Andrzej Matuch wrote:

>> It won't be possible to stop people from using spy-free Linux.
>
>Oh, it will be. Microsoft and Apple will see to it that it is very
>difficult to remove their own operating system in favour of Linux.

There's nothing they can do about it.

--
"It's not free and it costs money." - trolling fsckwit "Ezekiel",
arguing that it's "too expensive" for Dell to offer the option of a
blank hard drive

On 2024-06-24 21:11, Joel wrote:
> Andrzej Matuch <andrzej@matu.ch> wrote:
>
>>>> Purchased through the Windows Store and playable through the Xbox or
>>>> Microsoft Films & TV (called Movies & TV in the United States). The
>>>> deals were excellent, around $5 a movie, and I bought a good number so
>>>> you can imagine why I wouldn't be too thrilled about losing access to
>>>> them. Still, between that and having every one of my key strokes,
>>>> website visits and activities recorded by the state, I will gladly lose
>>>> immediate access for privacy. I've been on and off Linux for two
>>>> decades, but I think it's finally time that I respect myself and accept
>>>> whatever drawbacks I find if it means that my privacy is preserved.
>>>
>>> Interesting, I have gotten video content from Amazon Prime Video, but
>>> not the Microsoft Store. I do think having it via streaming is ideal,
>>> as long as one's Internet is fast enough, I don't use my DVD player,
>>> nor have an optical drive in my computer.
>>
>> Looking back, I should have continued to get DVDs exclusively and rip
>> them. After all, after ripping, I can do whatever the heck I want with
>> the file including send it over to my students if I ran a show in class
>> and they were absent. The Microsoft-purchased ones are only good to me,
>> and only if I continue to use Windows or own an Xbox.
>
>
> DRM is kind of a pain but since I don't want to possess copies of
> material it doesn't make any real difference, anymore, I want to just
> stream as I have occasion to watch. It's just a matter of embracing
> what current tech allows one to do.

I like the convenience of a stream too, especially if the quality is the
same. It's the lack of sharing ability that bothers me. Besides, if ever
the service disappears, you're left with your dick in your hand. I've
been burned before with Microsoft's music service being decommissioned.
Luckily, they allowed us to download whatever music we purchased before
it vanished. However, I doubt that they'd allow us to download DRM-free
movies and TV shows we purchased if ever Films & TV were to go. You're
still better off with a DVD and a rip.

--
Andrzej (Andre) Matuch
TG: @AndrzejMatuch
Catholic, paleoconservative, Christ is king.

On 2024-06-24 21:15, chrisv wrote:
> Andrzej Matuch wrote:
>
>>> It won't be possible to stop people from using spy-free Linux.
>>
>> Oh, it will be. Microsoft and Apple will see to it that it is very
>> difficult to remove their own operating system in favour of Linux.
>
> There's nothing they can do about it.

In a way, there is. Apple created a new processor for which no Linux
distribution exists yet, to my knowledge. As for Microsoft, they had
manufacturers implement Secure Boot as a security measure which doesn't
seem to do much other than make it annoying to install Linux with
proprietary drivers.

--
Andrzej (Andre) Matuch
TG: @AndrzejMatuch
Catholic, paleoconservative, Christ is king.

Andrzej Matuch <andrzej@matu.ch> wrote:

>> DRM is kind of a pain but since I don't want to possess copies of
>> material it doesn't make any real difference, anymore, I want to just
>> stream as I have occasion to watch. It's just a matter of embracing
>> what current tech allows one to do.
>
>I like the convenience of a stream too, especially if the quality is the
>same. It's the lack of sharing ability that bothers me. Besides, if ever
>the service disappears, you're left with your dick in your hand. I've
>been burned before with Microsoft's music service being decommissioned.
>Luckily, they allowed us to download whatever music we purchased before
>it vanished. However, I doubt that they'd allow us to download DRM-free
>movies and TV shows we purchased if ever Films & TV were to go. You're
>still better off with a DVD and a rip.

