First off: the guy at antiadblocker.com is an idiot. People like them think MS and Netscape created the internet. I'll save you the diatribe about the good old days (the 1980's) and the attitude towards advertisements.
Second, if you want to see how to have ads on a web site without pissing everyone off check out kuro5hin. No popups and no images in the ads. They are easily spotted yet don't distract the reader from the rest of the page. At the choice of the advertiser you can even discuss the ad. Simple ad creation lets people quickly design and submit their copy (no waiting for someone to create an image). IMO it's advertising that is very acceptable.
Banner ads are a bad idea; popups much, much worse. Let's admit to our mistake and stop using them.
Advertising on the net is annoying but a necessary evil. But at the current rate banner/popup ads will be all you can see in you web browser. Something has to change.
Hopefully someone in China picks up on your idea. It fits well into their socialist structure, it'd be source of national pride and would be a big boost for tux (I guy can dream, right?). The original posting desires a 5. Wish I had some mod point laying around.
I'm wondering about your stats. You really think there are that many excellent coders out their?.1% of the population seems high. Just wondering.
Great idea though. Kinda like when the People's Army brought electricity to a lot of the rural parts of the country.
Salon did an excellent article about someone who bought a block of time (one hour on Sunday nights, paid $15k in advance for one year) and three weeks later Clear Channel cancelled.
Even though the subject matter (use of marijuana) and show's name ("Club Cannabis") were agreed upon beforehand Clear Channel backed out. It should be noted that it was a sales representative of Clear Channel who came up with the idea for the show and had already sold ad spots (they got 4 minutes per show)
What kind of company is Clear Channel. When asked to comment company spokeswoman Pam Taylor said, "We don't talk to Salon."
Playing with Clear Channel is like playing with M$: "If you go to bed with the dogs don't complain about getting fleas (or rabies).
Respect \Re*spect"\ v. To regard as worthy of special consideration.
Violation \Vi`o*la"tion\, n. Nonobservance; as the violation of a law or positive command.
Did Nike legally violate the first amendment: no. Has Nike [in the past] shown a total lack of respect for it: yes.
IMO it is hypocritical of Nike to knowingly make false statements and claim "commercial free speech" while contantly blocking the media from investigating their labor practices.
You can either support free speech or suppress it. Nike's choice is clear.
Any remember Jonah Peretti? He was the guy who tried to get Nike to print "sweatshop" on his new Nike ID sneakers. When they said no he tried to get: Sweat Shop, Child Labor, ChildLabor, Exploit and Swetshop.
Nike respects the first amendment like Enron respects their employees.
pherris
Check out: http://www.shey.net/niked.html http://www.s alon.com/people/cheapshots/2001/02/08/ artsfund/index2.html http://www.villagevoice.com/ issues/0107/jockbeat.p hp
The richest man in the world is shaking down Portland's public schools for $500,000 or require they submit to the inquisition? IMHO this is a new low from a man that needs to crawl up to get to the sewer. What's he going to do for an encore, kick a dog?
Yes, it sounds like a clear violation of the law. What can be done? Call Sony back, quote the law and (politely) demand a timely resolution afforded you (under this law). When they say no contact your state's AG's office and ask for help. They will lose your complaint in a sea of paperwork and you'll never hear from them again.
In reality Sony will get away with this. Welcome to America.
As for references see:
http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/15/2302.html
http://www.ftc.gov/ogc/stat3.htm
Maybe Sony hasn't heard of the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act (15 U.S.C. 2302(C))?
This federal law regulates warranties for the protection of consumers. The essence of this law concerning aftermarket parts is that a manufacturer may not condition a written or implied warranty on the consumers using parts or services which are identified by brand, trade, or corporate name (such as the company's makers brand) unless the parts or service are provided free of charge. The law means that the use of an aftermarket part alone is not cause for denying the warranty. However, the law's protection does not extend to aftermarket parts in situations where such parts actually caused the damage being claimed under the warranty.
"This whole thing is wildly inaccurate. Rounding errors, ballot stuffers, dynamic IPs, firewalls. If you're using these numbers to do anything important, you're insane."
First, what happened sucks. It looks like you did thinks right and UPS screwed you.
