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Slashback: Epson, AbiWord, Justification

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the nova-nova dept.

Slashback tonight brings you updates on AbiWord's recent donation theft, persistent Australian spammers, more support for open software in government, and more -- read on below. Update: 10/31 00:09 GMT by T : Oops, doubled news of AbiWord / Paypal situation update has been halved; apologies.

It was the least they could do. Last week, AbiWord's PayPal account for donations was lightened to the tune of several hundred dollars. Now, an anonymous reader writes "According to this posting, PayPal has succumbed to the pressure. They have agreed to reimburse the AbiWord team for the money that was stolen from their account last week. I still want to know how the AbiWord account was broken into..."

Because licenses matter. specht writes "I am a bit surprised that nobody has reported this yet. EPSON KOWA made their scanner and printer software available for downloading again after they had to pull it because of a GPL violation (see the previous Slashdot story). More information about this (and why it had to be removed in the first place) are here . Kudos to EPSON KOWA and EPSON for working with the FSF to resolve these issues."

No, that's "Gorilla marketing." akiaki007 writes "As many might have noticed, Friday most of Manhattan was covered with butterflies. This article on CNN that states that NYC fined MS $50.00 and the cost of cleaning up the static-cling plastic ads. On a side note, most other companies probably would have been fined per ad, though somehow MS got off, pretty much scot-free."

Priceless -- which is nice when you're paying. Digital Soldier writes "HERE is an article from Government Executive Magazine justifying, from a security perspective, the use of open source software in government. In short, the article makes the point that open source software allows security administrators to be pro-active rather than purely reactive in their work. I guess they don't like waiting for service packs."

Lovely spam, lovely spam ah ah ah ah ... ghostrider_one writes "Australian IT is reporting that notorious Australian spammers T3 direct have appealed the recent dismisssal of their lawsuit against the person they blame for being blacklisted in SPEWS."

205 comments

  1. It occurs to me... by djkitsch · · Score: 4, Interesting

    ...that many marketing companies in London regularly go around spray-painting music artist's names onto street furniture...

    Maybe us Londoners are more relaxed about that sort of thing?

    --
    sig:- (wit >= sarcasm)
    1. Re:It occurs to me... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      sig:-Let's just hope we accidentally build God

      Which reminds me of the old quote. "Jesus is coming. Everybody look busy!"

    2. Re:It occurs to me... by fermion · · Score: 1
      That is an interesting point. In many cities, music and movie promoters litter sides of buildings with handbills. This is not to mention the 'work at home' signs. These signs are often posted by contracters several levels away from the corporate office.

      I think the differnce is, in this case, is that microsoft was directly linked to the trash. If they would have gone through the traditional subversion, they may have gotten away with it.

      --
      "She's a scientist and a lesbian. She's not going to let it slide." Orphan Black
    3. Re:It occurs to me... by Elwood+P+Dowd · · Score: 1, Redundant

      many marketing companies in London regularly go around spray-painting music artist's names onto street furniture

      We don't keep our furniture in the street, so it's really not relevant. If I left my furniture in the street, I'm sure I'd expect that sort of thing too.

      --

      There are no trails. There are no trees out here.
    4. Re:It occurs to me... by panZ · · Score: 1

      Actually, if you are refering to the quote from the simpsons it was, "Moses is coming, Everybody look busy!"
      That was the episode involving the 8th commandment in season two when the Simpson's steel cable. Moses comes down from the mountain with the tablets and homer the theif makes his quote and they all start performing their individual acts of sin. =)
      If that's not what you were quoting, then have a nice day.

      --
      --Let's hack root on 127.0.0.1 --panZ
  2. M$'s Ads by KeatonMill · · Score: 3, Interesting

    $50.00 to Microsoft is like 1 cent to the rest of the world. I suppose that the reason they got is because they 'support' public officials. In fact I wouldn't be suprised if those public officials gave them support on the ads in the first place.

    1. Re:M$'s Ads by Soulfader · · Score: 2, Funny

      So buying .Net server is going to cost me what, a quarter? =)

    2. Re:M$'s Ads by jhunsake · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Average middle class person with $100,000 positive net worth (being generous to avergae of course) = $0.01 / $100,000 = 0.0000001

      Microsoft with $40 billion in cash = $50 / $40 bil = 0.00000000125

    3. Re:M$'s Ads by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      I think it's pretty funny that Micro$oft would choose a bug as it's logo.

    4. Re:M$'s Ads by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      MSN chose the butterfly as their logo, not "Micro$oft".

      But I'm glad you think it's funny, anyway.

      Fucktard.

    5. Re:M$'s Ads by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      Should every fine be relative? A homeless man who makes his money by trading in cans earns far less than you do. A 50 dollar fine to him might be equal to a 1500 dollar fine to you. Would you prefer to pay the 1500 dollar fine?

    6. Re:M$'s Ads by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      I can't say I blame NY for letting them off.

      I mean, would you REALLY want to go around and count up all the stickers around town?

    7. Re:M$'s Ads by d.valued · · Score: 5, Interesting

      One, I hate it when /. refuses a post just to use it from someone else later. Besides, my copy was much better than this.

      Two: This is pure bullshit. IBM does something similar in San Fran with the "peace love Linux" logos and gets hurt for over $100,000 in fines. They did it in Chicago and they got assesed an $18,000 fine to the person who actually laid chalk on concrete and community service.

      Why the hell did they only hit them up with a $50 fine? For a multibillion dollar corporation, headed by the world's richest man, this is lunacy. Per ad would have been better; a whopping huge fine would've been best.

      Maybe Mayor Rich^H^H^H^HBloomberg didn't want to rock the boat and piss off a potential contributor.... then again, IIRC he _did_ run in '01 out of his pocket....

      --
      I used to be someone else. Now I'm someone better.
      Real life is underrated.
    8. Re:M$'s Ads by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And as we all know, MSN doesn't have ANYTHING to do with Microsoft. NO relationship whatsoever.

      Assmunch

    9. Re:M$'s Ads by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      IBM used chalk. MS used stickers that are held in place with static electricity. Those kind of stickers are trivial to remove. Chalk takes scrubbing to remove.

    10. Re:M$'s Ads by monkeybrain · · Score: 3, Informative

      M$ are repeat offenders too - they got fined for doing this in Australia for the XBox launch.

      The trouble is that the fines aren't large enough - they need to be substantially larger than the amount of publicity generated by the hoo har that results from defacing the public property (i.e. they get on the prime time news, etc). The fine should be more like $1M.

    11. Re:M$'s Ads by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      or rain perhaps? isn't chalk bio degradable? where as the plastic MSN used is not?

    12. Re:M$'s Ads by DDX_2002 · · Score: 3, Insightful

      $50.00 + cost of removal is NOT the same thing as $50.00. What do you figure the average NYC Public Works crew gets paid per hour, plus cost of gas and vehicle maintenance, overhead in coordinating efforts, any tools necessary to remove decals... that all adds up pretty fast.

      --
      MHO. YMMV. Any resemblance between this post and real persons, or reality in general, was accidental.
    13. Re:M$'s Ads by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      One, I hate it when /. refuses a post just to use it from someone else later. Besides, my copy was much better than this.

      One, I hate it when people bitch about one of their submissions that was rejected but accepted from someone else.

      GET OVER IT.

    14. Re:M$'s Ads by governorx · · Score: 1

      Further symbolism:

      Since microsoft products have yet to undergo any metamorphisis (still buggy) we can still assume that microsoft is still in their larval state.

      And what does this caterpillar eat you ask? All that green that isn't in your wallet anymore.

