After a methodical reading of this thread to its end, I have come to the conclusion that most of the world, (most of slashdot actually), believe that the US should maintain an open border policy (and be unique in the western world in this respect). That somehow it is immoral to prevent some disadvantaged individual or their whole extended family from entering our country illegally. Tough shit. It is not immoral or unwise to prevent anyone from entering illegally. No one here illegally should be allowed to stay for any reason. Instead of complaining about this web cam project, why not take whatever steps you think prudent to stem the illegal immigration? How are you helping to stop the onslaught? Are you part of the problem?

I was about to post that exact sentence when I saw your very cogent offering. The only thing I was thinking different was that I would have added the name "Akmed" after "Hey", just to piss off the politically correct denizens of this site. Seriously though, it nice to think that some bad guys out there might be able to see the missile coming in. Good job.

It's simple, the fact that you failed to mention the most important government service (IMO) and included many lessor ones, led me to believe not unreasonably, that you do not value the service that the military provides. It is clear from your comments that you believe the government helps more that it hurts. That is my impression of your world view. It is consistent with those individuals on the left side of the political spectrum and it is my belief that you are probably comfortable over there. Keep talking and prove me wrong. It makes no difference to this discussion that you may have served in the military, but it does make a difference to our society, so I sincerely thank you for your service.

Yes, I've used all of those, but I would rather have had the opportunity to buy these services privately. Do you doubt that each of the government services you've named could have been executed privately with higher quality and lower cost? Curiously, the one that you've left out, speaks volumes about your world view. National defense of course -- the only constitutionally legitimate (federal) service.

You're suggesting that evil corporations forced 3 year olds into the factories? That's just priceless. And FYI, Ma bell was created because of government not inspite of it, as government sought a solution to the proliferation of small telephone companies that were reluctant to serve the less profitable rural areas. So government created the monster that was Ma bell. Then you would give them credit for their breakup -- attempting to fix a problem that they, themselves, created. Wait, this is sounding very familiar... Government causes the home mortgage crisis, then try to fix the very same problem they have caused. Finally, perhaps the Government isn't out to get me through their onerous regulations, but their well intentioned efforts on the whole, have diminished the quality of my life.

I Wouldn't mind paying my $10K for the war if that was all I had to pay. $10K/6years -> $1700 a year rounding up. It's a bargin compared to the amount I will have to pay for Obama's failed stimulus plan just this year. $800B/140M tax payers in the US = $5700 per payer. But, since I pay more in federal income taxes than 90% of other tax payers, the amount I get to pay is actually much, much greater. It's a great country isn't it.

Perhaps I did deserve George Bush, and frankly, I am glad of it now that I can see how damaging the Obama administration has become. I never suspected that "W" would look so good in hindsight. America, I hardly know ye...

If cabjf agrees to grow up, will you agree to grow a sense of humor? This story should not be any surprise to California residents -- Just business as usual for the CARB.

The lamest sig. ever? Really? Is this your first day on Slashdot? Actually, I thought the sig. was quite clever -- Now, if only I had mod points this week...

Taxation _always_ hurts the economy whatever its source. My question is: Is the service paid for by the tax worth the damage it causes? The problem is the economic damage is not so readily apparent. It's a more diffuse kind of trouble -- like a slow leak in the GDP. (Or not so slow more recently). It is a rare thing indeed to find good value in government.

A much better solution then, would be to end the sales tax in the various states to promote more competition with the internet retailers. I realize that taxes are a necessary evil, but let us not spread that evil any further that it has already gone. Every time the government sucks a penny out of the economy we are all the worse for it.

Excuse me, but 40 knots and and 300ft/min decent do not indicate a stall. Not even close. A normal landing approach would be well in excess of 500 ft/min. If the plane had actually stalled it is doubtfull that a recovery could be made in at the altitude Sully's troubles began. Even in the small private planes I fly, a fully developed stall requires 500-800 ft to recover and the aircraft takes just a few seconds to cover that vertical distance.

I've been a designer of hardware using FPGAs since 1990, which is close to the beginning FPGAs. In that time, about nineteen years as I add it up, I've rarely done a board that didn't have several of both major varieties, Xilinx and Altera. I can say confidently and without fear of contradiction, that the worst software between the two is the one you're currently working with.

Yes, yes, there are a lot of rules we must follow, but it's for your own good... Or it's for the children. Either way... Government knows best. Right?