>"I just had trouble looking at a comment on one of my posts yesterday because I can't get through the Cloudflare bot detector."

I had the same problem yesterday and this morning. I could not open any direct links to postings. Period.

Ironic because I recently posted on Slashdot about how dangerous it is that all these sites are handing over their accessibility to a single huge company like Cloudflare, and complaining that Slashdot was throwing bot checks against me all the time in the last few weeks (which it had never done before).

>"Ban the collection of these types of information about individuals beyond what is necessary for performing a service -and ban keeping any collected data longer than is necessary for performing the specific service. No database = no database searches."

+100.

My issue is that I don't believe they will abide by any data collection retention limitations, use limitations, or other limitations; regardless of the rules/law. Especially if the three-letter agencies have a tie-in, they will do whatever they want. The only real way to prevent abuse is to not have those in use at all.

I really think this is a losing battle. People will almost always give up liberty and privacy for safety and convenience.

>"I just bought a new Ford Maverick for my business. It came with built in cellular data hardware -not optional. They say it is for diagnostics, updates, maps, and wifi-hotspot. It comes with the 1st year of data connectivity included. They want me to pay for additional years (no thanks!)"

^^ This
I bought a new Ariya earlier this year. All the hardware is already there. 3 years of service included, then you have to pay. You can opt out of data collection, and if you do, you lose half the "connected" features.

I heard earlier today that a court has determined that since governments are using all of this data, including license plates, that a FoIA request for all of the license plate data gathered from Flock in a city area for a range of dates was valid.

They want to have a power advantage over their serfs but turning their advantage into a burden changes that dynamic. Something to look into for those so inclined.

We seem to be well past the point of being able to expect them to follow the Law or "do the right thing".

> I see no reason why the government shouldn't be allowed to buy the same data that jim-bob the farmer can purchase.

Jim-bob is likely to face some serious problems if he smashes down your door and drags you away in a pre-dawn raid.

The IRS people get a promotion.

This is why the Constitution places strict limits on the actions of government agents.

(in its original interpretation)

rsilvergun has been screaming even louder about how AI as we have it now it's already the end of the world, and that society isn't "ready" for it until he says it is.

Funny coincidence, two hours ago I just finished two cavern dives in the very cenote complex in Playa del Carmen TFS alluded to. Some of the best diving I've done yet (comes really close to diving with tiger and bull sharks.) Currently on my second margarita while having a rest Doing another two cavern dives tomorrow.

Here I am about to think "damn, people losing their jobs to AI" and then I realize its the "pizza in 4-easy payments" people.

They should probably go all-in on AI as soon as possible. For their investors' sake.

And the mere possibility of that happening is why progressives are in favor of the IRS being allowed to ignore the constitution. rsilvergun will go wee wee wee all the way home if he doesn't get his EBT while drinkypoo, a feeder, complains that rsilvergun's right to maintain obesity has been violated.

It would work a lot better if Cloudflare and any competitors would adopt a model that allows companies to easily use any of their services and rather than subscribing to one company's service to implement a pay-as-you-go option. That way if Cloudflare gets hit websites can flip to using something else on a temporary basis. Companies could even load balance across the different services so that all of them are always getting a little bit of use. This isn't particularly good for any one company (who would much rather prefer to be a sole contractor and get all of the business) but it makes it practically impossible to take out websites by taking down Cloudflare. If any one provider has problems everyone temporarily switches to the other providers on a temporary basis until service is restored and then they can move some or all of their traffic back. This makes for a far more resistant Internet as a whole.

This. IRS knows they aren't getting much blood from a starving stone. Another reason why $400K+ is a reasonable threshold of income to suggest a higher chance of Federal audit.

Auditing everything from business travel expenses to the actual (private) plane itself to ensure it's being used as deducted is probably low-hanging fruit that rewards well.

If you're still confused take a good hard look at the rest of the food chain that roams this planet everywhere. Then take a look down at your bare hands and let me know how well you really think you'll fare against that. Especially after the tornado rips through a natural habitat and strips the next couple weeks worth of not-you meals away from every starving creature the concrete warrior assumes they can easily outrun.

Florida man just cracked another beer in salute to a Thursday afternoon watching another episode of ignorantly unarmed vs. "slow" nature. Gets funnier every time.

You pay plenty of taxes to have a talking head warm you that a tornado is coming, just in time to get into that tornado shelter your home insurance company made you buy. Because tornado warning technology. Everything else in nature and in the criminal world just makes you a victim whenever they want. It wasn't the idiot unprepared ancestors that survived long enough to create today's generation. Wasn't the unarmed masses either.

OK, that was pretty funny. +1.

The rest of the planet, is more violent than you assume. Every day. Forget the humans. You know how crazy it sounds to assume you know what Mother Nature is gonna do to you at any given moment? You do remember why we call them animals, right?

Only thing worse than dying young is dying stupid. Being unprepared in life, isn’t the advice your surviving ancestors lived long enough to give you. And if your ancestors were armed, perhaps you should ask why you’re not.

I hear they burn mostly coal for fuel. Work to keep them and the Black Friday marketing offline! Coal for Christmas I say! A lump in every stocking should put a dent in their supply, and a damper on childhood arrogance.

Say it with me now! Ho Hell Nooo! Cooal for Christmas!

Gnawing through plastic, is not the primary lesson. Situational awareness, is. Plenty of non-victims still alive today understand what helps a concealed weapons holder. Being in the right place at the right time is almost as important as knowing how to read the room and remove yourself if necessary.

As far as Free States go, remember why everyone waives a friendly waive at each other when passing on a country road in the South. Smart people know everyone is armed. Tends to make people quite polite.