Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

houdini2 · May 2019

henryn said:

jmonroe1 said:

sda said:
What gets me isn’t so much the breaking news or weather updates, but almost without fail I will be watching something, it is just getting ready to end and at a critical point and my wife walks in wanting to talk. She wins.
That's why I consider my DVR priceless. Even better than sliced bread.

jmonroe
I have to agree. I was an early adopter, had one of the first models from DirecTV back in the early 2000's if memory serves. I very quickly became a big advocate, recommending them to everyone I knew. A DVR changes your TV viewing, forever. You will never go back.

In our area (NE Kansas) they can even run the warning banners on screen if you are watching dvr. This just started recently. I also heard on news that they were pushing to show the warnings even if you are streaming on something like net flix. We had a big mile wide tornado go thru about 50 miles north of us Tuesday night. Lots of destruction but only one death. The thing stayed on the ground for 2 hours and 50 miles, but in very sparsely populated area. Would have been catastrophic if in heavy populated area.

PF_Flyer · May 2019

driver100 said:

PF_Flyer said:
Someone left a broken toy in the grocery store parking lot this morning

Did the guys baseball cap get stuck in the door frame? Or is that his head?
He could also use an auto-parking feature too!

I think he stuck it in there like someone would a rag or plastic bag when they leave a car on the highway as a sign that they're broken down. Given the condition of the nearest street that's under construction and filled with tank traps, it's possible that the wheel problem happened there, but there were no tire marks that I could see. About 700-800 feet from that street, assuming he came from there given the direction the truck was facing.

snakeweasel · May 2019

houdini2 said:

What gets me isn’t so much the breaking news or weather updates, but almost without fail I will be watching something, it is just getting ready to end and at a critical point and my wife walks in wanting to talk. She wins.
That's why I consider my DVR priceless. Even better than sliced bread. jmonroe
I have to agree. I was an early adopter, had one of the first models from DirecTV back in the early 2000's if memory serves. I very quickly became a big advocate, recommending them to everyone I knew. A DVR changes your TV viewing, forever. You will never go back.
In our area (NE Kansas) they can even run the warning banners on screen if you are watching dvr. This just started recently. I also heard on news that they were pushing to show the warnings even if you are streaming on something like net flix. We had a big mile wide tornado go thru about 50 miles north of us Tuesday night. Lots of destruction but only one death. The thing stayed on the ground for 2 hours and 50 miles, but in very sparsely populated area. Would have been catastrophic if in heavy populated area.

Running the warning banners while you watch something on a DVR can only be done if you are using your cable providers system. If you have your own DVR player it would be impossible for them to do it.

Doing it on streaming services is going to get harder as more and more people use VPNs to protect themselves online running the warnings on streaming services becomes meaningless. I would hate to see tornado warnings for the Texas panhandle as I am watching Hogans Heros on Netflix outside of Chicago.

henryn · May 2019

snakeweasel said:

houdini2 said:

henryn said:

jmonroe1 said:

sda said:
What gets me isn’t so much the breaking news or weather updates, but almost without fail I will be watching something, it is just getting ready to end and at a critical point and my wife walks in wanting to talk. She wins.
That's why I consider my DVR priceless. Even better than sliced bread.

jmonroe
I have to agree. I was an early adopter, had one of the first models from DirecTV back in the early 2000's if memory serves. I very quickly became a big advocate, recommending them to everyone I knew. A DVR changes your TV viewing, forever. You will never go back.
In our area (NE Kansas) they can even run the warning banners on screen if you are watching dvr. This just started recently. I also heard on news that they were pushing to show the warnings even if you are streaming on something like net flix. We had a big mile wide tornado go thru about 50 miles north of us Tuesday night. Lots of destruction but only one death. The thing stayed on the ground for 2 hours and 50 miles, but in very sparsely populated area. Would have been catastrophic if in heavy populated area.

Running the warning banners while you watch something on a DVR can only be done if you are using your cable providers system. If you have your own DVR player it would be impossible for them to do it.

Doing it on streaming services is going to get harder as more and more people use VPNs to protect themselves online running the warnings on streaming services becomes meaningless. I would hate to see tornado warnings for the Texas panhandle as I am watching Hogans Heros on Netflix outside of Chicago.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- end quoted material=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

No, there is a way. If your TV is just a dumb monitor, no they can't. But if it is in any way, shape, form or fashion a "smart tv" then it is, in effect, a computer. And any computer can "inject" another stream on top of the stream you are already watching.

Take for instance my Home Theater Receiver (HTR). Most of the programs that display on my TV are routed via HDMI cables through my HTR. When I change the volume on the HTR, it puts a volume bar on the bottom of the tv showing the volume increasing or decreasing. Doesn't matter which source (Blu Ray, WD TV Live, DirecTV DVR, whatever).

