awww awoah.....

It looks like she might be able to claim an exception under 27602(2) or (3):

27602. (a) A person shall not drive a motor vehicle if a television receiver, a video monitor, or a television or video screen, or any other similar means of visually displaying a television broadcast or video signal that produces entertainment or business applications, is operating and is located in the motor vehicle at a point forward of the back of the driver's seat, or is operating and the monitor, screen, or display is visible to the driver while driving the motor vehicle.
      (b) Subdivision (a) does not apply to the following equipment when installed in a vehicle:
      (1) A vehicle information display.
      (2) A global positioning display.
      (3) A mapping display.
      (4) A visual display used to enhance or supplement the driver's view forward, behind, or to the sides of a motor vehicle for the purpose of maneuvering the vehicle.
      (5) A television receiver, video monitor, television or video screen, or any other similar means of visually displaying a television broadcast or video signal, if that equipment satisfies one of the following requirements:
      (A) The equipment has an interlock device that, when the motor vehicle is driven, disables the equipment for all uses except as a visual display as described in paragraphs (1) to (4), inclusive.
      (B) The equipment is designed, operated, and configured in a manner that prevents the driver of the motor vehicle from viewing the television broadcast or video signal while operating the vehicle in a safe and reasonable manner.
      (6) A mobile digital terminal that is fitted with an opaque covering that does not allow the driver to view any part of the display while driving, even though the terminal may be operating, installed in a vehicle that is owned or operated by any of the following:
      (A) An electrical corporation, as defined in Section 218 of the Public Utilities Code.
      (B) A gas corporation, as defined in Section 222 of the Public Utilities Code.
      (C) A sewer system corporation, as defined in Section 230.6 of the Public Utilities Code.
      (D) A telephone corporation, as defined in Section 234 of the Public Utilities Code.
      (E) A water corporation, as defined in Section 241 of the Public Utilities Code.
      (F) A local publicly owned electric utility, as defined in Section 224.3 of the Public Utilities Code.
      (G) A city, joint powers agency, or special district, if that local entity uses the vehicle solely in the provision of sewer service, gas service, water service, or wastewater service.
      (c) Subdivision (a) does not apply to a mobile digital terminal installed in an authorized emergency vehicle or to a motor vehicle providing emergency road service or roadside assistance.
      (d) Subdivision (a) does not apply to a mobile digital terminal installed in a vehicle when the vehicle is deployed in an emergency to respond to an interruption or impending interruption of electrical, natural gas, telephone, sewer, water, or wastewater service, and the vehicle is owned or operated by any of the
following:
      (1) An electrical corporation, as defined in Section 218 of the Public Utilities Code.
      (2) A gas corporation, as defined in Section 222 of the Public Utilities Code.
      (3) A sewer system corporation, as defined in Section 230.6 of the Public Utilities Code.
      (4) A telephone corporation, as defined in Section 234 of the Public Utilities Code.
      (5) A water corporation, as defined in Section 241 of the Public Utilities Code.
      (6) A local publicly owned electric utility, as defined in Section 224.3 of the Public Utilities Code.
      (7) A city, joint powers agency, or special district, if that local entity uses the vehicle solely in the provision of sewer service, gas service, water service, or wastewater service.

"We are the country that hosts the damn UN."

Except Switzerland, Austria, and Kenya.

Geneva - "The United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG) is the second largest United Nations centre after the Headquarters in New York. UNOG is housed in the Palais des Nations, an outstanding testimony to twentieth century architecture, situated in a beautiful park overlooking Lake Geneva, with a splendid view of the Alps and, on a clear day, Mont Blanc.

The League of Nations was established in 1919 following the devastation caused by the First World War. It was decided to erect a building at par with the League’s aspirations for the creation of a more stable world. The Palais was erected between 1929 and 1938 and donations from Member States have largely contributed to its interior design.

The Palais stands in the 45-hectare Ariana Park among majestic trees many of which are over 100 years old. The City of Geneva has made the park available to the United Nations for its offices for as long as the United Nations exists."

Vienna - "Along with New York, Geneva and Nairobi, Vienna is one of the four headquarters of the United Nations. The Vienna International Centre (VIC), commonly known as "UN City", was designed by Austrian architect Johann Staber and construction costs were borne by the host country. Opened on 23 August 1979, it has been rented to the United Nations for 99 years at a symbolic rate of 1 Austrian schilling (7 Euro cents) annually.

The VIC complex, which covers an area of 180,000 m, has extraterritorial status; it accommodates about 4,200 international civil servants from over 100 countries and its 14 conference rooms host an average of 2,000 conferences annually. Located at the Centre are the United Nations Office at Vienna (UNOV), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO PrepCom), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), as well as a number of smaller UN Offices and entities.

On daily guided tours, visitors can learn about the work of the United Nations and experience the Vienna International Centre's striking architecture and vibrant, cosmopolitan atmosphere. Special programmes for children and school groups are available and visitors can also book a lecture or specialized tour on the art on display at the VIC."

Nairobi - "Established in 1996, the United Nations Office in Nairobi (UNON) is the only UN Headquarters in Africa and in the global south. The United Nations compound is located in Gigiri, on the outskirts of Kenya’s capital city, Nairobi, which is said to enjoy an almost perfect climate with warm sunny days and cool evenings.

