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User: sethstorm

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  1. I'd call bull on there being a difference on Data Leak Spurs Huge Offshore Tax Evasion Investigation · · Score: 1

    They functionally do the same harm and are chosen by the same groups of people.

    They're both dishonest, one's just illegal.

  2. Tax evasion, Tax avoidance- functionally identical on Data Leak Spurs Huge Offshore Tax Evasion Investigation · · Score: 1

    Both cause the same harm, both show contempt for the citizens of the country evaded, and both represent and enable more criminal activity than any "legitimate" activity - yet only one of them gets punished.

  3. Making people desperate makes things worse. on Ask Slashdot: How Do You Deal With Programmers Who Have Not Stayed Current? · · Score: 1

    In this case, "why do you hate America" comes to mind since it describes you completely. You think that US citizens should be knocked down until they kneel before the world even if it is meant to be the other way around. Suggesting sports terminology doesnt make your case stronger - it only confirms your contempt for any citizen of a First World country.

    Such people that are better fit for management just need to be promoted away from a technical role. That, and the immigrant isnt better, just desperate; you just want the citizen to be made desperate too.

    As for those who are considered long-term unemployed, make them a protected class as long as they dont have a direct-hire job for at least 10 years. Doubly so if over 40 or just entering the job market.

  4. No. on Ask Slashdot: Are There Any Good Reasons For DRM? · · Score: 1

    N/T

  5. The rare time when a layoff euphemism isnt on Electronic Arts Slashes Workforce · · Score: 1

    Given how EA treats their own, "being free to pursue other opportunities" is not a euphemism for a layoff but a truthful declaration of freedom. This is probably the nicest thing that EA is willing to do for its own.

  6. Kill the Hippy Operated Vehicle lanes on Elon Musk Hates 405 Freeway Traffic, Pays Money To Speed Construction · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    No need to widen as far and would put a greater amount on the road. Of course, that would run counter to the wishes of environmentalists(of the Al Gore cloth) who would harp about the bad old days of LA. Those faux-environmentalists would rather us have driving hybrid Trabants while they get to drive their Zils however, whenever.

    (Then again, speaking out against environmentalism is bound to attract modbombing. How about replying instead of trying to knock off my karma?)

  7. Given increased secrecy, 14.04 has a name on Ubuntu Releases 13.04, Sticks To 6-Month Release Rhythm · · Score: 1

    Why not just call the next release Secret Squirrel by how its being closed up like Ringtail?

    Shuttleworth is a coward in front of his critics and is lucky enough to be able to withstand it - for now.

  8. They deserve the "stolen prototype" treatment on WWDC Sells Out In 2 Minutes; Ticket On eBay 45 Minutes Later · · Score: 1

    Apple went above and beyond the normal process, including law enforcment involvement, for recovering one of their prototypes. Why not just do the same to smite the practice and make an example out of those involved?

    That, and if they're good at it, bind the ticket to a nontransferable item that has some worth to it(e.g. a non prepaid credit card that was used to purchase it) as well as whatever ID is already required to enter(such as government issue). $1600 admission definitely can demand such protection from scalping.

    If Apple has to be draconian about something, nontransferabilty of WWDC admission would be a good place to start. Go Gallagher on the scalpers until they stop.

  9. Re:The return of the physical keyboard. on What's Next For Smartphone Innovation · · Score: 1

    That's why I jumped from the N900 to a Captivate Glide once they decided against the N950.

  10. Those were mid-level models aside from the BB. on What's Next For Smartphone Innovation · · Score: 1

    If you put flagship level performance and promote them as such, then you'll have the support.

    The only reason those "failed" was that they were mid-tier phones and not top-tier ones (as done before with QWERTY).

  11. Re:No, we will reintroduce good features like kb's on What's Next For Smartphone Innovation · · Score: 1

    Try not looking at your screen and trying to type - spontaneously. The lack of feedback from that screen is going to make that harder compared to having less time dedicated to looking at the keyboard versus looking at the screen and getting more precise feedback from the keyboard.

    That flat touchscreen just doesn't cut it when the touchscreen ends up being out of order.

  12. Re:something rounded on What's Next For Smartphone Innovation · · Score: 1

    Pentile already has that covered for you - it's just a matter of visual perception.

