So I create a website. I put a huge lengthy terms of service agreement. Several hundred pages long. All seems pretty good and to the viewer's benefit.
In the terms of service, I include a statement that the individual agrees in exchange for the use of this site that they will email naked photos of themselves to the account specified.
I then contact all of Congressmen commenting on how this article is degrading them. And how I just wanted to make them aware of it.
Then after they click the terms of service. I sue to have them all charged as criminals for breaking my terms of service. That will prove how stupid this interpretation is...
Crap!!!!! This isn't going to work...
Just found a flaw in my logic. Half these politicians are already looking for any opportunity to send people illicit photos of themselves.
The flaw in no way diminishes the stupidity of this interpretation.
I've tried 8 times to move to Linux since 1997. Each and every time I've had a critical driver issue. Be it when my Riva TNT card wasn't supported. Or more recently when we tried it with my wife's laptop and her modem had to go through NDIS wrapper and constantly disconnected.
So not once have I been able to simply install Linux and have it work on common run-of-the-mill hardware. I always have one piece that is just unsupported for whatever reason.
I know longer use desktops. Laptops limit replacement of components. And I really don't want to try to hand pick a unit specifically for Linux.
Issue II:
Linux functions very differently from Windows. Be it app installation, file navigation, commands, etc.
One who is masterful with Windows DOS/Command Prompt, settings, etc. Can find themselves a lost newbie struggling to accomplishing the most simple of tasks. (ie: How do I install an app?)
Microsoft has a whole bunch of first step tuturials when you install Windows. Linux would do well to include such.
I think the real issue is far more hideous. With the likes of Apple (and now Microsoft) saying "No plugins". It was becoming clear only native apps were going to be allowed in the playground.
While many rejoice. See a closed proprietary system is in the death thralls. I caution you not to rejoice. But to contemplate what's really going on.
Apple made a closed system that allowed all profits to funnel through it. And not a peep out of the Dept. of Justice on such anti-competitive practices.
So Microsoft said, "Hey, let's do the same with Windows 8."
Adobe just merely read the writing on the wall. Such anti-competitive behaviors are going to be allowed. A user who purchases a computer will be told by the manufacturer what software they run on their own property.
Adobe doesn't make money on Flash. It costs them a small fortune. They make it on the tools they sell. And well, they're just going to do more with their tools outputting native and HTML5.
In the end....it's the consumers who lose. Less choice. Few alternatives. And it's a pay-to-play(ground).
All apps must be approved by Apple. All developers must share a 1/3 of their profits with Apple. Is it ANY wonder Apple exceeded even Exxon-Mobil?
There's an app for that. But you can't install it unless we approve and get a lion's share. How does this world look for developers?
$1
Apple takes 30 cents. Gov. take 30 cents. Developer is left with 40 cents to cover overhead and all.
In a job market with 16%, contractor doesn't mean you negotiate a contract. It usually means a) you're paid via a 1099, b) you're hired out by a 3rd party vendor to a major contract holder.
You don't have opportunity to negotiate. This isn't like being hired by Google or some glorious company. You might be able to push for $5,000 or so more on the salary. But that's about it.
Sure you could ask for a guarante of long-term employment, 6 months, etc. You're not going to get it.
With 20 other people wanting the same job. There is little negotiation. This is an issue Unions should have been advocating for rather than playing politics. But that's another argument.
----
I think people are confusing factory IT contractors in government related work. With consultant contractors in the private field who often bring in 6-figures, and negotiate for their skills.
It's a very different thing. The first is 70% internationals on VISAs. Many with 2-3 parties taking a portion of their pay. The government might pay $150K-$200K. But the actual contractor see's a mere $50K-$70K.
Maybe Haught was just trying to help preserve a fellow scientist's reputation after all.
Truth is, dogma can be found on both sides. The mere fact that a scientist would dismiss angels, and not in the least be open to their existence is silly.
Essentially, that boils down to a claim of absoluteness that there could be no other intelligent life-forms in our galaxy. A true scientist would say, I have inconclusive evidence. Likely they're just myth. But perhaps there are intelligent beings more advanced than us. And this is some remnant history of an interaction with them.
