...here *HAS* to be some lawyer out there who's good enough...
Of course there is... the questions isn't is there one, it's who will pay to purchase their super-hero legal services that's the problem. Verizon has super-hero lawyers on retainer -- the general public doesn't have deep enough pockets and those who do shouldn't be expected to spend vast amounts of private wealth being a societal-savior to a public whom refuses to educate themselves and is more interested in shiny than intelligent.
While supporters of traditional marriage use legal and ethical means to promote their agenda, supporters of gay marriage use illegal and unethical means the moment it appears that doing it the legal way isn't winning support...
First, I'm not going to debate the merits of either side of the debate. Belief what you will, however...
If you think for even a moment that supporters of traditional marriage don't break the law and use intimidation your global perspective on this issue is completely fucked. People on both sides are equally guilty of doing awful things to other people. Religious folk (of just about every faith) have centuries of persecution and hateful violence towards non-believers. If you're going to stand up on either side of this debate and call people out to disagree with you directly the least you can do is acknowledge that there are egreious faults on both sides.
Pointing the finger at either side while maintaining the other is innocent of similar violations is outright ignorant hypocrisy.
Not sure where you live, what phone or network you use, but I have an iPhone in Seattle on AT&T's network and, besides for a few dropped calls now and then, the voice quality and connectivity are outstanding. In fact, I hear more Verizon users quoting their providers' famous, "can you hear me now" phrase far more than anyone else... lol.
However if the Iranian government's past rhetoric wasn't full of talk about annihilation of another country I might be more sympathetic to that perspective. I'm not an Israel fanboi, but denying the holocaust and claiming you'll 'wipe them off the map' is grounds for the international community to lay the law down hard. Isral and Palastine aren't worth the deaths of millions no matter how you slice it.
India and Pakistan, as governments go, never had that kind violent, dooms-day rhetoric against anyone but each other. They would be in the same boat with Iran if they had.
Any country who's leaders publicly and openly threaten another nation with annihilation have no business with weapons that are capable of human extinction until they prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that such a belief is no longer prevalent.
If Iran wants to be part of the global community they need to play the global game in a more constructive way.
You can't see how someone calling out racism over a clearly non-racist marketing decision is a hypocrite?
Tell me, for sake of argument, if an ethnic minority gets angry at you because you made eye-contact, and he claims your racist because of it - even though you just happened to look at him - who's the racist (this has actually happened to me)? The one accused or the one who can't help but see it everywhere; even when it is imagined?
...the woman is -- at the very least -- a sexual predator.
That's an ignorant statement of reality if I've ever heard one. Please bother to understand the definitions of your terms: sexual predator. There was no motive to seek out a sexual partner in this case. Motive was to humiliate. Period.
...intent to cause serious detriment...deserves everything she gets coming...
There you go. Leave it at that.
...she clearly contributed to this girl killing herself...
Bullshit. Sure, she was nasty, verbally abusive, etc. But she certainly didn't kill this girl - the girl killed herself. Sorry but suicide is a single-handed act by the individual. This woman contributed nothing but words. She did not tie the rope or provide a stool or even so much as be present in the room or vicinity. Yes, this woman deserves plenty in respect to her verbal treatment of another. Yes, she is obviously an awful person with a hateful mentality. But simple reality is that she did not cross a life/death line - she spat nasty words. That is not a crime in itself. And you should thank those who clearly have more reason than yourself for not allowing it to carry on to that level or we would all suffer a loss of liberty over a single individual's foul mouth.
All outcomes in this are miserable, in some way.
Of course they are. Someone is dead. However any person so mentally distressed to take their own life over written words from someone they have never met nor spoken to clearly demands its own responsibility. Let us not forget the real tragedy in this and become yet another brainless mob, slave to emotional outrage, without thought or consideration of the realities of life or the facts in this particular situation. Burning witches at the stake is a backwards mentality.
There's nothing surprising about this at all. It costs far more to hire new models, photographer(s), etc. and find/rent suitable space than it does to pay a single designer a few hours of Photoshop time. Obviously budget mattered over appearance in this case; otherwise they would have bothered.
Additionally, a marketing decision such as this is made to better relate to a target audience. What's surprising about that? People relate to things they know. I'm not an expert on Poland but I'll give the benefit of the doubt that the new image visually speaks better to the core audience.
