Laser radiation? Can i be harmed by opening disconected cd drive?

All countries kill thousands for wealth and power. It's in the nature of all creatures to try and dominate their environment for their individual or collective benefit. We're no different except in how it's done. Politics is politics regardless of who is in power. Individually we may all be "nice" people until our individual welfare is at risk. Governments simply reflect the people they govern.

But enough of this, I think. We've co-opted this topic more than we should.

Nah, can't let that go... it is definitely NOT " in the nature of all creatures to try and dominate their environment for their individual or collective benefit." Some creatures actually work together and cooperate with each other. And I'd rather die myself than hurt or harm an innocent, and there's a lot of folks out there like me who would do the same. Look to history how many thousands of Germans were killed before things really got underway.
Actually it's that kind of thinking, a darwinistic, animalistic view of the world that has held Mankind back for countless thousands of years. Man, the killer ape, has always had options and because of a few, were goaded into doing horrible things to each other. We've always had options, we think, we imagine. There's simply no excuse for some of the things we've done. I, for one, am ashamed we installed dictators for a banana company. And Iran? We made it what it is today.

And Bush reflected no one here except a radical few. The only reason he became President is that the other choices were so terrible at the time. But looking back, either would have been a better choice.

On a good and relevant note though, Obama seems to be a MacAddict. 🙂

"Some creatures actually work together and cooperate with each other."

But that's exactly what I said. Working together and cooperating is the same as working collectively.

It's pretty easy to say you would rather die yourself than harm another, but it's a rare circumstance when one's own survival is sublimated to a philosophical ideal. Bear in mind that millions of Germans protected themselves rather than take action because their individual survival was at stake.

We did no make Iran what it is today. Iranians did. We did not make Iraq what it is today nor India nor Pakistan, etc. The people made choices. When they didn't like the Shah they kicked him out. When they didn't like Sadam Hussain they looked to us to kick him out. Regardless of what dictatorship exists the people do not rise up against their own tyranny because of their individual fear of death. Hence, it's easier to let terrorists do their work in the West than risk their own lives to save ours. If people really were as you would like them to be (and I have no problem with the ideal) there could not have been a 9/11.

Bush became president because he was elected by the majority. People chose him regardless of the opposition, and they did it twice in a row. If he truly was the lesser of two evils, then imagine how awful it would have been if the country elected the democratic candidate? If the democratic candidate was better than Bush, then why wasn't he elected? It's easy to blame Bush for all the bad things unliked about his 8 years in office, but presidents can't do much on their own. Congress and the judiciary are supposed to provide limits on presidential power. Bush could not wage a war in Iraq had Congress not given it's nod of approval. And Congress doesn't act without consideration of reelection meaning they reflect what the voting public wants. When the voter doesn't like what he/she gets they express their opinion at the polls.

Obame won over a weak republican candidate who waged a weak campaign. A better candidate may have put the republicans in the White House for another four years. Obama may reflect the will of the people, but most likely he, too, was simply the lesser of two evils. The voters didn't like Bush, so they elected Obama. Fortunately for Obama he was actually running against Bush in absentia.

Yes, it's a Darwinistc view of the world because evolution defines our world. Can't blame it all on Darwin because thousands of years ago Darwin hadn't been born. We did all that on our own without Darwin or his text on evolution. And, yes, it is an animalistic view because we are all animals.

Love thy neighbor as you love thyself is a proverb from Western religions. Religion - the so called harbinger of love and altruism - has wrought more death and destruction in the name of God than any government. And everyone thinks God is on their side to make right whatever they do - but only if they are successful.

OK, we're now tailing into forbidden areas for the Discussions. I'd hate to see this all suddenly disappear when the moderators make their choices.

Well, I like and respect you Kappy, but you are so wrong on so many things. I sense unhappiness and the viewpoints it creates. But I know you'll never see things the way people like me do.
And philosophy and religion have merit for me... Right now I'm undergoing experimental chemotherapy not for myself, because my case is terminal, but for others who it may help in the future. Essentially I'm giving up known therapies that would prolong my life, for only the possibility that this may. But since a soon to come death is assured, something other than the animal in me is wanting to help others despite the risks for myself. So you see, sometimes people talk the talk and walk the walk. And I've met many, I'm no saint.

We overthrew the democratically elected leader of Iran via Eisenhower and the CIA. We installed a compliant monarch who sent agents to this country to harass dissidents here and threatened them with harm to their families in Iran. The people came to hate him and overthrew him. The rest is theirs, and our history.

I apologize for getting carried away on this, I have great respect for you. You yourself have been so altruistic in helping so many here. I've always thought that Man was an animal who didn't want to be one. I tend to go berserk when I hear that people are happy or understanding of the way we are, when it's been shown time and time again that we can be more. As a poet once said, we're like a hippopotamus with wings. I always try to keep in mind the wings part.

So peace to you and yours. I sense I've caused too much trouble already. You can reply if you want, but I'll keep silent. Happy Mac-ing to both of us. 🙂

Laser and radiation are two different things. The only danger you faced in taking the optical drive apart was a bad cut from sharp metal pieces.

A drive that is disconnected from power is nothing more than an assembly of benign parts (except for sharp edges).

Tell that to the guy I hit in the head once with one... 😉

How about them Yankees, huh? 🙂

You mean the ones who fought the Confederates?

No.
The ones who spend there days trying to hit the little leather bound orb.......

Did I tell you, that I like sound of grass growing?

Lol. 🙂

Edit: What did that orb ever do to them?

Message was edited by: Samsara