There is nothing wrong with giving credit where credit is due as far as the classic nature of Tron goes- but I have no interest in supporting the Empire any more than I'm forced to.
Countries would just not join this grand organization, and copy things all they wanted to. Essentially, it would be no different from today, except that the US government would have an actual puppet forum through which to bitch.
Hell, China would join the organization and copy all they wanted at the same time. China is like that.
The reason why you cater to the lowest common denominator is because you want the data on your site to be viewed by people who came for it. If your site's design is more important than your data, then you are a toy site and not worth considering. You may be a very beautiful toy, but you are a toy all the same.
We're moving towards an XML future, where anything can be dissected and interpreted as the client wills it. This is a leap forward, in that data exists to serve the reader, not itself or anyone else. If it isn't serving the reader, it may as well not exist.
Flash, while cute and exciting and beautiful, is a toy. You can't dynamically create Flash. You can't re-interpret Flash across other platforms to deal with inconsistencies. It's like making your site out of a Freehand document with animation controls. I thought the web was about accessibility of data, with pretty magic artistic danciness being perhaps a distant fifth after instant communication, low publishing costs, and persistence of data.
I love dearly what some people have been doing with Flash, but I don't see much of a future in it- it's not friendly with a world that's increasingly focused on interoperability and interpretation.
Remember that the world is divided like this for a reason- a consumer takes a completely passive role. The most initiative available to a consumer is to choose between things offered him.
The vast majority of people are passive in this role. The reason for this is that industrial production has made the creation of most goods far out of the range of the average person.
This is not the case, however, in information goods. Writing, performing, programming- all these things are very much within the reach of the average person (in fact, in the case of performing, that's how it's always been done!)
The two major industries where we're seeing this conflict first are the most equalized ones, due to their low (often non-existent) costs of entry. Linux has proved that a professional-grade operating system is not out of the reach of individuals working together. Music and the other performing arts have always been within the reach of individuals, and still continue to be.
One element of all of these "rights management" schemes facing us is that they are all bent on raising that cost of entry to the sky. We all know that no DRM system will work unless it's universal and disallows all forms of media playback outside its auspices, so something like SSSCA will eventually lead to universal licensing requirements for everything we create. Surveillance over everything we do with our computers will be necessary. A monopoly media mafia will have to grant you a license every time you want to use your webcam, send an email, or design a program. This is required for the success of any such system.
It is obvious that such a plan will fail, as it will be widely circumvented, disabled, and simply ignored at every opportunity.
The question is, why waste our time, then, when such a plan is doomed to fail?
Isn't the computer industry ten times the size of the music industry? Why does this bigger, more influential industry let itself get jacked around like it does?
I'd have to say that the counterpoint to this is that the only reason why laws aren't made this way is because they aren't enforceable. And how do you enforce them? Tracking implants. Pervasive, compulsive DRM. Big Brother.
So, in short, don't worry, it's in the making now.
The cost of disposing of any electronic item should be determined, then charged to the distributor in the country in question by the government, which then sets up modern disposal facilities where anyone can get rid of their old gear.
This is a perfect example of socialization of costs- and it's the reason we have governments.
You might argue, saying that this will make electronics more expensive- but this cost is *already being paid*, but by Chinese villagers, as this article notes. Tanstaafl, folks. The question is, do you want to face up and take responsibility?
Programs like this would also encourage more ecologically friendly designs- as well as delivering the death blow to the ecologically nasty CRT in favor of the less vile (although by no means clean) flat panel.
If people liked being on the road when it was congested, I could see the utility of this plan. But they don't like it! So, there must be another reason why the roads are congested.
When are they congested, I wonder?
The hours right before and right after everyone goes to work.
So, the net effect, since the work hours are that way so most businesses can work together, will be that everyone pays more money, the roads are just as congested as before, and the government is richer.
The only way this outcome will change is if work hours are changed to accomodate (and randomly, too, since whatever hours become the norm will create the same outcome then!) and I don't see that happening.
Sure, these ideas may be highly preferable to what we have today, but how will we convince the corporations involved that we're acting in their best interest?
Imagine how many links to Amazon there are from Slashdot alone! Every time someone mentions a book they'd like people to read, they give its Amazon page.
Now, Scientology boosts its rankings by having many Scientology-owned sites crosslink to one another (a standard Scientology tactic- for years they were buying up copies of Dianetics to keep its sales figures high...)
However, you can't really be arguing that 1-800-Flowers has nothing to do with flowers!
Slashdot Mirror
What about Kevin Warwick? I imagine he'll never be flying again, either.
I hear they make good weed up there. It'll be dandy when I can get my barter goods at Best Buy.
Simply sell them without drives or flash memory, then have the user buy them on their own.
Problem solved, for now...
As it stands though, looks like Canada has just made buying an mp3 player a reason for a trip over the border.
I already covered my windows with lead a while back to keep the Illuminati mind rays out!
There is nothing wrong with giving credit where credit is due as far as the classic nature of Tron goes- but I have no interest in supporting the Empire any more than I'm forced to.
I had no idea that music was worth more than most of the planet...
No wonder the music industry is so powerful. I bet they just give the senators involved small countries when needed.
Countries would just not join this grand organization, and copy things all they wanted to. Essentially, it would be no different from today, except that the US government would have an actual puppet forum through which to bitch.