A smart TV, which is a computer, could have software that would inject a weather warning when it received a broadcast to do so. How would it receive that "broadcast"? Probably over the internet.

I don't see this happening anytime soon, but it COULD be done.

EDITED to address the VPN issue: Most people run VPNs on an individual device, your desktop computer, notebook, tablet, smart phone, whatever. Very few are using a VPN device to cover their entire home network. And I have yet to see a smart TV which had the capability to run a VPN. Might exist, the world is full of new things, but I haven't seen one.

henryn · May 2019

By the way, I have recently noticed ads for new TVs featuring a built in DVR. Seems strange to me, are they supposed to be able to record any stream coming in or just OTA (over the air)? If they were able to record any incoming stream, I would expect legal challenges from the likes of Netflix and Amazon Prime.

driver100 · May 2019

houdini2 said:

henryn said:

jmonroe1 said:

sda said:
What gets me isn’t so much the breaking news or weather updates, but almost without fail I will be watching something, it is just getting ready to end and at a critical point and my wife walks in wanting to talk. She wins.
That's why I consider my DVR priceless. Even better than sliced bread.

jmonroe
I have to agree. I was an early adopter, had one of the first models from DirecTV back in the early 2000's if memory serves. I very quickly became a big advocate, recommending them to everyone I knew. A DVR changes your TV viewing, forever. You will never go back.
In our area (NE Kansas) they can even run the warning banners on screen if you are watching dvr. This just started recently. I also heard on news that they were pushing to show the warnings even if you are streaming on something like net flix. .

I think in your area you need those warnings no matter what you are doing. There should probably be a banner in the bathtub in case you are having a bath.

imidazol97 · May 2019

The TV notifications that started early are credited with many people being in stronger/safer areas of their homes and not being as subject to injury or death.

However, with the water pumping and processing stations not being securely power with backups, the city manager has had to admit the warning sirens within the City of Dayton do not work because they turned them off years ago. They did not feel the cost of updated their older sirens or replacing the system was worth the cost.

This was a city getting lots of earnings taxes from nonresidents working at various plants for GM within the city and spending it on programs they liked to spend on the way drunken sailors would do.

No sirens for warning. City manager claims they were meant for air raids and not for weather warnings. IIRC there was lots of federal tax money available for updating/installing things like weather sirens in past.

abacomike · May 2019

houdini2 said:

What gets me isn’t so much the breaking news or weather updates, but almost without fail I will be watching something, it is just getting ready to end and at a critical point and my wife walks in wanting to talk. She wins.
That's why I consider my DVR priceless. Even better than sliced bread. jmonroe
I have to agree. I was an early adopter, had one of the first models from DirecTV back in the early 2000's if memory serves. I very quickly became a big advocate, recommending them to everyone I knew. A DVR changes your TV viewing, forever. You will never go back.
In our area (NE Kansas) they can even run the warning banners on screen if you are watching dvr. This just started recently. I also heard on news that they were pushing to show the warnings even if you are streaming on something like net flix. We had a big mile wide tornado go thru about 50 miles north of us Tuesday night. Lots of destruction but only one death. The thing stayed on the ground for 2 hours and 50 miles, but in very sparsely populated area. Would have been catastrophic if in heavy populated area.

In my community we have an 18 hole golf course. Due to the almost daily thunderstorms every summer accompanied by dangerous lightning, we have warning sirens that are hooked up to the Miami National Weather Service that sound when heavy rains and/or lightning are headed in the direction of our villages (our community) within a 5 mile radius. Most golf courses down here have the same system. One long (15 second) blast is the alert and three short blasts (5 seconds for each blast) is the all clear.

When that tornado hit us, the sirens had completed the alert 1 minute before impact. A very handy alert system to have.

oldfarmer50 · May 2019

imidazol97 said:

oldfarmer50 said:

imidazol97 said:

jmonroe1 said:

I didn't think they were worth that much when new. But, I think @imidazol97 can clarify that.

jmonroe
I've completely lost my sense of humor the last two days, so I'll "Walk on By" as Dionne would say.

I respectfully submit that Mr. Monroe is full of prunes. If I had a choice of my $18k Soul or that $18k Lacrosse I’d be hard pressed to decide. Buick’s from my experience are comfortable, reliable cars. $41k new would be a bit expensive but at less than half price at 4 years old, I’d have to consider it. My only prohibition would be my wife’s mobility.
My reaction now that I've thought about it, is the car is a base model 1SE. It might even be below the equipment is it were a fleet sale or rental sale. I believe those, in some GM cars, are a 1LT Fleet RPO package. I'd sure wanna see the history records from CarCheck or CarFix or whatever they're called.

