I don't think O2 is even needed for beer....just booze in this case.
I mean, it isn't easy to get a hangover from beer. It is mostly water, you can drink and drink and drink the stuff, get a good buzz, but rarely can you drink enough to get a bad hangover in my experience.
However, these days...and yes, I'm getting older and the old liver won't function quite as well...but you drink half a bottle or so of scotch...and you're gonna be hurting a bit the next day.
I'd have to think tho, that adding O2 to good scotch would have to affect the flavor? Not to mention pissing off a few Scots?
"I'd imagine that ticketmaster has some sort of rule banning automatic and bulk purchase of tickets. "
But as far as I know...a corporations rules/policy are not law and breaking a law is the only way you can (should) be taken court, right?
Like if you don't allow people with dirty shoes to come in your restaurant. You have a sign saying just that policy on the door. I walk in with muddy shoes anyway. You can then refuse service to me...and have me leave. I cannot, however, be arrested for walking in with dirty shoes. What if I put baggies on them so that the restaurant owners couldn't see my shoes were dirty? Heck, someone might go ahead and seat me and let me eat there. If on the way out, I took off my shoe covers...would I be arrested? I've still broken no law...only a corporations policy.
While I'm not a fan by ANY stretch of the imagination of scalpers...I'm a bit puzzled as to exactly what laws were broken here?
It did mention they may have hacked into Ticketmasters systems, and if they did break in, ok, I can see that.
However, using scripts/applications to log into a site and buy tickets, I don't see how that is illegal? They are just using a program to mimic what human could do on a website that only reacts to input and doesn't care itself if a human or a scripts is behind the computer connection being made.
Is it against the law to study and make a database of captcha's?
Like I said..I hate scalpers, they grab all the best tickets for places that allow scalping, and even in states where you can't scalp, they grab the tickets and sell to people outside the state keeping locals from getting tix (since they can't by law pay more than face value).
But, I have a hard time viewing the mere fact that someone devised and used a program to auto-purchase tickets as being something illegal? What if an enterprising person that really loved going to shows did the same type thing to ensure that he could buy the best seats for a show that went on sale for himself and his friends? Same principal? In the old days when you had to call in for tix, would they have arrested people for having speed dial (new at the time) and using it to an advantage over people dialing by hand? Hmmm....
"Considering that the data being processed is most likely confidential in some way I'm not sure that's an option."
From what I've observed...there really is NOT much in the way of govt. run tech, they are mandated to only be managers, it is ALL contract work these days. I started some projects with govt. years ago, and there were a few govt tech types doing tech work, but shortly after that, they were mandated to ONLY be mangerial and could not do direct tech work.
So, this is common, and it is no problem. You just have to sign forms and take educational instruction for PI stuff, and you're good to go.
It will likely NOT go out for work off US soil, so that's one nice thing...no offshore work on privacy information, and usually no non-citizens working on confidential information (clearances required), but it will likely be 99% contracted work.
"While we're in irony mode, yup, that's why we have the best health care system in the world, we have the best train infrastructure in the world, and why our scientific and cultural literacy is top-notch!"
I'm quite happy with my current level of healthcare, it meets all my needs.
And who needs a fucking train? I have a car and a motorcycle that allows me to get where I want on MY schedule. If it's too far to drive, I fly.
"Plain and simple, if you let someone use your property, and they use it to commit a crime, you can be held liable. In cases where you can prove without a doubt that it was not you that did it, AND prove specifically WHO did it, then you MIGHT be let off."
Actually, I think it is up to the STATE to prove that YOU committed the crime, beyond a reasonable doubt. You do not have to prove your innocence. During the course of the trial, you would introduce testimony/evidence that while the crime may in fact have happened on your property, you were not a party to it, nor gave permission for said activities, but that someone else had done this, without your knowledge. You would then point the finger at the most likely suspect.
While this sounds similar to what you described, it is in fact..VERY different. You are not guilty until proven innocent, it is the other way around. They have to prove YOU did it.
"but it's ridiculous to write a different stored proc for every single column that you want to sort by. Its stupid to write a new stored proc for every possible way of varying the query. "
??
