A corporation is a body, formed by people, that is authorized by law to act as a single person
When thousands of people act on behalf of a corporation it is no one person who is acting 'evil or bad'. The problem lies in the motivations, what people are forced to do to feed themselves. They are compeled to act on the corporations behalf to further its interests. There is no debate what the 'interests' of the corporation are: profit. Always.
The consumers, of course! You must remember that you, the consumer, also have responsibility
The worlds transnationals are all alike - what the hell are you thinking? There are none that I would consider moral and just. Literally zero. Besides, capatalism ends in collusive monopolistic mega-corps all acting to preserve there collective best interests. They will collectively oppose anything that may force them to become accountable and responsible.... I suppose youve never heard of RIAA/MPAA?
Shell now has a human right commissioner and most ads from that company state how nice the company is to the environment and to it's worker
Are you on drugs? So they put some asshole in a title and shove propaganda down your throat and you think all is well? You think they have changed one fucking bit?
Would you buy hamburgers from Mc'Donalds if the company also sold crack
Could you stop them if they did? And would the other 90% of sheeple in America continue to buy McDonalds b/c they cant read/dont care? Would you let these same people set the co-ordinates on the Space Shuttle???? no - why should we just let the sheeple-mob steer us all into oblivion?
The internet is being dismantled by people who want to stop paying anything to produce any content but make you pay everytime you access the same old content, over and over, because its gravy, all gravy.
you didnt address his point: That big business will simply change/buy laws to extend copyright so they dont have to create new content... and force everyone who does out of business...
Big American Corporations have WAY to much power and WAY too little public accountability. I dont want to 'vote with my dollars' - this simply allows them to predicate their 'money is the only thing that matters' system - fuck that: I want business to come to town-hall style meetings and be accountable to the public, you dont satisfy the public - your out of business (or something similar, I may not have the right mechanism - but you get the idea...)
safetySorry No. Go down and have a look at the 'murder' columns, shows a value of deaths per 100k. US ends up w/ double digits with countries like the USSR, Latvia & Brazil - Drastically higher than sub 2 values of star performers like Canada, Belgium, Greece and Japan..
freedom Sorry No. Have a look at the Corruption Index (Scroll to Table 1), American Imperialism (and here), McArthyism.. I wont bother with the links: DMCA, Marijuana Prohibition, Prostitution, Collusive Monopolies (RIAA/MPAA), The Cuban Embargo, Kent State Massacre, Vietnam, Cambodia, Bay of Pigs, Iran-Contra Affair, Watergate, Assassinations of John/Bobby Kennedy & MLK, Invasion of Granada, The War on Drugs, Internet Censorship in Schools/Libraries, Consumerism, Work holism, Invasion of Dominican Republic, Gulf War, Systemic Racism (weak gay rights)... etc etc
quality of lifeSorry No. Canada has the highest Standard of Living on the planet - 7 years running...
I went to Chicago for NewYears eve to visit some friends. On the way home we heard a news reporter 'lead out of a story' by saying "...and after all; we are the richest and most powerful people in the world." What I began to think is that Americans have begun to treat their 'democracy' (*ahem*) like a Religion. There is no debate. They have enjoyed a very good 150 years - and like all successful civilizations; it will eventually end. If America didnt have such a large piece of 'virgin' North America to exploit for natural resources, and did host a World War (or two) Im betting the world would be a very different place. The 'success' of America dosnt prove the 'rightness' of Capitalism - so get that out of your head. America's 'success' is not success at all! (See adbusters.org about consumerism and mindlessness). America would do itself a favour and learn a little collective humility. Surely the last election has taught you something...
The system has been horribly corrupt by politicians and business people 'on the take'. Their is no longer anyone in Washington who intends to lead Americans. To help America lead and become better global citizens - and try their best to help set a good example - and take examples from those who are already doing good. No person on this planet should be without the rights described in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms or the US Constitution (or similar documents written or yet-to-be written). Like it or not this is a Global Village and we should be working together for the good of us all.
I refuse to become cynical and jadded. People will respond that this is 'The Real World' - to that I suggest people decide what we are choosing to make this 'Real World' become? Like it or not our collective action/inaction everyday sets the course for the future. We need to stop the 'present' America from setting the course that it is now (and using arms/propaganda to force others into capitulating). (I wont bother with the globalization/imperialist/enslavement/end-of-the-p lanet scenario that is our current future).
Please American PEOPLE do something about your government.
needs to be an economic reason to connect the two points of land
Yeah - I cant see any reason to have a train connecting North/Central/South America with Asia/Europe/Russia... not much value there eh. You could take a train from any where on the planet to anywhere else. Sounds like it has a small amount of value if you ask me..
the $6 million dollars just isnt there Lets just hope the other $59994000000 is...
Dont we all rage against Big Co. everytime they pull something like that - micheal; what are you thinking? Im not sure what should be done - but thats not it.
Fact is there is no one else - you provide a necessary public infrastructure... and again, eventually slugs like yourselves will have to answer why you spent your adult lives trying to screw your neighbours with your well funded hammer... all because you are selfish, irresponsible and greedy.
