I'm not so familiar with mergers and cooperations in the American businessworld, but isn't WB somehow connected to AOL, that provides internet access, internet access needed to download these movies? This is a pretty smart move for a movie company affiliated with an ISP... Making money on all fronts. Maybe there is something good in this concept of ubiquitous corporations after all...
Maybe. But maybe this is an idea that will bring its time.
This might just be the reason for the people who were not interested in the internet before, to reconsider and go with it. If Joe Sixpack did not have a real reason for broadband, he does now. When more common technologies will be merged with the 'net, more people will find a good use for the internet.
I don't like this one bit. It makes me feel like when I was really young, just a kid, and desperately wanted to learn to play the guitar... but they were so expensive, I had to save a long time, and work hard for it. And everytime I watched television, there was someone trashing theirs... I never got that. Why don't you just give your guitar to some kid, then?
I'm sure this server could serve a very noble purpose still, for some people. It's not even that old, some of the oldest servers I admin are even more crappy.
I like art and philosophy (or whatever this is for some), but I don't get why trashing stuff would be cool in any way.
I wish they would hand it over to me, I'd find use for it as a cvs/web/ftp server for homeless opensource projects, non-profit organisations, whatever.
Because you can ask your passenger much more easily to be quiet for a while, when things get too busy. Hell, perhaps some of them are even bright even to shut up for a while at a busy crossroad. The other person in the car is part of the traffic too, in a way, and will respond (although less, since (s)he is not driving) to the same outside world as you, thereby not being 100% focussed on talking but on other perceptions of the senses too.
While especially if the other person is at home and has her full attention focused on you, it requires basically fulltime concentration from you too. Or at least pretending that.;)
Also, in a conversation there is much more interaction than talking only, and it requires more concentration to get a message across through a phone connection than in a normal face-to-face conversation.
I have been overrun twice, once because of a bitch who was trying to take a turn with one hand because of her phone, a friend of mine almost got killed in an accident, and another one died while riding her bike.
I'm not saying all of these were related to cellphone usage, but if you know that traffic accidents are death cause #1 here in Belgium, you might want to rethink your priorities before you loose your life by either being run over, or killing someone and having to live with it.
... why don't they just join EFNET/IRCNET/WHATEVERNET? There is no reason to split and all make an 'own' irc server, it just makes things harder. People know how to get to those irc networks, the servers are listed in their clients, and most of the bigger ircnets have been existing for quite some time now, mostly without any problem.
It sounds very silly to me, 'we are pro opensource so we need our own irc network', 'we are pro microsoft so we need our own irc network', 'we are pro sun/mac/pr0n/christian/jewish/left/right/democrat/ republican/tupperware so [...]' (you get the point)... That's thinking in boxes, nobody really is like that (except maybe Richard Stallman, Bill Gates and Scott McNealy themselves... heh) - instead of blending and mixing a bit, learning from each other's successes and faults, exchanging ideas and communicate, which would benefit all of us. For crying out loud, it's called 'OPEN projects network'. Mix, damn it. Get out of the little 1337 opensource subgroup and bring it amongst the people. That's what linux needs most, anyway.
This is impossible, in about every way I can think of.
1. Technically: how are you going to check all those people's brainwaves within a reasonable amount of time?
2. Scientifically: what can you deduct from these waves, without knowing anything about the person's 'normal' behaviour, background, beliefs?
3. Legally: what are you going to do when somebody has an irregular brainwave-graph or fast heartbeat? Lock gramps away... based on what?
4. Politically: who will approve this... Correctomundo, nobody. Especially not the badass liars and politicians who are behind the law. Imagine, funding technology that sees through people... Must be their worst nightmare.
My girlfriend is deadly afraid of flying. Will she be refused access to the plane (not as if _she_ would mind)?
No, this is just FUD. I hope NASA sticks to space missions 'n' stuff, otherwise they'll drop from the 'slashdot cool companies and organisations' to the 'slashdot blacklist' in no time.
This is very simple. Give her one of these $5 ethnic things -possibly something that has a special meaning somehow, something deeper-, and promise her your heart. All the rest is bullshit, and your love ain't nobody else's business.
If she needs expensive juwelery to be with you, you're headed nowhere anyway. The best way to show you love her is by loving her, instead of making up your deficiencies with money.
