Well, the German legal system isn't exactly German really. They had some help writing it and were kind of forced into it because they'd shown that they couldn't be trusted to do so on their own. It's hardly fair to say that it's not based on the US/British legal systems when it has some similarities and was, shall we say, "heavily influenced" by those other countries.
Just bring a signed doctor's note. The TSA are monsters but I'm sure they have lawyers who will ensure exemptions can be made for health issues.
Well no... I'm not sure... Let's say I'm optimistic despite intuition and evidence. Alright, so I'm just stabbing in the dark and hoping I'm right because it'd suck to be wrong on this. I really, really hope they've a medical exemption. I'd rather they not do it at all but I can hope they've not gone full retard.
It'd be pretty damned hard for them to state the number they missed. After all, by definition, they missed them. I clicked the link and, sadly, they also got someone's 1918 trench. It looks like a reproduction so it's no big loss but it'd still kind of suck as even some of the reproductions are nice.
I have no idea *what* the TSA teaches but I might find an SD card in a search. As mentioned above, I worked as a transport officer while in the Marines (I'd been in Motor Pool prior as a driver) and learned to do a "proper" search. No, you would not stand for it. We do mouth checks. Your shoes are removed. Your hands are against the wall with your feet back behind you - so that you can not get leverage and harm us. We check your hair. We check your seams on your clothing. We do check private parts but we don't grab and feel around.
Your best hiding spot would be to wrap it in a condom, tie the end, and put it in your mangina. Your butt-cheeks might work but do you *really* want to tape it? I'm gonna find it in your wallet. I'm gonna find it in your phone (if it's hidden in anywhere like the battery case or something). I'm gonna find it in your sock. I'm gonna find it where you cut a slit and put it in your waistband. I'm gonna find it in your hat. I'm gonna make you shake your hair and do it repeatedly in different directions. It's gonna be a minute but I'm going to do it properly every single time and I'm going to find it unless you put it in your butt (or swallow it) or, maybe, tape it to your butt cheeks. I'm gonna find it if you tape it to your leg. Or to your foot. Or up your nose. You could, probably, tape it to your nuts or dick. I'd not find that.
While I did do strip searches (and I might find it in your anus - you squat and cough a half dozen times with your cheeks spread out and it glints 'cause I gotta shine a flashlight at it while you do that) they're probably not going to make you do that before a flight. So, you're good there - hopefully.
And, I gotta tell ya... I know, I've been strip searched too, that it is dehumanizing to be stripped but it's not that cool to be the guy who has to do it or be in there with you. It's far more dehumanizing to be the striped than it is to be the observer but no part in that aspect of detainment is enjoyable. Fortunately, I seldom had to strip the detainees. It was not normally my job but certain high level inmates go through a slightly different protocol and thus we get to escort them all the way inside. Doing that is a pain in the arse. You've got to secure your weapon, deal with paperwork, log your weapon, secure your gear, etc... And, you gotta strip 'em out.
Anyhow, I guess the point is, if you want to get an SD card through a real pat-search then you probably want to go with the condom in the butt option. The TSA isn't going to be fondling your cock and balls or sliding a few fingers up your ass crack - or even checking/patting the underside of your foot and between your toes. But, you know, if you actually have something important and you don't want them to find it then the butt is probably your best option. You can swallow it but I'm not sure how well the condom will hold up to the acid.
Also, I might have not mentioned something but, trust me, we searched that too - within reason. If they had justification then they'd bring a physician in and do cavity searches. Nothing from the outside ever made it into the secure area as far as I know - even the guards got searched. I only had to go as far as the sally port most of the time. Had I gone past that (like in training) then I too would have been searched. However, I am kind of hoping the TSA doesn't ever reach that sort of level. It'd take a lot of time, be really bad as far as liberty and freedom is concerned, and would piss me off to no end. Though, I suppose, it'd probably stop a passenger from getting on the plane with a pair of fingernail clippers - if they hired competent people.
I'm not saying that I agree with anything or that I disagree with anything. I'm simply going to point this out:
I fly, multiple times per year most years, and I generally do not deal with the TSA at all. I have not flown out of NY as an origination point but I have stopped and fueled up in NY. I am not a pilot nor do I own my own plane. I simply charter a small jet if I'm going somewhere quickly or if I want friends to come with me. Otherwise, I'm usually in-state or just going to Canada where I deal with customs and just with customs on the way back - no TSA involvement at all.