You can write stored procedures that take variables, for instance..one that will change the ORDER BY clause to what you want. Also, it isn't much of a problem to overload stored procedures...same name, but behaves differently by the number or types of parameters you call it with.
"So, then single-payer health insurance will come as a tax.
That is how they will force everyone (who works) to pay into it.
They won't force you to USE medicare. You can always choose to go to a private hospital (as you can in Canada)."
However, that is NOT how it is written in the current bills. They are written that you MUST buy and pay for insurance...and that will be thrown out as unconstional.
Currently you do pay medicare tax...but, that's not the issue.
As for me..I'm very much against it. I mean, the US track record on medicare/medicaid is NOT good so far. They have corrruption, it is way over budget...full of red tape...etc.
Frankly, before the US even thinks about trying to manage healthcare over everyone in the US, they should first try to get what they've been trying to do for decades right first, and THEN maybe more of us will listen.
So far, the federal programs I've seen don't fill me with confidence with them managing and directing my medical care that my very life depends on...especially in my later years.
This in actuallity...RAREly is happening...
You have to be doing some pretty bad stuff..trying to to hide taxes and doing things wrong to get on that shit list....
If it were that bad...there wouldn't be as many people doing it as there are.
And if you're a sub to a sub or whatever to a government contract...well, how can you get hit as an employee if everything is contract based?
"Sure, the taxes may be high, but they're high in the US too if you're self-employed (much much higher than for W-4 employees),"
I think you meant the W2 employee.
:)
But seriously, if you are a one man company, and find the taxes are higher that way, you aren't doing it right.
For instance, you incorporate as an "S" corp. This allows you to actually SAVE money on SS and medicare payroll taxes. For example, for easy number sake, say you bill out $100K. Out of that you pay yourself a 'reasonable salary' (as defined by the IRS) of say $40K. Now, you give yourself a W2 for the $40K..and you only pay SS and medicare on that $40K. The remaining $60K falls through to your personal taxes at the EOY..pretty much as a dividend from the company, and you only pay federal and state taxes on that portion. Now, if you keep good records you can lower that taxable amount by writing off gas mileage, equipment, education, books, cell phones....etc. You can write off tons of stuff. So, in this case..you can make a good deal, and actually save what effective rate you would pay in taxes over what making the same amount as a W2 employee makes.
Sure, you have to jump through hoops, keep records...but it is perfectly legal and there for you to take advantage of. It works best to have a CPA help you out, but hey..that fee can be written off too, and makes take time easy, nothing more than sending a CD from quickbooks in...and receiving forms to sign and mail in. That's it.
:"However, your idea that regular checkups should not be paid out of insurance is wrong. Remember, again, the point of health insurance is that healthy people overpay for their healthcare so that the sick people can underpay"
But it simply doesn't work if everyone hits the insurance pot for every little thing. There are NO truly healthy people to overpay..if everyone is dipping into the pot for routine care. You just contradicted yourself.
If everyone pays for their own routine care..they stay healthy. Then, there is a large pool for even less people who need only in catastrophic cases. That's how it used to work back when it was called 'hospitalization'. And, back then...it was cheaper, more manageable for most people. If you could go back to that model, allow hospitalization insurance to be bought across state lines (and therefore introduce REAL competition) it would get cheaper and affordable to most people. If you are too poor for that, well that's what medicaid it for.
"I stay at my job with large soulless corp due to the fair pay and excellent benefits - not fear of lacking health care. "
If it makes you happy up there...good for you.
Personally, I want my govt to make it EASIER for me to work for myself, make more $$..KEEP more of my own money and let me spend it the way "I" see fit.
If we could get all the bean counters and bureaucracy and all out of the way, medicine wouldn't be as $$ as it is today.
Let me have catastrophic 'insurance' for things that aren't routine, and expand things like HSA's so I can save pre-tax for my routine medical expenses.
I dunno how you do it in Canada...but in the US, if the federal govt gets involved in it, it becomes a very $$$$ mess with too much red tape to be useful.
