Jimbo

This is getting so far off topic it's not even funny, but what the hell. 1. I won't debate my use of the term 'right' with regards to profits. That's just silly. 2. You mention smart business practices. Did you consider that in many cases it is ultimately less expensive for credit card companies to write off losses due to fraud than it is to complete a full investigation and prosecution? I'm guessing that you didn't. 3. As for 'throwing credit at people who shouldn't have it', well, that's for them to decide, not you. Rest assured though, the major issuers are careful about who does and who does not get credit. Higher risk customers get higher interest rates. It all balances out in the end. 4. 'they barely do a thing about fraud', they're doing more about fraud than I think you know. Back-end technologies catch fraud at the authorization stage and new front-end technologies that go even further to prevent fraud are emerging every day. Like I said, off topic, but what the hell. - Jim "Like" - The modern day comma Good bye, my friends. You are missed.

Gouged? They've got as much as anyone, or any business, to make a profit. Right? Remember, it was the merchant that agreed to abide by their rules. Most simply add in the additional cost to their wares, I appreciate that the DZ offers me the chance to save a few dollars by using cash. I'm not going to take the time to read the merchant agreement, but I do believe that some merchants are exempt from the "thou shall not pass on the charges" rule. - Jim "Like" - The modern day comma Good bye, my friends. You are missed.

By "spear" do you mean "Dave's encredibly huge penis"? Ever see Super Troopers? - Jim "Like" - The modern day comma Good bye, my friends. You are missed.

It's unprofessional to write a book about unprofessionalism and corruption in an organization? An organization that a good chunk of the planet holds in especially high regard? What exactly is the problem with someone reporting the truth? (Let's assume for now that it is true) I'm curious about your viewpoint and would appreciate it if you provided greater detail. - Jim "Like" - The modern day comma Good bye, my friends. You are missed.

And another, similar story. - Jim "Like" - The modern day comma Good bye, my friends. You are missed.

Yeah, me too. Stupid short atten... + stupid work == gonna take a few minutes to get through this. - Jim "Like" - The modern day comma Good bye, my friends. You are missed.

It's not that long, and it's also available, in its entirety, here. - Jim "Like" - The modern day comma Good bye, my friends. You are missed.

Why does there have to be a strategy, or even a partison line? It's news, plain and simple. At least that's how I see it. - Jim "Like" - The modern day comma Good bye, my friends. You are missed.

That it is. You can bet though that as soon as someone turns in their local DZ that the tickets you could get for $17.50-cash will now be $18.00 cash or credit. DZs operate on such slim profit margins that it doesn't bother me to get hit up with the additional charge, so long as that charge is not an unreasonable one. - Jim "Like" - The modern day comma Good bye, my friends. You are missed.

I look forward to reading the review! - Jim "Like" - The modern day comma Good bye, my friends. You are missed.

Uh, no Michele, finally you are mistaken. Everyone knows that the best ice cream is Ben and Jerry's Phish Food. And I thought you were one of us! - Jim "Like" - The modern day comma Good bye, my friends. You are missed.

I'm not impressed with the idea of an all electric car. At least not yet. Twice a year I make a 600+ mile road trip and that's likely to increase in frequency. How long does it take to recharge my electric car? At least with a hybrid I can fill up the tank and keep going, batteries be damned. - Jim "Like" - The modern day comma Good bye, my friends. You are missed.

Wow dude. Where have you been? - Jim "Like" - The modern day comma Good bye, my friends. You are missed.

Reminds me of the old Snickers commercial where they had Al Gore saying "I invented pants". - Jim "Like" - The modern day comma Good bye, my friends. You are missed.

Heard on the news a few hours ago that another CIA deputy isn't too far behind. - Jim "Like" - The modern day comma Good bye, my friends. You are missed.

It makes perfect sense, the Pope was trying to keep the child molesters free. - Jim "Like" - The modern day comma Good bye, my friends. You are missed.

Why? What about them is going to be difficult to fake? - Jim "Like" - The modern day comma Good bye, my friends. You are missed.

It doesn't. The largest problem I see with the concept of biometric ID cards is that people will blindly accept them. I mean, why shouldn't they? They're based on BIOMETRICS for cryin' out loud! How could they possibly be fraudulent? Biometrics are a nifty technology, don't get me wrong, but a national ID system based on them? No way. No freakin' way. - Jim "Like" - The modern day comma Good bye, my friends. You are missed.

I think you're justified in feeling the way that you do, but you need to look at the overall picture. Is this rule rathen than the exception? Either way, it's sickening, I agree. - Jim "Like" - The modern day comma Good bye, my friends. You are missed.

Sure you do! It's the American way! If people didn't bitch about contracts after they were signed we'd have quite a few unemployed lawyers. - Jim "Like" - The modern day comma Good bye, my friends. You are missed.

I don't doubt that will happen, not at all. I think that history shows us that that always happens. - Jim "Like" - The modern day comma Good bye, my friends. You are missed.

I can't remember how long they stay on the grill, but definitely husk on, wrapped in foil. Roasted corn is infinitely better than boiled - be patient, it will come. - Jim "Like" - The modern day comma Good bye, my friends. You are missed.

No, we're not. Cloning fingerprints to the point that they fool the current generation of readers is really quite trivial for those who are interested in doing it. Wanna bet? http://www.computerweekly.com/Article112549.htm The presentation mentioned in the article: http://www.itu.int/itudoc/itu-t/workshop/security/present/s5p4.html The biggest problem with using biometrics as the end all/be all of identification systems is that they're only as good as the original ID (that is performed by a person). Any criminal wanting to be someone else should have about as much trouble obtaining a fake ID in a world of biometrics as he does today. - Jim "Like" - The modern day comma Good bye, my friends. You are missed.

Looks like Ford was listening when they designed the Escape Hybrid. I put a few miles on the Escape a few years ago; I wasn't overly impressed, but I think it represents a step in the right direction. - Jim "Like" - The modern day comma Good bye, my friends. You are missed.

Update: The SHAC folks have been indicted. Looking over the indictment I don't think that they're being charged with anything having to do with, or related to, the Patriot Act. The indictment is posted here. Looks like they're being charged with Animal Enterprise Terrorism (43) (which seems to have been around since '92), Conspiracy to commit offense or to defraud United States (371), Interstate Stalking (2261A), and Interstate Violation of a Protection Order (2262). All are covered under Title 18 of the US Code. Kevin, do you still believe that the prosecution of these groups detracts or distracts from our search for Al-Queda and other foreign terrorists? Thanks to Lawrocket for clearing up how to read the indictment. - Jim "Like" - The modern day comma Good bye, my friends. You are missed.