What to get from this? Well, I'm unsure of the veracity of your NY statement and they, the Powers That Be, might try to claim you can charter a plane thus your right to travel is not being infringed on.
While I do hold an opinion (and it's painfully obvious what opinion I hold) it is irrelevant. So, don't shoot me for being the messenger.;-) (We probably hold very similar opinions. I'm just too lazy to type it all out.)
I've got that one covered. I'll just start driving naked. It'll save some time. Really, though...
I mentioned this the other day but in different context. For a while, I was an escort/chaser (transportation officer) at a military detention facility. This entails picking up prisoners at airports, taking them to the medical appointments, taking them to court, etc... Yes, we're armed and, if it's a large group, one of us is armed with a shotgun. See, you're surrounded by tarmac generally and you don't actually shoot the prisoner if they're trying to escape. You aim about (varied) 5 yards behind the running prisoner and the slug flattens out on the tarmac and then hits 'em in the back. (Ideally, this doesn't kill them. It does, on the other hand, stop them. There are no warning shots.)
Anyhow, that's just some background information. My job was to transfer detainees and part of that job was, at times, to pat them down. We're pretty particular about the process and it's not like you've seen on television or maybe had from your friendly neighborhood cop. It's also nothing like what the TSA does.
Now, I was enlisted in the Marines which means that I transported Marines (and we did have a few guys from the Navy stop in on a transfer) and we Marines have a rather unusual sense of humor. We're also not bashful. So...
The next time they pat you down, open your mouth about half way, let your jaw hang loosely, lean back a little, close your eyes so that they're almost shut, and (not loudly) moan just enough for the person doing the pat search can hear you.
You will leave a lasting impression on them. They will remember you for the rest of their life.
The funny part is that we probably built and paid for the infrastructure that they enjoy and will have to do it again - if history is any indication. For some reason, and I'm not sure why, they've a strange desire to bomb themselves into rubble every few generations and then whine for assistance. I know, I know... Some folks don't like to hear this but, well, all evidence points to this being their typical behavior.
I am not advocating anything but I am reminding...
You are ruled by consent. If you, and your fellow citizens, desire a change in governance then you have the power to enact such changes. You just have to be REALLY sure you want to make those changes and you're going to need a bunch of people who agree with those changes.
If a few of you are going and it's not an overseas trip then charter a small jet. It's not that much more expensive and sometimes it's less expensive than flying first class as a group. If you're nice and the pilot is cool then you might be allowed to fly the plane. And it is awesome.
In general, I agree. In practice, I have been mildly amused and spent far more time than I should have chatting to a chat bot. I know... I know... But, well, from my perspective the tech has gone so far in these years that I find it amazing. We've gone from dumb terminals and mainframes to a supercomputer on our desk and now back to terminals and everything "in the cloud." That's just the start!
So, yeah, I admit that I've wasted more time than I should have chatting to a bot. In my defense, I was probably high, drunk, or both in all except the last time. The last time, well... I was pretty sober and I still spent about an hour poking at it. I'm not sure why they claim they are Touring complete. If I asked it any even moderately complex questions the thing responded with things no normal human would respond with. I concluded that the people testing it were stupid and that it was no such thing.
Change your preferences at Google and the dumb-ass search goes away. Predictive search or something like that... It stores it in a cookie so you don't have to be logged in but you will want to save that cookie or just reset it every session. I have a fake pseudo-identity that I use which I even allow Google to track my searches and tailor my results. I use it only for very specific searches and through a VPN. I use a private session or a complete separate browser for any other searches. I find it handy and it actually gives me good results - I'm using it *specifically* for search results for tech-related questions. It has an email address associated with it and the information is completely, and totally, made up. I don't even use the email address as a spam email.
Then, by all means, remain Independent. That doesn't mean you wouldn't be welcomed under the Libertarian tent. Hell, we've got a bunch of Republicans under the tent already (they're not really welcome but we can't just kick 'em out). So, it's not like the label really matters.
I'd like to convince them to leave but I'd never kick them out. Once upon a time we were recognized as being the crazy leftist party. Somehow, we've become the crazy rightist party - at least in perception. I suspect it's that we've let anyone with a voice and a microphone speak for us and it'd be a bit awkward if we didn't. I do wish they'd form parties with more accurate names as many of them aren't the least bit concerned with liberty and seem inclined to put business interests in front of the individual or commons.
It's things like that which make me remember that Serenity Prayer thing that the drunks say. I just strip out the word God and I'm good to go.