Everyone arguing about whether the ethernet port can be removed from an Xbox 360 or not.
The real question is why even consider giving an Xbox 360 to a prisoner.
!@#$% NO!!!!!
I have barely had time to even touch my Xbox 360 in the past year. I'm too busy working and commuting to work so I can keep my mortgage paid, heat running and food on the table for my family.
I don't see anyone out there leaping up to provide me with an Xbox 360 or PS3. I haven't had cable TV for the past 5 years. Can't afford it. Frankly, I'm tired of prisoners having it easier than law abiding citizens. I'm tired of prisoners receiving free cable, Xboxes, college degrees.
I'm tired of armed robbers being sentenced to 10 years and released in 9 months only to rob and shoot an innocent within days of release.
So sorry if I'm not very sympathetic. But you know, we outsource so much. Why not outsource our violent criminals to China. Oh human rights, work camps, whoop-de-doo. You should have thought about that before you robbed some poor sap on the stream and put a knife into him.
***********
People in America blame a lot of things for our high crime, guns, drugs, you name it. But I think it's the fact that our criminal system is so freakishly gentle to violent habitual lifestyle criminals.
Ironically, Joe-avg guy who's registration lapses or turn signal light went out finds himself fined and treated like a criminal. Go figure...
Ranting, yes, I know. But we're talking about toys for criminals. I want to see every friggin able bodied criminal have to work 8 hours a day, just like the rest of us. And if you don't, you don't eat. Plain and simple.
"If they follow the rules of society while doing so, why should we blame them? If the rules are written wrong, shouldn't we blame those who write the rules?"
Simple, because they're often the ones who are paying the representatives to write the laws. And providing a dis-incentive for a politician to respond to the citizenry.
And don't tell me to vote them out, I'm not even given a chance. In 2008 we had about 40 candidates running for office of the President. By the time it came for Pennsylvania to vote we were down to twiddle-dee or twiddle-dumb.
Where did my other forty choices go without my chance to have a say?
And why would you think an online University with sanction of the Federal government would not be able to achieve ABET. Especially, if it's pooled together the top professors from ALL the state university systems?
I think you guys are thinking more so of private contractors where such incentives and the like pay off.
But what's being talked about here is mass contractor employment. Low-pay, zero incentives, in fact often they couldn't care if you sat at your desk all day and did nothing. So long as they can legally bill the government for your time.
It's an entirely differently system than corporate contract work.
Essentially, there seems to be a debate regarding government employees vs contractors (at 2x the rate).
But the truth of the matter is those contractors never see that double income. All the talk of how 2x let's you pay for your own benefits is hogwash.
Here is how the system works for the most part. Rather than having government employees hired for a task which is likely to be short-term (1-5 years). The government contracts it out. Instead of hiring a $50K-$75K employee they pay a major contractor (Northrup, Lockheed, L3, Accenture, etc, etc, etc) $100-$150K to fill that position.
These companies then hire from vendors adding an additional tier to the puzzle. (If the contractor is a foriegnor there may be a third party involved in sponsoring their visa.) So of that $100K-$150K paid by.gov for that contractor. The contractor might see $40K-$75K. All the rest is eaten up by middle-men.
But it doesn't stop there. The way the contract system works, it is not uncommon for one of these contracting firms to mass hire dozens of people toward the end of a fiscal year. They do this so they can use up (bill the government) for every dollar the contract allows for. Upon the end of the fiscal year many of those contractors will be let go. No severance. Nothing.
Essentially, the contract system allows for an at-will hire and fire. Which in an economy that has 9%-16% unemployment becomes a gross abuse. You literally watch people hired for two weeks only to be let go. Positions are advertised as part of a long-term contract. New hires are often misled into thinking there is an element of job security. Some even leave jobs for these positions only to reach a very rude awakening.
Seriously, Unions need to quit wasting their $$$ being campaign fundraisers and get on the ball with what unions were all about. Defense of the worker.
In the current market, a potential new hire has little to no ability to negotiate on contract. And if misled, lied to, etc - has even less recourse.