I know the parent didn't call this out specifically however, for those out there calling this kind of decision raciest, it's more raciest to make such a statement than the act itself IMHO. People buy what they are comfortable with and that includes culture. Skin color is a part of culture. This was a marketing decision. Get over it.
IT geeks, in general, need to stop being the same whiny nerds they were in high school and learn to better assert themselves. No wonder we don't have a union. If people didn't put up with management bullying it wouldn't be a chronic problem. What's that? You might lose your job? Then its not a big enough pain in your ass. Figure it out! Pay attention to the doors that are likely open all around you.
I got fed up and started my own company because I was tired of getting zero respect or appropriate compensation for the hard work I performed. Sure, it was scary as hell to step into that abyss for the first time -- especially when I have a mortgage and family. But I did it. I figured it out. Half the business owners, CEO's, Executives I've met in my life are utter morons. If they can get to where they are, I sure as hell can run a business. Now, I work just as hard but make more money and when I decide I need a vacation, I take one.
Not only do my clients respect my professional opinion but the same folks who used to bitch now politely ask, accept and pay more per hour. It's funny how people will actually pay more for the same service if they perceive greater value -- especially when it's the exact same thing they used to do in-house.
Those of you being bullied by your bosses: stand up, put up or friggin' shut up. Get some balls, use your brains (you wouldn't be in a technical position if you weren't capable or thinking through a problem), and make life what you want out of it. You're a geek. You're smarter (or at least fake it pretty good) than the average white-collar desk jockey.
I'm so sick of people in my industry complaining about being walked on; life isn't about doing what you're told and those who mindlessly follow the single-file line off a cliff deserve whatever awaits them at the bottom.
Just my 2 cents; take it or leave it. Either way I don't bitch about my job sucking balls anymore *snort!*
Anyone left wondering why our tax dollars are funding ANY car company not showing considerable focus on sustainable tech? Tesla I get - the other two don't deserve a penny.
Chevy Volt...40/100 miles on a single charge...promising an electric vehicle by 2011...
Please. The big 3 are useless and should have been allowed to die (thanks for continuing to waste my taxes gov). Tesla has had cars for purchase for a couple years now. Granted they're slow off the line at the moment, but at least they're not simply a paper-concept with crap specs and have created some kind of decent (and available) standard to strive for: Tesla Motors
Those who have aggressively pushed the issue of the dangerous Internet, such as Connecticut's attorney general Richard Blumenthal, are less than happy with the report.
hrm... is Richard pissed that he was wrong about his stance or that our children aren't in imminent danger?
Even though in the end you may be right, the number of smart people out there that said the atom could never be split or that space-flight was impossible is staggering. Just remember, the only way to become a member of the Stupid-Smart-People-Club is to proclaim that something is impossible.
I would suggest remembering that without people who attempt to make the impossible possible we wouldn't have ever found the America's, let alone enjoy the industrial and technological wonders we take for granted every day of our lives.
Moral of the story: don't be a Science Scrooge and enjoy the possibilities which may or may not become reality rather than farting in their general direction.
I am coming into the market for a new automobile. I have owned a 1999 Acura TL for the last 10 years and it's time to upgrade. I am just starting my search for a new luxury automobile and looking at what Lexus has to offer has been on my list.
I have watched targeted advertising creep into every facet of my life where given the chance. I absolutely HATE unsolicited advertisement. When I want a product I go looking for it. Perhaps 1% of what I buy in an entire year is the result of an advertisement for something I didn't know existed - and 99% of the time it was something I saw at a mall kiosk or on a billboard.
I do everything I can to rid my life of the advertisement pest: Adblock, Flashblock, DVR, No Land-line, Postal-mail filter, MUTE! MUTE! MUTE! And our homeowner association restricts solicitors so traveling salesmen don't piss me off by ringing my doorbell during dinner. My absolute first reaction to unsolicited advertisement is to boycott out of spite. I'm already inundated with ads EVERYWHERE I GO. I subscribe to specific catalogs, websites and magazines and am happy to look at those advertisements. If I didn't ask for it however, I don't want it and your company certainly isn't getting a penny out of my pocket. Yelling at me through the TV or printing things in bright red makes you LESS likely to sell to me.