    15. Re:M$'s Ads by TheMidget · · Score: 1
      $50.00 + cost of removal is NOT the same thing as $50.00.

      Trouble is, if they wait a while, the things might just disappear on their own. While they're shiny and new, they'll be "stolen" by passersby as souvenirs. The remaining ones will eventually be washed away into the gutter by the rain. After a weeks time, almost none will be left. Maybe there could be issues with clogged drains, but with a little bit of luck, cost of removal might be very small.

    16. Re:M$'s Ads by Alsee · · Score: 2

      Maybe they want people to think that some day all of the Microsoft bugs will turn into something beautiful.

      That buffer overflow - it's not just some ugly bug, it's a caterpillar. Some day it will grow up to be a beautiful butterfly called CodeNimdaRed.

      -

      --
      - - You can't take something off the Internet! That's like trying to take pee out of a swimming pool.
    17. Re:M$'s Ads by davidyorke · · Score: 1

      "... NYC fined MS $50.00 and the cost of cleaning up the static-cling plastic ads..."

      I'll bet that in New York City the "cost of cleaning up" the ads is gonna be a little more than the market-rate. :-)

  3. Don't store money on PayPal! by grytpype · · Score: 5, Insightful

    PayPal is not a bank. It's not run like a bank, it's not regulated like a bank, and deposits are not insured like a bank.

    --

    - Have a picture

    1. Re:Don't store money on PayPal! by Phosphor3k · · Score: 3

      Except it is. Paypal's own page herestates that they keep your money in a bank that is FDIC insured, and that any losses are covered via pass-through regulation. If that bank is looted while your funds are there via Paypal, you still get your money back up to the regulation $100,000.

    2. Re:Don't store money on PayPal! by buffy · · Score: 5, Insightful
      PayPal is not a bank. It's not run like a bank, it's not regulated like a bank, and deposits are not insured like a bank.

      PayPal looks like a bank, smells like a bank, and sounds like a bank. The fact that they are not regulated nor insured doesn't mean they're not a bank--only that they've not yet been busted as such. Write your congress critters to take note. PP all but ignores a large amount of fraud, simply because it's cheaper to do so--most people won't do the leg work necessary to get their, usually, smaller amounts of cash back.

      Regulation will come eventually. PP/e-bay will put that date off as long as possible for sure, however.

    3. Re:Don't store money on PayPal! by malfunct · · Score: 2, Insightful

      The problem being 2-fold here. #1 I don't think the FDIC insurance protects against someone withdrawing money fraudlently in your name, and #2 the account is in PayPal's name so if paypal were to withdraw the money and use it you wouldn't get any money from the FDIC insurance.

      --

      "You can now flame me, I am full of love,"

    4. Re:Don't store money on PayPal! by gengee · · Score: 2

      Exactly - FDIC insurance covers only the collapse of the bank. It certainly does not cover fradulent withdrawls.

      --
      - James
    5. Re:Don't store money on PayPal! by einhverfr · · Score: 2

      PayPal is not a bank. It's not run like a bank, it's not regulated like a bank, and deposits are not insured like a bank.

      Aren't the individual accounts FDIC insured through the banks that hold the money? Granted this is not exactly the same thing, but although PayPal is not a bank, there are banks at veraios places in the transactions.

      --

      LedgerSMB: Open source Accounting/ERP
    6. Re:Don't store money on PayPal! by murgee · · Score: 1

      By your statement i should be able to sue the stockmarket, 401k plans and social security plans.

      They smell like a bank, look like a bank, hold my money like a bank, transfer my money like a bank, but aren't insured like a bank. Heck, i can loose every dime i have and someone owes me!

      # export NITPICK=ON

      Those are investments, and yes, Virginia, there is a difference. And someone smarter than me can explain what. :-)

      --
      mrg
    7. Re:Don't store money on PayPal! by alannon · · Score: 4, Interesting

      The issue is that EACH of the stockmarket, 401k plans and social security plans are regulated as a SPECIAL CASE by the government. In fact, in the US, there's an entire portion of the government dedicated to regulating financial institutions, the Securities and Exchange Commission. In fact, I can't think of any company or institution that can move around large sums of OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY without some sort of special regulation or dispensation. This means banks, clearing houses, wire transfer service companies, credit unions, insurance sellers, investment institutions of all sorts. Why are these institutions regulated? Because in the past, before they were not regulated, they did enough terrible things to people to cause the government to have to pass laws to put in some checks an balances to keep things from getting that bad.

      And that's just malicious things that companies can do. What about if things go south with the company itself? What happens to your money? Paypal cares so much about the safety of your money that they are not even FDIC (Federal Desposit Insurance Corporation) insured. This is considered the minimum standard of safety with any corporation that stores or moves around any consumer money.

      I'm sort of happy their tipjar was broken in to as well, since it gives me a concrete example of how insecure PayPal is. I'm also glad they got it back, though I'm sure if there was not so much PR about it, it would not have happened. It should be obvious that most people or companies do not have the ability to raise as big of a stink as AbiWord.

      My next question is, though: What the heck were they doing leaving all that money in their paypal account? Most people I know that use paypal for business at least have the sense to get all the money out of there ASAP.

    8. Re:Don't store money on PayPal! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'd mod you up if I could.

    9. Re:Don't store money on PayPal! by buffy · · Score: 4, Insightful
      By your statement i should be able to sue the stockmarket, 401k plans and social security plans.

      They smell like a bank, look like a bank, hold my money like a bank, transfer my money like a bank, but aren't insured like a bank. Heck, i can loose every dime i have and someone owes me!

      Umm...no. Each of the items you mention ARE in fact regulated in some fashion. If you're invested in a Mutual Fund, and the MF Manager makes off with your money (ie. doesn't invest it, but actually makes off with it!) you bet your ass there is something you can do about it in the legal system.

      I mean...think, man, think, before posting! ;)

      I'm so happy the tipjar was broken into, and i certainly wish paypal wouldn't have given in. Sometimes a dose of the real world is what alot of people need.

      Welp, that's awfully mean of you. That's like saying I hope you get mugged tomorrow. I don't, and I hope it doesn't. Decency is a good quality, not a bad one, and I don't think it's unreasonable to give it, and expect it in return. Not that it gives you and excuse to not be prepared for when you don't receive it, but still...

    10. Re:Don't store money on PayPal! by Boiling_point_ · · Score: 2
      Write your congress critters to take note.
      And fight to shut down/cripple something that's obviously filling a real e-commerce niche? How about instead writing to your bank, who are regulated, insured and already have infrastructure to tell them to expand into escrow services online. Given the choice, who would you rather transact through - Paypal, or your bank?
      --
      "If you create user accounts, by default, they will have an account type of Administrator with no password." KB Q293834
    11. Re:Don't store money on PayPal! by corey_lawson · · Score: 1

      No, there is not much, really, one can do if your money market fund manager skips town except complain. Maybe there is a case, and a state investigator can investigate. If the money is gone, and the manager has no other assets or is out of the country, you're SOL. The SEC, NASD, et al do not maintain an "insurance" fund like the banks and credit unions do to cover deposits. Just like with the stock exchange. Enron's executives are millionaires, and everyone else who held Enron stock is SOL, too. Stock holders are typically last in line when it comes to getting money from the bankruptcy court. Welp, that's awfully mean of you Sometimes we all need to be bitch-slapped out of complacency.

  4. So do I! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    "I still want to know how the AbiWord account was broken into..."

    So do I!

    I need a new digital camera...

    1. Re:So do I! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Me too!!

      Reply to this with your aol email address if you want to know also.

    2. Re:So do I! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      stevecase@AOL.com

  5. Ok .... is it just me ... by taniwha · · Score: 4, Funny

    I'm pretty tolerant about /.s occasional posting of the same article twice. But doing it within the same article is just too wierd ...

