Thank you for pointing out what many people on Slashdot don't understand.
It isn't the RIAA that you should be angry with, it's the musicians. Two people (at minimum) must sign a contract for it to be binding. That contract they signed with the record company has made it possible to attack you as they've given them every right to everything the artists produce.
The RIAA doesn't come after you because you break a "copyright" law or two. Copyright just keeps you from calling it your own or reselling works (not giving them away).
It's because that musicians sign away exclusive distribution rights to everything they, the artist, produces.
It's wrong for musicians with existing, restrictive, contracts to encourage you to use p2p (Prince!). They are the ones who decided that no one but Sony or Time Warner has the rights to their music. If they really cared about "freedom" they wouldn't sign onto restrictive copyrights.
I think we've decided this issue in the past a number of times.
Domain names like "ford.com" should belong to Ford Motor Company, if it's in America. At the minimum fordmotorcompany.com is theirs as they hold the U.S. Trademark for that specific name.
Besides the TLD is ".com" for a reason, it is supposed to be a company, LLC, corporation et. al. The person in question could hold a.org or.us domain name he wanted, no one would have a problem with that I think. Maybe the TLD administrators should lock down who can register domains at certain TLD's? Does that sound like a better answer?
I say self-policeing is the best kind. Fight for freedom, but let's use some common sense.
One thing I've learned over the years is that when you start any type of business you can't just go out and get desks, chairs and other equipment you'll never use if you aren't profitable.
It's almost always a good idea to start a business on a shoestring. Most businesses who fail before they start do so because they spent all of their capital on things you don't need or things you can rent or borrow.
Open source makes sense in this repect. Instead of starting with MS SQL server for example, start with PostgreSQL or your preferred free alternative. Migrate if you must later; but why spend top dollar on something that may never get paid for?
I've heard it takes 11 gallons of oil to burn a 60-watt lightbulb for a year straight.
Which is why I wondered why the "patriots" in my neighborhood were lighting up their houses with projections of the American flag after being attacked by Saudi's on 9/11... but I'm probably being a troll.
One of the most mispronounced names in popular culture, the surname "Moog" is of Dutch origin, and is properly pronounced "moague", to rhyme with "vogue" and "rogue".
Trust me though, when you've never got money a checking account doesn't make sense. I wish I could find statistics on this...
Google gives me this:
The Check Cashing Customer
It is clear that for a large number of Americans our locations are the financial institutions of choice. Several studies have pointed out that people are aware of other alternatives but choose to use check cashers or other non-bank facilities in lieu of, or in addition to, depository institutions. These customers are savvy enough to decide the best service for their particular needs. According to the Federal Reserve Board's 1998 Survey of Consumer Finances, people without checking accounts said they did not use banks because they did not write enough checks, don't like dealing with banks, or felt the fees were too high. The recently released "Survey of Non-Bank Financial Institutions" conducted by Dove Consulting for the Department of the Treasury found that check cashers offer customers convenient locations, use the language of their customers and are open longer hours than banks. A survey conducted by Dove this year found nine languages spoken at non-bank financial institutions. Ninety six percent of the check cashers were open on Saturdays and more than a quarter on Sundays. A July 1999 Federal Reserve Bulletin article prepared by the Board's Division of Consumer and Community Affairs concluded that "even on the grounds of price competition, basic-banking accounts may not be competitive with alternative providers when the total cost of use expected by a lower-income customer is considered."
It is instructive to note that many people who do not have traditional bank accounts did have transaction accounts in the past. The Board's 1998 Survey of Consumer Finances reported that 47.9 percent of them previously had a checking account. People do not lack bank accounts because they are unaware of how to obtain one. They are choosing other alternatives based on their own experiences. Contrary to the clear wishes of these consumers, some advocates continue to insist that everyone must have a traditional checking account. Our industry believes that it is more important that consumers' financial needs be served through a network of neighborhood, consumer friendly locations rather than solely through an ATM card. http://www.fisca.org/firstaccountstestimony.htm
Imagine, not everyone has a blackberry and 10 ATM/Credit/Debit/Gift cards at all times. People still drink dirty water in America when others drink Starbucks...
"Free" checking is rarely free too... my gf works at the 6th largest bank and they make a fortune from fees alone. That is why customer service is the worst job at the company.
I've talked on the phone with, and exchanged letters with, many Best Buy workers on the reward issue. They simply don't have me in the system (it's actually my gf, but neither name is there).
And otherwise I'm serious. I just don't shop at Best Buy - Circuit City and others are just as close to my house. I just don't do business with companies who's policy makes being a customer hard work (my local Wal-Mart can attest to that fact).
And no, I'm usually the one who doesn't complain about the bosses' demands.
I'm Joe Sixpack. I save up my money to buy a television. I get there and get the last one in stock because I had to save up my dollar bills. I get it home, it doesn't work. I take it back to the store to get a refund. They tell me that even though I gave them cash, the most liquid form of payment, that I will get a check in the mail. 8 weeks, or 2 months, later I get a check. The check isn't liquid. Banks charge $5.00 just to cash it even if it's drawn at that bank. Liquor stores want 2 to 6% of the check just to cash it.
I'm serious when I say not everyone has a checking account. I can't for various credit reasons, my father couldn't because of a nasty divorce which left him in bankrupcy, with fees it may not be affordable, I may not have enough money to use the checking account.
Remember, there are people out there scraping by. No matter, why should I take a check from you when I gave you cash?
Slashdot Mirror
Thank you for pointing out what many people on Slashdot don't understand.
