Music is basically a set of instructions for doing something with a diaphragm. Videos are basically a set of instructions for doing something with lights.
In the UK, hard copy books are exempt from VAT (sales tax). As I understand it, ebooks are not exempt. That's an immediate 15% (normally 17.5%, but we had a temporary cut for some obscure reason) on top of the price.
The vaccination against headshots does have side effects, including loss of speech, difficulty breathing and eating, and has been known to alter perceptions of taste. These effects appear to be very short-lived, however - we've had no reports of the decapitated^W vaccinated people complaining about these effects for long.
The lack of prison terms in my first paragraph is more for reducing the huge cost of imprisonment than for lessening punishment.
I'm not meaning to advocate extra unpleasantness, just a lack of nonessential luxuries for the incarcerated. See other responses for a further discussion of that point.
For the purposes of this, I would separate killer and murderer, defining murder as actively intending to kill, whilst this is killing by negligence. The difference in prison terms being that I would more likely expect remorse and a changing of ways from the killer-by-negligence than the murderer. The intentional murderer is the one who should be separated entirely from society. The negligent driver should perhaps be forbidden from driving - whether permanently or for limited period is a matter for discussion - but does not necessarily need to be separated otherwise from society.
Useless labour costs more money than leaving them in their cells, too.
I see your point about preventing riots, as well. Hadn't considered that aspect of things. I approve of giving inmates the opportunity to better themselves where practical, and I think I'd consider that as part of the "making them useful" concept too.
All in all, it's a fairly difficult situation to balance out, isn't it?
A good point; punishing criminals with terrible conditions will probably not help. I meant more not giving luxuries than removing basics, but a balance would be difficult to achieve.
Mwah ha ha, you fell into my (unintentional) trap.
And yeah, that agent has failed to show me anything of interest so far anyways. I'll pass them over in the future. Tempted to send them a bill for 30 minutes of my time (at my normal weekend pay, which is doubletime) plus fuel, but I don't think I'd get away with it...:)
Perhaps replacing short prison terms with fines would be sufficient to fund imprisonment where necessary? I still favour a system that limits the requirement of general taxes for caring for criminals.
Walking in a car park, you should be paying attention. Obviously.
Driving in a car park, you should be paying attention too. If you're in a car park and unable to stop if one of the expected hazards of a car park occurs, YOU'RE GOING TOO DAMN FAST.
Today, whilst driving to an appointment to view a flat, just after I'd left home, I received a phone call. Naturally, I didn't answer it. I never do.
Fifteen minutes later, after parking at my destination, I listened to my voicemail and discovered it had been the letting agent calling to cancel the appointment. Had I answered the phone, I'd have saved half an hour of my time (round trip) along with applicable fuel.
So, do I answer next time, despite driving?
Hell no. I'll park at the next appropriate opportunity if I feel it's important - otherwise, they can wait.
Replace the short-term prison sentence with harsh fines and community service - for all instances of short prison terms. Said fines should go towards 1. caring for those harmed by any relevant actions and 2. maintaining imprisonment of those dangerous enough that they must be separated from society.
Large fines, and driving bans. Prison terms should be reserved for murderers, rapists, and others who should be separated entirely from society for society's benefit. Forced community service, fines, and removal of privileges are better options for lesser crimes.
I'm also of the opinion that as far as practical, prisons should be fairly unpleasant (NOT in the prison rape way, that should be stamped out - I mean things like poor quality food, albeit nutritious enough to sustain life) and prisoners should perform useful tasks, such as hard labour.
The only issue with the "a console is cheaper than a PC, buy it instead" is that most of the time, you still want a PC - so it becomes "buy it as well".
Slashdot Mirror
I think it's probably fair to say that someone buying the software generally doesn't give a damn about the creator, either.
Music is basically a set of instructions for doing something with a diaphragm. Videos are basically a set of instructions for doing something with lights.
In the UK, hard copy books are exempt from VAT (sales tax). As I understand it, ebooks are not exempt. That's an immediate 15% (normally 17.5%, but we had a temporary cut for some obscure reason) on top of the price.
The vaccination against headshots does have side effects, including loss of speech, difficulty breathing and eating, and has been known to alter perceptions of taste. These effects appear to be very short-lived, however - we've had no reports of the decapitated^W vaccinated people complaining about these effects for long.
