[ReverseEngineer]

The Sales Pitch of Fascism is now "Safety". The Patriot Act was sold as "Safety from Terrorists". Internet Censorship and Monitoring is about "Safety for Children".

Another one not mentioned so far is the GPS tracking of Cars. Have you noticed the Sales Job on the radio for the "On Star" system which automatically calls the cops if you are in an accident? Its all about the reassuring feeling of being "safe". Of course your cell phone GPS also keeps tabs on your whereabouts for the "authorities".

How did people manage all these years without Big Brother keeping them safe? I find it appalling that people just acquiesce to this and the bills get pushed through Congress one by one, turning the US into a Police State Joe Stalin couldn't even DREAM of.

It still remains possible to turn off your phone and drive an old car without the electronics chit chatting with the sattelites. Fortunately, it looks like the society is going to devolve to anarchy before the Goobermint has a chance to Implant everyone with a GPS chip at birth.

Love my laptop, but the Dark Side of technology is the way it is robbing us of our freedoms. For those who are into Power and Control, technology provides the window into everyone's life, utterly robbing us all of privacy. I welcome a return to the Stone Age over this existence.

Reverse Engineer

[jasonraymondson]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Ferretlover', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', '[')b]Bill proposes ISPs, Wi-Fi keep logs for police February 19, 2009 10:45 PM PST:
Republican politicians on Thursday called for a sweeping new federal law that would require all Internet providers and operators of millions of Wi-Fi access points, even hotels, local coffee shops, and home users, to keep records about users for two years to aid police investigations.
The legislation, which echoes a measure proposed by one of their Democratic colleagues three years ago, would impose unprecedented data retention requirements on a broad swath of Internet access providers and is certain to draw fire from businesses and privacy advocates.
"While the Internet has generated many positive changes in the way we communicate and do business, its limitless nature offers anonymity that has opened the door to criminals looking to harm innocent children," U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, a Texas Republican, said at a press conference on Thursday. "Keeping our children safe requires cooperation on the local, state, federal, and family level." …

[Ferretlover]

By golly, it Has been deleted! I suppose that happening is a good reason to post a couple of pertinent paragraphs of a story with the link instead of just a link.

[rangerone314]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Ferretlover', 'B')y golly, it Has been deleted! I suppose that happening is a good reason to post a couple of pertinent paragraphs of a story with the link instead of just a link.

[mattduke]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'T')he Boston Police Department is preparing a plan to arm as many as 200 patrol officers with semiautomatic assault rifles, a significant boost in firepower that department leaders believe is necessary to counter terrorist threats, according to law enforcement officials briefed on the plan.

[mos6507]

Good.

[Grautr]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('mattduke', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'T')he Boston Police Department is preparing a plan to arm as many as 200 patrol officers with semiautomatic assault rifles, a significant boost in firepower that department leaders believe is necessary to counter terrorist threats, according to law enforcement officials briefed on the plan.

[Cloud9]

They want them to defeat body armor. The L.A. bank robery is still on everybody's mind. I have no problem with cops with m-16s as long as they don't come after mine.

[smallpoxgirl]

Come on Matt. You're quoting an article that refers a semi-auto rifle as an M16?

Arming them with M16's would obviously be a bad idea. Way to much possibility for stray bullets hitting the wrong person. A semi-auto AR15 seems fairly reasonable to have in the trunk.

[Jotapay]

I think it's perfectly reasonable for police to carry AR-15s in their trunk, provided they received a good amount of training on their use and maintenance. I think it's perfectly reasonable to think that they will need something like that in the line of duty.

However, all the police and emergency workers that I know personally do not know anything about semi-auto rifles, how they work, how to field strip them, and the best use for them (caliber, ammo, effective range, penetration, etc.). The only emergency services acquaintance of mine who does know anything about AR's is a recently-retired firefighter who was also a Vietnam vet.

[Jotapay]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('mos6507', 'G')ood.

[mattduke]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('smallpoxgirl', 'C')ome on Matt. You're quoting an article that refers a semi-auto rifle as an M16?

Arming them with M16's would obviously be a bad idea. Way to much possibility for stray bullets hitting the wrong person. A semi-auto AR15 seems fairly reasonable to have in the trunk.

[smallpoxgirl]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('mattduke', 'I') don't really know much about guns. I do know that the only people that have ever threatened to kill me with guns were police however.

[Jotapay]

Because that probably isn't the point?

[mattduke]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('smallpoxgirl', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('mattduke', 'I') don't really know much about guns. I do know that the only people that have ever threatened to kill me with guns were police however.

[smallpoxgirl]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('mattduke', 'Y')ou haven't figured out my avatar yet?

[Jotapay]

I think that's a Mosin Nagant. Probably a 91/30. If I was to guess, that's Stalin and possibly Castro.

Edit, I take that back. I can see a drum magazine there. It must be an RPK, but the bolt, stock and receiver really look like a Mosin Nagant.

[smallpoxgirl]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Jotapay', 'I') can see a drum magazine there. It must be an RPK,

[Jotapay]

The one with a raft of hair to embarrass a 20-year-old. The one holding the rifle. I could be totally wrong, but that's who I thought it was.

It looks as though he is just reviewing the arm in front of those who will be using it, shouldering it to make a show of inspecting its effectiveness like many generals and leaders do.

I'll find out for sure, hang on. Gonna summon the power of teh internets.