With clauses that attempt to alter the material and content of the users interaction with the internet isnt Sprint volunteering to 'censor' the material. And isnt it necessary for Sprint to maintain that they are not 'responsible for the material you transmit to any degree' in order to maintain the 'common carrier' moniker? If they push these TOS arent they asking to be liable for the material you do up/download?? Can an Honest Lawyer(TM) please explain...
Also, this TOS (POS maybe a better acronym) in one breath says "you cannot up/download any porn/copyright material in violation" and then goes on to say "the internet contains porn/copyright violations" and we are not responsible if you dload them - you are! These double talking crooks are talking out of both sides of their mouths - on one hand I am expected to be capable and diligent to exclude these things and on the other they claim they will not be responsible to act in kind...
With clauses that attempt to alter the material and content of the users interaction with the internet isnt Sprint volunteering to 'censor' the material. And isnt it necessary for Sprint to maintain that they are not 'responsible for the material you transmit to any degree' in order to maintain the 'common carrier' moniker? If they push these TOS arent they asking to be liable for the material you do up/download?? Can an Honest Lawyer(TM) please explain...
Also, this TOS (POS maybe a better acronym) in one breath says "you cannot up/download any porn/copyright material in violation" and then goes on to say "the internet contains porn/copyright violations" and we are not responsible if you dload them - you are! These double talking crooks are talking out of both sides of their mouths - on one hand I am expected to be capable and diligent to exclude these things and on the other they claim they can not/will not/dont feel like being responsible to act in kind...
their website doesn't allow you to get any information on security, pricing, and other stuff.
This may be because they intend to 'fix' the prices to various regions. Much like the MPAA demands control of the product to maximize profits in all regions - Sprint may be attempting the same. Like airlines charging more/less for the same product depending on the venue through which you shop - this practice is immoral and probably illegal (i forget but it is in some way... although Im sure they practice this in a method that is a classic method to avoid it being technicall illegal - there is a law to prevent this behaviour if I recall - could any honest laywer* please explain. (in Canada at least)).
What a shamefull mess you Yanks have gotten yourselves into that Sprint would even attempt a TOS like this...
*Go ahead and reply below with your own punchline to that 'set-up'...
5.1 Although Sprint will make commercially reasonable efforts to maintain the Services, you may experience service interruptions
I have a real problem with this idea. If Sprint is unable to deliver the product (the service) I do not pay. Simple. I dont care what you feel is "commercially reasonable". I have a VERY hard time with paying for something they are not providing - under any circumstance. Standard 'customer' protection laws should exist that nullify any attempt for anyone to include the above clause. How would sprint like it if I felt I was not 'commercially reasonable' for me to make my payments on time - or at all? The pizza you ordered has 2 pcs missing because delivering a full pie was "commercailly unreasonable", I get one shoe without a lace - but I have no right to ask for a discount to replace the lost lace... the TOS we are seeing with everything these days is showing one thing: American Capatalism has bread a monopoly in mostly every industry.
If it were as simple as 'making a choice to a better product' (read without these TOS) people would do it. The simple fact is the barrier to entry in most markets (of any consequence) is so high that only a few companies can try... and when they do - it is much easier to collude and exclude any possible interlopers.
The power being demonstrated in this Sprint TOS is really only an indicator of a much larger problem... unfortunatly it is systemic to the American corporate-centric economy.. power concentrates, it is easier to collude than compete once a certain state has been achieved (as it has been), Capatalism ends in Monopolistic oppression... Anti-Trust laws are intended to stop this... but the same people who run the country also own the business... fat chance of any of this power being given away freely (ie a strengthening of Anti-Trust law...).
So tell me again; Why did America elect a Republicrat instead of a Honets leader like say umm anyone except a Republicrat? Maybe Ralph Nader would run for President and put an end to this crap.(?!?!) Oh yeah, he did... and America got to watch their 'democracy' in action in Florida... A pretty nice 'play' if you ask me - almost enough to convince people their is a difference between the two parties, and that they should NEVER think of voting third party - it is obviously a wasted vote... *shudder* and this is really what people think...
Get ready world - you have not yet recieved all the TOS for your futures...
You assume there is competition - there is none, therefore the 'market' you look to correct this problem dosnt exist. Americans need much stronger monopoly laws - especially the ones regarding COLLUSION... correct my Economics101, but wouldnt the RIAA/MPAA clearly demostrate a oligopoly - and collusive behaviour? WTF is wrong with this picture - I thought we had all agreed we tolerate capatalism because it breads innovation through competition... every time I pick up a browser or a paper I read about another industry setting restrictive standards/license terms/leases etc etc because there is virtually no competition in 99% of the modern marketplace (this would exclude ordinary chattle (dishes, plastic knick-knack-garbage, furniture))
Correct me if Im wrong, but wouldnt an afternoon and a few determined/. Social Engineers be able to walk into the local computer store and wave a large magnet over these HD's -- destroying their keys?
If there is in fact a key "located in a hidden, presumably read-only, area of your drive" wouldnt that be on the HD media itself - which would get rather annyoed at my running it through a de-gausing coil or setting a 6" magnet on top of the drive... I would advocate we simply destroy a few thousand of these drives on the shelves... that should peek the ear of Joe ConsumoBot who needs another HD for his porn and killer MP3 collection. Or simply buying them ourselves - bring them home and run them through our de-gaussing coils unopened and returning them - XYZ Compiant Drives failure rates might shoot up enough to make it appear people are destroying them on the shelf...