Shit, I have US citizenship and I've been bugged by cops as a fairly-frequent hobby of mine is driving around the country at random - as in, literally, no specific destination. I hope on the interstate (maybe) and don't use a map (though I usually know where I am - I've been everywhere) and just hop off at an interesting looking exit and drive until I find something curious. Then I stay or move on. Then I hop back on another highway and hop off the next interesting looking exit. I might cross a few States a half dozen times and never once have bothered with a map or GPS or anything.
They really don't seem to be happy if you don't have a destination. It's tough to explain to a cop that the journey is the destination without them thinking you're on drugs. Which, I admit, I probably was/am but that's not the point. A destination? Yes. I want to get somewhere and find something. Oddly, Canada doesn't usually ask me a whole lot about what I'm going to do because I have Canadian citizenship by grace of heritage. They still like to ask what I'm doing but they don't seem to give a shit. (I'm a citizen, not a resident. I could be a resident. I am not.)
I don't know but I don't think Canada can actually refuse to let me in and I'm pretty sure the US can't either. The US, on the other hand, doesn't ask me what I'm doing when I come back - probably because I'm a resident. I should start answering the Canadian Customs questions with gibberish like, "Oh, I'm just coming up to go bareback moose riding." Or, "I'm going to try to lasso me a RCMP man." They're polite, they won't kick my ass. I'm not sure why they ask, I'm pretty sure they can't stop me from entering without some due process. Can they revoke my citizenship? Hmm... I don't think so.
The justification can be as simple as, "Fuck you, that's why." Contrary to popular opinion, the US is a sovereign country. That means they get to be as retarded as they want to be, in matters such as this. All evidence suggests that they'll continue to not only be retarded but that they'll try to escalate that level of mental retardation. However, the important thing to remember is the US doesn't have to give you shit for justification and there's fuck all you can do about it.
Don't blame me, I didn't vote for 'em and nobody every listens to me.
^ ^ ^ Along with my prior post, that's an effective solution in my personal experience. I can not, of course, give anything other than an anecdote. Go upstream on their end and the problem gets resolved - in my experience. It may be unintentional, it may not be. Either way, it's possible to dig and find out who the bandwidth provider is (it's not always the name on the company, in our case it was not) and work your way up from there.
Have some documentation ready though, probably, they can see it or view their own logs. Work your way up the stream until you find out who it is. It was a regional ISP that was actually reselling bandwidth from someone else in the case mentioned above. Some work revealed who to contact, contact was made, and the problem was resolved.
Yup. Go upstream and the problem will probably be resolved fairly quickly. Be prepared, of course, to show documentation. They can probably observe it but you might want to be able to give them some evidence so that they know where to look. They're probably helpful and may even do something about it proactively in the future.
I shan't get into details, as they are long and boring, but my company's edge router was being hammered on, constantly, from a very narrow set of IP ranges. I can only speculate but, at the time, we were pretty much the only US-based company in the sphere, at least if you wanted quality and service. (I might be biased.) Anyhow, the IP ranges pointed to a very specific area and indicated a very probably source. (I wonder why?)
So, we ended up trying to go through their ISP. We had polite interactions but the problem persisted. The ISP in question was actually a reseller (this took some work to discover) of bandwidth but fairly high in the food chain. With some work we were able to find the actual provider and we contacted them. They requested that we forward the logs by email and the problem was completely resolved in less than 72 hours.
One oddity, the upstream provider wanted us to let them login to our equipment and check the logs themselves. We politely declined. Much of the data that we held was proprietary and/or not our property. Maintaining some semblance of security was important and allowing a third party to access the equipment was simply not something we were going to accept liability for.
Your vote should not be associated, in any way, with your name. It should be truly anonymous. If it isn't then you have bigger problems. Where I vote, it's not an issue. It's paper ballots still.;-) Complete with a big, locked, wooden box that was probably built back in the 1940s or something.
Anyhow, you probably fit one of the many schools of Libertarianism. I believe we've interacted enough to know that I'm actually (mostly) sane and I'm a Libertarian. There are *many* different schools within the Party. I am kind of surprised but the Wikipedia article is not bad. It's worth a look, if you're interested.
I'm a Classic Libertarian (self-titled, I can do that) as I find it simpler to say than to express my displeasure at Randians and Republicans. I'm fairly close to what is known as a Socialist Libertarian. In fact, much of my ideals would indicate that I'm a socialist except I'm not. Unlike Socialists, I used reason and logic to reach my conclusions - as opposed to emoting my way to a decision.
I've got a minute, I'll give you an example or two...
