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Messages - hackhelios
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« on: August 26, 2009, 02:54:23 PM »
Now you've got my attention. Are there any native Canadian cheeses?
<-- huge cheese fiend
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« on: August 26, 2009, 02:37:32 PM »
Hmm...sounds like just about anything is going to piss you off right now. A smarter man would leave it alone. However, as my mother has told many times, I have to be me.
If I read your argument correctly, you're saying the best course of action is to never apologize for anything. I have to assume I'm misunderstanding you.
I get that other nations don't (seem to) apologize as much as we do. What I'm saying is this: how other countries behave shouldn't influence how we decide to behave. Yes, Iraq was us making an ass of ourselves and we should have apologized to the world. Why? Because we WENT to the world and said "Hey, I want to attack Iraq because I think there are WMDs there. Whadaya think?" The UN replied "Bad idea boss." We threw a temper tantrum and said "Whatever, we're going in." No WMDs. Massive casualties. Heightened tension in the Middle East, especially Iran. It was a friggin' mistake. Whether or not France would apologize in a similar situation is irrelevant.
Here's another angle. The President of the United States has his life examined on every level by hundreds of people. If he smoked half a cigarette once, you can bet we're gonna see pictures of it. This may seem invasive, but if he's going to lead a country this powerful, we're going to hold him to a higher standard. If you think as highly of America as you say, don't you think America should be held to a higher standard too? Shouldn't the "leader of the free world" behave in a manner befitting its rank?
Lemme clarify, because I can already hear the response coming. Going to war is nothing to apologize for. What happened in Iraq was much, much more than that (and that's a fact even before you consider the torture issue).
Finally--apologies are not evil, or weak, or stupid, or annoying, or useless--if they're warranted.
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« on: August 26, 2009, 02:12:39 PM »
So I went surfing for some over-the-top "USA! USA!" websites, but instead I found this ironic gem: http://www.usabest.co.uk/The best America has to offer, sold by the nation you trust. I think the ability to admit fault is a strength, not a weakness--especially when you can back up that strength with a military like ours. I will say this, though--we royally f'ed up in Iraq. Our primary reason for going in turned out to be a pipe dream. Sure, Iraqis may be cheering for us in the streets, but the happiness of foreign children has never influenced our foreign policy as much as the promise of oil. We didn't go in to save Iraqis. We went in on half-cocked intelligence and poor planning. We made a mistake, and I was raised to own up. Now. Having said that--America is far, far better off in our current political situation than we have been in some time. We're ending wars instead of starting them. We're looking after our own in terms of employment and health care. And we're finally, FINALLY taking steps to protect the planet that (let's face it) we don't have the technology to vacate yet. I'm as proud of America today as I've ever been--and for that, I offer no apology.
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« on: August 26, 2009, 01:55:04 PM »
 "Shot me in the back! I didn't make you mad, did I?" I don't know about all that. America has had its ups and downs like most nations. Saying that its done far more good than other nations--especially combined--smacks of forgetfulness. We didn't do much for the African slaves, and I can't imagine the Native American tribes would proclaim our majesty. In closing--I apologized for my rant, not my country. 
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« on: August 26, 2009, 01:39:04 PM »
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« on: August 26, 2009, 01:15:49 PM »
Of course. Wish I could put child locks on some of the stuff I manage at work...
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« on: August 26, 2009, 12:17:35 PM »
Bill O'Reilly, Keith Olbermann, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, and of course Glenn Beck--not at all stereotypical Americans, though unfortunately they are some of the louder ones. As a result, they're heard from much further away than some of the more reasonable, levelheaded Americans.
I work for a center-left think tank in DC, so unfortunately I hear a lot of nonsensical rhetoric from both ends of the political spectrum. There are good people and lousy people on both sides of the aisle; the sad truth of the human experience is that negative impact stays with us far longer than positive impact.
I'm an American. I'm well aware of our reputation abroad. Personally, I think the current president (Barack Obama) is far more level-headed than Bush, his predecessor. It's difficult to gauge how effective he is in improving our global personality, but from this end, it looks like he's making an effort.