No matter how much tradition this is, this is just as much sexistic bullshit as 'woman at home taking care of kids'. This day and age you don't have to show your wealth, for all I know, she makes more money than you... Might just as well give her some cattle, not...
Don't get me wrong - it's very important to show your love, but I just don't see how a cold piece of glass makes you a better lover.
But, -my usual disclaimer-, I (and therefore my girlfriend too) am totally leftish and I tend to wipe my ass with toilet paper that has social conventions written on it.
Ah, there it is, in all its pink glory... The Princess-phone! How I have longed to possess one of these beauties, how I have sought for its rare splendor, no price's too high for this baby...
Why would I pay Micro$oft full-price for their crappy device and software, only to put linux on it afterwards? Then I support and pay Micro$oft and have linux on a low-performance box that wasn't meant to run it - what will you do with it then?
I really don't see any use - it's not a victory by any means, as you still pay Micro$oft for the whole thing.
Why does seeing a red white and blue website bother you? Why does seeing a microsoft sticker on a laptop bother you? Perhaps it's because both entities behind those representations have been famously successful --- and the entities you put so much stake have not (at least in the ways you may want to value)?
Arghl. I hate this jealousy-argument. You don't get it. Many people beyond your borders hate your guts, and you keep telling yourself it's jealousy.
It bugs me because I see nazi's parade, proudly waving their flag. That's why. Love for the flag above individual thinking and personal opinion.
And, yes, I'm a pretentious fuck. Terribly. You have no idea.:P
I can think of one very large non-democratic entity making rules that contravine national sovereignty - the EU.
That's not the same, is it. The EU is the result of the need to have a more global legal/economical system. What I meant is that until now, (for instance) the EU has not sent spy aircraft to China, almost causing a serious conflict. The EU doesn't really dictate beyond it's borders; or, even more honestly put, in the public opinion in most parts of the world, people seem to think America dictates too much of the law, economy etc. This is not about being better, this is a matter of showing America what the world thinks about them, and how negative this view often is.
I hope you are wrong about the EU catching up with DMCA. I don't agree with 'EU less democratic than the US': as the situation is today, the corporate culture and dominance of big organisations really don't have that big an impact on the law. European culture is fundamentally different, less capitalistic and corporate in a way, and I hope that saves us from the worst cases. Just because of this more restricted 'free market'.
You are right about countries trying to put filters on some things, with which I don't agree at all either. But: _for their own citizens_. While in many cases where America's involved, this would be _globally_. That's the key issue here.
And I do see cubersquatters as a bit of a result of the American dream-culture that states (in the eyes of some) you can try anything you want to get rich. I hate that attitude, and it's very present in especially your culture. Do I hate Americans? Again, not at all. I respect all people. Can I dislike those elements, and fear the malicious influence they might have on my life? I can. This is not an attack of Americans. This is criticism on some elements of your culture, in as far as they 'harm' me.
Why is it that it is so acceptible to propogate libelous steriotypes against americans?
Are you kidding me? Your president is a caricature of himself, your flag waves everywhere, in practically every news broadcast, series, newspaper or website. I'm not saying you don't have the right to do that -ofcourse you do-, but you really invite stereotyping, more than any other people. Sometimes rather ridiculously, sometimes understandably, and sometimes in a frightening way to anybody beyond your borders. Accept the consequences of the behaviour of your fellow country-men... Sadly enough, that's sometimes unfair.
Btw, I have no problem raging on about religious extremism in other parts of the world. I'm critic of everything and everyone, not in the least myself and my own country. It's just, this one's about America.
You have all rights to be whoever you want to be; but this means accepting the consequences. America desperately needs some PR... the view of people beyond its borders is in horrible contrast with the view of its own citizens. This is a fact, not a blame. I wish things were different. And I wish more of your fellow men would rethink and discuss like you do, instead of falling in nationalistic mantra's and denying the problem. Americans generally don't take criticism very well... no matter how gentle it's brought to them.
Ofcourse, I'm at the complete opposite side here - I have no problem calling my country an overpopulated shithole where organisation of policeforce, legal system and government are a joke, and nobody gives a damn about each other or the country - indifference is the national way of life. Hence, take my words with a grain of salt, my opinions deviate widely on this subject anyway.