I have my key hanging outside my house door, if you know where to look for it. I'm many miles away but, strangely enough, no one has stolen anything though I often have friends who make use of my game room while I am not home. Some even make use of my garage to work on their own vehicles. Why? Well, I have insurance. I'd rather you use a key than break the door down and steal my stuff.
I support single-payer health care. Why? It's cheaper to prevent than it is to cure. It's cheaper to buy in bulk. Healthy people can, now that I mostly just invest, make me more money than sick people can. Healthy people can pay more in taxes and keep the government going along at a better pace than normal.
I support inexpensive, perhaps State funded (in certain areas and with caveats) higher learning. Why? An educated populous is a more innovative populous and staying ahead of the game is essential if we wish to improve or maintain our station in life.
See, I don't think people "deserve" those things. In fact, just the opposite. I think they don't deserve them but they should have access to them simply because it makes us more likely to succeed, acquire wealth, acquire power, and to be able to act on our liberties more easily. The more wealth you have, the easier it is to be free. The more assets you have, the more likely you can enjoy the liberties you have.;-) You'd probably fit, fairly well, under the Libertarian tent for it is broad and welcoming. Me? I'm usually trying to be logical (which also includes emoting) and try to base my beliefs on logic and reason. I am a Libertarian because that's who I am. I am not a Libertarian because that's what the party is. I am, for the most part, really an Independent as I'm not one to strictly insist on a party line - I am not a zealot. However, it's "close enough" but has the varied caveats.
So you're proud of being a snitch. Gotcha. "They were doing something I didn't like, wasn't hurting me, probably wasn't hurting anyone, but they were making money and I'm jealous - so I snitched on them." I could kind of justify it if they were doing demonstrable harm but I'm not seeing that. And yes, I'm actually pro-copyright protections (in a less draconian fashion and with checks and balances).
If you pirate something that doesn't mean you were going to pay for it. In fact, it seems to mean that you were not going to pay for it. The kicker is, after pirating it, some folks (who'd not have been customers) end up opting to pay for the product anyhow - to get new features, to support the project now that they realize it is valuable, etc...
But, more importantly, you weren't harmed by them and just were envious so you decided to take away their ability to make money even though they weren't entirely to blame for the actions of third parties. In fact, they acted on take-down notices as I recall. But no, you're jealous and felt the need to, "do something." And you're proud enough of this to tell us about it. You feel important. It's really sad that that makes you feel important. You need a more meaningful life if you're feeling compelled to meddle in the affairs of others.
In the past week, I've gone over a few old articles and read every one of the comments. Two subjects spring to mind. The first is Mozilla with Firefox and the other is VMware. A common theme was that Firefox would never catch on with the masses and IE would remain king on the desktop. VMware was useless, a fad, vaporware that couldn't work, and virtual machines would never be of interest to anyone in the future, ever.
I used to have a much lower UID but I got busy, stopped participating, lost the email address, and have since forgotten the name - not that it would do me any good. Then, I have this one, from something like 2007. The first UID was probably from 2000 or so.
Point being, you view history with rose-tinted glasses. No, Slashdot was never good. At least not as a general rule it wasn't. There are some notable exceptions but, for the most part, we've never been good, knowledgeable, on topic, insightful, factually correct, remotely correct, sane, coherent, or myriad other things thought to be the past.
Though, in fairness, I seem to recall the same thing but when I look at the old comment threads I am surprised at how stupid we were, even then.
Well, you could probably attach it to a stick and hit people with it. I mean, if we're going to be pedantic here (and we ARE - it's what we do) then it can be used for weapons. It just probably won't be a very effective weapon. They should cover a thin layer with a chicken-wire reinforced ceramic. I can put it at the end of my bed to keep my feet warm or maybe have varied amounts so that I can use one as an "always" on teapot heater.
This is also why they don't let me near any of the stuff. However, I'd buy those products. Sure, a stray (very rare) beta or gamma gremlin might come out and try to cause harm but they're seldom occurring, unlikely to actually cause any harm, and I probably have greater risks from things I already do such as leaving the house while the Sun is shining.
Slashdot Mirror
Well, the German legal system isn't exactly German really. They had some help writing it and were kind of forced into it because they'd shown that they couldn't be trusted to do so on their own. It's hardly fair to say that it's not based on the US/British legal systems when it has some similarities and was, shall we say, "heavily influenced" by those other countries.
Just bring a signed doctor's note. The TSA are monsters but I'm sure they have lawyers who will ensure exemptions can be made for health issues.
