Hrm... unsolicited telephone calls using an automated voice that doesn't clearly identify the business or person?
Shit... I should have stayed on the line those last 12 time whoever the prerecorded hell it was called and tried to offer me a Disney vacation... I could have afforded to go by now...
True. About the only things the recording industry provides is a wider potential market, and increased advertising. And they make sure they spend as little of their own money and as much of the young new artist's future royalties as possible.
And here I thought indentured servitude went out of style....
I left it out on purpose. Ok, sure, there are software pirates out there. To deny it would be an exercise in futility.
But for me, I'd rather have a legal copy of the software and the manual, and whatever else comes in the box (help numbers, etc.) then again, wait 196 hours to download Photoshop or Quark Express.
E-books? Bah. I can already "pirate" books. It's called a library. I'm not buying them, but gee, I still get to read them. Or Project Gutenberg. Again, not paying, but still reading.
You're right. It will absolutely destroy capitalism. I mean, yesterday, there I was, driving around town in the Porsche I downloaded through Kazaa. Then I went home just in time to eat the steak dinner that had finished downloading.
Get real. The only part of "capitalism" this hurts is the music industry and the movie industry. (And I daresay it hurts the music industry a lot more, as it's still easier to go out and buy the DVD rather then wait 196 hours to download one.) And if the music industry insists on ignoring that basic tenet of capitalism, supply and demand, then they deserve to get the shaft.
We're in sort of the same boat at work. We have a big HP printer (HP 2500 CP Color Oversize... 36" wide banner printer), and we can only use HP inks with it. Beats me if they're going to go for these "expiring" cartridges for that printer, but even if they do, it won't matter. We burn through them pretty fast.
Heck, I do all my printing at work now because I can either get it for free or for very cheap. (Working at Kinko's does have a few benefits.)
I've done the same thing... t-shirts (hey, each t-shirt is one more day I don't have to do laundry), baseball caps (cheap ones), and metal and plastic slinkies.
Actually, my friends and I went back in line many times for the slinkies. And yes, for these cards, I was B. Clinton, at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
Come to think of it, probably the easiest way to do social engineering is have some pretty girl ask the geeks for their passwords. The fact that a female is paying attention to them should override all higher brain functions.
Extortion: Forcing a person to give up property in a thing through the use of violence, fear or under pretense of authority.
IMAO (and IANAL), trying to get paid back for being ripped-off is not extortion. Threatening to expose a "rip-off" to the world, when it can be proven that you were not, in fact, ripped off, _is_ extortion. (No, I am not directly paralleling this particular case. I am using an example. I do not have any sort of insider knowledge as to the particulars in this case.)
No, if it's true, it still can be extortion. It can't be libel.
Let's say I know Embarrasing Fact A about someone. I threaten to reveal it to his girlfriend unless he buys me a steak dinner. I am extorting him, and what the basis of my extortion is factual.
If I try and use Embarrasing Rumour B, which I know is not true, then it's either slander or libel, depending on the method of tranmission of the rumour (spoken word, or printed text).
That's as may be, but some of the RIAA's claims are still ridiculous. I mean, if, in theory, someone had two tracks from one album as mp3s, would the RIAA claim that as two lost sales of the same album? Given their relative lack of understanding of simple mathematics and statistics, I would have to assume they would.
Actually, if the RIAA starts filing lawsuits, willy-nilly, with no care if they win or lose, and are merely using the lawsuits, or threats of such as a scare tactic, well, judges (some judges) hate that shit.
The thing is, how do we know this guy has a legit tie to terrorists? He donated a large whack of cash to a charitable organization. I would like to suggest that even if the organization in question does have terrorist ties, it's hardly likely that they would advertise the fact. Even before 9/11, the Feds would not ignore someone who said "Donate money to my organization, because we fund terrorist assholes!"
Furthermore, the little phrase "innocent until proven guilty" should still mean something. Even if Mr. Hawash is complicit in assisting a group that assisted in funding terrorists, it must be proven first. The fact that the government is using these tactics suggests that their evidence is weak and/or non-existant. Considering the federal actions against the organization that Mr. Hawash donated money to, it's hardly likely that if any terrorist connection existed that those terrorists would not have already done whatever they needed to be done to hide any links on their end.
Shit, if we're going to have scientists mucking about trying to create new lifeforms, let's bloody well do it in an orbital station, or on a moon-base so if something goes wrong (according to the movies, the chance of something going wrong approaches 100%), it's not like the damn killer microbe can get back to Earth.
It's called a punitive fine. It's a "never do this again, and we're making an example of you to others, so they won't do it either". And, just to note, he can always appeal the fine (hmmm... maybe. Not sure how Japanese courts work), and if the appeals court finds that the fine was too high, they can reduce or eliminate it.