I'm a registered Republican (political right), but in modern politics, I vote Democrat and agree with their current platform. With international war, a troubled global economy, and a dying planet overshadowing our every move, it's difficult to believe that smaller government and decentralized tactics are effective tools. With Republican champions like Sarah Palin, it's difficult to associate anything I trust in with the current manifestation of the GOP.
My apologies for the rant. I guess what I'm saying is, not all Americans are blind to the fact that, internationally, we've made an ass out of ourselves lately. We're trying to do better.
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« on: August 26, 2009, 11:57:36 AM »
By the by...is there a GF n00b guide anywhere? I seem to be lacking in "new topic" privileges outside New Geeks.
I'm also steadfastly resisting the overwhelming urge to scream out interrogatives regarding certain point systems, because I get the feeling that's what I'm expected to do. (Granted, in my mind, even saying that much breaks the seal.)
EDIT: As you were--the lock is only on the Hardware/Software section, and given the H/S sticky post "F Your Tech Support Requests, Madam," I can understand why the children aren't allowed to play there.
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« on: August 25, 2009, 02:55:54 PM »
Tom Baker--and I must note, this topic's subject is remarkably well suited for his character.
I keep convincing myself that the each new Dr. Who is going to suck, but they've impressed me so far (Christopher Eccleston and David Tennant both). The episode "Blink" scared the hell outta me.
Torchwood has been mildly entertaining but nothing to write home about.
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« on: August 25, 2009, 02:33:55 PM »
Ayup, I missed some of the greats there. I had a small sampling of Star Trek reruns on SciFi (I refuse to acknowledge the channel's revamped spelling), as well as Dr. Who and Dark Shadows, thanks to Mom.
Speaking of which, I should clarify my response to sociald. I would bet on Kirk in a fight, but I'd choose to serve under Picard. While Kirk sweeps the badass and charm prerequisites, Picard's intellectual curiosity, political savvy, and Klingon-commanding backbone puts him closer to the leadership ideal for me. Of course, serving on the 1701-D certainly has its advantages, and while I loved Scotty, Bones, Spock, Chekov, and Sulu (sorry Uhura), there's really no competing with Data, LaForge, Worf, Guinan, Crusher (both of them) and Riker as shipmates (sorry Troi).
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« on: August 25, 2009, 02:21:53 PM »
Agreed--make the technology more common and people will just become more adept at getting around it. The sober drivers who won't try to subvert the system will be paying for it, both in time wasted and tax dollars spent.
Nothing wrong with regulation where it's needed, but punishing everyone for the sins of a few is universally a bad idea (source: Full Metal Jacket, 1987).
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« on: August 25, 2009, 02:13:30 PM »
Fair enough--though some of the plot points I've heard about caught my attention. Lucifer as a passenger on board Galactica and ship-stealing angels...fascinating.
Did you watch the original series?
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« on: August 25, 2009, 01:50:36 PM »
I know only the latter, both in his capacity as a Supreme Court Justice under the Bartlet administration and as a struggling parent in a crazy, bloodspattered, sins-of-our-fathers world.
I suppose this is the place to ask--is the original series worth watching, given how much I enjoyed the reimagining?
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« on: August 25, 2009, 08:57:46 AM »
Adama. But if you held a gun to my head, Kirk--despite the fact that I grew up with next Generation, I'm well aware that Tiberius would whoop his ass in a .
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« on: August 24, 2009, 06:24:20 PM »
Haha...that good, huh? Guess I better get started.
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« on: August 24, 2009, 06:11:18 PM »
Heya, internets. I'm Josh, and I joined this forum for one reason. One reason only. Geeks are pretty badass, this is true. You may expect badass and geek to be exclusive and separate entities, but no. Badassery is inherent in properly executed geekitude. This is not why I have come. Technology fascinates me, software impresses me in ways that people consistently fail to match, and I cannot wait to begin installing cybernetic upgrades. But that's not what brought me here. So Weird Tingly Feeling, sir? Why am I here? It's simple, if you look at it from my immediate perspective. I've tried a few forums, but as soon as I saw this, my reason for joining up was clear. My joie de vivre, my reason for being. Looking forward to being equally odd/random/amused with all of you, forum denizens.
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