"Looks like even for me, having no health care is better than what Obama is pitching, especially if it went to one of those flexible savings plans where your anticipated health costs for the year are pulled out pre-tax."
Unfortunately, it appears the Obamacare bills actually try to decimate the HSA and FSA accounts.
I love them...I frankly think of insurance as something that you use in case of catastrophic occurance (kidney surgery for instance). But for routine medical stuff...I save for it just like I do any other routine life expenditure (power bill, auto/motorcycle insurance, etc).
Frankly, I wish they'd really open up the HSA (Health Savings Accounts) to make them easier for more people to get. I like them better since they are not "use it or lose it" by EOY. With these, you can load them up pre-tax...and they roll over year after year. Heck you can even use these funds in investments to grow even more if you wish, and if you have money in them at retirement...you get to convert the funds to retirement dollars.
I dunno why the govt doesn't actually promote this more...unless somehow, this healthcare debate is not really concerning things to help the individual....
"The anastheseologist will cost you $2,500. So will the OR itself. And the OR doc. And the X-Ray tech. And don't forget the guy who actually applies the cast. Each of whom is a separate entity, and bill you separately."
Who goes to the freaking OR for a simple broken arm?!?!
I broke mine skateboarding years back...I went to the ER..the shot my arm up to numb it...they set it (read, Dr. pulled on either side to pull the bones into alignment)..xrayed it, the bone slipped, they set it again, then wrapped it up in a temporary cast to allow for swelling. Next day, I went to Dr. and they put on a real cast.
Certainly no anesthesiologist nor operating room needed for a simple broken arm???
And that point alone, most likely will not cut the mustard. People are already gearing up for to have that provision, if it passes, to be struck down immediately, and likely it would when it goes to the SCOTUS.
The US Constitution has NO provisions in there for the federal govt. to FORCE a citizen to do anything like this. It is not within their limited (supposedly) enumerated powers to tell a citizen they have to buy anything or face a fine.
"You would need to right away get some lawyer to tell you everything little minor detail in law, an accountant to make sure you fill the complicated taxes correctly, take care of payment processing, and pay large amount of money for irrelevant things like health care and so on."
Really...it is not that hard. Honestly.
You incorporate yourself, I went for the "S" corp thing in order to be able to save on SS and medicare taxation (per the law), and to write off as much as I could. It works. Yes, it pays to get an accountant. She showed me the forms to fill, when to fill them...etc.
Yes, there is a good bit of paperwork, and you do want to keep good records. But I find it IS worthwhile to do so that you can keep more of your hard earned dollar. And if you like to be in control of your destiny, it is all about that too. I figure out my bill rates to include enough to let me take about 3 - 4 weeks a year vacation / sick time. I opened up a high deductible medical insurance policy which allowed me to open a HSA (Health Savings Account) which I can load up to the max pre-tax and use to spend on routine medical expense. I mean, really...anyone remember when insurance used to be called 'hospitalization'? Insurance should only be for catastrophic emergencies.
And you don't have to stretch the truth to get good money and keep good money. If it weren't a good thing...there wouldn't be quite so many people out there doing the independent contractor thing. If you can get into it...do govt. contracting!! Long term contracts that you can do 1099 with for years at a time.
However, if you are completely risk adverse..well, maybe it isn't for you. But if you are completely risk adverse...you're gonna have lots of problems in life. If you can't risk money for stocks and all...your savings WILL lose value in the long run.
And I've heard it put forth...you never get rich working for someone else.
And while I won't ever get really rich, I do enjoy the independence when I'm doing my own thing. I cannot stand having to "earn" vacation hours with each paycheck...figuring if I have time to take off for this or that. When working 1099, I notify the customer I'm gonna be gone 'x' days and I just go. I've figured it into my long term bill rate..so, I'm not losing any money.
"Yes and no. It's like having an apartment. The landlord might own it. But it's still highly illegal for him to go into your apartment without you allowing it."
Interesting...maybe it varies from state to state, but pretty much every lease I've ever signed specifically states the landlord can enter your premise pretty much any time they wish for whatever reason....without notice.
