I received an offer letter for employment many moons ago that stated that my salary would be "$65k" - When they tried to pay me $65,000 a year there was hell to pay (so as to speak). We settled on $66,560:-)
Isn't is amazing how obvious things become *after the fact*? Want to sing Happy Birthday - such an "obvious" song? Better pay your license fees to ASCAP. Pet rocks? Patented and copyright. One-Click may be "obvious" now, but that's after someone actually invented it. Remember an invention does not need to be whizzy and complex; simple and elegant often win the race.
"The monkeys grab their breasts, and gesture at us while pointing at their private parts...."
So by my count that's two (2) hands to grab breasts, one (1) hand to gesture and one (1) hand to point at the privates. Total four (4) hands per monkey. Do these magical monkeys fly too?
Let's see. I've bought the Beatles "Abbey Road" now twice on vinyl, once on 8-track (I know, I know....), once on cassette and twice on CD. If I'm licening the music to play in perpetuity, why oh why do I have to pay full price every time (cost of media + license fees) when I have already paid the license fees? Oh yes - to keep record companies in business. I'd be happy to pay for the cost of media and distribution - but no way should I have to keep on paying the licensing fees over and over and over again.
Prince: Loved "When Doves Cry" - rest of your stuff is OK. But I *really* appreciate what you are doing. It's good business to give away CD's and make money via merchandizing, concerts and other CD's that will be sold. Giving your CD away will encourage many more people to listen to you.
Record Company Execs: "We have seen the enemy and it is us"
...Privileged background, meaning that their parents acknowledge the value of education and support their kids while in school? Then I guess you are correct. If you mean privileged as in socio-economic privilege - nope. The catchment area for Summit is across the board. In fact it is a testament to the strength of the teaching staff that they can takes kids from across the normal curve and develop excellence no matter the starting point. That's the *real* privilege of the school - awesome staff.
well gee - the software company I work for ($12 Billion and growing) hires based on academic achievemnt (as one key factor). We want to see that kids can focus, learn, expereince and deliver results. Which is not to say that kids without a degree aren't good - although many, many are not).
So yes - college is important and for 100% of graduating seniors to go to college is a wonderful achievement.
er... no. Summit Prep that will take over the space is an *awesome* school. I know - my daughter attends Summit. 100% of seniors this year are off to college. That is not sad. That is wonderful.
I'm really pleased to see this happen. Yes - I do feel sorry for the failed venture that was High Tech High Redwood City (however High Tech High's in San Diego are, I understand, doing very well).
Summit Prep graduated it's first senior class this year. 100% of seniors are off to college. Yes, 100%. Good indication that Summit is doing *very* well. My daughter loves the school, the staff and the students. Many High Tech High students have applied to attend Summit - some will get in, others will go to other schools in the district.
It's easy in hindsight to say "that's so obvious". At the time it was *not* obvious (ah, how swiftly we forget...) Use the wayback machine to look at other eCommerce sites from the same timeframe when Amazon implemented one-click. To say they are a joke is being unkind to jokes....
Did you know that someone has the copyright on the song "Happy Birthday" - but...but...but it's so *obvious* - yeah, well someone wrote it. So pay up your royalies.
No - your order was not shipped to a prior address. It was shipped to the address that you had defined as being your current address. Just 'cos you used the system incorrectly does not make it a bad system.
Re: "it promptly went to my computer and refused to let me also put it on the TiVo" - Not true. When you sign up for Unbox you can *only* download movies (purchase or rental) to you associated Tivo. There is *no* capability to download to your PC.
You most certainly do not work for Amazon Web Services as no one in that time would write what you wrote. Be off with you crookback troll scrum.
Look - this is not an Amazon issue it's the issue for all companies that provide web-based services. It's best all round if we publish/use formal API's = makes upgrade life so much easier. Using unpublished, unsupported "API's" (screen scraping anyone?) is fine for a short amount of time, then when the format you're relying on changes you scream bloody murder. Work within the system and it'll work for you. The "we're just a small, poor company" card has been played many times over and is wearing very thin. A company doesn't have the API's you want/need - move along OR work with them, but don't piss and moan if you don't follow the rules.