And oh, yes, I speak Dutch, French, English and German (poorly), next to having an understanding of Italian and Spanish. And I studied latin... long ago and far away (I have to admit I'm a bad example, as I live in a bilingual country in the middle of Europe between England, The Netherlands, Germany and France, and kids have to learn most of those languages in school).
I just try to show that your mono-culture often gets judged as racism and chauvinism. To say it more harsh: "you think you're better".
By the way, I have no problem with Americans whatsoever. It's just that I'm so very left, and I hate oxymoronic 'corporate culture' and the power of big companies (and sometimes, government). I'm sure that's the reason this guy wants an 'European internet', to 'save' us from those who take the American Dream to the most egoistic, capitalistic end with the RIAA, Micro$oft and governmental control. It's a culture class, as I already said; I don't agree with him, but we do have a problem (as do you!) and we must defend our rights against these companies and institutions that play with entire governments.
My point with the view that America's so in love with itself, so preoccupied with its own culture, economy, language, etc, that often American companies and government -less frequent individuals- seem to have the idea they have the right to make decisions, be it legally or morally, about what happens beyond its borders.
For instance, to stick with the topic here, law on the 'net. For some reason, most disputes are settled in American courts; most rules about the way the internet should work are made either directly or indirectly by the American government; and most problems with unreasonable patents, domainnames, fair use etc. seem to be an effect of this American, corporate culture.
So, either we sue back (which is rather uncommon practice in Europe, as you probably know), take some control back, or help creating an entity that is a true international organisation (thinking about ICANN and friends). I don't understand why (/how) America ends up with what seems a big part of the control over the net; I suppose we are equally to blame for not evolving as fast when it comes to IT - after all, this is not a blaming contest. I just mention how people look at it here, which is that America seems to have its fingers in too many pies.
About American sentiment... This is incomprehensible to me, as I'm totally opposed to nationalism, or the 'belonging to a group'-thing that seems to be so important in American culture. Doesn't matter how you call it, personally, it gives me the creeps, and sometimes when I see some of your (admitted, clearly less bright individuals) fellow country-men celebrate their flag, I see flashes of nazi-moron's all happy about being part of the überreich.
This doesn't improve with the mono-culture 'one language, one flag, one god' that seems to live under the skin of many.
And I really don't know what happened to Belgians in the Tour, I guess they just let you win a couple of times to encourage your poor bikers.:P
Good criticisms of the "American Way" are modded up every few milliseconds of every day on slashdot.
If you mean 'good American criticisms', you're right. There often are at least _some_ people who question their country and government, amongst all the modded-up self-love.
Maybe you don't call it nationalism, to the rest of the world it does. I think it's a cultural problem, too; I'm from Belgium, maybe one of the countries with the least nationalistic feelings; and you can't deny that your country can easily qualify as one of the most chauvinism... I can't click two links without seeing white, blue and red, a reference to US, God bless America, Brightest Beacon Of Freedom, etc, etc. Tell me, do you know another country that sells itself so much as America?
Don't mean to be pretentious, but... do you speak another language than English?
Europe has no right to complain about 'tude. Europe invented 'tude.
Ah. That's right. And now it's America's turn for 'tude, huh...
Not that I don't agree with you in this specific case, but it's rather painfully ironic to always see people with criticism towards the US being modded down. And on top of that, nationalistic pro-American posts modded up.
Might have something to do with the actual problem, though.
In the 18th century, the US was actively participating in the genocide of native americans.
Hahaha... stop, you're killing me. What about Vietnam, Gulf War, Afghanistan, upcoming Israel? Is there anything Americans don't feel they should meddle with? Your government acts as if it owns the world (including its own citizens), be it in a military, cultural, environmental or whatever way.
Sadly enough, and really, try to understand this instead of start flaming and modding me down, most parts of the world don't accept this American tendency to 'rule the world', to make decisions beyond its own borders. There's a very critical attitude towards your government here, in Europe, aswell as in almost every other part of the world, and what I would really wish for, is to see once a _thoughtful_ reaction to the criticism, a reflection of one's actions, and not the usual nationalistic 'we rule' (shut up or we send our army / economical restrictions /...) kind of talk. America is really considered the bully on the world's playground.