Well no... I'm not sure... Let's say I'm optimistic despite intuition and evidence. Alright, so I'm just stabbing in the dark and hoping I'm right because it'd suck to be wrong on this. I really, really hope they've a medical exemption. I'd rather they not do it at all but I can hope they've not gone full retard.
It'd be pretty damned hard for them to state the number they missed. After all, by definition, they missed them. I clicked the link and, sadly, they also got someone's 1918 trench. It looks like a reproduction so it's no big loss but it'd still kind of suck as even some of the reproductions are nice.
I have no idea *what* the TSA teaches but I might find an SD card in a search. As mentioned above, I worked as a transport officer while in the Marines (I'd been in Motor Pool prior as a driver) and learned to do a "proper" search. No, you would not stand for it. We do mouth checks. Your shoes are removed. Your hands are against the wall with your feet back behind you - so that you can not get leverage and harm us. We check your hair. We check your seams on your clothing. We do check private parts but we don't grab and feel around.
Your best hiding spot would be to wrap it in a condom, tie the end, and put it in your mangina. Your butt-cheeks might work but do you *really* want to tape it? I'm gonna find it in your wallet. I'm gonna find it in your phone (if it's hidden in anywhere like the battery case or something). I'm gonna find it in your sock. I'm gonna find it where you cut a slit and put it in your waistband. I'm gonna find it in your hat. I'm gonna make you shake your hair and do it repeatedly in different directions. It's gonna be a minute but I'm going to do it properly every single time and I'm going to find it unless you put it in your butt (or swallow it) or, maybe, tape it to your butt cheeks. I'm gonna find it if you tape it to your leg. Or to your foot. Or up your nose. You could, probably, tape it to your nuts or dick. I'd not find that.
While I did do strip searches (and I might find it in your anus - you squat and cough a half dozen times with your cheeks spread out and it glints 'cause I gotta shine a flashlight at it while you do that) they're probably not going to make you do that before a flight. So, you're good there - hopefully.
And, I gotta tell ya... I know, I've been strip searched too, that it is dehumanizing to be stripped but it's not that cool to be the guy who has to do it or be in there with you. It's far more dehumanizing to be the striped than it is to be the observer but no part in that aspect of detainment is enjoyable. Fortunately, I seldom had to strip the detainees. It was not normally my job but certain high level inmates go through a slightly different protocol and thus we get to escort them all the way inside. Doing that is a pain in the arse. You've got to secure your weapon, deal with paperwork, log your weapon, secure your gear, etc... And, you gotta strip 'em out.
Anyhow, I guess the point is, if you want to get an SD card through a real pat-search then you probably want to go with the condom in the butt option. The TSA isn't going to be fondling your cock and balls or sliding a few fingers up your ass crack - or even checking/patting the underside of your foot and between your toes. But, you know, if you actually have something important and you don't want them to find it then the butt is probably your best option. You can swallow it but I'm not sure how well the condom will hold up to the acid.
Also, I might have not mentioned something but, trust me, we searched that too - within reason. If they had justification then they'd bring a physician in and do cavity searches. Nothing from the outside ever made it into the secure area as far as I know - even the guards got searched. I only had to go as far as the sally port most of the time. Had I gone past that (like in training) then I too would have been searched. However, I am kind of hoping the TSA doesn't ever reach that sort of level. It'd take a lot of time, be really bad as far as liberty and freedom is concerned, and would piss me off to no end. Though, I suppose, it'd probably stop a passenger from getting on the plane with a pair of fingernail clippers - if they hired competent people.
I'm not saying that I agree with anything or that I disagree with anything. I'm simply going to point this out:
I fly, multiple times per year most years, and I generally do not deal with the TSA at all. I have not flown out of NY as an origination point but I have stopped and fueled up in NY. I am not a pilot nor do I own my own plane. I simply charter a small jet if I'm going somewhere quickly or if I want friends to come with me. Otherwise, I'm usually in-state or just going to Canada where I deal with customs and just with customs on the way back - no TSA involvement at all.
What to get from this? Well, I'm unsure of the veracity of your NY statement and they, the Powers That Be, might try to claim you can charter a plane thus your right to travel is not being infringed on.
While I do hold an opinion (and it's painfully obvious what opinion I hold) it is irrelevant. So, don't shoot me for being the messenger. ;-) (We probably hold very similar opinions. I'm just too lazy to type it all out.)
I've got that one covered. I'll just start driving naked. It'll save some time. Really, though...