Are you saying that car is a stripper? From the sticker posted with the ad I thought it was the second tier “leather” trim. If it were a fleet or rental car I’d have second thoughts.

oldfarmer50 · May 2019

cdnpinhead said:
The point made earlier was valid -- report the actual relevant weather news and get on with life. Normally doesn't take very long, or shouldn't.

Mo' drama. Everyone wants mo' drama, except for the people who are burned out on mo' drama.

So true. Yesterday the national morning news/entertainment show announced “59 million at risk of severe weather!”

henryn · May 2019

oldfarmer50 said:

imidazol97 said:

oldfarmer50 said:

imidazol97 said:

jmonroe1 said:

I didn't think they were worth that much when new. But, I think @imidazol97 can clarify that.

jmonroe
I've completely lost my sense of humor the last two days, so I'll "Walk on By" as Dionne would say.

I respectfully submit that Mr. Monroe is full of prunes. If I had a choice of my $18k Soul or that $18k Lacrosse I’d be hard pressed to decide. Buick’s from my experience are comfortable, reliable cars. $41k new would be a bit expensive but at less than half price at 4 years old, I’d have to consider it. My only prohibition would be my wife’s mobility.
My reaction now that I've thought about it, is the car is a base model 1SE. It might even be below the equipment is it were a fleet sale or rental sale. I believe those, in some GM cars, are a 1LT Fleet RPO package. I'd sure wanna see the history records from CarCheck or CarFix or whatever they're called.
Are you saying that car is a stripper? From the sticker posted with the ad I thought it was the second tier “leather” trim. If it were a fleet or rental car I’d have second thoughts.

You are correct, that is a second tier, "leather" trim. A friend of mine had one, the same year model, a very nice car. I got the chance to drive it once, for a 2 hour round trip. Unfortunately, after about the first hour my knee was killing me. The center console is rather intrusive, and I couldn't rest my right knee comfortably. This car would be fine for me only for short trips, which would kill the whole thing, as a big Buick is basically a "road trip" car.

imidazol97 · May 2019

oldfarmer50 said:

imidazol97 said:

oldfarmer50 said:

imidazol97 said:

jmonroe1 said:

I didn't think they were worth that much when new. But, I think @imidazol97 can clarify that.

jmonroe
I've completely lost my sense of humor the last two days, so I'll "Walk on By" as Dionne would say.

I respectfully submit that Mr. Monroe is full of prunes. If I had a choice of my $18k Soul or that $18k Lacrosse I’d be hard pressed to decide. Buick’s from my experience are comfortable, reliable cars. $41k new would be a bit expensive but at less than half price at 4 years old, I’d have to consider it. My only prohibition would be my wife’s mobility.
My reaction now that I've thought about it, is the car is a base model 1SE. It might even be below the equipment is it were a fleet sale or rental sale. I believe those, in some GM cars, are a 1LT Fleet RPO package. I'd sure wanna see the history records from CarCheck or CarFix or whatever they're called.
Are you saying that car is a stripper? From the sticker posted with the ad I thought it was the second tier “leather” trim. If it were a fleet or rental car I’d have second thoughts.

That was when I misremembered the level as SE. When I found it was the Leather model with a driver's option, that made it different. Did you see that one online vin check said it had 4 sale records for the car?

I'd definitely want it looked over for accident damage and I would check the mileage flow between those sales looking for time it was out of service.

oldfarmer50 · May 2019

imidazol97 said:

oldfarmer50 said:

imidazol97 said:

oldfarmer50 said:

imidazol97 said:

jmonroe1 said:

I didn't think they were worth that much when new. But, I think @imidazol97 can clarify that.

jmonroe
I've completely lost my sense of humor the last two days, so I'll "Walk on By" as Dionne would say.

I respectfully submit that Mr. Monroe is full of prunes. If I had a choice of my $18k Soul or that $18k Lacrosse I’d be hard pressed to decide. Buick’s from my experience are comfortable, reliable cars. $41k new would be a bit expensive but at less than half price at 4 years old, I’d have to consider it. My only prohibition would be my wife’s mobility.
My reaction now that I've thought about it, is the car is a base model 1SE. It might even be below the equipment is it were a fleet sale or rental sale. I believe those, in some GM cars, are a 1LT Fleet RPO package. I'd sure wanna see the history records from CarCheck or CarFix or whatever they're called.
Are you saying that car is a stripper? From the sticker posted with the ad I thought it was the second tier “leather” trim. If it were a fleet or rental car I’d have second thoughts.

