Yes, but I would dare say that the average H&R Block patron or/.er does not have to fill out such types of tax forms per fiscal year.
When I say "do your own taxes", I mean exactly that. It behooves the individual to look at the broad range of tax options available to them, to stay abreast of current tax law and structure, IMHO.
This is assuming that you are not in need of an accountant to prepare your taxes, are of sounds enought mind to do your taxes, and organized enough to find (without too much difficulty) pertinent documentation.
So, will this ruling allow H&R to sell data given to them (sold to them?) by the IRS, or is this saying that the IRS is allowing H&R Block to sell data from H&R Block customers? If it is the latter, so what? You think that companies with whom you do business don't sell your data to 3rd parties for the purpose of marketing?
Quick solution: Do your own taxes
I do my own taxes every year, including taxable income, non taxable income, capital gains/losses, etc. It takes a bit of fortitude, but the average/.er has poured time into learning how to recompile a kernel. Try applying the same principle to learning how to do your own taxes.
Of the two inevitabilities in life, one is not Linux./flame suit on/
Whats to say that Google won't decide which results to hand over, assuming that the judge feels that compromise is a great way to stomp on Constitutional rights. Perhaps they will turn over 50,000 searches on miserable failure.
You want it feds? You got it. I'll commit to about 10,000 searches on that.
"If people stop paying to make the movies then that type of movie will not get made in the future."
Good, perhaps Hollywood will have an incentive to produce, market, and release good movies, instead of expensive movies. It strikes me that you are the type of person to believe that the budget of a movie is an indicator of quality. You probably also believe that movies *always* net a loss, because they *always* post a loss, no matter the ticket sales, merchandizing revenue, distribution costs, etc.
So, which did you like better; Garfield, Fat Albert, or Stealth? I heard that Stealth cost a whole bunch to make.
So, stealing = bad, pointing to dl'able file = bad. Making $200 mil movie = good.
The big budget flicks will never go away, regardless of piracy. Unfortunately.
If you read the original post I made, I clearly said that "It is the perseverance that the "average" user is lacking.", emphasis on average. I'm not saying that people, on average, can't learn how to use a different OS, but in my experience, using the various Linux distros entails a much greater learning curve.
My experience, like I mentioned, starting at RH 7.2. How was I supposed to know that the ISP installer disk wouldn't work in Linux. Why didn't the internet connection work? Why couln't I play games, or install Word? Of the games I could play, why were they running dog slow?
But, I persevered, and learned alot along the way. However, I don't think that people like my parents (in their 60's and 70's), or my musician friends, or many of my coworkers (IT security) have the time or interest into finding out such things.
I have 3 Linux distros installed at home, every knoppix version since 3.4, and almost every box set of Suse and RH that came out on the shelf. I've seen fewer and fewer, if any, box sets at retail stores (CompUSA, Staples, Circuit City, Best Buy), far away from copies of XP, usually right along side of the "Learn to speak German!" sets, and even less compatible software, save for StarOffice, and some arcane firewall software.
Tell that to my son who bought Roller Coaster Tycoon 3 with his birthday money.
Sure, right after you can run that game on Linux. I don't know what that game has to do with Genuine Advantage, which I said I dislike, but I don't think that's the best example. I play plenty of games with Win2K.
I'm not advoacting the use or disuse of either, I'm just speaking from my personal experience, which I would gather is somewhat similar to the experiences of many. I'll not leave Linux, nor Windows. I enjoy both.
Like you said, just a difference of opinion. PS, please show me where I said "...who have been using desktop Linux that we shouldn't because it isn't ready.. I would never advocate any such thing. Quite the opposite, I encourage people to try Linux.
"Don't call Linux lacking because you weren't aware of alternate distributions."
I am aware of many distros, and I wasn't saying that many distros don't have an auto updater, but I was trying to speak from the point of view of an average consumer, who neither has the interest nor time to find out what a dependency issue is, or X problem.
And the genuine advantage is a relatively new program, in the grand scheme of things. I don't agree with it's tenets, and think it's a poor idea.
I just think that until we can get Suse (or any distro) in a shiny box, on the counter, next to other compatible software, along side MS, with some sort of recognizable image, in association with some ease of use, Linux on the average home desktop is a long way off.
I don't know many people (avg users) who would rather search for an.iso on an FTP server, for something called "Breezy" or "Hoary", rather than buy a boxed distro.