I think our friend Joe might just tell people "Dont buy that XYZ CPRM-Compliant HD because they suck - and oh yeah, did you know what CPRM actually does?"
Why not simply run all software patents across a Slash based we site where we geeks can surf on over and provide prior art to the latest 15 ill-conceived patents...
Let this be part of the 'fact finding' process of the existing system. Its so simple.. and frankly I think the collective interest of anti-IP geeks could probably crush 99.999999% of software patents - easily.
we've stopped being a constitutional republic and are now a constitutional monarchy
If you find the Dubya event amusing... wait until Hillary Clinton runs for President.
How the hell is it possible that the wife of a dead man is appointed Senator when he 'wins' the election... how do dead people qualify for elections?? Didnt everyone who voted for this dead person invalidate their ballot...?
Babbage, you Yanks need to do something serious about your 'democracy'.
Its almost a shame that I have to work/live with arrogant know-nothings everyday... when very interesting, intelligent, likeminded people are scattered around the globe. All in all this kid sounds like a fine person.
By the way, all the posts arguing that the Catholic Church is bad are missing the point. The point is that this is precisely what exercise of responsibility ought to be if we're going to avoid legislation.
I think you are missing the point friend. Life (our time on this rock) wasnt intended to be our 'voting with your dollars' exercise of decision-making. Legislation isnt the issue - neither is this ChurchRun(TM) ISP.. I see that people when given the opportunity to buy cheap ISP service from an oppressive force - the Catholic Church(TM) - what are they to do? choose to not use the Internet because that is the only 'choice they can make with their dollars'?
I think that any censorship is bad - in all cases... when will the ChurchRun(TM) ISP be considered a normal thing? In time this censorship causes a distorted view of reality (the reality being porn and whateverthehellelse is blocked does really exist). If a specific person chooses to not view porn - its as simple as not typing in "www.playboy.com." So in the end the Church has created an artificial reality of their choosing - it appears to be 'real' to Philippinos. This is a dangerous thing - do we need the Catholic church using its power and money to subsidize a brainwashing program in the Philippines? I for one dont look forward to a future where people are MORE lobotomized by religion than they are now... this ChurchRun(TM) ISP is a imperialist operation of the Catholic Church. Nothing more. God Damn Catholics.
For the record: Im an atheist and I hold equal contempt for all religion.
And if you attempt to start in on the "all government is bad" paranoid-asshole-rant-milita-crap I dont want to hear it, governments are no more or less likely to fuck something up... and yes, legislated morals are bad... almost as bad as censorship...
Does anyone else get the idea that Linux will be the number one defense M$ will have when trying to defend itself from the anti-trust advocates? Im sure M$'s market position would have even allowed them to embrace/extend/extinguish Linux in some way (making dual booting impossible would be a good method to slow/halt adoption for private use...)
Does anyone else feel now that the BSA has elected Republicans which are even greater corporate $whores$ than their predecessors - when the Anti-Trust suit gets dropped we will expect to see M$'s real reply to Linux.. weather that be a Linux Compat. Layer, or a M$ Linux distro (*shudder*) or ?????.
What Im saying is this is basically the calm before the storm for Linux... How long did M$ take to marginalize OS2 - and OS2 had the full backing of IBM... I recognize that GNU/Linux has strengths that OS2 (and Windows) will never have (using the present proprietary SW models) but M$ will surely think of something... what will that be? Dont say this dotNet crap...
GUARD #1: Halt! Who goes there?
ARTHUR: It is I, Arthur, son of Uther Pendragon, from the castle
of Camelot. King of the Britons, defeator of the Saxons, sovereign
of all England!
GUARD #1: Pull the other one!
ARTHUR: I am. And this my trusty servant Patsy.
We have ridden the length and breadth of the land in search of knights
who will join me in my court of Camelot. I must speak with your lord
and master.
GUARD #1: What, ridden on a horse?
ARTHUR: Yes!
GUARD #1: You're using coconuts!
ARTHUR: What?
GUARD #1: You've got two empty halves of coconut and you're bangin'
'em together.
ARTHUR: So? We have ridden since the snows of winter covered this
land, through the kingdom of Mercea, through--
GUARD #1: Where'd you get the coconut?
ARTHUR: We found them.
GUARD #1: Found them? In Mercea? The coconut's tropical!
ARTHUR: What do you mean?
GUARD #1: Well, this is a temperate zone.
ARTHUR: The swallow may fly south with the sun or the house martin
or the plumber may seek warmer climes in winter yet these are not
strangers to our land.
GUARD #1: Are you suggesting coconuts migrate?
ARTHUR: Not at all, they could be carried.
GUARD #1: What -- a swallow carrying a coconut?
ARTHUR: It could grip it by the husk!
GUARD #1: It's not a question of where he grips it! It's a simple
question of weight ratios! A five ounce bird could not carry a 1 pound
coconut.
ARTHUR: Well, it doesn't matter. Will you go and tell your master
that Arthur from the Court of Camelot is here.
