those people who don't protect their name, their reputation, as they would protect their company -1.

Even many educated, intelligent, digitally-connected people don't know to do this. Even many who have considered it don't have any idea HOW to do it. There is no crime in having a similar, or even identical, name on-line as someone else. For example, someone posts here as Squigly. Who or what stops someone else from posting elsewhere as Squigly and possibly tarnishing the original's rep, or maybe making it better accidentally? There are a lot of names that are quite popular as well, leading to easy confusion. So how, exactly, does one 'protect their reputation' on-line?

That's who we use at our libraries in Pasadena & Glendale (Ca). I agree with others that this is the one good use for DRM. Self-returning library books is pretty cool. Sometimes, though, we have to 'clear' an account when the download doesn't work and the book gets locked in limbo.

The issue with DRM is interesting- The original files were PDF, but with DRM built-in. Then they switched over to a new file name extension just for this. Because of this DRM, you have to have Adobe Digital Editions. This can get weird when you try to open a PDF with Reader and get told it isn't compatible! This happens with some of the free-to-download-and-keep books from Google, depending on who the actual source is. So, with those, even though their labeled as PDFs, you have to open them in Digital Editions. Odd little pain in the butt. Found this out recently while doing some heraldry research.

Cool! I'll have to check this out in more depth- looks fun. Thank you.

I'd be happiest if they had video out. As I see these, I could replace all of the public PCs at my work with these and run terminal/remote desktop sessions from the server. I just need these to have video, mouse, keyboard connections for the idea to pan out. We're headed this route anyway, so this type of setup removes more of the power waste and space usage than other thin-client systems we're looking at.

Unless you're on Charter- They seem to hate CableCards. I have a TiVo HD that requires a cable card (no way for it to control a set top box- supposedly) and Charter, which is a nasty cable provider anyway, has really SUCKED in this department. I'm constantly having to reboot, being told by TiVo that I have a new device plugged in (which is an external device required so that the cable cards can work with Charter's system- so a set top box of a different sort). That device, the cable cards, the cabling have all been tested, replaced, retested, ad infinitum, with no help. The TiVo works great, except for the cable stuff, then it's hit-n-miss. Most of the techs have said all the equipment is solid. But then, most of them have been idiots. And the main tech office the techs call for support is just as bad. Many of the issues have verifiably been due to billing codes being input wrong. Of course, it's not all about the cable cards. My roomies have regular digital set top boxes that fail at the same time as mine, but not every time mine does.

So no, if you're on Charter, avoid cable cards. Or do what I plan on doing- move! Anybody in Verizon FIOS territory have a nice room to let?

I agree. Perhaps a wave account should have been automatically given either to all GMail users, or at least to the very active ones. But really, the system should have been open for sign-up from the beginning.

I was invited into it, so I signed up. Looked around and couldn't find a way to make it useful to me and never went back. So I for one won't miss it. However, I can see where others will miss it.

350USD in any fully capitalistic society- lots of middlemen to pay for shipping, receiving, smog tests, etc.

(Before you complain, yes, I love capitalism. But I am also aware of its limitations.)

But I love being able to see the hot girl at the table behind me without looking like I'm staring!

Hehehe No, we're not talking about Obama. However, I'd say it applies.

And today, I have no points to give. Damn.

That is EXACTLY the correct call on this one. As a leader, one can, and should, instill both fiscal AND safety responsibility.

Here in the Sates, we have this lovely system wherein we have to have more education and testing to get a drivers license than a gun license. Though I must admit, cars are pretty deadly when mishandled.

Honestly, I like your idea. I've always been a proponent of mandatory education, with testing, before gun ownership. I can't say I mind registering my gun since it does give some potential leads for a crime, as in, "a .22 was used and these people in this area have them," which is pretty valid, much like being able to say, "a car with plate number 2xtz333 was seen leaving the scene of a crime." But when my community decided to track all ammo sales, that was too far. And what happened? Only a few stores continue to sell ammo here, all part of big chain stores. The independents went out of business or left town. Nice going, city council- way to protect the tax base.

Now, on the topic of TFA, COOL! I want one of these in the US, and for each state. I am sick and tired of passing new laws to control things that are actually controllable by existing laws, if they were just applied, sometimes adjusted. The legal systems of many countries are so convoluted, so difficult to understand, it's a wonder we aren't all in jail for some stupid offense or another! Having a way in which to get rid of extraneous or harmful laws should be a mandatory part of government. It's become similar to the old days of religion, when only the priests 'knew the word of god' and only they could inform the unwashed masses. A religious revolution brought the idea of making the holy book readable by the masses and severely limited the power of the priest. Substitute 'lawyer' for 'priest', and you have today's authoritarian religion. Only the experts who know the rules can play.

I prefer a kilt. I find they usually don't want to even consider trying to pat me down when I'm in a full (not modern mini-skirt) kilt. :)

And that's very much part of the issue. My first, and incorrect, thought was, "there are government bodies that verify the signatures." BUT, they're over-worked, under-staffed, and frequently might not care. If the signatures are open and public record, then any of us can verify them. And that is good for us!

As has been mentioned, our Founding Fathers knew they were signing their death warrant with the documents that begat our country. While we have many rights, many forget we have just as many responsibilities. It is our duty to be an active citizenry- police our government, police our police, and fight for our rights and freedoms. Is it really worse to be 'outed' for believing something enough to sign a petition than the death-warrant-like documents our forefathers signed? At worst, it is on the same level, but only rarely.

As a very minor case-in-point that could, in theory (but not likely, I imagine) keep me out of some government jobs, I signed the petition here in California to put the legalization of marijuana on the ballot. Personally, I don't want to be associated with drugs in any way, not even mj. But I believe there is some merit to the proposal to legalize it and it should be put to the voters. So, despite my feelings of some risk (right or wrong), I signed.

Stand for what you believe in. If someone brings debate to you, debate. If someone brings trouble to you, trouble it back!

Especially considering that, anywhere in this universe, there are much bigger, much more important things to complain about.