Yeah, that was "I started using RedHat 7.2 many years ago", emphasis on started, not also indicating stopped.
I actually quite enjoy using Suse 10, various Knoppix distros. They look good, run nicely, and in the case of Knoppix, are a brilliant idea.
But I also had to do lots of trial and error. Many average consumers are not willing to put the time and effort into figuring out how to compile the latest version of OO.org, or many other problems that new Linux users may be confronted by.
Hell, it took me 3 days to figure out that RH 7.2 couldn't use my HP NIC.
Ok, I'm neither an expert using MS (take your pick) or Linux (take your pick). In an attempt to diversify my understanding of Linux, I started using RedHat 7.2, many years ago.
It was a slow, long, widing road, but I've learned, using a certain amount of perseverance.
It is the perseverance that the "average" user is lacking. Tell me how many of the following terms/words the shopper going to Best Buy or Circuit City are willing to learn: Source, Binary, Compile, RPM, apt-get, x86, X11,/etc/blah/blah, port(ed), API, drivers.
There are more, but I can't think of anything right now that would add to user/consumer confusion when all people want to know are things like "Can I use the internet with this", "I need some word processing", or the more experienced user that know that a hard drive size is measured in bytes, and the processor speed in herz.
Microsoft makes many things automated. Want OS updates? Go to windowsupdate.com, or click on the "Windows Update" icon. Want driver updates? Go to manufacturer, get drivers for 2000/xp OR 98/ME. No pointing to mirrors, no compilation, no source, no RPM, no Yum, just "Do It Now!", wait for the icon to appear, double click, make a sandwich, reboot.
That's what Linux is lacking. Does anyone realize this?
...only 15 to 20 percent of the individual riflemen in World War II fired their own weapons at an exposed enemy soldier
I've head this as well, but the take on it that was presented to me was that this was more a prevalent condition in Europe, as the enemy was rather closely related to many Americans involved in the fighting. Back in WWII, I'm sure there were many 1st, 2nd and 3rd generation white, european, perhaps specifically Germans decendants.
It was believed that (I think) it is more difficult to fire upon someone you have a closer kinship with then a more distant one.
is the fact that terrestrial radio is a public "good" (in economic terms) which cannot be impeded upon by other radio station listeners, barring call in listeners who request crap. No matter how many people listen to your favorite station, you can listen to is just as well, with no degradation in service.
Alternatively, many internet radio streams that I listen to have a predetermined max # of connections. Fortunately, the stuff I listen to (limbikfrequencies.com) does not present this issue. If you can only stream to X number of users at a time, your advertising base will be a bit limited, and not attractive to advertisers.
The majority reason I listen to streamed audio is that #1 I don't have to hear 10min worth of repetitious adverts between songs. In fact, the only breaks in the music of some stations is the website identification voice in, then it's back to the music. #2 There is what I consider to be, great music on these mainly independent sites. Alot of what I've bought over the last 4 or 5 years has not been American top 40, but primarily electronic ambient from Europe (yeah, call me a fag if you want).
So, no adverts + good music + no crap = me listening to streamed audio out of London all the time. Perhaps it would be a better model to have artists "contribute" to streamed audio stations rather then sell their soul to **AA to get promoted, acts which we all know are for shit. Any music I listen to anymore is NOT advertised. Perhaps a small contribution to the station for the pleasure of listening would be possible. If you have 2000 folks that would pay $1(approx)/month to listen, I would be quite sure this would more the make up for bandwidth costs. I would. Hell, I pay iTunes that much for one song.
*Disclaimer: I do not have a television, I spend a great deal of time at the computer. I'll assume roughly the same for the average/.er.
I too am an employee in a very similar situation as yourself.
I sometimes wonder what the difference between "..someone holding a TS clearance also starts espousing the views of anarcee or all qeda" (intentional misspelling) and disagreeing with the actions of the guvmint and ongoing conflicts would amount to, and viewed by your bosses.
Where could one legally/realistically draw the line between actual dissension and mere disagreement, clearance holder or not?
I am working for an organization committed to upholding the belief in particular freedoms, I would hope it is not that organization which would bar me from employment for excercizing those beliefs.
Aye Aye to that. Some of the worst car dealers I've ever seen are down in Norfolk (I was there from 96-2000). Every district in the Tidewater area has it's share of terrible dealers, and some even have franchises (Charlie Faulk).