    1. Re:Ok .... is it just me ... by unicron · · Score: 3, Funny

      It just goes to lend further credit to my "slashdot editors are in fact killer robots sent back from the future that sometimes need a reboot" theory.

      --
      Finally, math books without any of that base 6 crap in them.
    2. Re:Ok .... is it just me ... by FattMattP · · Score: 1, Offtopic
      I'm pretty tolerant about /.s occasional posting of the same article twice. But doing it within the same article is just too wierd ...
      No kidding. I think we need a new moderation label of "Sad But True."
      --
      Prevent email address forgery. Publish SPF records for y
    3. Re:Ok .... is it just me ... by squant0 · · Score: 1

      Holy cow! and then like 14 people point it out! Imagine that.
      Maybe everyone that posted below this should take some of their own medicine.

    4. Re:Ok .... is it just me ... by VC · · Score: 1

      I for one get really pissed off when slashdot does this, i mean how hard is it to just proff read somting once before you hit submit, its not like their not always telling us to use the preview button is it.I for one get really pissed off when slashdot does this, i mean how hard is it to just proff read somting once before you hit submit, its not like their not always telling us to use the preview button is it.

      --
      Official GOD FAQ.
    5. Re:Ok .... is it just me ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Or something about the Matrix with deja vu occuring.

      [edited] [edited] [edited]

      Ok, who's changing my post?!?!

    6. Re:Ok .... is it just me ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      OK, probably not as hard as proof-reading "proff".

      Like shooting fish in a barrel. With a shotgun.

      The proceeding spelling-Nazi post was brought to you by the letter "O"

    7. Re:Ok .... is it just me ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That's the joke you idiot.

    8. Re:Ok .... is it just me ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Oh...Sometimes I need things explained to me. My bad.

  6. All well and good for AbiWord. by 91degrees · · Score: 4, Informative

    But there are others with complaints against PayPal.

    Are they going to help them? here is a whole website about how bad they are. Several in fact.

    1. Re:All well and good for AbiWord. by cybrthng · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I don't work for paypal and don't know anyone who does.

      1. I've never had a problem.
      2. Been a customer "since day one"
      3. I've done a few grand through paypal and while they don't have phone support, i've never had an un-answered email request.

      I only deal with ebay sellers +5, i only take payments from verified paypal account holders and i keep a seperate checking account established for just linking to such accounts.

      Paypal is a godsend for those who push money, goods and materials. I don't treat it like a bank, and i respect it for what is is.

      Change your passwords, don't be "gullible" deal with good people.

      Common sense people.

    2. Re:All well and good for AbiWord. by Call+Me+Black+Cloud · · Score: 4, Funny

      I ran a mail order sales business and took PayPal. I started when PayPal started...in fact, I used their $10 free/$10 referral to drum up business. Sign up for PayPal through me and I'll give you the $10 referral I get in store credit. Worked great, business boomed.

      Then PayPal took all my money (or allowed someone else to), forced me into bankruptcy, the bank took my house and my wife ran off with the PayPal support guy - we had so many problems they fell in love after talking on the phone and exchanging e-mails so much. Now I'm posting this from the public library, I sleep in my '75 Vega, shower at the Y (don't drop the soap), eat out of McDonald's dumpster.

      Yeah, you all wish that was the story, don't you? The fact is neither I nor any customers had any trouble with PayPal. I continue to use PayPal for auctions, again without trouble. My password is "fraGTh1$BuddY**867-5309" so you see it's very secure and I keep it safe - not even my wife knows it.

      Basic security precautions, people. The fault lies not with the stars but with ourselves (or something like that).

    3. Re:All well and good for AbiWord. by 91degrees · · Score: 1

      Which is all well and good for you.

      Okay, perhaps they are simply a wire service rather than a bank. That's fair enough, but in that case, what right have they got to freeze people's accounts?

  7. Static Cling Butterfly Ads? by carb · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'm enjoying the idea of a handful of Microsoft PR employees rubbing these static-cling butterfly ads over their heads, vigorously no doubt, to achieve the desired sticky effect.

  8. double slashback? by niloroth · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Is it just me, or have we gone from having two posts about the same issue, to having two stories in the same post about the same thing?

    --
    09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C0
    1. Re:double slashback? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      My God, we'll have to have twice as many repeated postings about the self-duplicating slashback story as we usually have just to restore balance to the Universe!

  9. Epson. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Well the thing about Epson allowing downloads again has already been reported. BTW Epson makes some nice high-end scanners. One model for about $800 can have any particular interface installed. USB, FireWire, SCSI, Ethernet. Plug-in card.

    1. Re:Epson. by bogie · · Score: 2

      "Well the thing about Epson allowing downloads again has already been reported"

      I never heard.

      I do have to say they make some great scanners. I love my 640U. Its quick and still makes great quality scans compared to anything out there.

      --
      If you wanna get rich, you know that payback is a bitch
  10. Oh my god... by Dark+Lord+Seth · · Score: 1, Redundant

    Mickey and Minnie Mouse have turned traitor!

    --
    Hate me!
    1. Re:Oh my god... by quantaman · · Score: 4, Funny

      As opposed to when Mickey and Minnie stood up to giant corporations?

      --
      I stole this Sig
    2. Re:Oh my god... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Ah, those were the days. Back when Men were Women and squirrels didn't yell at me as I walked by.

  11. Takes the biscuit... by Andy+Smith · · Score: 1, Redundant

    "That's the PayPal news. Now it's time for the PayPal news..."

    Jeez, lots of people bitch and whine about duplicate stories being posted, but when the same news is posted twice in the *same* story, you gotta laugh...

    1. Re:Takes the biscuit... by Andy+Smith · · Score: 2

      Hmph! Now I look really dumb for repeating what someone else said.

    2. Re:Takes the biscuit... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Now I look really dumb for repeating what someone else said.

      Well, you're half right.

  12. M$ adds by MadCow-ard · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Of course the marketers knew what they were doing with the ads. Did they not realize they were breaking the law? Of course they knew. They were counting on it, and by making waves, they were counting on getting on CNN and maybe others (/.). If they didn't make a fuss and apologize and such, then I, who am not a New Yorker, would never have known or seen the photo of the campaign. It worked. That's why they did it, and took the risk. So what if they have to pay a few dollars, even per butterfly. Its cheaper than running an add, most likely!

    1. Re:M$ adds by Evil+Adrian · · Score: 1

      Yep. I don't hate Microsoft, but I think they got off way too lightly on this. If some common joe had posted stickers all over New York for some demo CD he made, they'd put him in jail for vandalism.

      That would rock if you could "arrest" corporations. :-)

      --
      evil adrian
    2. Re:M$ adds by One+Louder · · Score: 2, Funny
      NY: Hey! Pay this $1,000,000 fine!

      MS: Let me introduce you to the BSA.

      NY: Did I say $1,000,000? I meant $50.

      MS: I thought so.

    3. Re:M$ adds by benwb · · Score: 2

      As someone who lives in manhattan, I can tell you that if they're arresting all the guys putting up stickers/posters illegally it's not deterring anyone at all. Maybe they need to move to caning.

    4. Re:M$ adds by paranoos · · Score: 1
      If you ask me, New York wasn't even going to consider fining Microsoft for the infraction... but I bet Big Bill got nervous and offered everyone free MSN access for the next year.

      Guliani responds via the regular l33+ h4X0r speak, saying "GUL14N1 15 2 L33+ 4 Ur M$ $H1+3! U cuddn't $$$ m3!"

      Gates' response? "Oh yeah?" ... and there you have it.

  13. Re:In story dupe by Tensor · · Score: 2

    You might be the first proud reader, but definately not the first reader. Read up ^

  14. Most appropriate from Abiword . . . by moldar · · Score: 1
    *) The PayPal documents were multi-page MS Word documents. AbiWord opened and printed both copies (paper output in my hands) before OpenOffice even loaded. Abi's versions look better, to boot.

