Folks, this is why we need to find a way to pay for true investigative journalism.
It's not that big a mystery, just pay quality journalists. Open a newsfeed site, mandate that only proper journalism will get rewarded, and charge people a subscription to see it.
Are there any countries that don't allow software patents that have a history of regularly introducing ground-breaking/game-changing software (at the global scale)?
How is it that Germany, with some of the highest taxes in the world, has average pretax salaries of over €60,000 a year, and post tax probably €30,000? Doesn't seem too bad to me, if you factor in the good social services as well.
The problem with this equation is that Chinese people are still not for the most part affluent enough to be able to move into a consumer based society - they need to work just to keep a roof over their heads. If the Chinese government starts sending their jobs abroad, civil unrest will follow immediately afterwards.
Also, what's to stop western companies just bypassing China and doing the same thing wherever China goes?
Roleplaying and computer games are not the same thing. Sure a lot of computer games and MMORPGs bill themsleves as roleplaying games but that's not the reality, since there is practically no roleplaying in them. Many people play these games and think they are getting the next generation of roleplaying - they are not, they are getting computer gaming. The two experiences are as different as chalk and cheese, although many computer games are built on roleplaying game foundations, WoW is basically the Dungeons and Dragons rules set to code.
Now I enjoy computer gaming as much as anyone else, but I recognise that the enjoyment I get from computer games is of a different variety to the experience I get from tabletop games. The amateur theatre, the sense of community, the bad accents, the ability of players to introduce completely arbitrary actions on the spur of the moment, these are all things that differentiate between the two hobbies.
Hrm. Reminds me of all the hubbub over Hubble, when in fact there are 25 Hubbles pointed down at the earth. I know Al Capone said walk softly and carry a big stick, but then again he was a syphillitic madman.
Indeed, I don't think there would be a headline if the software was from, say, Finland. Finding evidence it was put there deliberately, that's a different story.
Judges quite often make comments like this, I'm afraid if you had visions of any legal system as a solemn and sober affair you've got another think coming. Our local newspaper used to have a weekly column about the running commentary of the district judge on various colourful characters, very entertaining stuff.
I'm glad the judge put the boot ito it right from the outset though, which no doubt has nothing to do with the amount of junkmail in his (and everyone's) inbox every morning.
A lot of the people involved in this stuff are in developing countries with not an overwhelming amount of other alternatives to try and make a living. Sure you get your orgasised crime gangs as well, but people wouldn't be working with them either if there was any choice. And you have more than a few US based spammers as well, but at the end of the day if you give someone the means to directly contact people who earn hundreds or thousands of times what they do, you end up with lots of spammy rubbish like this.
Slashdot Mirror
Folks, this is why we need to find a way to pay for true investigative journalism.
It's not that big a mystery, just pay quality journalists. Open a newsfeed site, mandate that only proper journalism will get rewarded, and charge people a subscription to see it.
Are there any countries that don't allow software patents that have a history of regularly introducing ground-breaking/game-changing software (at the global scale)?
The entire European Union?
It has been solved, in many countries where software patents are not accepted. In this case it really is black and white.
How is it that Germany, with some of the highest taxes in the world, has average pretax salaries of over €60,000 a year, and post tax probably €30,000? Doesn't seem too bad to me, if you factor in the good social services as well.
The problem with this equation is that Chinese people are still not for the most part affluent enough to be able to move into a consumer based society - they need to work just to keep a roof over their heads. If the Chinese government starts sending their jobs abroad, civil unrest will follow immediately afterwards.
Also, what's to stop western companies just bypassing China and doing the same thing wherever China goes?
Will that have an effect on the legislative landscape?
Low is a good word for it. This isn't business, it's like an ambulance running down people to make hospitals more profitable.
Yup, the road warrior isn't going to get very far if he doesn't learn how to service his gun or vehicle.
That's really rough, man. Musicians can make their money from live performances, movies can make it at the box office, what can authors do?
That said, I confess an act of defiance in that I will not purchase the digital version unless it costs less so I still occasionally purchase paper.
Hear hear!
Bingo, nail on the head. TTRPGS and computer games are a completely different experience.
How so, monty haul is only one sort of gaming, usually the result of a bad GM. Hardly stimulation.
Eh its public donations, not forced taxes paying for this.
Roleplaying and computer games are not the same thing. Sure a lot of computer games and MMORPGs bill themsleves as roleplaying games but that's not the reality, since there is practically no roleplaying in them. Many people play these games and think they are getting the next generation of roleplaying - they are not, they are getting computer gaming. The two experiences are as different as chalk and cheese, although many computer games are built on roleplaying game foundations, WoW is basically the Dungeons and Dragons rules set to code.
Now I enjoy computer gaming as much as anyone else, but I recognise that the enjoyment I get from computer games is of a different variety to the experience I get from tabletop games. The amateur theatre, the sense of community, the bad accents, the ability of players to introduce completely arbitrary actions on the spur of the moment, these are all things that differentiate between the two hobbies.
Whatever helps you sleep at night, son.
Really? Wow. Between that and the bestiality laws/psychotic drug police Sweden is getting less and less attractive by the day.
Hrm. Reminds me of all the hubbub over Hubble, when in fact there are 25 Hubbles pointed down at the earth. I know Al Capone said walk softly and carry a big stick, but then again he was a syphillitic madman.
How many fighter bombers would have to be decommissioned to pay for them?
Defence is one thing, being the number one spender, by far, on the military on earth is something else entirely.
It must be the LSD. /walterbishop
Indeed, they could have chosen a less ominous name.
Like fluffyboppers.
Indeed, I don't think there would be a headline if the software was from, say, Finland. Finding evidence it was put there deliberately, that's a different story.
Judges quite often make comments like this, I'm afraid if you had visions of any legal system as a solemn and sober affair you've got another think coming. Our local newspaper used to have a weekly column about the running commentary of the district judge on various colourful characters, very entertaining stuff.
I'm glad the judge put the boot ito it right from the outset though, which no doubt has nothing to do with the amount of junkmail in his (and everyone's) inbox every morning.
should I be alarmed for not being up to date here?
You both should and shouldn't be alarmed.
A lot of the people involved in this stuff are in developing countries with not an overwhelming amount of other alternatives to try and make a living. Sure you get your orgasised crime gangs as well, but people wouldn't be working with them either if there was any choice. And you have more than a few US based spammers as well, but at the end of the day if you give someone the means to directly contact people who earn hundreds or thousands of times what they do, you end up with lots of spammy rubbish like this.