There needs to be a fraud law that mandates whether a position is long-term (min. 1 year) or merely short term. If fraudulently mis-portrayed, than the hiring firm would be obligated to pay the employee for one year of time.
This would help end the abuse of contractors that is rampant in government work.
Let's look at the consequences of the present system:
1. Tuition has sky-rocketed at a rate far exceeding inflation and the value of a degree.
2. A flood of degrees has essentially made a BA/BS equivalent to a high school diploma.
3. A huge portion of those with BA/BS degrees are not even working in their respective fields.
4. Numerous individuals graduating with that oh so sacred degree are unemployed.
5. Many who have earned degrees have had to take out tens of thousands in loans. And which the recent economic changes, these are near impossible to repay. Current student debt in the U.S. now exceeds $1 trillion.
6. Student loans often tend to be bad loans. They are often high interest 7%-9% with today's rates are ridiculous. They are unique in that one cannot get rid of these loans via bankruptcy. And they are very low risk for the bank's loaning the money as government pays if the student defaults. Essentially, the sole benefit is that the student gets to defer loan payments by 4 years.
7. We could offer nearly every American a degree at a fraction of the cost by having a national online university that offered you basic degrees (biology, chemistry, engineering, etc, etc). Students could pursue their degree online. And would take their exams and labs at local community colleges. While not everyone has internet access. Most areas have libraries that offer such service. And a fraction of the $$$ that.gov spends on subsidizing loans could greatly expand public/library terminals. Furthermore, you can get a laptop for about $300-$400. And now most full-size grocery stores offer WiFi cafes.
So yes, this present model which is a few decades old is no longer viable in today's society. Nor is it efficient.
Granted, the above plan of a national university would not go over well with the tenured professors who suddenly would have to get off their arses and offer a better education to justify the extra expenditure of funds - or go out of business. But heck, Yale University has a trust fund that should keep them around for another 100 years. And universities could stay in business by offering more specialized degrees. Marine science instead of biology, aeronautical engineering, etc, etc.
But anyone wanting a basic degree could get it for a mere $1K-$2K.
It's actually very easy to conceive of good ideas. It is far far harder to navigate the IP/corporate controlled world and make any of those a reality.
Take GPS based alerts. Had that idea since the first week I had my iPhone 3G. Why did it take nearly 4 years for Apple to add the feature?
Numerous other ideas are merely obstructed by IP law. I've TRIED sharing ideas with companies but they are so afraid of lawsuits they won't even accept free ideas that would improve their products.
So frankly, no idea that's in any device sold in retail is new or novel. It's just the first device to make it through the labrynth of the legal and corporate minefield.
I was just listening to someone talk about the orgins of roads. And how the earliest roads were the hunting trails that followed things like deer paths.
Then villages established, and trade furthered those paths. Then they'd be paved with gravel. Society found them beneficial and that it had an interest in developing them.
Private invents differently. For instance, the Internet may be one thing. But remember, there were big huge nets before the internet. AOL, Prodigy, CompuServe, GEnie, etc.
Not as much money sucked up by the Fed. States can still suck up money.
Seriously, imagine how few states would be having problems if their income taxes were 10%-30% like the Federal income tax. Maybe the Fed wouldn't have to give grants to states anymore?
ALL this was, was a typical example of the LAW SYSTEM being there for big companies.
We're the case reversed, and Apple found some small tech start-up's prototype. They would never face any penalty.
It's akin to SONY suing thousands for copyright theft, then stealing someone's software to create a CD with anti-theft protections.
Wait...it's okay for SONY to violate copyright. Oh, let's talk about penalties. Since SONY put that on thousands of CDs. Each being a $150,000 fine. They should not pay the programmer several hundred million dollars.
Oh, wait...
Sorry silly rabbit, IP Laws are only for BIG FIRMS.
---
And if that makes me a troll. Than I am darn proud to be a 900 lb fuzzy pink bunny troll.:P
He didn't steal it. He found lost property. Oh my.
It just goes to show that if you're a big company, you can get anything turned into a crime.
A man just robbed & shot a Social Security worker in Baltimore last week. He had just been released from a 10 year sentence for armed robbery after a mere 9 months time served.