That was when I misremembered the level as SE. When I found it was the Leather model with a driver's option, that made it different. Did you see that one online vin check said it had 4 sale records for the car?

I'd definitely want it looked over for accident damage and I would check the mileage flow between those sales looking for time it was out of service.

Wow, 4 sale records (meaning 4 owners) in four years? Sounding more and more like a CL scam/flipper.

henryn · May 2019

I looked around on autotrader and cars.com. This price ($18k for a 2016 Lacrosse with 22k miles) is not unreasonable. I found several similar deals in my part of the world (Houston). Also, of course, many higher priced deals.

qbrozen · May 2019

driver100 said:

Someone left a broken toy in the grocery store parking lot this morning
Did the guys baseball cap get stuck in the door frame? Or is that his head? He could also use an auto-parking feature too!

I thought the truck was waving a white flag

driver100 · May 2019

oldfarmer50 said:

imidazol97 said:

oldfarmer50 said:

imidazol97 said:

oldfarmer50 said:

imidazol97 said:

jmonroe1 said:

I didn't think they were worth that much when new. But, I think @imidazol97 can clarify that.

jmonroe
I've completely lost my sense of humor the last two days, so I'll "Walk on By" as Dionne would say.

I respectfully submit that Mr. Monroe is full of prunes. If I had a choice of my $18k Soul or that $18k Lacrosse I’d be hard pressed to decide. Buick’s from my experience are comfortable, reliable cars. $41k new would be a bit expensive but at less than half price at 4 years old, I’d have to consider it. My only prohibition would be my wife’s mobility.
My reaction now that I've thought about it, is the car is a base model 1SE. It might even be below the equipment is it were a fleet sale or rental sale. I believe those, in some GM cars, are a 1LT Fleet RPO package. I'd sure wanna see the history records from CarCheck or CarFix or whatever they're called.
Are you saying that car is a stripper? From the sticker posted with the ad I thought it was the second tier “leather” trim. If it were a fleet or rental car I’d have second thoughts.

That was when I misremembered the level as SE. When I found it was the Leather model with a driver's option, that made it different. Did you see that one online vin check said it had 4 sale records for the car?

I'd definitely want it looked over for accident damage and I would check the mileage flow between those sales looking for time it was out of service.

Wow, 4 sale records (meaning 4 owners) in four years? Sounding more and more like a CL scam/flipper.

Love to see the CarFax report.

snakeweasel · May 2019

henryn said:

snakeweasel said:

houdini2 said:

henryn said:

jmonroe1 said:

sda said:
What gets me isn’t so much the breaking news or weather updates, but almost without fail I will be watching something, it is just getting ready to end and at a critical point and my wife walks in wanting to talk. She wins.
That's why I consider my DVR priceless. Even better than sliced bread.

jmonroe
I have to agree. I was an early adopter, had one of the first models from DirecTV back in the early 2000's if memory serves. I very quickly became a big advocate, recommending them to everyone I knew. A DVR changes your TV viewing, forever. You will never go back.
In our area (NE Kansas) they can even run the warning banners on screen if you are watching dvr. This just started recently. I also heard on news that they were pushing to show the warnings even if you are streaming on something like net flix. We had a big mile wide tornado go thru about 50 miles north of us Tuesday night. Lots of destruction but only one death. The thing stayed on the ground for 2 hours and 50 miles, but in very sparsely populated area. Would have been catastrophic if in heavy populated area.

Running the warning banners while you watch something on a DVR can only be done if you are using your cable providers system. If you have your own DVR player it would be impossible for them to do it.

Doing it on streaming services is going to get harder as more and more people use VPNs to protect themselves online running the warnings on streaming services becomes meaningless. I would hate to see tornado warnings for the Texas panhandle as I am watching Hogans Heros on Netflix outside of Chicago.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- end quoted material=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

No, there is a way. If your TV is just a dumb monitor, no they can't. But if it is in any way, shape, form or fashion a "smart tv" then it is, in effect, a computer. And any computer can "inject" another stream on top of the stream you are already watching.

Take for instance my Home Theater Receiver (HTR). Most of the programs that display on my TV are routed via HDMI cables through my HTR. When I change the volume on the HTR, it puts a volume bar on the bottom of the tv showing the volume increasing or decreasing. Doesn't matter which source (Blu Ray, WD TV Live, DirecTV DVR, whatever).

A smart TV, which is a computer, could have software that would inject a weather warning when it received a broadcast to do so. How would it receive that "broadcast"? Probably over the internet.

I don't see this happening anytime soon, but it COULD be done.