It may sound pessimistic, but if the little E2 or E3 wants to throw down 15k on a 96 Grand Am, let them. Nothing like a hard lession in finance to wisen one up, and then warn future junior sailors not to do the same thing, after the now screwed sailor has had to re-enlist to pay off the original auto. It's a cycle.
Not that this has happened to me at any point (eh.eh...ahem)
taking high-res pictures of places that aren't militarily interesting
Here is something that is strange. If you try to find the the NYS captial building (Albany, NY), and the surrounding area, it is blurred (security reasons?)
But, if you find Norfolk Naval Station, you can not only see the base in relatively hi res, but you can tell which ships are in port when the imagery was captured. Last I checked, I could tell that the USS Theodore Roosavelt was in port when the imagery was taken.
Of course, I'm assuming all the images to be horribly outdated.
Edit: Actually, they erased (I think) the hull numbers on the carriers, usually painted on the fore end of the flight deck. You can still see the USS Saipan (#2 on the flight deck).
Probably means more then one, but not all. It also means "We don't know, but we'll make up a more palletable number, soon."
...the proactive step of resetting....
Actually, it is rather oxymoronic. If the step were in fact "proactive", it would have taken place prior to there being an actual indication of unauthorized access.
If they were correct in using their market jargon, they would have said "the retroactive step of resetting.....", but that doesn't sound nearly as good. Or, you could completely misconstrue the meaning of "proactive" as to define the action of doing "something", whatever that "something" is.
Proactive is way better because hey, hindsight is always 20/20.
I think it depends on which transformers and which generation of kids.
It occurs to me that transformers with the originals (like me, now 30 yrs old), the "die cast generation" if you will, may not want to see it. I've seen, not literally, so many crap rehashes of that which was my childhood; Garfield, Fat Albert, Herbie, that I may not want to see it until it's been out for a while.
Now, the latest (I think) group, late teens(?), the "plastic tranformer" generation, may be a bit more willing to watch something that was recently part of their childhood. Like the reason that I went to see Street Fighter, in the theater. I knew it was going to be terrible, but it was the "retro" value.
I sure as hell wouldn't watch a GI Joe movie, save for the cartoons on Ebaums. That may be next.
Watch out (if you are a parent) for the marketing/toy onslaught. I thought it was bad when I was a kid, it's far worse now.
"A study commissioned by London's transport planners has recommended that motorists who install it should be rewarded with a discount on the congestion charge, which tomorrow rises to £8 a day.
Gotta love that. What good is a "discount" when the price rise offsets the benefit. There is a difference between a "discount" and "lack of surchage", as there is a difference betwwen "free" and "free, with committment". Remember Columbia House,.01 for the first 8 albums, the next 200 for regular price. This would be a discount with obligation, a price rise to discourage dissent
Discount my ass.
Anyway, imposing a system like this is another exmaple of govt. overstepping its bounds and creating blanket legislation. There will always be emergencies that the GPS unit could not account for. Unless there is a manual override, this may be more dangerous then good.
There will be people who say that to protect "my kids", everyone should be required to have one of these devices in their car. BS. Go to Germany and see the big long road where there is no speed limit, and there are fewer accidents per 100,000 miles then in the US.
We need driver responsibility rather then gadgetry to make our roads safer. I am a good driver, even "speeding", which, by the way, is a relative term. Don't limit my driving ability because there are bad/inconsiderate drivers on the road.
Perspective of a US Marine Hey, I'm glad that you are a Marine, but in my plentiful experience, serving in the military rarely gives one a more in depth prospective upon political ideology.
And, as such, please don't pull this bullying attitude of "guys like me are the reason that you have freedom". People are more concerned with the erosion of freedoms, these days. Freedoms are to be carefully maintained, not reminisced about.
Back when I was on an amphib, I was in the Adriatic when we were bombing the pee out of Slobodon Milosovich. We received boxes of anonymous cards and letters from the supportive public. It was nice to see the outpour of support, but the suprising part were the sentiments themselves. Almost every letter was a thank you about how we were "supporting freedom and democracy", or some interweaving of those words. Strange, I don't think that's what we were doing then, and I don't think that's what we're doing now. It's a bit oxymoronic, occupying a country to make them free.
We are a nation founded on revolution and war
True, but does that mean that both of these must inevitably take place? And if it does, what side will you find yourself on? If this is a country founded on revolution, it follows that there will always be an element of dissention. That is one of the freeoms that we should hold most dear.
