OckhamsRazor

Reply to Why do JoeUser and Firefox argue? in Misc Stardock Forums

Mine works fine. *shrug*

Reply to FAIR? FAIR? in Misc Stardock Forums

No, BFD, things haven't changed. Good read, and thanks for the shout out. As a Navy Musician, one of things we do a lot of is Change of Command ceremonies. The outgoing CO always gets some award and usually includes in his speech some lofty horse droppings about how he's receiving the award on behalf of the entire command, without whose tireless, dedicated, blah blah service, the award wouldn't have been possible. And of course, that's absolutely true, b

Reply to Just a Rant on Military Rank in Ethics Stardock Forums

Deleted the double, Ted. Hope you don't mind. [quote]1 more hour of liberty isn't much, and it probably isn't the thing that kept anybody in, but it is nice to have.[/quote] I think that little stuff builds up - particularly in rates/MOS's where advancement is tougher. Dunno how the Army or AF work it, but in some jobs in the Navy, advancement is bottlenecked at certain paygrades. Losing that one little hour of liberty isn't so bad i

Reply to Just a Rant on Military Rank in Ethics Stardock Forums

Ted: [quote]The thing is, there is no correlation between "a person's value" and their rank, position or anyting else.[/quote] Agreed. Then why do they receive compensation beyond their pay? That's what I'm asking. To explain ANY perk beyond pay or ANY kind of special treatment, as well, you will have to discuss the different values that the military applies, in a blanket fashion, to an inanimate object: a rank insignia. That rank insignia r

Reply to Just a Rant on Military Rank in Ethics Stardock Forums

I suppose I could respond specifically to the things Ted and KFC have said, but I'd almost rather just try to make the point over again from scratch, because it's being missed utterly. The basic premise is "You can't measure a person's value by their rank." By the way, some of you can stop making this about me. It may be a bizarre idea, but I'm incensed about this stuff on behalf of others. I actually have the career I chose, am more or le

Reply to On Intelligent Design in Religion Stardock Forums

Sorry about the link that wasn't a link with no explanation. I realize that copying and pasting is tremendously arduous. It's a link to the first of 8 parts on YouTube of an interview between the Associate Producer of Expelled and some of the editors of Scientific American magazine. I particularly like the part in Part 2 where the Associate Producer says that a particular scientist and evolutionary biologist who is known for his Christianity was exempted from

Reply to Just a Rant on Military Rank in Ethics Stardock Forums

[quote]The comment that Ok made about rank being archaic is really silly and if he reflected on it, he would see that. His eyes are blurred with the passion of his rant. Rank is necessary.[/quote] I should rephrase then. Sometimes, rank shouldn't matter or be a factor. Here's a pissy little whine, but when enough of these types of things stack up, it gets annoying enough that I've seen good people get out over it. EUCOM has decided that al

Reply to On Intelligent Design Part 2 in Pure Technology Stardock Forums

[quote]I think you're confusing the Theory of Relativity with the Laws of Thermodynamics, specifically the first law which deals with the conservation of energy. "Energy is neither created nor destroyed." Which applies to matter as well.[/quote] Ah...thanks, Zoo. Mystery solved. I couldn't for the life of me figure out what relativity had to do with anything he was saying. [quote]Nah, evolution isn't worshipped. It's just accepted as a mod

Reply to Just a Rant on Military Rank in Ethics Stardock Forums

[quote] I'm only a "dependent" so my opinion doesn't count, haha,[/quote] Only us military folk would fully get the point of that comment. Even with multiple powers of attorney that basically allow my wife to make my mind up for me in any situation, some people just won't talk to her because she isn't the service member. That sucks, too, but that's another thread. As for the rest of what you wrote, TW, thanks. Ve

Reply to It's Getting Quite Slippery Out There in Current Events Stardock Forums

It's actually a shame that the whole argument is religiously based. There are lots of cases waiting in the wings that *I* see coming that have nothing to do with religion but where some judge is going to have to rule against a defendant because of the laws in place. My wife's brother used to be a CompUSA exec, and apparently, it's either already happened, or it's in the process of happening, that CompUSA is closing it's doors and going strictly web bas

Reply to On Intelligent Design in Religion Stardock Forums

Wheee, cool. Hey before you go see it, you might want to check this out! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyKCzoikh7k&feature=PlayList&p=F98112EA78C119BB&index=0

Reply to On Intelligent Design in Religion Stardock Forums

What's the significance of going to see a movie? You going to quote the movie as if it's evidence that ID is legitimate? That'd be par for the course. [quote]I'm far too cheap[/quote] [quote]How about frugal with my mooola?[/quote] You two directly related somehow, Lula?