EDITED to address the VPN issue: Most people run VPNs on an individual device, your desktop computer, notebook, tablet, smart phone, whatever. Very few are using a VPN device to cover their entire home network. And I have yet to see a smart TV which had the capability to run a VPN. Might exist, the world is full of new things, but I haven't seen one.

I would think that being able to inject one stream over another could be done only if the two streams enter the TV from the same source. Since we get out TV over the air an stream other things our DVR is only used for over the air broadcasts hence it's not coming through the TV on the same path as any internet feed.

As for VPN ours is a whole network so the TVs are protected by it, I'll let you know if I get any severe weather warnings from Germany.

snakeweasel · May 2019

henryn said:
By the way, I have recently noticed ads for new TVs featuring a built in DVR. Seems strange to me, are they supposed to be able to record any stream coming in or just OTA (over the air)? If they were able to record any incoming stream, I would expect legal challenges from the likes of Netflix and Amazon Prime.

Since streaming services like Netflix are on demand wouldn't using a DVR be a bit redundant?

tjc78 · May 2019

snakeweasel said:

By the way, I have recently noticed ads for new TVs featuring a built in DVR. Seems strange to me, are they supposed to be able to record any stream coming in or just OTA (over the air)? If they were able to record any incoming stream, I would expect legal challenges from the likes of Netflix and Amazon Prime.
Since streaming services like Netflix are on demand wouldn't using a DVR be a bit redundant?

That’s what I was thinking.

graphicguy · May 2019

IMHO...no need for weather warnings on your TV. You can get them on your phone, which you usually carry with you all the time (vs TV which you only see at home).

henryn · May 2019

snakeweasel said:

I would think that being able to inject one stream over another could be done only if the two streams enter the TV from the same source. Since we get out TV over the air an stream other things our DVR is only used for over the air broadcasts hence it's not coming through the TV on the same path as any internet feed.

As for VPN ours is a whole network so the TVs are protected by it, I'll let you know if I get any severe weather warnings from Germany.

If you're using a VPN device (firewall, stand alone box) that covers your entire house, then yes, you MIGHT get weather warnings from wherever the VPN is relayed through. And not just on your TV. Probably not on your phone, as it has it's own GPS. But ... possibly, if the phone is connected via WiFi to your wireless network which is routed through the VPN. Probably not, because of the GPS in the phone. Probably.

As to injecting the second stream, that would be done by the smart TV itself. My TV throws up text on the upper left whenever I change the source, or the resolution from the source changes. Shows me the "name" of the source, and the resolution (1080p, 1080i, etc). The TV itself can definitely inject a second stream.

bwia · May 2019

Renewing my Massachusetts driver’s license felt like harassment and invasion of my civil liberties. It all started simple enough: go online to renew my license as I have done since the dawn of the personal computer age. This time it was not so easy after all.

I logged on by using my current driver’s license number. Fair enough. Next, I was prompted to give my social security number and the usual name, address, telephone number, etc. Additionally, I was asked if I wanted to register to vote and be an organ donor. Next section was proof of residency and proof of citizenship. So far so good. Then fill out a medical questionnaire to prove that I was fit to drive, and a medical report to be accompanied by a vision report.

In the end they said that I had to visit an RMV office with originals of the requested documents and the requisite $50.00 renewal fee. I know there is a legal requirement that drivers 75 and over must submit to a personal interview but I am only 70. What gives. Are they trying to take away my driving privileges?

cdnpinhead · May 2019

It probably has to do with the verification related to using a driving license to clear security at the airport. Most states' DLs didn't used to have sufficient verification of identity. The new ones have a gold star in the corner & can be used at the airport -- starting sometime next year, no star, you'll need a passport to fly.

henryn · May 2019

snakeweasel said:

henryn said:
By the way, I have recently noticed ads for new TVs featuring a built in DVR. Seems strange to me, are they supposed to be able to record any stream coming in or just OTA (over the air)? If they were able to record any incoming stream, I would expect legal challenges from the likes of Netflix and Amazon Prime.
Since streaming services like Netflix are on demand wouldn't using a DVR be a bit redundant?

You have the scenario where you subscribe to Netflix for one month, capture a hundred or more movies, and then unsubscribe. You would have several months worth of viewing after only paying for one month. I know people who have done this on their computer (home theater PC), but most people won't go to that much trouble. If you add that capability in your smart TV, it could become more common.

qbrozen · May 2019

I prefer my Kodi device. I don't worry about recording or capturing or any other workarounds.

oldfarmer50 · May 2019

graphicguy said:
IMHO...no need for weather warnings on your TV. You can get them on your phone, which you usually carry with you all the time (vs TV which you only see at home).