Lexus just lost the option to see me in their show rooms. I will be crossing them off my list for even considering this invasion of privacy - if it's used it will eventually be abused. I don't consider this a LUXURY OPTION.
Now, before you go judging me for being sexist free your brain from preconceived objections and consider the following:
My experience since I've been married (to a strong women who rides the fence of 'I am woman... hear me roar') is that what they want, or at least her and many of her female friends, is equal opportunity. That absolutely does not translate into the desire to actually DO those things they traditionally have been barred from by their male counterparts.
For example: my wife has been a voice for equality since I've known her. She is upset in the often continued gap in pay between men and women who hold similar positions and, in the past, has been absolutely livid whenever it's suggested (jokingly) that she engage in 'woman's work' of any kind - e.g. go cook me dinner women! - funny, she actually enjoys cooking, and baking, just not when it's suggested that she should do so because she is female; touting that work is not gender-specific. However, there are quite a few things she really doesn't want to do such as: clean the litter box (ewww), install hard-wood flooring or other labor-intensive projects, learn about mechanics or software development, etc. She would much prefer to cook, clean and do the laundry - things which, as a guy, I really would rather not do.
My thought on this is simple. Women want the OPPORTUNITY to do the work without gender consideration but don't necessarily want to DO the work. Key phrase: without gender consideration.
There IS such thing as traditional woman's work - because women tend to prefer to do feminine things. They just don't want to put up with harassment when they decide to go a more masculine route.
There's two cents; the rest of the change is mine.
For all those whining about who got more coverage; here's a fact you'll just need to live with: The press is private business. Their JOB is to report interesting stories - NOT play 50/50 fairness coverage games with politics. Sorry, but Obama, from a journalistic perspecitive, is far more interesting than McCain - and if you have to ask why discussing it with you is pointless; go back to school.
This whole media-fairness bull is laughable; if you want fair, let's talk about getting rid of 527's first, then maybe this discussion would have some meaning.
Apparently many of those slow-learning non-techies out there also don't have a clue when it comes to the glaring fact that Apple has been broadcasting iPhone advertising like it's a new consumer product people might want - I can't say that I've seen ANY advertising of Google's new phone outside the occasional NYT article or similar.
Here's a hint slow-learners: advertising is what alerts people to new products. I'd bet that there isn't a single non-tech-savvy friend I have that is even aware that T-Mobile has a Google phone.
There's two cents - I'm keeping the rest of the change for myself.
Pessimism is exactly how we end up with the Bush's of the world. Pessimism is, in my view, much worse for the wellfare of our society than believing or rationalizing - at least the latter two see hope rather than despair which causes more change than 'woe-is-me' ever did.
The perfect candidate doesn't exist but if we bother to look at the history of elected presidents we can see that often even the most political or corrupt have done fantastic things for our nation historically. Democracy IS FULL of corruption (ahem, it's called politics); that's simply the nature of the beast - and those so-called candidate's for change are all just as political as the next guy.
The simple fact is that we as a society have to choose the candidates that speak to the broadest set of ideals - that means nobody's going to be happy because the viewpoints are far too vast and often completely in contrast.
I'm not saying anyone should be an Obama or McCain fanboi (whomever you're for is fine - that's what makes us free) or that you shouldn't feel like things aren't going to change enough - I'm just saying we should moderate pessimism because it doesn't do anybody any good. Our nation has been falling apart ever since the constitution was signed (try telling WW/Korean/Nam vets things are worse off right now) - yet somehow we've created one of (if not the) most powerful, free and best places to live on earth.
Hopefully, if the piracy rate for the game is low, perhaps EA will get comfortable enough to ship with even less DRM in the future.
Bull crap. Piracy is not the problem and DRM certainly is not the solution. I will not purchase any game forcing a DRM, spyware or limited installation (WTF - this is just stupid. F**K you EA) scheme; period. I really wanted Spore too... there is no way whatsoever I will be purchasing it now as long as it's infected with EA greed. That goes for C&C too.
Slashdot Mirror
...here *HAS* to be some lawyer out there who's good enough...
Of course there is... the questions isn't is there one, it's who will pay to purchase their super-hero legal services that's the problem. Verizon has super-hero lawyers on retainer -- the general public doesn't have deep enough pockets and those who do shouldn't be expected to spend vast amounts of private wealth being a societal-savior to a public whom refuses to educate themselves and is more interested in shiny than intelligent.
