When I worked at a very well known international humanitarian aid organization, we tried asking Adobe a few years back if we could buy their products directly from them, instead of via third parties here in Norway.
We were told that, no, we had to buy it Norway at full price, and it would be a breach of license to buy it from anywhere in the US.
At that time it cost about 17000NOK in the US, while it costed 38000NOK here in Norway (about $2800 vs. $6300). With a few licenses that adds up. And seeing where that money came from, it could've been used for a lot of good!
So the question is: Has Adobe changed their practice?
Their explanation for the difference in price was that "We've defined Norway as a high cost country". But wth, at that point they didn't even have representatives here!
My explanation, simple greed.
They might have changed practice since then for all I know and care. I've got alternatives, and do not use them anymore. In my line of work, that is quite a few lost sales for them since then.
PS: Posting as anon because of the sensitivity of the issue.
You mean in the the US? Because we don't have as draconian rules and laws, at least not here in northern Europe. Unlocking phones? No problem, at least after the contract end, before that, risk loosing warranty for doing it yourself. The worst you risk in most cases is loosing your warranty.
We do see that IP owners do want harsher laws, but there just aren't a legislative climate to do that. Rather, it's in many cases going towards more openness.
Go to a concert. Stand in the back and try to see the stage. Hard isn't it? That because too many people won't live in the moment, and would rather record it for watching it later. So a concert today is mostly thousand of hands in the air, recording everything, and at the same time blocking everyones view of the stage.
I would guess it also would make a bigger gap between extroverts and introverts. As a natural introvert, I do not act natural in front of a camera. I would feel pressured and uncomfortable.
Besides, how would I as a potential passerby in your life request you delete footage of me? You might want to record everything, while I and many with me do not want to be recorded.
"Hello, I'm calling you collect, because my uncle, the Prince of Persia has all his cash tied up in banks overseas, and we need your help to liberate those $10.000.000.000..."
It's the law? Shouldn't that be enough? If you don't like it, your only option is to either go into politics yourself to get the law changed or vote for someone else whom wants it changed.
Also, driving smaller cars with less pollution to the air is un-american. Or even more un-american; not owning a car at all and take the bus to and from work.
Also, free health care. Very very un-american. Also, education. Damn un-american, verging on un-patriotic. Also, salary. Paying wages one can actually live on without having to have two to three jobs. Un-american!!
There are a lot of things that are un-american, but still makes good sense, at least to the rest of the world.
While I won't directly dismiss that statement, I do see that imposing a set of moral values on others aren't exclusive to religion. I do see it too in my home country, Norway, in the affairs of the state. Many would call it a social democratic nanny state.
A typical example, that most norwegians would tell you about, the alcohol policies: When other countries say their beer is expensive, we just laugh. Because we have one of the most restrictive alcohol policies in the world (except a few muslim states). It's not banned, but has such a high tax it's outright ridiculous. Example from a few years back: One 70cl bottle of vodka: Price to Norway = 7NOK. Tax: 230NOK. Only the "Vinmonopolet" ("The wine monopoly", and yes, that is actually the real name..) are allowed to sell alcohol stronger than 4,7% outside of pubs and restaurants. But this being a secular country, is this based on religion or politics? Hard to say, as "we" pride ourselves on our "christian heritage" (me being a heretic, not so much..), but the state is supposed to be secular. It was introduces at a point in time when christianity stood a lot stronger here than today, but that is no excuse today as Norway is the most secular country in the world. Morality through tax policies, that's how we roll. How does this enter into the issue of morality? Because the argument for this strict policy is that "some people become alcoholics, therefor we have to restrict it for everyone. Alcohol poses high costs to the state in form of health issues, therefor the state has to imbue taxes to cover these costs".
Thing is, I see religion trying to copyright moral as something inherent to religion. I do believe that is false. Any sufficiently smart human being can see that it is logical to follow atleast six or seven of the ten commandments, and that the rest is optional. That most religions adhere to a stricter set of self imposed (and somewhat illogical, depending on view) moral codes, I do not doubt. But what we would consider moral varies wildly.
Morality is more or less an extension to Empathy. "I can see how action X will make Y feel bad, and I would not like anyone to do it to me either". Maybe some need a religious underpinning to be moral, but not everyone.
Just because for some 2000 years, religion == history, there's no reason to conclude that religion == morality, or that atheism != morality. Yes, we've had a couple of evil "atheistic" governments, but not as many as there have been evil religious governments through the last 2000 years.
In fact, I'd claim that as soon as any government claims to be guided by a religious direction of some sorts, someone from a competing religious belief system, or none-believers, is going to get hurt.
I factor my computer usage into my heating and power bill. I get a lot more out of my buck by having a few computers on 24/7 instead of using electrical heating which is my only other option.