Seriously, we have issues when downloading a music track can get you a stiffer sentence and fine than mugging and shooting someone.
Padres struck out Jeeter, he even began walking away from the plate. The ump called it foul. All video replays showed essentially a perfect pitch. Even the commentators couldn't see how it was a foul.
It essentially turned the tide of the world series as Jeter would go on to hit a home run. The Yankees had hitherto been getting their butts kicked. But when you have to pitch 4 strikes, it changes all the odds. This will eliminate a LOT of bought off umps as well.
Likewise, soccer, World Cup last year. The U.S. team won, but the ref called foul on U.S. Video replay showed NO foulable actions on the part of the U.S. However, the opposing team had three U.S. soccer players locked in bear hugs.
Yes, clearly a case of bought off ref. Who essentially affected the playoff season. One might say he's lucky, if he did that to any of the numberous fanatical football following countries he'd be a dead ump. Thankfully for his life, American's are not that big into soccer football.
Slashdot Mirror
So I create a website. I put a huge lengthy terms of service agreement. Several hundred pages long. All seems pretty good and to the viewer's benefit.
In the terms of service, I include a statement that the individual agrees in exchange for the use of this site that they will email naked photos of themselves to the account specified.
I then contact all of Congressmen commenting on how this article is degrading them. And how I just wanted to make them aware of it.
Then after they click the terms of service. I sue to have them all charged as criminals for breaking my terms of service. That will prove how stupid this interpretation is...
Crap!!!!! This isn't going to work...
Just found a flaw in my logic. Half these politicians are already looking for any opportunity to send people illicit photos of themselves.
The flaw in no way diminishes the stupidity of this interpretation.
Wait for it...wait for it...
Incompatibility hell, coming to a browser near you.
There was a beauty of writing code and just having it work in 90% of browser.
I. Issue 1:
I've tried 8 times to move to Linux since 1997. Each and every time I've had a critical driver issue. Be it when my Riva TNT card wasn't supported. Or more recently when we tried it with my wife's laptop and her modem had to go through NDIS wrapper and constantly disconnected.
So not once have I been able to simply install Linux and have it work on common run-of-the-mill hardware. I always have one piece that is just unsupported for whatever reason.
I know longer use desktops. Laptops limit replacement of components. And I really don't want to try to hand pick a unit specifically for Linux.
Issue II:
Linux functions very differently from Windows. Be it app installation, file navigation, commands, etc.
One who is masterful with Windows DOS/Command Prompt, settings, etc. Can find themselves a lost newbie struggling to accomplishing the most simple of tasks. (ie: How do I install an app?)
Microsoft has a whole bunch of first step tuturials when you install Windows. Linux would do well to include such.
So these $3,000 3D LCD screens with $299 eye glasses are not profitable.
$800 for a standard 1080p 42" screen isn't profitable.
Might I suggest cutting the CEOs pay to regain profits. You shouldn't need to sell 10,000 TV to pay for your CEO.
Just saying...
I think the real issue is far more hideous. With the likes of Apple (and now Microsoft) saying "No plugins". It was becoming clear only native apps were going to be allowed in the playground.
While many rejoice. See a closed proprietary system is in the death thralls. I caution you not to rejoice. But to contemplate what's really going on.
Apple made a closed system that allowed all profits to funnel through it. And not a peep out of the Dept. of Justice on such anti-competitive practices.
So Microsoft said, "Hey, let's do the same with Windows 8."
Adobe just merely read the writing on the wall. Such anti-competitive behaviors are going to be allowed. A user who purchases a computer will be told by the manufacturer what software they run on their own property.
Adobe doesn't make money on Flash. It costs them a small fortune. They make it on the tools they sell. And well, they're just going to do more with their tools outputting native and HTML5.
In the end....it's the consumers who lose. Less choice. Few alternatives. And it's a pay-to-play(ground).
All apps must be approved by Apple. All developers must share a 1/3 of their profits with Apple. Is it ANY wonder Apple exceeded even Exxon-Mobil?
There's an app for that. But you can't install it unless we approve and get a lion's share. How does this world look for developers?
$1
Apple takes 30 cents.
Gov. take 30 cents.
Developer is left with 40 cents to cover overhead and all.
