-- In contrast, an earlier referee had a different opinion of the controversial paper. "I have only read the first two sections as it is clear that the author's arguments are based on profound ignorance or misunderstanding of basic analysis and calculus. I'm afraid I am unwilling to waste any time reading further, and recommend terminal rejection." --
I'm not into the scientific journal "scene", as it were, but I expect that's about as insulting as a review can possibly be. So maybe this guy is onto something profound, but more likely it's smoke and mirrors.
>This is no different from age or gender discrimination.
I suffer from both age *and* gender discrimination when I purchase auto insurance - companies see that I'm a young male and immediately charge me double what they would a middle-aged female. Society seems to agree that this makes sense because I'm statistically more likely to have an accident.
So if companies can do this, why can't they also choose employees according to statistical predisposition?
Now, if their security systems stopped the intruders cold, why were 7500 credit cards then used fraudulently? I think Egghead has some more explaining to do..."
That depends on how this sample compares to the population. Egghead claims 7500 is only.2% of their database. If.2% is also the total of all credit cards in existence that have been used fraudulently, then that's exactly the amount one should expect. Before jumping on them, we need info on credit card use in general.
They appear to be pictures of empty rooms, with old filenames preserved to tell us what we're missing. Check out 446_080c.jpg for some huge.. tracts of land.
"...the music industry could easily build a closed commercial news distribution service superior to rogue freeware Napster."
This is correct, they certainly have the resources (money/copyrights) to do it. However, you can't put the word "profitable" in front of "closed" and have it remain true...
lyrics.ch used to be the end-all database of lyrics on the net that seemed to contain just about anything you could think of (or at least anything I cared about). It got shut down by the National Music Publisher's Association, then was allowed back up after the NMPA and the site owner reached an "agreement".
It's been shadow of its former self ever since. Look up anything less than a top 40 hit and you're likely to find that your request "is not available at this time", but you will be supplied with links to at least 3 different sites that will be more than willing to sell you the corresponding album.
This is not the same situation, but will the new industry-approved version of mp3.com's hosting be better in any way? To compare quotes:
"[the NMPA's strategy is to offer a] web site to benefit both consumers and the industry, and to develop copyright-licensing policies that will still be effective in a world where consumers can get new recordings through digital downloads" NYTimes on lyrics.ch (Feb '99)
"The "Big Five" record companies...are tenuously trying to embrace the digital delivery of their coveted music libraries, but through terms that ensure copyright protection of their signed works." CNET regarding mp3.com
"Last Friday, the Switzerland-based operators of the Web site met with NMPA officials to discuss a proposal that would bring the Internet resource back online as an authorized commercial venture... [NMPA CEO Jack] Murphy acknowledged that he was willing to consider a revenue-sharing plan with the Lyrics Server." NYT re lyrics.ch again
"Terms of the settlements and licensing agreements were not disclosed. However, the licensing terms could total about $11 million a year based on fees that record companies would charge on a per-play basis, according to one source familiar with the negotiations." CNET on mp3.com again
My guess is that we won't see any sort of "pay for play" plan developed - just more links to online CD stores.
Yes, this is exactly the sort of thing that's been happening due to Microsoft having too much power! Thank you, DOJ, for splitting them up and creating some competition that should benefit the consumer! Right? Or maybe not - according to the ruling, there will still be only one company handling the Windows OS. They'll still have a monopoly, they'll still be able to unilaterally declare policies like this, and OEMs will still have to take it. We're supposed to be better off now, but I don't see how...
Slashdot Mirror
The Microtendo Travel Agency: "Who are you and where do you want to go today?"
From the article:
--
In contrast, an earlier referee had a different opinion of the controversial paper. "I have only read the first two sections as it is clear that the author's arguments are based on profound ignorance or misunderstanding of basic analysis and calculus. I'm afraid I am unwilling to waste any time reading further, and recommend terminal rejection."
--
I'm not into the scientific journal "scene", as it were, but I expect that's about as insulting as a review can possibly be. So maybe this guy is onto something profound, but more likely it's smoke and mirrors.
If someone tries to patent my DNA, shouldn't I be able to provide them with lock of hair as an example of prior art?
And the buck a film rate strikes me as awesome. I'd watch a lot more movies if they were only a buck.
Yes, and I'd buy a lot more cars if they were only a buck. What's your point?
"More competitive chess players have been shown to score highly for unconventional thinking and paranoia"
Great, more negative stereotypes.
(somewhere in FBI offices): "Unconvential thinking, eh? Right, put chess players on the 'How to Identify Subversive Students' list."
I suffer from both age *and* gender discrimination when I purchase auto insurance - companies see that I'm a young male and immediately charge me double what they would a middle-aged female. Society seems to agree that this makes sense because I'm statistically more likely to have an accident.
So if companies can do this, why can't they also choose employees according to statistical predisposition?
That depends on how this sample compares to the population. Egghead claims 7500 is only .2% of their database. If .2% is also the total of all credit cards in existence that have been used fraudulently, then that's exactly the amount one should expect. Before jumping on them, we need info on credit card use in general.
I've never seen what he looks like, but I'm guessing the Unix engineer is the heavy-set bald guy with a bushy beard.
They appear to be pictures of empty rooms, with old filenames preserved to tell us what we're missing. Check out 446_080c.jpg for some huge.. tracts of land.
"...the music industry could easily build a closed commercial news distribution service superior to rogue freeware Napster."
This is correct, they certainly have the resources (money/copyrights) to do it.
However, you can't put the word "profitable" in front of "closed" and have it remain true...
We've seen something like this before: "Lyrics.ch and NMPA reach agreement"
lyrics.ch used to be the end-all database of lyrics on the net that seemed to contain just about anything you could think of (or at least anything I cared about). It got shut down by the National Music Publisher's Association, then was allowed back up after the NMPA and the site owner reached an "agreement".
It's been shadow of its former self ever since. Look up anything less than a top 40 hit and you're likely to find that your request "is not available at this time", but you will be supplied with links to at least 3 different sites that will be more than willing to sell you the corresponding album.
This is not the same situation, but will the new industry-approved version of mp3.com's hosting be better in any way? To compare quotes:
"[the NMPA's strategy is to offer a] web site to benefit both consumers and the industry, and to develop copyright-licensing policies that will still be effective in a world where consumers can get new recordings through digital downloads"
NYTimes on lyrics.ch (Feb '99)
"The "Big Five" record companies...are tenuously trying to embrace the digital delivery of their coveted music libraries, but through terms that ensure copyright protection of their signed works."
CNET regarding mp3.com
"Last Friday, the Switzerland-based operators of the Web site met with NMPA officials to discuss a proposal that would bring the Internet resource back online as an authorized commercial venture... [NMPA CEO Jack] Murphy acknowledged that he was willing to consider a revenue-sharing plan with the Lyrics Server."
NYT re lyrics.ch again
"Terms of the settlements and licensing agreements were not disclosed. However, the licensing terms could total about $11 million a year based on fees that record companies would charge on a per-play basis, according to one source familiar with the negotiations."
CNET on mp3.com again
My guess is that we won't see any sort of "pay for play" plan developed - just more links to online CD stores.
Yes, this is exactly the sort of thing that's been happening due to Microsoft having too much power! Thank you, DOJ, for splitting them up and creating some competition that should benefit the consumer! Right? Or maybe not - according to the ruling, there will still be only one company handling the Windows OS. They'll still have a monopoly, they'll still be able to unilaterally declare policies like this, and OEMs will still have to take it. We're supposed to be better off now, but I don't see how...