Honestly, I don't agree with the writer. I hope ('hope', not 'believe in') for an internet that brings the world together in harmony and mutual respect; I have the deepest of respect for every one of you individually, no matter where you're from.
But please, reflect about your actions instead of grouping together in a flock of fascistic sheep, like some of the posts here do. The American nationalism reminds too many people here in Europe of the nazi über-empire; it scares me. Try to be objective, and listen to e.g. your president. He doesn't sound much less racistic, chauvinistic, nationalistic than a Bin Laden to many people; America is a big nation, and it's not that hard to understand that many people are very weary whenever there's an incident that involves the American law, military intervention, environmental issues or whatever outside of American's borders.
I'm afraid this situation could escalate in the long run. America is really seen as a bully by most of the world, even in Europe. Most reactions on 9/11 where of horror and compassion of the inhumanity and suffering of the innocent, but many people also had a slight 'they had it coming' in the back of their head; nobody was really amazed that there was an incident. The American government clearly should revise their policies with the rest of the world in the future (maybe they should hire Micro$ofts PR-department?:) ), otherwise things might get much worse. Which would be sad.
It only shows how many people _who are interested in your packages_ check the md5/pgp key.
I don't think most servers, especially important and secure ones, run a mp3/ogg streamer. That would be home users, mostly. Joe 'admin' Sixpack. And well... 'nuff said.
This is a bit of a pushed comparision, but yes, I would condone this attitude when it would come to the GPL, on the (same) condition that it would benefit the human situation and quality of life of the people involved.
An example of humane situation is famine, not 'a new car'.
You see, the idea of free software (the way I see it) is humanity. Is it wrong to violate the GPL? Yes. Are you going to sue someone who breaks it because of hunger? No.
The law is a guide, because the moral of people tends to suck bigtime. I'm afraid of people who closed-mindedly declare 'the law is the law', not ever having had real hunger. That includes me. The GPL gives the power, the rights, back to the customer, the user, because of a more broad philosophy. Ask Stallman if the GPL was meant against money-sucking corporations, or hungry people.
So, depending on your definition of 'really needed to violate the GPL', yes, if under reasonable urgency. Life sadly enough isn't as simple as black and white, and we need to learn to live with many shades of gray. Of truth.
There really is an analogy. You explain it by a 15 year old copying programs and games in fat-ass America; I was talking about countries struggling economically, where bad recessions cause the lives of many, and hunger is a real thread.
Those countries are behind in every way, and rather than improving, this is getting worse because of the fast pace of technological development. You can't expect them to pay full-price: they can't. So, either they live by your 'morals', and the laws of a nation of people who are _over_fed, and suffer, possibly die, for who knows how long, -or- they soften the rights of billion-dollar corporations, and hope the future will be more bright. Which it will be, when they get a chance.
Your viewing point is not aimed at the situation I refered to, or, your are being very egoistic. You talk about a 15-year old with a fast line and a p-t-p client. I talk about a part of the world trying to survive by making a future.
Ofcourse someone who's hungry has different morals than you. Try to see the situation through the eyes of someone who is suffering, instead of waving your finger in a godlike no-no movement, locked in your own closed mind.
That's not a 'besides'. Your argument only holds because you say it's at another's expense. And that's exactly what I don't agree with.
Need is a valid claim, if it's _not_ at someone's expense. Or, if the profit is much larger than the loss; imagine, your gf gets stabbed, and needs to get to a hospital ASAP. There's nobody around. Would you 'steal' a car? I hope you would...
And would I (as owner of that car) mind, knowing I (my car) possibly saved someone's life? I didn't need the car, and I didn't loose anything, when the car's returned. This leaves me with a _positive_ feeling, and no personal loss.
It's a bit overdone, but you see my point.
So. If I can't afford let's say windows, because it's too expensive and I'm a poor student (really poor, not just spent all money on going out). I make a copy from a friend. Micro$oft didn't loose _anything at all_, I couldn't have bought it anyway.
But, ofcourse I have the moral obligation to pay for it when I can (within reason); otherwise, it indeed would be stealing.
That's my opinion, humanistic, left, anti-capitalistic, whatever you want to call it; you don't have to agree with it, ofcourse. I respect your strict, honest views, but some things are more important (and beneficial to all) than adhering to rules.