In theory....
In a job market with 16%, contractor doesn't mean you negotiate a contract. It usually means a) you're paid via a 1099, b) you're hired out by a 3rd party vendor to a major contract holder.
You don't have opportunity to negotiate. This isn't like being hired by Google or some glorious company. You might be able to push for $5,000 or so more on the salary. But that's about it.
Sure you could ask for a guarante of long-term employment, 6 months, etc. You're not going to get it.
With 20 other people wanting the same job. There is little negotiation. This is an issue Unions should have been advocating for rather than playing politics. But that's another argument.
----
I think people are confusing factory IT contractors in government related work. With consultant contractors in the private field who often bring in 6-figures, and negotiate for their skills.
It's a very different thing. The first is 70% internationals on VISAs. Many with 2-3 parties taking a portion of their pay. The government might pay $150K-$200K. But the actual contractor see's a mere $50K-$70K.
Maybe Haught was just trying to help preserve a fellow scientist's reputation after all.
Truth is, dogma can be found on both sides. The mere fact that a scientist would dismiss angels, and not in the least be open to their existence is silly.
Essentially, that boils down to a claim of absoluteness that there could be no other intelligent life-forms in our galaxy. A true scientist would say, I have inconclusive evidence. Likely they're just myth. But perhaps there are intelligent beings more advanced than us. And this is some remnant history of an interaction with them.
Closed minds are not scientific.
And yes, I know this did not happen in America. It happened in Israel. But it happens in America all the time too.
Sheriff removes cable TV from the prisons and the court system orders him to put it back.
$280,000 on cable bill for about 20 prisons.
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=20081204_12_0_OKLAHO673257
U.K how much on toys for prisoners? Why not spend that money on children instead?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1040932/Pampered-prisoners-supplied-221-726-PlayStations.html
Everyone arguing about whether the ethernet port can be removed from an Xbox 360 or not.
The real question is why even consider giving an Xbox 360 to a prisoner.
!@#$% NO!!!!!
I have barely had time to even touch my Xbox 360 in the past year. I'm too busy working and commuting to work so I can keep my mortgage paid, heat running and food on the table for my family.
I don't see anyone out there leaping up to provide me with an Xbox 360 or PS3. I haven't had cable TV for the past 5 years. Can't afford it. Frankly, I'm tired of prisoners having it easier than law abiding citizens. I'm tired of prisoners receiving free cable, Xboxes, college degrees.
I'm tired of armed robbers being sentenced to 10 years and released in 9 months only to rob and shoot an innocent within days of release.
So sorry if I'm not very sympathetic. But you know, we outsource so much. Why not outsource our violent criminals to China. Oh human rights, work camps, whoop-de-doo. You should have thought about that before you robbed some poor sap on the stream and put a knife into him.
***********
People in America blame a lot of things for our high crime, guns, drugs, you name it. But I think it's the fact that our criminal system is so freakishly gentle to violent habitual lifestyle criminals.
Ironically, Joe-avg guy who's registration lapses or turn signal light went out finds himself fined and treated like a criminal. Go figure...
Ranting, yes, I know. But we're talking about toys for criminals. I want to see every friggin able bodied criminal have to work 8 hours a day, just like the rest of us. And if you don't, you don't eat. Plain and simple.
"If they follow the rules of society while doing so, why should we blame them? If the rules are written wrong, shouldn't we blame those who write the rules?"
Simple, because they're often the ones who are paying the representatives to write the laws. And providing a dis-incentive for a politician to respond to the citizenry.
And don't tell me to vote them out, I'm not even given a chance. In 2008 we had about 40 candidates running for office of the President. By the time it came for Pennsylvania to vote we were down to twiddle-dee or twiddle-dumb.
Where did my other forty choices go without my chance to have a say?
And why would you think an online University with sanction of the Federal government would not be able to achieve ABET. Especially, if it's pooled together the top professors from ALL the state university systems?
Seriously, how many bloody universities have a clyclotron?
How many under-grad physicists actually ever get to use one? Let's be a little bit more realistic.
Most of education doesn't involve using such units. As you said, that's more research. And often falls more into the view of a master's degree.