GUARD #1: Listen, in order to maintain air-speed velocity, a swallow
needs to beat its wings 43 times every second, right?
ARTHUR: Please!
GUARD #1: Am I right?
ARTHUR: I'm not interested!
GUARD #2: It could be carried by an African swallow!
GUARD #1: Oh, yeah, an African swallow maybe, but not a European
swallow, that's my point.
GUARD #2: Oh, yeah, I agree with that...
ARTHUR: Will you ask your master if he wants to join my court
at Camelot?!
GUARD #1: But then of course African swallows are not migratory.
GUARD #2: Oh, yeah...
GUARD #1: So they couldn't bring a coconut back anyway...
[clop clop]
GUARD #2: Wait a minute -- supposing two swallows carried it together?
GUARD #1: No, they'd have to have it on a line.
GUARD #2: Well, simple! They'd just use a standard creeper!
GUARD #1: What, held under the dorsal guiding feathers?
GUARD #2: Well, why not?
ARTHUR: There it is! The Bridge of Death!
ROBIN: Oh, great.
???: Look!
ARTHUR: There's the old man from Scene 24!
BEDEMIR: What is he doing here?
ARTHUR: He is the keeper of the Bridge of Death. He asks each
traveller five questions--
???: Three questions.
ARTHUR: Three questions. He who answers the five questions--
???: Three questions.
ARTHUR: Three questions may cross in safety.
ROBIN: What if you get a question wrong?
ARTHUR: Then you are cast into the Gorge of Eternal Peril.
ROBIN: Oh, I won't go.
???: Who's going to answer the questions?
ARTHUR: Sir Robin!
ROBIN: Yes?
ARTHUR: Brave Sir Robin, you go.
ROBIN: Hey! I've got a great idea. Why doesn't Launcelot go?
LAUNCELOT: Yes, let me go, my liege. I will take him single-handed.
I shall make a feint to the north-east--
ARTHUR: No, no, hang on hang on hang on! Just answer the five
questions--
???: Three questions.
ARTHUR: Three questions as best you can. And we shall watch... and
pray.
LAUNCELOT: I understand, my liege.
ARTHUR: Good luck, brave Sir Launcelot. God be with you.
KEEPER: Stop! Who would cross the Bridge of Death must answer me
these questions three, 'ere the other side he see.
LAUNCELOT: Ask me the questions, bridge-keeper. I'm not afraid.
KEEPER: What is your name?
LAUNCELOT: My name is Sir Launcelot of Camelot.
KEEPER: What is your quest?
LAUNCELOT: To seek the Holy Grail.
KEEPER: What is your favorite color?
LAUNCELOT: Blue.
KEEPER: Right. Off you go.
LAUNCELOT: Oh, thank you. Thank you very much.
ROBIN: That's easy!
KEEPER: Stop! Who approaches the Bridge of Death must answer me
these questions three, 'ere the other side he see.
ROBIN: Ask me the questions, bridge-keeper. I'm not afraid.
KEEPER: What is your name?
ROBIN: Sir Robin of Camelot.
KEEPER: What is your quest?
ROBIN: To seek the Holy Grail.
KEEPER: What is the capital of Assyria?
ROBIN: I don't know that! Auuuuuuuugh!
KEEPER: Stop! What is your name?
GALAHAD: Sir Galahad of Camelot.
KEEPER: What is your quest?
GALAHAD: I seek the Holy Grail.
KEEPER: What is your favorite color?
GALAHAD: Blue. No yel-- Auuuuuuuugh!
KEEPER: Heh heh. Stop! What is your name?
ARTHUR: It is Arthur, King of the Britons.
KEEPER: What is your quest?
ARTHUR: To seek the Holy Grail.
KEEPER: What is the air-speed velocity of an unladen swallow?
ARTHUR: What do you mean? An African or European swallow?
KEEPER: What? I don't know that! Auuuuuuuugh!
BEDEMIR: How do know so much about swallows?
ARTHUR: Well, you have to know these things when you're a king you know.
Slashdot Mirror
A corporation is a body, formed by people, that is authorized by law to act as a single person
When thousands of people act on behalf of a corporation it is no one person who is acting 'evil or bad'. The problem lies in the motivations, what people are forced to do to feed themselves. They are compeled to act on the corporations behalf to further its interests. There is no debate what the 'interests' of the corporation are: profit. Always.
The consumers, of course! You must remember that you, the consumer, also have responsibility
The worlds transnationals are all alike - what the hell are you thinking? There are none that I would consider moral and just. Literally zero. Besides, capatalism ends in collusive monopolistic mega-corps all acting to preserve there collective best interests. They will collectively oppose anything that may force them to become accountable and responsible.... I suppose youve never heard of RIAA/MPAA?
Shell now has a human right commissioner and most ads from that company state how nice the company is to the environment and to it's worker
Are you on drugs? So they put some asshole in a title and shove propaganda down your throat and you think all is well? You think they have changed one fucking bit?
Would you buy hamburgers from Mc'Donalds if the company also sold crack
Could you stop them if they did? And would the other 90% of sheeple in America continue to buy McDonalds b/c they cant read/dont care? Would you let these same people set the co-ordinates on the Space Shuttle???? no - why should we just let the sheeple-mob steer us all into oblivion?
