The Debate on Government Cell Phone Tracking

When it comes to the cell phone tracking debate, most participants seem to at least be wary of the implications. In essence, the newer cell phones on the market are being fitted with special chips that will allow for government tracking by GPS signal – some ad networks may also have access as well so they can send targeted advertisements.

Many people are very opposed to having their cell phone act like a tracking device. It takes away a huge level of privacy that Americans hold very dear. The reluctance may stem from the apprehension of a new thing, however, most people seem to reference how this would truly be the end of the Wild West days. Funny enough, the government tracking doesn’t seem to be meeting the largest part of the resistance. The fact that ad networks may be able to access the information appears to be more disturbing for most. After all, who wants to disclose where they are paying for toilet paper? For more of the latest information on the debate, you should check out Modsaf.org.

However, there are some that look at cell phone tracking as a positive change. After all, if you ever went missing or were seriously injured in a car accident, it would be much easier for rescue crews to track and locate you. Unfortunately, it doesn’t turn on and off – you would be tracked to the store, to friends, to the gas station, anywhere you went. This increased level of privacy intrusion is too intense for most American citizens to grin and bear with, and the changes are meeting a large resistance.

 

 

 

 

 

Online Tax Preparation Services Help Americans and IRS

April 15 is a date that many people in the United States dread. For a number of years this date has  been associated with the day that taxes are due for a large majority of Americans. All over the country people sit crunching numbers and finishing their taxes before the deadline. However, in recent years that has all changed due to technology.

 

Online tax preparation services have helped many Americans save time, energy and money by offering an easy way to complete their taxes. This is a look at exactly how online tax preparation software programs have helped many Americans.

 

Cost Involved

Seal of the Internal Revenue Service

Image via Wikipedia

 

Many online tax preparation services are free to use. This allows many Americans to take advantage of tax help for a very low cost. It used to be tax advice and help could only be sought by experts and could cost a huge fee, but with online tax preparation services it can reduce the cost associated with taxes.

 

Time Involved

 

It used to take hours and hours to gather all the information, calculate the taxes and figure out what is owed. However, with online tax preparation services all it takes is a few minutes and putting in a few numbers and you can come up with how much you owe or the government owes you.

 

April 15 is no longer a day that many Americans dread. With the help of online tax preparation services they can quickly and effectively have their taxes turned in well before the deadline, and even help them save money by providing accurate tax returns to the IRS.

A SHOTGUN FOR 21

The shotgun has been a traditional tool of choice for hunting and personal defense.  But only a few significant changes have been made to this weapon in over 100 years.  We now live in the dawning of the 21st century, and it is only fitting that we see new developments in shotgun technology.

The American AA-12 automatic shotgun traces its beginning to the hands of Maxwell Atchisson in the second half of the last century.  Since then through to 2005, the Atchisson Assault weapon got some serious modifications to make it the formidable front line combat machine that it is today.  According to it’s current developer, Jerry Baber of Military Police Systems, the AA-12 is quite possibly the most powerful weapon in the world.  That’s a tall claim in light of the innumerable nuclear warheads knocking about the planet, but he makes a point.  Most battles are fought in close quarters and on the streets of populated urban hubs.  An automatic 12-gauge shotgun capable of firing a reported 300 rounds per minute would seem almost certainly unstoppable.

THE UPPER HAND

There are a few clever ways to employ the AA-12.  As might be expected, it can throw enough lead downrange in such a short time that it virtually writes off any assailant on foot.  Stainless steel and titanium alloy shot can be fired into a moving automobile, destroying all occupants.  Frag-12 shells can deliver grenade-like bursts which can be considered a force-multiplier in any defensive or offensive campaign.  Although designed for military and police use, certain states in the U.S.A. will issue civilian licenses for the AA-12 and similar automatic weapons, after an applicant satisfies that jurisdiction’s requirements.