I use to work as a manager in the complaints department for a major hotel chain (>3k properties worldwide) and may be able to offer a little insight on getting compensation:
- Have a reasonable claim. This part has been clearly satisfied.
- Ask for reasonable compensation. Try to find someplace that has published replacement prices like Sun Remarketing for the Macs.
- Explain in the simplest terms possible where UPS went wrong.
- Be overly polite. I know this can be really, really difficult but will pay off in the end. If you're rude to them they'll use it as an excuse to deny or delay your claim.
- Document times, dates and names of everyone spoken with at UPS.
- Avoid talking about lawyers and law suits in the beginning. Maybe take the "positive" route and say something like "I'm sure you'll be able to resolve this without me having to call my brother the lawyer." When people said they were going to sue us over minor (under $2k) complaints we knew they were bluffing. If they pissed us off and kept mentioning the threat of suit we would just give them the name of the legal department's contact and tell them to have their lawyer (and only his lawyer) send a letter. On the other hand a lawyer in the family scared us. It was no longer about spending $5k to get $500 back. We really tried to settle the matter, reasonable or not.
- When you don't get satisfaction with the person you're dealing with, thank them for they're time and ask to speak to their supervisor. Explain that the problem is not with them but with the lack of compensation. If the UPS person (especially 1st or 2nd level) thinks you're going to "bad mouth" them along with your damage complaint you'll find it a lot harder to talk to someone higher up. BTW, common trick (at a lot of companies) is to pass of the call to a fellow employee instead of their supervisor. Make sure to get their full name, title and confirm they are in deed a supervisor.
- Keep moving your way up the food chain. Everyone has a supervisor and don't take no for an answer. At some point you'll reach someone that will decide that paying you is less hassle than dealing with you.
- Keep bugging them everyday. Be polite but keep calling. When people did this to us we always gave in (when the complaint and compensation were with in reason). Sometimes they'll try to screen you out so you'll need to get creative. Get phone extentions or, even better, direct lines. Avoid depending on a human to transfer you to the person you're calling. A lot of times they knowingly dump you to voice mail when they hear your name. If this happens just have your girlfriend/wife/sister/mother/whatever call, give a fake name and say they're returning a call. Pass off the phone when you get connected and act dumb if they ask about that "trick". "Social Engineering" skills are a plus here.
We once had a guy call about about one of our hotels in Paris where his wife and kid were staying. The only complaint was the room's AC didn't work and hotel needed two days to fix it (they were sold out and couldn't move the guest). The hotel offered to move them to another (nicer) hotel and pay for two nights or comp two nights and dinners. Very reasonable. This guy bitched and moaned like his family was staying in a POW camp (it was the nicest one of our ~8 properties in the Paris area). He wanted the full stay (~9 nights) AND air fare refunded along with some free nights at a hotel in the US. Everyone thought the same thing: "put the crack pipe down for just a minute." He managed (somehow) to get the president of the company on the the phone. He folded faster than Superman on laundry day and gave this guy everything he wanted.
We also once paid 5 figures for a guest's video of two rats mating in their room (that's the guest's room and not the rat's room) but that's for another time. BTW, if there is an upside to this you did get some extra karma points. =)
An AC said:
Honestly, who wants to track your life?
Hey! If I had a life I'd be offended by that =). Who wants my (or anyone elses) life's story? The company that thinks I need to buy their product(s) because of my choices. For example:
I've bought a six pack of Bud (it lasts the week) and a large pizza most every Friday night for the last few years. In turn:
Coors wants to me buy their beer and sends me coupons. Time to deal with more junk snailmail/email.
My auto insurance company decides to "adjust" my rates because I drink. Time to work a little overtime.
My employer also decides that my eating and drinking habits could cost them money in lost hours of productivity, possible tardiness, an "on the job" injury or just too fat and drunk to show up in the future. Time to find a new job.
The police, while on a routine cruise, have been automaticly been running everyone's license plate checking for possible criminals. On Saturday morning they run my plate, see I normally have a few cold ones on Fridays and want to see if I'm sober. Time to assume the position.