You might wanna check your lease..or local state regulations, this certainly isn't a national thing that you stated.
Wisconsin?!?!? How do you have a beach in Wisconsin...? My geography isn't very good, but there isn't an ocean I know of within miles of there is there?
Also...being that far north...it actually gets warm enough up there to have chicks sit out in bikinis? Just curious...I've never been up around that area before.
Well, its not like you can't put pr0n on your iPod touch, iPhone or even the iPad when you get it!!
Just put your still photos on the phone via iTunes....or rip your pr0n dvd's with Handbrake..and put them on the device via iTunes. YOu don't have to use the app store for ALL your content.
Hell, I've never actually bought anything off iTunes...I have my own audio and video content. I've only used the store for free podcasts...and the free apps for the iPhone. Other than that..who needs the store?
Put what you want on there..nothing is stopping you.
Slashdot Mirror
I mean, it isn't easy to get a hangover from beer. It is mostly water, you can drink and drink and drink the stuff, get a good buzz, but rarely can you drink enough to get a bad hangover in my experience.
However, these days...and yes, I'm getting older and the old liver won't function quite as well...but you drink half a bottle or so of scotch...and you're gonna be hurting a bit the next day.
I'd have to think tho, that adding O2 to good scotch would have to affect the flavor? Not to mention pissing off a few Scots?
But as far as I know...a corporations rules/policy are not law and breaking a law is the only way you can (should) be taken court, right?
Like if you don't allow people with dirty shoes to come in your restaurant. You have a sign saying just that policy on the door. I walk in with muddy shoes anyway. You can then refuse service to me...and have me leave. I cannot, however, be arrested for walking in with dirty shoes. What if I put baggies on them so that the restaurant owners couldn't see my shoes were dirty? Heck, someone might go ahead and seat me and let me eat there. If on the way out, I took off my shoe covers...would I be arrested? I've still broken no law...only a corporations policy.
It did mention they may have hacked into Ticketmasters systems, and if they did break in, ok, I can see that.
However, using scripts/applications to log into a site and buy tickets, I don't see how that is illegal? They are just using a program to mimic what human could do on a website that only reacts to input and doesn't care itself if a human or a scripts is behind the computer connection being made.
Is it against the law to study and make a database of captcha's?
Like I said..I hate scalpers, they grab all the best tickets for places that allow scalping, and even in states where you can't scalp, they grab the tickets and sell to people outside the state keeping locals from getting tix (since they can't by law pay more than face value).
But, I have a hard time viewing the mere fact that someone devised and used a program to auto-purchase tickets as being something illegal? What if an enterprising person that really loved going to shows did the same type thing to ensure that he could buy the best seats for a show that went on sale for himself and his friends? Same principal? In the old days when you had to call in for tix, would they have arrested people for having speed dial (new at the time) and using it to an advantage over people dialing by hand? Hmmm....
From what I've observed...there really is NOT much in the way of govt. run tech, they are mandated to only be managers, it is ALL contract work these days. I started some projects with govt. years ago, and there were a few govt tech types doing tech work, but shortly after that, they were mandated to ONLY be mangerial and could not do direct tech work.
So, this is common, and it is no problem. You just have to sign forms and take educational instruction for PI stuff, and you're good to go.
It will likely NOT go out for work off US soil, so that's one nice thing...no offshore work on privacy information, and usually no non-citizens working on confidential information (clearances required), but it will likely be 99% contracted work.
I'm quite happy with my current level of healthcare, it meets all my needs.
And who needs a fucking train? I have a car and a motorcycle that allows me to get where I want on MY schedule. If it's too far to drive, I fly.
Nor to know how to pronounce corpsman (hint:not corpse-man)
Hey, so far it has worked for Keith Richards...
Actually, I think it is up to the STATE to prove that YOU committed the crime, beyond a reasonable doubt. You do not have to prove your innocence. During the course of the trial, you would introduce testimony/evidence that while the crime may in fact have happened on your property, you were not a party to it, nor gave permission for said activities, but that someone else had done this, without your knowledge. You would then point the finger at the most likely suspect.
