustainably make their own clean water. Providing them with chunks of silicon they won't be able to make for decades in a good case and a system whose theory they don't have the education to understand is not a recipe for sustainability.

Re: Researchers demonstrate portable, solar-powered water desalination system

David Ihnen — Sun, 17 Oct 2010 12:49:08 -0000

You live in a country where the supply of these chunks of silicon is pervasive, and people within your society are not only aware of how they work, the work in fab facilities that make them. I'm not talking about you personally knowing, I'm talking about the society ofpeople you are part of knowing.

Re: Researchers demonstrate portable, solar-powered water desalination system

David Ihnen — Sun, 17 Oct 2010 12:55:33 -0000

I utilize community water systems created and maintained in an existing infrastructure of people who know how to make clean water, create equipment for clean water, and share the knowledge of how to create and make clean water. That is sustainable because if things break, we can fix them - we have the knowledge, equipment, and facilities to fix them out of other industries that we sustain. This makes it inherently sustainable to have clean water delivered to me, so YES. I am part of a sustainable clean water system.

My point is that dumping high technology into the third world does nothing but provide them with the dependence on that high technology which they are unable to sustain themselves due to lack of facilities and probably knowledge. What is some village going to do when a solder joint breaks on this unit, for instance? Easy fix, if you know. How about when a cell breaks? Can they get a replacement without ordering it from us - and would we find it profitable to provide a single cell that way?

It would be reprehensible here if the goal (or result) here was to make the third world consumers of our high tech products, instead of enabling them to create their own clean water with technology they understand and create.

Re: Researchers demonstrate portable, solar-powered water desalination system

David Ihnen — Sun, 17 Oct 2010 17:13:33 -0000

I think its a good start on the concept - but the focus on it being a 'product that we can deploy' is where it falls flat on its face. Make the product the IDEA and INFORMATION that lets you manufacture these units in the country where they'll be utilized. Consider - they can make wire, they can make mirrors, simple turbines, etc - you can make an electric generator to electrolyze water without using photovoltaics, all in the country, inherently making an industry that will improve them. And if you're going to deliver them hardware to get them a jump start - make it the SAME hardware designs and theories that they're going to be able to sustain.

Re: Researchers demonstrate portable, solar-powered water desalination system

David Ihnen — Sun, 17 Oct 2010 19:53:53 -0000

Ah, but I think there is a solution that will keep people from dying and NOT use technology they can't sustain. Its not that they can't make clean water with their technology - its that they don't have the knowledge to create it. I think we can engineer something like that. TAke our most smart water engineers, give them just those resources, and see what they can make!

Re: Researchers demonstrate portable, solar-powered water desalination system

David Ihnen — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 14:03:37 -0000

Yes. As I said previously:

if you're going to deliver them hardware to get them a jump start - make it the SAME hardware designs and theories that they're going to be able to sustain.

I'm skeptical that silicon wafer solar cells are something they're going to be able to sustain.

Re: Sharron Angle Confirms She’s a Racist, Fundamentalist Moron

David Ihnen — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 14:18:32 -0000

As a Nevada voter for many years, I'm torn. On the one hand, she's so batshit that I doubt she could actually do any serious harm particularly as a freshman, where on the other hand Reid has enough power to force corruption almost without question. He certainly holds moronic policies like being against yucca mountain. Aw heck, throw the bum out, the replacement will be ineffectual or assasinated.

Re: Sharron Angle Confirms She’s a Racist, Fundamentalist Moron

David Ihnen — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 17:53:06 -0000

I think civil liberties and proper sacred respect of the public trust ARE more important than the human life of those who would dare abuse them. When you're talking about things that impact 300 million citizens, the greater good must be heeded.

Re: Sharron Angle Confirms She’s a Racist, Fundamentalist Moron

David Ihnen — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 19:47:35 -0000

Influence peddling is definitely very suspicious and if acted on, reprehensible. You're supposed to be acting in the public trust, not trying to get yourself elected. I agree that it is corruption and an indication of how she would approach her position as Senator. Too bad she'll fit right in with Reid and the rest of the senators in that department - Senate is *packed* with people who use their power for their own ends and getting reelected. In that environment its called being an effective senator. Things should not be like that, I deplore it. The power structure of the country precludes change without mass cognizance of the fact, which I am skeptical will happen due to the power structure trying to keep that from happening.

I value civil liberties over the rule of law. Rule of law can be subverted and is not always the correct answer - for instance, when rule of law allows the deprivation of civil liberties, I do not consider that appropriate. I will never define right and wrong by what the rule of law is - I have my own ability to judge morality - and the risk to myself of engaging in contrary behavior. Fortunately, I do have the right - and low risk - to speak my mind, as do you.

Re: Sharron Angle Confirms She’s a Racist, Fundamentalist Moron

David Ihnen — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 22:47:04 -0000

I support the second amendment of the constitution of the united states for the very reason it exists - to take down the tyrants. I happen to have a fairly positive hope for congress - I think for the most part they're genuinely trying to do the right thing, even if they get distracted by political machinations most of the time. I would not support angle's second amendment remedies in case of republican loss.

Congress needs to get out of the pockets of industry and start doing what is best for the people instead of what is best for big business! How the republicans managed to fool people into actually believing that allowing the policies to concentrate the wealth with the few was going to help the middle class or poor - or keep the same from spontaneously revolting into with their own second amendment remedies so far - is a witness to their power and intelligence. (then again, throw beer and an episode of 'lost' or 'american idol' out and you can mollify most morons into thinking everything is just hunky dory. for awhile at least.)

