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User: rant-mode-on

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Comments · 119

  1. Re:Stupid prices on US Cell Phone Plans Among World's Most Expensive · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Did you happen to know that Pharma spends more for advertising in the US than R&D?

    Its worse than just advertising, its marketing in general: which includes buying politicians, doctors and paying hospitals to give away "free" samples of baby formula to parents who are then told "don't change the formula, it can be bad for your baby". And then there is all the advertising. Frequently this is for new drugs that aren't as good as existing ones but of course we're expecting that the newer the better, and so are the doctors that don't do their homework too.

    We're screwed. We know we're screwed, and there is nothing we can do about it.

  2. Re:What can I say? on Spam is Back With A Vengence · · Score: 1
  3. Stop DoubleClick from identifying you on The State of Online Advertising · · Score: 1

    Opt out from DoubleClick's cookie (well, the one that identifies you anyway)

    Of course, this assumes that you actually trust DoubleClick in the first place...

  4. Re:Unfortunately for them... on Interactive Commercial Utilizes Tivo Features · · Score: 1
    Fortunately for them, they have ways of avoiding coughing up:

    • Internal Server Error - Read
      The server encountered an internal error or misconfiguration and was unable to complete your request.

      Reference #3.44803554.1140863714.2747e51f
  5. Who else is on their list on Ziff Davis To Website: License To Link, Updated · · Score: 1

    Holy cow, Somebody is gonna get sued big time.

  6. Re:Wait, I have to pay for service?!?!? on Skype Vs. SIPphone - VoIP Compared · · Score: 1

    • If I didn't want it, I wouldn't pay for it.


    So come to the USA, where you get to pay for things you don't want/use just to get the things you do want.
  7. Re:What are you talking about? on Japan, China & South Korea May Develop OS · · Score: 1

    "Linux sucks in this department" refers to Vietnamese, not Chinese. Sorry if this wasn't clear.

  8. Re:What are you talking about? on Japan, China & South Korea May Develop OS · · Score: 1

    Funny, my wife can't type a word of Vietnamese of Win2K. Can't say we've tried it with XP, but I'm not about to fork out any cash for Billy boy just to find out.

    I think the M$'s support for Chinese is a strategic one, given the number of Chinese speakers in this world. Their medium term goal was never to make money from Chinese implementations. Just let piracy spread the dominance until such time as they can afford to pay, then start to squeeze them. Its just that a number of Asian countries are trying to preempt that squeeze.

    And good luck to them.

    Mind you, Linux sucks in this department, but its not completely impossible.

  9. Re:Why does he think it's spammers? on DoS Assaults Underway Against Spam Blocklists · · Score: 1

    You need to pick and choose. Most lists publicise their policy. Pick one that's appropriate to your needs. Then test it thoroughly. I pour all my existing email at an address before I decide to use it. One false positive, and I don't use it. The two that I use (which catch some 80% of my spam, and have not yet caused any problems in 9 months of use) are sbl.spamhaus.org and list.dsbl.org

  10. Re:Be fair. on Optimizing Linux Advocacy Efforts · · Score: 1
    Aw, come on, that's just not true is it?
    • MS Rep: We have Clippy.

      OS Rep: We don't. We have robust, low cost software that in many cases outperforms proprietary software. We'll even give you the source code to modify the products for your own use. If you don't distribute the binaries, feel free to keep the source in-house.

      MS Rep: We don't have Clippy anymore.
  11. Re:Another example of WHY the US Patent office suc on NCR Patents the Internet · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Another shining example of the US patent office's brilliance. What child has never done that on a swing before? The children at the US patent office, obviously...

  12. Re:And a collective exclamation of.... on Microsoft Applies For .NET Patent · · Score: 1

    That's exactly my point - that the US patent office are not doing their job right. Its rediculous, what child hasn't used a swing in that manner?

    The children at the US patent office, obviously.