Google engineers have to bus to work because they can't afford housing close to their offices. (yes - I'm sure some choose to live in the city for the nightlife etc). For those that would love to walk to work that option is not on the table. Google doesn't pay their staff well enough to live close to their offices if they so choose. House prices in the valley contine to bloat. Living in communities where the housing is much less expensive is a reality for many Google and indeed other, high tech workers.
Nope. Amazon cannot patent the things you list as they are ither already covered by patents or are unpatentable. You know that - why list them??
"Why is US Government blind all these malpractices"
What malpractices? Evidence please. Proof please. Otherwise you're just spouting whining rhetoric.
US Govt. is *your* elected body. Think they are blind to something? Then vote someone in that you believe will support your case. Lobby your representatives for changes to laws governing patents. Change comes from a mandate from the masses (not from some farsical aquatic ceremony).
"Buy.com better for books"
Buy.com has a fraction of the number of books that Amazon offers.
Quick review of top 10 selling books on Amazon and Buy.com show that Amazon lists them cheaper
Free shipping for purchases over $25 on Amazon (not Buy.com) and no cost shipping if you are an Amazon prime member.
Customer Service at Amazon is year after year rated very high by independent surveys (*much* higher than Buy.com)
So - all reasons why Amazon is better for books.
What are the reasons you say Buy.com is better for books????
Price - No, Selection - No, Customer Service - No.... what?
Thanks
"stupid manipulation of the patent system" - and what is the manipulation? Amazon files a patent, Patent review is performed by examiners, patent is granted. Where is the "manipulation"..?
If you can't provide proof of "manipulation" then please keep your rhetoric to yourself - it does nothing to help this dicussion. You may not like the patent process - that's a valid complaint. But don't try and mislead others about "manipulation" without eveidence or proof.
Thanks!
Then let me make it clear to you; Amazon invented this capability. The reason you say it is "obvious" is that Amazon has made it so by their wide and successful use of it. You may not like the patent process -- but I'm sure if you invented something you'd be the first person to scream about potecting your invention. If you *don't* believe Amazon invented this, please provide evidence of prior art. And spouting off about cookies is not prior art -- you have to actually show how this was being used in the same way, for eCommerce etc etc.
Good luck!
Er..... Google is a Public company, not a private company. Big difference there. Also, if they claim to do no evil - the anthesis of evil is good. So if they know where the problem is, it would be *good* for them to help out and point the site admin at the problem area. Right?
You are so very wrong. Online retailers are typically much less expensive than brick and mortar as they don't have the overhead of well, brick and mortar. Take a wander around http://www.amazon.com/ and you'll find the majority of the items for sale are much less than you would pay in a store. Oh, and if you live in a state (such as CA) where Amazon does not have a physical presence (e.g. shipping facility), you won't pay sales tax.
I'd much rather stay home, avoid the mobs, keep warm, browse on-line for my holiday gifts and have them wrapped and delivered directly to family members and friends and save money at the time.
Gosh - we never thought of that...! Of course if you look at the Amazon home page you'll see it's all dynamically calculated content - not static. And it wasn't the site that had the problem on Thursday anyway. Problems lay elsewhere...
The way this is presented "Bezos messes with Texas" is soooooo negative. If the man wants to buy land what's the problem? You don't like it - you go buy the land to stop him. Remember, Walt Disney did exactly the same thing when he accumulated land for Walt Disney World in Orlando. Want something to complain and whine about -- go back to that purchase a few years ago where Manhatten Island was had for a few shiny trinkets.... perhaps a rebate is due there? Don't forget the nasty work that local governments are up to with their powers of eminent domain; buy up properties that have been in families for many, many years to let their developer-buddies line their pockets and provide campaign contributions in return. Now *that's corrupt in my book.
Remember Pointcast. At it's height it was valued at over $240 million (this was the mid 90's - that was a lot of money at that time for an Internet company). Now *poof* gone. The founders hung on for the *big* payout only to watch their company die on the vine. Here's a Business Week article from 1999 http://www.businessweek.com/1999/99_17/b3626167.ht m that chronicles Pointcast's rise and fall. Take the money and run. Don't be greedy. How many billions of dollars do you really need?