While supporters of traditional marriage use legal and ethical means to promote their agenda, supporters of gay marriage use illegal and unethical means the moment it appears that doing it the legal way isn't winning support...
First, I'm not going to debate the merits of either side of the debate. Belief what you will, however...
If you think for even a moment that supporters of traditional marriage don't break the law and use intimidation your global perspective on this issue is completely fucked. People on both sides are equally guilty of doing awful things to other people. Religious folk (of just about every faith) have centuries of persecution and hateful violence towards non-believers. If you're going to stand up on either side of this debate and call people out to disagree with you directly the least you can do is acknowledge that there are egreious faults on both sides.
Pointing the finger at either side while maintaining the other is innocent of similar violations is outright ignorant hypocrisy.
Not sure where you live, what phone or network you use, but I have an iPhone in Seattle on AT&T's network and, besides for a few dropped calls now and then, the voice quality and connectivity are outstanding. In fact, I hear more Verizon users quoting their providers' famous, "can you hear me now" phrase far more than anyone else... lol.
Perhaps.
However if the Iranian government's past rhetoric wasn't full of talk about annihilation of another country I might be more sympathetic to that perspective. I'm not an Israel fanboi, but denying the holocaust and claiming you'll 'wipe them off the map' is grounds for the international community to lay the law down hard. Isral and Palastine aren't worth the deaths of millions no matter how you slice it.
India and Pakistan, as governments go, never had that kind violent, dooms-day rhetoric against anyone but each other. They would be in the same boat with Iran if they had.
Any country who's leaders publicly and openly threaten another nation with annihilation have no business with weapons that are capable of human extinction until they prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that such a belief is no longer prevalent.
If Iran wants to be part of the global community they need to play the global game in a more constructive way.
I can see it now... a hoard of ear-plug-peddlers sprouting up at any major protest...
Fuck that and fuck you.
You can't see how someone calling out racism over a clearly non-racist marketing decision is a hypocrite?
Tell me, for sake of argument, if an ethnic minority gets angry at you because you made eye-contact, and he claims your racist because of it - even though you just happened to look at him - who's the racist (this has actually happened to me)? The one accused or the one who can't help but see it everywhere; even when it is imagined?
...the woman is -- at the very least -- a sexual predator.
...intent to cause serious detriment...deserves everything she gets coming...
...she clearly contributed to this girl killing herself...
That's an ignorant statement of reality if I've ever heard one. Please bother to understand the definitions of your terms: sexual predator. There was no motive to seek out a sexual partner in this case. Motive was to humiliate. Period.
There you go. Leave it at that.
Bullshit. Sure, she was nasty, verbally abusive, etc. But she certainly didn't kill this girl - the girl killed herself. Sorry but suicide is a single-handed act by the individual. This woman contributed nothing but words. She did not tie the rope or provide a stool or even so much as be present in the room or vicinity. Yes, this woman deserves plenty in respect to her verbal treatment of another. Yes, she is obviously an awful person with a hateful mentality. But simple reality is that she did not cross a life/death line - she spat nasty words. That is not a crime in itself. And you should thank those who clearly have more reason than yourself for not allowing it to carry on to that level or we would all suffer a loss of liberty over a single individual's foul mouth.
All outcomes in this are miserable, in some way.
Of course they are. Someone is dead. However any person so mentally distressed to take their own life over written words from someone they have never met nor spoken to clearly demands its own responsibility. Let us not forget the real tragedy in this and become yet another brainless mob, slave to emotional outrage, without thought or consideration of the realities of life or the facts in this particular situation. Burning witches at the stake is a backwards mentality.
Insightful!? Seriously?
There's nothing surprising about this at all. It costs far more to hire new models, photographer(s), etc. and find/rent suitable space than it does to pay a single designer a few hours of Photoshop time. Obviously budget mattered over appearance in this case; otherwise they would have bothered.
Additionally, a marketing decision such as this is made to better relate to a target audience. What's surprising about that? People relate to things they know. I'm not an expert on Poland but I'll give the benefit of the doubt that the new image visually speaks better to the core audience.
I know the parent didn't call this out specifically however, for those out there calling this kind of decision raciest, it's more raciest to make such a statement than the act itself IMHO. People buy what they are comfortable with and that includes culture. Skin color is a part of culture. This was a marketing decision. Get over it.
