Offtopic, perhaps, but if a categorization schema can be copyrighted and summarily suppressed by Neilsen in this way, with the switch to digital in progress in the U.S., what's to prevent somebody from copyrighting and similarly suppressing transmissions themselves based upon a particular encryption algorithm used in the act of transmission?
Seems like it would set the stage for blanket censorship of the media at a fairly fundamental level, and that IS worrisome. At the very least, it could require visual media to be offered on a subscription basis only, which kinda negates the concept of free speech, doesn't it?
The state of Alabama may be worse, IIRC they start with a state tax rate (4% at the time), and then assess a county rate (which could DOUBLE the sales tax) for some counties, and to add to that, a city/ community tax rate is assessed. These fees are levied on all retail commerce, whether it originates within the state, or across the borders into other states, at the time of sale.
You CAN get a partial reimbursement at the end of the year when you file your state taxes (was around 4% when I last lived there) provided you fall below a certain income level, but the process of determining that reimbursement is anything but simple, you have to use their formula on the form, and show the computational process used to derive that figure on the tax form (no decimals, incidentally, they wanted simplified fractions). This may have since changed, but I doubt it has changed much.
Oh, and BTW, you'll owe income taxes to the state on as little as $3000 worth of annual income, regardless of filing status. Welfare? Unemployment? Social Security? Guess what, that gets taxed by the state, too. After tolerating 3 years of this, my family and I got the H*** out of that forsaken state as soon as we could. Moved, literally, on about $200, stayed with other family for about a month out west.
CSR: "Hi, welcome to McPolitico's, may I take your order?
Customer: "Uh, yeah, I think I'll have a number 6 character assassination combo, with a side of lies"
CSR: "Would you like a facts obfuscation to go with that?"
Customer: "No, thanks. Oh! Can you add a PAC endorsement to that?"
CSR: "Certainly, anything else?"
Customer: "No, I'm good"
CSR: "Ok, your total comes to five grand, Visa or MasterCard?"
Customer: "Cash, actually."
CSR: "OK....thank you for stopping at McPolitico's, have a good day!"
..but, there is a fairly Darwinian process involved here. While it may be easier, NOW, to go after user behavior, one shouldn't assume that ALL users are going to STAY stupid indefinitely.
True, there will be a subset of those who will compensate for a lack of common sense by purchasing software to enable security for them, but as skillful compromising becomes more the norm, the costs of maintaining that "apparent" security will increase.
What will likely remain are those of increased skill in regards to security, and those with increasingly deep pockets to pay for the efforts of the skilled. Barring legislation to the contrary, the non-skilled, underfunded folks that dabble occasionally online may very well find themselves denied stable access eventually, or could "opt-out" altogether.
My 2p, FWIW.
Trying to recall the last straw for Microsoft for me, was it the abortive ME? Or the proprietary hardware that REQUIRED the latest drivers from an OS I hadn't yet invested in? Oh, I know what it was! It was that $189 price tag for an UPGRADE version of an OS that effectively surrendered my usability rights to hardware I BOUGHT, I ASSEMBLED, and I MAINTAINED, when my wallet had only $100 in it.
That was the day I gave a serious look to Linux adoption. Been a Linux user since. Granted, some distros aren't much better with rights issues, but at least the price tag is a bit more realistic.
Upon installing IE8:
"Windows (version to be named) detected, Uninstall? Yes/ Heck Yes"
"Are you SURE? Yes/ Oh Yeah, you betcha!"
Either that, or nuke it from orbit...you know the rest.
...doesn't require a dual-core, 2Gb setup, I find I can browse just fine with my Athlon XP w/ 700Mb RAM.
But then, I'm running a Linux distro, and NOT Vista. Suppose that makes a difference?:)
Slashdot Mirror
Puts the whole "Get off my lawn!" stereotype in a completely new perspective.
Offtopic, perhaps, but if a categorization schema can be copyrighted and summarily suppressed by Neilsen in this way, with the switch to digital in progress in the U.S., what's to prevent somebody from copyrighting and similarly suppressing transmissions themselves based upon a particular encryption algorithm used in the act of transmission? Seems like it would set the stage for blanket censorship of the media at a fairly fundamental level, and that IS worrisome. At the very least, it could require visual media to be offered on a subscription basis only, which kinda negates the concept of free speech, doesn't it?