The internet is being dismantled by people who want to stop paying anything to produce any content but make you pay everytime you access the same old content, over and over, because its gravy, all gravy.
you didnt address his point: That big business will simply change/buy laws to extend copyright so they dont have to create new content... and force everyone who does out of business...
Big American Corporations have WAY to much power and WAY too little public accountability. I dont want to 'vote with my dollars' - this simply allows them to predicate their 'money is the only thing that matters' system - fuck that: I want business to come to town-hall style meetings and be accountable to the public, you dont satisfy the public - your out of business (or something similar, I may not have the right mechanism - but you get the idea...)
bullshit - its the bottom line at all costs.
safety Sorry No. Go down and have a look at the 'murder' columns, shows a value of deaths per 100k. US ends up w/ double digits with countries like the USSR, Latvia & Brazil - Drastically higher than sub 2 values of star performers like Canada, Belgium, Greece and Japan..
p lanet scenario that is our current future).
freedom Sorry No. Have a look at the Corruption Index (Scroll to Table 1), American Imperialism (and here), McArthyism.. I wont bother with the links: DMCA, Marijuana Prohibition, Prostitution, Collusive Monopolies (RIAA/MPAA), The Cuban Embargo, Kent State Massacre, Vietnam, Cambodia, Bay of Pigs, Iran-Contra Affair, Watergate, Assassinations of John/Bobby Kennedy & MLK, Invasion of Granada, The War on Drugs, Internet Censorship in Schools/Libraries, Consumerism, Work holism, Invasion of Dominican Republic, Gulf War, Systemic Racism (weak gay rights)... etc etc
quality of life Sorry No. Canada has the highest Standard of Living on the planet - 7 years running...
I went to Chicago for NewYears eve to visit some friends. On the way home we heard a news reporter 'lead out of a story' by saying "...and after all; we are the richest and most powerful people in the world." What I began to think is that Americans have begun to treat their 'democracy' (*ahem*) like a Religion. There is no debate. They have enjoyed a very good 150 years - and like all successful civilizations; it will eventually end. If America didnt have such a large piece of 'virgin' North America to exploit for natural resources, and did host a World War (or two) Im betting the world would be a very different place. The 'success' of America dosnt prove the 'rightness' of Capitalism - so get that out of your head. America's 'success' is not success at all! (See adbusters.org about consumerism and mindlessness). America would do itself a favour and learn a little collective humility. Surely the last election has taught you something...
The system has been horribly corrupt by politicians and business people 'on the take'. Their is no longer anyone in Washington who intends to lead Americans. To help America lead and become better global citizens - and try their best to help set a good example - and take examples from those who are already doing good. No person on this planet should be without the rights described in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms or the US Constitution (or similar documents written or yet-to-be written). Like it or not this is a Global Village and we should be working together for the good of us all.
I refuse to become cynical and jadded. People will respond that this is 'The Real World' - to that I suggest people decide what we are choosing to make this 'Real World' become? Like it or not our collective action/inaction everyday sets the course for the future. We need to stop the 'present' America from setting the course that it is now (and using arms/propaganda to force others into capitulating). (I wont bother with the globalization/imperialist/enslavement/end-of-the-
Please American PEOPLE do something about your government.
needs to be an economic reason to connect the two points of land
Yeah - I cant see any reason to have a train connecting North/Central/South America with Asia/Europe/Russia... not much value there eh. You could take a train from any where on the planet to anywhere else. Sounds like it has a small amount of value if you ask me..
the $6 million dollars just isnt there Lets just hope the other $59994000000 is...
Did you tap it? How heavy was the gauge metal used? Did it sound light/hollow/tinny when tapped? or was it a heavier gauge and felt more dense...?
For the record: Thanks to whoever did this - the world needs more randomness like this.. kudos friend.
ending legal nasty-grams
Dont we all rage against Big Co. everytime they pull something like that - micheal; what are you thinking? Im not sure what should be done - but thats not it.
Just because I know some Sprint Lawyers/marketroids/other evill PHB types will read this - and I have the karma to burn:
It takes real scum (like you) to foist this kind of crap on the public, just to fill the corporate coffers -- You'll First Against The Wall when the revolution comes. It may even be soon - and trust me: it will come - it always does..
Why dont you monkeys do something constructive - call the Boss(TM) right now and tell them these TOS are immoral. "Immoral you say, who cares about morals - we are trying to make money! If you dont like it -- dont buy our service, buy it from someone else! This is the Real Word(TM)®©" And you've just exactly made my point.
Fact is there is no one else - you provide a necessary public infrastructure... and again, eventually slugs like yourselves will have to answer why you spent your adult lives trying to screw your neighbours with your well funded hammer... all because you are selfish, irresponsible and greedy.
Fucking Assholes.
With clauses that attempt to alter the material and content of the users interaction with the internet isnt Sprint volunteering to 'censor' the material. And isnt it necessary for Sprint to maintain that they are not 'responsible for the material you transmit to any degree' in order to maintain the 'common carrier' moniker? If they push these TOS arent they asking to be liable for the material you do up/download?? Can an Honest Lawyer(TM) please explain...
