bzs@bu-cs.UUCP (Barry Shein) (03/05/86)
I was recently accused, in another group, of having published in net.politics. I have never consciously done anything of the sort though I suppose it is possible that a followup slipped through my fingers. Further, I was accused of being a flaming leftist, communist, pinko and owner of photographs of all your children on their way to school. I think this was either because I thought plutonium was a health hazard or that Gus Hall was not the world's foremost authority on the Space Shuttle, it's so hard to tell, especially when these notes are written using only adjectives. Ok, for the satisfaction of all these people who seem to be absolutely fascinated with my opinion on most everything, I hearby give my opinion on most everything: 1. Shopping Malls - They cause cancer and republicanism (also, see Phillipines below.) There is a well documented illness called "shopping mall disease" wherein you get light-headed, lethargic and just want to leave. Not sure what causes it but I am sure it affects more people than AIDS. 2. Soviet Union - They betrayed the revolution, State capitalism, very sad. 3. Israel - Charming country, lovely cafes, nice people, really. 4. Palestinians - Nice people, got to speak with some (got a few rocks thrown at me by some and my arm cut by shattered glass, but that's ok, I have a sense of humor.) Cute children. We really oughta give them a hand, sincerely, this whole thing is ridiculous and criminal. Far better use of our tax dollars than contras or other stupid things. 5. China - Tough question tho perhaps one of the greatest frontiers other than space. Funny how every time you meet someone from China they seem fascinating. And besides, it is a well established fact that the only food worth eating in the world is either Chinese or Italian Cuisine. 6. Khaddaffi (sp?) - A total jackass, if for no other reason then he never gets his way. Pretty boring guy really, and *no one* can spell his name. If I were a Libyan I would get rid of the guy just cause he's so embarrasing. 7. Nicaragua - I've said it before. Either congress should declare war and send in the 82nd airborne or we should get out of there on Tuesday. 8. CIA - Wouldn't trust em as far as I can throw them, you can do what you like, I for one cannot distinguish what they do from organized crime. 9. Reagan - A puppet for some very disturbing people who's names we don't seem to know, they all worked at the Hoover Institute at one time though. He seems to believe people only have rights before they are born. 10. Phillipines - I doubt the US could overturn a corrupt election with as little bloodshed, we can't even make it through a sale at Filene's Basement with so little bloodshed. You have to be impressed in the end. 11. Space Shuttle - Build another one now, offer me a seat. First Nurd in Space! 12. Zundel - Everyone has a right to free speech so long as no one listens. I woulda let the guy continue first on general principles and second to help get a good head count on the total nut contingency. 13. Abortion - Morally reprehensible, should be legal. What should be illegal is the fact that we have built a society in which there is no room for our children. 14. New York City - I was born and raised there, enough said. 15. AIDS - no thank you. 16. National Debt - Before getting too excited I wish someone would identify the collection agency we are so worried about. 17. Nuclear Disarmament - Obviously a fine idea, I predict major progress in the next few years. 18. SDI - Obviously a stupid idea. If Reagan thinks it's such a great idea he oughta go get a patent on it, I suspect they would make him sit with the nut cases with the perpetual motion machines. 19. Individual Liberties - I think it is a travesty the way people are running around trying to enforce etiquette by trying to get the police come in and hit you over the head with a stick every time you smoke a cigarette, let your dog loose or curse out loud. I think people have to learn from us New Yorkers, you lean over and yell "STOP THAT YOU JERK", much more satisfying. 20. Capital Punishment - Totally against it. I agree with Camus, it probably encourages murder by enforcing in our minds the concept that one can come to a rational decision to kill someone. 