part of what got the US auto industry in hot water was going all in on SUV's and trucks when oil was cheap (consumer demand and all that, sure) -- then once oil prices go up, surprise! people want cars again.
Apparently Ford did not learn their lesson the first time around, and seem like they're on the verge of going down the shitter again*
*yes i know ford didn't accept any gov't bailout money, but only because they maxed out their borrowing at just the right time, and had the cash on hand and lines of credit to weather the storm. So they're about 1-1 when it comes to foresight.
But, the only thing I side with is the right of people to dispose of their money as they see fit. The less government intrudes in that, the better (be it in the form of increased taxes to pay for universal health care -- which i do happen to agree with; though in a single payer system. And higher education strongly disagree with that one.
The fact is, the majority of people don't need a college education, aren't cut out for it, and it basically functions as a giant money funnel from naive 20-somethings into the hands of universities and student loan lenders. And that's now. I shudder to think what would happen if it got any more lax.
The tinfoil hat part of me thinks the debt situation in the US is a conspiracy to return to the days of serfdom.
Man.. have not looked at their financials but i'd wager the bandwidth and overall 'tech' costs are a complete joke compared the licensing fees they get whacked with by the RIAA and their ilk.
that sounds suspiciously like the windows 10 update mindset, and it's a fiasco.
If you buy hardware, it is yours, and you should retain ultimate control over it.
If i'm a dummy and don't update my webcam's password, or refuse to heed the warnings that its security has been compromised -- well guess what? That's my fault, and no on elses.
What if those great thinkers became the great thinkers they were because they were pushed into uncomfortable situations constantly from a young age?
Had they been allowed to retreat into their shells and play gameboy (or insert era appropriate menial diversion here) would they have amounted to anything?
Struggle is what leads to character, maybe a bit of social anxiety is actually a gift.
yes but it's a pharma company.. not applebee's. The PR backlash doesn't really matter if they're selling an essential drug that lives depend on.
I agree that the CEO sounds like a shitty human being, and this is bad business. But i think the counterpoint is. they don't really care, and it doesn't matter to them how much we huff and puff; they'll still sell that drug.
You're cherry-picking the behavior of Valve and saying it doesn't matter because it's only games. While failing to see the same trend and tactics being employed by everyone.
Adobe? Rent your software. MS? Rent your office suite. And we also own your update schedule. We'll also track you relentlessly. And who knows, maybe (probably!) we'll decide to only allow installation of software from approved sources) Valve: already covered, but they're inserting themselves as the gatekeeper for the entire video game industry. Either put your software up on their service, or potentially lose out on a huge swath of customers.
As for Steam specifically you're still playing a game that is effectively leased through their service.. Sure the terms are fairly benign now, but lock-in is an advantage that a company will eventually leverage (or else why would they actively pursue it?)
Valve does not care one iota what platform you use, just so long as you use their service. The point is, their end-goal is a monopoly on software distribution (sure it's just video games. For now).
I wonder how much of this trend is driven by advertising/big data/analytics? It used to be that a company sold you a product, that was the end of it. But once a company starts monetizing users (specifically) and their data; they become a resource AFTER the sale to be herded and protected from poachers.
Leading to walled gardens, SaaS and all sorts of abusive bullshit that we tolerate now.
GOG and CD Projekt succeeds because they make fantastic games (Such as the Witcher). They also don't abuse their customers either through nickel and dime DLC packs, or DRM and spyware.
Other companies and platforms could take a lesson.
i'm just hoping my DX doesn't ever die, why they stopped the larger form factor reader is beyond me. 6 years and counting, the battery is showing signs of stress, but still usable =/
police should do their job within the confines of the constitution. Fishing expeditions are not part of that, regardless of how expedient they might be.
Surveillance technology and an entitlement complex from law enforcement is never a good combination.
Well, considering we know how to vaccinate against malaria NOW (not to mention mosquito eradication) and it's not being done...
Clearly that means that a procedure that's under patent, more technically advanced, not to mention expensive -- will somehow be employed in the areas of the world that need it the most? (and coincidentally are the poorest places on earth?)
No, I've gotta go wtih my gut that this kind of technology will be limited to the 1% for the foreseeable future.
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part of what got the US auto industry in hot water was going all in on SUV's and trucks when oil was cheap (consumer demand and all that, sure) -- then once oil prices go up, surprise! people want cars again.
Apparently Ford did not learn their lesson the first time around, and seem like they're on the verge of going down the shitter again*
*yes i know ford didn't accept any gov't bailout money, but only because they maxed out their borrowing at just the right time, and had the cash on hand and lines of credit to weather the storm. So they're about 1-1 when it comes to foresight.
You completely avoided the point in my post.
But, the only thing I side with is the right of people to dispose of their money as they see fit. The less government intrudes in that, the better (be it in the form of increased taxes to pay for universal health care -- which i do happen to agree with; though in a single payer system. And higher education strongly disagree with that one.