True, there are good reasons to want to possess the content.

--
Joel W. Crump

Amendment XIV
Section 1.

[...] No state shall make or enforce any law which shall
abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the
United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of
life, liberty, or property, without due process of law;
nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal
protection of the laws.

Dobbs rewrites this, it is invalid precedent. States are
liable for denying needed abortions, e.g. TX.

Andrzej Matuch wrote:

> chrisv wrote:
>> Andrzej Matuch wrote:
>>
>>>> It won't be possible to stop people from using spy-free Linux.
>>>
>>> Oh, it will be. Microsoft and Apple will see to it that it is very
>>> difficult to remove their own operating system in favour of Linux.
>>
>> There's nothing they can do about it.
>
>In a way, there is. Apple created a new processor for which no Linux
>distribution exists yet, to my knowledge.

Almost every other processor on the planet does.

>As for Microsoft, they had
>manufacturers implement Secure Boot as a security measure which doesn't
>seem to do much other than make it annoying to install Linux with
>proprietary drivers.

That can be turned off.

On 2024-06-24 21:36, Joel wrote:
> Andrzej Matuch <andrzej@matu.ch> wrote:
>
>>> DRM is kind of a pain but since I don't want to possess copies of
>>> material it doesn't make any real difference, anymore, I want to just
>>> stream as I have occasion to watch. It's just a matter of embracing
>>> what current tech allows one to do.
>>
>> I like the convenience of a stream too, especially if the quality is the
>> same. It's the lack of sharing ability that bothers me. Besides, if ever
>> the service disappears, you're left with your dick in your hand. I've
>> been burned before with Microsoft's music service being decommissioned.
>> Luckily, they allowed us to download whatever music we purchased before
>> it vanished. However, I doubt that they'd allow us to download DRM-free
>> movies and TV shows we purchased if ever Films & TV were to go. You're
>> still better off with a DVD and a rip.
>
>
> True, there are good reasons to want to possess the content.

It's bad enough that you don't even own your eBooks. Luckily, Calibre
was able to get the DRM off of my Kindle titles to bring them over to
Kobo, but I notice that the tools to remove the Kobo DRM don't actually
work. These companies truly don't want you to own the content.

--
Andrzej (Andre) Matuch
TG: @AndrzejMatuch
Catholic, paleoconservative, Christ is king.

On 2024-06-24 21:52, chrisv wrote:
> Andrzej Matuch wrote:
>
>> chrisv wrote:
>>> Andrzej Matuch wrote:
>>>
>>>>> It won't be possible to stop people from using spy-free Linux.
>>>>
>>>> Oh, it will be. Microsoft and Apple will see to it that it is very
>>>> difficult to remove their own operating system in favour of Linux.
>>>
>>> There's nothing they can do about it.
>>
>> In a way, there is. Apple created a new processor for which no Linux
>> distribution exists yet, to my knowledge.
>
> Almost every other processor on the planet does.
>
>> As for Microsoft, they had
>> manufacturers implement Secure Boot as a security measure which doesn't
>> seem to do much other than make it annoying to install Linux with
>> proprietary drivers.
>
> That can be turned off.

For now.

--
Andrzej (Andre) Matuch
TG: @AndrzejMatuch
Catholic, paleoconservative, Christ is king.

On 2024-06-24 21:52, chrisv wrote:
> Andrzej Matuch wrote:
>
>> chrisv wrote:
>>> Andrzej Matuch wrote:
>>>
>>>>> It won't be possible to stop people from using spy-free Linux.
>>>>
>>>> Oh, it will be. Microsoft and Apple will see to it that it is very
>>>> difficult to remove their own operating system in favour of Linux.
>>>
>>> There's nothing they can do about it.
>>
>> In a way, there is. Apple created a new processor for which no Linux
>> distribution exists yet, to my knowledge.
>
> Almost every other processor on the planet does.
>
>> As for Microsoft, they had
>> manufacturers implement Secure Boot as a security measure which doesn't
>> seem to do much other than make it annoying to install Linux with
>> proprietary drivers.
>
> That can be turned off.

