Just for kicks, sometime, truck on down to your local Wally World with digicam in hand and start taking pix; I guarantee you you'll be asked to leave once store mgmt becomes aware.
They view the layout/pricing/etc. as trade secrets and get really bent out of shape.
I've actually done this (instantr distribution after the show); running multiple decks out of the back of the car in the lot after the show. 'Course, this was analog and it was many moons ago...
Actually (and I'm a taper:), it wasn't "bootlegging" because it wasn't illegal and it was sanctioned by the band. And our section was typically just behind the sound board so as to generally not interfere with other audience member's enjoyment of the show (and to keep all those yahoos away from our rigs! Talk about nervous; tripping deadheads mooching around a couple grand of mics, decks, and gear:). And we had to get taper tix at all but GA shows.
And it's been going on since at least the 50's, lots of old jazz bands were recorded by the "proto-tapers".
Not only was the SR71 developed in the 60's but it went from blank piece of paper to first flight in a little over 18 months !!
Not bad when you consider the 747 prject, which apparently was initiated by a request from Pan Am to Boeing in a 1965 letter, didn't get built until September 1968 and didn't fly until February 1969. And it didn't even use a titanium skin!:)
The problem with an across-the-board loser pays system, as you propose, is that there are many cases where the plaintiff has a good-faith belief that it has been wronged and therefore brings suit. This plaintiff shouldn't be deterred from bringing a justifiable suit by the penalty of treble cost damages. After all, let's say I invent some new, unobvious technique (and get my patent) that MS then incorporates into their product. I sue MS for infringement, but they, with all their money and lawyers, either litigate me out of business or use their might to sway a judge/jury. All of a sudden I'm looking at potential millions of costs.
Your proposal, IMO, would simply deter poor companies/individuals from suing.
'the river' is owned by the People, at least here in the US. All navigable waters are publicly owned.
And if you can float a log down it, it's navigable.
NC has an interesting take on this; they have a line item for net purchases where no sales tax is paid. They also, however, have a handy way for you to estimate what you should pay if you don't know how much you bought online; they simply have you multiply your adjusted income by the state tax rate of 7% (7.5% if you live in Mecklenburg County, as I do).
Now, this galls me on several levels. One, they assume that every penny you earn is to be spent on sales-taxable goods in the Great State of North Carolina. Two, you definitely get the feeling that if you don't put some amount on the line, they'll be pulling your return for audit. It's almost a big brotherish attempt at coercing additional tax monies. Furthermore, if you buy something in say, SC, with a sales tax of 5%, they expect you to pay the difference between that rate and your rate.
Speaking as a forester; if you did plant a fast-growing plant with a terminator to provide initial groundcover (like kudzu), there's every chance it would be so succesful that it would inhibit the development of natives. If you wait for it to "terminate" then you're back to square one except for the dead organic matter left behind.
Not a bad concept but I don't think it's really technically feasible.
Re:It's late at night on slashdot and the nightmar
on
NYT on RFID
·
· Score: 1
That speeding ticket actually used to happen at one place I know; see the Savannah River Site is bisected by one public highway (S-125, "Atomic Rd.") and back before they moved the guard shacks off onto the side roads there was a guard at each end of S-125. They knew the speed limit and your entry time; if you drove too fast they'd write you a ticket, if you took to long (like 15 minutes or somesuch) they'd send a security team out to find you.
My take on DoD plunking heavy dollars on this project is simple logistics; if you need to move 100,000 people and all their resultant food, shelter, clothing, ammo, equipment, etc. halfway around the world it really helps if you have an efficient inventory control system.
Matter of fact, if my memories of quantitative decision making class serve me, the military is largely responsible for the development of Mgmt Science/Operations Research theory.
There is no Constitutional right to privacy, in the definitive sense
Last time I checked, the phrase "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated..." pretty much is what gives us the right to privacy.
'Course, that's a restriction on the government, not private business.
Erm, notaries don't charge all that much; my bank'll do it for $2 a pop (well, mine does it for free 'cuz I'm such a good customer:). There's usually State-mandated max charges for notary services.