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I received an offer letter for employment many moons ago that stated that my salary would be "$65k" - When they tried to pay me $65,000 a year there was hell to pay (so as to speak). We settled on $66,560 :-)
Isn't is amazing how obvious things become *after the fact*? Want to sing Happy Birthday - such an "obvious" song? Better pay your license fees to ASCAP. Pet rocks? Patented and copyright. One-Click may be "obvious" now, but that's after someone actually invented it. Remember an invention does not need to be whizzy and complex; simple and elegant often win the race.
"The monkeys grab their breasts, and gesture at us while pointing at their private parts...."
So by my count that's two (2) hands to grab breasts, one (1) hand to gesture and one (1) hand to point at the privates. Total four (4) hands per monkey. Do these magical monkeys fly too?
Let's see. I've bought the Beatles "Abbey Road" now twice on vinyl, once on 8-track (I know, I know....), once on cassette and twice on CD. If I'm licening the music to play in perpetuity, why oh why do I have to pay full price every time (cost of media + license fees) when I have already paid the license fees? Oh yes - to keep record companies in business. I'd be happy to pay for the cost of media and distribution - but no way should I have to keep on paying the licensing fees over and over and over again.
Prince: Loved "When Doves Cry" - rest of your stuff is OK. But I *really* appreciate what you are doing. It's good business to give away CD's and make money via merchandizing, concerts and other CD's that will be sold. Giving your CD away will encourage many more people to listen to you.
Record Company Execs: "We have seen the enemy and it is us"
well gee - the software company I work for ($12 Billion and growing) hires based on academic achievemnt (as one key factor). We want to see that kids can focus, learn, expereince and deliver results. Which is not to say that kids without a degree aren't good - although many, many are not). So yes - college is important and for 100% of graduating seniors to go to college is a wonderful achievement.
er... no. Summit Prep that will take over the space is an *awesome* school. I know - my daughter attends Summit. 100% of seniors this year are off to college. That is not sad. That is wonderful.
I'm really pleased to see this happen. Yes - I do feel sorry for the failed venture that was High Tech High Redwood City (however High Tech High's in San Diego are, I understand, doing very well). Summit Prep graduated it's first senior class this year. 100% of seniors are off to college. Yes, 100%. Good indication that Summit is doing *very* well. My daughter loves the school, the staff and the students. Many High Tech High students have applied to attend Summit - some will get in, others will go to other schools in the district.
It's easy in hindsight to say "that's so obvious". At the time it was *not* obvious (ah, how swiftly we forget...) Use the wayback machine to look at other eCommerce sites from the same timeframe when Amazon implemented one-click. To say they are a joke is being unkind to jokes.... Did you know that someone has the copyright on the song "Happy Birthday" - but...but...but it's so *obvious* - yeah, well someone wrote it. So pay up your royalies.
No - your order was not shipped to a prior address. It was shipped to the address that you had defined as being your current address. Just 'cos you used the system incorrectly does not make it a bad system.
Re: "it promptly went to my computer and refused to let me also put it on the TiVo" - Not true. When you sign up for Unbox you can *only* download movies (purchase or rental) to you associated Tivo. There is *no* capability to download to your PC.
Well gee - there is no evidence of God, and yet a whole bunch of people believe....from this what do we derive....?
You most certainly do not work for Amazon Web Services as no one in that time would write what you wrote. Be off with you crookback troll scrum. Look - this is not an Amazon issue it's the issue for all companies that provide web-based services. It's best all round if we publish/use formal API's = makes upgrade life so much easier. Using unpublished, unsupported "API's" (screen scraping anyone?) is fine for a short amount of time, then when the format you're relying on changes you scream bloody murder. Work within the system and it'll work for you. The "we're just a small, poor company" card has been played many times over and is wearing very thin. A company doesn't have the API's you want/need - move along OR work with them, but don't piss and moan if you don't follow the rules.
But only IE. I mean come on Disney. I heard that Steve Jobs now has something to do with your company.... How about at least Safari?
