EnderAndrew

You're dodging the issue. WHERE do you draw the line? You mentioned anything that can incite a riot. That is so vague it would be easily abused. When you talk of legislation, you try not to pass laws that can't be enforced or clearly defined. If you say anything that offends someone else, well then you open another can of worms. Talking about Barbie dolls might offend someone, while mentioning Easter might offend someone who doesn't like religious holidays. Pick up a copy of Fahrenheit 451. The moment we become so terrified of offending people that we open the door to censorship, there is no going back.

Generally with a hurricane, the wind does horrible damage, but the water is gone. It is hard to help a city that is 80% under water.

I haven't seen much in the way of hard facts, but I've read claims that some cops have in fact resigned. I guess they didn't want to risk their lives to rescue people more concerned with rioting than being rescued.

People are fearful for their lives, and rescue operations are failing because looters have been killing police officers. I'm sure the thousands that want a safe rescue will appreciate the national guard coming in to restore order.

What about those statements? My statements haven't swayed you, changed your opinion, or forced you to do anything. And my statements aren't extreme. If someone makes extreme statements, I will likely disagree with them, but those that follow such statements do so of their free will. They weren't forced to just because they heard an expression of speech. If freedom of speech is not absolute, then where do you draw the line? Incitement to riot could be discussing ANY contraversial issue, or anything that disagrees with the majority. You can't draw lines. Either freedom of speech is absolute, or it doesn't exist. Edit: I'd like to add that while Germany has outlawed any neo-nazi statements, or statements that the Holocaust didn't occur, censorship has not solved the issue. People still put together neo-nazi websites in Germany and bypass censorship. The best weapon to combat ignorance is not censorship, but rather education.

Given that the game got price cuts early, and is already down to $20 a pop, those figures are pretty generous.

I know you were trying to get away, but I had to drag you back in!

What in hell caused it? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I don't know. Apparently they believe the explosion was over by a railyard, and hazmat teams are going in to investigate.

Happy cheese comes from happy cows. Happy cows (and Obsidian) come from California.

Hey, I always notice the bored look in her eyes!

I really wish he'd do more Perry Bible Fellowship.

I just heard on CNN that there was an explosion in New Orleans, and that there is an orange glow in the sky.

We can fix that!

Are you slumming with us in this thread?

What's why Karzak loves him.

I wonder where that guy disappeared to anyway?

I guess you're right.

A buddy on my LJ friends list posted earlier today saying we had refused aid, and then posted later that it seems we have accepted aid now.

I haven't heard anything definitive. The XBox 360 has USB 2.0 ports in place of the USB 1.1 ports the old controllers used, and two buttons have been moved.

I'm guilty of it as well, however I wonder if we can play this game with anything other than sexual humor.

I've heard that we have in fact accepted foreign aide, but I'm not seeing a story online yet.

1 - The Patriot Act is a bit of a media creation. It passed with huge support from both parties. It allowed various intelligence agencies to communicate together, allowed the government to monitor computers they owned, etc. Did you know before the Patrior Act, the 9/11 terrorists used public computer terminals at libraries because they knew they weren't monitored? Corporations (such as the one I work for) can legally monitor what I'm typing right now on their computer, but the government can't do the same on computers they own, because it is against the law. Most said that that Patriot Act was a very necessary step to allow law-enforcement agencies do their jobs. Kerry was a big proponent of it. Now the media throws the Patriot Act around as the worst thing in history. I keep asking what rights it took away, and no one has any answers. But they've heard it is bad, so clearly it must be. Again, see chicken little syndrome. 2 - My wife is currently debating this very issue in one of her classes, and many of the students feel that freedom of speech should not be absolute. Feminists groups for instance push for the censorship of pornography for instance even though they can't define it. The problem is where do you draw the line? Freedom of speech must remain an absolute or it is worthless. To quote a dead French dude, "I do not agree with what you have to say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." 3 - Allowing for change is a necessity for any government to work. 4 - Historians have no qualms creditting Athens which did nothing to really spread Democracy beyond its borders. Again, I feel this comes down to people feeling comfortable praising an underdog, but afraid to give credit to a superpower for fear of inflating their ego. I don't believe it is a sin to give credit where credit is due. I don't claim I live in a perfect country by any means. But I do take pride in certain things. 5 - I think the bicameral system is good to prevent oppresion from the minorities and oppression from the majority. Our Constitution does not create nor recognize specific parties. In fact, George Washington didn't belong to a party when he was President, though he later became a Federalist. If our political parties were able to form, dissolve and change over the years, I imagine the same could happen again someday, but right now I think we as a population (as influenced by the media) are too gung-ho about our two political parties. I feel they are really hurting the country.

Would you like a wet nap?

Talk about "feeling" the love.

I thought he bought the license to the game. Why buy the art?