Whatever happenned to the idea of privacy? What people do in their own lifes, so long as it doesn't hurt someone else, should not be the business of any goverment or companies.
Patrick Cable II said:
"Voluntary? Whats the point then? A Drivers license is voluntary."
But try to live almost any where in this country without a driver's license or auto. Or imagine your local supermarket saying that you "need" one of these cards to shop there. Don't like it? They'll say "Go someplace else. We're doing this for 'National Security'."
The SSN system has been so exploited by big business it's not even funny. This is a dream come true for those that want to track your life.
I guess it's voluntary if you don't need to work, eat or receive health care. Sad.
dangermouse said:
Lots of soldiers went into Desert Storm, and more than a few came back in body bags.
246 were kill and 19 are MIA from Desert Storm. Most of those were not from "enemy engagements" but operational accidents (i.e.: auto accidents, etc). Since DS was primarily an air war many ground troops were spared combat (and injury / death).
If this current war turns into a ground affair (and many signs say
it will) then IMO we may see KIA/MIA reports like we saw in Vietnam (thousands).
"When you're wounded and left on Afghanistan's plains,
And the women come out to cut up what remains,
Jest roll to your rifle and blow out your brains
An' go to your Gawd like a soldier."
This will not been another "Desert Storm". Lots of soldiers will be going in and some will be come back in body bags. That is war.
pherris
But can they only brew light beer?
on
Beer In Space
·
· Score: 1
I mean that would kinda suck. Although light is better than nothing I guess...
If Microsoft wanted to match Apple's donation (percentage wise) they would have to donate $115.8M and not just $5M.
IMO Apple also wins on the other donations since they're donating equipment (with a very low profit margin and high cost per unit) as compared to M$'s donation of software only (with an extremely high profit margin). The end cost will most likely be more for Apple.
Also consider this: This horrific act [of the WTC bombing] is a big windfall for M$. How many copies of Windows XP and Server 2k will they sell because of this attack? Alot more than $10M worth. Their per share price is up almost 3% today (18-09-01) while the market as a whole tanks. Out of respect to those that lost there lives I will not make a joke about this.
If it sounds like I hate M$ it's because I do. Their software sucks for what you pay
for it and Gates is just plain evil.
Also both pale in comparison to the average "Joe Six Pack" who has been giving a higher
percent of his income than either. Companies should not operate for the sole benefit
of it's investors but also (and equally) to the benefit of their communities. In reality
just about every for profit corporation fails miserably at this.
pherris
Income info from:
Microsoft (http://biz.yahoo.com/p/m/msft.html)
Apple (http://biz.yahoo.com/p/a/aapl.html)
Last quarter Microsoft had a net income of $2,451M yet can only donate $5M in cash (or.2%)? And Bill (himself) has not given one dime. Considering that M$ will easily make back that $5M in software replacement sales I think they should get the Cheap Bastard Award.
Think of it this way: If you made $60000 per year
minus 30% for taxes, divided by 4 and multipled by.2% you would only be giving $21.00. Most people I know that have donated have given atleast $50 and all make less that $60k.
This makes me ill. Thousands died, hundreds of thousands of people will suffer some kind of financial loss and M$ can only cough up $5M. It really pisses me off...
mark_lybarger said:
"these are perfect for a general internet appliance. it's something you should find in the libraries or mall kiosk, but most people want to do more with their home computer than just suft the net. granted, it's the most frequent thing we do with 'um, but we still want to do more."
I almost completely agree. There's only two situations I'd recommend the thinknic for home use:
1. To someone that runs linux at home, wants another computer and likes to hack and
2. A "luser" that's too cheap to buy a system with good tech support (i.e.: Gateway, Dell, Compaq, etc) and is hoping I'll answer ever question their little minds can dream up (can you tell I've been down this road before?).
I should mention that I now tell most everyone that come to me with a MS Windows question that I no longer will answer them for free. I'll will freely assist them leaving the MS Windows world for a better place (I use an iMac/OS X and Linux at home) like Macintosh, Linux, Be or QNX, but resolving Billy OS problems will cost them $35 per hour (IMHO still a gift). Hence the reason for liking the thinknic.
