Well, it's quite simple, and it's the same reason why some drug dealers go after clients who try to go clean, or mobsters who breaks a storeowner's legs if he doesn't pay his "protection money."
If the IRS let a SINGLE CASE slip, then others might stop being afraid and the slippery slope arguement comes into play.
Let's face it, the IRS is feared by most Americans, and it's no accident. The government HAS to have that money, and they will do whatever it takes to get it.
Heh, and a large chunk of the money goes to fight a "War on Terrorism." Sorry, but you have to love the irony.
Also, you have to consider that the Feds use the income tax as far more than just income. The income tax is instrumental in running down organized crime, as well as a convenient social tool (Drive a hybrid car, get $x more refund). The income tax gives the federal octupus extra tentacles to control the American people.
Well, if that happens, we can just upgrade them enough times so that the OS is deactivated.
And to think we thought product activation was a BAD idea!
Re:Enough with the silly.
on
Ho, Ho, Ho
·
· Score: 5, Insightful
I'll tell you my gripe with the Santa myth. Young kids have no idea that it's their hard-working, loving parents buying them all the loot, so they ask for all kinds of outlandish stuff. Parents in turn, feel obligated to get this stuff for their children, stressing themselves and their bank accounts.
Then who gets the credit? Not the parents, but a MYTHOLOGICAL man!
Not to mention the fact that it's a bit disconcerting for a child to find out that the whole thing is a big lie.
On a side note -- why do we lie to our children so much anyway? The stork? Santa Claus? These things just make reality more confusing for them. I mean, I know children need magic and mystery and all of that, but they can usually manage to find plenty on their own without being outright deceived.
Disclaimer: Not a parent, but I have a seven year old brother (I'm 21). And yes, we do the whole Santa thing with him, but that's our mom's call, not mine.
Anyone who thinks the Bard sucks probably isn't playing him right.
I have a Bard that I use like a jack of all trades. He wields two longswords quite effectively, casts spells, uses his songs, picks pockets, among other fun things. Incidentally he's also my favorite (And most powerful character).
The trick with Bards is that they're kinda good at several things. Use them in the right combination, and he quickly becomes a valuable character.
Wow, I was wondering if I was the only one noticing this. At points throughout the night NBC, NBC, CBS, Yahoo, and CNN were WAY different, despite the states being called the same.
CBS often showed Bush with far more electoral votes than the others. Hmm, maybe a subtle apology from Dan Rather?
Wow, an actual serious response to my proposition, and not more of "DuDE, YOU ARE THE NUTZOR" or liberal v. conservative flaming. Kudos to you.
And I understand that my suggestion was a bit outlandish, but look at what's been happening for the past four years! Things have gotten so weird that some on here have started to really wonder if the John Titor story is true.
In any case, the next couple of days are going to be interesting indeed. Must be a Chinese curse.
Here's a scary thought, though somewhat off-topic here, I think it needs to be addressed: What if Bush loses, but refuses to leave office?
The reason wouldn't matter so much, he could have plenty. But think about it, who could actually MAKE him leave? He is technically in charge of the military, and would have the United State's entire arsenal at his disposal if need be.
I tell all my friends that the fact that they managed to fuck up both "Star Wars" and "The Matrix" proves that the end is nigh. Hell, they even fucked up Star Trek.
Music sucks nowadays, everything on television is crap. America's one true stronghold, entertainment, has really gone down the tubes.
Yeah, and if you read the original drafts for "The Star Wars," you'll realize that without a ton of revision and doctoring, it would have probably been one of the worst films ever, right up there with "Manos: The Hand of Fate."
Typical line from the early drafts: "LUKE STARKILLER slashes through the IMPERIAL BAD-GUY with his LAZER-SWORD. IMPERIAL BAD-GUY SCREAMS TO A VIOLENT DEATH."
Well, you get the idea. But if you do read them, you'll discover why the prequels are so awful. This is George Lucas's true talent right here folks, and after seeing it, you understand why he doesn't do anything else these days.