I mentioned this the other day but in different context. For a while, I was an escort/chaser (transportation officer) at a military detention facility. This entails picking up prisoners at airports, taking them to the medical appointments, taking them to court, etc... Yes, we're armed and, if it's a large group, one of us is armed with a shotgun. See, you're surrounded by tarmac generally and you don't actually shoot the prisoner if they're trying to escape. You aim about (varied) 5 yards behind the running prisoner and the slug flattens out on the tarmac and then hits 'em in the back. (Ideally, this doesn't kill them. It does, on the other hand, stop them. There are no warning shots.)
Anyhow, that's just some background information. My job was to transfer detainees and part of that job was, at times, to pat them down. We're pretty particular about the process and it's not like you've seen on television or maybe had from your friendly neighborhood cop. It's also nothing like what the TSA does.
Now, I was enlisted in the Marines which means that I transported Marines (and we did have a few guys from the Navy stop in on a transfer) and we Marines have a rather unusual sense of humor. We're also not bashful. So...
The next time they pat you down, open your mouth about half way, let your jaw hang loosely, lean back a little, close your eyes so that they're almost shut, and (not loudly) moan just enough for the person doing the pat search can hear you.
You will leave a lasting impression on them. They will remember you for the rest of their life.
The funny part is that we probably built and paid for the infrastructure that they enjoy and will have to do it again - if history is any indication. For some reason, and I'm not sure why, they've a strange desire to bomb themselves into rubble every few generations and then whine for assistance. I know, I know... Some folks don't like to hear this but, well, all evidence points to this being their typical behavior.
I am not advocating anything but I am reminding...
You are ruled by consent. If you, and your fellow citizens, desire a change in governance then you have the power to enact such changes. You just have to be REALLY sure you want to make those changes and you're going to need a bunch of people who agree with those changes.
If a few of you are going and it's not an overseas trip then charter a small jet. It's not that much more expensive and sometimes it's less expensive than flying first class as a group. If you're nice and the pilot is cool then you might be allowed to fly the plane. And it is awesome.
In general, I agree. In practice, I have been mildly amused and spent far more time than I should have chatting to a chat bot. I know... I know... But, well, from my perspective the tech has gone so far in these years that I find it amazing. We've gone from dumb terminals and mainframes to a supercomputer on our desk and now back to terminals and everything "in the cloud." That's just the start!
So, yeah, I admit that I've wasted more time than I should have chatting to a bot. In my defense, I was probably high, drunk, or both in all except the last time. The last time, well... I was pretty sober and I still spent about an hour poking at it. I'm not sure why they claim they are Touring complete. If I asked it any even moderately complex questions the thing responded with things no normal human would respond with. I concluded that the people testing it were stupid and that it was no such thing.
Also, I blame being retired and bored. ;-)
Change your preferences at Google and the dumb-ass search goes away. Predictive search or something like that... It stores it in a cookie so you don't have to be logged in but you will want to save that cookie or just reset it every session. I have a fake pseudo-identity that I use which I even allow Google to track my searches and tailor my results. I use it only for very specific searches and through a VPN. I use a private session or a complete separate browser for any other searches. I find it handy and it actually gives me good results - I'm using it *specifically* for search results for tech-related questions. It has an email address associated with it and the information is completely, and totally, made up. I don't even use the email address as a spam email.
Then, by all means, remain Independent. That doesn't mean you wouldn't be welcomed under the Libertarian tent. Hell, we've got a bunch of Republicans under the tent already (they're not really welcome but we can't just kick 'em out). So, it's not like the label really matters.
I'd like to convince them to leave but I'd never kick them out. Once upon a time we were recognized as being the crazy leftist party. Somehow, we've become the crazy rightist party - at least in perception. I suspect it's that we've let anyone with a voice and a microphone speak for us and it'd be a bit awkward if we didn't. I do wish they'd form parties with more accurate names as many of them aren't the least bit concerned with liberty and seem inclined to put business interests in front of the individual or commons.
It's things like that which make me remember that Serenity Prayer thing that the drunks say. I just strip out the word God and I'm good to go.
Shit, I have US citizenship and I've been bugged by cops as a fairly-frequent hobby of mine is driving around the country at random - as in, literally, no specific destination. I hope on the interstate (maybe) and don't use a map (though I usually know where I am - I've been everywhere) and just hop off at an interesting looking exit and drive until I find something curious. Then I stay or move on. Then I hop back on another highway and hop off the next interesting looking exit. I might cross a few States a half dozen times and never once have bothered with a map or GPS or anything.
