Are you OK with Amazon's ability to remove books from your eReader - without your consent? To reprise, Amazon did exactly that with Orwell's 1984 & Animal Farm (irony). Are any of the books you read controversial? Are you happy with there being a record of every book purchase you have ever made (same problem exists with paper books ordered online, but more or less unavoidable with eReaders).
How do you back up your reader? When it dies, would you lose your books? Would you take it with you to the beach, read it in the bath? Have it go repeatedly through the X-ray machines at airports?
I lend books occasionally to friends. How do you do that with your reader? Does it require permission from Amazon to do so? Are there limits to the number of times you can do that? Are you able to read one book on your reader while someone else simultaneously reads another of your books?
As is probably obvious by now, I'm not terribly interested in said devices. Even if all the above technical issues were/are resolved, DRM alone keeps me from them, the retailers' promises notwithstanding. Short of using physical force, I can read my paper books any time I choose, privately and without restriction.
Like so many large established organizations, the IEEE seemingly no longer exists to represent their individual members - but more to increase the need for its own existence. Quite a few years ago, I wrote them to relinquish my membership. One particular objection I stated (among a couple of others) is their heavy promotion of professional certification (the exams of which they would administer, naturally).
It seems to me that they want to become a guild or "engineering bar association". Even were they to grandfather existing members, I oppose such additional gates. They are nothing but protectionist - increasing barriers to entry without adding much societal value. It is clear to me that their support of software patents continues this trend.
(PS: Lest it seem like I'm frightened of "missing the academic boat", I have a Master's degree in Computer Science with many supporting courses in Electrical Engineering and Space Dynamics - along with 30 years experience in developing e.g. guidance systems & firmware).
>>Manned spaceflight is impossible to justify on a cost basis.
CURRENT manned spaceflight is impossible to justify on a cost basis. It seems to me that the effort should be toward lowering the cost. Unfortunately, it currently has the aura of "Buck Rogers" - with test pilot supermen as the default space travelers.
However, there is hope. With the likes of Rutan, Musk, Bigelow, etc., there appears to be some progress in the realm of lowering costs of human access. Yes, I know Rutan's vehicle is sub-orbital and Musk's Dragon was only just launched. But they're starts. Things move much more quickly when there's a possibility of a buck being made.
I run a small business. Although I much prefer Linux and the like, I am more or less forced to use Windows boxes for accounting and other such packages. Recently I was forced to upgrade my Quickbooks 2007 - seemingly for no reason other than to enhance Intuit's revenue generation (QB 2007 was working fine). In turn, I had to upgrade our accounting box's OS, for QB 2010 doesn't install on Win 2K.
Before you berate me for sticking with Win 2K, it is very stable (after all the patches and upgrades). It simply works. Upgrading machines and OS's and software costs more than just the price of the packages. It costs valuable time. I'm not doing this as a hobby. These upgrades are unnecessary distraction. Worse, they introduce new instabilities.
Thank you for posting the illustrative data (something I should have done). It quantifies nicely how many other states are more conducive to business (and again, in my experience, especially for small business).
It seems that the posted data will soon be out of date. Sadly, WA will slip further in rank for small companies caught in this new tax scheme.
Fortunately my little corporation isn't in Washington. I know first hand that there are many states more conducive to small business. Unless there is some specific reason for remaining there, it isn't be too hard to move. 10% is no small increase, so it's definitely worth looking into a change of locale.
I don't suppose anyone in the WA government considered reducing expenditures enough to make up the difference. Too radical a concept I guess.
... the mandatory requirement to purchase a product.
I have wondered in times past what would drive me to drop out. I think this is it. I shall not be forced under pain of fine and imprisonment to purchase another's private product. No. Enough.
Worse still than this bill's moral absurdity is the precedent it sets. There are legal scholars now who promote the idea of mandatory tort liability insurance for everone ([1]). No doubt they would be pleased to see this camel's nose lifting the tent's edge.
Mandatory medical insurance or go to prison? The irony is too rich.
