How about renaming it "everywhere instant messenger" or "GNU instant messenger"? I've seen quite a bit in/. lately about attempts to trademark generic names, I think AOL would have some trouble trying to prevent others from using the "_blank_ instant messenger" format. How about "VAGINA"... "VAGina Is Not Aim" Nothing like a bunch of 13-year olds downloading VAGINA to chat with their friends.
Perhaps a more constructive message (feel free to copy and paste it, I sent it even though I live in the Bay Area)
I am not from Oregon, therefore you probably won't bother to respond to this email. But if you actually bother to read this, I would like you to know that I am extremely disturbed by your claim at a meeting of the Computer & Communications Industry Association that "spammers" (senders of unsolicited commercial emails) have "First Amendment rights to send unsolicited communication." (http://www.cnn.com/2001/TECH/industry/06/20/gepha rdt.tech.agenda.idg/index.html)
While it is true that the First Amendment permits free speech (ignoring the validity of advertising as "speech"), it does not state that I am required to subsidize the speech of others. Emails from "spammers" take up valuable bandwidth, which users of independent service providers have to pay for. Unsolicited emails cost the user money, regardless of their interest in the product being advertised. Companies are free to pay for advertising in the media of their choice, but I do not believe that you are justified in claiming that they have the right to target me with advertising that I must pay for. I do not like unsolicited mail in general, but at least when it travels by more conventional methods (the Post office, phone, etc.) I am not charged for the privilege of being solicited involuntarily.
If you are interested in the opinions of a large portion of the technically inclined populace, there is currently a discussion on your opinion at http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=01/06/21/161420 1
if it's run correctly. At my school (Harvey Mudd College - a small undergraduate school) our engineering department runs a "Clinic Program". Companies who would like to participate give the department a sum of money and a project proposal that they would like a team of students to work on. The team of five (a mixed combination of seniors and juniors) work on the project for a year's period of time, meeting with a liason for the company and presenting to the students. Note that this isn't research, as we do not have a graduate program. I worked on a very rewarding project last semester, and the company who sponsored the project filed an application for patent (we waived our rights, as all of us considered it more a valuable learning experience than a way to make money.) Our Clinic Program has been going on for years, and while there are some projects that students don't enjoy for various reasons, nobody really considers it as $elling out to "the man".
Although personally if I'm out hiking or whatever and I fall down a cliff and break both my arms, the LAST thing I want to do is stare at my emergency phone that refuses to work unless I crank it while causing shards of bone to fly off my forearms.
Look guys, you're all being irrational... Microsoft would NEVER abuse UCITA to unilaterally remove capabilities from someone's computer. "Microsoft's vision is to empower people through great software - any time, any place and on any device." Remember? They're in it to empower people, not use their evil corporate powers to strip consumers of all ability to participate in fair contract negotiations.
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How about renaming it "everywhere instant messenger" or "GNU instant messenger"? I've seen quite a bit in /. lately about attempts to trademark generic names, I think AOL would have some trouble trying to prevent others from using the "_blank_ instant messenger" format. How about "VAGINA"... "VAGina Is Not Aim" Nothing like a bunch of 13-year olds downloading VAGINA to chat with their friends.
I am not from Oregon, therefore you probably won't bother to respond to this email. But if you actually bother to read this, I would like you to know that I am extremely disturbed by your claim at a meeting of the Computer & Communications Industry Association that "spammers" (senders of unsolicited commercial emails) have "First Amendment rights to send unsolicited communication." (http://www.cnn.com/2001/TECH/industry/06/20/gepha rdt.tech.agenda.idg/index.html)
While it is true that the First Amendment permits free speech (ignoring the validity of advertising as "speech"), it does not state that I am required to subsidize the speech of others. Emails from "spammers" take up valuable bandwidth, which users of independent service providers have to pay for. Unsolicited emails cost the user money, regardless of their interest in the product being advertised. Companies are free to pay for advertising in the media of their choice, but I do not believe that you are justified in claiming that they have the right to target me with advertising that I must pay for. I do not like unsolicited mail in general, but at least when it travels by more conventional methods (the Post office, phone, etc.) I am not charged for the privilege of being solicited involuntarily.
If you are interested in the opinions of a large portion of the technically inclined populace, there is currently a discussion on your opinion at http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=01/06/21/161420 1
if it's run correctly. At my school (Harvey Mudd College - a small undergraduate school) our engineering department runs a "Clinic Program". Companies who would like to participate give the department a sum of money and a project proposal that they would like a team of students to work on. The team of five (a mixed combination of seniors and juniors) work on the project for a year's period of time, meeting with a liason for the company and presenting to the students. Note that this isn't research, as we do not have a graduate program. I worked on a very rewarding project last semester, and the company who sponsored the project filed an application for patent (we waived our rights, as all of us considered it more a valuable learning experience than a way to make money.) Our Clinic Program has been going on for years, and while there are some projects that students don't enjoy for various reasons, nobody really considers it as $elling out to "the man".
Although personally if I'm out hiking or whatever and I fall down a cliff and break both my arms, the LAST thing I want to do is stare at my emergency phone that refuses to work unless I crank it while causing shards of bone to fly off my forearms.
Look guys, you're all being irrational... Microsoft would NEVER abuse UCITA to unilaterally remove capabilities from someone's computer. "Microsoft's vision is to empower people through great software - any time, any place and on any device." Remember? They're in it to empower people, not use their evil corporate powers to strip consumers of all ability to participate in fair contract negotiations.