Also, this TOS (POS maybe a better acronym) in one breath says "you cannot up/download any porn/copyright material in violation" and then goes on to say "the internet contains porn/copyright violations" and we are not responsible if you dload them - you are! These double talking crooks are talking out of both sides of their mouths - on one hand I am expected to be capable and diligent to exclude these things and on the other they claim they will not be responsible to act in kind...
These bastards think they have found a way to Have Their Cake and Eat It Too(TM)®©
With clauses that attempt to alter the material and content of the users interaction with the internet isnt Sprint volunteering to 'censor' the material. And isnt it necessary for Sprint to maintain that they are not 'responsible for the material you transmit to any degree' in order to maintain the 'common carrier' moniker? If they push these TOS arent they asking to be liable for the material you do up/download?? Can an Honest Lawyer(TM) please explain...
Also, this TOS (POS maybe a better acronym) in one breath says "you cannot up/download any porn/copyright material in violation" and then goes on to say "the internet contains porn/copyright violations" and we are not responsible if you dload them - you are! These double talking crooks are talking out of both sides of their mouths - on one hand I am expected to be capable and diligent to exclude these things and on the other they claim they can not/will not/dont feel like being responsible to act in kind...
These bastards think they have found a way to Have Their Cake and Eat It Too(TM)®©
their website doesn't allow you to get any information on security, pricing, and other stuff.
This may be because they intend to 'fix' the prices to various regions. Much like the MPAA demands control of the product to maximize profits in all regions - Sprint may be attempting the same. Like airlines charging more/less for the same product depending on the venue through which you shop - this practice is immoral and probably illegal (i forget but it is in some way... although Im sure they practice this in a method that is a classic method to avoid it being technicall illegal - there is a law to prevent this behaviour if I recall - could any honest laywer* please explain. (in Canada at least)).
What a shamefull mess you Yanks have gotten yourselves into that Sprint would even attempt a TOS like this...
*Go ahead and reply below with your own punchline to that 'set-up'...
5.1 Although Sprint will make commercially reasonable efforts to maintain the Services, you may experience service interruptions
I have a real problem with this idea. If Sprint is unable to deliver the product (the service) I do not pay. Simple. I dont care what you feel is "commercially reasonable". I have a VERY hard time with paying for something they are not providing - under any circumstance. Standard 'customer' protection laws should exist that nullify any attempt for anyone to include the above clause. How would sprint like it if I felt I was not 'commercially reasonable' for me to make my payments on time - or at all? The pizza you ordered has 2 pcs missing because delivering a full pie was "commercailly unreasonable", I get one shoe without a lace - but I have no right to ask for a discount to replace the lost lace... the TOS we are seeing with everything these days is showing one thing: American Capatalism has bread a monopoly in mostly every industry.
If it were as simple as 'making a choice to a better product' (read without these TOS) people would do it. The simple fact is the barrier to entry in most markets (of any consequence) is so high that only a few companies can try... and when they do - it is much easier to collude and exclude any possible interlopers.
The power being demonstrated in this Sprint TOS is really only an indicator of a much larger problem... unfortunatly it is systemic to the American corporate-centric economy.. power concentrates, it is easier to collude than compete once a certain state has been achieved (as it has been), Capatalism ends in Monopolistic oppression... Anti-Trust laws are intended to stop this... but the same people who run the country also own the business... fat chance of any of this power being given away freely (ie a strengthening of Anti-Trust law...).
So tell me again; Why did America elect a Republicrat instead of a Honets leader like say umm anyone except a Republicrat? Maybe Ralph Nader would run for President and put an end to this crap.(?!?!) Oh yeah, he did... and America got to watch their 'democracy' in action in Florida... A pretty nice 'play' if you ask me - almost enough to convince people their is a difference between the two parties, and that they should NEVER think of voting third party - it is obviously a wasted vote... *shudder* and this is really what people think...
Get ready world - you have not yet recieved all the TOS for your futures...
Market forces could clearly win out here
... correct my Economics101, but wouldnt the RIAA/MPAA clearly demostrate a oligopoly - and collusive behaviour? WTF is wrong with this picture - I thought we had all agreed we tolerate capatalism because it breads innovation through competition... every time I pick up a browser or a paper I read about another industry setting restrictive standards/license terms/leases etc etc because there is virtually no competition in 99% of the modern marketplace (this would exclude ordinary chattle (dishes, plastic knick-knack-garbage, furniture))
I wholy agreed - except this bit.
You assume there is competition - there is none, therefore the 'market' you look to correct this problem dosnt exist. Americans need much stronger monopoly laws - especially the ones regarding COLLUSION
Correct me if Im wrong, but wouldnt an afternoon and a few determined /. Social Engineers be able to walk into the local computer store and wave a large magnet over these HD's -- destroying their keys?
If there is in fact a key "located in a hidden, presumably read-only, area of your drive" wouldnt that be on the HD media itself - which would get rather annyoed at my running it through a de-gausing coil or setting a 6" magnet on top of the drive... I would advocate we simply destroy a few thousand of these drives on the shelves... that should peek the ear of Joe ConsumoBot who needs another HD for his porn and killer MP3 collection. Or simply buying them ourselves - bring them home and run them through our de-gaussing coils unopened and returning them - XYZ Compiant Drives failure rates might shoot up enough to make it appear people are destroying them on the shelf...