Actually, I should complete my thought there. I say "for now" because
the laptop I am using at the moment is capable of S3 suspend. Meanwhile,
there is no way of switching it to S3 because the BIOS gives you no
option. As a result, you are forced to use "Modern Standby" or S0 which
drains your battery like crazy because it does little more than shut off
your screen. The only way to enable S3 is to do some hardcore research,
get a sketchy third-party utility, boot it from a USB key and navigate
the settings to turn it on. I can envision them eventually pulling the
same kind of poop with Secure Boot.

--
Andrzej (Andre) Matuch
TG: @AndrzejMatuch
Catholic, paleoconservative, Christ is king.

On 6/24/2024 7:14 PM, Andrzej Matuch wrote:
> On 2024-06-24 19:02, Joel wrote:
>>
>> To be honest, it's kind of unbelievable how just in the time of
>> Win11's being current, we've seen this manifest.  I liked Win11 when I
>> first used it.  I would *never* *think* of going back to M$, now.
>> Linux or death.
>
> I can only hope that I'll have the same kind of strength for myself. I
> regretfully often "forget" why it becomes necessary for me to leave
> Windows. Each time, I tell myself that the unethical behaviour is not as
> bad as I thought or whatever. In the end, it almost always turns out to
> be worse than I even imagined. Anyway, I've managed to set up Linux Mint
> the way I want it to be with asusctl working and my games running as
> expected. I no longer have access to my Microsoft movie collection, but
> that's fine. I imagine that it's a matter of time before they make those
> movies available through the web anyway. If they don't, fine... they're
> accessible through my Xbox Series S. I won't install an operating system
> which is most likely spying on everything I do just to have access to a
> library of movies I never watch.

heh! Here we go again!

DFS <nospam@dfs.com> wrote:
>On 6/24/2024 7:14 PM, Andrzej Matuch wrote:
>> On 2024-06-24 19:02, Joel wrote:
>>>
>>> To be honest, it's kind of unbelievable how just in the time of
>>> Win11's being current, we've seen this manifest.  I liked Win11 when I
>>> first used it.  I would *never* *think* of going back to M$, now.
>>> Linux or death.
>>
>> I can only hope that I'll have the same kind of strength for myself. I
>> regretfully often "forget" why it becomes necessary for me to leave
>> Windows. Each time, I tell myself that the unethical behaviour is not as
>> bad as I thought or whatever. In the end, it almost always turns out to
>> be worse than I even imagined. Anyway, I've managed to set up Linux Mint
>> the way I want it to be with asusctl working and my games running as
>> expected. I no longer have access to my Microsoft movie collection, but
>> that's fine. I imagine that it's a matter of time before they make those
>> movies available through the web anyway. If they don't, fine... they're
>> accessible through my Xbox Series S. I won't install an operating system
>> which is most likely spying on everything I do just to have access to a
>> library of movies I never watch.
>
>heh! Here we go again!

I believe him, this time, though. He's making a very valid point,
that commercial software is going in a novel direction. Linux may
quickly become the only choice, for someone who remembers the wild
west Internet.

--
Joel W. Crump

Amendment XIV
Section 1.

[...] No state shall make or enforce any law which shall
abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the
United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of
life, liberty, or property, without due process of law;
nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal
protection of the laws.

Dobbs rewrites this, it is invalid precedent. States are
liable for denying needed abortions, e.g. TX.

