The Straight Dope: What’s the worst outcome in the net-neutrality debate?

[View this message as a web page]( [The Straight Dope]( 08/18/2017 Dear Cecil: There seem to be two major concerns with a lack of net neutrality: pricing (want to browse ESPN.com? That’s another five bucks a month) and content (would internet service providers refuse to transmit certain sites?). How bad could it really get? — Bryan Thurn, Jacksonville Cecil replies: Great news: the genuine worst-case scenario you’re wondering about is finally starting to come into focus. It’s about time. The debate about net neutrality is only a decade old, but feels like it’s been going on forever — probably because it’s existed mostly within the realm of the hypothetical: what might happen if this happens, what might not happen if that does. At long last we have something concretely terrible to worry about. For more, see: [( STRAIGHT DOPE STAFF REPORT — 08/02/1999 Dear Straight Dope: The idea that the FARTHER we are able to see into the universe, the YOUNGER the objects we see, seems paradoxical because if we could see FAR ENOUGH, we would see the beginning of the universe; and since the Big Bang holds that it all started from a single point, the objects we see would not be far away at all, but RIGHT ON TOP OF US. What gives? — Tom.McAfee@sterinfo.com SDStaff Ian replies: I can see why Cecil decided to let the Straight Dope Science Advisory Board have a crack at this one. It's such a softball. Let's deal with the last part of the question first. For more, see: [( STRAIGHT DOPE CLASSIC — 10/29/2004 Dear Cecil: So I guess everyone's agreed that John Kerry personally blew away a VC in 'Nam 35 years ago. My question is, have we ever had a killer for president? I'm not talking about generals like Grant and Eisenhower, who were indirectly responsible for the deaths of thousands of Confederates and Germans, or combatants using long-distance weapons like a Kennedy torpedo or a Bush Sr. bomb. I'm wondering about somebody getting whacked face to face, mano a mano, up close and personal, with a gun, knife, club, or pointy stick. Washington in the French and Indian War? Garfield in the Civil War? Didn't Andy Jackson fight a duel or two? — Gavin Anderson, Salt Lake City Cecil replies: No offense, Gavin, but you sound like one of those guys who slows down to ogle car wrecks. However, now that you bring it up, the question does hold a certain grim fascination. Given the 250-year time span and the impossibility of counting undetected homicides, I don't claim the following list is complete. Still, I know of three U.S. presidents who killed people at close range, and one more accused of murder ... For more, see: [( YOUR AD HERE! Your direct line to thousands of the smartest, hippest people on the planet, plus a few total dipsticks. For rates and details contact Rich at [rhummel@suntimes.com](. Copyright © 2017 Sun-Times Media, LLC. This email was sent by The Straight Dope, Sun-Times Media, LLC., 350 N. Orleans, 10th Floor, Chicago, IL 60654 [Unsubscribe/update preferences]( This email was sent to {EMAIL}. To change or update your newsletter subscription preferences, or to unsubscribe from all Chicago Reader and Straight Dope newsletters and promotional communications, [click here](. Please allow 72 hours for this change to take effect.