    I was quite impressed with the performance from AbiWord. This really is a good incentive to check it out!

    1. Re:Most appropriate from Abiword . . . by Woodrose · · Score: 0

      We're looking at Abiword at work. V.nice, but doesn't seem to read hyperlinks when loading a document from word.

      Very pretty interface though.

      --

      Thou hast damnable iteration, and art indeed able to corrupt a saint - Henry IV, Act I scene II

    2. Re:Most appropriate from Abiword . . . by mwood · · Score: 1

      "We're looking at Abiword at work. V.nice, but doesn't seem to read hyperlinks when loading a document from word."

      Sounds like a feature to me.

  15. That fixes everything at PayPal by fmaxwell · · Score: 5, Funny

    I am certain that high-profile news stories on Slashdot, The Register, and elsewhere had nothing to do with PayPal's decision to refund the money to the Abiword account. Now if any of us loses hundreds of dollars off of PayPal, we can be comfortable in the knowledge that PayPal will refund the amount we lost.

  16. Re:A new first? by Mac+Beckett · · Score: 0, Redundant


    That's all very interesting, but did you hear that PayPal has paid back the money that was stolen from AbiWord?



    True! I read it on /.



    That's all very interesting, but did you hear that PayPal has paid back the money that was stolen from AbiWord?



    True! I read it on /.



    Mac
  17. hmmmm by fuzzywig · · Score: 4, Funny

    Am I the only one to see the irony in the fact that a /. Ed goes a bit copy/paste mad and suddenly there's not 1 dupe but at least 16 comments (out of 32 at the mo) all saying the same thing. I mean, did you think that no one else had noticed?

  18. He's fallen in der water! by djkitsch · · Score: 1

    You're the first Goon reference I've ever seen on Slashdot! Congrats and kudos, dude!

    --
    sig:- (wit >= sarcasm)
  19. Guthriesque! by JabberWokky · · Score: 5, Funny
    So let me get this straight - the prosecution had 8 by 10 colored glossy photos with a circle and arrow on the back of each one, they took tire prints, foot prints, dog smellin' prints...

    And Microsoft had to pay $50 and clean up the garbage?!?!?!

    Typical case of American Blind Justice, I think!

    --
    Evan "Ah, the classics..."

    --
    "$30 for the One True Ring. $10 each additional ring!" -- JRR "Bob" Tolkien
    1. Re:Guthriesque! by quinto2000 · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Does that make Mayor Bloomberg Officer Obie?

      --
      Ceci n'est pas un post
    2. Re:Guthriesque! by egburr · · Score: 2

      I got the impression MS didn't even have to clean up the garbage. Guthrie wasn't so lucky.

      --

      Edward Burr
      Having a smoking section in a restaurant is like having a peeing section in a swimming pool.
    3. Re:Guthriesque! by Alsee · · Score: 2

      pay $50 and clean up the garbage

      A litterbug...

      and creating a NUCIANCE!

      -

      --
      - - You can't take something off the Internet! That's like trying to take pee out of a swimming pool.
    4. Re:Guthriesque! by JabberWokky · · Score: 2
      I just hope that, with all his jumping up and down, they don't take away Ballmer's belt.

      --
      Evan (Who wonders how many /.ers "get" this thread)

      --
      "$30 for the One True Ring. $10 each additional ring!" -- JRR "Bob" Tolkien
  20. Bullshit by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It takes me less than 10 seconds to open a Word file in OpenOffice. There's no way you could open a file and have a hard copy in your hands in 10 seconds

    1. Re:Bullshit by msevior · · Score: 1

      You haven't seen dom's printer.
      0.5 sec to open abiword, 0.5 to load the doc, 8 secs to print it.

      15 secs to open 00

      You do the math.

  21. May I offer some advice? by Andy+Smith · · Score: 5, Funny

    Two facts:

    1. I've never used PayPal.
    2. I've never lost any money to PayPal.

    Somehow these seem connected.

    1. Re:May I offer some advice? by chimpo13 · · Score: 1

      Paypal knows where you live.

      --
      riding round the world on an old motorcycle
    2. Re:May I offer some advice? by s20451 · · Score: 2, Funny

      1. I've never used PayPal.
      2. I've never lost any money to PayPal.

      3. Profit!

      --
      Toronto-area transit rider? Rate your ride.
    3. Re:May I offer some advice? by IIRCAFAIKIANAL · · Score: 5, Funny

      Good to hear Andy. Now, let's discuss this rock I have that repels Dinosaurs - never been attacked ONCE since I started carrying it - I'll start the bidding at $2000...

      :)

      --
      Robots are everywhere, and they eat old people's medicine for fuel.
    4. Re:May I offer some advice? by EverDense · · Score: 1

      Can I use my PayPal account to pay for that?

      --
      http://jesus.everdense.com/
    5. Re:May I offer some advice? by quick_dry_3 · · Score: 2

      Now, let's discuss this rock I have that repels Dinosaurs - never been attacked ONCE since I started carrying it

      get attacked much before you got the rock?

    6. Re:May I offer some advice? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I bid $3,000 -- can I pay with PayPal?

  22. Alternatively by djkitsch · · Score: 1

    Jesus saves! Moses invests...

    Actually, I was aiming for Zen, but humorous is ok, I guess :-)

    --
    sig:- (wit >= sarcasm)
    1. Re:Alternatively by The_dev0 · · Score: 1

      I like: Jesus Saves! Jews win by two...

      --
      Never fight naked, unless you're in prison...
    2. Re:Alternatively by chrisos · · Score: 1

      How about...

      Jesus saves, but St. Paul scores on the rebound

      --
      If nature abhors a vacuum, why isn't there more dust in the world?
    3. Re:Alternatively by rpi1995 · · Score: 1

      I've heard it as (when he was playing):

      Saved by Jesus Christ...
      And Gretsky scores on the rebound!!!

    4. Re:Alternatively by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Jesus loves you... but does he swallow?

  23. Please, Microsoft, do it again! by aminorex · · Score: 4, Funny

    This time, I want to walk around town with a marker,
    putting swastikas on all the butterflies.

    --
    -I like my women like I like my tea: green-
    1. Re:Please, Microsoft, do it again! by mgblst · · Score: 2

      Is it illegal to graffiti something that is already deemed illegal?? I mean, I know it would be illegal in Germany to walk around drawing Swastikas on these things, but maybe not in the US ( or Australia, if they try something here)

  24. an Injunction is prison for a coporation. by MadCow-ard · · Score: 1

    "That would rock if you could "arrest" corporations. :-)" You can, its called an injunction. It freezes them from acting, which is the same thing as prison for an individual. Consider that when the government is reviewing the M$ case.

  25. The Perpetrators by namespan · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Here's my question: did Pay Pal give AbiWord the information about the transaction so they can track down the thieves who did this?

    If not, why not? Maybe there's NOT a security problem... and the thieves work at PayPal?

    OK, it's ridiculous... but so is the idea that Pay Pal wouldn't help AbiWord with such info...

    --
    Libertarianism is rich wolves and poor sheep playing gambler's ruin for dinner.
    1. Re:The Perpetrators by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It is not ridiculous until PayPal provides documentable protection against it. Until then, this explanation is not only possible, it is also the most probable.

      Don't these people keep any log files? Are they crazy? Or are they hiding an internal problem that might not be limited to this one case?

    2. Re:The Perpetrators by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And of course, maybe there was no problem at all. Maybe someone at Abiword decided they wanted a new digital camera, and knew with all the bad paypal sentiment they could get slashdot zealots to bully paypal into giving up.

  26. Microsoft Ads by Neologic · · Score: 2, Insightful
    Reminds me of the old saying, "There's no such thing as bad publicity".