As for the workplace, "thin is in". This is a place where most users don't need a GeForce video card or SB Live audio. Thin clients make my life so much easier. When you spell out the savings like no MS licenses, $500 per seat with a LCD screen and no HDs that need replacing or rebuilding it's a lock. Unless, of course, the person I'm pitching the idea to has been brainwashed by MS (with is all too common).
So yes, for most everyone a "thin" machine is not the way to go as their home "solo" PC. As a second or third (and so one) PC it's worth a look.
Slashdot Mirror
Second, if you want to see how to have ads on a web site without pissing everyone off check out kuro5hin. No popups and no images in the ads. They are easily spotted yet don't distract the reader from the rest of the page. At the choice of the advertiser you can even discuss the ad. Simple ad creation lets people quickly design and submit their copy (no waiting for someone to create an image). IMO it's advertising that is very acceptable.
Banner ads are a bad idea; popups much, much worse. Let's admit to our mistake and stop using them.
Advertising on the net is annoying but a necessary evil. But at the current rate banner/popup ads will be all you can see in you web browser. Something has to change.
pherris
Hopefully someone in China picks up on your idea. It fits well into their socialist structure, it'd be source of national pride and would be a big boost for tux (I guy can dream, right?). The original posting desires a 5. Wish I had some mod point laying around.
.1% of the population seems high. Just wondering.
I'm wondering about your stats. You really think there are that many excellent coders out their?
Great idea though. Kinda like when the People's Army brought electricity to a lot of the rural parts of the country.
thanks,
pherris
Darth himself: http://www.tsr.org/StarWars/multimedia/wavs/alter. wav
Even though the subject matter (use of marijuana) and show's name ("Club Cannabis") were agreed upon beforehand Clear Channel backed out. It should be noted that it was a sales representative of Clear Channel who came up with the idea for the show and had already sold ad spots (they got 4 minutes per show)
What kind of company is Clear Channel. When asked to comment company spokeswoman Pam Taylor said, "We don't talk to Salon."
Playing with Clear Channel is like playing with M$: "If you go to bed with the dogs don't complain about getting fleas (or rabies).
pherris
Violation \Vi`o*la"tion\, n. Nonobservance; as the violation of a law or positive command.
Did Nike legally violate the first amendment: no. Has Nike [in the past] shown a total lack of respect for it: yes.
IMO it is hypocritical of Nike to knowingly make false statements and claim "commercial free speech" while contantly blocking the media from investigating their labor practices.
You can either support free speech or suppress it. Nike's choice is clear.
pherris
Any remember Jonah Peretti? He was the guy who tried to get Nike to print "sweatshop" on his new Nike ID sneakers. When they said no he tried to get: Sweat Shop, Child Labor, ChildLabor, Exploit and Swetshop.
s alon.com/people/cheapshots/2001/02/08/ artsfund/index2.html/ issues/0107/jockbeat.p hp
Nike respects the first amendment like Enron respects their employees.
pherris
Check out:
http://www.shey.net/niked.html
http://www.
http://www.villagevoice.com
Yeah yeah, "-1, Troll" but you know it's true.
pherris
(You have to love the classics
pherris
(FYI: IANAL)
Yes, it sounds like a clear violation of the law. What can be done? Call Sony back, quote the law and (politely) demand a timely resolution afforded you (under this law). When they say no contact your state's AG's office and ask for help. They will lose your complaint in a sea of paperwork and you'll never hear from them again.
In reality Sony will get away with this. Welcome to America.
As for references see:
http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/15/2302.html
http://www.ftc.gov/ogc/stat3.htm
pherris
Maybe Sony hasn't heard of the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act (15 U.S.C. 2302(C))?
This federal law regulates warranties for the protection of consumers. The essence of this law concerning aftermarket parts is that a manufacturer may not condition a written or implied warranty on the consumers using parts or services which are identified by brand, trade, or corporate name (such as the company's makers brand) unless the parts or service are provided free of charge. The law means that the use of an aftermarket part alone is not cause for denying the warranty. However, the law's protection does not extend to aftermarket parts in situations where such parts actually caused the damage being claimed under the warranty.
pherris
I was thinking of one of those new iMacs and some duct tape ...
pherris
pherris
First, what happened sucks. It looks like you did thinks right and UPS screwed you.