No, there are sick people dying in the streets everywhere I walk. I just can't wait until the government takes it over and then all will be peachy - just like in the UK.
What do most Americans think of climate change?
You have me there - too many still believe it's anthropogenic. Fortunately, more and more are waking up to the scam.
This 1/6.5 billionth of the rest of the world thinks the USA, on average, is pretty backwards.
And quite a few in the USA think some in the rest of the world - such as yourself - are, on average, ignorant and bigoted.
For a work environment - holding temporal information, datasheets, etc. - OK. For my library - my personal references and technical books - absolutely not. Amazon demonstrated all too clearly what can (and will) happen. Their deletion of "1984" and "Animal Farm" (how ironic) shows both a capability and willingness to prevent my ownership and ability to read books. Refund be damned.
What does one do when formats shift and/or become obsolete (DRM preventing migration to a newer device)? Or what if the eBook dies (much more likely than a paper library becoming unusable), taking my library with it. Do I get to replace all those "soft" books for free?
I consider eBooks flawed fatally. I won't be participating. Ministry of Truth indeed.
No doubt I'm going to come across as a mixture of luddite and holier-than-thou. Nevertheless, here it is.
My wife and I quit playing their DRM "game" some time ago. We'll buy (non-DRM'd) CDs all the while they continue to exist - similarly with paper books. We don't buy DVDs, Blu Rays or anything else essentially un-copyable legally. In fact, we don't own a TV. We're not going near eBooks after the Amazon "1984" debacle (apology not accepted - it shows what they can and are willing to do with their DRM).
We do not choose to feed the DRM beast. While passive entertainment can be nice, it is very far from essential. We don't need any of their video product. Indeed, we don't need to listen to their music product. One can learn to play an instrument and be better for it. I'm trying to learn some piano. I'm not good, but it is a lot of fun.
With the books, it is a more serious matter. Many are essential for expansion of knowledge and capability. So unless we can buy any particular book in paper or unrestricted electronic form, we're not going near it.
As an aside, it's amusing to watch the reactions when people learn that we neither own nor watch TV. Incredulity and blank stares greet us. Some question what we do with our time (how sad is that?). Others start justifying their habits by saying that they only watch the Discovery channel (or some such), or they need TV to keep the kids quiet (sad again).
We find that it's much more entertaining to do, rather than to watch. There's so much interesting in the real world. It seems to us now that it's a shame not to engage in it - first hand.
Yes. And by increasing the cost of energy, MN has introduced a dis-incentive for others moving there, spending there, investing there and creating industry there. That the power stations were built in ND illustrates the point. As ari_j noted, ND is doing well by it - at the expense of MN.
Besides, given the dubious rationale for raising taxes spouted by so many politicians recently, I suspect the real motivation of this new tax has little to do with the environment.
... has such a surplus that it can afford to introduce yet another incentive to leave.
Why do governments so often fail to consider the effects of disincentives? For example, when raising taxes, they calculate expected increases in revenue while underestimating changes in the behavior of the taxed. They always act surprised when the expected additional revenues don't materialize, or indeed revenues fall.
Perhaps it has something to do with most elected officials being lawyers and not businessmen, engineers, etc.
... from hackers, thieves, terrorists and child pornographers, they'll roll over and accept it. The general media will no doubt paint it as such (old media typically hates the series of pipes - it circumvents them).
There'll be some whining among fringe groups such as us here on/. But we'll do nothing more than that. We'll go back to wanting those very same censoring governments to "protect" us similarly (job security, health care, global warming, etc.). We give the Devil his power - and we're surprised when he uses it against us.
I generalize of course. But the pattern is clear and repeating. Sadly.
One of the exposed emails contains a declaration along the lines that it would be better to erase the raw data rather than see it released (to skeptics). The sentiment behind such a statement is blatantly unscientific.
Adding fuel to the fire, repeated requests for the raw data were ignored. And now, it seems that the raw data no longer exists.