I think our friend Joe might just tell people "Dont buy that XYZ CPRM-Compliant HD because they suck - and oh yeah, did you know what CPRM actually does?"
Why not simply run all software patents across a Slash based we site where we geeks can surf on over and provide prior art to the latest 15 ill-conceived patents...
Let this be part of the 'fact finding' process of the existing system. Its so simple.. and frankly I think the collective interest of anti-IP geeks could probably crush 99.999999% of software patents - easily.
we've stopped being a constitutional republic and are now a constitutional monarchy
If you find the Dubya event amusing... wait until Hillary Clinton runs for President.
How the hell is it possible that the wife of a dead man is appointed Senator when he 'wins' the election... how do dead people qualify for elections?? Didnt everyone who voted for this dead person invalidate their ballot...?
Babbage, you Yanks need to do something serious about your 'democracy'.
(Im Canadian FYI)
played on various sports teams, made the honour role year after year and also developed an interest in business and computers
/. reader - you appear to be shallow, self centered and overly concerned with money.
the computer industry
to make it big
Frankly - you sound like an asshole. I hope your not the average
Quick: Whats more important? A)Appearing Fashinonable B) Having a green lawn C) Understanding the universe around you
Its almost a shame that I have to work/live with arrogant know-nothings everyday... when very interesting, intelligent, likeminded people are scattered around the globe. All in all this kid sounds like a fine person.
;)
Good luck to you.
Anyone every think to build a geek-commune?
By the way, all the posts arguing that the Catholic Church is bad are missing the point. The point is that this is precisely what exercise of responsibility ought to be if we're going to avoid legislation.
I think you are missing the point friend. Life (our time on this rock) wasnt intended to be our 'voting with your dollars' exercise of decision-making. Legislation isnt the issue - neither is this ChurchRun(TM) ISP.. I see that people when given the opportunity to buy cheap ISP service from an oppressive force - the Catholic Church(TM) - what are they to do? choose to not use the Internet because that is the only 'choice they can make with their dollars'?
I think that any censorship is bad - in all cases... when will the ChurchRun(TM) ISP be considered a normal thing? In time this censorship causes a distorted view of reality (the reality being porn and whateverthehellelse is blocked does really exist). If a specific person chooses to not view porn - its as simple as not typing in "www.playboy.com." So in the end the Church has created an artificial reality of their choosing - it appears to be 'real' to Philippinos. This is a dangerous thing - do we need the Catholic church using its power and money to subsidize a brainwashing program in the Philippines? I for one dont look forward to a future where people are MORE lobotomized by religion than they are now... this ChurchRun(TM) ISP is a imperialist operation of the Catholic Church. Nothing more. God Damn Catholics.
For the record: Im an atheist and I hold equal contempt for all religion.
And if you attempt to start in on the "all government is bad" paranoid-asshole-rant-milita-crap I dont want to hear it, governments are no more or less likely to fuck something up... and yes, legislated morals are bad... almost as bad as censorship...
Hell, if any religion/cult offered me $100 an hour to sit through a brainwashing-style presentation of their dogma, I'd probably go for that too.
HEhhe me too - if not for the cash at least for the laughs..
'Thank God you were not able to enter that bad site. CBCPNet suggests that you access wholesome sites instead. God Bless You.
If my browser said that everytime I tried to access pr0n I would be so blessed Id be able to walk on water...
This 'Aduva system' stinks of a pay-for-play service of some kind....
What is the Aduva business-model? What are they planning on doing to feed themselves? Does anyone know?
Maybe a little Off the immediate topic but..
Does anyone else get the idea that Linux will be the number one defense M$ will have when trying to defend itself from the anti-trust advocates?
Im sure M$'s market position would have even allowed them to embrace/extend/extinguish Linux in some way (making dual booting impossible would be a good method to slow/halt adoption for private use...)
Does anyone else feel now that the BSA has elected Republicans which are even greater corporate $whores$ than their predecessors - when the Anti-Trust suit gets dropped we will expect to see M$'s real reply to Linux.. weather that be a Linux Compat. Layer, or a M$ Linux distro (*shudder*) or ?????.
What Im saying is this is basically the calm before the storm for Linux...
How long did M$ take to marginalize OS2 - and OS2 had the full backing of IBM... I recognize that GNU/Linux has strengths that OS2 (and Windows) will never have (using the present proprietary SW models) but M$ will surely think of something... what will that be? Dont say this dotNet crap...
Scene 1
[wind]
[clop clop]
ARTHUR: Whoa there!
[clop clop]
GUARD #1: Halt! Who goes there?
ARTHUR: It is I, Arthur, son of Uther Pendragon, from the castle of Camelot. King of the Britons, defeator of the Saxons, sovereign of all England!
GUARD #1: Pull the other one!
ARTHUR: I am. And this my trusty servant Patsy. We have ridden the length and breadth of the land in search of knights who will join me in my court of Camelot. I must speak with your lord and master.