  13. Re:And a collective exclamation of.... on Microsoft Applies For .NET Patent · · Score: 1
    I agree with most of what you say. However,
    • Say what you will about the patent office, they still reject 75% of all patent applications.. why are you so sure this one will go through?
    Well, here's one reason that makes me think they're not terribly professional.
  14. Re:Intellegent thought on South African Gov't Declared An Open Source Zone · · Score: 1
    • Eventually, the programmer will/might realize that he could have written the same program for Windows, and have made himself a living writing programs

    Judging by linux advocates here, it'll be a cold day in hell before they start using Windows, let alone adding to its legitimacy by providing software for it. For them, money just ain't going to do it.
  15. First Human Clone Born? on First Human Clone Born? · · Score: 3, Funny

    • This story just may have legs

    Yes, but how many?
  16. Re:What sort of idiot? on Will Your CD Player Tell on You? · · Score: 1

    This is an interesting point, which I was unaware of. Thankfully, being a paranoid Linux user, I actually have IE blocked from accessing the internet. It screws windows update, but I've always thought that was an optimistic title. Your point is still valid, and interesting though.

  17. Re:What sort of idiot? on Will Your CD Player Tell on You? · · Score: 4, Informative
    • And how do you configure your firewall to stop your CD player from sending packets out?

    Whilst that's something that iptables/chains just can't cope with (sadly) I have Norton Internet Firewall, for my remaining Windows PC, which is application based. ie, you can accept/deny any connection for each application. Its a great facility, one which I wish was available on Linux. There's nothing like knowing which applications are spying on you...

    Of course, NIF is too complicated for your average Windows user, but ZoneAlarm has similar facilities, and is much easier to get to grips with.

    Gawd, never thought that I'd be promoting a windows app...
  18. Comapred....? on META Predicts Linux Software From Microsoft in 2004 · · Score: 2
    • In a further shift, META Group said that Microsoft will also re-price or separate its Windows server operating system ``so that it can be favorably compared against 'free' Linux.''

    Surely they mean including all of their server software so that can favourably^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H be compare against 'free'
  19. Re:IANAL, but.... on Class Action Filed Against Bonzi Software · · Score: 2
    • require signatures from ALL constituents that will be affected

    Just yesterday (in NJ) I received a whopping $35 from a class action suit that I never signed anything for.
  20. WHAT RELIEF FOR CONSUMERS DOES THE COMPLAINT SEEK? on Class Action Filed Against Bonzi Software · · Score: 2
    • on behalf of all persons residing in the United States ... amount of $500 per class member ... $5.00 per deceptive advertising banner issued

    Holy cow! 280,000,000 * $500 + n * $5 (where n is large an undetermined...)
  21. Re:The vast conspiracy on AT&T/Comcast Consider Aussie-Style Bandwidth Caps · · Score: 2
    • there is a vast conspiracy out there to get your money

      They will lie, they will cheat, they will steal, and the government is unwilling to stop them

    That's because everytime a company gets some of your money, there's tax that going to be paid...
  22. Re:This profit subsidizes the rest... on Microsoft Profit and Loss by Business Area · · Score: 3, Insightful
    • This profit subsidizes the rest of the MS products. You're getting a good deal.
    *BZZZT* WRONG! The profit subsidises projects that puts other companies out of business. The X-Box is currently losing $750M/year, and is set to rise. How can other companies hope to compete, or even break into that market?
  23. Re:PDF Files arn't easily modifiable. on Microsoft takes on PDF · · Score: 5, Insightful
    • Because, y'know, the best product should always get the support of the market. That's why Excel is so popular.

    But why is Excel the best? Is it because they just made a better product and everybody else gave up because they couldn't innovate? Or is it because Microsoft crushed the opposition by exploiting their monopoly?

    I think you'll find that Microsoft ensured that the "best product" never got made, because they knew it wouldn't be theirs.
  24. Re:pretty impressive- learned from AOL? on Microsoft Alternative in Extremadura, Spain · · Score: 5, Funny
    • With 10,000 machines converted already, and 100,000 scheduled for next year in a region with 1.1 million people

    My god, the GPL is a virus!
  25. Re:What about SnailMail spam? on Spammer Fined $2,000 Plus Costs in Washington · · Score: 3, Insightful
    • No, and here's why. I dont have to pay anything to recieve junk snail mail.
    Whilst that's accurate, its not the whole story. Last time I checked, garbage collection was not free. So yes, it does cost me money.