JohnStrange

11 ms·

61.
by JohnStrange 9y ago
This is a common argument but it's based on the incorrect assumption that existing difference must dictate the way we shape and envision a future society. It's based on the naturalistic fallacy and is also historically blind. If y
62.
by JohnStrange 9y ago
I agree with you but would like to add some remark about "fairness". This is a very broad term that encompasses many different issues. Principles of resource distribution are just one aspect of it. I have never met anyone in my li
63.
by JohnStrange 9y ago
No, the article lays this out quite sensibly. If NK could reasonably assume that their long-range missiles would continue to pose a threat to the US mainland or military bases after a foreign aggression, then they could and would have to us
64.
by JohnStrange 9y ago
I don't know, I'm writing books, do science for a living, make music (2 albums out), and write software, but I also enjoy researching, buying and owning good and sometimes rare products such as waterproof socks, mechanical keyboar
65.
by JohnStrange 9y ago
As an in-your-pocket pen I'd recommend a Kaweco Sport pen [1]. They are smaller than standard fountain pens and some of them come in metal with a cap that can be screwed on. I wouldn't recommend the tiny converter (aka refiller)
66.
by JohnStrange 9y ago
Nothing you're saying is new to me, all I wanted is to correct your false statements, which I did.
67.
by JohnStrange 9y ago
I would believe him by default, especially if there was a possible credible cause or motive (e.g. your friend is a dissident in some less democratic country). The alarm clock seems harmless, mine has done that in the past due to faulty swit
68.
by JohnStrange 9y ago
I believe I've had some success with ridiculizing conspiracy theorists and displaying outrage, but only among people who already respect me as a peer and with whom I've had long and fruitful conversations about other topics before
69.
by JohnStrange 9y ago
I use an expensive payware application (Papyrus Autor) for my German novels because its spell-checking and style correction is unbeatable. It just works, which is the most important thing for me in addition to a strong focus on data integri
70.
by JohnStrange 9y ago
Twist it as you like, fact is that Germany started WWII - as you also admit, since the facts you mention fully support that and not your point of view.
71.
by JohnStrange 9y ago
The crucial difference that many people in this partly appalling thread (and partly even more appalling, mind-bogglingly fascist moderation) don't get is that gay people have not committed a Holocaust against 6 million Jews and also do
72.
by JohnStrange 9y ago
This is complete and utter nonsense. WW2 was started by the Germans under direct supervision and order of Adolf Hitler, by attacking Poland under false pretense. Later on Hitler attacked Russia despite a peace treaty he had signed, and yes
73.
by JohnStrange 9y ago
Yes, you should have been much clearer and yet you weren't. My comment was not an insult, it literally meant what it said.
74.
by JohnStrange 9y ago
There are many differences: 1. Nazis started WW2 with around 80 million deaths, including hundreds of thousands US soldiers, and killed 5-6 million Jews in the gas chambers of concentration camps. 2. McCarthyism originated from and was syst
75.
by JohnStrange 9y ago
This is independent of anyone's political beliefs, there should be limits to radical jihadists, radical anti-democratic communists, radical anti-democratic fascists of all sort, etc. You can choose to pursue your political aims with no
76.
by JohnStrange 9y ago
I've got to agree. I was quite shocked by some of the comments on earlier threads about this topic. For example, someone suggested that the German Nazi party was advocating mild socialist reforms very similar to modern social democrats
77.
by JohnStrange 9y ago
This is nitpicking. If somebody shows a Hitler greeting and uses swastikas and other well-known derived symbols, then he is a Nazi. There is absolutely no problem spotting them or distinguishing them from nationalist conservatives. For a st
78.
by JohnStrange 9y ago
This is indeed an unrelated matter. But since you ask: Hundreds of thousands of US soldiers died fighting against Nazis to free Europe from tyranny. Not doing business with Nazis is everyone's patriotic duty.
79.
by JohnStrange 9y ago
I was making a joke...
80.
by JohnStrange 9y ago
I think he's wrong with Step 2, but the beginning of the talk is fine.
81.
by JohnStrange 9y ago
Psychologically, men and men are way more different than women and men are different between each other as groups (on the average, as tendencies), so this whole debate is ill-conceived. The reason why there is still a 'debate' and
82.
by JohnStrange 9y ago
In my experience, there are three problems with these debates (incl. the Google memo) that are huge enough that I believe it's best to avoid them entirely in the general public: 1. To many opinions in them are agenda-driven. There are
83.
by JohnStrange 9y ago
Nah, I don't buy your reply but totally understand your perspective. My assessment and general advice stands as is, for most people (including US citizens) it makes a lot of sense to avoid any US or UK based VPN providers. I'd per
84.
by JohnStrange 9y ago
Looks to me like you're primarily advertising Cloaks, owned by a US-based company. There are tons of reasons why privacy-minded users would want to avoid a company under US jurisdiction, but you mention none of them.
85.
by JohnStrange 9y ago
That observation matches my experience, at least for cheap offers. I bought a one-year subscription to ivacy.com (a Hong Kong based provider ~ Chinese government controlled) at a ridiculously low sales price and it turned out that they impo
86.
by JohnStrange 9y ago
I don't know, the criticism in the list is certainly irrelevant, but as far as I can see PIA is a US company and I believe it is kind of absurd to nowadays trust any US or UK company about privacy-related matters. The UK has become one
87.
by JohnStrange 9y ago
80 bits of entropy is between 12 and 13 visible ASCII characters and between 14-15 ASCII letters. Yes, if you go below that I'd say it's insecure. It's a conservative estimate, I admit. An entropy of 60 might be okay, too, bu
88.
by JohnStrange 9y ago
Uhm, no, independently of that...
89.
by JohnStrange 9y ago
That's secure enough if it's randomly generated.
90.
by JohnStrange 9y ago
Maybe I'm paranoid, but I advice to my customers that any passphrase with an entropy below 80 bits is insecure, around 140 bit is fairly secure, and anything above 200 bit entropy is very secure.

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