I use to work as a manager in the complaints department for a major hotel chain (>3k properties worldwide) and may be able to offer a little insight on getting compensation:
- Have a reasonable claim. This part has been clearly satisfied.
- Ask for reasonable compensation. Try to find someplace that has published replacement prices like Sun Remarketing for the Macs.
- Explain in the simplest terms possible where UPS went wrong.
- Be overly polite. I know this can be really, really difficult but will pay off in the end. If you're rude to them they'll use it as an excuse to deny or delay your claim.
- Document times, dates and names of everyone spoken with at UPS.
- Avoid talking about lawyers and law suits in the beginning. Maybe take the "positive" route and say something like "I'm sure you'll be able to resolve this without me having to call my brother the lawyer." When people said they were going to sue us over minor (under $2k) complaints we knew they were bluffing. If they pissed us off and kept mentioning the threat of suit we would just give them the name of the legal department's contact and tell them to have their lawyer (and only his lawyer) send a letter. On the other hand a lawyer in the family scared us. It was no longer about spending $5k to get $500 back. We really tried to settle the matter, reasonable or not.
- When you don't get satisfaction with the person you're dealing with, thank them for they're time and ask to speak to their supervisor. Explain that the problem is not with them but with the lack of compensation. If the UPS person (especially 1st or 2nd level) thinks you're going to "bad mouth" them along with your damage complaint you'll find it a lot harder to talk to someone higher up. BTW, common trick (at a lot of companies) is to pass of the call to a fellow employee instead of their supervisor. Make sure to get their full name, title and confirm they are in deed a supervisor.
- Keep moving your way up the food chain. Everyone has a supervisor and don't take no for an answer. At some point you'll reach someone that will decide that paying you is less hassle than dealing with you.
- Keep bugging them everyday. Be polite but keep calling. When people did this to us we always gave in (when the complaint and compensation were with in reason). Sometimes they'll try to screen you out so you'll need to get creative. Get phone extentions or, even better, direct lines. Avoid depending on a human to transfer you to the person you're calling. A lot of times they knowingly dump you to voice mail when they hear your name. If this happens just have your girlfriend/wife/sister/mother/whatever call, give a fake name and say they're returning a call. Pass off the phone when you get connected and act dumb if they ask about that "trick". "Social Engineering" skills are a plus here.
We once had a guy call about about one of our hotels in Paris where his wife and kid were staying. The only complaint was the room's AC didn't work and hotel needed two days to fix it (they were sold out and couldn't move the guest). The hotel offered to move them to another (nicer) hotel and pay for two nights or comp two nights and dinners. Very reasonable. This guy bitched and moaned like his family was staying in a POW camp (it was the nicest one of our ~8 properties in the Paris area). He wanted the full stay (~9 nights) AND air fare refunded along with some free nights at a hotel in the US. Everyone thought the same thing: "put the crack pipe down for just a minute." He managed (somehow) to get the president of the company on the the phone. He folded faster than Superman on laundry day and gave this guy everything he wanted.
We also once paid 5 figures for a guest's video of two rats mating in their room (that's the guest's room and not the rat's room) but that's for another time. BTW, if there is an upside to this you did get some extra karma points. =)
Good Luck.
pherris
- Massachusetts' Most Wanted
- FBI Most Wanted
William M. Bulger, President, University of Massachusetts
- President Bulger's Biography
pherris
I've bought a six pack of Bud (it lasts the week) and a large pizza most every Friday night for the last few years. In turn:
Coors wants to me buy their beer and sends me coupons. Time to deal with more junk snailmail/email.
My auto insurance company decides to "adjust" my rates because I drink. Time to work a little overtime.
My employer also decides that my eating and drinking habits could cost them money in lost hours of productivity, possible tardiness, an "on the job" injury or just too fat and drunk to show up in the future. Time to find a new job.
The police, while on a routine cruise, have been automaticly been running everyone's license plate checking for possible criminals. On Saturday morning they run my plate, see I normally have a few cold ones on Fridays and want to see if I'm sober. Time to assume the position.