Reply to It's Getting Quite Slippery Out There in Current Events Stardock Forums

[quote]Yes, you've said it 15 times now. I'm just saying why I disagree with you.[/quote] You say you're disagreeing with me, and all I'm doing is saying what the law IS...not that it's right. And I wouldn't be doing that if you didn't keep implying things about the thoughts and motivations of this judge with no source to back it up. You have no evidence (that I can find on the net, anyway) to support the claims you make of the judge's motivation. If th

Reply to Just a Rant on Military Rank in Ethics Stardock Forums

[quote]I was referring to your apparent bitterness over the gap between the pay and perks of the Brass and the grunts.[/quote] Ah no, not really. I understand the higher pay thing. Maybe if I narrowed the scope a bit, it would make more sense what I'm driving at. I tend to get an idea and then make it extreme as a form of example. So to be less extreme... As an E6, do I deserve to eat before an E5? A better parking space?

Reply to It's Getting Quite Slippery Out There in Current Events Stardock Forums

[quote]I didn't say the judge made the ruling based on emotion. The judge had to choose between the rights of a photographer to choose what events are in the interest of the business and which aren't, and two people who were hiring a photographer.[/quote] Actually, what the judge had to decide was whether the photographer's business was subject to laws governing "public accomodation." I've only pointed this out about 15 times now...I'm not sure what's so hard to und

Reply to On Intelligent Design in Religion Stardock Forums

[quote]When he attempts to, it will probably be as muddled and confusing as most of his posts have been.[/quote] Quoted for truth with evidence up one response.

Reply to Just a Rant on Military Rank in Ethics Stardock Forums

[quote]It would be nice to believe that the officers really cared for "the men first", and they may. But the fact that the perception is different is a real problem.[/quote] I'm sure that many of them do. Many might agree with me so far as to say that they shouldn't receive "extras" due to their rank. The individual officers aren't at fault (nor the upper enlisted, nor the upper brass.) It's the system itself that is flawed. The paradigm is broken.

Reply to It's Getting Quite Slippery Out There in Current Events Stardock Forums

[quote]you think so?[/quote] I think it's as valid a hypothesis as any. If it makes anyone feel better, I'll also postulate that this particular lesbian couple were just a couple of gay radicals that wanted to make a stink. That's an equally valid postulation and is equally likely with the evidence we have. But that latter postulation is pretty common on this thread already. I offered the other postulate to show that there could be another reason.

Reply to On Intelligent Design in Religion Stardock Forums

The argument that "nothing can come from nothing so God must be responsible" refutes itself because God is not Nothing. God is something. That means that by your own statement, God also must have a cause because nothing can come from nothing. Most people just say "Well, God is infinite - always existed and always will." It's fine if you believe that, but I can counter "The universe is infinite - always existed and always will" and my argument isn't

Reply to Just a Rant on Military Rank in Ethics Stardock Forums

[quote]It's a good rant, Ok, did I detect a bit of personal bitterness?[/quote] It's hard to answer that without knowing more specifically what you're implying. Instead of guessing, I'll just hope you come back and clarify.

Reply to It's Getting Quite Slippery Out There in Current Events Stardock Forums

[quote]But their claim to being persecuted is about as valid as most American Christians' claim to being persecuted.[/quote] When did they claim they were being persecuted? They claimed they were being discriminated against due to their sexual orientation, and pretty much everyone agrees on that part. The photog denied services based solely on their sexual orientation. They were discriminated against. What's in question is whether or not a business

Reply to It's Getting Quite Slippery Out There in Current Events Stardock Forums

[quote]The judge felt bad for gay folks too. This "judgment" had nothing to do with the law, or rights.[/quote] Source?

Just a Rant on Military Rank in Ethics JoeUser Forums

Not only is this a rant, but it's a ramble, too. I just got back from 9 days aboard a ship, and every time I go to one of these things, I see stuff that for me, at least, is a clear indicator of why the gears are starting to grind more often. Morale on most of the ships I've been on is very low, but guess what? It isn't because of the job itself. It's something else - something deep. So, in order to deal with it, I just started writing in a word document abou

Reply to It's Getting Quite Slippery Out There in Current Events Stardock Forums

I didn't say the photographer targetted them for derision, Gid. I was saying that what seems like such a small thing to us is more like a straw that breaks the camel's back to them.

Reply to It's Getting Quite Slippery Out There in Current Events Stardock Forums

Well, first, as I understand it, contracts are bid on. It's easy to opt out of providing a service...you just don't put in a bid. So that really isn't the same. For the rest of what you said, I don't think you really read what I posted. Two things have to be established for Elaine to be wrong. That her business falls under the laws that govern public accomodations and that she chose not to serve a customer based on religion. You can WANT it t