Letters to the Editor
thatboy
Published Letters: 242 Editor's Choice: 14
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@brewmn
[Read the article: Where would Clinton be without Edwards?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]...Obama beat Edwards by twenty percent. Not even close.
Right you are. And if only Obama had dropped out, and if only all those people who voted for Obama had voted for Edwards, he would have won!
I know it's a ridiculous assertion. And it's just as ridiculous to say any candidate won or lost a race only because of a "spoiler," rather than winning or losing on his/her own merits.
"If only there were no other choice, my candidate would have won!"
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Shorter Goldberg
[Read the article: "We're all fascists now"]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]"It doesn't matter who said what, when they said it, or what we can glean from history. I'm saying liberals are fascists, so it must be true."
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Mac Attack
[Read the article: Netflix offers unlimited movie streaming]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]The move is seen as a charge at Apple, which will reportedly announce a movie rental service of its own at Macworld tomorrow.
Oh, reeeeeeeealy? Hey, Mac users, does that give you some clue as to why Apple won't license the necessary DRM to Netflix so you can stream movies? Oh, surely Apple wouldn't be so calculating as to deprive its users of a Netflix feature just so they can promote their own rental service (not to mention incite Mac users against Netflix for a perceived slight)!
From Netflix Help:
Our goal is for Netflix members to enjoy movies and TV shows on whatever screen they want. We're required to use Digital Rights Management to protect movies watched instantly online, and right now we only have approval for this protection on Windows Operating systems, not the Mac. Apple does not license their DRM solution to third parties, which has made this more difficult, but we are working with the studios and content owners to gain approval for other solutions. As soon as a studio-approved DRM for the Mac is available to us, whether from Apple or another source, we will move quickly to provide a movie viewer that enables you to watch movies from Netflix instantly on your Mac.In the meantime, Intel-based Macintosh computers can watch movies instantly using Boot Camp, Parallels, or Fusion to run Windows. And, your Macintosh is fully compatible with adding titles to the Instant Queue for the Netflix Box and Netflix-enabled DVD players.
But you can just wait for the (sure to be more expensive) Apple rental service, and then tell us endlessly how much better it is than Netflix.
I swear the main selling point for Apple products is both to give users an imaginary reason to feel superior and an excuse to whine that they aren't treated fairly.
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@Mike J Y Wood
[Read the article: Brave new grocery shopping]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]This is the only reference to privacy in the AP article:
"...Ferris said neither Microsoft nor any advertisers will have access to the personal information consumers provide when they join the supermarket's loyalty card program."
That may be true, but the supermarket will. (Of course, they already get that info when you swipe your handy club card for discounts.) And the supermarket, in turn, will sell that information to third parties. Count on it.
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@cloudberry
[Read the article: Scientology fails to delete crazy Tom Cruise video]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]"...a movie in which Cruise plays a deranged high-level operative of a secretive, greedy, manipulative and evil cult."
See: "Magnolia"
I agree with others here that there's little distinction between Scientology and any other "religion." They're all cults, some are just more accepted. Thetans, flying horses, loaves and fishes, they're all absurd. At least Scientologists aren't trying to turn America into a theocracy... yet.
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@anonymous 8:22
[Read the article: Scientology fails to delete crazy Tom Cruise video]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Fair Game (from Wikipedia):
"The homes, property, places and abodes of persons who have been active in attempting to: suppress Scientology or Scientologists are all beyond any protection of Scientology Ethics, unless absolved by later Ethics or an amnesty ... May be deprived of property or injured by any means by any Scientologist without any discipline of the Scientologist. May be tricked, sued or lied to or destroyed."
Sorry, but I don't see how this policy differs much from the way Christians regard gays, atheists, and others who don't adhere to Christian beliefs.
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@MAV
[Read the article: Mike Huckabee's mission from God]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]"I guess it's easier and safer to harass and threaten a pregnant and scared woman than it is to harass and threaten a big dude with USMC tattoo."
Apparently not, because he's also going after gays! ; )
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The problem is...
[Read the article: Holy Constitution!]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]You can enumerate all the dangers of dominionism, theocracy and fascism you want, and the majority of people still won't care. In fact, they're just as likely to dismiss you as the loon instead of the Christians. Why?
1) They don't believe any kind of fascism or totalitarianism can overcome democracy, no matter how many rights we let the government take away from us.
2) Most people in America like to think of themselves as Christians and believe themselves to be kind and just, so they think that anyone else who claims to be a Christian must be just like them.
3) Most people who don't think of themselves as Christians are convinced that Christians are just really, really nice people who love everyone, and the Bible is a cuddly, happy book filled with nice morals like "help the poor," and "turn the other cheek." What bad could come from that?
4) Even if you convince some people that one or two supposed Christians are radicals whose philosophies would endanger democracy, they believe they are the "fringe" and that "real" Christians will prevent them from causing harm.
5) They think atheists, agnostics, and other non-believers are just icky people with no moral center and are much more dangerous to America than a few misguided Christians.
6) People of other faiths are often deluded into thinking that even if Christians took over, they would still "respect" other religions.
The fact, of course, is that Christians don't give a fuck about anyone who isn't, and then only if you're the "right" kind of Christian. If they succeed in their quest for dominionism, many will be surprised at the horrors they are capable of. Of course, it will then be too late to do anything about it.