While this sounds similar to what you described, it is in fact..VERY different. You are not guilty until proven innocent, it is the other way around. They have to prove YOU did it.
"Shit, Piss, Fuck, Cunt, Cocksucker, Motherfucker. and Tits.""
I mean..it sounds like a snack!! New..Nabisco Tits!!
Cheese Tits...Onion Tits...Tater Tits!!
Damn...I miss George Carlin..we need him more than ever these days...
??
You can write stored procedures that take variables, for instance..one that will change the ORDER BY clause to what you want. Also, it isn't much of a problem to overload stored procedures...same name, but behaves differently by the number or types of parameters you call it with.
However, that is NOT how it is written in the current bills. They are written that you MUST buy and pay for insurance...and that will be thrown out as unconstional.
Currently you do pay medicare tax...but, that's not the issue.
As for me..I'm very much against it. I mean, the US track record on medicare/medicaid is NOT good so far. They have corrruption, it is way over budget...full of red tape...etc.
Frankly, before the US even thinks about trying to manage healthcare over everyone in the US, they should first try to get what they've been trying to do for decades right first, and THEN maybe more of us will listen.
So far, the federal programs I've seen don't fill me with confidence with them managing and directing my medical care that my very life depends on...especially in my later years.
They don't, however force you to take part in medicare, or fine you if you don't.
Truthfully...SS would be a better thing to bring up, not sure how they force you into that.
If it were that bad...there wouldn't be as many people doing it as there are.
And if you're a sub to a sub or whatever to a government contract...well, how can you get hit as an employee if everything is contract based?
I said simple broken arm...nothing in the original post led me to believe anything but that. Aren't most breaks simple non-compound bone breaks?
I think you meant the W2 employee.
But seriously, if you are a one man company, and find the taxes are higher that way, you aren't doing it right.
For instance, you incorporate as an "S" corp. This allows you to actually SAVE money on SS and medicare payroll taxes. For example, for easy number sake, say you bill out $100K. Out of that you pay yourself a 'reasonable salary' (as defined by the IRS) of say $40K. Now, you give yourself a W2 for the $40K..and you only pay SS and medicare on that $40K. The remaining $60K falls through to your personal taxes at the EOY..pretty much as a dividend from the company, and you only pay federal and state taxes on that portion. Now, if you keep good records you can lower that taxable amount by writing off gas mileage, equipment, education, books, cell phones....etc. You can write off tons of stuff. So, in this case..you can make a good deal, and actually save what effective rate you would pay in taxes over what making the same amount as a W2 employee makes.
Sure, you have to jump through hoops, keep records...but it is perfectly legal and there for you to take advantage of. It works best to have a CPA help you out, but hey..that fee can be written off too, and makes take time easy, nothing more than sending a CD from quickbooks in...and receiving forms to sign and mail in. That's it.
But it simply doesn't work if everyone hits the insurance pot for every little thing. There are NO truly healthy people to overpay..if everyone is dipping into the pot for routine care. You just contradicted yourself.
If everyone pays for their own routine care..they stay healthy. Then, there is a large pool for even less people who need only in catastrophic cases. That's how it used to work back when it was called 'hospitalization'. And, back then...it was cheaper, more manageable for most people. If you could go back to that model, allow hospitalization insurance to be bought across state lines (and therefore introduce REAL competition) it would get cheaper and affordable to most people. If you are too poor for that, well that's what medicaid it for.
If it makes you happy up there...good for you.
Personally, I want my govt to make it EASIER for me to work for myself, make more $$..KEEP more of my own money and let me spend it the way "I" see fit.
If we could get all the bean counters and bureaucracy and all out of the way, medicine wouldn't be as $$ as it is today.
Let me have catastrophic 'insurance' for things that aren't routine, and expand things like HSA's so I can save pre-tax for my routine medical expenses.
I dunno how you do it in Canada...but in the US, if the federal govt gets involved in it, it becomes a very $$$$ mess with too much red tape to be useful.
Unfortunately, it appears the Obamacare bills actually try to decimate the HSA and FSA accounts.