21. Computer Science Degrees - of great value to a few, a waste on most, but what isn't? 22. South Africa - I don't think there has been a simpler issue in years, why don't we go support the 'contras' there!? 23. Gun Control - I have never owned a gun, but I guess I wouldn't mind, ya know, "I'm OK, You're Flakey". 24. Reagan (again) - Actually, the most disturbing thing about him is that I believe he says one thing and does quite the opposite and I am always furious with both. 25. Democrats - They deserved to lose, sorry lot. It's clear the two-party system is a big boor and produces only mediocrity. In the next election I predict great success from the USENET party. 26. Religion - completely opposed. 27. God - Has very little to do with religion no matter how much they drop his name. 28. Drunk Driving - totally opposed (phew, that was a tough one.) 29. Suing Bartenders - clearly a dumb idea. Maybe we should sue lawyers. 30. Lawyers - some people build things, others argue over who owns the result. 31. ADA - The EDSEL of the 80s (maybe the 90s at this rate.) 32. Feminism - obviously a necessity, just not sure why anyone thinks having a job is a great idea. 33. Communism - Just like capitalism, wonderful in theory, never works in practice. 34. The New Coke - give me a break. 35. Net.Bizarre - someone here suggested it should just be brought back every summer, not a bad idea but the quality was so low. Maybe Bob Nebert would moderate. 36. Changing the name of net.columbia - yawn. 37. IBM - Best hardware, worst software in the world. 38. DEC - Might be the exact opposite, except I hate VMS also. 39. UNIX - Everyone is making money off it except AT&T. They should give the whole project (hardware on up) back to the labs. It's amazing how you get a bunch of people with 12 piece suits on together in a room and they will all walk out with a conclusion to "make it run COBOL". Bletch. 40. 4.2 vs SYS/V - try MVS for a while. Or VMS for that matter. 41. Censorship of Record Albums - Obviously those people have nothing better to do. I have little patience with art critics. 42. Liberals - Worthless. 43. Conservatives - Dangerous. 44. TeX vs Troff - The disturbing thing is that TeX has this 600 page book which explains nothing while Troff has this 30 page book which explains nothing. 45. Amiga vs Atari vs Apple - I can't wait till we get to the 'B's. 46. Gramm-Rudman - Yeah, sure, rats guarding the cheese, uh-huh. 47. Non-Dairy Coffee Creamers - never eat anything if you cannot pronounce the ingredients, or if you happen to be an organic chemist, get a 12 year old to help you mispronounce. 48. Reagan - What *is* Larry Speakes' real name, give us a break. 49. Seat Belts - I believe right after poverty is eliminated, the national debt paid off, nuclear disarmament is accomplished we should pass a good strong seat belt law, and not a moment sooner. 50. Nuclear Power - If you think the people who run those things are scientists and not sleazy business types you are living in a dream world. Ok, thank you. Score it however you like. I don't read this group and never intend to. If you send me personal mail please do it on paper so at least I can keep warm as I burn it. -Barry Shein, Boston University
ins_akaa@jhunix.UUCP (Ken Arromdee) (03/06/86)
Note: I have cross-posted to net.columbia because of the references to arguments originally appearing in net.columbia. >Further, I was accused of being a flaming leftist, communist, pinko >and owner of photographs of all your children on their way to school. >I think this was either because I thought plutonium was a health hazard This isn't what the argument was actually about. Everybody agrees that plutonium is dangerous to some extent. The actual complaints were about your exaggeration of the danger, not your statements that a danger exists. >or that Gus Hall was not the world's foremost authority on the Space >Shuttle, Wrong again. What ACTUALLY mattered was not that Gus Hall made the statement, but that the statement was published in Pravda, apparently indicating that the Soviet government (slightly more important to worldwide affairs than Gus Hall) wanted its people to believe the accusations in the statement. -- Kenneth Arromdee | | BITNET: G46I4701 at JHUVM, INS_AKAA at JHUVMS -|------|- CSNET: ins_akaa@jhunix.CSNET -|------|- ARPA: ins_akaa%jhunix@hopkins.ARPA -|------|- UUCP: {allegra!hopkins, seismo!umcp-cs, ihnp4!whuxcc} -|------|- !jhunix!ins_akaa | |