"we don't put enough money into labs as it is."
I agree, Connecticut has built $100 million recreational centers for it's state students. But it's labs are trash. I'd rather save the $100 million.
I think you guys are thinking more so of private contractors where such incentives and the like pay off.
But what's being talked about here is mass contractor employment. Low-pay, zero incentives, in fact often they couldn't care if you sat at your desk all day and did nothing. So long as they can legally bill the government for your time.
It's an entirely differently system than corporate contract work.
Essentially, there seems to be a debate regarding government employees vs contractors (at 2x the rate).
But the truth of the matter is those contractors never see that double income. All the talk of how 2x let's you pay for your own benefits is hogwash.
Here is how the system works for the most part. Rather than having government employees hired for a task which is likely to be short-term (1-5 years). The government contracts it out. Instead of hiring a $50K-$75K employee they pay a major contractor (Northrup, Lockheed, L3, Accenture, etc, etc, etc) $100-$150K to fill that position.
These companies then hire from vendors adding an additional tier to the puzzle. (If the contractor is a foriegnor there may be a third party involved in sponsoring their visa.) So of that $100K-$150K paid by .gov for that contractor. The contractor might see $40K-$75K. All the rest is eaten up by middle-men.
But it doesn't stop there. The way the contract system works, it is not uncommon for one of these contracting firms to mass hire dozens of people toward the end of a fiscal year. They do this so they can use up (bill the government) for every dollar the contract allows for. Upon the end of the fiscal year many of those contractors will be let go. No severance. Nothing.
Essentially, the contract system allows for an at-will hire and fire. Which in an economy that has 9%-16% unemployment becomes a gross abuse. You literally watch people hired for two weeks only to be let go. Positions are advertised as part of a long-term contract. New hires are often misled into thinking there is an element of job security. Some even leave jobs for these positions only to reach a very rude awakening.
Seriously, Unions need to quit wasting their $$$ being campaign fundraisers and get on the ball with what unions were all about. Defense of the worker.
In the current market, a potential new hire has little to no ability to negotiate on contract. And if misled, lied to, etc - has even less recourse.
There needs to be a fraud law that mandates whether a position is long-term (min. 1 year) or merely short term. If fraudulently mis-portrayed, than the hiring firm would be obligated to pay the employee for one year of time.
This would help end the abuse of contractors that is rampant in government work.
Or it could mean that a lot of jobs that do not really need degrees would stop requiring it.
"Front desk administrative assistent. Must have master's degree."
Yeah...okay...it's insane. Soon McDonald's will require a BS degree for it's cashiers.
Let's look at the consequences of the present system:
1. Tuition has sky-rocketed at a rate far exceeding inflation and the value of a degree.
2. A flood of degrees has essentially made a BA/BS equivalent to a high school diploma.
3. A huge portion of those with BA/BS degrees are not even working in their respective fields.
4. Numerous individuals graduating with that oh so sacred degree are unemployed.
5. Many who have earned degrees have had to take out tens of thousands in loans. And which the recent economic changes, these are near impossible to repay. Current student debt in the U.S. now exceeds $1 trillion.
6. Student loans often tend to be bad loans. They are often high interest 7%-9% with today's rates are ridiculous. They are unique in that one cannot get rid of these loans via bankruptcy. And they are very low risk for the bank's loaning the money as government pays if the student defaults. Essentially, the sole benefit is that the student gets to defer loan payments by 4 years.
7. We could offer nearly every American a degree at a fraction of the cost by having a national online university that offered you basic degrees (biology, chemistry, engineering, etc, etc). Students could pursue their degree online. And would take their exams and labs at local community colleges. While not everyone has internet access. Most areas have libraries that offer such service. And a fraction of the $$$ that .gov spends on subsidizing loans could greatly expand public/library terminals. Furthermore, you can get a laptop for about $300-$400. And now most full-size grocery stores offer WiFi cafes.
So yes, this present model which is a few decades old is no longer viable in today's society. Nor is it efficient.
