Go on, have some balls, say it: "Unbridled capitalism will cause some unprincipled people to go to the ends of the earth for profit, regardless of the harm it causes to others."
<rant>
Well spoken! It's no use denying this fact, and anyone who wants to live in a (mostly) capitalist society (most of the people here I presume) better keep that in mind.
I would personally go as far as saying: Totally unbridled capitalism would be as bad as Soviet style communism. Some form of government is clearly needed to restrain the capital. But the current system is far from perfect. Sometimes there is too much government (CDBTPA for example), and sometimes way too little (Noone stopped Jon Katz favorite billionaire Soros from getting filthy rich by tanking entire economies... and not producing squat!).
It's funny how too much government mostly affects the little people, while the big boys more or less have do as they feel like.
The irony is that the people is supposedly the ones in charge.
<rant>
Re:Pax Americana Can't Be Done With Weapons Only
on
Space Wars
·
· Score: 1
Ehm, excuse me, but blowing up Washington wouldn't end the world. However the military response from a disorganized US afterwards probably kinda would...
This is really scary, since a small group of people (ie. crazy cult or something) could actually manage to build and detonate a nuke.
Don't take the number [90%] literally. Security, payroll, HR, and other people are in there...
Anyone working for RedHat is working towards the goal, even if it is passively....
So if only 90% of Red Hat employees are actually working towards the companys goals... Are you saying that they have 10% total freeloaders? =)
Yeah, it doesn't take an Einstein to figure out why sales are miserable in Europe.
I see the x-box commersials every day on the subway, but there is no way in hell I am selling out the equivalent of 500USD for one.
It is almost as if MS Europe wants the x-box to fail... ...why else would they charge 25-30% higher prices for the underdog then Sony charges for the PS2. I always considered MS to be great at marketing, this is just stupid.
But, hell, with the current situation whats bad for MS is good for the computer user. I'll just sit back and watch them crash and burn...
When Microsoft produce a a product that can do all that they are doomed!
MS wpould hate to sell a product that is complete, their current business model is based on selling upgrades. Their problem is that Windows2000 and Office is getting to good. Users are hesitating to pay for an upgrade because what they have is already good enough for most users.
That is why they are moving to a different business model of "software as a service" to protect their revenue stream. And that is why they have to bundle more stuff with the os, and at the same time break standards. As their products matures the users need to constantly feed them more money disminishes. They need to artificially create demand by their now infamous Embrace, Extend, Extinguish strategy.
But I don't think it will work in the long run. Sooner or later they will be overtaken by free alternatives (at least in the desktop market), when MS runs out of things with a broad user appeal to bundle. As we all know they are seldom really innovating, and if this is still true by then, they will be left in the dust by OSS.
Of course they will probably try to legislate OSS out of existence long before that. And they might suceed.
I wish i could agree with you, but what is coming out of his mouth is probably FUD. Microsoft is on a mission. GPL is the target and marketing the main weapon, software the secondary.
Because marketing can be bought and applied quickly. Developing quality software (assuming they make the nesessery changes to their bussines culture) cannot be accomplished with just money. It takes time, lots of time.
Re:Will the US suffer from geek emigration?
on
GeekPAC
·
· Score: 1
I would love to visit all the Scandinavian countries some day. I might not be able to leave, if what I've heard about them is true.:) They all sound like great places to live.
Well, IMHO it's a good place to live. Provided you are not a libertarian type of person. =) As all other places there's both good and bad things to be said about it.
Some americans I known have had some cultural issues, but most of them have done just fine.
Again I am biased. Perhaps I should try the US for a while, but getting a work permit seems to be a really big deal...
Re:Will the US suffer from geek emigration?
on
GeekPAC
·
· Score: 1
On my last job (in sweden) I worked with a programmer that didn't speak a word Swedish. Didn't matter. Everyone in sweden speaks english. (It is mandatory in school and our media is not dubbed only subtiteled.)
Besides, English is the de facto standard in tech. I don't think you would have a problem, and people would most certainly not be offended by you not understanding localspeak.
I would suggest that you check out sites like Monster for european job offers and get to know some scandinavians on the net. You could find people with non-competing but related skills that want to work in the US and recommend each other for work that can be done over the net. Getting small contract for work shouldn't be to hard if you are qualified, and if you prove yourself that way you just might end up getting hired. Just make sure you end up in Stockholm, Göteborg or Malmö.