Well, you're being given freedom, and it's going to require some computers and research to get it done
Odd, it wasn't until recently that computers and research have been necessary to insure freedoms, nor should freedom be dependent upon either of these things.
I'm sorry to have had to use your quotes, but it kind of frustrates me when I see people use their military relationship to inspire a sense of keen political insight. You know as well as I that just because someone is in the military, it gives them no greater opinion on the funtioning of America then a civilian. I applaud your decision in supporting the fundamentals of our nation, but don't portray your carreer as a means to really let people know that they should ".. shut up about all the crap, take a deep breath and try not to choke on the sweet air of freedom."
And as for relocating, if someone doesn't like what's going on, please realize that this country is not yours alone, and you can't tell someone to "love it or leave it", people don't have to do either.
To clarify, I am a 1st class PO, was on an LHA from 1995-2000, with lots of Marines. Some of them were the best guys I've ever known.
#1 Offers an opportunity for the administration to funnel federal monies to private contracting "security" firms, allowing financial incentives for a great many civilians who are not bound by the same rules of military conduct that the soldiers are. It also allows for legal weapons testing. Is is any wonder why the current vice president was the former CEO of the largest conracting agency involved in the war effort?
#5 Even if we claim victory, or achieve victory, or some similar claim, it is (usually) habit to keep an occupying force in a conquered land. There are several bases in the south, Germany, Japan, and I believe we'll see more middle eastern strongholds, thus necessitating larger troop populations, contracting funtions, and *continuing larger military budgeting*. Yep.
The Pentagon would much rather have a healthy, full-strength, all-volunteer military force than an expensive, byzantine network of "independent contractors" doing more and more grunt work outside the scope of both military and civil law.
I don't know if I would necessarily agree with that, for reasons stated above, unless you mean specifically "the Pentagon", rather then the administration. You might be right about that, I'm not sure.
Slashdot Mirror
Yes, but I would dare say that the average H&R Block patron or /.er does not have to fill out such types of tax forms per fiscal year.
When I say "do your own taxes", I mean exactly that. It behooves the individual to look at the broad range of tax options available to them, to stay abreast of current tax law and structure, IMHO.
This is assuming that you are not in need of an accountant to prepare your taxes, are of sounds enought mind to do your taxes, and organized enough to find (without too much difficulty) pertinent documentation.
So, will this ruling allow H&R to sell data given to them (sold to them?) by the IRS, or is this saying that the IRS is allowing H&R Block to sell data from H&R Block customers? If it is the latter, so what? You think that companies with whom you do business don't sell your data to 3rd parties for the purpose of marketing?
/.er has poured time into learning how to recompile a kernel. Try applying the same principle to learning how to do your own taxes.
/flame suit on/
Quick solution: Do your own taxes
I do my own taxes every year, including taxable income, non taxable income, capital gains/losses, etc. It takes a bit of fortitude, but the average
Of the two inevitabilities in life, one is not Linux.
Whats to say that Google won't decide which results to hand over, assuming that the judge feels that compromise is a great way to stomp on Constitutional rights. Perhaps they will turn over 50,000 searches on miserable failure.
You want it feds? You got it. I'll commit to about 10,000 searches on that.
"If people stop paying to make the movies then that type of movie will not get made in the future."
Good, perhaps Hollywood will have an incentive to produce, market, and release good movies, instead of expensive movies. It strikes me that you are the type of person to believe that the budget of a movie is an indicator of quality. You probably also believe that movies *always* net a loss, because they *always* post a loss, no matter the ticket sales, merchandizing revenue, distribution costs, etc.
So, which did you like better; Garfield, Fat Albert, or Stealth? I heard that Stealth cost a whole bunch to make.
So, stealing = bad, pointing to dl'able file = bad. Making $200 mil movie = good.
The big budget flicks will never go away, regardless of piracy. Unfortunately.
If you read the original post I made, I clearly said that "It is the perseverance that the "average" user is lacking.", emphasis on average. I'm not saying that people, on average, can't learn how to use a different OS, but in my experience, using the various Linux distros entails a much greater learning curve.
My experience, like I mentioned, starting at RH 7.2. How was I supposed to know that the ISP installer disk wouldn't work in Linux. Why didn't the internet connection work? Why couln't I play games, or install Word? Of the games I could play, why were they running dog slow?
But, I persevered, and learned alot along the way. However, I don't think that people like my parents (in their 60's and 70's), or my musician friends, or many of my coworkers (IT security) have the time or interest into finding out such things.
