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Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 30th 2023 at 11:03:59 AM

Pykrete NOT THE BEES from Viridian Forest Since: Sep, 2009
NOT THE BEES
#46876: Jan 11th 2013 at 9:30:57 PM

That's the point. If the bottom layer of our economy refuses to participate in the economy, the Powers That Be are forced to either cut a deal or collapse.

Proving welfare hawks' paranoia about freeloaders right aside, not even this much is true. The Powers That Be already have more shitloads of money than most of us can hope to earn in a lifetime. Not only are there enough unemployed people right now to snap up your retail job instantly, even if there weren't they'd still be be fine. The only thing that would happen is the rest of us earn zero money once welfare benefits run out.

Lascoden ... from Missouri, USA Since: Nov, 2012
...
#46878: Jan 11th 2013 at 10:41:05 PM

[up]I'm interested in how something like that would work.

ETA: So, they already have fingerprint tech for guns? Did not know that. (Plus, I would like to see these "studies" that the article mentions that link violence to video games)

edited 11th Jan '13 10:43:54 PM by Lascoden

boop
Trivialis Since: Oct, 2011
#46879: Jan 11th 2013 at 10:41:58 PM

...What kind of technology is that? It sounds awfully intrusive.

Linhasxoc Since: Jun, 2009
#46880: Jan 11th 2013 at 10:46:30 PM

The thing is, there are a number of guns that aren't used by just one person. A family with a pair of sons might have two hunting rifles; on any given trip one of the boys comes along and no one weapon "belongs" to anyone. How would this use-case factor into that? Then there's the issue of range weapons...

Lascoden ... from Missouri, USA Since: Nov, 2012
...
#46881: Jan 11th 2013 at 10:49:29 PM

Well, if its based on fingerprint scans, you could just have multiple allowed prints. Each would have to be "certified" or whatever, though, and made co-owner.

boop
DevilTakeMe Coin Operator from Wild Wasteland Since: Jan, 2010
Coin Operator
#46882: Jan 11th 2013 at 10:53:41 PM

The thing is, such devices are very cost-intensive and not very practical at this period of time. In the future, it might be possible, but there are too many issues with the technology as it stands. Advanced computer locks on simple physical mechanisms? It's not very practical.

Glove and Boots is good for Blog!
Lascoden ... from Missouri, USA Since: Nov, 2012
...
#46883: Jan 11th 2013 at 10:56:50 PM

[up]I think a part of this meeting is to see how far off these things are, and what they could do to speed up the process. I don't think they are expecting to walk away from this with a quick solution.

boop
TheyCallMeTomu Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Anime is my true love
DevilTakeMe Coin Operator from Wild Wasteland Since: Jan, 2010
Coin Operator
#46885: Jan 11th 2013 at 11:34:07 PM

It's been going on for more than ten years already. "Smart guns" have not been asked for by legal gun owners because it adds a very complicated mechanism that can fail when the legal user needs it the most, but the research is still on-going.

The technical issue is that guns themselves are not battery-powered. It is still a simple mechanical device. When the digital security feature fails, the question has always been how can that prevent the gun from being used anyway? It's not like a car which requires a number of digital and electronic devices to operate. Biometric safes still have their analogue keys in case the electronics fail, etc.

The future guns which do run on electricity are where a digital safety device would be absolutely practical.

Glove and Boots is good for Blog!
Pykrete NOT THE BEES from Viridian Forest Since: Sep, 2009
NOT THE BEES
#46886: Jan 11th 2013 at 11:46:46 PM

It's been going on for more than ten years already. "Smart guns" have not been asked for by legal gun owners because it adds a very complicated mechanism that can fail when the legal user needs it the most

That and batteries are the main concern. I can't even get my calculator to hold a charge while it's off. Putting an electric lock on an item that's hopefully going to spend most of its days locked in a case until the moment I need it sounds like a recipe for disaster on premise alone.

edited 11th Jan '13 11:47:25 PM by Pykrete

DeviantBraeburn Wandering Jew from Dysfunctional California Since: Aug, 2012
Wandering Jew
#46887: Jan 12th 2013 at 1:08:55 AM

Texas Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst: Fund weapons training for teachers

US troops will end 'most' Afghanistan combat this spring

edited 12th Jan '13 1:11:55 AM by DeviantBraeburn

Everything is Possible. But some things are more Probable than others. JEBAGEDDON 2016
Bluesqueak Since: Jan, 2010
#46888: Jan 12th 2013 at 1:22:26 AM

[up]I am just waiting for the first mass school shooting incident where the perpetrator is a stressed-out teacher. sad

It ain't over 'till the ring hits the lava.
Ramidel Since: Jan, 2001
#46889: Jan 12th 2013 at 3:47:28 AM

@Pykrete: Not in my experience; Anchorage's Midtown Wal-Mart is chronically short of workers as it is. Maybe that's just Alaska.

