h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I've voluntarily given up quite a bit of my privacy. For the privilege of having a mortgage and car loans and credit cards I've had to share a great deal of personal information. I suspect that the supermarket chain where I shop has more information about me than the government does.

I ~say~ I gave my privacy voluntarily, but the alternative is to live in a cave and ride a bicycle. Our culture and standard of living already demand we give up some privacy. It's what those institutions (government or private sector) may do with the information that I find threatening.

So far, the scourge of telemarketing is my biggest complaint.

[]

[PCT]

*Back at college, spending far less time on h2g2, giving up role-playing adventures, w*rking on his numerous Web sites and projects, not being entertained by the World Cup, finding disturbing similarities between events of today and events in the game Deus Ex - however predictable they may be - preparing for the h2g2 Southampton meet-up, and hating fashion and the girlie stereotype.*

Well, this is likely my last post for a day or so. I have a 0730 appointment with a surgeon to scope my knees. If I find time this evening I will stop back by to catch up on blog. Wish me luck all, I hate doctors and hospitals.

{[caer csd] waving at the Prof and wondering why he is worrying about girlie stereotyping}

[Amy] - sends her best wishes to Marv's knees.

*blows marv a good luck kiss*

well, all, tomorrow is my last day at my current job. i know, most people would not be sad for this event, but i am. i love my boss, love the folks i work with, and frankly, enjoy the heck out of my job (there are things that make me nuts, but not very many!). it is a hard thing to leave. oh, well.

i offically hate cleaning and packing and all of those things that go along with moving. actually, i hate moving. good thing i won't have to do it for a bit, eh?

sea, dearest, what say you come for dinner say the middle of july or so? if you feel like it, of course. i'm not a bad cook, if i do say so myself!

{[caer csd] hoping all is going well with Marv today.}

This is probably one of my last posts for a while too. We're going on holiday on Sunday, and there's plenty to do before we get that far. Haven't even started to pack our gear.. The destination is a cottage on a small island just outside Kristiansand. Batheing, boatlife and barbecuing, weather permitting.
Good luck with the knees, Marv.
Crossing my fingers for you and the preservation commitee, Lil.
Stay well, Amy.
Have a nice summer, everybody!

[Amy]

Good luck with the knees Marv!

Likewise, Marv (bit belated, sorry)

[]

Greetings!

I came here indirectly from the Philip Pullman thread on Ask H2G2. Could someone point me to the discussion on daemons which I'm told happened here? Mine would be a European fox..

Thanks!

*sending Marv good thoughts on the knees*

Regarding the discussion on giving up rights, I am extremely leary of giving up any rights. I am even more leary of a group of politicians that want me to give up my rights "because they know what's best for me".

We must always remembers that if one person wants to bad enough, they can accomplish almost anything, either for good or evil, and giving up rights will not stop them.

Courtesy (trying to figure out how much government intervention is too much, and wishing for some coffee to help out)

Welcome Nora!

The Pulman discussion is rather spread out through the 48Xth and 49Xth Conversations. If you have the time and patience to wade through all the backlog, I am sure Lil (whose Atelier this is) will be more than happy for you to.

Sorry, sea, I must take issue with your statement as well. I can't remember which of our Founding Fathers said it, nor the exact wording, but he who gives up his liberty for his safety deserves neither. In a time when individuals can hijack a plane simply using box cutters all the fancy new security agencies and polices that Dubya has created cannot protect us. Furthermore, these agencies and policies will most likely eventually be used against American citizens a la the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms or the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Bush and Cheney have already demonstrated they are willing to strip Americans of their rights--how about that withholding of Presidental documents indefinitely or the refusal to disclose who helped craft the energy policy?--why give them a longer leash?

granted, i wouldn't say, "okay, here, i'll wear a tracking device with a cyanice capsule in it so you can terminate me if the need should ever arise", but if they came up with a way to keep suspected terrorists off planes and out of ports and even out of the US, i'd be willing.

however, like i said before, i have very little faith in the current administration, and would probably be VERY suspicious about anything they offered. i don't claim to know what the solution is, but if people can't be held accountable for their own actions...

oh, and MR, dinner sounds lovely!

Hullo all!

Marv wanted me to let everyone know that he is now out of his surgery. Everything seemed to go well, although he goes back to the doctor on Monday to get checked on. He's in some pain - naturally - and has just taken his meds. He says that if they don't knock him for too big a loop, he'll log on later today.

*sips *

One's safety is always in danger when those around one have their freedom. However, diplomacy and politeness are the grease on the wheels on daily interaction. Also, the concept that my rights end where your nose begins and vice versa is useful. Sadly, not everyone sees things that way. I've always liked the phrase, "An armed society is a polite society." I don't necessarily think that everyone should be trusted with weapons of any kind, but the knowledge that you can defend yourself makes people much less likely to come after you.

Hope Marv has a speedy recovery

[BB]