It's Microsoft! It's Bloatware! It's Beta! ....oh, wait, nothing to see here, move along......
.....y'ought to chisel that sucker in binary!
The state of Alabama may be worse, IIRC they start with a state tax rate (4% at the time), and then assess a county rate (which could DOUBLE the sales tax) for some counties, and to add to that, a city/ community tax rate is assessed. These fees are levied on all retail commerce, whether it originates within the state, or across the borders into other states, at the time of sale. You CAN get a partial reimbursement at the end of the year when you file your state taxes (was around 4% when I last lived there) provided you fall below a certain income level, but the process of determining that reimbursement is anything but simple, you have to use their formula on the form, and show the computational process used to derive that figure on the tax form (no decimals, incidentally, they wanted simplified fractions). This may have since changed, but I doubt it has changed much. Oh, and BTW, you'll owe income taxes to the state on as little as $3000 worth of annual income, regardless of filing status. Welfare? Unemployment? Social Security? Guess what, that gets taxed by the state, too. After tolerating 3 years of this, my family and I got the H*** out of that forsaken state as soon as we could. Moved, literally, on about $200, stayed with other family for about a month out west.
(sigh) Guess it's back to Konqueror until I can find something else again.... Lovely....
CSR: "Hi, welcome to McPolitico's, may I take your order? Customer: "Uh, yeah, I think I'll have a number 6 character assassination combo, with a side of lies" CSR: "Would you like a facts obfuscation to go with that?" Customer: "No, thanks. Oh! Can you add a PAC endorsement to that?" CSR: "Certainly, anything else?" Customer: "No, I'm good" CSR: "Ok, your total comes to five grand, Visa or MasterCard?" Customer: "Cash, actually." CSR: "OK....thank you for stopping at McPolitico's, have a good day!"
..but, there is a fairly Darwinian process involved here. While it may be easier, NOW, to go after user behavior, one shouldn't assume that ALL users are going to STAY stupid indefinitely. True, there will be a subset of those who will compensate for a lack of common sense by purchasing software to enable security for them, but as skillful compromising becomes more the norm, the costs of maintaining that "apparent" security will increase. What will likely remain are those of increased skill in regards to security, and those with increasingly deep pockets to pay for the efforts of the skilled. Barring legislation to the contrary, the non-skilled, underfunded folks that dabble occasionally online may very well find themselves denied stable access eventually, or could "opt-out" altogether. My 2p, FWIW.
If a no-name rock band falls on it's face, and there's no one to hear it, .....do you care?
Awaiting flames in T minus 5...4...3...
Trying to recall the last straw for Microsoft for me, was it the abortive ME? Or the proprietary hardware that REQUIRED the latest drivers from an OS I hadn't yet invested in? Oh, I know what it was! It was that $189 price tag for an UPGRADE version of an OS that effectively surrendered my usability rights to hardware I BOUGHT, I ASSEMBLED, and I MAINTAINED, when my wallet had only $100 in it. That was the day I gave a serious look to Linux adoption. Been a Linux user since. Granted, some distros aren't much better with rights issues, but at least the price tag is a bit more realistic.
Oops, Had that bass ackwards. Well, never really had a head for math. Correction- 2x= tragedy, 3x= comedy. There, hopefully fixed.
Should this be modded +3 funny, or +3 tragic? Oh wait, 2x= comedy, 3x=tragedy. Never mind.
Upon installing IE8: "Windows (version to be named) detected, Uninstall? Yes/ Heck Yes" "Are you SURE? Yes/ Oh Yeah, you betcha!" Either that, or nuke it from orbit...you know the rest.
...doesn't require a dual-core, 2Gb setup, I find I can browse just fine with my Athlon XP w/ 700Mb RAM. But then, I'm running a Linux distro, and NOT Vista. Suppose that makes a difference? :)
Darn, guess it's back to tongueing light sockets for me, then.