Actually, peanuts aren't nuts at all, but legumes (family Leguminosae). True nuts grow on trees, peanuts grow underground.
The reason things get labelled "contains peanuts" is that some folk (rare though they may be) are allergic to peanuts (and have severe reaction to them), so the lawyer-types make them put that on food items that contain them. Now, as for other nut products being labelled the same, it's because they pften packaged in the same factories as peanuts so there may be some cross-contamination.
Corporations don't get liability protection. Shareholders of the corporation are the ones with the protection; i.e. they are only at risk of loss of their investment.
There is no fundamental right to be able to earn a living by making music. In the US there is. It's in the Constitution.
Hmm... Must have missed that amendment in my ConLaw class.
Erm, it's those "rural=farmers=nice wholesome people " who grow and produce the food we stuff in our maws every day. It's in everyone's interest to ensure a good, steady supply of food and fiber (as in bran, not optic:).
And if you want to talk about farm support policies, take a look over the pond, where them dang Europeans really subsidize thier farmers.
I had a hellish time with Intuit last week whilst trying to install TTax Biz; just for laughs here's a transcript of my chat with support...
You have been connected to H. Earnie. H. Earnie: Hello Fred, how may I help you today? emptor: I mistakenly installed TTax Biz on the wrong computer and need to deal with the DRM activation to install it on the right computer H. Earnie: Which TurboTax program are you using? emptor: As I said, TTax Biz, for windows H. Earnie: Okay. H. Earnie: Fred, please let me know have you activate it on that computer? emptor: It is currently activated on my desktop. I need to activate it on my laptop, as that's where my quickbooks application is. I didn't read the install dialogs closley enough. emptor: Oh, I have also uninstalled it from my desktop H. Earnie: Please give me a moment to research the issue. H. Earnie: I would liek to inform you that from the Year 2002 the turbotax software cannot be installed and activated in more than one PC from the same cd. This is a decsion taken by our higher management to prevent piracy and use of multiple users from the same pack of software. The Turbotax 2002 software restricts the number of e-filing to five from the same pack of cd. However, you can do a basic installation in as many pc's as you wish to. The basic installation will allow you to do your taxes but won't allow you to print or efile. If you want to efile then you will have to copy the tax file from the system with the basic installation and then open it in the system in which the product has been activated which will allow you to do a e-filing. emptor: But your web site says that I can:"If you purchase a new computer or hard disk, Intuit technical support agents can assist you in reinstalling and reactivating TurboTax at no additional cost" H. Earnie: Fred, this is the case when your old computer and hard drive is not working. emptor: The real issue is that the safecast DRM is seriously impeding my ability to use your product. I have been a Intuit customer for 8 years. H. Earnie: Okay. emptor: Further, just because I made a mistake by installing it on the wrong computer shouldn't mean that I have to buy a new copy just to use your software. If you can't resolve this issue then I'll need to speak to your supervisor. H. Earnie: Please give me a moment to research the issue. H. Earnie: Fred, this is the Intuit Policy for turbotax 2002. emptor: What's the policy? That I spend $100 for software that won't let me install it on the correct computer? emptor: I think it's time for me to speak to your supervisor. H. Earnie: Okay I am connecting you to the supervisor. H. Earnie: Please wait a minute. H. Earnie: I apologize for that inconvenience to you. H. Damien has entered the session. emptor: Damien, are you up to speed with my problem? H. Damien: Hi, I'm H.Damien . While I'm reviewing your case, please tell me briefly what additional information or help I can provide to resolve your issue. H. Earnie has left the session. emptor: OK, all I need to do is re-activate this 'ware on my laptop. I've uninstalled it from my desktop. I need it on my laptop b/c that's where quickbooks is, and I can't import the data unless they're both on the same machine. I discovered this *after* I had installed it on the wrong machine. your website says that tech reps can help me reactivate it. I didn't wqant it on my laptop because I didn't want the Macrovision safeCast munging my laptop but it looks like I don't have a choice. emptor: So, 1 of 2 things will happen here: 1. you help me activate it on my laptop or 2. I return the software, get my $100 back, completely swear off Intuit products (of which I've been buying for 8 years), and tell everyone I know, on and offline to avoid Intuit like the plague. H. Damien: I understand your concern and apologize for