The winter is coming, and Norway gets cold, really cold. So I could choose between a heating oven, which doubles as a space eater in a small apartment. Or I could use my computers, and look for aliens via SETI@home while keeping my feet warm by the airstream from my CUDA-heated GPUs
I laughed. I'm a Norwegian. And I believe it's OK to do so. That being said, what actually took place was a horrific act of right wing terrorism. But it's humor that'll get us through it in the end. The day we stop laughing terror wins.
The death toll at the island Utøya has now reached 84. All kids. That's sobering.
To put it in perspective: It's twice as many killed per capita as on 9/11. That's a staggering loss for a little nation like ours (not that that lessens the horrific act that was 9/11).
Turns out this has been a twofold attack. First the bomb was set off in Oslo. About two hours later a camp for political youth from the governing labor party was attacked by a single assailant with a "machine gun", glock and a shotgun. He was dresses as a police officer. 7 has so far been confirmed dead in the bombing 10 has been killed in the shooting at the camp, mostly 15-16 years old. More are suspected. There are several unexploded bombs at the youth camp. The whole camp is held on a little island in a lake, only accessible by boat. Several kids trying to run away by swimming are suspected drowned.
Turns out the attacker are a Norwegian, suspected neo nazi, and fundamentalist christian. With a gun permit. He's been arrested. This is the suspect according to the newspapers https://twitter.com/#!/AndersBBreivik
"Ansar al-Jihad al-Alami (Helpers of Global Jihad) seem to make a claim of responsibility. They claim it is in response to the occupation of Afghanistan and insults to the Prophet Mohammed. It has come via Shmukh, an elite jihadi forum".
That said, I think one should be careful to diff between the act of individuals, groups and entire religions.
Slashdot Mirror
When I worked at a very well known international humanitarian aid organization, we tried asking Adobe a few years back if we could buy their products directly from them, instead of via third parties here in Norway.
We were told that, no, we had to buy it Norway at full price, and it would be a breach of license to buy it from anywhere in the US.
At that time it cost about 17000NOK in the US, while it costed 38000NOK here in Norway (about $2800 vs. $6300). With a few licenses that adds up. And seeing where that money came from, it could've been used for a lot of good!
So the question is: Has Adobe changed their practice?
Their explanation for the difference in price was that "We've defined Norway as a high cost country". But wth, at that point they didn't even have representatives here!
My explanation, simple greed.
They might have changed practice since then for all I know and care. I've got alternatives, and do not use them anymore. In my line of work, that is quite a few lost sales for them since then.
PS: Posting as anon because of the sensitivity of the issue.
You mean in the the US? Because we don't have as draconian rules and laws, at least not here in northern Europe.
Unlocking phones? No problem, at least after the contract end, before that, risk loosing warranty for doing it yourself.
The worst you risk in most cases is loosing your warranty.
We do see that IP owners do want harsher laws, but there just aren't a legislative climate to do that. Rather, it's in many cases going towards more openness.
I have this one: http://dx.com/p/hame-mpr-a1-wifi-802-11b-g-n-wireless-3g-router-white-green-127771
It's the router equivalent of a swiss army knife.
Haven't tried it with any LTE USB stick yet, but I can't see why that shouldn't work.
In a pinch, you can even use it to charge your phone.
You can insert a eg. 3G stick, and access it via wifi, eth or usb (allthough, isn't usb a bit redundant?).
A bit cheap-ish build, but hey, it works!
How 'bout a cap that blinks "do not track" with IR LEDs, either by morse or binary?
Albeit with less collateral damage.
Go to a concert. Stand in the back and try to see the stage. Hard isn't it? That because too many people won't live in the moment, and would rather record it for watching it later. So a concert today is mostly thousand of hands in the air, recording everything, and at the same time blocking everyones view of the stage.
I would guess it also would make a bigger gap between extroverts and introverts. As a natural introvert, I do not act natural in front of a camera. I would feel pressured and uncomfortable.
Besides, how would I as a potential passerby in your life request you delete footage of me? You might want to record everything, while I and many with me do not want to be recorded.
"Hello, I'm calling you collect, because my uncle, the Prince of Persia has all his cash tied up in banks overseas, and we need your help to liberate those $10.000.000.000..."
Not very soon after, they'd start calling collect.
It's the law? Shouldn't that be enough?
If you don't like it, your only option is to either go into politics yourself to get the law changed or vote for someone else whom wants it changed.
(I'm not OP btw, just another AC)
Yes, paying tax is very un-american.
Also, driving smaller cars with less pollution to the air is un-american.
Or even more un-american; not owning a car at all and take the bus to and from work.
Also, free health care. Very very un-american.
Also, education. Damn un-american, verging on un-patriotic.
Also, salary. Paying wages one can actually live on without having to have two to three jobs. Un-american!!
There are a lot of things that are un-american, but still makes good sense, at least to the rest of the world.