Granted, the above plan of a national university would not go over well with the tenured professors who suddenly would have to get off their arses and offer a better education to justify the extra expenditure of funds - or go out of business. But heck, Yale University has a trust fund that should keep them around for another 100 years. And universities could stay in business by offering more specialized degrees. Marine science instead of biology, aeronautical engineering, etc, etc.
But anyone wanting a basic degree could get it for a mere $1K-$2K.
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Engineering
- Computer Science
- Business/Management
- Psychology/Social Science
Maybe one or two other basic BA/BS degrees. All could be done at a fraction of our present expenditure.
Hmm....yes, I think Ron Paul is right.
It's actually very easy to conceive of good ideas. It is far far harder to navigate the IP/corporate controlled world and make any of those a reality.
Take GPS based alerts. Had that idea since the first week I had my iPhone 3G. Why did it take nearly 4 years for Apple to add the feature?
Numerous other ideas are merely obstructed by IP law. I've TRIED sharing ideas with companies but they are so afraid of lawsuits they won't even accept free ideas that would improve their products.
So frankly, no idea that's in any device sold in retail is new or novel. It's just the first device to make it through the labrynth of the legal and corporate minefield.
Actually, in many ways they did just that.
I was just listening to someone talk about the orgins of roads. And how the earliest roads were the hunting trails that followed things like deer paths.
Then villages established, and trade furthered those paths. Then they'd be paved with gravel. Society found them beneficial and that it had an interest in developing them.
Private invents differently. For instance, the Internet may be one thing. But remember, there were big huge nets before the internet. AOL, Prodigy, CompuServe, GEnie, etc.
Granted, they were a bit more closed.
Really, so California might expend funds on tidal power. Mid-southwest on geothermal. Pennsylvania on cleaner uses of coal.
Or....
Not as much money sucked up by the Fed. States can still suck up money.
Seriously, imagine how few states would be having problems if their income taxes were 10%-30% like the Federal income tax. Maybe the Fed wouldn't have to give grants to states anymore?
What you saying Willis?
That an American bankruptcy will eliminate those and many more programs?
Are you saying if we don't do anything. Then those programs will disappear regardless.
You're crazy Vulcan. Don't use logic. Just pretend that we can print limitless money.
But seriously, let's not forget that a $14 trillion debt with a $1.5 trillion annual deficit is unsustainable.
Let's be honest...
ALL this was, was a typical example of the LAW SYSTEM being there for big companies.
We're the case reversed, and Apple found some small tech start-up's prototype. They would never face any penalty.
It's akin to SONY suing thousands for copyright theft, then stealing someone's software to create a CD with anti-theft protections.
Wait...it's okay for SONY to violate copyright. Oh, let's talk about penalties. Since SONY put that on thousands of CDs. Each being a $150,000 fine. They should not pay the programmer several hundred million dollars.
Oh, wait...
Sorry silly rabbit, IP Laws are only for BIG FIRMS.
---
And if that makes me a troll. Than I am darn proud to be a 900 lb fuzzy pink bunny troll. :P
He didn't steal it. He found lost property. Oh my.
It just goes to show that if you're a big company, you can get anything turned into a crime.
A man just robbed & shot a Social Security worker in Baltimore last week. He had just been released from a 10 year sentence for armed robbery after a mere 9 months time served.
Seriously, we have issues when downloading a music track can get you a stiffer sentence and fine than mugging and shooting someone.
Tell me our justice system isn't bought....
Padres struck out Jeeter, he even began walking away from the plate. The ump called it foul. All video replays showed essentially a perfect pitch. Even the commentators couldn't see how it was a foul.
It essentially turned the tide of the world series as Jeter would go on to hit a home run. The Yankees had hitherto been getting their butts kicked. But when you have to pitch 4 strikes, it changes all the odds. This will eliminate a LOT of bought off umps as well.
Likewise, soccer, World Cup last year. The U.S. team won, but the ref called foul on U.S. Video replay showed NO foulable actions on the part of the U.S. However, the opposing team had three U.S. soccer players locked in bear hugs.
Yes, clearly a case of bought off ref. Who essentially affected the playoff season. One might say he's lucky, if he did that to any of the numberous fanatical football following countries he'd be a dead ump. Thankfully for his life, American's are not that big into soccer football.