I have 3 Linux distros installed at home, every knoppix version since 3.4, and almost every box set of Suse and RH that came out on the shelf. I've seen fewer and fewer, if any, box sets at retail stores (CompUSA, Staples, Circuit City, Best Buy), far away from copies of XP, usually right along side of the "Learn to speak German!" sets, and even less compatible software, save for StarOffice, and some arcane firewall software.
Tell that to my son who bought Roller Coaster Tycoon 3 with his birthday money.
Sure, right after you can run that game on Linux. I don't know what that game has to do with Genuine Advantage, which I said I dislike, but I don't think that's the best example. I play plenty of games with Win2K.
I'm not advoacting the use or disuse of either, I'm just speaking from my personal experience, which I would gather is somewhat similar to the experiences of many. I'll not leave Linux, nor Windows. I enjoy both.
Like you said, just a difference of opinion. PS, please show me where I said "...who have been using desktop Linux that we shouldn't because it isn't ready.. I would never advocate any such thing. Quite the opposite, I encourage people to try Linux.
"Don't call Linux lacking because you weren't aware of alternate distributions."
.iso on an FTP server, for something called "Breezy" or "Hoary", rather than buy a boxed distro.
I am aware of many distros, and I wasn't saying that many distros don't have an auto updater, but I was trying to speak from the point of view of an average consumer, who neither has the interest nor time to find out what a dependency issue is, or X problem.
And the genuine advantage is a relatively new program, in the grand scheme of things. I don't agree with it's tenets, and think it's a poor idea.
I just think that until we can get Suse (or any distro) in a shiny box, on the counter, next to other compatible software, along side MS, with some sort of recognizable image, in association with some ease of use, Linux on the average home desktop is a long way off.
I don't know many people (avg users) who would rather search for an
Yeah, that was "I started using RedHat 7.2 many years ago", emphasis on started, not also indicating stopped.
I actually quite enjoy using Suse 10, various Knoppix distros. They look good, run nicely, and in the case of Knoppix, are a brilliant idea.
But I also had to do lots of trial and error. Many average consumers are not willing to put the time and effort into figuring out how to compile the latest version of OO.org, or many other problems that new Linux users may be confronted by.
Hell, it took me 3 days to figure out that RH 7.2 couldn't use my HP NIC.
Ok, I'm neither an expert using MS (take your pick) or Linux (take your pick). In an attempt to diversify my understanding of Linux, I started using RedHat 7.2, many years ago.
/etc/blah/blah, port(ed), API, drivers.
It was a slow, long, widing road, but I've learned, using a certain amount of perseverance.
It is the perseverance that the "average" user is lacking. Tell me how many of the following terms/words the shopper going to Best Buy or Circuit City are willing to learn: Source, Binary, Compile, RPM, apt-get, x86, X11,
There are more, but I can't think of anything right now that would add to user/consumer confusion when all people want to know are things like "Can I use the internet with this", "I need some word processing", or the more experienced user that know that a hard drive size is measured in bytes, and the processor speed in herz.
Microsoft makes many things automated. Want OS updates? Go to windowsupdate.com, or click on the "Windows Update" icon. Want driver updates? Go to manufacturer, get drivers for 2000/xp OR 98/ME. No pointing to mirrors, no compilation, no source, no RPM, no Yum, just "Do It Now!", wait for the icon to appear, double click, make a sandwich, reboot.
That's what Linux is lacking. Does anyone realize this?
first post, but I was sleeping.
I dreamt about misspelling "first post", it was not in my better judgement.
...only 15 to 20 percent of the individual riflemen in World War II fired their own weapons at an exposed enemy soldier
I've head this as well, but the take on it that was presented to me was that this was more a prevalent condition in Europe, as the enemy was rather closely related to many Americans involved in the fighting. Back in WWII, I'm sure there were many 1st, 2nd and 3rd generation white, european, perhaps specifically Germans decendants.
It was believed that (I think) it is more difficult to fire upon someone you have a closer kinship with then a more distant one.
is the fact that terrestrial radio is a public "good" (in economic terms) which cannot be impeded upon by other radio station listeners, barring call in listeners who request crap. No matter how many people listen to your favorite station, you can listen to is just as well, with no degradation in service.
/.er.