GUARD #1: What, ridden on a horse?
ARTHUR: Yes!
GUARD #1: You're using coconuts!
ARTHUR: What?
GUARD #1: You've got two empty halves of coconut and you're bangin' 'em together.
ARTHUR: So? We have ridden since the snows of winter covered this land, through the kingdom of Mercea, through--
GUARD #1: Where'd you get the coconut?
ARTHUR: We found them.
GUARD #1: Found them? In Mercea? The coconut's tropical!
ARTHUR: What do you mean?
GUARD #1: Well, this is a temperate zone.
ARTHUR: The swallow may fly south with the sun or the house martin or the plumber may seek warmer climes in winter yet these are not strangers to our land.
GUARD #1: Are you suggesting coconuts migrate?
ARTHUR: Not at all, they could be carried.
GUARD #1: What -- a swallow carrying a coconut?
ARTHUR: It could grip it by the husk!
GUARD #1: It's not a question of where he grips it! It's a simple question of weight ratios! A five ounce bird could not carry a 1 pound coconut.
ARTHUR: Well, it doesn't matter. Will you go and tell your master that Arthur from the Court of Camelot is here.
GUARD #1: Listen, in order to maintain air-speed velocity, a swallow needs to beat its wings 43 times every second, right?
ARTHUR: Please!
GUARD #1: Am I right?
ARTHUR: I'm not interested!
GUARD #2: It could be carried by an African swallow!
GUARD #1: Oh, yeah, an African swallow maybe, but not a European swallow, that's my point.
GUARD #2: Oh, yeah, I agree with that...
ARTHUR: Will you ask your master if he wants to join my court at Camelot?!
GUARD #1: But then of course African swallows are not migratory.
GUARD #2: Oh, yeah...
GUARD #1: So they couldn't bring a coconut back anyway...
[clop clop]
GUARD #2: Wait a minute -- supposing two swallows carried it together?
GUARD #1: No, they'd have to have it on a line.
GUARD #2: Well, simple! They'd just use a standard creeper!
GUARD #1: What, held under the dorsal guiding feathers?
GUARD #2: Well, why not?
Scene 23
ARTHUR: There it is! The Bridge of Death!
ROBIN: Oh, great.
???: Look!
ARTHUR: There's the old man from Scene 24!
BEDEMIR: What is he doing here?
ARTHUR: He is the keeper of the Bridge of Death.
He asks each traveller five questions-- ???: Three questions.
ARTHUR: Three questions. He who answers the five questions--
???: Three questions.
ARTHUR: Three questions may cross in safety.
ROBIN: What if you get a question wrong?
ARTHUR: Then you are cast into the Gorge of Eternal Peril.
ROBIN: Oh, I won't go.
???: Who's going to answer the questions?
ARTHUR: Sir Robin!
ROBIN: Yes?
ARTHUR: Brave Sir Robin, you go.
ROBIN: Hey! I've got a great idea. Why doesn't
Launcelot go? LAUNCELOT: Yes, let me go, my liege. I will take him single-handed. I shall make a feint to the north-east--
ARTHUR: No, no, hang on hang on hang on! Just answer the five questions--
???: Three questions.
ARTHUR: Three questions as best you can. And we shall watch... and pray.
LAUNCELOT: I understand, my liege.
ARTHUR: Good luck, brave Sir Launcelot. God be with you.
KEEPER: Stop! Who would cross the Bridge of Death must answer me these questions three, 'ere the other side he see.
LAUNCELOT: Ask me the questions, bridge-keeper. I'm not afraid.
KEEPER: What is your name?
LAUNCELOT: My name is Sir Launcelot of Camelot.
KEEPER: What is your quest?
LAUNCELOT: To seek the Holy Grail.
KEEPER: What is your favorite color?
LAUNCELOT: Blue.
KEEPER: Right. Off you go.
LAUNCELOT: Oh, thank you. Thank you very much.
ROBIN: That's easy!
KEEPER: Stop! Who approaches the Bridge of Death must answer me these questions three, 'ere the other side he see.
ROBIN: Ask me the questions, bridge-keeper. I'm not afraid.
KEEPER: What is your name?
ROBIN: Sir Robin of Camelot.
KEEPER: What is your quest?
ROBIN: To seek the Holy Grail.
KEEPER: What is the capital of Assyria?
ROBIN: I don't know that! Auuuuuuuugh!
KEEPER: Stop! What is your name?
GALAHAD: Sir Galahad of Camelot.
KEEPER: What is your quest?
GALAHAD: I seek the Holy Grail.
KEEPER: What is your favorite color?
GALAHAD: Blue. No yel-- Auuuuuuuugh!
KEEPER: Heh heh. Stop! What is your name?
ARTHUR: It is Arthur, King of the Britons.
KEEPER: What is your quest?
ARTHUR: To seek the Holy Grail.
KEEPER: What is the air-speed velocity of an unladen swallow?
ARTHUR: What do you mean? An African or European swallow?
KEEPER: What? I don't know that! Auuuuuuuugh!
BEDEMIR: How do know so much about swallows?
ARTHUR: Well, you have to know these things when you're a king you know.
How 'bout:
What is the average wingspan of a swallow?