I would even say, the only reason there is a need for rules and laws, is because sometimes people's morals suck.
Slashdot Mirror
I'm not so familiar with mergers and cooperations in the American businessworld, but isn't WB somehow connected to AOL, that provides internet access, internet access needed to download these movies? This is a pretty smart move for a movie company affiliated with an ISP... Making money on all fronts. Maybe there is something good in this concept of ubiquitous corporations after all...
Maybe. But maybe this is an idea that will bring its time.
This might just be the reason for the people who were not interested in the internet before, to reconsider and go with it. If Joe Sixpack did not have a real reason for broadband, he does now. When more common technologies will be merged with the 'net, more people will find a good use for the internet.
I don't like this one bit. It makes me feel like when I was really young, just a kid, and desperately wanted to learn to play the guitar... but they were so expensive, I had to save a long time, and work hard for it. And everytime I watched television, there was someone trashing theirs... I never got that. Why don't you just give your guitar to some kid, then?
I'm sure this server could serve a very noble purpose still, for some people. It's not even that old, some of the oldest servers I admin are even more crappy.
I like art and philosophy (or whatever this is for some), but I don't get why trashing stuff would be cool in any way.
I wish they would hand it over to me, I'd find use for it as a cvs/web/ftp server for homeless opensource projects, non-profit organisations, whatever.
Because you can ask your passenger much more easily to be quiet for a while, when things get too busy. Hell, perhaps some of them are even bright even to shut up for a while at a busy crossroad. The other person in the car is part of the traffic too, in a way, and will respond (although less, since (s)he is not driving) to the same outside world as you, thereby not being 100% focussed on talking but on other perceptions of the senses too.
While especially if the other person is at home and has her full attention focused on you, it requires basically fulltime concentration from you too. Or at least pretending that.
Also, in a conversation there is much more interaction than talking only, and it requires more concentration to get a message across through a phone connection than in a normal face-to-face conversation.
I have been overrun twice, once because of a bitch who was trying to take a turn with one hand because of her phone, a friend of mine almost got killed in an accident, and another one died while riding her bike.
I'm not saying all of these were related to cellphone usage, but if you know that traffic accidents are death cause #1 here in Belgium, you might want to rethink your priorities before you loose your life by either being run over, or killing someone and having to live with it.
... why don't they just join EFNET/IRCNET/WHATEVERNET? There is no reason to split and all make an 'own' irc server, it just makes things harder. People know how to get to those irc networks, the servers are listed in their clients, and most of the bigger ircnets have been existing for quite some time now, mostly without any problem.
/ republican/tupperware so [...]' (you get the point)... That's thinking in boxes, nobody really is like that (except maybe Richard Stallman, Bill Gates and Scott McNealy themselves... heh) - instead of blending and mixing a bit, learning from each other's successes and faults, exchanging ideas and communicate, which would benefit all of us. For crying out loud, it's called 'OPEN projects network'. Mix, damn it. Get out of the little 1337 opensource subgroup and bring it amongst the people. That's what linux needs most, anyway.
It sounds very silly to me, 'we are pro opensource so we need our own irc network', 'we are pro microsoft so we need our own irc network', 'we are pro sun/mac/pr0n/christian/jewish/left/right/democrat
This is impossible, in about every way I can think of.
1. Technically: how are you going to check all those people's brainwaves within a reasonable amount of time?
2. Scientifically: what can you deduct from these waves, without knowing anything about the person's 'normal' behaviour, background, beliefs?
3. Legally: what are you going to do when somebody has an irregular brainwave-graph or fast heartbeat? Lock gramps away... based on what?
4. Politically: who will approve this... Correctomundo, nobody. Especially not the badass liars and politicians who are behind the law. Imagine, funding technology that sees through people... Must be their worst nightmare.
My girlfriend is deadly afraid of flying. Will she be refused access to the plane (not as if _she_ would mind)?
No, this is just FUD. I hope NASA sticks to space missions 'n' stuff, otherwise they'll drop from the 'slashdot cool companies and organisations' to the 'slashdot blacklist' in no time.
This is very simple. Give her one of these $5 ethnic things -possibly something that has a special meaning somehow, something deeper-, and promise her your heart. All the rest is bullshit, and your love ain't nobody else's business.