Right, how many U.S. citizens has GWB tortured, maimed and/or killed? How many Iraqi citizens has Saddam Hussein tortured, maimed and/or killed? Hell, there are still Kuwaitis who were taken prisoner during the first Gulf War whose fate is still not known for sure.
The moral high ground for taking out Saddam existed already. We (the U.S., the UN, etc.) have been trying diplomacy since the last Gulf War ended. If Saddam wasn't hiding WMD, then he sure as Hell gave the impression of hiding something. Sure, the U.S. can't exactly claim to be as pure as Ivory Soap on this one, but compared to Saddam, they're in the clear on this one...
Maybe I want to buy the Open Source software so I can transfer it from old computer to new computer easily. Maybe I want the manual (which, even if available as a.pdf, seems to be so much more handy if I can leave through it). Maybe the download sites are constantly jammed, and it would take less time to drive to Best Buy, purchase a copy, drive back, and install it, then it would take to download the damn thing.
Maybe it's an impulse buy. Maybe it's a present to another geek. Maybe you actually needed someone to tell you this....
Yup. In the U.S., if you buy a white powder from an undercover narcotics agent under the presumption that you think it is cocaine, you are breaking the law, even if the powder is nothing more then baking soda.
Because you are not under any obligation to buy it... see?
*nod* I heard about this too. Apparently some Iraqi soldiers tried surrendering to British paratroopers (in the version I heard) who were part of the live fire exercise. The Brits told the Iraqis they "couldn't surrender yet, the war hasn't started."
Um, the "blue one", Zhaan, played by Virginia Hey, is no longer part of the regular cast. Her character was killed off a long time ago, and she reappeared in one episode since then.
Besides... *slap* what's wrong with you? Look at Chiana (Gigi Edgley)!
Slashdot Mirror
Oh come on... look at the setting, look at the characters. If it hadn't been starring Harrison Ford, it would be a B-movie.
It's basically a movie version of any of hundreds of different pulp adventure novels.
Is it a masterpiece of film? No. Is it a decent way to kill a couple of hours? Yes.
Kierthos
Hrm... unsolicited telephone calls using an automated voice that doesn't clearly identify the business or person?
Shit... I should have stayed on the line those last 12 time whoever the prerecorded hell it was called and tried to offer me a Disney vacation... I could have afforded to go by now...
Kierthos
True. About the only things the recording industry provides is a wider potential market, and increased advertising. And they make sure they spend as little of their own money and as much of the young new artist's future royalties as possible.
And here I thought indentured servitude went out of style....
Kierthos
I left it out on purpose. Ok, sure, there are software pirates out there. To deny it would be an exercise in futility.
But for me, I'd rather have a legal copy of the software and the manual, and whatever else comes in the box (help numbers, etc.) then again, wait 196 hours to download Photoshop or Quark Express.
E-books? Bah. I can already "pirate" books. It's called a library. I'm not buying them, but gee, I still get to read them. Or Project Gutenberg. Again, not paying, but still reading.
Kierthos
You're right. It will absolutely destroy capitalism. I mean, yesterday, there I was, driving around town in the Porsche I downloaded through Kazaa. Then I went home just in time to eat the steak dinner that had finished downloading.
Get real. The only part of "capitalism" this hurts is the music industry and the movie industry. (And I daresay it hurts the music industry a lot more, as it's still easier to go out and buy the DVD rather then wait 196 hours to download one.) And if the music industry insists on ignoring that basic tenet of capitalism, supply and demand, then they deserve to get the shaft.
Kierthos
We're in sort of the same boat at work. We have a big HP printer (HP 2500 CP Color Oversize... 36" wide banner printer), and we can only use HP inks with it. Beats me if they're going to go for these "expiring" cartridges for that printer, but even if they do, it won't matter. We burn through them pretty fast.
Heck, I do all my printing at work now because I can either get it for free or for very cheap. (Working at Kinko's does have a few benefits.)
Kierthos
... the second Borg Cube it attacked?
The first one having been vaporized....
Kierthos
Yes, you are.
Kierthos
Well, that's why the Hulk is so angry....
"Power wedgie make Hulk throw tank!"
Kierthos
There was at least one Captain America movie. Straight to video. And boy did it stink.
Kierthos
I've done the same thing... t-shirts (hey, each t-shirt is one more day I don't have to do laundry), baseball caps (cheap ones), and metal and plastic slinkies.
Actually, my friends and I went back in line many times for the slinkies. And yes, for these cards, I was B. Clinton, at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
Come to think of it, probably the easiest way to do social engineering is have some pretty girl ask the geeks for their passwords. The fact that a female is paying attention to them should override all higher brain functions.
Kierthos
True. My point was, however, that the threat of revealing something that is true _can_ be extortion.
Duhaime's Online Law Dictionary has the following definition:
Extortion: Forcing a person to give up property in a thing through the use of violence, fear or under pretense of authority.
