DISQUS

1 month ago

in Google Skymap on dmiessler.com | grep understanding

I have 3 astronomy apps like that on my iphone.

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2 months ago

in Force Ministries: A Real Website on dmiessler.com | grep understanding

I agree with Daniel on this interpretation. The web copy may be more tame, but that banner and that bible verse clearly indicate that they believe they are doing god's will by blindly following their government and harassing and killing people in remote parts of the world. It is a continuation of Manifest Destiny. They still believe that the USG is the house on a hill giving light to the entire world. This isn't new or unusual but I find it repulsive and shocking nonetheless. And to think I felt the same way a few short years ago.

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1 reply

CarlM Your interpretation may be right, but I have to disagree with your use of the word "clearly" : "... that banner and that bible verse clearly indicate that they believe they are doing god's will by blindly following their government and harassing and killing people in remote parts of the world." While they MAY believe this, there's no evidence (that I can find) elsewhere on their web pages that indicates that anything even remotely like this is their agenda or belief. Given that there are other plausible interpretations of their choice of image and quote (for example, they simply want to attract the attention of their target audience), I have to object to the word "clearly."

I have no problem with labeling hatemongers as hatemongers or extremists as extremists, but I take issue with people using their own preconceived notions to condemn others. Follow the evidence, don't invent it.

2 months ago

in How NOT to Teach Gun Safety to a Classroom Full of Kids on dmiessler.com | grep understanding

stupid dumbass. I can't believe he was waving a loaded weapon around, saying it wasn't loaded. He should have been able to see since the slide was pulled back. If i was one of those kids I would have left the room. Where the hell did they find that guy?

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2 months ago

in Why I’m No Longer Warning People Before I Link to My Own Content Within Social Networking on dmiessler.com | grep understanding

it could also mean, "I wrote this so it is more valuable than the links I usually post."

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3 months ago

in Quicksilver –> Google Quick Search Box on dmiessler.com | grep understanding

can you run scripts from it? I'm assuming yes, but it didn't explicitly mention it on the google code page.

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3 months ago

in The Problem With Selling Information Security as a “Business Enabler” on dmiessler.com | grep understanding

I look at it like this. If you are a member of one of the companies line functions: design, production, sales, transportation, wholesale and retail, then you are a business enabler. If you are a staff function: legal, secretarial, custodial, PR, training, etc. then you are an expense. I consider security to be a staff function, but I may be wrong.

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3 months ago

in The Best Piece of Writing About Freezing to Death That You’ll Ever Read on dmiessler.com | grep understanding

god would have just let the guy die…

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4 months ago

in A Great Video for Your Creationst Friends on dmiessler.com | grep understanding

and believe in magic

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1 reply

brooksgarrett A sensationally rational and well thought response. Thank you for your enlightenment ;-)

Your witty retort changed my life outlook, I'll be converting to atheism in the near future and I can tell all my friends it was thanks to he I call, "Jon!"

5 months ago

in Why America Will Be Attacked Again Under Obama on dmiessler.com | grep understanding

i think you are right. also, dragging an empire into a guerrilla war in iraq, afghanistan and other remote locations is a great way to bring it down and eventually get them out of your hair forever. The "terrorists" can take out million dollar equipment with thousand dollar weapons. This leverage will drive the empire bankrupt and force it to leave, which I think is their ultimate goal. They just want us the hell out of their streets and homes, destroying their lives.

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7 months ago

in It’s No Hubble, But… on dmiessler.com | grep understanding

I did the same thing.

http://img.skitch.com/20081203-8umwpa747nyf833qi7cw7budgg.jpg

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7 months ago

in It’s No Hubble, But… on danielmiessler.com | grep understanding

I did the same thing.

http://img.skitch.com/20081203-8umwpa747nyf833qi7cw7budgg.jpg

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8 months ago

in This Woman is Everything Wrong With America on dmiessler.com | grep understanding

hard to imagine how people can operate under such delusion. "the lord will take care of us". No, your husband works his ass off to take care of you.

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8 months ago

in This Woman is Everything Wrong With America on danielmiessler.com | grep understanding

hard to imagine how people can operate under such delusion. "the lord will take care of us". No, your husband works his ass off to take care of you.

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10 months ago

in The Three MMA Fights That Absolutely MUST Happen on danielmiessler.com | grep understanding

When has GSP ever fought at 155?

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10 months ago

in The Three MMA Fights That Absolutely MUST Happen on dmiessler.com | grep understanding

When has GSP ever fought at 155?

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11 months ago

in Why I Carry A Gun: A Personal Anecdote on dmiessler.com | grep understanding

you and your friend rock.

