since we're on the subject...

[gauchecritic]

In the 1$ coin thread, Cant responded to TE99's "paperless economy" (my misquote, he actually said paperless society) with some interesting thoughts on cash versus plastic.

I hesitate to mention this because it could give someone ideas.

the govt. here really, really like the idea of ID cards for the population (terrorism and common criminality being their best excuses so far) they are introducing various back door methods of surveilance gradually but I think this would make them go the whole hog as it solves many of the difficulties in one fell swoop.

Back doors: New picture ID driving licences. Proof of majority cards for youngsters. Bank payments only for pensions, benefits etc. Companies being allowed to deny earned salary in cash. (the law used to insure that cash was payable on demand for any kind of labour)

Difficulties: Big Brother phobia, which the media seems unwilling to take a side on although they don't specifically go for ID cards either. (Media fence sitting, who'da thought?) Cost; I've heard quotes as high as £200 per person and govts. are all afraid of taxation. (Poll riots anyone?) Policing; to police this they would have to introduce a law that makes it a criminal offence not to identify yourself which would basically abrogate the population's right to remain silent.

The idea: If the govt. continues closing areas where cash is available (post offices, wages etc) this would require that all persons who were paid anything at all would need a bank account (grotesque profits anyone?) If everyone needs a bank account, then everyone needs a cash card, if everyone has a cash card then everyone has their own ID card. From there it would be a simple step to police carrying swipe readers linked to the NPC and voila; every single detail about your transactive life available to their gaze, along with name, address, shoe size and medication; and all at no visible cost to the taxpayer.

Are any of you my MP? Then please note that this is now published and comes under intellectual copyright. (let's see: 60 million at £ per head...)

 

[rgraham666]

We'll have a paperless society the same day we have a paperless toilet.

 

[3113]

We'll have a paperless society the same day we have a paperless toilet.

Um...they have that in Japan:

The current state of the art for Western-style toilets is the bidet toilet, which, as of 2004, are installed in more than half of Japanese households.... In Japan, these bidets are commonly called Washlets...a brand name of TOTO Ltd., and include many advanced features rarely seen outside of Asia. Depending on the exact model, these bidets are designed to open the lid when they sense a user nearby, wash the anus or vulva of the user (including a number of pulsating and massaging functions), dry afterwards with warm air, flush automatically and close the lid after use. These toilets may be the most advanced toilets in the world.

You probably didn't want to know all that, but there you go! The only thing the toilets don't do is pull up your pants.

 

[oggbashan]

We'll have a paperless society the same day we have a paperless toilet.

In rural Spain in the early 1950s, public toilets were supplied with a pile of pebbles to wipe your backside on. After use the pebble was dropped into the earth toilet.

The smell with the temperature in the high 80s F was interesting...

The swarm of flies showed where the toilets were.

Og

PS. Of course garderobes did not have paper. We all used the same dirty rag (except the King - he had his OWN dirty rag)

 

[rgraham666]

TMI, folks. Thanks.

 

[Grushenka]

Wow, potty humor strikes again. At least this wasn't a serious writing thread. Gr.

 

[3113]

Wow, potty humor strikes again. At least this wasn't a serious writing thread.

It's about paper. That's close enough, isn't it?

 

[neonlyte]

In the 1$ coin thread, Cant responded to TE99's "paperless economy" (my misquote, he actually said paperless society) with some interesting thoughts on cash versus plastic.

I hesitate to mention this because it could give someone ideas.

the govt. here really, really like the idea of ID cards for the population (terrorism and common criminality being their best excuses so far) they are introducing various back door methods of surveilance gradually but I think this would make them go the whole hog as it solves many of the difficulties in one fell swoop.

Back doors: New picture ID driving licences. Proof of majority cards for youngsters. Bank payments only for pensions, benefits etc. Companies being allowed to deny earned salary in cash. (the law used to insure that cash was payable on demand for any kind of labour)

Difficulties: Big Brother phobia, which the media seems unwilling to take a side on although they don't specifically go for ID cards either. (Media fence sitting, who'da thought?) Cost; I've heard quotes as high as £200 per person and govts. are all afraid of taxation. (Poll riots anyone?) Policing; to police this they would have to introduce a law that makes it a criminal offence not to identify yourself which would basically abrogate the population's right to remain silent.

The idea: If the govt. continues closing areas where cash is available (post offices, wages etc) this would require that all persons who were paid anything at all would need a bank account (grotesque profits anyone?) If everyone needs a bank account, then everyone needs a cash card, if everyone has a cash card then everyone has their own ID card. From there it would be a simple step to police carrying swipe readers linked to the NPC and voila; every single detail about your transactive life available to their gaze, along with name, address, shoe size and medication; and all at no visible cost to the taxpayer.

Are any of you my MP? Then please note that this is now published and comes under intellectual copyright. (let's see: 60 million at £ per head...)

One of the better threads - not even a single reply on topic

Finding out where someone is, or isn't, is fairly straight-forward. Most of us would be hard pressed to get through a day without slipping some plastic, using a mobile, walking or driving in sight of one of the 20million CTV cameras dotting the UK.

The million odd people who've signed the petition against road-charging are as concerned with 'big-brother' monitoring their movements as the illusion of extra costs being loaded on the 'poor motorist' oblivious to the fact the mobile they illegally use while driving monitors and records their journey transition from mobile cell to mobile cell, or that every time they refuel, their car is photographed on the forecourt. It is actually a 'piece of piss' to impose safeguards to conceal the identity of people on the move except where 'need to know' applies, I'm thinking of abduction and serious crime. The motivation to explain is lacking since we've reached the point (in the UK) where to explain anything guarantees organised opposition.

The UK has lost its way - I despair.

 

[SlickTony]

Um...they have that in Japan:


You probably didn't want to know all that, but there you go! The only thing the toilets don't do is pull up your pants.

My mother has a washlet. In fact, if you Google Toto and its Washlets, you'll find an earlier post from <i>me</i>, going on about how nice it is.

Sorry, RGraham. We've got a paperless toilet. But I doubt we'll get a paperless anything else any time soon. I've worked, you see, in offices that were supposed to have gone paperless, and somehow, they became paperier than ever.

 

[Boxlicker101]

We'll have a paperless society the same day we have a paperless toilet.

Shucks, ah recalec when ah was a youngn, we ditnt need none a them thar fancy rolls of paper fer our outhouse. Jist some good old corn cobs.

 

[snooper]

We'll have a paperless society the same day we have a paperless toilet.

As several have pointed out, there are high-tech answers nowadays. However, I remember my shock in Saudi in the late sixties to find that all that was provided was a jug of water.