IT geeks, in general, need to stop being the same whiny nerds they were in high school and learn to better assert themselves. No wonder we don't have a union. If people didn't put up with management bullying it wouldn't be a chronic problem. What's that? You might lose your job? Then its not a big enough pain in your ass. Figure it out! Pay attention to the doors that are likely open all around you.
I got fed up and started my own company because I was tired of getting zero respect or appropriate compensation for the hard work I performed. Sure, it was scary as hell to step into that abyss for the first time -- especially when I have a mortgage and family. But I did it. I figured it out. Half the business owners, CEO's, Executives I've met in my life are utter morons. If they can get to where they are, I sure as hell can run a business. Now, I work just as hard but make more money and when I decide I need a vacation, I take one.
Not only do my clients respect my professional opinion but the same folks who used to bitch now politely ask, accept and pay more per hour. It's funny how people will actually pay more for the same service if they perceive greater value -- especially when it's the exact same thing they used to do in-house.
Those of you being bullied by your bosses: stand up, put up or friggin' shut up. Get some balls, use your brains (you wouldn't be in a technical position if you weren't capable or thinking through a problem), and make life what you want out of it. You're a geek. You're smarter (or at least fake it pretty good) than the average white-collar desk jockey.
I'm so sick of people in my industry complaining about being walked on; life isn't about doing what you're told and those who mindlessly follow the single-file line off a cliff deserve whatever awaits them at the bottom.
Just my 2 cents; take it or leave it. Either way I don't bitch about my job sucking balls anymore *snort!*
I can vouch for the site and newspaper's credibility
LOL. Well that's fantastic! So tell us oh creditable AC? Who shall now vouch for you?
Anyone left wondering why our tax dollars are funding ANY car company not showing considerable focus on sustainable tech? Tesla I get - the other two don't deserve a penny.
Everything is impossible until proven otherwise - don't they know better?
The God particle doesn't want to be found. The Lord works in mysterious ways.
Chevy Volt...40/100 miles on a single charge...promising an electric vehicle by 2011...
Please. The big 3 are useless and should have been allowed to die (thanks for continuing to waste my taxes gov). Tesla has had cars for purchase for a couple years now. Granted they're slow off the line at the moment, but at least they're not simply a paper-concept with crap specs and have created some kind of decent (and available) standard to strive for: Tesla Motors
Those who have aggressively pushed the issue of the dangerous Internet, such as Connecticut's attorney general Richard Blumenthal, are less than happy with the report.
hrm... is Richard pissed that he was wrong about his stance or that our children aren't in imminent danger?
Flying cars will NOT happen.
Even though in the end you may be right, the number of smart people out there that said the atom could never be split or that space-flight was impossible is staggering. Just remember, the only way to become a member of the Stupid-Smart-People-Club is to proclaim that something is impossible.
I would suggest remembering that without people who attempt to make the impossible possible we wouldn't have ever found the America's, let alone enjoy the industrial and technological wonders we take for granted every day of our lives.
Moral of the story: don't be a Science Scrooge and enjoy the possibilities which may or may not become reality rather than farting in their general direction.
Just food for thought.
I am coming into the market for a new automobile. I have owned a 1999 Acura TL for the last 10 years and it's time to upgrade. I am just starting my search for a new luxury automobile and looking at what Lexus has to offer has been on my list. I have watched targeted advertising creep into every facet of my life where given the chance. I absolutely HATE unsolicited advertisement. When I want a product I go looking for it. Perhaps 1% of what I buy in an entire year is the result of an advertisement for something I didn't know existed - and 99% of the time it was something I saw at a mall kiosk or on a billboard. I do everything I can to rid my life of the advertisement pest: Adblock, Flashblock, DVR, No Land-line, Postal-mail filter, MUTE! MUTE! MUTE! And our homeowner association restricts solicitors so traveling salesmen don't piss me off by ringing my doorbell during dinner. My absolute first reaction to unsolicited advertisement is to boycott out of spite. I'm already inundated with ads EVERYWHERE I GO. I subscribe to specific catalogs, websites and magazines and am happy to look at those advertisements. If I didn't ask for it however, I don't want it and your company certainly isn't getting a penny out of my pocket. Yelling at me through the TV or printing things in bright red makes you LESS likely to sell to me.