:-P
If she needs expensive juwelery to be with you, you're headed nowhere anyway. The best way to show you love her is by loving her, instead of making up your deficiencies with money.
No matter how much tradition this is, this is just as much sexistic bullshit as 'woman at home taking care of kids'. This day and age you don't have to show your wealth, for all I know, she makes more money than you... Might just as well give her some cattle, not...
Don't get me wrong - it's very important to show your love, but I just don't see how a cold piece of glass makes you a better lover.
But, -my usual disclaimer-, I (and therefore my girlfriend too) am totally leftish and I tend to wipe my ass with toilet paper that has social conventions written on it.
No, ofcourse not.
=)
What the hell is Micro$oft doing at linuxworld?! Anybody got a clue?
Ah, there it is, in all its pink glory... The Princess-phone! How I have longed to possess one of these beauties, how I have sought for its rare splendor, no price's too high for this baby...
Why would I pay Micro$oft full-price for their crappy device and software, only to put linux on it afterwards? Then I support and pay Micro$oft and have linux on a low-performance box that wasn't meant to run it - what will you do with it then?
I really don't see any use - it's not a victory by any means, as you still pay Micro$oft for the whole thing.
Arghl. I hate this jealousy-argument. You don't get it. Many people beyond your borders hate your guts, and you keep telling yourself it's jealousy.
It bugs me because I see nazi's parade, proudly waving their flag. That's why. Love for the flag above individual thinking and personal opinion.
And, yes, I'm a pretentious fuck. Terribly. You have no idea. :P
That's not the same, is it. The EU is the result of the need to have a more global legal/economical system. What I meant is that until now, (for instance) the EU has not sent spy aircraft to China, almost causing a serious conflict. The EU doesn't really dictate beyond it's borders; or, even more honestly put, in the public opinion in most parts of the world, people seem to think America dictates too much of the law, economy etc. This is not about being better, this is a matter of showing America what the world thinks about them, and how negative this view often is.
I hope you are wrong about the EU catching up with DMCA. I don't agree with 'EU less democratic than the US': as the situation is today, the corporate culture and dominance of big organisations really don't have that big an impact on the law. European culture is fundamentally different, less capitalistic and corporate in a way, and I hope that saves us from the worst cases. Just because of this more restricted 'free market'.
You are right about countries trying to put filters on some things, with which I don't agree at all either. But: _for their own citizens_. While in many cases where America's involved, this would be _globally_. That's the key issue here.
And I do see cubersquatters as a bit of a result of the American dream-culture that states (in the eyes of some) you can try anything you want to get rich. I hate that attitude, and it's very present in especially your culture. Do I hate Americans? Again, not at all. I respect all people. Can I dislike those elements, and fear the malicious influence they might have on my life? I can. This is not an attack of Americans. This is criticism on some elements of your culture, in as far as they 'harm' me.
Are you kidding me? Your president is a caricature of himself, your flag waves everywhere, in practically every news broadcast, series, newspaper or website. I'm not saying you don't have the right to do that -ofcourse you do-, but you really invite stereotyping, more than any other people. Sometimes rather ridiculously, sometimes understandably, and sometimes in a frightening way to anybody beyond your borders. Accept the consequences of the behaviour of your fellow country-men... Sadly enough, that's sometimes unfair.
Btw, I have no problem raging on about religious extremism in other parts of the world. I'm critic of everything and everyone, not in the least myself and my own country. It's just, this one's about America.
You have all rights to be whoever you want to be; but this means accepting the consequences. America desperately needs some PR... the view of people beyond its borders is in horrible contrast with the view of its own citizens. This is a fact, not a blame. I wish things were different. And I wish more of your fellow men would rethink and discuss like you do, instead of falling in nationalistic mantra's and denying the problem. Americans generally don't take criticism very well... no matter how gentle it's brought to them.
Ofcourse, I'm at the complete opposite side here - I have no problem calling my country an overpopulated shithole where organisation of policeforce, legal system and government are a joke, and nobody gives a damn about each other or the country - indifference is the national way of life. Hence, take my words with a grain of salt, my opinions deviate widely on this subject anyway.
Nice talking to you.