    Makes you wonder, why pay for commercials during prime time news, when you can be the news for so much cheaper?

    --

    "I hate quotations. Tell me what you know." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

    1. Re:Microsoft Ads by dextr0us · · Score: 1

      Acutally, its kind of scary to note that (IAITVI) video news releases (or VNR for short) are mailed in (or satalite fed) by the dozens to us news outlets. Its the broadcast equivalant of press releases, and often times we'll run their stories. They make them so easy to broadcast, and we need to fill space, that we're happy to do a little free "advertising" for them. Next time you see something about monopoly, jell-o, or something from the highway safety institute (for insurance, they always leave that part off) think video news release, and hand fed to most of the broadcasters.

      --
      "Martha Stewart can lick my Scrotum......do i have a scrotum?" -- Sharon Osbourne
  27. Is it just me??? by eclectro · · Score: 4, Funny


    The idea of a grown man in a butterfly suit quite frankly scares me.

    --
    Take the cheese to sickbay, the doctor should see it as soon as possible - B'Elanna Torres, "Learning Curve"
    1. Re:Is it just me??? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Todd Anderson is a great guy ... but he does look frightening ...

    2. Re:Is it just me??? by IIRCAFAIKIANAL · · Score: 4, Funny

      I'm more afraid of the big dude in the blue suit myself.

      --
      Robots are everywhere, and they eat old people's medicine for fuel.
    3. Re:Is it just me??? by gooser23 · · Score: 1

      Then is it any wonder why 'The Tick' was doomed for failure?

      Well... I suppose technically Arthur was dressed as a moth, but that's damned close enough for me.

      --
      "Dying tickles!" -- Ralph Wiggum
    4. Re:Is it just me??? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Anyone remember "The Tick"? Doesn't that butterfly bozo remind you of Arthur?

    5. Re:Is it just me??? by WhiteKnight07 · · Score: 2, Funny

      As opposed to a grown man in a penguin suit?

      --


      We're going to make information free Mr. Anderson, whether you like it, or not.
    6. Re:Is it just me??? by Bob+McCown · · Score: 1

      As opposed to a grown man in a Peter Pan costume?

    7. Re:Is it just me??? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Jeez - that's scary.

      But it reminds me on one of the funniest bits I've ever seen on TV - an SCTV sketch where John Candy played 'Divine' in the lead role of a production of 'Peter Pan' at the Melonville War Memorial Auditorium.

      That was scary, too.

    8. Re:Is it just me??? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      funny and SCTV in the same sentence??? damn you must be a troll.

    9. Re:Is it just me??? by Cyno01 · · Score: 2

      Wait, he wasn't a rabbit?

      --
      "Sic Semper Tyrannosaurus Rex."
    10. Re:Is it just me??? by Alsee · · Score: 2

      Did you ever have that nightmare where you're in a long hallway, in one direction there's a clown walking towards you, and from there other direction there's a guy in a butterfly suit walking towards you, and you're stuck in the middle screaming in terror?

      Ooooo, that's a bad one. Just talking about it makes me break out in a cold sweat.

      -

      --
      - - You can't take something off the Internet! That's like trying to take pee out of a swimming pool.
    11. Re:Is it just me??? by gooser23 · · Score: 1

      Um... no. Taking the 3 seconds to type '"the tick"' into my google bar produces this website... taking the 3 more seconds to click on that link, then on Arthur's picture, then 3 more seconds to read to breif bio reveals that Arthur indeed is a moth, and not a rabbit, or rather a bunny as the site states.

      --
      "Dying tickles!" -- Ralph Wiggum
    12. Re:Is it just me??? by Cyno01 · · Score: 1

      jeez, it was a joke, in the comics and the shows everyone thinks he's a bunny man when his wings are retracted, it was kind of a running gag, i think you'd better pull your sense of humor out of your arse

      --
      "Sic Semper Tyrannosaurus Rex."
  28. Good for AbiWord, but... by rob-fu · · Score: 5, Insightful

    what about the countless other people that haven't resolved problems with Paypal? It seems the only way to get a response from them is to have someone post a story on Slashdot so they'll buckle under the pressure :)

    1. Re:Good for AbiWord, but... by cybrthng · · Score: 2

      Paypal is now owned by Ebay.

      Ebay wants to keep people happy.

      I could care less about AbiWord tipjar. Other places with 1000x the amount of funds abiword ever saw do just fine.

      I'm sure Trillians tip jar was larger then abiword's by 100 fold, yet they didn't have problems!

    2. Re:Good for AbiWord, but... by ahaning · · Score: 1

      I could care less about AbiWord tipjar.

      You could? Good. Please do so.

      Perhaps you mean you couldn't care less.

      --
      Withdrawal before climax is very ineffective and those who try this are usually called "parents."
    3. Re:Good for AbiWord, but... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      heh of course they didn't have problems because:

      a) Trillian is at top 20 (even sometimes top 5) of download.com

      b) Everyone,including clueless people like you know it, it would get 1000x press coverage

  29. IBM Linux Peace Ads? by Dionysus · · Score: 3, Insightful

    How is what Microsoft did in NY different from what IBM did in SF?

    --
    Je ne parle pas francais.
    1. Re:IBM Linux Peace Ads? by ivan256 · · Score: 2

      Wasn't the stuff IBM used supposed to wash off with rain? That's a big difference compared to cleaning up plastic butterflys that probably would have been found along streets for years.

    2. Re:IBM Linux Peace Ads? by EvilStein · · Score: 2

      It didn't wash off. Some people used paint in places.

      I believe IBM had to pay quite a large sum for cleanup..

    3. Re:IBM Linux Peace Ads? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well shit man, it's apples and oranges. The issue isn't the law or whether or not city property was ruined, it's about Microsoft and them attempting to do something we don't like. Most people on here would let IBM tattoo tux on to their newborn children.

    4. Re:IBM Linux Peace Ads? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Silly, because everyone in San Francisco is gay. The most likely reason, though, SF citizens are a bunch of hippies and don't tolerate vandalism to the point that New Yorkers do. Seriously, when you go out into the street and smell the bitter aroma of human urine, you can deal with some little butterfly stickers.

    5. Re:IBM Linux Peace Ads? by MushMouth · · Score: 2

      Considering there is still an IBM ad on the sidewalk on the north side of California between Fillmore and Webster. The stuff doesn't wash off in the rain.

    6. Re:IBM Linux Peace Ads? by ivan256 · · Score: 3, Informative

      It didn't wash off. Some people used paint in places.

      Still, it was intended to wash off.

      From CNN:

      "The signs are made from biodegradable chalk, she added, and can be removed easily.

      "It washes right off, so it will be removed the next time it rains."

      It rained in San Francisco Wednesday evening, but the penguins were still there Thursday morning, smiling broadly."

    7. Re:IBM Linux Peace Ads? by mobets · · Score: 1

      And that's exactly why they should have gotten a larger fine than IBM.

      --

      It was me, I did it, I moved your cheese
    8. Re:IBM Linux Peace Ads? by spitzak · · Score: 2

      It's exactly the same.

    9. Re:IBM Linux Peace Ads? by cookd · · Score: 1

      I kinda thought it was stupid, myself. But two differences between IBM's actions and MS's come to mind:

      It appears to be a lot easier to clean up MS's plastic stickers (grab, stuff into trash bag, rinse, repeat) than to clean up drawings (wash, scrub -- some of the pictures are still there).

      Second, I heard a rumor (unconfirmed) that MS had actually asked for and been granted a permit, but that it turned out to be invalid (the department issuing the permit didn't actually have authority to do so).

      --
      Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
  30. Am I the only one that watches CNN? by Anonvmous+Coward · · Score: 2

    "On a side note, most other companies probably would have been fined per ad, though somehow MS got off, pretty much scot-free."