the inconvenience. emptor: I'd also really like a phone number to talk to someone about this H. Damien: Fred, you can still import the Quicken file in your TurboTax program. Just save the Quicken file with.txf extension and copy it on the computer on which you installed TurboTax and import. H. Damien: If you only need to prepare a return on a second machine you do not need to reactivate. TurboTax can be installed in Trial mode and used to edit your tax return. All you have to do is maintain the tax return file from machine to machine. Please remeber you cannot print, e-file, or save to PDF in this version. emptor: But it's already uninstalled on that computer. I've been mucking with this for 1.5 hours now and am getting quitre a bit frustrated. I can't understand why you can't help me reactivate TTax. your web site says you can. Also, this is TTax Business; which requires that the quickbooks file be open to import. Again, quickbooks must be OPEN, the only way that can happen is if they're both on the same machine emptor: So no, I can't just "import" as you suggest. If you can't help me then I'll need to speak to YOUR supervisor. H. Damien: Then in this case I would request you to install Quickbooks on your machine on which you have activated the TurboTax program. H. Damien: Intuit respects and protects customer information. We integrate privacy into everything we do. That is why privacy and security were key considerations when implementing the product activation technology in federal TurboTax for Windows desktop products for Tax Year 2002. emptor: OK, we're getting nowhere here. I need to speak to someone on the phone. I can't be willy-nilly re-installing your software (which will take serious time on my part) just because your DRM copy control is impeding my ability to use the software. So again, I don't understand why you can't help me. H. Damien: I understand Fred, how frustating this can be. emptor: I refuse to alter my software installs just to accomodate your DRM 'ware. emptor: And if you understood how frustrating this is you'd be helping me to reactivate the software. H. Damien: May I have your product key. emptor: Key is:95949-5216-19249-1274 H. Damien: Could you please let me know you purchased the product directly from Intuit or bought it from a retail store? emptor: I bought it retail from Office Depot H. Damien: Could you please let me know when you activated the product?
emptor: Earlier this afternoon, I guess about 5 p.m. H. Damien: Fred, kindly note down your new product key: H. Damien: xxxxx-xxxx-xxxxx-xxxx
H. Damien: Please use this product key during installation and activate the product. H. Damien: Is there anything else I can help you with? emptor: Nope, unless that key doesn't work:) I'd like to thank you for helping me to resolve this problem! H. Damien: You are welcome. H. Damien: I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for visiting our TurboTax Support Chat.
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Try my PII-400. With an 8 mb graphics card.
Hmm... That free dsl at $20/mo. doesn't sound very free to me... :)
His only jeopardy in th civil case was financial; which does not qualify as "life or limb."
They view the layout/pricing/etc. as trade secrets and get really bent out of shape.
For even more fun, tell 'em to go fuck off.
I've actually done this (instantr distribution after the show); running multiple decks out of the back of the car in the lot after the show. 'Course, this was analog and it was many moons ago...
And it's been going on since at least the 50's, lots of old jazz bands were recorded by the "proto-tapers".
Not bad when you consider the 747 prject, which apparently was initiated by a request from Pan Am to Boeing in a 1965 letter, didn't get built until September 1968 and didn't fly until February 1969. And it didn't even use a titanium skin! :)
Your proposal, IMO, would simply deter poor companies/individuals from suing.
Yonks, you're right. It is 0.07%
'the river' is owned by the People, at least here in the US. All navigable waters are publicly owned. And if you can float a log down it, it's navigable.
Now, this galls me on several levels. One, they assume that every penny you earn is to be spent on sales-taxable goods in the Great State of North Carolina. Two, you definitely get the feeling that if you don't put some amount on the line, they'll be pulling your return for audit. It's almost a big brotherish attempt at coercing additional tax monies. Furthermore, if you buy something in say, SC, with a sales tax of 5%, they expect you to pay the difference between that rate and your rate.
Speaking as a forester; if you did plant a fast-growing plant with a terminator to provide initial groundcover (like kudzu), there's every chance it would be so succesful that it would inhibit the development of natives. If you wait for it to "terminate" then you're back to square one except for the dead organic matter left behind. Not a bad concept but I don't think it's really technically feasible.
