It's been a fact of life since the beginning of time, once someone gets too much power they will get greedy.
Look at all of the mega-mergers that are always covered in the news, and now most of these corporations control the very news sources that the public is *supposed* to get unbiased news from.
It is a fact, all of the major news sources, CNN, ABC, MSNBC, NBC, CBS, and the major newspapers in the country are controlled by large corporations that don't want to see them get bad press and checked up on by media hounds. By controlling the major media outlets, they are able to control what the public can and can't see and hear.
The one place they are having a hard time with this is the internet. It is impossible for these companies to control a medium that has no real boundries.
The net is the one place where the corporations can't control what we see and hear, and I certainly hope this doesn't change any time in my lifetime.
"When I was trying it out I used it to download stuff by long dead artists who were screwed by their labels to begin with, and things which were just not available through the normal distribution mechanism."
Like Creedence Clearwater Revival, they got seriously screwed, and as far as I know, didn't walk away with a cent....
What is this non-stop stream of crap that comes out these days? A contest to get shot into space to an aging space station?
Whatever happened to shows like the "Honeymooners", with each and every show having it's own set of trials and tribulations, but Jackie Gleason still kissed his wife at the end of every show with the line "Baby, you're the greatest?"
Who can forget the hilarity and freshness of "I love Lucy", or the ground-breaking performances on the Sullivan Show. Or even the hokiness of "The Andy Griffith Show".
Or even when television and the evening news used to be a reliable source of information?
These days instead of having a man telling his wife that she's "the greatest", we have them screaming obscenities at each other on the Jerry Springer show.
Instead of entertainers, we have this non-stop flow of purile "reality" shows.
The news we now get is so biased, with each and every of the major stations owned and operated by a large corporation out for their own best interests and will just allow you to see what THEY want you to see. It's very sickening. I'm not a "fogey" by any means, I'm only 22, but I can remember watching those shows as re-runs and the state of entertainment and television being alot more about entertaining in those days.
Well, you must be paranoid too, you won't even use a user name to post, do you not want your comments attributed to your name? Is this anonymity important to you? Thought so.
Some people may not care who sees what websites you visit, etc., but I do. I don't want this information shared with other companies who can then use me as a target consumer for their products.
Think about how much this goes on in every day life......
If you have a supermarket discount card (like a Star Market Card), everytime you use it for purchases, retailers use it to track exactly what you've purchased, how much you spent and how often you shop. This information can then be shared (as with what website you visit) with product manufacturers who the feel you may be interested in their products.
Insurance claims. The information on your medical records is not protected by federal law, but something as inane as a video rental records are. Everytime you make an insurance claim and signing the form, you authorize doctors to release sensitive information to insurers and other third parties, like the Medical Information Bureau, which keeps records of health problems on some insurnace applictions and forms and informs insurers about pre-exisiting conditions, making it potentially harder to receive quality insurance. These records can be shared with various companies, but in half of the states in the US, you don't have the legal right to see your own medical records.
A practice that is picking up speed in restaurants is the use of cameras spying on diners. The chefs then watch the diners so they can time when to serve the next course. I find this pretty scary that someone is watching my every bite.....
Everyone knows that cell phones aren't safe, don't say anything on them or on portable phone that you don't want your worst enemy to hear. It can easily intercepted, and I know this from first hand experience, living in a dorm, a few of suitemates would sit around every night and listen in on numerous conversations going on the dorm every night!!!!
Consumer advocates and the Clinton Administration say financial privacy has been further endangered by a federal law passed last year that made it easier for banks to merge with other financial firms, such as brokerages and insurance companies. Though the law includes provisions to protect consumer privacy, critics say that there are loopholes that could lead, for example, to a bank denying a loan to a customer because its health-insurance affiliate's data reveals that he or she is being treated for a life-threatening illness.
There are hundreds of ways that the private citizen is becoming less and less private, and it is sickening.
If this was such a big deal, wouldn't the government have already covered it up?:) Hopefully somewhere out there someone got access to the docs that will let the world know who really shot JFK!
You really need to talk to a lawyer first.
This will make sure your best interest is being looked out for too, not just the company's.
Talk to a lawyer soon and don't let them try to talk you into anything without it first being reviewed by a lawyer.
Hiring an attorney is the only way to legally protect your rights and to make sure that you aren't being screwed over in the process. Good-luck.
I think that why there is such a connection between geeks and the mystical/occult is that there aren't any set rules in how you should/shouldn't practice your own form of religion. There are a certain set of beliefs, but it's basically what you make of it, it's very unrestrictive, and allows for creativity. I'm not saying that other more mainstream religions aren't creative, but they tend to look down on what is "different" in their eyes, it's more about conforming your life to the way "they" think you should live it, "their" guidelines. Geeks are known for their creativity and opposition to restraints on their lifestyles (censorship, etc.), and the occult really allows them/us to live their lives as they choose.