The UN presence in Kenya dates back to the 1950s when Kenya was still a colony of the United Kingdom. After Kenya gained its independence in 1963, the UN expanded its presence in the country, especially when it became host to the fledgling United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in 1973. Originally located at Uchumi House in the Nairobi city centre, UNEP was soon moved to the Kenyatta Conference Centre in 1974, before moving to its current location in Gigiri in 1975. In 1978, United Nations Centre for Human Settlements, now known as United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) also joined UNEP in Gigiri.

The Visitors’ Service in Nairobi conducts guided tours on Mondays to Fridays, year-round. Visitors are briefed on the role of the United Nations as well as the functions of its funds, programmes and specialized agencies, especially those based in Nairobi. Special briefings by representatives of various UN offices in Kenya are also offered upon request. Following the briefing, visitors enjoy a walking tour of the complex which includes stops at various symbolic gifts donated to the UN, including the 1998 Bomb-blast Memorial Garden, which pays tribute to the innocent lives that were lost in 1998 when two US Embassies were bombed by terrorists in Kenya and Tanzania.

One of the main attractions of UNON is its bountiful lush green landscaped area. The 140-acre complex includes hundreds of indigenous plant species and a remarkable variety of wildlife, including monkeys and crested cranes, which can still be observed in the area in spite of the significant environmental transformations that have taken place in the last decades.

A visit to the New Office Facility, commonly referred to as NOF is a must-see. The newly constructed climate-neutral buildings (“Green Buildings”) house the headquarters of both UNEP and UN-Habitat. With 6,000 square meters of solar panels, energy saving lighting, natural ventilation systems and other green features, the office is designed to generate as much electricity as its 1,200 occupants consume. The buildings serve as a showcase of "green construction" and are among the first of their kind in sub-Saharan Africa."

Why?

The UN pays $1023/month per troop.

A Nepalese soldier earns ~$100/month. (http://nepalarmy.mil.np/salary.php)
(A Nepalese general earns ~$300/month.)

Provide 1280 peacekeepers. (http://www.ph.ucla.edu/epi/snow/CMI18_E158_E163_2012_Nepalese_origin_supporting_information.pdf)
Cost approximately $128,000/month.
Receive compensation from UN of $1.3M. Profit > $1M/month.

Drive Me Crazy - Melissa Joan Hart.

Is it really a chance to grab power? If she can assert her will in this, does she become "a voice to be reckoned with"?

I saw a really mediocre movie once where it was asserted that when guys have an argument, they get it right out in the open, do a lot of chest beating, and then get to working together. Women on the other hand will play everything behind the scenes - cloaking it all in an air of civility while they sharpen their knives.

Since I saw that movie (ashamed to say I saw it, but if you happen to remember the reference go ahead and out yourself), I've notice that it's actually a very true statement.

Um. Yes and no.

The M1 Garand (arguably one of the most widely used assault rifles ever made) uses an 8-round clip. The clip is inserted into the magazine, and the clip is ejected from the magazine when the last round is fired.

The fact that over six million M1 rifles were manufactured and used in three wars (WWII, Korea, Vietnam) by American troops probably contributed significantly to the use of the word "clip" when in most cases what is intended is the word "magazine".

"It's not about a working tag or not. It's about COMPLIANCE."

Totally agree. And her religious objection is also about compliance. The school requires compliance, and her religious belief is that compliance endangers her soul.

So let the school think she is complying. When in reality she is sabotaging. Microwave, altered tag, forged tag. The school officials get to go "See. we get our way. She's being a good-little-citizen." All the while she can also say to herself (and her deity) "Look. I am not allowing them to put a number on me. I am not going along with their system. I am breaking their system."

And then she can convince a friend or two to "convert" to her church. And microwave/alter their tags. And then they can find friends. And if the school lets them run around with deactivated tags, then a trend starts. And in the end, the whole RFID tag concept goes out the window as an enormous waste of money.

Just pop the tag in a microwave oven for a minute or two. No more RFID.
"I don't know what happened. Maybe the Lord don't like RFID tags."

After enough tags go poof, the school administration will probably give up on having you wear one.

Physical tag with barcode? Sharpie the barcode to another number, maybe. Or generate your own barcode and forge a new tag. There are so many possibilities to screw with the administration that it seems like it would be more fun to see how long until they broke.

Lamy Safari - with either the Fine or Extra Fine nib.

http://www.jetpens.com/Lamy-Safari-Fountain-Pen-Extra-Fine-Nib-Lime-Green-Body-Chrome-Clip-Limited-Edition/pd/9180

Pick a stand out color for the pen (I picked yellow so I can find it amidst my desk of infinite crap.

You can either go with the pre-filled cartridges that just pop in, or you can get a converter that allows the pen to suck ink out of an ink bottle.

In either case, the ink flow is immediate and consistent. It feels more like you are depositing ink onto the paper than you are rolling a gummy ball around.

It's geeky, and practical at the same time.

If you want a cheap way to check out fountain pens before spending $30 or so, then just go to Walgreens and pick up a Zebra FP fountain pen. It's a fine point, and will give you a cheap introduction to see if it's for you.

Just stand over there citizen. We'll get to you shortly.

You are missing the obvious difference:

Robots don't use toothbrushes.

Notoriously poor dental care. It's almost like robots are, um, ... British.

Why do you think the cybermen just use speakers? And the daleks hide inside their little trash cans?

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Can't tell you how many times this happens to me. You always leave bolts loose, and then incrementally tighten. Hell, you even do it when changing a tire.

Because god knows that we can't expect police officers of prosecutors to be able to use a telephone.

(I was interviewed by phone by UK police during the Climategate investigation. There was no compelling need for me to travel to the UK.)