On 6/24/2024 7:11 PM, Andrzej Matuch wrote:
> On 2024-06-24 18:59, Joel wrote:
>> Andrzej Matuch <andrzej@matu.ch> wrote:
>>> On 2024-06-24 18:06, chrisv wrote:
>>>> Andrzej Matuch wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Considering how Darwin's Theory of Evolution is complete excrement
>>>>> which
>>>>> can be debunked in seven seconds, God is the best explanation for
>>>>> everything around us. <https://www.discovery.org/a/10661/>
>>>>
>>>> That's some kooky shit, there.
>>>
>>> Feel free to believe the contrary, countless Darwinists have too only to
>>> eventually realize that the theory that has consumed their entire lives
>>> needs constant lies to be supported. We're supposed to believe that life
>>> emerged from nothing even though that is scientifically impossible, and
>>> that a series of mutations, all beneficial, led to us becoming what we
>>> are today. Meanwhile, mutations are almost always negative and/or fatal.
>>> We're also supposed to believe that we evolved from apes even though it
>>> would take several hundred million mutations, all beneficial, for them
>>> to turn into us. This is somehow science even though it is not only
>>> contrary to all scientific laws but logic.
>>
>>
>> Right, they will say it was millions or billions of years of
>> mutations, or whatever, but I'd give them a trillion years, it still
>> wouldn't create anything like an orange tree or a human being, it's
>> laughable.  God wanted it to *look* like it could be what we call
>> "evolution", and it's fine for science to theorize it as such, but
>> intuition tells us that it's hooey.
>
> I'm surprised that we agree. I guess I've judged you too harshly.

Joel and Slimer bonding over shared delusions... but I don't see a
dinner party in their future.

The Apostles Creed:

"I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in
Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the
Holy Ghost, and born of the virgin, Mary. He suffered under Pontius
Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into Hades. On
the third day He rose again from the dead, ascended into Heaven, and
sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He will
come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost, the
holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen."

I was raised Catholic and spent YEARS being subjected to this absurd
nonsense. My wife is also Catholic (non-practicing) and I occasionally
attend a Sunday service with her nice family, but I literally chuckle
when reading the hymnals and missives and listening to the priest
blather on.

Luckily my father was a devout atheist.

On 6/24/2024 7:02 PM, Joel wrote:

> I would*never* *think* of going back to M$, now. Linux or death.

You're trying mighty hard to convince yourself.

DFS <nospam@dfs.com> wrote:

>> I would*never* *think* of going back to M$, now. Linux or death.
>
>You're trying mighty hard to convince yourself.

I'm very serious. I am not claiming Linux is *perfect*, but on
balance, it's a dream compared to Win11's bloat. I work easier,
running it, and wouldn't choose anything else.

--
Joel W. Crump

Amendment XIV
Section 1.

[...] No state shall make or enforce any law which shall
abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the
United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of
life, liberty, or property, without due process of law;
nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal
protection of the laws.

Dobbs rewrites this, it is invalid precedent. States are
liable for denying needed abortions, e.g. TX.

On Mon, 24 Jun 2024 18:59:52 -0400, Joel wrote:

> Right, they will say it was millions or billions of years of mutations,
> or whatever, but I'd give them a trillion years, it still wouldn't
> create anything like an orange tree or a human being, it's laughable.
> God wanted it to *look* like it could be what we call "evolution", and
> it's fine for science to theorize it as such, but intuition tells us
> that it's hooey.

A friend who was a Young Earth creationist explained the strata in the
Grand Canyon basically by saying god was only fucking with the geologists.
Once you've wandered into the supernatural anything is possible.

rbowman <bowman@montana.com> wrote:

>> Right, they will say it was millions or billions of years of mutations,
>> or whatever, but I'd give them a trillion years, it still wouldn't
>> create anything like an orange tree or a human being, it's laughable.
>> God wanted it to *look* like it could be what we call "evolution", and
>> it's fine for science to theorize it as such, but intuition tells us
>> that it's hooey.
>
>A friend who was a Young Earth creationist explained the strata in the
>Grand Canyon basically by saying god was only fucking with the geologists.
>Once you've wandered into the supernatural anything is possible.