In my home town in Vermont, cable television has not even come to town yet, much less high speed internet connections. It really does take a while for the ripple effect of technology to reach rural areas, some people even fear it for some reason or another. But very gradually, it is happening. I think it is great what Iowa is doing! I would love to see something like this happen on the farm in Vermont, where I am proud to say my grandparents have their first computer ever in their house as of a few weeks ago and my 80 year old grandmother wants me to teach her how to use "that internet thing".:)
Also, ignorance of any law is not an excuse and will not hold up in court. The "average joe" concept is non-existent, that's what a lawyer is for, to help weed through the laws, statutes, etc., that the "average joe" without a law degree cannot understand.
I disagree- check out http://www.votenader.org and see some of the issues he represents under the Green Party, Libertarian is not the only way to go.
Re:Who really needs a lesson
on
Lawsuits Suck
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· Score: 1
A lawyer is a voice for the people, there are certain things that *need* to be learned in the classroom. Knowledge of the law is not reduced to a *score*. That is not how the bar is set up, and personally, I would not someone defended a case for me without a formal education defending me. If you know what the bar is like, you would know that it is *impossible* to pass without a degree- it's a Juris Doctorate that you receive upon graduation, attorneys are put through the same rigorous testing that doctors are put through.
Re:Who really needs a lesson
on
Lawsuits Suck
·
· Score: 1
Ok, here's a viewpoint from the legal point of view, I work for large law firm. *Of course* you cannot be a lawyer without a college education, it would be like letting an unlicensed doctor perform surgery, a total disaster. There are too many laws, regulations, research, statutes that you have to know about, have to know how to research correctly before you can even become a paralegal, much less an attorney. I take the law and justice very seriously and not all lawyers are out to make the big bucks, in fact, most of the people I have come into contact in my life are there for the good of people, for justice. What you all need to do, is to let them know how you feel. If you feel something is not right, ORGANIZE! Get your friends together, find something you don't like, a law you don't agree with, and TAKE IT ON! There is always someone out there willing to help the underdog. Right now in Massachusetts there are two major cases going on that the American Civil Liberty Union is taking on, helping NAMBLA take on a multi-million dollor lawsuit. Though you don't have to agree with what NAMBLA stands for (their website is now down), it's a case about freedom of speech, which the ACLU finds pretty important to protect. NAMBLA ran a website advocating legalizing sex between men and boys, and the ACLU is representing them to help them protect their ideas. And above all else, DON'T FORGET TO VOTE!
Slashdot Mirror
.....corrupts absolutely.
It's been a fact of life since the beginning of time, once someone gets too much power they will get greedy.
Look at all of the mega-mergers that are always covered in the news, and now most of these corporations control the very news sources that the public is *supposed* to get unbiased news from.
It is a fact, all of the major news sources, CNN, ABC, MSNBC, NBC, CBS, and the major newspapers in the country are controlled by large corporations that don't want to see them get bad press and checked up on by media hounds. By controlling the major media outlets, they are able to control what the public can and can't see and hear.
The one place they are having a hard time with this is the internet. It is impossible for these companies to control a medium that has no real boundries.
The net is the one place where the corporations can't control what we see and hear, and I certainly hope this doesn't change any time in my lifetime.
"When I was trying it out I used it to download stuff by long dead artists who were screwed by their labels to begin with, and things which were just not available through the normal distribution mechanism."
Like Creedence Clearwater Revival, they got seriously screwed, and as far as I know, didn't walk away with a cent....
What is this non-stop stream of crap that comes out these days? A contest to get shot into space to an aging space station?
Whatever happened to shows like the "Honeymooners", with each and every show having it's own set of trials and tribulations, but Jackie Gleason still kissed his wife at the end of every show with the line "Baby, you're the greatest?"
Who can forget the hilarity and freshness of "I love Lucy", or the ground-breaking performances on the Sullivan Show. Or even the hokiness of "The Andy Griffith Show".
Or even when television and the evening news used to be a reliable source of information?
These days instead of having a man telling his wife that she's "the greatest", we have them screaming obscenities at each other on the Jerry Springer show.
Instead of entertainers, we have this non-stop flow of purile "reality" shows.
The news we now get is so biased, with each and every of the major stations owned and operated by a large corporation out for their own best interests and will just allow you to see what THEY want you to see. It's very sickening. I'm not a "fogey" by any means, I'm only 22, but I can remember watching those shows as re-runs and the state of entertainment and television being alot more about entertaining in those days.
Well, you must be paranoid too, you won't even use a user name to post, do you not want your comments attributed to your name? Is this anonymity important to you? Thought so.
Some people may not care who sees what websites you visit, etc., but I do. I don't want this information shared with other companies who can then use me as a target consumer for their products.
Think about how much this goes on in every day life......
If you have a supermarket discount card (like a Star Market Card), everytime you use it for purchases, retailers use it to track exactly what you've purchased, how much you spent and how often you shop. This information can then be shared (as with what website you visit) with product manufacturers who the feel you may be interested in their products.