On a side note, Lucas can cram all that CGI right up his ass. A lot of the best special effects in the original trilogy were the simplest. Remember how everyone was wowed by Vader's force-telekinesis at the end of Empire? Yeah, a couple of guys throwing boxes at Mark Hamill, but cool on screen nonetheless.
I think a lot of filmmakers are forgetting one of the principles of SFX: If the audience notices them, then they've failed to do their job. For instance, in the original Star Wars SE, it's pretty obvious that Jabba the Hutt is a poorly rendered CGI blob. I notice this right off the bat, and it destroys the illusion. On the other hand, if I watch RotJ, released in the dark ages of the 1980s, Jabba's merely a "primitive" puppet, but damnit he seems real.
Lucas originally created a universe that all of felt we could visit, if we had a light-speed ship and maybe a time machine. The prequels feel more like an example of why LSD and children's breakfast cereal don't mix.
Slashdot Mirror
[Quagmire] Heh heh. I got a question for you. Why are you still here? [/Quagmire]
Well, it's quite simple, and it's the same reason why some drug dealers go after clients who try to go clean, or mobsters who breaks a storeowner's legs if he doesn't pay his "protection money."
If the IRS let a SINGLE CASE slip, then others might stop being afraid and the slippery slope arguement comes into play.
Let's face it, the IRS is feared by most Americans, and it's no accident. The government HAS to have that money, and they will do whatever it takes to get it.
Heh, and a large chunk of the money goes to fight a "War on Terrorism." Sorry, but you have to love the irony.
Also, you have to consider that the Feds use the income tax as far more than just income. The income tax is instrumental in running down organized crime, as well as a convenient social tool (Drive a hybrid car, get $x more refund). The income tax gives the federal octupus extra tentacles to control the American people.
Okay, let me explain something here for all the people who point out the "logical inconsistencies" that many /. readers have in regards to IP.
It's actually very simple. Nerds, who see themselves as doing all the hard work, detest suits, who just sit on their asses but make all the profit.
So, in summary, the nerds cheer for each other, the little guy, and boo the big faceless corps.
Well, if that happens, we can just upgrade them enough times so that the OS is deactivated.
And to think we thought product activation was a BAD idea!
I'll tell you my gripe with the Santa myth. Young kids have no idea that it's their hard-working, loving parents buying them all the loot, so they ask for all kinds of outlandish stuff. Parents in turn, feel obligated to get this stuff for their children, stressing themselves and their bank accounts.
Then who gets the credit? Not the parents, but a MYTHOLOGICAL man!
Not to mention the fact that it's a bit disconcerting for a child to find out that the whole thing is a big lie.
On a side note -- why do we lie to our children so much anyway? The stork? Santa Claus? These things just make reality more confusing for them. I mean, I know children need magic and mystery and all of that, but they can usually manage to find plenty on their own without being outright deceived.
Disclaimer: Not a parent, but I have a seven year old brother (I'm 21). And yes, we do the whole Santa thing with him, but that's our mom's call, not mine.
Most likely, it stands for "Bum Fuck Egypt."
I think the issue here is, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
I liked Google Groups just the way it was. I tried out the "Beta" and found it a shabby mess, designed to copy the Gmail interface.
Now, I like the Gmail interface, but I don't want it's javascriptiness imbedded into what was a perfectly usable and pleasant interface.
I was actually surprised that Slashdot didn't feature a story on it earlier, since the preview has been available for quite some time. Oh, wait...
Actually, the idea here was a parody of the lame Slashdot jokes themselves.
But if you have to explain the joke...
In Soviet Russia, Natalie Portman's old Korean overlords pour hot grits on YOU...in Japan!
Trebek: "And the category for today's Final Jeopardy is 'Famous Mothers.'"
Connery: "Ha! The day is mine!"
Trebek: "No, Mr. Connery, I will not grant you the satisfaction..."