Alternatively, many internet radio streams that I listen to have a predetermined max # of connections. Fortunately, the stuff I listen to (limbikfrequencies.com) does not present this issue. If you can only stream to X number of users at a time, your advertising base will be a bit limited, and not attractive to advertisers.
The majority reason I listen to streamed audio is that #1 I don't have to hear 10min worth of repetitious adverts between songs. In fact, the only breaks in the music of some stations is the website identification voice in, then it's back to the music. #2 There is what I consider to be, great music on these mainly independent sites. Alot of what I've bought over the last 4 or 5 years has not been American top 40, but primarily electronic ambient from Europe (yeah, call me a fag if you want).
So, no adverts + good music + no crap = me listening to streamed audio out of London all the time. Perhaps it would be a better model to have artists "contribute" to streamed audio stations rather then sell their soul to **AA to get promoted, acts which we all know are for shit. Any music I listen to anymore is NOT advertised. Perhaps a small contribution to the station for the pleasure of listening would be possible. If you have 2000 folks that would pay $1(approx)/month to listen, I would be quite sure this would more the make up for bandwidth costs. I would. Hell, I pay iTunes that much for one song. *Disclaimer: I do not have a television, I spend a great deal of time at the computer. I'll assume roughly the same for the average
I too am an employee in a very similar situation as yourself.
I sometimes wonder what the difference between "..someone holding a TS clearance also starts espousing the views of anarcee or all qeda" (intentional misspelling) and disagreeing with the actions of the guvmint and ongoing conflicts would amount to, and viewed by your bosses.
Where could one legally/realistically draw the line between actual dissension and mere disagreement, clearance holder or not?
I am working for an organization committed to upholding the belief in particular freedoms, I would hope it is not that organization which would bar me from employment for excercizing those beliefs.
Aye Aye to that. Some of the worst car dealers I've ever seen are down in Norfolk (I was there from 96-2000). Every district in the Tidewater area has it's share of terrible dealers, and some even have franchises (Charlie Faulk).
It may sound pessimistic, but if the little E2 or E3 wants to throw down 15k on a 96 Grand Am, let them. Nothing like a hard lession in finance to wisen one up, and then warn future junior sailors not to do the same thing, after the now screwed sailor has had to re-enlist to pay off the original auto. It's a cycle.
Not that this has happened to me at any point (eh.eh...ahem)
Yeah, well, according to these "guys", Open Source beats sex. I'd be a little leary of them.
I think these guys know how zombies work, and how to fight them.
taking high-res pictures of places that aren't militarily interesting
Here is something that is strange. If you try to find the the NYS captial building (Albany, NY), and the surrounding area, it is blurred (security reasons?)
But, if you find Norfolk Naval Station, you can not only see the base in relatively hi res, but you can tell which ships are in port when the imagery was captured. Last I checked, I could tell that the USS Theodore Roosavelt was in port when the imagery was taken.
Of course, I'm assuming all the images to be horribly outdated.
Edit: Actually, they erased (I think) the hull numbers on the carriers, usually painted on the fore end of the flight deck. You can still see the USS Saipan (#2 on the flight deck).
Wouldn't the easy answer to subverison of this law be attributed to the almight Counter Strike??
Smith's Ale House: Proud sponsor of teh ?o!2 5u/v\/v\3r ()1ymp1cs!!lolz!!11!!
...stolen an untold number of...
...the proactive step of resetting....
Probably means more then one, but not all. It also means "We don't know, but we'll make up a more palletable number, soon."
Actually, it is rather oxymoronic. If the step were in fact "proactive", it would have taken place prior to there being an actual indication of unauthorized access.
If they were correct in using their market jargon, they would have said "the retroactive step of resetting.....", but that doesn't sound nearly as good. Or, you could completely misconstrue the meaning of "proactive" as to define the action of doing "something", whatever that "something" is.
Proactive is way better because hey, hindsight is always 20/20.
I think it depends on which transformers and which generation of kids.
It occurs to me that transformers with the originals (like me, now 30 yrs old), the "die cast generation" if you will, may not want to see it. I've seen, not literally, so many crap rehashes of that which was my childhood; Garfield, Fat Albert, Herbie, that I may not want to see it until it's been out for a while.
Now, the latest (I think) group, late teens(?), the "plastic tranformer" generation, may be a bit more willing to watch something that was recently part of their childhood. Like the reason that I went to see Street Fighter, in the theater. I knew it was going to be terrible, but it was the "retro" value.