Insurance claims. The information on your medical records is not protected by federal law, but something as inane as a video rental records are. Everytime you make an insurance claim and signing the form, you authorize doctors to release sensitive information to insurers and other third parties, like the Medical Information Bureau, which keeps records of health problems on some insurnace applictions and forms and informs insurers about pre-exisiting conditions, making it potentially harder to receive quality insurance. These records can be shared with various companies, but in half of the states in the US, you don't have the legal right to see your own medical records.
A practice that is picking up speed in restaurants is the use of cameras spying on diners. The chefs then watch the diners so they can time when to serve the next course. I find this pretty scary that someone is watching my every bite.....
Everyone knows that cell phones aren't safe, don't say anything on them or on portable phone that you don't want your worst enemy to hear. It can easily intercepted, and I know this from first hand experience, living in a dorm, a few of suitemates would sit around every night and listen in on numerous conversations going on the dorm every night!!!!
Consumer advocates and the Clinton Administration say financial privacy has been further endangered by a federal law passed last year that made it easier for banks to merge with other financial firms, such as brokerages and insurance companies. Though the law includes provisions to protect consumer privacy, critics say that there are loopholes that could lead, for example, to a bank denying a loan to a customer because its health-insurance affiliate's data reveals that he or she is being treated for a life-threatening illness.
There are hundreds of ways that the private citizen is becoming less and less private, and it is sickening.
For more, check out LHJ.
If this was such a big deal, wouldn't the government have already covered it up? :) Hopefully somewhere out there someone got access to the docs that will let the world know who really shot JFK!
You really need to talk to a lawyer first. This will make sure your best interest is being looked out for too, not just the company's. Talk to a lawyer soon and don't let them try to talk you into anything without it first being reviewed by a lawyer. Hiring an attorney is the only way to legally protect your rights and to make sure that you aren't being screwed over in the process. Good-luck.
I think that why there is such a connection between geeks and the mystical/occult is that there aren't any set rules in how you should/shouldn't practice your own form of religion. There are a certain set of beliefs, but it's basically what you make of it, it's very unrestrictive, and allows for creativity. I'm not saying that other more mainstream religions aren't creative, but they tend to look down on what is "different" in their eyes, it's more about conforming your life to the way "they" think you should live it, "their" guidelines. Geeks are known for their creativity and opposition to restraints on their lifestyles (censorship, etc.), and the occult really allows them/us to live their lives as they choose.
In my home town in Vermont, cable television has not even come to town yet, much less high speed internet connections. It really does take a while for the ripple effect of technology to reach rural areas, some people even fear it for some reason or another. But very gradually, it is happening. I think it is great what Iowa is doing! I would love to see something like this happen on the farm in Vermont, where I am proud to say my grandparents have their first computer ever in their house as of a few weeks ago and my 80 year old grandmother wants me to teach her how to use "that internet thing". :)
Very well put, I couldn't have said it better myself! :)
That quote was taken out of context and is meant to mislead. I had visions of the 1950's McCarthy era reading this extremely misinformed post.
Also, ignorance of any law is not an excuse and will not hold up in court. The "average joe" concept is non-existent, that's what a lawyer is for, to help weed through the laws, statutes, etc., that the "average joe" without a law degree cannot understand.
I disagree- check out http://www.votenader.org and see some of the issues he represents under the Green Party, Libertarian is not the only way to go.
A lawyer is a voice for the people, there are certain things that *need* to be learned in the classroom. Knowledge of the law is not reduced to a *score*. That is not how the bar is set up, and personally, I would not someone defended a case for me without a formal education defending me. If you know what the bar is like, you would know that it is *impossible* to pass without a degree- it's a Juris Doctorate that you receive upon graduation, attorneys are put through the same rigorous testing that doctors are put through.
Ok, here's a viewpoint from the legal point of view, I work for large law firm. *Of course* you cannot be a lawyer without a college education, it would be like letting an unlicensed doctor perform surgery, a total disaster. There are too many laws, regulations, research, statutes that you have to know about, have to know how to research correctly before you can even become a paralegal, much less an attorney. I take the law and justice very seriously and not all lawyers are out to make the big bucks, in fact, most of the people I have come into contact in my life are there for the good of people, for justice. What you all need to do, is to let them know how you feel. If you feel something is not right, ORGANIZE! Get your friends together, find something you don't like, a law you don't agree with, and TAKE IT ON! There is always someone out there willing to help the underdog. Right now in Massachusetts there are two major cases going on that the American Civil Liberty Union is taking on, helping NAMBLA take on a multi-million dollor lawsuit. Though you don't have to agree with what NAMBLA stands for (their website is now down), it's a case about freedom of speech, which the ACLU finds pretty important to protect. NAMBLA ran a website advocating legalizing sex between men and boys, and the ACLU is representing them to help them protect their ideas. And above all else, DON'T FORGET TO VOTE!