Lexus just lost the option to see me in their show rooms. I will be crossing them off my list for even considering this invasion of privacy - if it's used it will eventually be abused. I don't consider this a LUXURY OPTION.
Please. This is English! Not some other stupid language with multiple words which are spelled the same but pronounced differently.
"It does not have third party DRM."
Ahem... Steam IS third party DRM you dolt.
Now, before you go judging me for being sexist free your brain from preconceived objections and consider the following:
My experience since I've been married (to a strong women who rides the fence of 'I am woman... hear me roar') is that what they want, or at least her and many of her female friends, is equal opportunity. That absolutely does not translate into the desire to actually DO those things they traditionally have been barred from by their male counterparts.
For example: my wife has been a voice for equality since I've known her. She is upset in the often continued gap in pay between men and women who hold similar positions and, in the past, has been absolutely livid whenever it's suggested (jokingly) that she engage in 'woman's work' of any kind - e.g. go cook me dinner women! - funny, she actually enjoys cooking, and baking, just not when it's suggested that she should do so because she is female; touting that work is not gender-specific. However, there are quite a few things she really doesn't want to do such as: clean the litter box (ewww), install hard-wood flooring or other labor-intensive projects, learn about mechanics or software development, etc. She would much prefer to cook, clean and do the laundry - things which, as a guy, I really would rather not do.
My thought on this is simple. Women want the OPPORTUNITY to do the work without gender consideration but don't necessarily want to DO the work. Key phrase: without gender consideration.
There IS such thing as traditional woman's work - because women tend to prefer to do feminine things. They just don't want to put up with harassment when they decide to go a more masculine route.
There's two cents; the rest of the change is mine.
For all those whining about who got more coverage; here's a fact you'll just need to live with: The press is private business. Their JOB is to report interesting stories - NOT play 50/50 fairness coverage games with politics. Sorry, but Obama, from a journalistic perspecitive, is far more interesting than McCain - and if you have to ask why discussing it with you is pointless; go back to school.
This whole media-fairness bull is laughable; if you want fair, let's talk about getting rid of 527's first, then maybe this discussion would have some meaning.
Apparently many of those slow-learning non-techies out there also don't have a clue when it comes to the glaring fact that Apple has been broadcasting iPhone advertising like it's a new consumer product people might want - I can't say that I've seen ANY advertising of Google's new phone outside the occasional NYT article or similar.
Here's a hint slow-learners: advertising is what alerts people to new products. I'd bet that there isn't a single non-tech-savvy friend I have that is even aware that T-Mobile has a Google phone.
There's two cents - I'm keeping the rest of the change for myself.
Pessimism is exactly how we end up with the Bush's of the world. Pessimism is, in my view, much worse for the wellfare of our society than believing or rationalizing - at least the latter two see hope rather than despair which causes more change than 'woe-is-me' ever did.
The perfect candidate doesn't exist but if we bother to look at the history of elected presidents we can see that often even the most political or corrupt have done fantastic things for our nation historically. Democracy IS FULL of corruption (ahem, it's called politics); that's simply the nature of the beast - and those so-called candidate's for change are all just as political as the next guy.
The simple fact is that we as a society have to choose the candidates that speak to the broadest set of ideals - that means nobody's going to be happy because the viewpoints are far too vast and often completely in contrast.
I'm not saying anyone should be an Obama or McCain fanboi (whomever you're for is fine - that's what makes us free) or that you shouldn't feel like things aren't going to change enough - I'm just saying we should moderate pessimism because it doesn't do anybody any good. Our nation has been falling apart ever since the constitution was signed (try telling WW/Korean/Nam vets things are worse off right now) - yet somehow we've created one of (if not the) most powerful, free and best places to live on earth.
Perspective.
IMHO
Hopefully, if the piracy rate for the game is low, perhaps EA will get comfortable enough to ship with even less DRM in the future.
Bull crap. Piracy is not the problem and DRM certainly is not the solution. I will not purchase any game forcing a DRM, spyware or limited installation (WTF - this is just stupid. F**K you EA) scheme; period. I really wanted Spore too... there is no way whatsoever I will be purchasing it now as long as it's infected with EA greed. That goes for C&C too.
EA: destroyer of great games.
IMHO of course.