Hell, China would join the organization and copy all they wanted at the same time. China is like that.
Seems the working definition is "whatever the US government wants at the moment".
If it helps the US government's interests for something to "exist" in the US, it is.
If it harms the US government's interests for something to "exist" in the US, it isn't.
Pax Americana! All roads lead to New York.
I wonder how this stuff would fare against a good set of homemade insta-crampons? Hell, even against a good pair of second-hand soccer cleats?
Where there's tech, there's counter-tech.
The reason why you cater to the lowest common denominator is because you want the data on your site to be viewed by people who came for it. If your site's design is more important than your data, then you are a toy site and not worth considering. You may be a very beautiful toy, but you are a toy all the same.
We're moving towards an XML future, where anything can be dissected and interpreted as the client wills it. This is a leap forward, in that data exists to serve the reader, not itself or anyone else. If it isn't serving the reader, it may as well not exist.
Flash, while cute and exciting and beautiful, is a toy. You can't dynamically create Flash. You can't re-interpret Flash across other platforms to deal with inconsistencies. It's like making your site out of a Freehand document with animation controls. I thought the web was about accessibility of data, with pretty magic artistic danciness being perhaps a distant fifth after instant communication, low publishing costs, and persistence of data.
I love dearly what some people have been doing with Flash, but I don't see much of a future in it- it's not friendly with a world that's increasingly focused on interoperability and interpretation.
Are they indexable? No....
Are they accessible? No....
Are they compatible? No....
Bottom line: Toy.
Bloodsuckers, all.
Remember that the world is divided like this for a reason- a consumer takes a completely passive role. The most initiative available to a consumer is to choose between things offered him.
The vast majority of people are passive in this role. The reason for this is that industrial production has made the creation of most goods far out of the range of the average person.
This is not the case, however, in information goods. Writing, performing, programming- all these things are very much within the reach of the average person (in fact, in the case of performing, that's how it's always been done!)
The two major industries where we're seeing this conflict first are the most equalized ones, due to their low (often non-existent) costs of entry. Linux has proved that a professional-grade operating system is not out of the reach of individuals working together. Music and the other performing arts have always been within the reach of individuals, and still continue to be.
One element of all of these "rights management" schemes facing us is that they are all bent on raising that cost of entry to the sky. We all know that no DRM system will work unless it's universal and disallows all forms of media playback outside its auspices, so something like SSSCA will eventually lead to universal licensing requirements for everything we create. Surveillance over everything we do with our computers will be necessary. A monopoly media mafia will have to grant you a license every time you want to use your webcam, send an email, or design a program. This is required for the success of any such system.
It is obvious that such a plan will fail, as it will be widely circumvented, disabled, and simply ignored at every opportunity.
The question is, why waste our time, then, when such a plan is doomed to fail?
Oh, it's not "our" time anymore.
Isn't the computer industry ten times the size of the music industry? Why does this bigger, more influential industry let itself get jacked around like it does?
I'd have to say that the counterpoint to this is that the only reason why laws aren't made this way is because they aren't enforceable. And how do you enforce them? Tracking implants. Pervasive, compulsive DRM. Big Brother.
So, in short, don't worry, it's in the making now.
The cost of disposing of any electronic item should be determined, then charged to the distributor in the country in question by the government, which then sets up modern disposal facilities where anyone can get rid of their old gear.
This is a perfect example of socialization of costs- and it's the reason we have governments.
You might argue, saying that this will make electronics more expensive- but this cost is *already being paid*, but by Chinese villagers, as this article notes. Tanstaafl, folks. The question is, do you want to face up and take responsibility?
Programs like this would also encourage more ecologically friendly designs- as well as delivering the death blow to the ecologically nasty CRT in favor of the less vile (although by no means clean) flat panel.
If people liked being on the road when it was congested, I could see the utility of this plan. But they don't like it! So, there must be another reason why the roads are congested.
When are they congested, I wonder?
The hours right before and right after everyone goes to work.
So, the net effect, since the work hours are that way so most businesses can work together, will be that everyone pays more money, the roads are just as congested as before, and the government is richer.
The only way this outcome will change is if work hours are changed to accomodate (and randomly, too, since whatever hours become the norm will create the same outcome then!) and I don't see that happening.
Sure, these ideas may be highly preferable to what we have today, but how will we convince the corporations involved that we're acting in their best interest?
That's the biggest obstacle, in my mind.
...to be able to define words?
Imagine how many links to Amazon there are from Slashdot alone! Every time someone mentions a book they'd like people to read, they give its Amazon page.
Now, Scientology boosts its rankings by having many Scientology-owned sites crosslink to one another (a standard Scientology tactic- for years they were buying up copies of Dianetics to keep its sales figures high...)
However, you can't really be arguing that 1-800-Flowers has nothing to do with flowers!
What a massive surprise. Hardly even worth reporting on- anything made by these folks is going to fuck someone, even if it's themselves.
Information-type limiting works against the very idea of the system.
I don't mind helping everyone equally. Even sexual predators- there are other ways to catch them.
Sorry, kiddie porn is not a trump card with me.
Why don't you just say they're made by prison labor, while you're at it?
That would complete the standard unknowing anti-China diatribe.
Jeez.
All drug dealers have milk in their refrigerator, too. There's got to be a link, somewhere.
"Dude, you're gonna go to jail!"