It isn't the RIAA that you should be angry with, it's the musicians. Two people (at minimum) must sign a contract for it to be binding. That contract they signed with the record company has made it possible to attack you as they've given them every right to everything the artists produce.
The RIAA doesn't come after you because you break a "copyright" law or two. Copyright just keeps you from calling it your own or reselling works (not giving them away).
It's because that musicians sign away exclusive distribution rights to everything they, the artist, produces.
It's wrong for musicians with existing, restrictive, contracts to encourage you to use p2p (Prince!). They are the ones who decided that no one but Sony or Time Warner has the rights to their music. If they really cared about "freedom" they wouldn't sign onto restrictive copyrights.
I think we've decided this issue in the past a number of times.
.org or .us domain name he wanted, no one would have a problem with that I think. Maybe the TLD administrators should lock down who can register domains at certain TLD's? Does that sound like a better answer?
Domain names like "ford.com" should belong to Ford Motor Company, if it's in America. At the minimum fordmotorcompany.com is theirs as they hold the U.S. Trademark for that specific name.
Besides the TLD is ".com" for a reason, it is supposed to be a company, LLC, corporation et. al. The person in question could hold a
I say self-policeing is the best kind. Fight for freedom, but let's use some common sense.
You can tell by this map:
e ar+NYC&ll=40.711459,-74.013026&spn=0.007306,0.0106 64&t=k&hl=en
...that some portions use pre-9/11 maps while others don't. In fact, it looks as if the shadows of the WTC are still there in the surrounding tiles.
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=St.+Paul's+Chapel+n
Sorry, I'm not trying to be an insensitive clod either.
"I am bender, please insert girder"
I loved that show...
Ok, you got me.
But really, wouldn't you keep a spare computer around if you had to use Windows?
(I should note, I always have my Windows jokes modded down because of my 'handle' it seems. I'm not trolling! I actually use Windows often.)
I wouldn't know. Did IE update with Service Pack 2?
I've been too busy using Firefox.
No, it's more like: now you can watch windows users re-install in real time!
Let me also add to this whole discussion that a great idea is to just do what your competitor is doing.
If you've got a business idea, and someone else is already doing it - copy them. People want options just as much as they want something "new".
One thing I've learned over the years is that when you start any type of business you can't just go out and get desks, chairs and other equipment you'll never use if you aren't profitable.
It's almost always a good idea to start a business on a shoestring. Most businesses who fail before they start do so because they spent all of their capital on things you don't need or things you can rent or borrow.
Open source makes sense in this repect. Instead of starting with MS SQL server for example, start with PostgreSQL or your preferred free alternative. Migrate if you must later; but why spend top dollar on something that may never get paid for?
Not when the DS runs Linux.
Well, it might someday.
I think it was a joke, being that music is a lot of math:
u sic/
http://www.math.niu.edu/~rusin/papers/uses-math/m
I've heard it takes 11 gallons of oil to burn a 60-watt lightbulb for a year straight.
Which is why I wondered why the "patriots" in my neighborhood were lighting up their houses with projections of the American flag after being attacked by Saudi's on 9/11... but I'm probably being a troll.
Just look:
http://www.mintruth.com/wiki/images/rfid-nazi.gif
http://images.google.com/images?q=rfid%20nazi
Doesn't sound that bad.
I guess you should never try to write a joke when you've been up all night.
those with machines that have 64-32 bit processors in from AMD and latterly Intel can now see what the extra addressing brings to the party.
If it's anything like we've seen in the past they can keep it.
Because I deposited your cash in the bank, and the bank has 2-3 days before that cash is available to me.
You're fault.
(Mod this +1 Funny, get it)
Really, Brento you just explained why and how they are fucking me along with the economics that make it a good idea from their standpoint!
Trust me though, when you've never got money a checking account doesn't make sense. I wish I could find statistics on this...
Google gives me this:
Imagine, not everyone has a blackberry and 10 ATM/Credit/Debit/Gift cards at all times. People still drink dirty water in America when others drink Starbucks...
"Free" checking is rarely free too... my gf works at the 6th largest bank and they make a fortune from fees alone. That is why customer service is the worst job at the company.
look at what you typed, then get back to me...
You are kidding right?
I've talked on the phone with, and exchanged letters with, many Best Buy workers on the reward issue. They simply don't have me in the system (it's actually my gf, but neither name is there).
And otherwise I'm serious. I just don't shop at Best Buy - Circuit City and others are just as close to my house. I just don't do business with companies who's policy makes being a customer hard work (my local Wal-Mart can attest to that fact).
And no, I'm usually the one who doesn't complain about the bosses' demands.
Oh you are so right, you've got to play to win...
But then that is how you lose too.
I hope it was.
Think of the logic behind this:
I'm Joe Sixpack.
I save up my money to buy a television.
I get there and get the last one in stock because I had to save up my dollar bills.
I get it home, it doesn't work.
I take it back to the store to get a refund.
They tell me that even though I gave them cash, the most liquid form of payment, that I will get a check in the mail.
8 weeks, or 2 months, later I get a check.
The check isn't liquid.
Banks charge $5.00 just to cash it even if it's drawn at that bank.
Liquor stores want 2 to 6% of the check just to cash it.
I'm serious when I say not everyone has a checking account. I can't for various credit reasons, my father couldn't because of a nasty divorce which left him in bankrupcy, with fees it may not be affordable, I may not have enough money to use the checking account.
Remember, there are people out there scraping by. No matter, why should I take a check from you when I gave you cash?