It might not be a bad thing. Wouldn't we all like to see artists create art because they have a passion for it, not because there's a payday involved. Most musicians, actors, etc. are starving anyway because the system only promotes the few who are chosen. The system then profits from those chosen ones artwork with assistance from the copyright laws.
I think that with no copyright laws, we would see altogether new and old forms of compensation for artists. Then the starving artists around us, who continue to create because they are passionate about their art, will have a more level field for their expression.
The other interesting effect of this is that wiretapping will become obsolete since encryption of phone calls will be trivial to implement in software.
Listen closely...you can hear the FBI, CIA, etc., shaking in their boots over this possibility. I can't imagine that they'll just let it happen without a fight.
Yeah, it's like the frog that gets slowly boiled to death without even knowing it. One day you wake up and you're in a prison cell with a number tattooed on your arm...
I guess the administration couldn't get their way by "taking it to the people" so they just said "fuck the people" and did it anyway.
I am saddened and ashamed of our government. While I don't expect to like everything the government does, I do expect to have a government that operates in the open. Otherwise we're no better than the corrupt regimes that we criticise.
Your point is well taken however there is one glaring observation that I will make. The end goal of the "spammer's" effort is to have the recipient click on a link for products or services which in turn causes the spammer to recieve compensation from the company providing the products or services. This should be traceable and if "spamming" is illegal, then you have a case and a criminal.
There are times when this won't work:
1. The spammer doesn't recieve any compensation. (unlikely to say the least) Although if there is a money laundering, third party transaction, this could make tracing a lot harder. In any case, this would involve a lot of illegal behavior.
2. The "spammer" and the company selling the products or services reside in a country where spamming is legal. This is something that our government would need to get involved and it might be easier to filter if you could isolate specific countries.
3. The spammer and the company selling the products or services are one and the same. In this case, the spammer is always on the move, physically and virtually. Doing business this way can't be that easy.
As I see it, we need tight anti-spam legislation like what California recently passed. When companies start getting sued for using the services of spammers, then the spam flow will ebb.
I don't like the idea of the government getting too involved in our lives but the truth is that when you have a free system (like email), you need regulations or abuse will reign free as well.
If legislation stops US based spam or spam that can be sued over IN the US, then that will stop 95% of the spam I receive.
My point is that since we'd all like to keep the internet a "free" system, then we need regulations(yeah, it sounds funny) to keep it free. Free from abusers. Just like you can drive anywhere you want on public roads with whomever you want, but you can't stop traffic or drive 100 mph without getting in trouble.
Sending millions of emails is extremely inexpensive and like the old adage "ask a million girls for a date and no matter how ugly you are, you'll probably get a few takers"
If it becomes expensive to spam, then the spam will stop and email advertising will become what it's good for, telling potential customers about products that they ARE interested in.
I can't wait for the California law to take effect. It's way more restrictive. I pity the spammers.
What about taxing every email for a very small amount. This would be virtually unnoticable to all but the spammer. I know our marketing dept. wouldn't mind paying for the ability to send out several thousand emails if the result was a signifigant drop in spam levels.
Face it, most spammers aren't expecting a large hit rate. They're abusing the fact that spam is practically free to send.
I get junk mail in my snail mailbox but I've never gotten junk snail mail for viagra, penis enlargement, free teen sex or most of the spam crap that I get in emails. It's just not cost-effective to mail that stuff.
Now you'd have to tax the ISPs who would then charge their customers who would then think twice about spamming and running insecure mailservers.
In that the better the spam filter, the better the spammer that gets through.
Imagine now your spam is one of 3 or 4 instead of 1 of a hundred. Isn't that more valuable to the spammer thus an incentive to work harder at defeating the filters. It's a viscious circle methinks.
Unfortunately, I think legislation and lawsuits will end up taking the profit out of spamming
M
The idea of SPAM is just that. It's unwanted email sent unsolicited.
If I want email, I'll ask for it. I can subscribe to list servers, software updates bulletins, and lots of other requests for email. I don't think anyone has a right to put mail in my mailbox unless I consent to it. If I do business with someone AND I consent to email notices, then fine. If I put an "email me here" link on a web page, then anyone can email me.
I don't want someone's kid emailing me a request for donation or a grandma trying to sell me some handmade crap. They can put up a website that I can search for if I'm looking for that kind of thing.
The difference between outlawing spam and outlawing a common weed is that someone makes money by sending spam. Money is traceable. Stop that process and you'll stop the spam.
There does need to be some common sense in such a law. You wouldn't want a mistaken email to result in a huge fine, etc.
Bottom line, don't send email to someone unless you're sure they want it.
The ease with which the RIAA can issue subpeonas is the problem not the compliance with the law. This ability to issue a court order WITHOUT going through the normal channels should never have been allowed and will be challenged in court and hopefully found unconstitutional.
The bigger picture is the trend towards less and less judicial oversight. Ashcroft is the man behind much of this trashing of the constitution. I'm surprised he hasn't sided with the RIAA in the name of fighting terrorism.
This is not a "use" tax. 911 emergency phone service is useful to everyone whether or not you have phone service. It should be paid for out of the general tax fund.
The government will try and add taxes wherever it can to supplement the regular tax base.
Anytime you see a special fee, surcharge or outright tax you should wonder why it's there.
Using broadband for telephone service is one area where the government has no business.
While solar cells may be less efficient to produce for the power they give, they do have benefits such as not letting Cheney and his buddies rape and pilage the world...
Actually, the economies of scale haven't yet been tapped with solar panel production. Couple an inexpensive solar panel with a fuel cell storage system and you are no longer hostage to power outages and corporate greed.