IMAO (and IANAL), trying to get paid back for being ripped-off is not extortion. Threatening to expose a "rip-off" to the world, when it can be proven that you were not, in fact, ripped off, _is_ extortion. (No, I am not directly paralleling this particular case. I am using an example. I do not have any sort of insider knowledge as to the particulars in this case.)
Kierthos
No, if it's true, it still can be extortion. It can't be libel.
Let's say I know Embarrasing Fact A about someone. I threaten to reveal it to his girlfriend unless he buys me a steak dinner. I am extorting him, and what the basis of my extortion is factual.
If I try and use Embarrasing Rumour B, which I know is not true, then it's either slander or libel, depending on the method of tranmission of the rumour (spoken word, or printed text).
Kierthos
That's as may be, but some of the RIAA's claims are still ridiculous. I mean, if, in theory, someone had two tracks from one album as mp3s, would the RIAA claim that as two lost sales of the same album? Given their relative lack of understanding of simple mathematics and statistics, I would have to assume they would.
Kierthos
Hrm. I am listening to music for free right now. The store I work in pipes it in. Sure, someone is paying for it, but I'm not.
Hey, I'm also humming along with the song (something by Coldplay, can't remember the title). Is that actionable as well?
The RIAA needs to collectively grow the fuck up and learn how to work with the Internet instead of against it.
Kierthos
Actually, if the RIAA starts filing lawsuits, willy-nilly, with no care if they win or lose, and are merely using the lawsuits, or threats of such as a scare tactic, well, judges (some judges) hate that shit.
Kierthos
The critics seem to like it overall, and, skimming through the reviews, the ones who dislike it seem to do so for the usual reason: it's a cartoon.
It's a cartoon?! Why does nobody tell me these things!
Kierthos
(And here I thought it was a documentary....)
The thing is, how do we know this guy has a legit tie to terrorists? He donated a large whack of cash to a charitable organization. I would like to suggest that even if the organization in question does have terrorist ties, it's hardly likely that they would advertise the fact. Even before 9/11, the Feds would not ignore someone who said "Donate money to my organization, because we fund terrorist assholes!"
Furthermore, the little phrase "innocent until proven guilty" should still mean something. Even if Mr. Hawash is complicit in assisting a group that assisted in funding terrorists, it must be proven first. The fact that the government is using these tactics suggests that their evidence is weak and/or non-existant. Considering the federal actions against the organization that Mr. Hawash donated money to, it's hardly likely that if any terrorist connection existed that those terrorists would not have already done whatever they needed to be done to hide any links on their end.
Kierthos
Shit, if we're going to have scientists mucking about trying to create new lifeforms, let's bloody well do it in an orbital station, or on a moon-base so if something goes wrong (according to the movies, the chance of something going wrong approaches 100%), it's not like the damn killer microbe can get back to Earth.
Kierthos
It's called a punitive fine. It's a "never do this again, and we're making an example of you to others, so they won't do it either". And, just to note, he can always appeal the fine (hmmm... maybe. Not sure how Japanese courts work), and if the appeals court finds that the fine was too high, they can reduce or eliminate it.
Kierthos
Right, how many U.S. citizens has GWB tortured, maimed and/or killed? How many Iraqi citizens has Saddam Hussein tortured, maimed and/or killed? Hell, there are still Kuwaitis who were taken prisoner during the first Gulf War whose fate is still not known for sure.
The moral high ground for taking out Saddam existed already. We (the U.S., the UN, etc.) have been trying diplomacy since the last Gulf War ended. If Saddam wasn't hiding WMD, then he sure as Hell gave the impression of hiding something. Sure, the U.S. can't exactly claim to be as pure as Ivory Soap on this one, but compared to Saddam, they're in the clear on this one...
Kierthos
Maybe I want to buy the Open Source software so I can transfer it from old computer to new computer easily. Maybe I want the manual (which, even if available as a .pdf, seems to be so much more handy if I can leave through it). Maybe the download sites are constantly jammed, and it would take less time to drive to Best Buy, purchase a copy, drive back, and install it, then it would take to download the damn thing.
Maybe it's an impulse buy. Maybe it's a present to another geek. Maybe you actually needed someone to tell you this....
Kierthos
Yup. In the U.S., if you buy a white powder from an undercover narcotics agent under the presumption that you think it is cocaine, you are breaking the law, even if the powder is nothing more then baking soda.
Because you are not under any obligation to buy it... see?
Kierthos
*nod* I heard about this too. Apparently some Iraqi soldiers tried surrendering to British paratroopers (in the version I heard) who were part of the live fire exercise. The Brits told the Iraqis they "couldn't surrender yet, the war hasn't started."
Dunno how true that is though...
Kierthos
Um, the "blue one", Zhaan, played by Virginia Hey, is no longer part of the regular cast. Her character was killed off a long time ago, and she reappeared in one episode since then.
Besides... *slap* what's wrong with you? Look at Chiana (Gigi Edgley)!
Kierthos