If the above is true, then it is no wonder that the veracity of the climatologists in question is damaged. They were not behaving as the scientists they claim to be and deserve to be discredited.
Slashdot Mirror
Are you OK with Amazon's ability to remove books from your eReader - without your consent? To reprise, Amazon did exactly that with Orwell's 1984 & Animal Farm (irony). Are any of the books you read controversial? Are you happy with there being a record of every book purchase you have ever made (same problem exists with paper books ordered online, but more or less unavoidable with eReaders).
How do you back up your reader? When it dies, would you lose your books? Would you take it with you to the beach, read it in the bath? Have it go repeatedly through the X-ray machines at airports?
I lend books occasionally to friends. How do you do that with your reader? Does it require permission from Amazon to do so? Are there limits to the number of times you can do that? Are you able to read one book on your reader while someone else simultaneously reads another of your books?
As is probably obvious by now, I'm not terribly interested in said devices. Even if all the above technical issues were/are resolved, DRM alone keeps me from them, the retailers' promises notwithstanding. Short of using physical force, I can read my paper books any time I choose, privately and without restriction.
Like so many large established organizations, the IEEE seemingly no longer exists to represent their individual members - but more to increase the need for its own existence. Quite a few years ago, I wrote them to relinquish my membership. One particular objection I stated (among a couple of others) is their heavy promotion of professional certification (the exams of which they would administer, naturally).
It seems to me that they want to become a guild or "engineering bar association". Even were they to grandfather existing members, I oppose such additional gates. They are nothing but protectionist - increasing barriers to entry without adding much societal value. It is clear to me that their support of software patents continues this trend.
(PS: Lest it seem like I'm frightened of "missing the academic boat", I have a Master's degree in Computer Science with many supporting courses in Electrical Engineering and Space Dynamics - along with 30 years experience in developing e.g. guidance systems & firmware).
>>Manned spaceflight is impossible to justify on a cost basis.
CURRENT manned spaceflight is impossible to justify on a cost basis. It seems to me that the effort should be toward lowering the cost. Unfortunately, it currently has the aura of "Buck Rogers" - with test pilot supermen as the default space travelers.
However, there is hope. With the likes of Rutan, Musk, Bigelow, etc., there appears to be some progress in the realm of lowering costs of human access. Yes, I know Rutan's vehicle is sub-orbital and Musk's Dragon was only just launched. But they're starts. Things move much more quickly when there's a possibility of a buck being made.
I run a small business. Although I much prefer Linux and the like, I am more or less forced to use Windows boxes for accounting and other such packages. Recently I was forced to upgrade my Quickbooks 2007 - seemingly for no reason other than to enhance Intuit's revenue generation (QB 2007 was working fine). In turn, I had to upgrade our accounting box's OS, for QB 2010 doesn't install on Win 2K.
Before you berate me for sticking with Win 2K, it is very stable (after all the patches and upgrades). It simply works. Upgrading machines and OS's and software costs more than just the price of the packages. It costs valuable time. I'm not doing this as a hobby. These upgrades are unnecessary distraction. Worse, they introduce new instabilities.
My $0.02.
Of course, I meant eight states.
Yes, I did read it. 9 states are better than Washington according to that data.
Thank you for posting the illustrative data (something I should have done). It quantifies nicely how many other states are more conducive to business (and again, in my experience, especially for small business).
It seems that the posted data will soon be out of date. Sadly, WA will slip further in rank for small companies caught in this new tax scheme.
Fortunately my little corporation isn't in Washington. I know first hand that there are many states more conducive to small business. Unless there is some specific reason for remaining there, it isn't be too hard to move. 10% is no small increase, so it's definitely worth looking into a change of locale.
I don't suppose anyone in the WA government considered reducing expenditures enough to make up the difference. Too radical a concept I guess.
I have wondered in times past what would drive me to drop out. I think this is it. I shall not be forced under pain of fine and imprisonment to purchase another's private product. No. Enough.