  13. Re:The return of the physical keyboard. on What's Next For Smartphone Innovation · · Score: 1

    No, just a stickler for quality and usability - IPS-panel 4:3 laptops, Model F terminal keyboards, and N900-like-in-openness phone platforms are about what I have here.

    Besides, it's not as if you couldnt make a physical button to remap its visual content. Just need to make it cheaper.

  14. Re: How would you feel about it? on Eric Schmidt: Regulate Civilian Drones Now · · Score: 1

    At that point, Google would find a way to make it so that you couldn't easily block it - much like they did with ad-blocking apps on Google Play.

  15. Regulation to protect him, harm others. on Eric Schmidt: Regulate Civilian Drones Now · · Score: 1

    He just wants to pre-empt the detection of any wrong-doing that he would commit and would be detected by drones - since it opens up opportunities where their usual countermeasures (walls, etc.) would not work.

  16. That'd be mandatory for Chinese models on What's Next For Smartphone Innovation · · Score: 1

    Post something against the government, receive lethal execution. Then their organ harvesting vans could pick them up promptly, aided with the location feature of the phone.

  17. Re:Make it a apprenticeship system starter after H on Building a Better Tech School · · Score: 1

    Or just make it an extension of the K-12 system in terms of funding - except that you now have a choice of where to go - with no slot restrictions or payment requirements for US citizens. Then milk internationals for all they've got and then some, and put them below citizens on priority.

  18. Then kill the guest worker program. on Building a Better Tech School · · Score: 1, Troll

    The H1-B's existence is the problem. They remove the necessary entry paths that citizens use to get in an industry.

    BA/BS and AA/AS still deserving of the same treatment.

  19. Stop trying to shove down "startup mentality". on Building a Better Tech School · · Score: 1

    The beta curriculum is designed to equip the students with all the knowledge they need to jump right into a tech startup: there's a mandatory business class,

    As long as it's understanding of the idea that not everyone is suited for a startup - and teaches the business course appropriately - then it's more than adequate for the job. Regular work with an established company is not out of date and pays the bills more reliably - unlike the startup.

  20. The return of the physical keyboard. on What's Next For Smartphone Innovation · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Given that the touchscreen is at best imperfect for keyboard use, bringing back an integrated physical keyboard (e.g. a slider) back to higher-end models would be an innovation.

    There is only so far a touchscreen can go before a full array of physical buttons outclass the screen - especially when it comes to input that doesn't have direct sight.

  21. Companies call their unions contractors. on Judge Denies Class Action Status In Tech Workers' Lawsuit · · Score: 1

    In addition, one can include temporary, contingent, casual, staffing firm, and any other form of labor that isn't a directly-hired FT employee.

  22. Only if you ignore reality. on Australian PM Targets Imported IT Workers · · Score: 1

    The reality is that they do belong to citizens - just that you've not seen the damage. That said, the best interests are automatically to serve the citizens, not sell them down the river like what you're advocating. Nationalism is alive and well in the 21st Century, and it does poorly to drop it for transnationalism.

    Diplomacy won't help you if you're not willing to back it up with a well-armed and well-protected populace.

  23. Sounds like the same problem as the US - freedom on Australian PM Targets Imported IT Workers · · Score: 1

    In each case, businesses want a captive worker - ideally a slave - and contract workers like this are the means for accomplishing that goal.

    How about making it so that nobody legally allowed to work can be forced to a particular work arrangement(e.g. can't be forced to be a contractor unless you really want to be one)?

  24. Never mind the Ohio and North Carolina dispute on For Jane's, Gustav Weißkopf's 1901 Liftoff Displaces Wright Bros. · · Score: 1

    The dispute over *whom* was first aside, two states(North Carolina and Ohio) have tried to take credit for the Wright Brothers' invention. North Carolina provided the field, and Ohio provided everything else.

  25. No, just saw it happen between my state and GA. on Spaceport Development Picks Up Steam In Texas · · Score: 1

    The balance of my point still stands. Those kind of states rely on deceptively acquired businesses(proven through the actions of the Economic "Development" Board) while providing no substantial promotion for workers to move to a state with worse working conditions.

    The proof is in the types of jobs offered, the general hostility towards questioning business as well as the general Southern hostility to worker representation outside of employer-formed groups such as contractors and staffing agencies.