    They admitted wrong, publically apologized, and cleaned up their mess. That's how they got off 'scot-free'.

    1. Re:Am I the only one that watches CNN? by chriso11 · · Score: 2

      Yeah - there's a lot of times where admitting you were wrong, publically apologizing, and cleaning up your mess is all that is needed. Propose that to the cop when you get pulled over...

      --
      No, I don't trust in god. He'll have to pay up front, like everybody else.
    2. Re:Am I the only one that watches CNN? by mrseigen · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Pretty much scot free is about $50, apparently.

      Yes, I know Microsoft's butterfly decals are not much different than IBM's Linux campaign, but let's think for a bit here. The stickers that Microsoft used were rather slick on the top, I hear, and putting them on the curbs and sidewalks is like an invitation for hip-breaking.

    3. Re:Am I the only one that watches CNN? by Anonvmous+Coward · · Score: 2

      "Yeah - there's a lot of times where admitting you were wrong, publically apologizing, and cleaning up your mess is all that is needed. Propose that to the cop when you get pulled over..."

      I have. I was pulled over once at 2am in the morning going 40 in a 25. The rest of the road was 40 mph, but this was next to a school. However, at 2am in the morning on a Saturday (Sunday?) there was no children. What I did was illegal, but for all intents and purposes it was harmless.

      When the officer asked for my license I handed it to him and said "I'm sorry, I was going way too fast." That was it. I didn't even get a written warning. I imagine the officer was happy that I didn't try to give him a BS excuse to rationalize doing something illegal.

    4. Re:Am I the only one that watches CNN? by Anonvmous+Coward · · Score: 2

      "The stickers that Microsoft used were rather slick on the top, I hear, and putting them on the curbs and sidewalks is like an invitation for hip-breaking."

      No doubt about that. And if they did break somebody's hip you know MS'd be in rather big trouble.

      Question: Weren't the 'stickers' more like mouse pads? They didn't really stick so much as they just didn't move very easily? Weren't they really easy to pick up?

      Unfortunately, it was hard to tell that from TV. It didn't look like clean-up would have been a big deal as long as MS did it themseles instead of having the city waste taxpayer money to do it.

      I do suspect, though, that there might have been concern over whether or not MS would retaliate. Imagine what an MS audit would bring up...

    5. Re:Am I the only one that watches CNN? by G-funk · · Score: 1

      US School zones are 24 hours? Wow, that's alien and strange to me... They're (8|7)-4 in most parts of australia, and 7-9am, and 3-4pm in QLD..

      --
      Send lawyers, guns, and money!
    6. Re:Am I the only one that watches CNN? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yes

      CNN is more commical than informative, I am not sure if their international reporters even know where they are

    7. Re:Am I the only one that watches CNN? by Anonvmous+Coward · · Score: 2

      "US School zones are 24 hours? Wow, that's alien and strange to me... "

      I dunno. I just know the section of road I was on was a 25 mph zone and it was next to a school. I wouldn't base all of America on my detail lacking post.

    8. Re:Am I the only one that watches CNN? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They're not 24 hours here, really. That's probably why the cop let him off without even a written warning. Besides, saying "I'm sorry, I was going way too fast," is a bullshit excuse, and it just pisses cops off. You're not sorry you were going too fast, you're sorry you got caught.

  31. Fine MS per square meter and per pedestrian! by ittanmomen · · Score: 5, Funny

    How about giving M$ a taste of their own medicine? NT users have to pay per server and per license fee, so why not charge charge M$ per square meter and per pedestrian that walked by at the time?

  32. Update text mistake by antiher0 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Update: 10/31 00:09 GMT by T: Oops, doubled news of AbiWord / Paypal situation update has been halved; apologies. Those responsible have been sacked.

    Thank you.

    1. Re:Update text mistake by mh101 · · Score: 2, Funny

      We apologise for the duplicate "This is a duplicate" comments. Those responsible for sacking the people who have just been sacked, have been sacked.

      --
      Duct tape is like the Force. It has a light side, a dark side, and it holds the universe together.
  33. Re:In story dupe by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    hmm. where's the asshat guy when we need him? guess I'll have to do say it:

    You sir, are an asshat.

  34. In other news... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Dare I say "In today's top stories, /. has finally started posting double news for every news submitted to them. ..."

    and then "In other news, /. has finally started posting double news for every news submitted to them."

  35. A first: duplicate discussion messages! by claud9999 · · Score: 2, Funny

    #define SARCASM biting
    Boy, I've seen duplicate stories on /. but never duplicate inane discussion messages!

    What next, duplicate discussions of duplicate discussions?!? Quick, call CNN, they're sure to not give a crap.
    #undef SARCASM

  36. di$ney already traitors by yerricde · · Score: 2, Offtopic

    Walt Disney Company was the biggest corporate backer of the Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act (both the EU and the USA versions) and one of the biggest voices in favor of the DMCA, next to Time Warner. See also Influence Inc.

    Disney steals from the public domain and gives to its shareholders. Does this make Disney some sort of perverted Robin Hood?

    --
    Will I retire or break 10K?
  37. MSN is a part of Microsoft... by hackwrench · · Score: 2, Insightful

    so even if the logo does not represent Microsoft in its entirety, it it still Microsoft's and Microsoft still chose it. Care to explain where I'm wrong?

  38. Dino attacks still happen. by yerricde · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Now, let's discuss this rock I have that repels Dinosaurs - never been attacked ONCE since I started carrying it

    Dinosaurs were the prehistoric form of birds. If you've ever had your Porsche® automobile or other expensive motor vehicle shat on by a flock of pigeons, you have been attacked by the descendants of dinosaurs.

    --
    Will I retire or break 10K?
    1. Re:Dino attacks still happen. by young-earth · · Score: 1
      Dinosaurs were the prehistoric form of birds. If you've ever had your Porsche® automobile or other expensive motor vehicle shat on by a flock of pigeons [google.com], you have been attacked by the descendants of dinosaurs.
      Fraid not - Alan Feduccia, recognized the world over as a leading expert on bird biology, says the notion that birds are related to dinosaurs is absurd.

      See here and here for details
      --
      Got Wisdom?
    2. Re:Dino attacks still happen. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0


      That may be so, but providing a link to newscientist to back up your argument is only 1/2 step up from providing a link to the National Enquirer. (Both are probably a step below linking to goatse.cx.)

    3. Re:Dino attacks still happen. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yes, but this is likely true in the same way as "humans didn't evolve from apes" is technically true.

      Humans and apes evolved from a common ancestor. Dinosaurs and birds evolved from a common ancestor. Humans didn't evolve from apes, and birds didn't evolve from dinosaurs. To someone who really wants to be as technically correct as possible, it's a huge distinction. To laypeople, it's just semantics.

      Birds are still more closely related to dinosaurs than lizards, which is the whole point of the argument anyway!

    4. Re:Dino attacks still happen. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You're absolutely right, humans didn't evolve from apes. That's because they didn't evolve. Evolution is a sham, a shell game that is amazingly popular given its utter lack of scientific evidence.

      From dictionary.com, the definition of science: The observation, identification, description, experimental investigation, and theoretical explanation of phenomena (emphasis added)

      Tell me what repeatable experiment shows dinosaurs and birds evolving from a common ancestor, as you say happened? Perhaps you'll say it's the obvious inference from "evidence". But that inference is based on uniformatarian assumptions, which are unprovable.

      Evolution is a faith-based method of attributing the miracle of life to naturalism; it requires more faith to believe in Evolution than to believe in God. Hence Evolution is a religion; why are my tax dollars used to force a religion on students?

  39. Three big companies, three... by merriam · · Score: 5, Insightful

    ... unsatisfying resolutions.