While I won't directly dismiss that statement, I do see that imposing a set of moral values on others aren't exclusive to religion. I do see it too in my home country, Norway, in the affairs of the state. Many would call it a social democratic nanny state.
A typical example, that most norwegians would tell you about, the alcohol policies:
When other countries say their beer is expensive, we just laugh. Because we have one of the most restrictive alcohol policies in the world (except a few muslim states). It's not banned, but has such a high tax it's outright ridiculous. Example from a few years back: One 70cl bottle of vodka: Price to Norway = 7NOK. Tax: 230NOK. Only the "Vinmonopolet" ("The wine monopoly", and yes, that is actually the real name..) are allowed to sell alcohol stronger than 4,7% outside of pubs and restaurants.
But this being a secular country, is this based on religion or politics? Hard to say, as "we" pride ourselves on our "christian heritage" (me being a heretic, not so much..), but the state is supposed to be secular. It was introduces at a point in time when christianity stood a lot stronger here than today, but that is no excuse today as Norway is the most secular country in the world. Morality through tax policies, that's how we roll. How does this enter into the issue of morality? Because the argument for this strict policy is that "some people become alcoholics, therefor we have to restrict it for everyone. Alcohol poses high costs to the state in form of health issues, therefor the state has to imbue taxes to cover these costs".
Thing is, I see religion trying to copyright moral as something inherent to religion. I do believe that is false. Any sufficiently smart human being can see that it is logical to follow atleast six or seven of the ten commandments, and that the rest is optional. That most religions adhere to a stricter set of self imposed (and somewhat illogical, depending on view) moral codes, I do not doubt. But what we would consider moral varies wildly.
Morality is more or less an extension to Empathy. "I can see how action X will make Y feel bad, and I would not like anyone to do it to me either". Maybe some need a religious underpinning to be moral, but not everyone.
Just because for some 2000 years, religion == history, there's no reason to conclude that religion == morality, or that atheism != morality.
Yes, we've had a couple of evil "atheistic" governments, but not as many as there have been evil religious governments through the last 2000 years.
In fact, I'd claim that as soon as any government claims to be guided by a religious direction of some sorts, someone from a competing religious belief system, or none-believers, is going to get hurt.
I lack central heating, you insensitive clods!
I factor my computer usage into my heating and power bill.
I get a lot more out of my buck by having a few computers on 24/7 instead of using electrical heating which is my only other option.
The winter is coming, and Norway gets cold, really cold. So I could choose between a heating oven, which doubles as a space eater in a small apartment. Or I could use my computers, and look for aliens via SETI@home while keeping my feet warm by the airstream from my CUDA-heated GPUs
I guess you're talking about US women. Yes, I've heard about that tendency. It's amazing what lack of education can lead to.
This is not a problem for European women. But I guess vanity is more important than infant health.
My wish is that MS would stop bundling their OS with a browser most use for downloading a browser, and actually bundled it with eg. Firefox instead.
That's facepalm to facepalm, another protocol entirely
F2F? I thought that was Floppy To Floppy sharing..?
State as of now:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Norway_attacks
Wikipedia is updating the following page continuously:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Norway_attacks
Speaking of Black Metal videos, I've always wanted to link to this guy on /. =)
http://www.youtube.com/user/VeganBlackMetalChef
I laughed. I'm a Norwegian. And I believe it's OK to do so.
That being said, what actually took place was a horrific act of right wing terrorism. But it's humor that'll get us through it in the end. The day we stop laughing terror wins.
Yet another little update.
The death toll at the island Utøya has now reached 84. All kids. That's sobering.
To put it in perspective: It's twice as many killed per capita as on 9/11. That's a staggering loss for a little nation like ours (not that that lessens the horrific act that was 9/11).
Here's an update: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/norways-capital-shaken-by-bomb-blast/2011/07/22/gIQABA6dTI_story.html
Turns out this has been a twofold attack. First the bomb was set off in Oslo. About two hours later a camp for political youth from the governing labor party was attacked by a single assailant with a "machine gun", glock and a shotgun. He was dresses as a police officer.
7 has so far been confirmed dead in the bombing
10 has been killed in the shooting at the camp, mostly 15-16 years old. More are suspected.
There are several unexploded bombs at the youth camp. The whole camp is held on a little island in a lake, only accessible by boat. Several kids trying to run away by swimming are suspected drowned.
Turns out the attacker are a Norwegian, suspected neo nazi, and fundamentalist christian. With a gun permit. He's been arrested.
This is the suspect according to the newspapers https://twitter.com/#!/AndersBBreivik
What a horrible day indeed :(
"Ansar al-Jihad al-Alami (Helpers of Global Jihad) seem to make a claim of responsibility. They claim it is in response to the occupation of Afghanistan and insults to the Prophet Mohammed. It has come via Shmukh, an elite jihadi forum".
That said, I think one should be careful to diff between the act of individuals, groups and entire religions.
Vikings don't believe in Westboro's weak god