Whatever happenned to the idea of privacy? What people do in their own lifes, so long as it doesn't hurt someone else, should not be the business of any goverment or companies.
pherris
The SSN system has been so exploited by big business it's not even funny. This is a dream come true for those that want to track your life. I guess it's voluntary if you don't need to work, eat or receive health care. Sad.
Pherris
"'I think 99.99 percent of Americans will want these ID cards,' Ellison said. "
I think that 99.99 percent of Americans think that Larry Ellison pulled these stats out of thin air and are tainted by his own greed.
pherris
"Senator Blocks Attempt to Pass Bill"a ck s_terror_laws_2.html
h tm l#form
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ap/20011010/us/att
BTW, you can thank him for doing the right thing at:
http://feingold.senate.gov/services/contactrdf.
pherris
If this current war turns into a ground affair (and many signs say it will) then IMO we may see KIA/MIA reports like we saw in Vietnam (thousands).
pherris
From "The Young British Soldier":
"When you're wounded and left on Afghanistan's plains,
And the women come out to cut up what remains,
Jest roll to your rifle and blow out your brains
An' go to your Gawd like a soldier."
This will not been another "Desert Storm". Lots of soldiers will be going in and some will be come back in body bags. That is war.
pherris
I mean that would kinda suck. Although light is better than nothing I guess ...
pherris
Cash Donation / Earnings = Percent of Earnings Donated .065%
Apple: $1M / $67M = 1.5%
Microsoft: $5M / $7720M =
If Microsoft wanted to match Apple's donation (percentage wise) they would have to donate $115.8M and not just $5M.
IMO Apple also wins on the other donations since they're donating equipment (with a very low profit margin and high cost per unit) as compared to M$'s donation of software only (with an extremely high profit margin). The end cost will most likely be more for Apple.
Also consider this: This horrific act [of the WTC bombing] is a big windfall for M$. How many copies of Windows XP and Server 2k will they sell because of this attack? Alot more than $10M worth. Their per share price is up almost 3% today (18-09-01) while the market as a whole tanks. Out of respect to those that lost there lives I will not make a joke about this.
If it sounds like I hate M$ it's because I do. Their software sucks for what you pay for it and Gates is just plain evil.
Also both pale in comparison to the average "Joe Six Pack" who has been giving a higher percent of his income than either. Companies should not operate for the sole benefit of it's investors but also (and equally) to the benefit of their communities. In reality just about every for profit corporation fails miserably at this.
pherris
Income info from:
Microsoft (http://biz.yahoo.com/p/m/msft.html)
Apple (http://biz.yahoo.com/p/a/aapl.html)
Think of it this way: If you made $60000 per year minus 30% for taxes, divided by 4 and multipled by .2% you would only be giving $21.00. Most people I know that have donated have given atleast $50 and all make less that $60k.
This makes me ill. Thousands died, hundreds of thousands of people will suffer some kind of financial loss and M$ can only cough up $5M. It really pisses me off ...
pherris
VPC 3.x: no, VPC 4.x: yes (a bit slow but that's not QNX's fault).
pherris
1. To someone that runs linux at home, wants another computer and likes to hack and
2. A "luser" that's too cheap to buy a system with good tech support (i.e.: Gateway, Dell, Compaq, etc) and is hoping I'll answer ever question their little minds can dream up (can you tell I've been down this road before?).
I should mention that I now tell most everyone that come to me with a MS Windows question that I no longer will answer them for free. I'll will freely assist them leaving the MS Windows world for a better place (I use an iMac/OS X and Linux at home) like Macintosh, Linux, Be or QNX, but resolving Billy OS problems will cost them $35 per hour (IMHO still a gift). Hence the reason for liking the thinknic.
As for the workplace, "thin is in". This is a place where most users don't need a GeForce video card or SB Live audio. Thin clients make my life so much easier. When you spell out the savings like no MS licenses, $500 per seat with a LCD screen and no HDs that need replacing or rebuilding it's a lock. Unless, of course, the person I'm pitching the idea to has been brainwashed by MS (with is all too common).
So yes, for most everyone a "thin" machine is not the way to go as their home "solo" PC. As a second or third (and so one) PC it's worth a look.
pherris