In other words, as long as I'm a model citizen then nobody will bother to look my up in the database.
Assuming nobody has gained unofficial access to said database.
You'll forgive me if I don't find this reassuring.
And if you could, how would it stay inflated?
The lack of prison terms in my first paragraph is more for reducing the huge cost of imprisonment than for lessening punishment.
I'm not meaning to advocate extra unpleasantness, just a lack of nonessential luxuries for the incarcerated. See other responses for a further discussion of that point.
I don't claim to have the final answers.
For the purposes of this, I would separate killer and murderer, defining murder as actively intending to kill, whilst this is killing by negligence. The difference in prison terms being that I would more likely expect remorse and a changing of ways from the killer-by-negligence than the murderer. The intentional murderer is the one who should be separated entirely from society. The negligent driver should perhaps be forbidden from driving - whether permanently or for limited period is a matter for discussion - but does not necessarily need to be separated otherwise from society.
We've already tried that, and the result was Australia - do you really want an entire planet like Australia? ;)
Mind you, the generation ship full of convicts would in itself be an interesting experiment.
Bogus? I wish it were so - it's entirely true.
And no, I don't change radio stations particularly often. It's either radio 1, or off. More often off than anything else.
I could have pulled over, but not in time to answer it. Answering it while driving *is not reasonable*.
And for added fun, extracting it from the pocket of my jeans would have probably been less safe than the act of actually answering.
Useless labour costs more money than leaving them in their cells, too.
I see your point about preventing riots, as well. Hadn't considered that aspect of things. I approve of giving inmates the opportunity to better themselves where practical, and I think I'd consider that as part of the "making them useful" concept too.
All in all, it's a fairly difficult situation to balance out, isn't it?
A good point; punishing criminals with terrible conditions will probably not help. I meant more not giving luxuries than removing basics, but a balance would be difficult to achieve.
Mwah ha ha, you fell into my (unintentional) trap.
And yeah, that agent has failed to show me anything of interest so far anyways. I'll pass them over in the future. Tempted to send them a bill for 30 minutes of my time (at my normal weekend pay, which is doubletime) plus fuel, but I don't think I'd get away with it... :)
Rich people would still attempt to get away with it by employing expensive accountants to demonstrate their lack of assets.
I like the idea, and it would probably help to an extent, but it wouldn't be perfect.
Hmm. I see your point.
Perhaps replacing short prison terms with fines would be sufficient to fund imprisonment where necessary? I still favour a system that limits the requirement of general taxes for caring for criminals.
Walking in a car park, you should be paying attention. Obviously.
Driving in a car park, you should be paying attention too. If you're in a car park and unable to stop if one of the expected hazards of a car park occurs, YOU'RE GOING TOO DAMN FAST.
When driving, your attention should be focused on driving. There is no exception and no excuse.
This should not be a difficult concept.
Does anyone have these statistics? I wouldn't know where to look, but I'd like to see them.
Today, whilst driving to an appointment to view a flat, just after I'd left home, I received a phone call. Naturally, I didn't answer it. I never do.
Fifteen minutes later, after parking at my destination, I listened to my voicemail and discovered it had been the letting agent calling to cancel the appointment. Had I answered the phone, I'd have saved half an hour of my time (round trip) along with applicable fuel.
So, do I answer next time, despite driving?
Hell no. I'll park at the next appropriate opportunity if I feel it's important - otherwise, they can wait.
Replace the short-term prison sentence with harsh fines and community service - for all instances of short prison terms. Said fines should go towards 1. caring for those harmed by any relevant actions and 2. maintaining imprisonment of those dangerous enough that they must be separated from society.
Large fines, and driving bans. Prison terms should be reserved for murderers, rapists, and others who should be separated entirely from society for society's benefit. Forced community service, fines, and removal of privileges are better options for lesser crimes.
I'm also of the opinion that as far as practical, prisons should be fairly unpleasant (NOT in the prison rape way, that should be stamped out - I mean things like poor quality food, albeit nutritious enough to sustain life) and prisoners should perform useful tasks, such as hard labour.
I'd doubt that textbook was written in 1650 - the wording would be modern.
At a guess, the original wording for that census would have been "Negro" or similar.
But they're not African-American, now are they?
Almost entirely the same people.
The only issue with the "a console is cheaper than a PC, buy it instead" is that most of the time, you still want a PC - so it becomes "buy it as well".