Yes, I'm all for protectionism and social programs. It even means that there are taxes that must be paid even though it hurts and infrastructure to maintain and augment. It means there is an education system that needs funding and the dedication of our considerable intelligence and talents in this country to fix asap.

If the republicans lose the election I will breath a sigh of relief, its always a relief to know at least the more extreme right wing absurdities are prevented from having too powerful a voice. And hopefully the republicans who stay in congress will stop stonewalling perfectly reasonable, rational legislation just because it comes under the democrats watch.

Its about what is best for the country and the people - not about who gets credit for doing it or who gets pork barrel for their district. Shame on congress for engaging in pork barrel, and shame on the citizens for rewarding such selfish, inappropriate behavior on the part of federal politicians by reelecting them.

Re: Sharron Angle Confirms She’s a Racist, Fundamentalist Moron

David Ihnen — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 09:00:22 -0000

Quite right. I don't have any respect for anybody's irrational superstitions. Just about anybody can be superstitious about anything (look at homosexuality and abortion vs. many religious types!). Give me a reason not founded in somebody's superstitions and give me a viable alternative that trods on fewer people, and I'll be happy to support it. Not infrequently the greater good steps on some people's feelings, just one of the shades of grey the world is made of.

Re: Is Atheism a Belief? | Belief | AlterNet

David Ihnen — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 09:55:28 -0000

Why would you accept a non-material proof of God's existence as being valid?

Re: Is Atheism a Belief? | Belief | AlterNet

David Ihnen — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 10:00:54 -0000

There is no justice. There is no answer to that which does not exist. This is not a problem, is it?

Re: Is Atheism a Belief? | Belief | AlterNet

David Ihnen — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 10:12:24 -0000

I have come to the conclusion that religion justifies itself by answering questions that don't have answers while doing its best to keep people from noticing that the question without an answer does not need to be either asked nor answered.

That is, we are able to conceive of concepts that do not in fact exist, we can think of questions that have no answer.

Not having an answer to such a question is not a problem and indeed, it is entirely pointless to worry about it. Entirely pointless things don't justify belief structures.

Hm.

Re: Sharron Angle Confirms She’s a Racist, Fundamentalist Moron

David Ihnen — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 14:21:30 -0000

Perhaps I am more complex than an ideological assumption.

Re: Sharron Angle Confirms She’s a Racist, Fundamentalist Moron

David Ihnen — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 15:21:26 -0000

well, we may have divergent interpretations of the reason that citizens should have the right to bear arms. It is my interpretation that it is the right because as in the declaration of independence people have the duty to rise up against tyrants, and cannot effectively do so without arms. But then, the declaration is not the constitution; you my see it differently.

I strive to eliminate dissonance where I find it. The appearance of dissonance may be due to assumptions you (even quite reasonaby) make which do not hold true in my case.

Re: Sharron Angle Confirms She’s a Racist, Fundamentalist Moron

David Ihnen — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 16:10:10 -0000

Perhaps a better way to say it is that I think the assassination risk is because somebody that extreme put into a position of power is at high risk of pissing the wrong people off.

The though of putting a power hungry idiot in a position where she could effectively commit suicide through her avarice and methods, though? Therein lies the humor with me. Its would be just deserts. If I shed a tear at such a passing, it will be because I'm laughing so hard!

Re: Sharron Angle Confirms She’s a Racist, Fundamentalist Moron

David Ihnen — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 21:36:26 -0000

6000 years of human spirituality is not due to mental illness or political manipulation - its due to human social instinct, intelligence, evolution, and how self-replicating ideas evolve and stick in a society. But the fact that we are susceptible to such beliefs does not make them valid. Any individual's failure to get past them does not make them stupid or bad people, it merely makes them behave irrationally. It does not make the beliefs any less irrational superstitions. It doesn't give an iota of credence to any purpose in pandering to those irrational superstitions as if they are reality. Decisions made for the 300 million people for whom this country are made up of should - and indeed to be responsible must - be independent from irrationality. If its entirely rational to bury nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain, then do it, even if irrational people are being irrational about it for irrational reasons that are entirely understandable and within the human experience.

The fact that greater good is the justification for terrible things does not mean that the greater good is not a factor in decision making. This is why we have civil rights, and limit the action of our government to preserve the civil rights of the citizens.

Fortunately, having your irrational superstitions pandered to is NOT a civil right.

Re: Sharron Angle Confirms She’s a Racist, Fundamentalist Moron

David Ihnen — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 21:45:55 -0000

...That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

And it should not be undertaken lightly.

Yes, this is not the constitution, this is the declaration of independence. But as I said earlier, I see the second amendment as the enabler to abolish the government if necessary. and you are quite right, its not in the constitution. The concept is kind of beyond the scope of the constitution itself.

Re: Sharron Angle Confirms She’s a Racist, Fundamentalist Moron

David Ihnen — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 09:12:00 -0000

I acknowledge that there are phenomena and perceptions that we do not understand; its a complex universe and its inevitable that we haven't learned everything yet, its a foregone conclusion that *I* personally haven't! We need to take the best information and objective analysis we have available, and apply it to the situation we're in. If we find out we were wrong, we'll use that information for all decisions we make in the future. Sometimes that means we'll make irrevocable and unfair to the minority mistakes.

It is my judgment that paralysis in fear of making a mistake is a bigger mistake than not acting on your best information while remaining open to accommodating new information that may indicate a mistake. Don't be afraid to act, and don't be afraid to correct your course if you acted wrong. :)