Geology was the science credit I happened to take, in college, really
great class, great professor who had done a lot of expeditions, he had
slides he'd show us. I just barely managed to get a B for the
semester, nearly got what would've been my only C, it was a tough
class for me, but fascinating.

--
Joel W. Crump

Amendment XIV
Section 1.

[...] No state shall make or enforce any law which shall
abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the
United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of
life, liberty, or property, without due process of law;
nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal
protection of the laws.

Dobbs rewrites this, it is invalid precedent. States are
liable for denying needed abortions, e.g. TX.

On Mon, 24 Jun 2024 18:49:19 -0400, Andrzej Matuch wrote:

> On 2024-06-24 18:06, chrisv wrote:
>> Andrzej Matuch wrote:
>>
>>> Considering how Darwin's Theory of Evolution is complete excrement
>>> which can be debunked in seven seconds, God is the best explanation
>>> for everything around us. <https://www.discovery.org/a/10661/>
>>
>> That's some kooky shit, there.
>
> Feel free to believe the contrary, countless Darwinists have too only to
> eventually realize that the theory that has consumed their entire lives
> needs constant lies to be supported. We're supposed to believe that life
> emerged from nothing even though that is scientifically impossible, and
> that a series of mutations, all beneficial, led to us becoming what we
> are today. Meanwhile, mutations are almost always negative and/or fatal.
> We're also supposed to believe that we evolved from apes even though it
> would take several hundred million mutations, all beneficial, for them
> to turn into us. This is somehow science even though it is not only
> contrary to all scientific laws but logic.

All that's required to debunk this argument is to point out the fact that
genetic algorithms, which are literally just Darwinian evolution
implemented as a computer program, can be used to solve real problems.

The reason evolution works is because the bad mutations are thrown out
by virtue of those that have fatal or negative mutations either dying
or being losers, while good mutations are amplified because those who
have them enjoy huge advantages over the rest. This is also the
reason genetic algorithms work: You literally just randomly permute
a possible solution and amplify the best results while deleting the rest.

Sebastian Wells <sebastian@here.com.invalid> wrote:
>On Mon, 24 Jun 2024 18:49:19 -0400, Andrzej Matuch wrote:
>> On 2024-06-24 18:06, chrisv wrote:
>>> Andrzej Matuch wrote:
>>>
>>>> Considering how Darwin's Theory of Evolution is complete excrement
>>>> which can be debunked in seven seconds, God is the best explanation
>>>> for everything around us. <https://www.discovery.org/a/10661/>
>>>
>>> That's some kooky shit, there.
>>
>> Feel free to believe the contrary, countless Darwinists have too only to
>> eventually realize that the theory that has consumed their entire lives
>> needs constant lies to be supported. We're supposed to believe that life
>> emerged from nothing even though that is scientifically impossible, and
>> that a series of mutations, all beneficial, led to us becoming what we
>> are today. Meanwhile, mutations are almost always negative and/or fatal.
>> We're also supposed to believe that we evolved from apes even though it
>> would take several hundred million mutations, all beneficial, for them
>> to turn into us. This is somehow science even though it is not only
>> contrary to all scientific laws but logic.
>
>All that's required to debunk this argument is to point out the fact that
>genetic algorithms, which are literally just Darwinian evolution
>implemented as a computer program, can be used to solve real problems.
>
>The reason evolution works is because the bad mutations are thrown out
>by virtue of those that have fatal or negative mutations either dying
>or being losers, while good mutations are amplified because those who
>have them enjoy huge advantages over the rest. This is also the
>reason genetic algorithms work: You literally just randomly permute
>a possible solution and amplify the best results while deleting the rest.

You really think you have it figured out, huh? That all we see in the
world could evolve gradually, by purely physical means? If you can
believe that, you're a childlike mind.

--
Joel W. Crump

Amendment XIV
Section 1.

[...] No state shall make or enforce any law which shall
abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the
United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of
life, liberty, or property, without due process of law;
nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal
protection of the laws.