I for one might be up for this mutually beneficial deal if you feel like it, and our skillsets match. What is it you do anyway?
You can mail me at daniel_routuvaara[at]hotmail[dot]com and I'll reply with my real address.
I make no claims about the validity of this fear; I only note that it allows the minions of evil, who are mostly unconcerned about guns or babies, to suck up these peoples' votes.
I wish people stopped using the word "evil". The moment you have to accuse your opponents of being evil, you should stop and think.
I know this is not exactly the same thing, but
consider Godwin's Law Maybe it is time to make an amendment. The world evil gets thrown around a lot these days.
When the US statements starts to sound like certain religious-nut-countries I get scared... Don't say you haven't noticed this too.
Nice work!
One of the best pieces I've read about globalization. A pity that this wasn't posted to the front page instead of Jon Katz usual uninteresting buzzword salad.
If only this kind of actual arguments would get heard in the mainstream media, instead of the usual FUD that is about "the antiglobalists". But evidently this kind of rational arguments can't even make headlines on slashdot.
Re:Will the US suffer from geek emigration?
on
GeekPAC
·
· Score: 1
Well, you can move to sweden. =)
You'll get your cold weather, higher internet penetration than the US, and it is possible to get a T1 connection for 20$/month! (Trust me I have one, and needlesly to say it rocks, even if the price will be almost doubled soon!)
Disclaimer: I am obviously a swedish citizen, but seriously, if you are thinking of moving to the EU and are a geek, the scandinavian countries might be something for you.
I hate myself for saying this, but... I think that _any_ organisation with a yearly income of 2.5M will be corrupted to a fairly high degree... Think ICANN.
What we need is more debate on issues, not less. Full disclosure of who is funding politicians and issue ads would provide a level playing field. If, under such a system, we still have corrupt politicians, then we get the Government that we deserve, I guess.
I am not an american, but I agree with you on this. Full disclosure _would_ solve a lot of the problems, and not only in the US.
For example, in my country the part currently in goverment constantly gets bashed by their opponents for their open (monetary) ties to the unions. But their opponents have _plenty_ of money, and chooses not to disclose who donated them. Full disclosure would let all the skeletons out and give people a chance to decide for them selves who is more trustworthy.
Also, the government partially funding to partys bigger then 4% (which we have) may lessen the corruption a bit (seems to work, IMHO it is worth the tax money.). But I imagin that would be a hard thing to sell in the US...
Also the US seems to have a election culture where money is all important. For example I have never seen that much baloons, flags and other irrelevant stuff anywhere else. Maybe a change of focus from PR to actual issues would do some good? I am surprised that the major american parties is not activly working towards this, it should be in their own interest to have more educated voters? ...or maybe they really _are_ as corrupt as you american slashdotters seem to think, and like the idea of "buying" votes from a public that knows nothing about whats really going on?
As I said, I am not an american, if I offended anyone by critizicing your election system I appologise. But I cant help to think that it works in a really strange way. I still can't wrap my brain around the fact that the guy with the most votes actually lost! Some bugfixes are clearly needed...
America is wasteful because it can afford to be, if it ever got the point where we can no longer afford to be wasteful, we'd start playing catch-up with (and perhaps even overtake) the rest of the world in developing more efficient technologies.
No offense, but I hope this will happen sometime soon. I think that a little less wastefullness by the US is long overdue. We need more environment friendly tech, and we need it _now_. ...because soon the living standards for population of China will rise, and they will be able to afford cars, fridges, etc. If they all get SUVs who knows what will happen to poor earth.
Energy efficient technology better be there by then. Since I really don't think the chinese has this as their top priority right now, we europeans could sure use some help developing it. Hey, US, it is your future too... Give us a hand! ...or at least get that Bush person to sign the Kyoto treaty.
You forgot "Bad Taste", and "Brain Dead".
Two real classics. Bad Taste in particular, since it is a no-budget-what-so-ever film, made on Peter Jacksons allowance while he still lived with his parents (it took four years). The cast is entirely made up by his friends. And if you wonder why the aliens have such wierdly shaped heads, it's because they had to fit in his mothers owen...
Amen to that! In fact, even 8.1 isn't half bad. I'm running it right now, since it works so well I haven't bothered to upgrade just yet. I will install it for my gf next week though.
Slashdot Mirror
..but I wonder what would happen if there was a really serious rift in IP law between the US and the EC, or China?
Hollings or someone would probably get a declaration of war through congress...