    Paypal will resolve a problem with a prominent customer after a big fuss has been made about it. Otherwise, of course, no change.

    Epson makes the smallest possible change to a license (not to forbid reverse engineering), so as to use an LGPLed library legally. It looks like Epson tried it on; it didn't work out, but it was worth a try.

    Microsoft was almost certain to gain more by the stunt than it would lose in fines. $50 per "decal" would have been cheap, but it wasn't even fined that much.

    1. Re:Three big companies, three... by mgblst · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Microsoft was almost certain to gain more by the stunt than it would lose in fines. $50 per "decal" would have been cheap, but it wasn't even fined that much.

      To be honest, no matter how we see the situation, the fines are not meant to ensure that Microsoft pays more than it gained, but to gain some assurance that this does not happen again. I guess that this was covered by the two correspondents.

    2. Re:Three big companies, three... by clueless_penguin · · Score: 1
      Epson makes the smallest possible change to a license (not to forbid reverse engineering), so as to use an LGPLed library legally. It looks like Epson tried it on; it didn't work out, but it was worth a try.


      Except that Epson has consistently provided a high level of support to Linux driver projects for several years. They even provide some hardware loaners for testing new products. I'm inclined to give them the benefit of the doubt. Disclaimer: I have no connection whatsoever with Epson, other than as a satisfied customer for both scanners and printers

      --
      Use the spatula, Luke
    3. Re:Three big companies, three... by /dev/trash · · Score: 1

      How is a non-profit a 'customer?'

    4. Re:Three big companies, three... by DanCo · · Score: 1

      Good, but if MS makes more from the campaign than they lose in fines, how is that assurance that they won't do it again?

      --
      It's not my fault - greatness was thrust upon me.
    5. Re:Three big companies, three... by Call+Me+Black+Cloud · · Score: 2

      "Paypal will resolve a problem with a prominent customer..."

      "Prominent" customer? I hardly think the tip jar for the guy giving away a homebrewed word processor qualifies as "prominent". So, do you know how the money was taken? How do you know it was Paypal's fault?

    6. Re:Three big companies, three... by TheMidget · · Score: 1
      Good, but if MS makes more from the campaign than they lose in fines, how is that assurance that they won't do it again?

      Because the next time, the fine might be much larger (repeat offender?). At least, I dear to hope so...

  40. Arthur by DustMagnet · · Score: 2

    When I first saw these ads online, I thought, "That's what Arthur looks like in color." Arthur is the sidekick of The Tick. Arthur dresses up in white, but otherwise it's an almost prefect match (he's even kind of nerdy). I wont try to explain why the show is so much fun to watch.

    --
    'SBEMAIL!' is better than a goat!!
  41. Whats the exchange rate? M$ 50 by Catskul · · Score: 2

    ...MS $50.00....

    Does Microsoft have is own currency now ?... Well i guess it makes sense : )

    --

    Im not here now... Im out KILLING pepperoni
  42. Injunction is much less severe than prison by yerricde · · Score: 3, Insightful

    You can [imprison a corporation], its called an injunction. It freezes them from acting

    No. An injunction bans one from doing one particular thing. Prison bans one from doing just about anything. The closest thing to prison for a corporation would probably be suspension of the company's operations for several months.

    --
    Will I retire or break 10K?
    1. Re:Injunction is much less severe than prison by Evil+Adrian · · Score: 1

      Has this ever happened? I mean, I can see why it wouldn't happen as often as imprisonment of one person (stopping a corporation could presumably put innocent people out of work.)

      --
      evil adrian
  43. That's what hapens when people post by hackwrench · · Score: 1

    something that someone else is likely to have caught, without viewing at levels 2, 1, or perhaps 0, to see that someone else, who can only post at one of those levels, might have already posted on it.

  44. Re:Back to "good" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    I do believe that Timothy is, in fact, the worst goddamn /. editor ever. Can this guy not pick something decent?

    I realize this will be doomed to the -1, flamebait hell about .2 seconds after I post it, but jesus....

    It's possible to have an editor pick a story that doesnt suck, but I don't think ol' Timmy has read up to that chapter in the /. documentation.

    No hard feelings sport, but check the /usr/local/doc directory sometime, see if you can find the ./clue file.

  45. a symbol of good luck and high score by yerricde · · Score: 1, Informative

    Do as you wish. The swastika isn't the exclusive trademark of the National Socialist parties but rather a positive symbol of nature and humanity. It's also one of the 4x4 square scoring combinations in The New Tetris.

    ,_ _____
    | | .___|
    | |_|_. |
    |___| | |
    |_____|_|
    --
    Will I retire or break 10K?
    1. Re:a symbol of good luck and high score by Cyno01 · · Score: 2

      a swastica thats straight up and down is a symbol of peace and love and stuff, but a nazi swastika is tilted, still people confuse this, its amazing that such a simple symbol has such negative connotations

      --
      "Sic Semper Tyrannosaurus Rex."
    2. Re:a symbol of good luck and high score by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

      Doesn't it need to be reversed as well? (i.e. clockwise "spikes" = bad, counterclockwise = good)

    3. Re:a symbol of good luck and high score by mwood · · Score: 1

      "Doesn't it need to be reversed as well?"

      See _Sun Cross_ by Barbara Hambly, IIRC. (Also a good read.)

  46. Microsoft's competitor Nintendo by yerricde · · Score: 2, Offtopic

    And Microsoft had to pay $50 and clean up the garbage?

    Now Microsoft has to act out the role of the hero of a competing console company's title, Super Mario Sunshine!

    --
    Will I retire or break 10K?
  47. FDIC Doesn't insure money by cybrthng · · Score: 3, Informative

    The FDIC insures you against loss of money due to the bank. The FDIC doesn't insure your money if it is stolen from you pocket, it doesn't insure the money if it is Stolen from you by checks or by debit card.

    Nothing insures you from theft unless explicitly stated. Visa states that you are insured for all purchases through VISA and ONLY VISA. Has *NOTHING* to do with FDIC insurance.

    FDIC insures that if the bank is fraudulent, goes out of business or gets blown up that you get your money back up to the $100,000.00 insured.

    Now if your dumb ass leaves a blank check or a debit card * pin number laying around FDIC isn't going to protect you from squat and it WOULD BE THE BANKS DISCRETION TO PAY YOU IF ANYTHING AT ALL.

  48. refund or donation? by fermion · · Score: 2, Interesting

    So, did ebay make this reimbursement as a donation or refund? In other words, did they admit guilt, or make a tax deductable gifte?

    --
    "She's a scientist and a lesbian. She's not going to let it slide." Orphan Black
  49. That's great, but... by Istealmymusic · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    ...who can moderate this post down (or up, whichever you prefer) the quickest? Moderators, start your engines!

    --
    "The lesson to be learned is not to take the comments on slashdot too literally." --Vinnie Falco, BearShare
  50. PayPal et AbiWord by ackthpt · · Score: 1
    I removed my bank information from PayPal after reading the original post, and went to some effort to contact PayPal with my concerns about account protection, etc.

    Considering I've received a number of automated or canned responses, I'm not sure I want to return my bank information to their care. Credit cards offer good enough protection and they collect fees for the use of them. I'm puzzled why there's a spending limit, other than as some sort of blackmail to get my banking information. Maybe I'll set up a token checking account somewhere with $10 in it and use that, since the one with my paycheck deposited in it has to cover a lot of ground and I can't affored 23+ days haggling over getting stolen money returned.

    --

    A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
  51. Innovate by bstadil · · Score: 2

    I am just grateful they didn't use the Right to innovate defense.