Dobbs rewrites this, it is invalid precedent. States are
liable for denying needed abortions, e.g. TX.

On Mon, 24 Jun 2024 19:59:33 -0400, Andrzej Matuch wrote:

> On 2024-06-24 19:37, Joel wrote:
>> Andrzej Matuch <andrzej@matu.ch> wrote:
>>
>>> I've managed to set up Linux Mint the way I want it to be with asusctl
>>> working and my games running as expected. I no longer have access to
>>> my Microsoft movie collection, but that's fine. I imagine that it's a
>>> matter of time before they make those movies available through the web
>>> anyway. If they don't, fine... they're accessible through my Xbox
>>> Series S. I won't install an operating system which is most likely
>>> spying on everything I do just to have access to a library of movies I
>>> never watch.
>>
>>
>> When you say Microsoft movie collection, does that mean they were
>> purchased through MS, or encoded from discs with MS software?
>
> Purchased through the Windows Store and playable through the Xbox or
> Microsoft Films & TV (called Movies & TV in the United States). The
> deals were excellent, around $5 a movie, and I bought a good number so
> you can imagine why I wouldn't be too thrilled about losing access to
> them. Still, between that and having every one of my key strokes,
> website visits and activities recorded by the state, I will gladly lose
> immediate access for privacy. I've been on and off Linux for two
> decades, but I think it's finally time that I respect myself and accept
> whatever drawbacks I find if it means that my privacy is preserved.

The solution to that problem is to install a BitTorrent client
(Transmission is decent) and find non-DRM'd versions of those
movies on <https://tpb.party/>. You should never have accepted
having controls placed on what you can do with your movie files.

On Tue, 25 Jun 2024 01:56:01 -0400, Joel wrote:

> Sebastian Wells <sebastian@here.com.invalid> wrote:
>>On Mon, 24 Jun 2024 18:49:19 -0400, Andrzej Matuch wrote:
>>> On 2024-06-24 18:06, chrisv wrote:
>>>> Andrzej Matuch wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Considering how Darwin's Theory of Evolution is complete excrement
>>>>> which can be debunked in seven seconds, God is the best explanation
>>>>> for everything around us. <https://www.discovery.org/a/10661/>
>>>>
>>>> That's some kooky shit, there.
>>>
>>> Feel free to believe the contrary, countless Darwinists have too only
>>> to eventually realize that the theory that has consumed their entire
>>> lives needs constant lies to be supported. We're supposed to believe
>>> that life emerged from nothing even though that is scientifically
>>> impossible, and that a series of mutations, all beneficial, led to us
>>> becoming what we are today. Meanwhile, mutations are almost always
>>> negative and/or fatal.
>>> We're also supposed to believe that we evolved from apes even though
>>> it would take several hundred million mutations, all beneficial, for
>>> them to turn into us. This is somehow science even though it is not
>>> only contrary to all scientific laws but logic.
>>
>>All that's required to debunk this argument is to point out the fact
>>that genetic algorithms, which are literally just Darwinian evolution
>>implemented as a computer program, can be used to solve real problems.
>>
>>The reason evolution works is because the bad mutations are thrown out
>>by virtue of those that have fatal or negative mutations either dying or
>>being losers, while good mutations are amplified because those who have
>>them enjoy huge advantages over the rest. This is also the reason
>>genetic algorithms work: You literally just randomly permute a possible
>>solution and amplify the best results while deleting the rest.
>
>
> You really think you have it figured out, huh? That all we see in the
> world could evolve gradually, by purely physical means? If you can
> believe that, you're a childlike mind.