Unless you own a Trac phone.

oldfarmer50 · May 2019

bwia said:
Renewing my Massachusetts driver’s license felt like harassment and invasion of my civil liberties. It all started simple enough: go online to renew my license as I have done since the dawn of the personal computer age. This time it was not so easy after all.

I logged on by using my current driver’s license number. Fair enough. Next, I was prompted to give my social security number and the usual name, address, telephone number, etc. Additionally, I was asked if I wanted to register to vote and be an organ donor. Next section was proof of residency and proof of citizenship. So far so good. Then fill out a medical questionnaire to prove that I was fit to drive, and a medical report to be accompanied by a vision report.

In the end they said that I had to visit an RMV office with originals of the requested documents and the requisite $50.00 renewal fee. I know there is a legal requirement that drivers 75 and over must submit to a personal interview but I am only 70. What gives. Are they trying to take away my driving privileges?

Short answer, YES! Age bias pure and simple.

Just curious, how do you prove citizenship?

Fill out a medical questionnaire? What’s to stop you from lying?

What kind of medical report? Seems overly intrusive.

Before the end of the year I have to upgrade my license to meet federal standards as it seems NY has been dragging it’s feet. Among the requirements is a birth certificate. Maybe my mother had one for me but I never needed one my entire adult life. So now I have to go to the county clerk (which fortunately is nearby) and get a copy or else I’ll be barred from flying. What nonsense.

bwia · May 2019

oldfarmer50 said:

bwia said:
Renewing my Massachusetts driver’s license felt like harassment and invasion of my civil liberties. It all started simple enough: go online to renew my license as I have done since the dawn of the personal computer age. This time it was not so easy after all.

I logged on by using my current driver’s license number. Fair enough. Next, I was prompted to give my social security number and the usual name, address, telephone number, etc. Additionally, I was asked if I wanted to register to vote and be an organ donor. Next section was proof of residency and proof of citizenship. So far so good. Then fill out a medical questionnaire to prove that I was fit to drive, and a medical report to be accompanied by a vision report.

In the end they said that I had to visit an RMV office with originals of the requested documents and the requisite $50.00 renewal fee. I know there is a legal requirement that drivers 75 and over must submit to a personal interview but I am only 70. What gives. Are they trying to take away my driving privileges?
Short answer, YES! Age bias pure and simple.

Just curious, how do you prove citizenship?

Fill out a medical questionnaire? What’s to stop you from lying?

What kind of medical report? Seems overly intrusive.

Before the end of the year I have to upgrade my license to meet federal standards as it seems NY has been dragging it’s feet. Among the requirements is a birth certificate. Maybe my mother had one for me but I never needed one my entire adult life. So now I have to go to the county clerk (which fortunately is nearby) and get a copy or else I’ll be barred from flying. What nonsense.

cdnpinhead said:
It probably has to do with the verification related to using a driving license to clear security at the airport. Most states' DLs didn't used to have sufficient verification of identity. The new ones have a gold star in the corner & can be used at the airport -- starting sometime next year, no star, you'll need a passport to fly.

Thanks for that tidbit about the enhanced drivers license. Now that makes sense regarding the security questions to be TSA compliant. As for proof of citizenship a birth certficate or a U.S. Passport will do. Fort the medical reports, an eye exam and a neurological report on the doctor's stationary will suffice (no photo copies accepted though)

henryn · May 2019

qbrozen said:
I prefer my Kodi device. I don't worry about recording or capturing or any other workarounds.

I have been using a WD TV Live for several years. I capture on a computer, and stream that to the WD. The smart TV has Netflix and Prime built in. But the WD is getting old, and occasionally does a spontaneous reboot. So I'm thinking quite hard about investing in an Nvidia Shield. Which would allow me to capture and stream h265, which would be a nice benefit.

henryn · May 2019

My driver's license expires at the end of this year. I suppose I will have to jump through all of these hoops. Not something to look forward to.

tjc78 · May 2019

henryn said:

By the way, I have recently noticed ads for new TVs featuring a built in DVR. Seems strange to me, are they supposed to be able to record any stream coming in or just OTA (over the air)? If they were able to record any incoming stream, I would expect legal challenges from the likes of Netflix and Amazon Prime.
Since streaming services like Netflix are on demand wouldn't using a DVR be a bit redundant?
You have the scenario where you subscribe to Netflix for one month, capture a hundred or more movies, and then unsubscribe. You would have several months worth of viewing after only paying for one month. I know people who have done this on their computer (home theater PC), but most people won't go to that much trouble. If you add that capability in your smart TV, it could become more common.

Yeah but with a DVR it would be at real time. The time involved wouldn’t be worth the hassle.

