Dosn't this seem terribly innefficient? I mean, mantaining these things in the air at all times, to do a job that seems to already be done by survelience satellites, airplanes and ground. And how does this reduce the risk to terrorism?
Well, then I suppose the issue becomes that of what you want. I would imagine that the nifty features, which I like too, will be on the better epuipment within a few years. The most useful things today are on lower quality stuff, which is generally the case; the cheap, newish equipment is the alpha and beta releases for the day when a product reaches maturity...the market moves too much (reigons, reigon free within just a couple of years) for manufacturers to invest lots of money in a product to make it good. Note: my DVD player is my computer...it plays MP3s, DVD, DIVX, et al even out to the TV and the computer is several years old (cheap)
Really, buying something of quality is often less costly. Low quality electronics, like a $49 DVD player that is expected to break in a year or two requires another trip to the store. Anotehr trip to the store takes time (probably at least half to a full hour, depending on traffic)...for most people, time=$$$ Then there are the costs to society, like increased waste. Finally, there are issues regarding quality of life--eg do you really want to spend your life at Best Buy?
A Good DVD player (one that lasts 10-20 years) may cost more intitally, but in the long term the savings are far greater.
The matters of legality here seem almost nodifferent from what the government normally does to catch other 'common' criminals like drug dealers...they create a sting and snag their men. Just becuase it involves computers and not drug traffiking/dealing does not make it much different.
I don't understand what the point of this system would be. Most people still need to carry their credit card(s) so why not use them here anyway. Furthermore, by using this system you just open yourself to more risks-eg somebody breaking into their sytem (they are a grocery store...you think they have the top-of-the line security measures?) and taking every credit card number.
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*a writer's
I'm an English major and I would say that an writer's attempt at their worst story is still a form of creative expression. Just my .02
Dosn't this seem terribly innefficient? I mean, mantaining these things in the air at all times, to do a job that seems to already be done by survelience satellites, airplanes and ground. And how does this reduce the risk to terrorism?
Why did they use names in the paper--they could have used an anonomyous source.
Well, then I suppose the issue becomes that of what you want. I would imagine that the nifty features, which I like too, will be on the better epuipment within a few years. The most useful things today are on lower quality stuff, which is generally the case; the cheap, newish equipment is the alpha and beta releases for the day when a product reaches maturity...the market moves too much (reigons, reigon free within just a couple of years) for manufacturers to invest lots of money in a product to make it good. Note: my DVD player is my computer...it plays MP3s, DVD, DIVX, et al even out to the TV and the computer is several years old (cheap)
Really, buying something of quality is often less costly. Low quality electronics, like a $49 DVD player that is expected to break in a year or two requires another trip to the store. Anotehr trip to the store takes time (probably at least half to a full hour, depending on traffic) ...for most people, time=$$$ Then there are the costs to society, like increased waste. Finally, there are issues regarding quality of life--eg do you really want to spend your life at Best Buy?
A Good DVD player (one that lasts 10-20 years) may cost more intitally, but in the long term the savings are far greater.
The matters of legality here seem almost nodifferent from what the government normally does to catch other 'common' criminals like drug dealers...they create a sting and snag their men. Just becuase it involves computers and not drug traffiking/dealing does not make it much different.
I don't understand what the point of this system would be. Most people still need to carry their credit card(s) so why not use them here anyway. Furthermore, by using this system you just open yourself to more risks-eg somebody breaking into their sytem (they are a grocery store...you think they have the top-of-the line security measures?) and taking every credit card number.