I already hate the fact that seatbelts are too tight and that there are laws mandating their use (especially here in MN where you can be ticketed for not wearing one while having no other violations).
Washington State (USA) has had three judges declare that unconstitutional. See here and here and more here or you can always Google it.
Many people are misinformed about the newest radar systems. With new technologies, police can do a lot more with "regular" radar than most people think. Check out Radartest.com for more in depth info and some good links.
I just don't think that we're far enough along to have the car make judgements
Couldn't we say this about ANY technology? "I dunno about them newfangled self-powered wagons. Seems dangerous. I don't think we have the technology. We should just stick to old reliable horse drawn wagons."
I have long believed that what will keep CDs from being stolen - is to make them attractive from a material vs. price standpoint. Metallica has done that - with combining low CD cost ($10-$12 most everywhere) and good amounts of content (75 minute CD, DVD, Internet downloads, and even all the lyrics in the CD fold-out). And heck, the new CD is *good*!
"cozied up to China" is MUCH different than taking our rights away and making the US government ACT like the Chinese government, all in the name of "homeland security".
Having good trade relations with the most populous nation in the world is a good thing. Eroding rights through USA actions like the P.A.T.R.I.O.T. act - and Son of P.A.T.R.I.O.T. acts - is scary.
"My civil liberties died in the 'War on Terrorism.'"
I suppose we could get satellite or something, but that's more cost and hassle than most people want to deal with.
What cost and hassle would that be? I called 1 toll free phne number, and two days later satellite was installed and running in my home. I have more channels, PVR, and pay less than cable. Where is that cost and hassle? They even have very inexpensive packages - like $15 a month or so for many good channels + local. I know it is not as good as "free" but I also know many people who still have misconceptions about satellite TV service....
I never said that the other fuels weren't already taxed. But none of those taxes go to roads, and roads still need to be maintained. We will need a system to measure how much people with alternative fuel cars use the roads.
This is what is funny. There is all this outrage, and only a small handful of the poster live in Oregon. But it is JUST A TEST. The fact is - times are changing. Vehicle usage, vehicle type, fuel consumption - they all could be RADICALLY different in 20 years. But highways still will need to be maintained. Better to figure it out now - than have to scramble in the future. I think the GPS is a great system - IF they make careful use of not tracking privacy related things, AND they include wheel weight calculations in the tax rate. My 50mpg Volkswagen TDI Beetle running B20 Biodiesel does nowhere near the damage a Ford Excursion does - no matter how far I drive it... I agree. Just keep a close eye on it - because there are very serious risks involved. No one excep slashdot needs to know I go to the BoomBoom Room 3 times a week. Well, Slashdot and my credit card company. Well, Slashdot, my credit card company, and my priest...
Exactly. What are we to tax when cars stop using fuel that is not delivered by a "gas station"? What about fuel cels, electric/battery, homebrewed biodiesel, whatever?
You are correct. Except the companies that own/operate the trucks pay the taxes for driving on the roads, which are built into the prices they charge to ship things, which is built into the price of the food at the organic grocer. So people who don't drive still pay for the parts of the roads they *do* use. The postal service pays road taxes. Even fire department / ambulance companies... And they pass those charges on to us. No one rides for free.
They already do. If gas tax is currently 24 cents a gallon, and you drive 50 miles a day, and your car gets 15 (hwy) miles to the gallon - thats $.80 in gas tax you paid.
I live in the city, and my office I drive 4 miles a day. I get 15mpg (city). That's $.06 gas tax.
Actually, that was just one example... You can buy accessories that simply plug into the headphone jack - and broadcast it over FM. The one linked to was just one that Apple chose to sell for the iPod. Basically - if it has a headphone jack, you can use a FM broadcaster to pipe it to a FM reciever in the car or wherever...
I have always wondered though, is there really a shortage in things to build? Why not just buy the eMac, and then build a robot that is controlled via 802.11 wireless? Some things were meant to be "built" and some things were meant to be "used".
Unless they default to not allowing email from your own email address, which is sensible behavior anyway.
Why is that sensible? I send email to myself all the time... Especially since I am not always using the same computer - but I do always use the same email account. So phone numbers - bookmarks - anything that I want to keep, I email to myself...
Slashdot Mirror
I already hate the fact that seatbelts are too tight and that there are laws mandating their use (especially here in MN where you can be ticketed for not wearing one while having no other violations).
Washington State (USA) has had three judges declare that unconstitutional. See here and here and more here or you can always Google it.
Many people are misinformed about the newest radar systems. With new technologies, police can do a lot more with "regular" radar than most people think. Check out Radartest.com for more in depth info and some good links.
I just don't think that we're far enough along to have the car make judgements
Couldn't we say this about ANY technology? "I dunno about them newfangled self-powered wagons. Seems dangerous. I don't think we have the technology. We should just stick to old reliable horse drawn wagons."
