Yearly Archives: 2004

Everything Changed?

This entry was posted in Capitalism Constitution Democracy Domestic Terrorism Government Libertarianism Patriot Act US Politics on by

Point 14 of the things Mark Kleiman recently learned at an Executive Session on Gang Violence opens with:

14. On the other hand, gang violence accounts for more deaths each year than were killed on 9-11. Thinking about getting ready to think about it isn’t really a satisfactory response.
Why hasn’t this changed everything?
It is pretty clear that the policies of local, state, and federal governments over the past 100 years have not fulfilled the government’s obligations to the people. Perhaps it is time to make some fundamental changes in these entities to get them refocused on serving the people’s rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness rather than the faction de jour.

Just Wondering Why….

This entry was posted in Harry Potter on by

We have the complete set of Harry Potter books in our library. Two copies of some. And eagerly await the next volume.
But, I’m not quite sure who needs the Latin or Ancient Greek versions of Harry Potter and the Philospher’s Stone. Are they being published as teaching aids, or…?
I suppose the Latin version of Harry Potter might be a bit more absorbing to today’s young students than Cicero’s Orations was to me some years ago.

A Real Home Internet Service?

This entry was posted in Internet Technology on by

One may be just around the corner for some of you. Verizon will be offering a new internet service in a few geographic areas beginning later this summer:

A 2mbps to 5mbps Fios connection will cost $35 a month if purchased along with Verizon’s local and long-distance telephone service. The service will cost $40 if purchased alone. A connection of up to 15mbps is available for $45 a month if purchased as part of the same telephone service bundle, or $50 alone. The company did not reveal pricing for the 30mbps plans.
Heck, I pay nearly $50/month now for Comcast 3 Mbps service. It will be great if Verizon is able to agressively roll this out in many markets as it will put price/performance pressure on the cable companies and help drive skinny band DSL to it demise.

Suspension

This entry was posted in Wierd on by

Suspension seemed like such an innocent word. I usually think of an automobile’s suspension system, particles floating in a fluid, or somebody getting a 5 day suspension from school.
Now suspension will always conjure up images like this (warning: disturbing!).
Apparently suspension is a fairly common activity in the body modification subcultures. There is even a FAQ.
But to show that there may not be much new under the sun in the realm of human wierdness they also have some background material.
Via Obsidian Wings.