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11 months ago

in Why I Carry A Gun: A Personal Anecdote on danielmiessler.com | grep understanding

you and your friend rock.

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11 months ago

in Thoughts on Freedom, Equality and Socialism on danielmiessler.com | grep understanding

@Daniel, I did read most of it. Don't even know where to start on that one. Didn't really like it. I agree that nature doesn't mean good. What I mean by socialism being bad because it is a revolt against nature is that it assumes it can change human nature by reorganizing society and ownership of existing capital. Or maybe it assumes there is no human nature and that all our behavior is determined strictly by how society is organized. Either way, it doesn't really map to reality, because to force everyone into a template of how a few people think society should be like, you have to remove their freedom to act. Without being able to act, trying to improve our lot in an uncertain future, then we aren't so human are we?

In a framework of liberty and private property rights, humans naturally trade to their mutual benefit, resources are used for new and better reasons, in ever more efficient ways, capital is created that saves us labor and benefits future generations (i.e. we are all free-riders on the past) and a sustainable way of reducing poverty is attained.

re your second comment: I agree with you that freedom and liberty doesn't make evil people stop being evil. It would however make it more difficult to be evil, since many of the incentives the State provides would be gone. The State apparatus rewards nasty humans and gives them a means to perform evil acts beyond reproach. What we essentially have when we accept the role of government as savior and protector is a monopoly on security. One that we are forced to pay and can't fire. The end result is this monopoly acts in the interests of the few that control it while we the people are less safe as a result. This is a fact of reality. Monopolies can't do things efficiently. In a framework of liberty, we would have a market for security. I could buy insurance to keep my family safe from x, y and z and the insurance company would be held liable if my wife got mugged or whatever. Competing insurance and security companies would do a damn better job at keeping individuals safe than the government regulation groups.

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11 months ago

in Thoughts on Freedom, Equality and Socialism on dmiessler.com | grep understanding

@Daniel, I did read most of it. Don't even know where to start on that one. Didn't really like it. I agree that nature doesn't mean good. What I mean by socialism being bad because it is a revolt against nature is that it assumes it can change human nature by reorganizing society and ownership of existing capital. Or maybe it assumes there is no human nature and that all our behavior is determined strictly by how society is organized. Either way, it doesn't really map to reality, because to force everyone into a template of how a few people think society should be like, you have to remove their freedom to act. Without being able to act, trying to improve our lot in an uncertain future, then we aren't so human are we?

In a framework of liberty and private property rights, humans naturally trade to their mutual benefit, resources are used for new and better reasons, in ever more efficient ways, capital is created that saves us labor and benefits future generations (i.e. we are all free-riders on the past) and a sustainable way of reducing poverty is attained.

re your second comment: I agree with you that freedom and liberty doesn't make evil people stop being evil. It would however make it more difficult to be evil, since many of the incentives the State provides would be gone. The State apparatus rewards nasty humans and gives them a means to perform evil acts beyond reproach. What we essentially have when we accept the role of government as savior and protector is a monopoly on security. One that we are forced to pay and can't fire. The end result is this monopoly acts in the interests of the few that control it while we the people are less safe as a result. This is a fact of reality. Monopolies can't do things efficiently. In a framework of liberty, we would have a market for security. I could buy insurance to keep my family safe from x, y and z and the insurance company would be held liable if my wife got mugged or whatever. Competing insurance and security companies would do a damn better job at keeping individuals safe than the government regulation groups.

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11 months ago

in Thoughts on Freedom, Equality and Socialism on dmiessler.com | grep understanding

Freedom and liberty, to the extent that we have seen it work, has helped the weak and feeble that undoubtedly would have died in centuries past due to disease and starvation. It has also given the average person, even a poor person, more comforts and riches than any medieval king could imagine. Freedom lets people create things that help eachother.

Isn't it self-evident that humans aren't equal in ability or circumstance? This is a fact of reality. Socialism is essentially a fight against nature and reality, since it tries to change human nature by changing laws and forcing citizens to do or not do certain things. Sure they may be trying to prevent evil, but they make it impossible to do good.

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11 months ago

in Thoughts on Freedom, Equality and Socialism on danielmiessler.com | grep understanding

Freedom and liberty, to the extent that we have seen it work, has helped the weak and feeble that undoubtedly would have died in centuries past due to disease and starvation. It has also given the average person, even a poor person, more comforts and riches than any medieval king could imagine. Freedom lets people create things that help eachother.

Isn't it self-evident that humans aren't equal in ability or circumstance? This is a fact of reality. Socialism is essentially a fight against nature and reality, since it tries to change human nature by changing laws and forcing citizens to do or not do certain things. Sure they may be trying to prevent evil, but they make it impossible to do good.