We have to gain the experience *somewhere*.
I have long believed that what will keep CDs from being stolen - is to make them attractive from a material vs. price standpoint. Metallica has done that - with combining low CD cost ($10-$12 most everywhere) and good amounts of content (75 minute CD, DVD, Internet downloads, and even all the lyrics in the CD fold-out). And heck, the new CD is *good*!
Kind of reminds me of when the Fast Food / Convenience store industry switched.
OLD:
12oz Small
20oz Medium
32oz Large
NEW:
12oz Large
20oz Xtra-Large
32oz Super-Large
Soon to come:
12oz Super-Duper-Large
20oz Massive-Xtra-Biggie-Large
32oz Gargantua-Ultra-Insane-Jumbo-Large
Reality:
12oz
20oz
32oz
"cozied up to China" is MUCH different than taking our rights away and making the US government ACT like the Chinese government, all in the name of "homeland security".
Having good trade relations with the most populous nation in the world is a good thing. Eroding rights through USA actions like the P.A.T.R.I.O.T. act - and Son of P.A.T.R.I.O.T. acts - is scary.
"My civil liberties died in the 'War on Terrorism.'"
Even scumbags and arseholes have rights. Because the definition of scumbags and arseholes is fluid, and could someday include *you*.
Get the checkbook out:
Quark Released
I suppose we could get satellite or something, but that's more cost and hassle than most people want to deal with.
What cost and hassle would that be? I called 1 toll free phne number, and two days later satellite was installed and running in my home. I have more channels, PVR, and pay less than cable. Where is that cost and hassle? They even have very inexpensive packages - like $15 a month or so for many good channels + local. I know it is not as good as "free" but I also know many people who still have misconceptions about satellite TV service....
The one on Pot is incomplete because the spider had to leave and go grab some brownies.
The researchers don't say - but the one on speed actually made 72 of those webs.
And the spider on Caffeine just kept making web after web for days - never taking a break...
I never said that the other fuels weren't already taxed. But none of those taxes go to roads, and roads still need to be maintained. We will need a system to measure how much people with alternative fuel cars use the roads.
This is what is funny. There is all this outrage, and only a small handful of the poster live in Oregon. But it is JUST A TEST. The fact is - times are changing. Vehicle usage, vehicle type, fuel consumption - they all could be RADICALLY different in 20 years. But highways still will need to be maintained. Better to figure it out now - than have to scramble in the future. I think the GPS is a great system - IF they make careful use of not tracking privacy related things, AND they include wheel weight calculations in the tax rate. My 50mpg Volkswagen TDI Beetle running B20 Biodiesel does nowhere near the damage a Ford Excursion does - no matter how far I drive it... I agree. Just keep a close eye on it - because there are very serious risks involved. No one excep slashdot needs to know I go to the BoomBoom Room 3 times a week. Well, Slashdot and my credit card company. Well, Slashdot, my credit card company, and my priest...
One of the states.
Exactly. What are we to tax when cars stop using fuel that is not delivered by a "gas station"? What about fuel cels, electric/battery, homebrewed biodiesel, whatever?
You are correct. Except the companies that own/operate the trucks pay the taxes for driving on the roads, which are built into the prices they charge to ship things, which is built into the price of the food at the organic grocer. So people who don't drive still pay for the parts of the roads they *do* use. The postal service pays road taxes. Even fire department / ambulance companies... And they pass those charges on to us. No one rides for free.
What happens when they stop using gasoline to power vehicles?
Where will they register them?
They already do. If gas tax is currently 24 cents a gallon, and you drive 50 miles a day, and your car gets 15 (hwy) miles to the gallon - thats $.80 in gas tax you paid.
I live in the city, and my office I drive 4 miles a day. I get 15mpg (city). That's $.06 gas tax.
You already pay more for the mileage you drive.
Is this supposed to look like /. in ASCII art?
Nothing else for them to do?
What is OGG? Or are you referring to Ogg?
Actually, that was just one example... You can buy accessories that simply plug into the headphone jack - and broadcast it over FM. The one linked to was just one that Apple chose to sell for the iPod. Basically - if it has a headphone jack, you can use a FM broadcaster to pipe it to a FM reciever in the car or wherever...
I have always wondered though, is there really a shortage in things to build? Why not just buy the eMac, and then build a robot that is controlled via 802.11 wireless? Some things were meant to be "built" and some things were meant to be "used".
Unless they default to not allowing email from your own email address, which is sensible behavior anyway.
Why is that sensible? I send email to myself all the time... Especially since I am not always using the same computer - but I do always use the same email account. So phone numbers - bookmarks - anything that I want to keep, I email to myself...
and they have this cool function of wirelessly broadcasting through an FM channel on your tuner.
There are accessories that do this for just about any player, even the iPod.