And oh, yes, I speak Dutch, French, English and German (poorly), next to having an understanding of Italian and Spanish. And I studied latin... long ago and far away (I have to admit I'm a bad example, as I live in a bilingual country in the middle of Europe between England, The Netherlands, Germany and France, and kids have to learn most of those languages in school).
I just try to show that your mono-culture often gets judged as racism and chauvinism. To say it more harsh: "you think you're better".
By the way, I have no problem with Americans whatsoever. It's just that I'm so very left, and I hate oxymoronic 'corporate culture' and the power of big companies (and sometimes, government). I'm sure that's the reason this guy wants an 'European internet', to 'save' us from those who take the American Dream to the most egoistic, capitalistic end with the RIAA, Micro$oft and governmental control. It's a culture class, as I already said; I don't agree with him, but we do have a problem (as do you!) and we must defend our rights against these companies and institutions that play with entire governments.
My point with the view that America's so in love with itself, so preoccupied with its own culture, economy, language, etc, that often American companies and government -less frequent individuals- seem to have the idea they have the right to make decisions, be it legally or morally, about what happens beyond its borders.
:P
For instance, to stick with the topic here, law on the 'net. For some reason, most disputes are settled in American courts; most rules about the way the internet should work are made either directly or indirectly by the American government; and most problems with unreasonable patents, domainnames, fair use etc. seem to be an effect of this American, corporate culture.
So, either we sue back (which is rather uncommon practice in Europe, as you probably know), take some control back, or help creating an entity that is a true international organisation (thinking about ICANN and friends). I don't understand why (/how) America ends up with what seems a big part of the control over the net; I suppose we are equally to blame for not evolving as fast when it comes to IT - after all, this is not a blaming contest. I just mention how people look at it here, which is that America seems to have its fingers in too many pies.
About American sentiment... This is incomprehensible to me, as I'm totally opposed to nationalism, or the 'belonging to a group'-thing that seems to be so important in American culture. Doesn't matter how you call it, personally, it gives me the creeps, and sometimes when I see some of your (admitted, clearly less bright individuals) fellow country-men celebrate their flag, I see flashes of nazi-moron's all happy about being part of the überreich.
This doesn't improve with the mono-culture 'one language, one flag, one god' that seems to live under the skin of many.
And I really don't know what happened to Belgians in the Tour, I guess they just let you win a couple of times to encourage your poor bikers.
If you mean 'good American criticisms', you're right. There often are at least _some_ people who question their country and government, amongst all the modded-up self-love.
Maybe you don't call it nationalism, to the rest of the world it does. I think it's a cultural problem, too; I'm from Belgium, maybe one of the countries with the least nationalistic feelings; and you can't deny that your country can easily qualify as one of the most chauvinism... I can't click two links without seeing white, blue and red, a reference to US, God bless America, Brightest Beacon Of Freedom, etc, etc. Tell me, do you know another country that sells itself so much as America?
Don't mean to be pretentious, but... do you speak another language than English?
Ah. That's right. And now it's America's turn for 'tude, huh...
Not that I don't agree with you in this specific case, but it's rather painfully ironic to always see people with criticism towards the US being modded down. And on top of that, nationalistic pro-American posts modded up.
Might have something to do with the actual problem, though.
Hahaha... stop, you're killing me. What about Vietnam, Gulf War, Afghanistan, upcoming Israel? Is there anything Americans don't feel they should meddle with? Your government acts as if it owns the world (including its own citizens), be it in a military, cultural, environmental or whatever way.
Sadly enough, and really, try to understand this instead of start flaming and modding me down, most parts of the world don't accept this American tendency to 'rule the world', to make decisions beyond its own borders. There's a very critical attitude towards your government here, in Europe, aswell as in almost every other part of the world, and what I would really wish for, is to see once a _thoughtful_ reaction to the criticism, a reflection of one's actions, and not the usual nationalistic 'we rule' (shut up or we send our army / economical restrictions / ...) kind of talk. America is really considered the bully on the world's playground.
Honestly, I don't agree with the writer. I hope ('hope', not 'believe in') for an internet that brings the world together in harmony and mutual respect; I have the deepest of respect for every one of you individually, no matter where you're from.