Even if there's something for which there's no obvious way it could
have come about gradually, it would still be an incredible stretch
to assume that:

1. The way those things came about was that some other living
being created them.
2. No explanation is needed for where this other living being
came from.
3. That being communicated with humans.
4. It communicated with humans in a way that made it seem
similar to gods that were invented and worshipped by various
civilizations, such as the Sumerians, Egyptians, Greeks,
Phoenicians, Romans, etc, to the point that the word "god"
was also used to describe this being.
5. But unlike those gods, who are not real, the one is absolutely
real. Not because there's evidence that favors the Hebrew god
over Zeus, Ra, Brahma, or Jupiter, but because a lot of people
in the civilization where we live today happen to believe in
the Hebrew god.

On Tue, 25 Jun 2024 01:56:01 -0400, Joel wrote:

> You really think you have it figured out, huh? That all we see in the
> world could evolve gradually, by purely physical means? If you can
> believe that, you're a childlike mind.

Socrates/Plato fucked up western civilization when they added the meta to
physics.

On Tue, 25 Jun 2024 00:15:57 -0400, Joel wrote:

> Geology was the science credit I happened to take, in college, really
> great class, great professor who had done a lot of expeditions, he had
> slides he'd show us. I just barely managed to get a B for the semester,
> nearly got what would've been my only C, it was a tough class for me,
> but fascinating.

But did you believe the geological explanations or is geology also the
creation of intelligent design to keep geologists occupied?

Years ago I was on Greathouse Peak in the Big Snowy Mountains.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Snowy_Mountains

It's an island range, meaning it's not attached to the Rockies and the
surrounding area in eastern Montana is flatland. The 'peak' isn't much of
a peak, just a rocky ridge. I happened to pick up one of the rocks and saw
marine fossils. What were they doing at 8600' surrounded by miles of semi-
arid plains? A cosmic joke?

Sebastian Wells <sebastian@here.com.invalid> wrote:

>>>The reason evolution works is because the bad mutations are thrown out
>>>by virtue of those that have fatal or negative mutations either dying or
>>>being losers, while good mutations are amplified because those who have
>>>them enjoy huge advantages over the rest. This is also the reason
>>>genetic algorithms work: You literally just randomly permute a possible
>>>solution and amplify the best results while deleting the rest.
>>
>> You really think you have it figured out, huh? That all we see in the
>> world could evolve gradually, by purely physical means? If you can
>> believe that, you're a childlike mind.
>
>Even if there's something for which there's no obvious way it could
>have come about gradually, it would still be an incredible stretch
>to assume that:
>
>1. The way those things came about was that some other living
> being created them.
>2. No explanation is needed for where this other living being
> came from.
>3. That being communicated with humans.
>4. It communicated with humans in a way that made it seem
> similar to gods that were invented and worshipped by various
> civilizations, such as the Sumerians, Egyptians, Greeks,
> Phoenicians, Romans, etc, to the point that the word "god"
> was also used to describe this being.
>5. But unlike those gods, who are not real, the one is absolutely
> real. Not because there's evidence that favors the Hebrew god
> over Zeus, Ra, Brahma, or Jupiter, but because a lot of people
> in the civilization where we live today happen to believe in
> the Hebrew god.

robocough.com

--
Joel W. Crump

Amendment XIV
Section 1.

[...] No state shall make or enforce any law which shall
abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the
United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of
life, liberty, or property, without due process of law;
nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal
protection of the laws.

Dobbs rewrites this, it is invalid precedent. States are
liable for denying needed abortions, e.g. TX.

rbowman <bowman@montana.com> wrote:

>> Geology was the science credit I happened to take, in college, really
>> great class, great professor who had done a lot of expeditions, he had
>> slides he'd show us. I just barely managed to get a B for the semester,
>> nearly got what would've been my only C, it was a tough class for me,
>> but fascinating.
>
>But did you believe the geological explanations or is geology also the
>creation of intelligent design to keep geologists occupied?

It was pretty self-evident science, the way it was taught, really
great stuff, certainly God created the foundation for an M-class
planet, but he didn't just dictate everything that would transpire on
it.

--
Joel W. Crump

Amendment XIV
Section 1.