Plus: welfare benefits, run out? If they're ever in danger of "running out," there'll be enough welfare recepients to vote themselves more money. Funny how that works.

Kostya (Unlucky Thirteen)
#46890: Jan 12th 2013 at 5:44:10 AM

[up][up]What will be the response then? Presumably it would be to arm the students.

DevilTakeMe Coin Operator from Wild Wasteland Since: Jan, 2010
deathpigeon Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: One True Dodecahedron
#46892: Jan 12th 2013 at 6:21:34 AM

Well, if there's no schools, then there's no school shootings! Logic! tongue

DevilTakeMe Coin Operator from Wild Wasteland Since: Jan, 2010
Coin Operator
#46893: Jan 12th 2013 at 6:35:36 AM

To be fair, I hear there's a lot of advantages to homeschooling or tutoring. You can better control the quality of the education of your child if you teach them yourself, or grant the one-on-one time, you can enroll them in other pursuits rather than the formulaic structure of public school systems. You can control who teaches your child, etc. What better security than that of your own home? You don't have to worry about what other people might do all the time. No bullies (unless you're a bad teacher), etc.

edited 12th Jan '13 6:36:27 AM by DevilTakeMe

Glove and Boots is good for Blog!
3of4 Just a harmless giant from a foreign land. from Five Seconds in the Future. Since: Jan, 2010 Relationship Status: GAR for Archer
Just a harmless giant from a foreign land.
#46894: Jan 12th 2013 at 7:06:17 AM

[up] Yeah. The downside is that you are free to pick and choose what to teach your children, which can really bite the kids in the backside.

You are a creationist who takes the bible at face value? Good look learning anything about science kids.

You are a racist who considers anything than white, blond and blue-eyed as not quite human? That will help the kid fit into society.

Also, you want your kid to develop how to interact with its peers and the rest of society? Kind of difficult to do in your backyard.

Homeschooling is too often an attempt of parents to control their children and mold them into what THEY consider is right, which totally denies the child the ability to choose for itself.

Also, teachers are (usually) trained to teach, what qualification does the average parent have to really teach the child?

Homeschooling might benefit the kid. If the parents know what they are doing, if they are open enough and make the effort. Or you get Andrew Schlafly as your teacher.

edited 12th Jan '13 7:10:52 AM by 3of4

"You can reply to this Message!"
TotemicHero No longer a forum herald from the next level Since: Dec, 2009
No longer a forum herald
#46895: Jan 12th 2013 at 7:50:16 AM

White House says no to Death Star petition.

disappointment.jpg

Expergiscēre cras, medior quam hodie. (Awaken tomorrow, better than today.)
Kostya (Unlucky Thirteen)
#46896: Jan 12th 2013 at 7:50:58 AM

Honestly I think home schooling should be illegal. Private schooling is one thing but home schooling strikes me as incredibly stupid for the reasons mentioned. Does the public school system need reform? Hell yes, but that doesn't mean you should be allowed to take your child out of the system. In my experience kids need school. It helps them adjust to society and normalize their behavior. It also gives them a way to escape from their parents if they're raving lunatics.

[up][up]The name is familiar but I can't remember what he did. Mind explaining?

edited 12th Jan '13 7:51:21 AM by Kostya

MarqFJA The Cosmopolitan Fictioneer from Deserts of the Middle East (Before Recorded History) Relationship Status: Anime is my true love
The Cosmopolitan Fictioneer
#46897: Jan 12th 2013 at 7:54:49 AM

@Drunk Girlfriend & [up][up]: ... Someone actually petitioned the US government for building an honest-to-God Death Star? Really?

Why would we spend countless taxpayer dollars on a Death Star with a fundamental flaw that can be exploited by a one-man starship?
[lol] My favorite part of the White House's response. So true, Mr. Shawcross.

edited 12th Jan '13 7:59:04 AM by MarqFJA

Fiat iustitia, et pereat mundus.
3of4 Just a harmless giant from a foreign land. from Five Seconds in the Future. Since: Jan, 2010 Relationship Status: GAR for Archer
Just a harmless giant from a foreign land.
#46898: Jan 12th 2013 at 7:59:02 AM

[up][up] He founded Conservapedia. Among other things, I consider him a enemy to all things science.

He is also a homeschooling teacher :/ and Conservapedia was started to help him in this.

[down] Indeed. Indeed. I weep for any student he has.

edited 12th Jan '13 8:04:52 AM by 3of4

"You can reply to this Message!"
Kostya (Unlucky Thirteen)
#46899: Jan 12th 2013 at 8:03:02 AM

[up][up]Not only did they petition them they got enough signatures to make it valid.wink

[up]Oh that guy...just bugs me

He's a teacher? God dammit, what the hell world?

deathpigeon Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: One True Dodecahedron
#46900: Jan 12th 2013 at 8:07:14 AM

Also, Shawcross noted, "The administration does not support blowing up planets."

[lol][lol][lol]


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