17 years Ago
The Ethics of Being Carnivorous
Published by marco on
“Is it possible that future generations will regard our present agribusiness and eating practices in much the same way as we now view Nero’s entertainments or Mengele’s experiments? My own initial reaction is that such a comparison is hysterical, extreme – and yet the reason it seems extreme to me appears to be that I believe animals are less morally important than human beings; and when it comes to defending such a belief, even to myself, I have to acknowledge that (a) I have an obvious... [More]”
The Matrix
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“People who have realized that this is a dream, imagine that it is easy to wake up, and are angry with those who continue sleeping, not considering that the whole world that environs them does not permit them to wake. Life proceeds as a series of optical illusions, artificial needs and imaginary sensations.”
Understatement
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“Despite the best that has been done by everyone, the war situation has developed not necessarily to Japan’s advantage.”
Often quoted by the now-silent Billmon in response to stunningly undetstatements offered by politicians at large. The most recent spate come from the king of rhetoric, George Bush II, S = r * t (My Alter Ego Speaks) cites him: “I do know that we have not succeeded as fast as we wanted to succeed”, with other variations being “I thought we would succeed quicker than we did” and “I am disappointed by... [More]”
Infallibility
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“I confess that there are several parts of this constitution[1] which I do not at present approve, but I am not sure I shall never approve them: For having lived long, I have experienced many instances of being obliged by better information, or fuller consideration, to change opinions even on important subjects, which I once thought right, but found to be otherwise. It is therefore that the older I grow, the more apt I am to doubt my own judgment, and to pay more respect to the judgment of others.... [More]”
OOP and Generics
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“OOP without generics is like a car that only turns left – sure you can go right, just take three lefts.”
Secret of Success
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“To succeed in the world it is not enough to be stupid, you must also be well-mannered.”
Choosing Wisely
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“I have discovered from your comments that the best thing I have done was to choose my predecessor.”
Khalilzad replaced John Bolton as the American ambassador to the United Nations.
Malice and Magic
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“Never ascribe to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity.”
“Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.”
“Any sufficiently advanced incompetence is indistinguishable from malice.”
Anticipation
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“I skate to where the puck is going to be, not where it’s been.”
The Long Run
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“Now ‘in the long run’ this is probably true. In the long run we are all dead. Economists set themselves too easy, too useless a task if in tempestuous seasons they can only tell us that when the storm is long past the ocean is flat again.”
Belief & Authorities
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“Clearly, if you are going to believe anything outside your own experience, you should have some reason for believing it. Usually, the reason is authority… It is true that most of us must inevitably depend upon (authority) for most of our knowledge.”
Ft. Benning
Published by marco on
“Well, we could urge our governments to apply full diplomatic pressure, and to seek the extradition of the school’s commanders for trial on charges of complicity in crimes against humanity. Alternatively, we could demand that our governments attack the United States, bombing its military installations, cities and airports in the hope of overthrowing its unelected government and replacing it with a new administration overseen by the UN. In case this proposal proves unpopular with the American... [More]”
Folly
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“A phenomenon noticeable throughout history regardless of place or period is the pursuit by governments of policies contrary to their own interests. Mankind, it seems, makes a poorer performance of government than of almost any other human activity. Why do holders of high office so often act contrary to the way reason points and enlightened self-interest suggests?”
Writing
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“Tennessee Williams would get up in the morning and sit by his pool all day, armed with two bottles of Old Granddad, marinating in the sun until 11pm, when he’d suddenly write furiously for 25 minutes. He said his whole life was dedicated to doing anything he could to get rid of those 12 hours a day when he didn’t do anything at all. I understand that. I find the business of getting up in the morning and going to the typewriter absolutely awful.”
Boasting (Programming)
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“If you boast about how quickly you developed your product, people will complain about its performance. (Rails)
“If you boast about how well your product runs, people will complain about its development time. (Vista)
“If you don’t boast about either, people will assume you are developing in Java.”
18 years Ago
Consequences
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“Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired, signifies in the final sense a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed. This world in arms is not spending money alone. It is spending the sweat of its laborers, the genius of its scientists, the hopes of its children.”
Good Ideas
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“Don’t worry about people stealing your ideas. If they’re any good, you’ll have to ram them down people’s throats.”
Complex Humor
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“There exists a type of joke that makes you feel clever for getting it. Do do confuse this with actual humor.”