It isn’t like you are downloading the shows where you can grab tons in a few hours of downloads.

Michaell · May 2019

henryn said:
My driver's license expires at the end of this year. I suppose I will have to jump through all of these hoops. Not something to look forward to.

My license expires in December, as well. Be interesting to see if Colorado has added the same level of protections and measures.

snakeweasel · May 2019

henryn said:

I would think that being able to inject one stream over another could be done only if the two streams enter the TV from the same source. Since we get out TV over the air an stream other things our DVR is only used for over the air broadcasts hence it's not coming through the TV on the same path as any internet feed. As for VPN ours is a whole network so the TVs are protected by it, I'll let you know if I get any severe weather warnings from Germany.
If you're using a VPN device (firewall, stand alone box) that covers your entire house, then yes, you MIGHT get weather warnings from wherever the VPN is relayed through. And not just on your TV. Probably not on your phone, as it has it's own GPS. But ... possibly, if the phone is connected via WiFi to your wireless network which is routed through the VPN. Probably not, because of the GPS in the phone. Probably. As to injecting the second stream, that would be done by the smart TV itself. My TV throws up text on the upper left whenever I change the source, or the resolution from the source changes. Shows me the "name" of the source, and the resolution (1080p, 1080i, etc). The TV itself can definitely inject a second stream.

As for my phone since I dont watch TV on it it's a moot point, however internet at home is routed through wifi. If you're talking about warnings as a text message I do believe that you get those based on the location of the tower you're connected to. However I have text alerts turned off so I dont get them.

snakeweasel · May 2019

oldfarmer50 said:

IMHO...no need for weather warnings on your TV. You can get them on your phone, which you usually carry with you all the time (vs TV which you only see at home).
Unless you own a Trac phone.

Or you just turn off those alerts.

tjc78 · May 2019

My license expires in December, as well.

You guys just reminded me I have to renew mine!

ab348 · May 2019

My TCL Roku TV has an app called "Roku Media Player" (I would guess it is on all Roku devices) that connects to your home network and once permissions are given on the PCs, can access whatever media files you have on them along with still pictures and music files. It works well for the most part though there are some movie files that play fine on the PC that will not work on the TV, no idea why.

driver100 · May 2019

graphicguy said:
IMHO...no need for weather warnings on your TV. You can get them on your phone, which you usually carry with you all the time (vs TV which you only see at home).

If you have a phone, and actually carry it with you....and have data.

oldfarmer50 · May 2019

bwia said:

oldfarmer50 said:

bwia said:
Renewing my Massachusetts driver’s license felt like harassment and invasion of my civil liberties. It all started simple enough: go online to renew my license as I have done since the dawn of the personal computer age. This time it was not so easy after all.

I logged on by using my current driver’s license number. Fair enough. Next, I was prompted to give my social security number and the usual name, address, telephone number, etc. Additionally, I was asked if I wanted to register to vote and be an organ donor. Next section was proof of residency and proof of citizenship. So far so good. Then fill out a medical questionnaire to prove that I was fit to drive, and a medical report to be accompanied by a vision report.

In the end they said that I had to visit an RMV office with originals of the requested documents and the requisite $50.00 renewal fee. I know there is a legal requirement that drivers 75 and over must submit to a personal interview but I am only 70. What gives. Are they trying to take away my driving privileges?
Short answer, YES! Age bias pure and simple.

Just curious, how do you prove citizenship?

Fill out a medical questionnaire? What’s to stop you from lying?

What kind of medical report? Seems overly intrusive.

Before the end of the year I have to upgrade my license to meet federal standards as it seems NY has been dragging it’s feet. Among the requirements is a birth certificate. Maybe my mother had one for me but I never needed one my entire adult life. So now I have to go to the county clerk (which fortunately is nearby) and get a copy or else I’ll be barred from flying. What nonsense.

cdnpinhead said:
It probably has to do with the verification related to using a driving license to clear security at the airport. Most states' DLs didn't used to have sufficient verification of identity. The new ones have a gold star in the corner & can be used at the airport -- starting sometime next year, no star, you'll need a passport to fly.
Thanks for that tidbit about the enhanced drivers license. Now that makes sense regarding the security questions to be TSA compliant. As for proof of citizenship a birth certficate or a U.S. Passport will do. Fort the medical reports, an eye exam and a neurological report on the doctor's stationary will suffice (no photo copies accepted though)

The only time I needed any physical exam was when I had a commercial license. For a regular old driver’s license it’s just an eye test right there at the DMV counter. Making people jump through hoops seems discriminatory towards low income people. What do all these physicals and certificates cost?

tjc78 · May 2019

If you have a phone, and actually carry it with you....and have data

So 99% of people would be good to go!!