They really don't seem to be happy if you don't have a destination. It's tough to explain to a cop that the journey is the destination without them thinking you're on drugs. Which, I admit, I probably was/am but that's not the point. A destination? Yes. I want to get somewhere and find something. Oddly, Canada doesn't usually ask me a whole lot about what I'm going to do because I have Canadian citizenship by grace of heritage. They still like to ask what I'm doing but they don't seem to give a shit. (I'm a citizen, not a resident. I could be a resident. I am not.)
I don't know but I don't think Canada can actually refuse to let me in and I'm pretty sure the US can't either. The US, on the other hand, doesn't ask me what I'm doing when I come back - probably because I'm a resident. I should start answering the Canadian Customs questions with gibberish like, "Oh, I'm just coming up to go bareback moose riding." Or, "I'm going to try to lasso me a RCMP man." They're polite, they won't kick my ass. I'm not sure why they ask, I'm pretty sure they can't stop me from entering without some due process. Can they revoke my citizenship? Hmm... I don't think so.
The justification can be as simple as, "Fuck you, that's why." Contrary to popular opinion, the US is a sovereign country. That means they get to be as retarded as they want to be, in matters such as this. All evidence suggests that they'll continue to not only be retarded but that they'll try to escalate that level of mental retardation. However, the important thing to remember is the US doesn't have to give you shit for justification and there's fuck all you can do about it.
Don't blame me, I didn't vote for 'em and nobody every listens to me.
Kennedy = Drunk
Houston = Southern Hospitality
Miami = Cocaine
How very odd.
"I was doing things that made me stand out. They noticed me. They asked me questions. I am oppressed by the system!!!"
Yup. First world problems.
I should also mention that this family should be grateful. Disneyland is no place to go. They've been saved, not hindered.
^ ^ ^ Along with my prior post, that's an effective solution in my personal experience. I can not, of course, give anything other than an anecdote. Go upstream on their end and the problem gets resolved - in my experience. It may be unintentional, it may not be. Either way, it's possible to dig and find out who the bandwidth provider is (it's not always the name on the company, in our case it was not) and work your way up from there.
Have some documentation ready though, probably, they can see it or view their own logs. Work your way up the stream until you find out who it is. It was a regional ISP that was actually reselling bandwidth from someone else in the case mentioned above. Some work revealed who to contact, contact was made, and the problem was resolved.
Yup. Go upstream and the problem will probably be resolved fairly quickly. Be prepared, of course, to show documentation. They can probably observe it but you might want to be able to give them some evidence so that they know where to look. They're probably helpful and may even do something about it proactively in the future.
I shan't get into details, as they are long and boring, but my company's edge router was being hammered on, constantly, from a very narrow set of IP ranges. I can only speculate but, at the time, we were pretty much the only US-based company in the sphere, at least if you wanted quality and service. (I might be biased.) Anyhow, the IP ranges pointed to a very specific area and indicated a very probably source. (I wonder why?)
So, we ended up trying to go through their ISP. We had polite interactions but the problem persisted. The ISP in question was actually a reseller (this took some work to discover) of bandwidth but fairly high in the food chain. With some work we were able to find the actual provider and we contacted them. They requested that we forward the logs by email and the problem was completely resolved in less than 72 hours.
One oddity, the upstream provider wanted us to let them login to our equipment and check the logs themselves. We politely declined. Much of the data that we held was proprietary and/or not our property. Maintaining some semblance of security was important and allowing a third party to access the equipment was simply not something we were going to accept liability for.
Your vote should not be associated, in any way, with your name. It should be truly anonymous. If it isn't then you have bigger problems. Where I vote, it's not an issue. It's paper ballots still. ;-) Complete with a big, locked, wooden box that was probably built back in the 1940s or something.
Anyhow, you probably fit one of the many schools of Libertarianism. I believe we've interacted enough to know that I'm actually (mostly) sane and I'm a Libertarian. There are *many* different schools within the Party. I am kind of surprised but the Wikipedia article is not bad. It's worth a look, if you're interested.
I'm a Classic Libertarian (self-titled, I can do that) as I find it simpler to say than to express my displeasure at Randians and Republicans. I'm fairly close to what is known as a Socialist Libertarian. In fact, much of my ideals would indicate that I'm a socialist except I'm not. Unlike Socialists, I used reason and logic to reach my conclusions - as opposed to emoting my way to a decision.
