This isn't about drones, but here is an article from last year about the DoD using surveillance balloons that use radar from 65,000 ft to generate high-res images of the ground:
It's so funny how you can whip up conspiracy theories just by adding superfluous adjectives. Instead of just saying "radar" you say "wireless radar device", as if prior radars used wires, and then you say it creates "high-resolution images using radio pulses", as if this did not apply to every radar ever built.
We have been using aircraft to track vehicles since the invention of aircraft. The people and their government have a legitimate interest in doing so. Nobody has a right to go about in a vehicle anonymously and privately.
We shouldn't expect the centuries old philosophical/legal/procedural balance we've crafted between investigatory powers and personal rights to remain valid and correct in the face of a 99.999% decrease in the cost of surveillance and corresponding explosion in scope.
Naturally, authorities didn't object to the technological expansion of their power. It's up to us to figure out if/when/how to push back. Step zero is admitting that it actually happened, admitting that we should reset our heuristics, and calling out the ludicrous argument "this is how it's always been," because, well it isn't.
Where did I say there was no legitimate interest to do this? I am in agreement with you in saying this surveillance is not new and is not a conspiracy.
I think it is not possible to compare. The book is an epic experience and a teaching (that also takes time). The film is a good film. I saw it after reading the book. The effect is the same as reading Mario Puzo and after seeing the movie The Godfather (great movie but the book is another story)
Put money into a checking account and have the child manage it. Any deposits from you need to be far enough apart to be a stretch for your child to manage. You want to get to quarterly or longer periods. Think of it like a bonus plan. They're part of the family and contributing in non-financial ways, so they get a share of the wealth.
This teaches valuable skills. I can't tell you how many people showed up at college with no idea of how to manage a bank account.
If they have money in their account, they can spend it on what they want, but they should be required to spend a portion of it on charitable things. Having money comes with responsibilities. If they run out, they need to figure something out.
Later, introduce the child to the concept of investing by showing how you can earn money in stocks, bonds, funds, etc.
Also, money they earn goes into the account. My friend bought a used car and fixed it up when he was 15 based on the money he earned from work he did for neighbors and investing in the stock market.
His dad was an engineer who flipped houses before it was fashionable. If the kids wanted a job, he always had one that paid.
> How in the fuck is it remotely fair to tax corporations with no employees, no revenue, no investments, no capital, nada, zil, zip!
Having a corporation is a privilege, and many US jurisdictions apply a minimum fee or tax to it (usually, a fee hundred USD annually.)
That's not what you are dealing with, though, which seems likely to be a non-compliance penalty from a state or local taxing authority; you generally do need to file tax paperwork annually, probably both federal and state, for a US-based corporation.
Not sure how Stripe Atlas works, by the actual taxing authority should have sent a very specific documentation of the charges; they should be able to provide you with that documentation if they are set up to accept that on behalf of the corp.