I only know one person in my fairly large circle of friends, family and co-workers that doesn't have a cell (smart) phone.

Edit: His wife does... so most likely he would still get the info anyway

stickguy · May 2019

pretty sure that certain emergency notifications will come through even if you have text turned off. And you may not even need a data plan. Don't worry, if the carrier wants to find you, they will.

PF_Flyer · May 2019

Michaell said:

henryn said:
My driver's license expires at the end of this year. I suppose I will have to jump through all of these hoops. Not something to look forward to.
My license expires in December, as well. Be interesting to see if Colorado has added the same level of protections and measures.

PA dragged it's feet on Real ID as well.

28firefighter · May 2019

WA will let me renew my current license but after 2020 I won’t be able to use it as a valid form of federal ID. If I want that I’ll need to go through the extra hoops required for an Enhanced DL.

May just start traveling with my passport just to avoid an in-person visit to the DOL.

henryn · May 2019

ab348 said:
My TCL Roku TV has an app called "Roku Media Player" (I would guess it is on all Roku devices) that connects to your home network and once permissions are given on the PCs, can access whatever media files you have on them along with still pictures and music files. It works well for the most part though there are some movie files that play fine on the PC that will not work on the TV, no idea why.

Probably because those files are in HEVC H.265 encoding. I recommend mediainfo to see the details of the movie files on your PC.

https://sourceforge.net/projects/mediainfo/

snakeweasel · May 2019

stickguy said:

pretty sure that certain emergency notifications will come through even if you have text turned off. And you may not even need a data plan. Don't worry, if the carrier wants to find you, they will.

The only text notification you cannot turn off is the Presidential one, everything else you can shut off.

oldfarmer50 · May 2019

28firefighter said:
WA will let me renew my current license but after 2020 I won’t be able to use it as a valid form of federal ID. If I want that I’ll need to go through the extra hoops required for an Enhanced DL.

May just start traveling with my passport just to avoid an in-person visit to the DOL.

A passport required to travel within the US. 1984 arrived a little late.

snakeweasel · May 2019

oldfarmer50 said:

WA will let me renew my current license but after 2020 I won’t be able to use it as a valid form of federal ID. If I want that I’ll need to go through the extra hoops required for an Enhanced DL.

May just start traveling with my passport just to avoid an in-person visit to the DOL.
A passport required to travel within the US. 1984 arrived a little late.

Nope, you can still get in your car, on your horse, bicycle, unicycle, pedal car, canoe, dog sled, pogo stick, roller skates or whatever and travel the Lower 48 without a passport. Just cant do it by plane or train.

qbrozen · May 2019

henryn said:

I prefer my Kodi device. I don't worry about recording or capturing or any other workarounds.
I have been using a WD TV Live for several years. I capture on a computer, and stream that to the WD. The smart TV has Netflix and Prime built in. But the WD is getting old, and occasionally does a spontaneous reboot. So I'm thinking quite hard about investing in an Nvidia Shield. Which would allow me to capture and stream h265, which would be a nice benefit.

The Shield is what I have. I like it, although I don’t use anywhere near its full capability. I don’t “capture” anything. Others do and are kind enough to make their streams available.

Took me some time but I eventually found an MLBTV stream that has been very solid in HD. I’ve been the search for Philly Comcast Sportsnet, but no luck yet.

Michaell · May 2019

Just cant do it by plane or train.

Wait, what?

Are you telling me that my 81 year old mother will need an enhanced ID or passport to take the train from her house north of LA to visit my sister and her family in San Diego?

houdini2 · May 2019

snakeweasel said:

oldfarmer50 said:

28firefighter said:
WA will let me renew my current license but after 2020 I won’t be able to use it as a valid form of federal ID. If I want that I’ll need to go through the extra hoops required for an Enhanced DL.

May just start traveling with my passport just to avoid an in-person visit to the DOL.
A passport required to travel within the US. 1984 arrived a little late.

Nope, you can still get in your car, on your horse, bicycle, unicycle, pedal car, canoe, dog sled, pogo stick, roller skates or whatever and travel the Lower 48 without a passport. Just cant do it by plane or train.

But the foot is in the door ! I guess before long we will be seeing roadblocks with people demanding, "Show us your papers" !

snakeweasel · May 2019

Michaell said:

Just cant do it by plane or train.
Wait, what? Are you telling me that my 81 year old mother will need an enhanced ID or passport to take the train from her house north of LA to visit my sister and her family in San Diego?

I do believe that they were discussing needing it for Amtrak. Not sure how likely it will be though.

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