<- The Old Fuck Trail is that way.
“…Deciding what not to do is as important as deciding what to do…”
“You should always play for keeps. If they [PCs] cache weapons somewhere, steal them. If they stop for a rest, mug them. If they can’t handle the pressure, they shouldn’t be playing Cyberpunk. Send them back to that nice role-playing game with the happy elves and the singing birds.”
“I think Henry Ford once said, “If I’d asked customers what they wanted, they would have told me, ‘A faster horse!’” People don’t know what they want until you show it to them. That’s why I never rely on market research. Our task is to read things that are not yet on the page.”
Use Your Words
I’m tired of seeing people vilify those of us who don’t see assault weapons as necessary for modern home defense. There seems to be a bumper crop of ignorant pictures that are clearly intended to get a rise out of those of us who don’t agree that M16s are appropriate playground attire. Enough is enough. Having a national conversation about gun control isn’t the end of the US as we know it. It’s a natural progression of societal change.
If you are one of those people who loves to post “witty” pictures with some idiotic “you’ll never take my guns" slogan, take just a brief moment before you post or re-share one of those images. Ask yourself a couple of questions:
- "Is this going to change someone’s mind about this topic?"
- "Am I willing to have a debate on this topic, should someone post a rebuttal?"
If the answer to either of these is “No”, then just don’t post. If you’re so frightened about the notion of discussion, then maybe it’s time to let people who are willing to apply logic and reason to the issue do so. Gun control isn’t about making the world perfectly safe all the time. It’s about making more people safe more of the time.
There isn’t a perfect solution, but that shouldn’t stop us from trying to find better measures to protect our citizens from weapons that are built with the intended result of killing on the battlefield. An assault rifle isn’t going to defend anyone against a predator drone anyway, so maybe it’s worth finding a better argument than “because the Second Amendment says so”.
Addendum: I’d kill for some advanced feed settings for Facebook that allow me to filter out photo links with certain words.
“Windows 8 was like this giant sadness. It just hurts everybody in the PC business… When I started using it I was like “oh my god…” I find [Windows 8] unusable.”
The Second Amendment
It’s not unreasonable for us to have honest discussions about our laws as times change. The foundation of the second amendment is eroded more by excessive military spending than it is by the discussion of better regulation of assault rifles and handguns. The fundamental reason for the second amendment is to keep our citizens safe and free, and that it is possible for a time to come in which protecting the unfettered right to bear arms may result in a society which is less free than one which only gives that right to those who have earned it.
I’m a gun owner. I’m a Republican. I’m a patriot. I believe the right to free speech should is more important than the right to own a weapon. Our ability to discuss these issues in a manner that does not devolve into petty squabbling is the mark of an enlightened society which continues to grow from our darkened roots of war, disease, and poverty.
I want a smaller government, not a larger one, and yet, I also see that with a diverse population comes the need for codified laws which protect the meek more than the strong.
As with every era, we face challenges to our beliefs, crises of faith, and tests of our resolve. We should not legislate in haste, but nor should we ignore events which serve as warnings.
Isn’t it ok to have a conversation about forms of gun control without witless character assassinations of those who would come to the table to discuss the possibility? Our constitutional republic means that we don’t always get what we want - we get the result of an interpretation of our values based on the votes of the majority. It’s in the best interest of the cause you promote to be well reasoned.
That being said, I do think it’s time to have a civil discussion on the merits of stronger regulation.
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
Amendment II, The Bill of Rights
The founding fathers knew the importance of regulation. That’s why we have laws. They knew the importance of people being able to defend themselves, that’s why we have the second amendment. They also knew the importance of those laws keeping pace with the times. A man can defend himself and his home without automatic rifles. In fact, they make a far poorer choice for home defense than a shotgun (for a variety of reasons).
We might as well require a man to wear still the coat which fitted him when a boy, as civilized society to remain ever under the regimen of their barbarous ancestors.
Thomas Jefferson
We cannot be enslaved by the notions of our founding fathers, we must use their wisdom as a guide, not a noose.
“I am certainly not an advocate for frequent and untried changes in laws and constitutions. I think moderate imperfections had better be borne with; because, when once known, we accommodate ourselves to them, and find practical means of correcting their ill effects. But I know also, that laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind. As that becomes more developed, more enlightened, as new discoveries are made, new truths disclosed, and manners and opinions change with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also, and keep pace with the times. We might as well require a man to wear still the coat which fitted him when a boy, as civilized society to remain ever under the regimen of their barbarous ancestors.”
“We do no market research. We don’t hire consultants. The only consultants I’ve ever hired in my 10 years is one firm to analyze Gateway’s retail strategy so I would not make some of the same mistakes they made. But we never hire consultants, per se. We just want to make great products.”
Google Icons on iOS
What’s the deal with this? Are these from completely separate companies? Why do Chrome, Shopper & Google Drive all bear the same iconography, while Google, Google Maps and Google+ all share another look? Why are the names all so different? Shouldn’t there be some unifying theme here?
Apple’s equally bad with its own apps. But seriously, get it together guys.