I sure as hell wouldn't watch a GI Joe movie, save for the cartoons on Ebaums. That may be next.
Watch out (if you are a parent) for the marketing/toy onslaught. I thought it was bad when I was a kid, it's far worse now.
by Robots. Doesn't this guy already do that?
"A study commissioned by London's transport planners has recommended that motorists who install it should be rewarded with a discount on the congestion charge, which tomorrow rises to £8 a day.
.01 for the first 8 albums, the next 200 for regular price. This would be a discount with obligation, a price rise to discourage dissent
Gotta love that. What good is a "discount" when the price rise offsets the benefit. There is a difference between a "discount" and "lack of surchage", as there is a difference betwwen "free" and "free, with committment". Remember Columbia House,
Discount my ass.
Anyway, imposing a system like this is another exmaple of govt. overstepping its bounds and creating blanket legislation. There will always be emergencies that the GPS unit could not account for. Unless there is a manual override, this may be more dangerous then good.
There will be people who say that to protect "my kids", everyone should be required to have one of these devices in their car. BS. Go to Germany and see the big long road where there is no speed limit, and there are fewer accidents per 100,000 miles then in the US.
We need driver responsibility rather then gadgetry to make our roads safer. I am a good driver, even "speeding", which, by the way, is a relative term. Don't limit my driving ability because there are bad/inconsiderate drivers on the road.
...the bad guys...
The "bad guys", expecially on the internet, is a relative term.
Do you happen to be part of a beowulf cluster?
Perspective of a US Marine
Hey, I'm glad that you are a Marine, but in my plentiful experience, serving in the military rarely gives one a more in depth prospective upon political ideology.
And, as such, please don't pull this bullying attitude of "guys like me are the reason that you have freedom". People are more concerned with the erosion of freedoms, these days. Freedoms are to be carefully maintained, not reminisced about.
Back when I was on an amphib, I was in the Adriatic when we were bombing the pee out of Slobodon Milosovich. We received boxes of anonymous cards and letters from the supportive public. It was nice to see the outpour of support, but the suprising part were the sentiments themselves. Almost every letter was a thank you about how we were "supporting freedom and democracy", or some interweaving of those words. Strange, I don't think that's what we were doing then, and I don't think that's what we're doing now. It's a bit oxymoronic, occupying a country to make them free.
We are a nation founded on revolution and war
True, but does that mean that both of these must inevitably take place? And if it does, what side will you find yourself on? If this is a country founded on revolution, it follows that there will always be an element of dissention. That is one of the freeoms that we should hold most dear.
Well, you're being given freedom, and it's going to require some computers and research to get it done
Odd, it wasn't until recently that computers and research have been necessary to insure freedoms, nor should freedom be dependent upon either of these things.
I'm sorry to have had to use your quotes, but it kind of frustrates me when I see people use their military relationship to inspire a sense of keen political insight. You know as well as I that just because someone is in the military, it gives them no greater opinion on the funtioning of America then a civilian. I applaud your decision in supporting the fundamentals of our nation, but don't portray your carreer as a means to really let people know that they should ".. shut up about all the crap, take a deep breath and try not to choke on the sweet air of freedom."
And as for relocating, if someone doesn't like what's going on, please realize that this country is not yours alone, and you can't tell someone to "love it or leave it", people don't have to do either.
To clarify, I am a 1st class PO, was on an LHA from 1995-2000, with lots of Marines. Some of them were the best guys I've ever known.
I'll pick #1 and #4, here's why
#1 Offers an opportunity for the administration to funnel federal monies to private contracting "security" firms, allowing financial incentives for a great many civilians who are not bound by the same rules of military conduct that the soldiers are. It also allows for legal weapons testing. Is is any wonder why the current vice president was the former CEO of the largest conracting agency involved in the war effort?
#5 Even if we claim victory, or achieve victory, or some similar claim, it is (usually) habit to keep an occupying force in a conquered land. There are several bases in the south, Germany, Japan, and I believe we'll see more middle eastern strongholds, thus necessitating larger troop populations, contracting funtions, and *continuing larger military budgeting*. Yep.
The Pentagon would much rather have a healthy, full-strength, all-volunteer military force than an expensive, byzantine network of "independent contractors" doing more and more grunt work outside the scope of both military and civil law.
I don't know if I would necessarily agree with that, for reasons stated above, unless you mean specifically "the Pentagon", rather then the administration. You might be right about that, I'm not sure.