The fact is, the majority of people don't need a college education, aren't cut out for it, and it basically functions as a giant money funnel from naive 20-somethings into the hands of universities and student loan lenders. And that's now. I shudder to think what would happen if it got any more lax.
The tinfoil hat part of me thinks the debt situation in the US is a conspiracy to return to the days of serfdom.
Man.. have not looked at their financials but i'd wager the bandwidth and overall 'tech' costs are a complete joke compared the licensing fees they get whacked with by the RIAA and their ilk.
and the United States gets universal free healthcare and free university educations for everybody.
You don't actually believe either of those things would be 'free' do you? Someone, somewhere has to pay for them.
If only people weren't so afraid of bats. They're great for bug control
not to be confused with backpage.com, which gives you herpes.
Thank you for taking time out of your busy work day to log into Slashdot, in order to let us know about distraction machines.
Now, back to work.
(Also, Flock is way, way worse in terms of being bombarded with obtrusive notifications)
The last supper would have consisted of taco bell and cheetos.
why was this modded troll? it's pretty much spot on. Maybe the whoosh factor was a bit too high?
that sounds suspiciously like the windows 10 update mindset, and it's a fiasco.
If you buy hardware, it is yours, and you should retain ultimate control over it.
If i'm a dummy and don't update my webcam's password, or refuse to heed the warnings that its security has been compromised -- well guess what? That's my fault, and no on elses.
Apologies for the wrong-think, but it's almost as if you just pointed out why the western notion of diversity is total nonsense.
And that seamless transition from at least the perception of privacy to an online panopticon!
have you ever tried to bludgeon someone to death with a touch tone phone? It's impossible. you'll only make them angry.
To really create the amount of blunt force trauma needed to do the job, you need the solid, hefty weight of an old school ATT issued rotary phone.
(see also: IBM model M)
low key funny, where are my mod points =/
What if those great thinkers became the great thinkers they were because they were pushed into uncomfortable situations constantly from a young age?
Had they been allowed to retreat into their shells and play gameboy (or insert era appropriate menial diversion here) would they have amounted to anything?
Struggle is what leads to character, maybe a bit of social anxiety is actually a gift.
yes but it's a pharma company.. not applebee's. The PR backlash doesn't really matter if they're selling an essential drug that lives depend on.
I agree that the CEO sounds like a shitty human being, and this is bad business. But i think the counterpoint is. they don't really care, and it doesn't matter to them how much we huff and puff; they'll still sell that drug.
well, unless it's a cop who shoots/assaults/arrests whatever a black person. then they make sure to point it out.
You're cherry-picking the behavior of Valve and saying it doesn't matter because it's only games. While failing to see the same trend and tactics being employed by everyone.
Adobe? Rent your software.
MS? Rent your office suite. And we also own your update schedule. We'll also track you relentlessly. And who knows, maybe (probably!) we'll decide to only allow installation of software from approved sources)
Valve: already covered, but they're inserting themselves as the gatekeeper for the entire video game industry. Either put your software up on their service, or potentially lose out on a huge swath of customers.
As for Steam specifically you're still playing a game that is effectively leased through their service.. Sure the terms are fairly benign now, but lock-in is an advantage that a company will eventually leverage (or else why would they actively pursue it?)
Valve does not care one iota what platform you use, just so long as you use their service. The point is, their end-goal is a monopoly on software distribution (sure it's just video games. For now).
I wonder how much of this trend is driven by advertising/big data/analytics? It used to be that a company sold you a product, that was the end of it.
But once a company starts monetizing users (specifically) and their data; they become a resource AFTER the sale to be herded and protected from poachers.
Leading to walled gardens, SaaS and all sorts of abusive bullshit that we tolerate now.
what, and not amazon glacier?
yeah but i bet that little bastard never did it again.
GOG and CD Projekt succeeds because they make fantastic games (Such as the Witcher).
They also don't abuse their customers either through nickel and dime DLC packs, or DRM and spyware.
Other companies and platforms could take a lesson.
i'm just hoping my DX doesn't ever die, why they stopped the larger form factor reader is beyond me. 6 years and counting, the battery is showing signs of stress, but still usable =/
police should do their job within the confines of the constitution. Fishing expeditions are not part of that, regardless of how expedient they might be.
Surveillance technology and an entitlement complex from law enforcement is never a good combination.
Rules exist to keep the police honest.
I stand corrected, thank you.
Well, considering we know how to vaccinate against malaria NOW (not to mention mosquito eradication) and it's not being done...
Clearly that means that a procedure that's under patent, more technically advanced, not to mention expensive -- will somehow be employed in the areas of the world that need it the most? (and coincidentally are the poorest places on earth?)
No, I've gotta go wtih my gut that this kind of technology will be limited to the 1% for the foreseeable future.