Go on, have some balls, say it: "Unbridled capitalism will cause some unprincipled people to go to the ends of the earth for profit, regardless of the harm it causes to others."
<rant>
Well spoken!
It's no use denying this fact, and anyone who wants to live in a (mostly) capitalist society (most of the people here I presume) better keep that in mind.
I would personally go as far as saying: Totally unbridled capitalism would be as bad as Soviet style communism.
Some form of government is clearly needed to restrain the capital. But the current system is far from perfect.
Sometimes there is too much government (CDBTPA for example), and sometimes way too little (Noone stopped Jon Katz favorite billionaire Soros from getting filthy rich by tanking entire economies... and not producing squat!).
It's funny how too much government mostly affects the little people, while the big boys more or less have do as they feel like.
The irony is that the people is supposedly the ones in charge.
<rant>
Ehm, excuse me, but blowing up Washington wouldn't end the world.
However the military response from a disorganized US afterwards probably kinda would...
This is really scary, since a small group of people (ie. crazy cult or something) could actually manage to build and detonate a nuke.
I don't know if that number is correct.
But if it is, I would like you all to stop and think about it.
500 000 people.
Am I the only one here who think the word genocide applies to something like that.
Well, the space race didn't end well for russia, now did it?
That treaty will probably be as respected as the ABM treaty...
I think getting SW to tank would make a much bigger statement than thousands of letters being sent to Congress.
Of course this won't happen, but it is a beautiful thought.
I'll give you that.
...do it better and rake in the $$$$.
I have three words for you The Phantom Edit.
Do it better, and tremble in fear of an entire legion of emperor Lucas best lawyers.
Don't take the number [90%] literally. Security, payroll, HR, and other people are in there... Anyone working for RedHat is working towards the goal, even if it is passively....
So if only 90% of Red Hat employees are actually working towards the companys goals... Are you saying that they have 10% total freeloaders? =)
I have seen this post several times before, always posted as AC.
Trolling?
Yeah, it doesn't take an Einstein to figure out why sales are miserable in Europe.
I see the x-box commersials every day on the subway, but there is no way in hell I am selling out the equivalent of 500USD for one.
It is almost as if MS Europe wants the x-box to fail...
...why else would they charge 25-30% higher prices for the underdog then Sony charges for the PS2.
I always considered MS to be great at marketing, this is just stupid.
But, hell, with the current situation whats bad for MS is good for the computer user.
I'll just sit back and watch them crash and burn...
When Microsoft produce a a product that can do all that they are doomed!
MS wpould hate to sell a product that is complete, their current business model is based on selling upgrades.
Their problem is that Windows2000 and Office is getting to good. Users are hesitating to pay for an upgrade because what they have is already good enough for most users.
That is why they are moving to a different business model of "software as a service" to protect their revenue stream. And that is why they have to bundle more stuff with the os, and at the same time break standards. As their products matures the users need to constantly feed them more money disminishes. They need to artificially create demand by their now infamous Embrace, Extend, Extinguish strategy.
But I don't think it will work in the long run. Sooner or later they will be overtaken by free alternatives (at least in the desktop market), when MS runs out of things with a broad user appeal to bundle. As we all know they are seldom really innovating, and if this is still true by then, they will be left in the dust by OSS.
Of course they will probably try to legislate OSS out of existence long before that.
And they might suceed.
That's probably what Mr. Lipner is talking about.
I wish i could agree with you, but what is coming out of his mouth is probably FUD.
Microsoft is on a mission.
GPL is the target and marketing the main weapon, software the secondary.
Because marketing can be bought and applied quickly. Developing quality software (assuming they make the nesessery changes to their bussines culture) cannot be accomplished with just money. It takes time, lots of time.
I would love to visit all the Scandinavian countries some day. I might not be able to leave, if what I've heard about them is true. :) They all sound like great places to live.
Well, IMHO it's a good place to live. Provided you are not a libertarian type of person. =)
As all other places there's both good and bad things to be said about it.
Some americans I known have had some cultural issues, but most of them have done just fine.
Again I am biased.
Perhaps I should try the US for a while, but getting a work permit seems to be a really big deal...
On my last job (in sweden) I worked with a programmer that didn't speak a word Swedish.
Didn't matter.
Everyone in sweden speaks english. (It is mandatory in school and our media is not dubbed only subtiteled.)
Besides, English is the de facto standard in tech.