That speeding ticket actually used to happen at one place I know; see the Savannah River Site is bisected by one public highway (S-125, "Atomic Rd.") and back before they moved the guard shacks off onto the side roads there was a guard at each end of S-125. They knew the speed limit and your entry time; if you drove too fast they'd write you a ticket, if you took to long (like 15 minutes or somesuch) they'd send a security team out to find you.
My take on DoD plunking heavy dollars on this project is simple logistics; if you need to move 100,000 people and all their resultant food, shelter, clothing, ammo, equipment, etc. halfway around the world it really helps if you have an efficient inventory control system. Matter of fact, if my memories of quantitative decision making class serve me, the military is largely responsible for the development of Mgmt Science/Operations Research theory.
Simple. Lotsa people can become cops, very few can become pro basketball players.
Thank Adam Smith.
Last time I checked, the phrase "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated..." pretty much is what gives us the right to privacy.
'Course, that's a restriction on the government, not private business.
Erm, notaries don't charge all that much; my bank'll do it for $2 a pop (well, mine does it for free 'cuz I'm such a good customer :). There's usually State-mandated max charges for notary services.
Actually, peanuts aren't nuts at all, but legumes (family Leguminosae). True nuts grow on trees, peanuts grow underground. The reason things get labelled "contains peanuts" is that some folk (rare though they may be) are allergic to peanuts (and have severe reaction to them), so the lawyer-types make them put that on food items that contain them. Now, as for other nut products being labelled the same, it's because they pften packaged in the same factories as peanuts so there may be some cross-contamination.
Corporations don't get liability protection. Shareholders of the corporation are the ones with the protection; i.e. they are only at risk of loss of their investment.
There is no fundamental right to be able to earn a living by making music. In the US there is. It's in the Constitution. Hmm... Must have missed that amendment in my ConLaw class.
Erm, it's those "rural=farmers=nice wholesome people " who grow and produce the food we stuff in our maws every day. It's in everyone's interest to ensure a good, steady supply of food and fiber (as in bran, not optic :).
And if you want to talk about farm support policies, take a look over the pond, where them dang Europeans really subsidize thier farmers.
That only works if you're continually beating yourself up over the bug, or if you're terminal.
I had a hellish time with Intuit last week whilst trying to install TTax Biz; just for laughs here's a transcript of my chat with support...
.txf extension and copy it on the computer on
:) I'd like to thank you for
You have been connected to H. Earnie.
H. Earnie: Hello Fred, how may I help you today?
emptor: I mistakenly installed TTax Biz on the wrong computer and need to
deal with the DRM activation to install it on the right computer
H. Earnie: Which TurboTax program are you using?
emptor: As I said, TTax Biz, for windows
H. Earnie: Okay.
H. Earnie: Fred, please let me know have you activate it on that computer?
emptor: It is currently activated on my desktop. I need to activate it on
my laptop, as that's where my quickbooks application is. I didn't read the
install dialogs closley enough.
emptor: Oh, I have also uninstalled it from my desktop
H. Earnie: Please give me a moment to research the issue.
H. Earnie: I would liek to inform you that from the Year 2002 the turbotax
software cannot be installed and activated in more than one PC from the same cd.
This is a decsion taken by our higher management to prevent piracy and use of
multiple users from the same pack of software. The Turbotax 2002 software
restricts the number of e-filing to five from the same pack of cd. However, you
can do a basic installation in as many pc's as you wish to. The basic
installation will allow you to do your taxes but won't allow you to print or
efile. If you want to efile then you will have to copy the tax file from the
system with the basic installation and then open it in the system in which the
product has been activated which will allow you to do a e-filing.
emptor: But your web site says that I can:"If you purchase a new computer
or hard disk, Intuit technical support agents can assist you in reinstalling and
reactivating TurboTax at no additional cost"
H. Earnie: Fred, this is the case when your old computer and hard drive is not
working.
emptor: The real issue is that the safecast DRM is seriously impeding my
ability to use your product. I have been a Intuit customer for 8 years.