Google engineers have to bus to work because they can't afford housing close to their offices. (yes - I'm sure some choose to live in the city for the nightlife etc). For those that would love to walk to work that option is not on the table. Google doesn't pay their staff well enough to live close to their offices if they so choose. House prices in the valley contine to bloat. Living in communities where the housing is much less expensive is a reality for many Google and indeed other, high tech workers.
Nope. Amazon cannot patent the things you list as they are ither already covered by patents or are unpatentable. You know that - why list them?? "Why is US Government blind all these malpractices" What malpractices? Evidence please. Proof please. Otherwise you're just spouting whining rhetoric. US Govt. is *your* elected body. Think they are blind to something? Then vote someone in that you believe will support your case. Lobby your representatives for changes to laws governing patents. Change comes from a mandate from the masses (not from some farsical aquatic ceremony).
"Buy.com better for books" Buy.com has a fraction of the number of books that Amazon offers. Quick review of top 10 selling books on Amazon and Buy.com show that Amazon lists them cheaper Free shipping for purchases over $25 on Amazon (not Buy.com) and no cost shipping if you are an Amazon prime member. Customer Service at Amazon is year after year rated very high by independent surveys (*much* higher than Buy.com) So - all reasons why Amazon is better for books. What are the reasons you say Buy.com is better for books???? Price - No, Selection - No, Customer Service - No.... what? Thanks
"stupid manipulation of the patent system" - and what is the manipulation? Amazon files a patent, Patent review is performed by examiners, patent is granted. Where is the "manipulation"..? If you can't provide proof of "manipulation" then please keep your rhetoric to yourself - it does nothing to help this dicussion. You may not like the patent process - that's a valid complaint. But don't try and mislead others about "manipulation" without eveidence or proof. Thanks!
Then let me make it clear to you; Amazon invented this capability. The reason you say it is "obvious" is that Amazon has made it so by their wide and successful use of it. You may not like the patent process -- but I'm sure if you invented something you'd be the first person to scream about potecting your invention. If you *don't* believe Amazon invented this, please provide evidence of prior art. And spouting off about cookies is not prior art -- you have to actually show how this was being used in the same way, for eCommerce etc etc. Good luck!
Er..... Google is a Public company, not a private company. Big difference there. Also, if they claim to do no evil - the anthesis of evil is good. So if they know where the problem is, it would be *good* for them to help out and point the site admin at the problem area. Right?
You are so very wrong. Online retailers are typically much less expensive than brick and mortar as they don't have the overhead of well, brick and mortar. Take a wander around http://www.amazon.com/ and you'll find the majority of the items for sale are much less than you would pay in a store. Oh, and if you live in a state (such as CA) where Amazon does not have a physical presence (e.g. shipping facility), you won't pay sales tax.
I'd much rather stay home, avoid the mobs, keep warm, browse on-line for my holiday gifts and have them wrapped and delivered directly to family members and friends and save money at the time.
Gosh - we never thought of that...! Of course if you look at the Amazon home page you'll see it's all dynamically calculated content - not static. And it wasn't the site that had the problem on Thursday anyway. Problems lay elsewhere...
The way this is presented "Bezos messes with Texas" is soooooo negative. If the man wants to buy land what's the problem? You don't like it - you go buy the land to stop him. Remember, Walt Disney did exactly the same thing when he accumulated land for Walt Disney World in Orlando. Want something to complain and whine about -- go back to that purchase a few years ago where Manhatten Island was had for a few shiny trinkets.... perhaps a rebate is due there? Don't forget the nasty work that local governments are up to with their powers of eminent domain; buy up properties that have been in families for many, many years to let their developer-buddies line their pockets and provide campaign contributions in return. Now *that's corrupt in my book.
- have
to vote" - really? How is this enforced? What's the penalty for not voting?Remember Pointcast. At it's height it was valued at over $240 million (this was the mid 90's - that was a lot of money at that time for an Internet company). Now *poof* gone. The founders hung on for the *big* payout only to watch their company die on the vine. Here's a Business Week article from 1999 http://www.businessweek.com/1999/99_17/b3626167.ht m that chronicles Pointcast's rise and fall. Take the money and run. Don't be greedy. How many billions of dollars do you really need?