You're absolutely right. I live on Maui, and see who it is that is protesting the loudest. There are a few people who genuinely believe it is a desecration, but that is a small minority of the protesters. Not that I mean to disrespect that minority, their viewpoint is legitimate in that it is what they truly believe, but I do mean to bash the rest, as those are illogical, irrational reality-deniers (anti-science == reality-denialism). It is the same people who think anything sciency or not "natural" is the epitome of evil. It is the same people sign waiving to ban GMOs. The same people who share miracle cures of juices, essential oils, and homeopathic remedies on Facebook.

There has been a big stink over GMOs here lately, and TMT protest is merely an extension of that. If not for the GMO nonsense, these people would not be protesting TMT, it wouldn't even be a blip on their radar. Fundamentally, they both represent greed, development, advancement, and are anti-natural and anti-Organic (yes I realize the ridiculousness of those terms, please don't try to debate me, I'm telling where these people are coming from) to them. These are the people who, when presented with numerous citations on why GMOs are safe, either insist that it was all done by paid shills, or that even if GMOs are safe then they should be banned because MONSANTO is a huge corporation so it's evil. And they'll spout their anti-GMO rhetoric from an Apple (14x the size of Monsanto) computer or one running Microsoft Windows (7x the size of Monsanto), then jump in their Toyota (4x the size of Monsanto) to go to Starbucks (1.5x the size of Monsanto) so they can Facebook (4x the size of Monsanto) from their Google (7x the size of Monsanto) Android phone over the Verizon (3.5x the size of Monsanto) network. But stay away from GMOs because Monsanto is a HUGE corporation! GMOs and TMT are the same thing to these people.

Again, I'll point out I'm not referring to everybody, I'm referring to the greenies that constitute a vast majority of the protesters.

Apart from fraud and charging people large amounts of money for something they are not getting, it is dangerous . Not because the product is actually dangerous, but because in many cases it's taken in lieu of actual medicine. For most situations - colds, minor aches an pains, etc - it's not a big deal, but for real health problems it is.

If too much carry on luggage is a problem, then stop charging for checking a bag. When everyone got a checked back for free, there was plenty of overhead storage space, not to mention loading and unloading passengers was a lot faster because people weren't blocking the isles dealing with their carry ons. Now everyone tries to carry on as much as they can so they don't have to pay.

But it's common to dictate what materials they use. Want a modified bitumen roof? If it's torch-down, then that's going to require the contractor to have certain tools. You could also mandate it's peel-and-stick (say, if the building is occupied and you don't want the fire hazard), which is dictating materials/tools.

Which means a limited number of possible browsers, which all require newer equipment, not a 25 year old computer.

A construction contractor is often mandated to work within certain hours, can't work naked, can't smoke on the job, etc.

Selling on Amazon or Ebay requires a post-2000 browser. It doesn't work on specific browser versions. They have standards and limitations on the products they allow you to sell.

So pretty much all the limitations you're saying makes Uber drivers employees also applies to Amazon/Ebay sellers and/or construction contractors.

That's a myth (really a fraud) perpetuated by coconut oil hucksters. It's not enough for them to try to convince people they are selling a miracle cure for everything, they also try to convince you that everything else will kill you.

That is fucking ridiculous (not saying it's illegal, just ridiculous). The DJ paid fees to be able to play the music, and they expect the restaurant to also pay fees? Imagine if that extended to any other product. Oven manufacturer makes oven. Dealer purchases oven from manufacturer. Restaurant owner purchases oven from dealer. Should the manufacturer then be able to go after the restaurant owner for more money, even though the dealer already paid them?

Infinite.

So it's okay to violate the law by listening on telephone calls as long as you don't do it too much, because back in the day it wouldn't have been possible to do it too much? So then it's okay if I rob a bank and only steal a thousand dollars, because back in the day (because of inflation) that's all the teller's drawers would have had?

Sure, we're doing a lot of bad illegal shit, but we don't have time to do as much bad illegal shit as you think we are.

Imagine if that logic were applied by a bank robber: Sure, I robbed the bank, but I didn't have time to steal as much money as you thought I did.

"No more warrantless wiretaps if you element me." -Barrack Obama, 2008
"Fuck off, I'm president and I do what I want!" -Barrack Obama, 2015

Yeah, and right up until that line the summary was one of the best, informative summaries I've seen here. I suspect they were trying to be cute but it just revealed there complete lack of understanding of what science actually is.

Yep, it does appear that 1984 is the manual they're using. That's what that book was for, right? A manual for the government to use?

It doesn't have to be justified. That's the whole point of the Patriot Act and USA Freedom Act. If it were justified, that means they had probable cause and could get a normal warrant and wouldn't need the USA Freedom Act.

It gives the NSA the freedom to violate the constitution and do whatever the fuck they want.

Vaporware? So those Tesla vehicles I see driving down the road aren't actually functional or driving? That's quite an impressive illusion. Just because production is low doesn't mean it's vaporware.