Anyone who thinks the Bard sucks probably isn't playing him right.
I have a Bard that I use like a jack of all trades. He wields two longswords quite effectively, casts spells, uses his songs, picks pockets, among other fun things. Incidentally he's also my favorite (And most powerful character).
The trick with Bards is that they're kinda good at several things. Use them in the right combination, and he quickly becomes a valuable character.
Well, if you *really* wanted to nitpick, then Gutenberg's who really made that possible...
Oh, never mind.
Wow, I was wondering if I was the only one noticing this. At points throughout the night NBC, NBC, CBS, Yahoo, and CNN were WAY different, despite the states being called the same.
CBS often showed Bush with far more electoral votes than the others. Hmm, maybe a subtle apology from Dan Rather?
Wow, an actual serious response to my proposition, and not more of "DuDE, YOU ARE THE NUTZOR" or liberal v. conservative flaming. Kudos to you.
And I understand that my suggestion was a bit outlandish, but look at what's been happening for the past four years! Things have gotten so weird that some on here have started to really wonder if the John Titor story is true.
In any case, the next couple of days are going to be interesting indeed. Must be a Chinese curse.
Geez, chill out, it was an idea, and I even implied in my post that it was to be taken with a grain of salt.
Sometimes, the outrageous can happen, and there's no harm in wondering "What if?"
Here's a scary thought, though somewhat off-topic here, I think it needs to be addressed: What if Bush loses, but refuses to leave office?
The reason wouldn't matter so much, he could have plenty. But think about it, who could actually MAKE him leave? He is technically in charge of the military, and would have the United State's entire arsenal at his disposal if need be.
Not an accusation, just something to chew on.
Well, according to Apple, Macs are a step simpler than that. ;-)
Hmm, could it be Enoch Root?
Two words: James Carville.
I tell all my friends that the fact that they managed to fuck up both "Star Wars" and "The Matrix" proves that the end is nigh. Hell, they even fucked up Star Trek.
Music sucks nowadays, everything on television is crap. America's one true stronghold, entertainment, has really gone down the tubes.
Oh well, there's always reading.
Oh great, let the trolling commence.
Slashdot header: "Upgrade your dog."
Hey, in Soviet Russia dog upgrades you!
Dude, what does that even mean?
Um, um. Natalie Portman, hot grits?
Huh?
Um, DAH NAH DAH NAH NAH DAH NAH NAH!
Well, wouldn't that be the ultimate paper backup?
Sorry, that should read "routine recession."
Yeah, because we all know that thousands go homeless during a "routine depression."
Ever hear of "Hoovervilles"?
Typical line from the early drafts: "LUKE STARKILLER slashes through the IMPERIAL BAD-GUY with his LAZER-SWORD. IMPERIAL BAD-GUY SCREAMS TO A VIOLENT DEATH."
Well, you get the idea. But if you do read them, you'll discover why the prequels are so awful. This is George Lucas's true talent right here folks, and after seeing it, you understand why he doesn't do anything else these days.
On a side note, Lucas can cram all that CGI right up his ass. A lot of the best special effects in the original trilogy were the simplest. Remember how everyone was wowed by Vader's force-telekinesis at the end of Empire? Yeah, a couple of guys throwing boxes at Mark Hamill, but cool on screen nonetheless.
I think a lot of filmmakers are forgetting one of the principles of SFX: If the audience notices them, then they've failed to do their job. For instance, in the original Star Wars SE, it's pretty obvious that Jabba the Hutt is a poorly rendered CGI blob. I notice this right off the bat, and it destroys the illusion. On the other hand, if I watch RotJ, released in the dark ages of the 1980s, Jabba's merely a "primitive" puppet, but damnit he seems real.
Lucas originally created a universe that all of felt we could visit, if we had a light-speed ship and maybe a time machine. The prequels feel more like an example of why LSD and children's breakfast cereal don't mix.