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Steve Wozniak used to tip from printed sheets of $2 bills

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Re: Steve Wozniak used to tip from printed sheets of $2 bills

#151
post #140
post #3

> [The Secret Service agent] asked my for some picture ID. I have some fake photo ID's that a friend made for me years before, when we could make realistic photo ID's from our computers. Almost nobody else could do this because printers weren't good enough. But I had an expensive early generation dye sublimation printer and made some fake ID's for fun. I had one favorite fake ID that I'd used for almost every airplan…

> It probably amounted to a real crime. I'm not a lawyer, I have no idea how criminal law in the USA works, but why would this be a crime? He didn't fake a Department of Defence ID, he created an ID for a fictional Department of Defiance, it may look similar, it may appear as a "real" ID because it's not just a piece of paper, but it's about as real an ID as a gym membership card.

I'm also not a lawyer but AFAIK it often boils down to intent. You could argue that he tried to deceive someone with it.

Re: Steve Wozniak used to tip from printed sheets of $2 bills

#152

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If this isn't something tellers see quite regularly, then what do other cruise passengers do? I asked for a lot of £5 (smallest denomination note in UK) at the bank once because I was going to a music festival (before mobile card payment was routine). They asked me casually why I wanted them and I explained. Seems to be a Know Your Customer thing.

My bank tells me it's to help protect vulnerable customers - for example, if you want £2000 cash to pay some builders, they'll ask whether the builders have started work yet. Although who knows if that's the whole reason?

I didn't know this was a practice but I suspect some of it might be to detect overly trusting elderly people being ripped off. If it prevents some of that then it's probably a good thing.

Re: Steve Wozniak used to tip from printed sheets of $2 bills

#153

I don't get the humor. Oh, look, that was so funny putting myself into a situation that most people would be scared shitless to be in and might not have ended well for them! Let's just waste everyone's time so they can humor me on a joke! I am such an edgy rich white guy! A real hacker! What an absolute tool.

> that was so funny putting myself into a situation that most people would be scared shitless to be in and might not have ended well for them!

Same attitude paid off in his little Apple computer hobby.

Re: Steve Wozniak used to tip from printed sheets of $2 bills

#154

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> makes or uses any false writing or document knowing the same to contain any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or entry; https://codes.findlaw.com/us/title-18-crimes-and-criminal-pr...

But was it materially false? im not sure his fake occupation was at all relevant, and since the document identified Woz, I suspect it was materially true.

Stating obvious, ultimately all individuals are responsible for their respective interpretations of the law and even judges error in their interpretations. That said, in my opinion, if an individual intentionally provides false statements or produces false documents to a federal investigator, that doing so is always a crime regardless of if it’s done to evade an investigation, material to a given investigation, etc — in part because knowing if a particular individual is being intentionally truthful is always material to an investigation.

Re: Steve Wozniak used to tip from printed sheets of $2 bills

#155
post #73

Related US Mint page for $2 bill sheets: https://catalog.usmint.gov/paper-currency/uncut-currency/?&p... Basically he tells story in a way that average person assume he’s printing fake bills, when in reality he’s just cutting and binding sets of uncut bills into a notepad. Lying to a federal investigator though is a federal crime and one that’s frequently resulted in prison sentences. Worth noting that Jobs & Woz fir…

Woz didn't lie according to his account. Technically, he gave a fake ID, but not a fake drivers license. I say this b/c DL's don't show occupation. My understanding is that it had his correct name. So I don't see a lie that most prosecutors would care about given the whole situation. Not to mention that it is not a good look for a secret service agent to not know the details of the actual currency he is tasked to pro…

Are you even legally required to provide ID to a federal officer? I know in some states that you are not required to provide ID to a police officer unless there is evidence you have committed a crime. Quite a few ornery citizens like to video themselves rejecting police officer's requests for ID.

Re: Steve Wozniak used to tip from printed sheets of $2 bills

#156

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not to mention not looking like a minority was a fairly strong shield back then and even is today.

When an entire population is far more homogeneous than most modern Western states, the heightened social trust and cohesion permits this kind of harmless fun (among many other benefits). It's one of those sacrifices made to accommodate diversity which is almost impossible to quantify and existentially unsettling to even try.

> the heightened social trust and cohesion permits this kind of harmless fun

This needs a citation. It's the sort of "common sense" all too often advanced by people with - frankly - racist or ethnonational agendas.

Re: Steve Wozniak used to tip from printed sheets of $2 bills

#157
post #151
post #140

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> It probably amounted to a real crime. I'm not a lawyer, I have no idea how criminal law in the USA works, but why would this be a crime? He didn't fake a Department of Defence ID, he created an ID for a fictional Department of Defiance, it may look similar, it may appear as a "real" ID because it's not just a piece of paper, but it's about as real an ID as a gym membership card.

I'm also not a lawyer but AFAIK it often boils down to intent. You could argue that he tried to deceive someone with it.

I don't even think it's arguable. He intended to deceive a Secret Service officer with fake federal government credentials, and apparently succeeded in doing so. I believe that is a felony. The judge may reduce the charge or throw it out later though because of the obvious wackiness of it.

Re: Steve Wozniak used to tip from printed sheets of $2 bills

#158
post #83

Related US Mint page for $2 bill sheets: https://catalog.usmint.gov/paper-currency/uncut-currency/?&p... Basically he tells story in a way that average person assume he’s printing fake bills, when in reality he’s just cutting and binding sets of uncut bills into a notepad. Lying to a federal investigator though is a federal crime and one that’s frequently resulted in prison sentences. Worth noting that Jobs & Woz fir…

Why on earth do they even sell those sheets? It'll just cause confusion.

There was a restaurant in my home town that always gave you your chain in $2 bills. It was a silly thing that they were known for. I could potentially see something like this facilitating that.

Re: Steve Wozniak used to tip from printed sheets of $2 bills

#159
post #36
post #3

> [The Secret Service agent] asked my for some picture ID. I have some fake photo ID's that a friend made for me years before, when we could make realistic photo ID's from our computers. Almost nobody else could do this because printers weren't good enough. But I had an expensive early generation dye sublimation printer and made some fake ID's for fun. I had one favorite fake ID that I'd used for almost every airplan…

Isn't it pretty irresponsible to commit a felony while you have a daughter and wife to take care of? I find his nonchalant delivery quite jarring. I don't understand what's going through his head here.

Shit was very different, in terms of interaction with the security apparatus of the state, pre-9/11.

Re: Steve Wozniak used to tip from printed sheets of $2 bills

#160

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not to mention not looking like a minority was a fairly strong shield back then and even is today.

It’s more that he is affluent. Try to imagine white trash pulling this stunt and it wouldn’t go well either.

I’m assuming you don’t know this: white trash is a slur.

As in, deeply offensive to some people.

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