WE CAN SEE YOU

If you’ve been paying any attention to the news lately you’ll have heard reports of smart phones giving away what you thought was private information.  Early 2011 reports of camera phones geotagging images of school children, pictures which were then posted to web-based galleries, caused quite a stir among parents and privacy groups.  There was also the early 2010 report of the Houston Police Department secretly testing an unmanned drone aircraft over a small section of Texas.  This drone, very much like Insitu’s Scan Eagle for the U.S. military, was reportedly equipped with high-power cameras capable of viewing people clearly from long distances, and in their homes.  What possible scenarios might domestic law enforcement departments consider using unmanned surveillance aircraft?  According to HPD’s Martha Montalvo, public safety, compliance with Homeland Security and tactical operations were all potentially legitimate uses.

WHO’S WATCHING AND WHY

The world’s fighting forces have been using unmanned vehicles for years already.  But what are the implications of such drones being used inside the homeland?  The consensus among technorati and conspiracy theorists alike is that, at the very least, our private lives are no longer private.  The average citizen is vulnerable to scrutiny more like a corporation, less like men and women with personal rights.  Technology is merely the tool though, it is the motive behind its use which may or may not be sinister.  For every potential psychotic hacker who wastes his days stalking children via geotagged image galleries, there are hundreds of families whose pictures may never be viewed by anyone other than the invitees.  Privacy advocates should consult their smart phone’s manual for steps to disable geotagging.  As for your government spying on you, this is nothing new.

Starting an Online Casino

Have you always wanted to start your own online casino? The industry is certainly enjoying a lot of interest currently and is well-supported by its games and other elements, such as sports betting. The following steps and ideas can get you started if this is something that you would like to do.

If you are dreaming of having a site like BetUS Online Casino, you can bet that a lot of time will be needed to be placed into this project. Starting an online casino begins with the formalities and business aspects of the site. Spend some time looking at the laws surrounding online gambling, which will be related to your location. You will also need a license to run a casino of any kind.

Be aware of your budget for the online casino. Unless you possess a heavy arsenal of marketing, design, and programming skills, you will likely need some help setting up the website, system, and technical features. It is important to be realistic when it comes to finances in order to adequately plan and ensure that you will have enough for all aspects (marketing, legal, etc. also apply).

Before you invest your time and money into the project, you will need to look at whether this is a good option. The time and finances that are needed are quite sizable; do your best to gain perspective in regards to your situation. If you aren’t able to go through with your idea, you can still enjoy online casinos. Take your time to figure out what is best for your goals and resources.

The Tax Debacle of 2011?

The Internal Revenue Service is having an unconventional year when it comes to tax filings in 2011. Because the IRS’s main job is to collect taxes every year, it usually can perform the job smoothly and efficiently. This year, however, there are two factors complicating the annual process. The first involves the United States Congress; the second involves an unfamiliar holiday called Emancipation Day. Both elements of this tax issue are explained in the paragraphs that follow.

Those who believe Congress messes everything up have more proof this year. At the end of 2010, Congress added provisions to the tax cuts performed under the George W. Bush administration. These tax cut changes have created bumps in the IRS’s process of tax filing. There are a number of provisions the IRS must attach to its current system in order for citizens to receive their proper returns. With that being said, there were only three changes made in the tax bill, meaning it will affect very few people. Those who are affected will have to wait until the second half of February to file their taxes.

The second hiccup is Emancipation Day. This holiday, typically celebrated on April 16 in Washington, D.C., happens to fall on a Saturday in 2011. For this reason, it is being pushed to Friday, which positions it on the infamous Tax Day, April 15. Oddly enough, Emancipation Day takes precedence over Tax Day in the hierarchy of federal holidays. Therefore, Tax Day is being nudged into the next week, April 18. Procrastinators may rejoice in knowing they have three extra days to file their taxes. The change is minor, however. The IRS always accepts tax extensions for those who cannot make the deadline.

All in all, tax filing should run as smoothly as any other year. The IRS has been doing its duty since the Civil War.