I don't think you would have a problem, and people would most certainly not be offended by you not understanding localspeak.
I would suggest that you check out sites like Monster for european job offers and get to know some scandinavians on the net.
You could find people with non-competing but related skills that want to work in the US and recommend each other for work that can be done over the net.
Getting small contract for work shouldn't be to hard if you are qualified, and if you prove yourself that way you just might end up getting hired. Just make sure you end up in Stockholm, Göteborg or Malmö.
I for one might be up for this mutually beneficial deal if you feel like it, and our skillsets match.
What is it you do anyway?
You can mail me at daniel_routuvaara[at]hotmail[dot]com and I'll reply with my real address.
I make no claims about the validity of this fear; I only note that it allows the minions of evil, who are mostly unconcerned about guns or babies, to suck up these peoples' votes.
I wish people stopped using the word "evil".
The moment you have to accuse your opponents of being evil, you should stop and think.
I know this is not exactly the same thing, but consider Godwin's Law
Maybe it is time to make an amendment.
The world evil gets thrown around a lot these days.
When the US statements starts to sound like certain religious-nut-countries I get scared...
Don't say you haven't noticed this too.
Nice work!
One of the best pieces I've read about globalization.
A pity that this wasn't posted to the front page instead of Jon Katz usual uninteresting buzzword salad.
If only this kind of actual arguments would get heard in the mainstream media, instead of the usual FUD that is about "the antiglobalists".
But evidently this kind of rational arguments can't even make headlines on slashdot.
Well, you can move to sweden. =)
You'll get your cold weather, higher internet penetration than the US, and it is possible to get a T1 connection for 20$/month!
(Trust me I have one, and needlesly to say it rocks, even if the price will be almost doubled soon!)
Disclaimer: I am obviously a swedish citizen, but seriously, if you are thinking of moving to the EU and are a geek, the scandinavian countries might be something for you.
I hate myself for saying this, but...
I think that _any_ organisation with a yearly income of 2.5M will be corrupted to a fairly high degree...
Think ICANN.
Damn human nature!
Full disclosure _would_ solve a lot of the problems, and not only in the US.
For example, in my country the part currently in goverment constantly gets bashed by their opponents for their open (monetary) ties to the unions.
But their opponents have _plenty_ of money, and chooses not to disclose who donated them.
Full disclosure would let all the skeletons out and give people a chance to decide for them selves who is more trustworthy.
Also, the government partially funding to partys bigger then 4% (which we have) may lessen the corruption a bit (seems to work, IMHO it is worth the tax money.). But I imagin that would be a hard thing to sell in the US...
Also the US seems to have a election culture where money is all important. For example I have never seen that much baloons, flags and other irrelevant stuff anywhere else.
Maybe a change of focus from PR to actual issues would do some good?
I am surprised that the major american parties is not activly working towards this, it should be in their own interest to have more educated voters?
...or maybe they really _are_ as corrupt as you american slashdotters seem to think, and like the idea of "buying" votes from a public that knows nothing about whats really going on?
As I said, I am not an american, if I offended anyone by critizicing your election system I appologise.
But I cant help to think that it works in a really strange way. I still can't wrap my brain around the fact that the guy with the most votes actually lost! Some bugfixes are clearly needed...
We need more environment friendly tech, and we need it _now_.
...because soon the living standards for population of China will rise, and they will be able to afford cars, fridges, etc. If they all get SUVs who knows what will happen to poor earth.
Energy efficient technology better be there by then.
Since I really don't think the chinese has this as their top priority right now, we europeans could sure use some help developing it.
Hey, US, it is your future too...
Give us a hand!
...or at least get that Bush person to sign the Kyoto treaty.
Oh, it is worth a watch, run, don't walk to the video store right now! You won't regret it!
You forgot "Bad Taste", and "Brain Dead".
Two real classics.
Bad Taste in particular, since it is a no-budget-what-so-ever film, made on Peter Jacksons allowance while he still lived with his parents (it took four years). The cast is entirely made up by his friends.
And if you wonder why the aliens have such wierdly shaped heads, it's because they had to fit in his mothers owen...
As I said, a modern classic!
Amen to that!
In fact, even 8.1 isn't half bad. I'm running it right now, since it works so well I haven't bothered to upgrade just yet.
I will install it for my gf next week though.
Or you might prefere a spyware-free open source gnutella client, like phex? Or countless others. Visit Gnutella for a nice selection.
Cheers!