But please, reflect about your actions instead of grouping together in a flock of fascistic sheep, like some of the posts here do. The American nationalism reminds too many people here in Europe of the nazi über-empire; it scares me. Try to be objective, and listen to e.g. your president. He doesn't sound much less racistic, chauvinistic, nationalistic than a Bin Laden to many people; America is a big nation, and it's not that hard to understand that many people are very weary whenever there's an incident that involves the American law, military intervention, environmental issues or whatever outside of American's borders.
I'm afraid this situation could escalate in the long run. America is really seen as a bully by most of the world, even in Europe. Most reactions on 9/11 where of horror and compassion of the inhumanity and suffering of the innocent, but many people also had a slight 'they had it coming' in the back of their head; nobody was really amazed that there was an incident. The American government clearly should revise their policies with the rest of the world in the future (maybe they should hire Micro$ofts PR-department? :) ), otherwise things might get much worse.
Which would be sad.
Peace.
Put the pompons down, hun. :P
It only shows how many people _who are interested in your packages_ check the md5/pgp key.
I don't think most servers, especially important and secure ones, run a mp3/ogg streamer. That would be home users, mostly. Joe 'admin' Sixpack. And well... 'nuff said.
Probably because they hope it won't raise much suspicion. Using 1337, 31337, etc would be like waving a flag.
If it'd be up to me, I'd use one of the less known ip protocols.
Most mirrors are not up to date yet, except:
This is a bit of a pushed comparision, but yes, I would condone this attitude when it would come to the GPL, on the (same) condition that it would benefit the human situation and quality of life of the people involved.
An example of humane situation is famine, not 'a new car'.
You see, the idea of free software (the way I see it) is humanity. Is it wrong to violate the GPL? Yes. Are you going to sue someone who breaks it because of hunger? No.
The law is a guide, because the moral of people tends to suck bigtime. I'm afraid of people who closed-mindedly declare 'the law is the law', not ever having had real hunger. That includes me. The GPL gives the power, the rights, back to the customer, the user, because of a more broad philosophy. Ask Stallman if the GPL was meant against money-sucking corporations, or hungry people.
So, depending on your definition of 'really needed to violate the GPL', yes, if under reasonable urgency. Life sadly enough isn't as simple as black and white, and we need to learn to live with many shades of gray. Of truth.
There really is an analogy. You explain it by a 15 year old copying programs and games in fat-ass America; I was talking about countries struggling economically, where bad recessions cause the lives of many, and hunger is a real thread.
Those countries are behind in every way, and rather than improving, this is getting worse because of the fast pace of technological development. You can't expect them to pay full-price: they can't. So, either they live by your 'morals', and the laws of a nation of people who are _over_fed, and suffer, possibly die, for who knows how long, -or- they soften the rights of billion-dollar corporations, and hope the future will be more bright. Which it will be, when they get a chance.
Your viewing point is not aimed at the situation I refered to, or, your are being very egoistic. You talk about a 15-year old with a fast line and a p-t-p client. I talk about a part of the world trying to survive by making a future.
Ofcourse someone who's hungry has different morals than you. Try to see the situation through the eyes of someone who is suffering, instead of waving your finger in a godlike no-no movement, locked in your own closed mind.
That's not a 'besides'. Your argument only holds because you say it's at another's expense. And that's exactly what I don't agree with.
Need is a valid claim, if it's _not_ at someone's expense. Or, if the profit is much larger than the loss; imagine, your gf gets stabbed, and needs to get to a hospital ASAP. There's nobody around. Would you 'steal' a car? I hope you would...
And would I (as owner of that car) mind, knowing I (my car) possibly saved someone's life? I didn't need the car, and I didn't loose anything, when the car's returned. This leaves me with a _positive_ feeling, and no personal loss.
It's a bit overdone, but you see my point.
So. If I can't afford let's say windows, because it's too expensive and I'm a poor student (really poor, not just spent all money on going out). I make a copy from a friend. Micro$oft didn't loose _anything at all_, I couldn't have bought it anyway.
But, ofcourse I have the moral obligation to pay for it when I can (within reason); otherwise, it indeed would be stealing.
That's my opinion, humanistic, left, anti-capitalistic, whatever you want to call it; you don't have to agree with it, ofcourse. I respect your strict, honest views, but some things are more important (and beneficial to all) than adhering to rules.
I would even say, the only reason there is a need for rules and laws, is because sometimes people's morals suck.