    --
    Help fight continental drift.
  52. Just a quick note by Salubri · · Score: 3, Funny

    I feel this sudden urge to make a joke about performing illegal operations and Microsoft, but after a while you just start to wait expectantly for the legal ones. So, once again, Microsoft has performed an illegal operation and will not be shut down. Look on the bright side of this one though. This one is actually minorly entertaining from the stupidity factor. You sit back and wonder about a few things. 1.) Which ececutive woke up one morning and said "I know what we can do to drum up buisness! Lets annoy and confuse people by having a bunch of people in butterfly costumes litter a section of a major metropolis! Customers will be SO impressed with our superior marketing that they'll switch ISP's in the DROVES!!!" 2.) How much it costs to get someone to throw dignity out the window and skate through NYC in a brightly colored butterfly costume. 3.) How they were able to find so MANY people willing to skate through NYC in a brightly colored butterfly costume. 4.) How hard did the judge laugh/cry while in his chambers that with all the dealings with Microsoft in court, he had to deal with this part, as opposed to something possibly weighty and constructive like the antitrust dealings. and finally... 5.) We know they paid the $50.00 fine and cleaned it up, but how much was it to buy the dignities of all the skaters, pay for the actual cellophane ads, buy/rent the butterfly costumes, and pay for the lawyers time in the courtroom that bought them such a low fine. When you think about ALL that, it was a little more expensive for their little ad campaign. Was it still cheaper than a TV ad? Probably. But still, I'm actually curious as to the $$ ammount M$ pays people for a slice of dignity and a few minutes ot time on skates...

    --
    ----- I want my LART.
  53. Hurray for Abiword! ^_^ by vga_init · · Score: 1

    I'm glad to see that they got thier money back after all. I do use Abiword, and it really is one of the best free word processors, and in my opinion almost as good as OpenOffice.org, even though Abiword wins hands down when it comes to speed (as it is much smaller). Of course, the windows version of Abiword has quite a few bugs (x.x), preventing me from using it and windows at the same time, but under most unix platforms it works great.

  54. Misses the point.... by coyote-san · · Score: 2

    That claim misses the point. The countless complaints about PayPal aren't due to claims that it was insolvant, but because it was transferring funds without the owner's consent and then dragging its feet in resolving the complaint.

    Here's a hint: with very little information anyone can create false documents to access my checking account. It is trivial for anyone who had legitimate access to one of my checks. They'll probably even manage to get them cashed. But the back cannot refuse to acknowledge my complaint of criminal fraud, and I'll probably get my money back immediately if the signatures don't match at all, etc.

    --
    For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong. -- H L Mencken
  55. Too bad PayPal isn't nice to everyone... by ChrisKnight · · Score: 2

    A few weeks ago I had $15 removed from my account, without notice. PayPal claims they sent me to chargeback warnings via email, but my mail server logs showed no such emails.

    The amount was a donation to an educational site that I run, but the credit chargeback was because I 'failed to deliver merchandise'. How I failed to deliver on a donation is beyond me.

    Unfortunatly, PayPal won't give me time of day over the issue. It is a shame that I would have to be an open source project, and rally the slashdot masses, in order to have a chance at reasonable customer support.

    -Chris

    --
    -- This sig is only a test. If this were a real sig it would say something witty. --
  56. $50? by alpha_primate · · Score: 1

    I dunno about NY but in LA and Seattle my parking and traffic fines have been more than that, and I cannot afford to pay them. Worse off they are going to take away my right to register.

  57. Re:I'm used to double-posting of slashdot articles by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Hey idiot moderators - FU. Take a look at the message that appears before mine that makes it "redundant". It came in a minute before mine. It wasn't there when I posted, and it squeaked in before mine did. Else I wouldn't have posted. So that guy gets a 5 (Funny) and I get a -1 (Redundant). You have all earned a -1 (Clueless). Have a nice day.

  58. OSR by Cyno01 · · Score: 2

    is this like my rock that keeps away tigers?

    --
    "Sic Semper Tyrannosaurus Rex."
  59. Polical Contributions by arcturus21 · · Score: 1


    I assure you that IBM makes loads of political contributions too. Everyone does it. I guess Microsoft does it better. Maybe they don't make the greatest software, but apparently they hire good lobbyists.

  60. Payment systems aren't supposed to look like banks by billstewart · · Score: 2
    PayPal is not a bank - it's a payment system. Some people comment that it looks like a bank, quacks like a bank, and has a bank attached to the back end somewhere, but they're missing the point - the important issues in banking regulation systems are to make sure that the bank doesn't rip you off, and handles your money in a stable non-risky fashion, unlike a stockbroker account, where the investments are inherently recognized to be risky, but where there are still regulations to discourage the stockbroker from ripping you off.

    A payment system is different from a bank or an investment broker - its main job is to move money around, not store it except temporarily, so unlike a bank, if your money earns interest that's pure gravy, and unlike a stockbroker, if your money loses value other than the documented fees, that's highly unexpected, but in all three cases, they've got basic fiduciary responsibility to not rip you off, and to not give your money to other people without permission. It's *your* money, not theirs.

    Regulation may discourage this, and money-handling services benefit very strongly from trusted independent regulators and auditors, because that makes customers more willing to deal with them (and if they didn't have regulators bullying them around for free or insuring them for a subsidized price, they'd go out and buy equivalent services themselves), but fundamentally anybody who doesn't run their business competently will find Darwin kicking them out of the gene pool whether there are regulators helping them or not.

    --

    Bill Stewart
    New Fast-Compression-only CPR http://preview.tinyurl.com/dy575ks
  61. But they had PERMITS!!! by bobv-pillars-net · · Score: 3, Insightful

    All you Microsoft-bashers crying about Microsoft getting off "scott-free" should read the article again. They had PERMITS for crying out loud! And the city didn't argue the fact that they had permits, only that the permits were improperly issued. Sounds to me like the CITY made the mistake, and Microsoft shouldn't have been fined at all!


    Of course, I'm certainly no Microsoft-lover, but c'mon guys, be honest. If there's ONE thing that Microsoft has consistently done WELL, it's gotta be marketing. We geeks could learn something from them.

    --
    The Web is like Usenet, but
    the elephants are untrained.
  62. NO THEY DID NOT by renard · · Score: 2
    Sorry, but the parent post's (+3 insightful) claim is unsupported by any source except a single MS executive (cited in the NYT story) who, when asked what the issuing agency was for those "permits", conferred with her ad agency team and after due consideration refused to say.

    All fact-checking aside, it defies belief that any NYC agency has the power or the inclination to issue permits for the plastering of decals over public subway signs, private building facades, and public sidewalks.

    -renard

  63. Not really by einhverfr · · Score: 1

    Admittedly off topic but--

    When we say "Dinosaurs" we are talking about a vast number of types of animals. Everything from the Tyranosaur to the Mosasaur. Needless to say these animals have one thing in common-- they are very very old. The fact that each era consisted of contemporaries is about the only thnk you can say as far as sweeping generalizations.

    Dinosaurs can be roughly classified by their hip-bones-- many species have hip bones similar to birds and others have hip-bones similar to lizards. Also the internal bone structure also varies depending on the species as well. Also it is widely accepted that archyopterix is probably the missing link between the birds and bird-hipped dinosaurs. This is because that dinsosaur had feathers.

    Of course bearing in mind the general lack of obvious information, I think it is pretty likey that many dinosaurs were basically big alligators, lizards, and the like, and others wre basically big proto-birds.*

    *Not affiliated with the character from Seseme Street...

    --

    LedgerSMB: Open source Accounting/ERP
  64. Last Post! by alpg · · Score: 1

    "Uncle Cosmo ... why do they call this a word processor?"
    "It's simple, Skyler ... you've seen what food processors do to food,
    right?"
    -- MacNelley, "Shoe"

    - this post brought to you by the Automated Last Post Generator...