I've got a minute, I'll give you an example or two...
I have my key hanging outside my house door, if you know where to look for it. I'm many miles away but, strangely enough, no one has stolen anything though I often have friends who make use of my game room while I am not home. Some even make use of my garage to work on their own vehicles. Why? Well, I have insurance. I'd rather you use a key than break the door down and steal my stuff.
I support single-payer health care. Why? It's cheaper to prevent than it is to cure. It's cheaper to buy in bulk. Healthy people can, now that I mostly just invest, make me more money than sick people can. Healthy people can pay more in taxes and keep the government going along at a better pace than normal.
I support inexpensive, perhaps State funded (in certain areas and with caveats) higher learning. Why? An educated populous is a more innovative populous and staying ahead of the game is essential if we wish to improve or maintain our station in life.
See, I don't think people "deserve" those things. In fact, just the opposite. I think they don't deserve them but they should have access to them simply because it makes us more likely to succeed, acquire wealth, acquire power, and to be able to act on our liberties more easily. The more wealth you have, the easier it is to be free. The more assets you have, the more likely you can enjoy the liberties you have. ;-) You'd probably fit, fairly well, under the Libertarian tent for it is broad and welcoming. Me? I'm usually trying to be logical (which also includes emoting) and try to base my beliefs on logic and reason. I am a Libertarian because that's who I am. I am not a Libertarian because that's what the party is. I am, for the most part, really an Independent as I'm not one to strictly insist on a party line - I am not a zealot. However, it's "close enough" but has the varied caveats.
Set up the escrow. I'll take the 1:1,000,000. Count me in for $10.
I'll take $50 for the 1:10,000
I'll take $40 for the 1:100,000 if, by fair trial, you mean he doesn't have a successful appeal.
The rest are too subjective and you'll need to define them better.
In fact, I *am* a gambling man.
So you're proud of being a snitch. Gotcha. "They were doing something I didn't like, wasn't hurting me, probably wasn't hurting anyone, but they were making money and I'm jealous - so I snitched on them." I could kind of justify it if they were doing demonstrable harm but I'm not seeing that. And yes, I'm actually pro-copyright protections (in a less draconian fashion and with checks and balances).
If you pirate something that doesn't mean you were going to pay for it. In fact, it seems to mean that you were not going to pay for it. The kicker is, after pirating it, some folks (who'd not have been customers) end up opting to pay for the product anyhow - to get new features, to support the project now that they realize it is valuable, etc...
But, more importantly, you weren't harmed by them and just were envious so you decided to take away their ability to make money even though they weren't entirely to blame for the actions of third parties. In fact, they acted on take-down notices as I recall. But no, you're jealous and felt the need to, "do something." And you're proud enough of this to tell us about it. You feel important. It's really sad that that makes you feel important. You need a more meaningful life if you're feeling compelled to meddle in the affairs of others.
I think it was Cox who was just recently found to be in violation, so no but yes.
In the past week, I've gone over a few old articles and read every one of the comments. Two subjects spring to mind. The first is Mozilla with Firefox and the other is VMware. A common theme was that Firefox would never catch on with the masses and IE would remain king on the desktop. VMware was useless, a fad, vaporware that couldn't work, and virtual machines would never be of interest to anyone in the future, ever.
I used to have a much lower UID but I got busy, stopped participating, lost the email address, and have since forgotten the name - not that it would do me any good. Then, I have this one, from something like 2007. The first UID was probably from 2000 or so.
Point being, you view history with rose-tinted glasses. No, Slashdot was never good. At least not as a general rule it wasn't. There are some notable exceptions but, for the most part, we've never been good, knowledgeable, on topic, insightful, factually correct, remotely correct, sane, coherent, or myriad other things thought to be the past.
Though, in fairness, I seem to recall the same thing but when I look at the old comment threads I am surprised at how stupid we were, even then.
Well, you could probably attach it to a stick and hit people with it. I mean, if we're going to be pedantic here (and we ARE - it's what we do) then it can be used for weapons. It just probably won't be a very effective weapon. They should cover a thin layer with a chicken-wire reinforced ceramic. I can put it at the end of my bed to keep my feet warm or maybe have varied amounts so that I can use one as an "always" on teapot heater.
This is also why they don't let me near any of the stuff. However, I'd buy those products. Sure, a stray (very rare) beta or gamma gremlin might come out and try to cause harm but they're seldom occurring, unlikely to actually cause any harm, and I probably have greater risks from things I already do such as leaving the house while the Sun is shining.