Worse still than this bill's moral absurdity is the precedent it sets. There are legal scholars now who promote the idea of mandatory tort liability insurance for everone ([1]). No doubt they would be pleased to see this camel's nose lifting the tent's edge.
Mandatory medical insurance or go to prison? The irony is too rich.
[1] http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=844210
Got healthcare yet?
No, there are sick people dying in the streets everywhere I walk. I just can't wait until the government takes it over and then all will be peachy - just like in the UK.
What do most Americans think of climate change?
You have me there - too many still believe it's anthropogenic. Fortunately, more and more are waking up to the scam.
This 1/6.5 billionth of the rest of the world thinks the USA, on average, is pretty backwards.
And quite a few in the USA think some in the rest of the world - such as yourself - are, on average, ignorant and bigoted.
"Just don't use DRMed formats."
Where can I buy all my books in electronic DRM-free formats?
For a work environment - holding temporal information, datasheets, etc. - OK. For my library - my personal references and technical books - absolutely not. Amazon demonstrated all too clearly what can (and will) happen. Their deletion of "1984" and "Animal Farm" (how ironic) shows both a capability and willingness to prevent my ownership and ability to read books. Refund be damned.
What does one do when formats shift and/or become obsolete (DRM preventing migration to a newer device)? Or what if the eBook dies (much more likely than a paper library becoming unusable), taking my library with it. Do I get to replace all those "soft" books for free?
I consider eBooks flawed fatally. I won't be participating. Ministry of Truth indeed.
My wife and I quit playing their DRM "game" some time ago. We'll buy (non-DRM'd) CDs all the while they continue to exist - similarly with paper books. We don't buy DVDs, Blu Rays or anything else essentially un-copyable legally. In fact, we don't own a TV. We're not going near eBooks after the Amazon "1984" debacle (apology not accepted - it shows what they can and are willing to do with their DRM).
We do not choose to feed the DRM beast. While passive entertainment can be nice, it is very far from essential. We don't need any of their video product. Indeed, we don't need to listen to their music product. One can learn to play an instrument and be better for it. I'm trying to learn some piano. I'm not good, but it is a lot of fun.
With the books, it is a more serious matter. Many are essential for expansion of knowledge and capability. So unless we can buy any particular book in paper or unrestricted electronic form, we're not going near it.
As an aside, it's amusing to watch the reactions when people learn that we neither own nor watch TV. Incredulity and blank stares greet us. Some question what we do with our time (how sad is that?). Others start justifying their habits by saying that they only watch the Discovery channel (or some such), or they need TV to keep the kids quiet (sad again).
We find that it's much more entertaining to do, rather than to watch. There's so much interesting in the real world. It seems to us now that it's a shame not to engage in it - first hand.
Besides, given the dubious rationale for raising taxes spouted by so many politicians recently, I suspect the real motivation of this new tax has little to do with the environment.
Why do governments so often fail to consider the effects of disincentives? For example, when raising taxes, they calculate expected increases in revenue while underestimating changes in the behavior of the taxed. They always act surprised when the expected additional revenues don't materialize, or indeed revenues fall.
Perhaps it has something to do with most elected officials being lawyers and not businessmen, engineers, etc.
There'll be some whining among fringe groups such as us here on /. But we'll do nothing more than that. We'll go back to wanting those very same censoring governments to "protect" us similarly (job security, health care, global warming, etc.). We give the Devil his power - and we're surprised when he uses it against us.
I generalize of course. But the pattern is clear and repeating. Sadly.
... the global DMCA can be better enforced.
One of the exposed emails contains a declaration along the lines that it would be better to erase the raw data rather than see it released (to skeptics). The sentiment behind such a statement is blatantly unscientific. Adding fuel to the fire, repeated requests for the raw data were ignored. And now, it seems that the raw data no longer exists. If the above is true, then it is no wonder that the veracity of the climatologists in question is damaged. They were not behaving as the scientists they claim to be and deserve to be discredited.
Your opinion matches your nickname. :-)