H. Earnie: Okay.
emptor: Further, just because I made a mistake by installing it on the
wrong computer shouldn't mean that I have to buy a new copy just to use your
software. If you can't resolve this issue then I'll need to speak to your
supervisor.
H. Earnie: Please give me a moment to research the issue.
H. Earnie: Fred, this is the Intuit Policy for turbotax 2002.
emptor: What's the policy? That I spend $100 for software that won't let
me install it on the correct computer?
emptor: I think it's time for me to speak to your supervisor.
H. Earnie: Okay I am connecting you to the supervisor.
H. Earnie: Please wait a minute.
H. Earnie: I apologize for that inconvenience to you.
H. Damien has entered the session.
emptor: Damien, are you up to speed with my problem?
H. Damien: Hi, I'm H.Damien . While I'm reviewing your case, please tell me
briefly what additional information or help I can provide to resolve your issue.
H. Earnie has left the session.
emptor: OK, all I need to do is re-activate this 'ware on my laptop. I've
uninstalled it from my desktop. I need it on my laptop b/c that's where
quickbooks is, and I can't import the data unless they're both on the same
machine. I discovered this *after* I had installed it on the wrong machine. your
website says that tech reps can help me reactivate it. I didn't wqant it on my
laptop because I didn't want the Macrovision safeCast munging my laptop but it
looks like I don't have a choice.
emptor: So, 1 of 2 things will happen here: 1. you help me activate it on
my laptop or 2. I return the software, get my $100 back, completely swear off
Intuit products (of which I've been buying for 8 years), and tell everyone I
know, on and offline to avoid Intuit like the plague.
H. Damien: I understand your concern and apologize for the inconvenience.
emptor: I'd also really like a phone number to talk to someone about this
H. Damien: Fred, you can still import the Quicken file in your TurboTax program.
Just save the Quicken file with
which you installed TurboTax and import.
H. Damien: If you only need to prepare a return on a second machine you do not
need to reactivate. TurboTax can be installed in Trial mode and used to edit
your tax return. All you have to do is maintain the tax return file from machine
to machine. Please remeber you cannot print, e-file, or save to PDF in this
version.
emptor: But it's already uninstalled on that computer. I've been mucking
with this for 1.5 hours now and am getting quitre a bit frustrated. I can't
understand why you can't help me reactivate TTax. your web site says you can.
Also, this is TTax Business; which requires that the quickbooks file be open to
import. Again, quickbooks must be OPEN, the only way that can happen is if
they're both on the same machine
emptor: So no, I can't just "import" as you suggest. If you can't help me
then I'll need to speak to YOUR supervisor.
H. Damien: Then in this case I would request you to install Quickbooks on your
machine on which you have activated the TurboTax program.
H. Damien: Intuit respects and protects customer information. We integrate
privacy into everything we do. That is why privacy and security were key
considerations when implementing the product activation technology in federal
TurboTax for Windows desktop products for Tax Year 2002.
emptor: OK, we're getting nowhere here. I need to speak to someone on the
phone. I can't be willy-nilly re-installing your software (which will take
serious time on my part) just because your DRM copy control is impeding my
ability to use the software. So again, I don't understand why you can't help me.
H. Damien: I understand Fred, how frustating this can be.
emptor: I refuse to alter my software installs just to accomodate your
DRM 'ware.
emptor: And if you understood how frustrating this is you'd be helping me
to reactivate the software.
H. Damien: May I have your product key.
emptor: Key is:95949-5216-19249-1274
H. Damien: Could you please let me know you purchased the product directly from
Intuit or bought it from a retail store?
emptor: I bought it retail from Office Depot
H. Damien: Could you please let me know when you activated the product?
emptor: Earlier this afternoon, I guess about 5 p.m.
H. Damien: Fred, kindly note down your new product key:
H. Damien: xxxxx-xxxx-xxxxx-xxxx
H. Damien: Please use this product key during installation and activate the
product.
H. Damien: Is there anything else I can help you with?
emptor: Nope, unless that key doesn't work
helping me to resolve this problem!
H. Damien: You are welcome.
H. Damien: I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for visiting our
TurboTax Support Chat.