[...] No state shall make or enforce any law which shall
abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the
United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of
life, liberty, or property, without due process of law;
nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal
protection of the laws.

Dobbs rewrites this, it is invalid precedent. States are
liable for denying needed abortions, e.g. TX.

On 2024-06-24 23:04, DFS wrote:
> On 6/24/2024 7:14 PM, Andrzej Matuch wrote:
>> On 2024-06-24 19:02, Joel wrote:
>>>
>>> To be honest, it's kind of unbelievable how just in the time of
>>> Win11's being current, we've seen this manifest.  I liked Win11 when I
>>> first used it.  I would *never* *think* of going back to M$, now.
>>> Linux or death.
>>
>> I can only hope that I'll have the same kind of strength for myself. I
>> regretfully often "forget" why it becomes necessary for me to leave
>> Windows. Each time, I tell myself that the unethical behaviour is not
>> as bad as I thought or whatever. In the end, it almost always turns
>> out to be worse than I even imagined. Anyway, I've managed to set up
>> Linux Mint the way I want it to be with asusctl working and my games
>> running as expected. I no longer have access to my Microsoft movie
>> collection, but that's fine. I imagine that it's a matter of time
>> before they make those movies available through the web anyway. If
>> they don't, fine... they're accessible through my Xbox Series S. I
>> won't install an operating system which is most likely spying on
>> everything I do just to have access to a library of movies I never watch.
>
> heh!  Here we go again!

You called it.

--
Andrzej (Andre) Matuch
TG: @AndrzejMatuch
Catholic, paleoconservative, Christ is king.

On 2024-06-24 23:18, Joel wrote:
> DFS <nospam@dfs.com> wrote:
>> On 6/24/2024 7:14 PM, Andrzej Matuch wrote:
>>> On 2024-06-24 19:02, Joel wrote:
>>>>
>>>> To be honest, it's kind of unbelievable how just in the time of
>>>> Win11's being current, we've seen this manifest.  I liked Win11 when I
>>>> first used it.  I would *never* *think* of going back to M$, now.
>>>> Linux or death.
>>>
>>> I can only hope that I'll have the same kind of strength for myself. I
>>> regretfully often "forget" why it becomes necessary for me to leave
>>> Windows. Each time, I tell myself that the unethical behaviour is not as
>>> bad as I thought or whatever. In the end, it almost always turns out to
>>> be worse than I even imagined. Anyway, I've managed to set up Linux Mint
>>> the way I want it to be with asusctl working and my games running as
>>> expected. I no longer have access to my Microsoft movie collection, but
>>> that's fine. I imagine that it's a matter of time before they make those
>>> movies available through the web anyway. If they don't, fine... they're
>>> accessible through my Xbox Series S. I won't install an operating system
>>> which is most likely spying on everything I do just to have access to a
>>> library of movies I never watch.
>>
>> heh! Here we go again!
>
>
> I believe him, this time, though. He's making a very valid point,
> that commercial software is going in a novel direction. Linux may
> quickly become the only choice, for someone who remembers the wild
> west Internet.

DFS is right, either way. Maybe it won't last and I'll be seduced by the
fact that I have a movie collection in Windows or that my fingerprint
sensor is supported there. However, the list of grievances is pretty
large now. Client-side scanning, keylogging, advertising ID, general
telemetry, reverting to Edge against your will, vulnerability to a
variety of malware (some of which just took out the Federal Reserve),
progressive slowdown, system files breaking for no reason requiring SFC
and DISM, etc.. The battery is supposed to last longer in Windows, but I
just checked here and my 77% charge is slated as being able to go
another 10 hours in Linux Mint which is twice what Windows got me under
the same circumstances. At some point, I just need to retire from the
barrage of compromises in Windows and accept a few workarounds in Linux.

--
Andrzej (Andre) Matuch
TG: @AndrzejMatuch
Catholic, paleoconservative, Christ is king.