I love them...I frankly think of insurance as something that you use in case of catastrophic occurance (kidney surgery for instance). But for routine medical stuff...I save for it just like I do any other routine life expenditure (power bill, auto/motorcycle insurance, etc).
Frankly, I wish they'd really open up the HSA (Health Savings Accounts) to make them easier for more people to get. I like them better since they are not "use it or lose it" by EOY. With these, you can load them up pre-tax...and they roll over year after year. Heck you can even use these funds in investments to grow even more if you wish, and if you have money in them at retirement...you get to convert the funds to retirement dollars.
I dunno why the govt doesn't actually promote this more...unless somehow, this healthcare debate is not really concerning things to help the individual....
Who goes to the freaking OR for a simple broken arm?!?!
I broke mine skateboarding years back...I went to the ER..the shot my arm up to numb it...they set it (read, Dr. pulled on either side to pull the bones into alignment)..xrayed it, the bone slipped, they set it again, then wrapped it up in a temporary cast to allow for swelling. Next day, I went to Dr. and they put on a real cast.
Certainly no anesthesiologist nor operating room needed for a simple broken arm???
And that point alone, most likely will not cut the mustard. People are already gearing up for to have that provision, if it passes, to be struck down immediately, and likely it would when it goes to the SCOTUS.
The US Constitution has NO provisions in there for the federal govt. to FORCE a citizen to do anything like this. It is not within their limited (supposedly) enumerated powers to tell a citizen they have to buy anything or face a fine.
Really...it is not that hard. Honestly.
You incorporate yourself, I went for the "S" corp thing in order to be able to save on SS and medicare taxation (per the law), and to write off as much as I could. It works. Yes, it pays to get an accountant. She showed me the forms to fill, when to fill them...etc.
Yes, there is a good bit of paperwork, and you do want to keep good records. But I find it IS worthwhile to do so that you can keep more of your hard earned dollar. And if you like to be in control of your destiny, it is all about that too. I figure out my bill rates to include enough to let me take about 3 - 4 weeks a year vacation / sick time. I opened up a high deductible medical insurance policy which allowed me to open a HSA (Health Savings Account) which I can load up to the max pre-tax and use to spend on routine medical expense. I mean, really...anyone remember when insurance used to be called 'hospitalization'? Insurance should only be for catastrophic emergencies.
And you don't have to stretch the truth to get good money and keep good money. If it weren't a good thing...there wouldn't be quite so many people out there doing the independent contractor thing. If you can get into it...do govt. contracting!! Long term contracts that you can do 1099 with for years at a time.
However, if you are completely risk adverse..well, maybe it isn't for you. But if you are completely risk adverse...you're gonna have lots of problems in life. If you can't risk money for stocks and all...your savings WILL lose value in the long run.
And I've heard it put forth...you never get rich working for someone else.
And while I won't ever get really rich, I do enjoy the independence when I'm doing my own thing. I cannot stand having to "earn" vacation hours with each paycheck...figuring if I have time to take off for this or that. When working 1099, I notify the customer I'm gonna be gone 'x' days and I just go. I've figured it into my long term bill rate..so, I'm not losing any money.
Interesting...maybe it varies from state to state, but pretty much every lease I've ever signed specifically states the landlord can enter your premise pretty much any time they wish for whatever reason....without notice.
You might wanna check your lease..or local state regulations, this certainly isn't a national thing that you stated.
MAME is such a wonderful thing....
Wisconsin?!?!? How do you have a beach in Wisconsin...? My geography isn't very good, but there isn't an ocean I know of within miles of there is there?
Also...being that far north...it actually gets warm enough up there to have chicks sit out in bikinis? Just curious...I've never been up around that area before.
Just put your still photos on the phone via iTunes....or rip your pr0n dvd's with Handbrake..and put them on the device via iTunes. YOu don't have to use the app store for ALL your content.
Hell, I've never actually bought anything off iTunes...I have my own audio and video content. I've only used the store for free podcasts...and the free apps for the iPhone. Other than that..who needs the store?
Put what you want on there..nothing is stopping you.