M
A good programmer, let alone someone who has the initiative to write a signifigant piece of software on their own, is worth no less than $50/hr contract. You have to remember that the actual cost of an employee is around 30% above their base salary.
Ask for $75/hour and negotiate down to no less than $50/hour.
Believe me, I hire people like you and this is what I would pay.
There are government regulations on advertising for a reason. The nature of business is that the enterprising marketers will try to find away around anything that hinders their advertising.
Hence, product placement is so popular because it hides the fact that it is advertising.
I don't think we should allow advertising to be concealed in this way. It could eventually lead to political support or lobbying efforts that are disguised as the nightly news.
It seems that product placement would be when the studio or station receives compensation for the effort of making sure the product is seen by the viewer. Incidental product placement without compensation or conflict of interest would be exempt.
The California Anti-spam law that was recently signed is simply an expression of the people. Last time I checked it was "We The People" who made up the laws we live with in the USA. These laws didn't just come down with a lightning bolt on a mountain somewhere.
In other words, we can make up whatever laws we want. It's a scary thought and one that makes everyone responsible for our way of life.
Read, listen, vote, speak out and please pay attention!
It seems like the high level directors at NASA would like nothing better than for all the hoopla surrounding this to go away. Kind of a "everyone just move along now" attitude.
It's a long book but totally engrossing. He puts forth a number of fascinating concepts, any one of which would have made a great plot by itself.
As far as the PDA readability idea is concerned, I've read a few PDA books (both Palm and IPaq) and it does work. I like it best for reading in the dark (like when the wifey's sleeping) or in the car at night, etc...
After reading the article I realized that I must be doing something wrong. I always click on every link in every email I get but still my penis hasn't gotten bigger, I don't have a horde of horny teens after me and I'm not rich.
What's really flawed is the courts seeming indifference to the constitution and the way they uphold these new laws...all in the name of fighting terrorism.
Wouldn't it be just fitting to prosecute one of these government officials under the patriot act or DMCA for a trivial offense and let them see the back end of a prison cell.
This country will suck big time if we don't get Dubya out come next election.
So if you don't want your name and address listed, just put in a phony one. You can use a unique email address if you want to check messages relating to the registration.
Geez, it's not that hard to be virtually unlisted.
We've processed several software engineers through the H1-B program. Simply put, when you hire a really good software engineer and he tells you he has a collegue that is really good and is willing to relocate his family but needs an H1-B visa, it's all too tempting to go that route. The other option is to advertise and hope you get someone good.
There is a requirement to advertise the position in the US before you can get an H1-B but it doesn't really make a difference.
Now personally, I can't tell the difference between the people we've hired locally and those who've immigrated. They're all good people.
I'd rather have companies help immigrate good, hard working foreigners than have our government tell me I have to hire some slob just because he lives here.
I do agree than any company that exploits a 3rd world cheap labor force without following labor practices like we have here is guilty of a crime.
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It might not be a bad thing. Wouldn't we all like to see artists create art because they have a passion for it, not because there's a payday involved. Most musicians, actors, etc. are starving anyway because the system only promotes the few who are chosen. The system then profits from those chosen ones artwork with assistance from the copyright laws.
I think that with no copyright laws, we would see altogether new and old forms of compensation for artists. Then the starving artists around us, who continue to create because they are passionate about their art, will have a more level field for their expression.
M
The other interesting effect of this is that wiretapping will become obsolete since encryption of phone calls will be trivial to implement in software.
Listen closely...you can hear the FBI, CIA, etc., shaking in their boots over this possibility. I can't imagine that they'll just let it happen without a fight.
M
Yeah, it's like the frog that gets slowly boiled to death without even knowing it. One day you wake up and you're in a prison cell with a number tattooed on your arm...
Do you really think that the Bush regime will allow an election result that doesn't have them still in power?
I guess the administration couldn't get their way by "taking it to the people" so they just said "fuck the people" and did it anyway.
I am saddened and ashamed of our government. While I don't expect to like everything the government does, I do expect to have a government that operates in the open. Otherwise we're no better than the corrupt regimes that we criticise.
M
Your point is well taken however there is one glaring observation that I will make. The end goal of the "spammer's" effort is to have the recipient click on a link for products or services which in turn causes the spammer to recieve compensation from the company providing the products or services. This should be traceable and if "spamming" is illegal, then you have a case and a criminal.
There are times when this won't work:
1. The spammer doesn't recieve any compensation. (unlikely to say the least) Although if there is a money laundering, third party transaction, this could make tracing a lot harder. In any case, this would involve a lot of illegal behavior.
2. The "spammer" and the company selling the products or services reside in a country where spamming is legal. This is something that our government would need to get involved and it might be easier to filter if you could isolate specific countries.
3. The spammer and the company selling the products or services are one and the same. In this case, the spammer is always on the move, physically and virtually. Doing business this way can't be that easy.
As I see it, we need tight anti-spam legislation like what California recently passed. When companies start getting sued for using the services of spammers, then the spam flow will ebb.
I don't like the idea of the government getting too involved in our lives but the truth is that when you have a free system (like email), you need regulations or abuse will reign free as well.
M
If legislation stops US based spam or spam that can be sued over IN the US, then that will stop 95% of the spam I receive.
My point is that since we'd all like to keep the internet a "free" system, then we need regulations(yeah, it sounds funny) to keep it free. Free from abusers. Just like you can drive anywhere you want on public roads with whomever you want, but you can't stop traffic or drive 100 mph without getting in trouble.
M
The spam trade is possible because of one thing:
Sending millions of emails is extremely inexpensive and like the old adage "ask a million girls for a date and no matter how ugly you are, you'll probably get a few takers"
If it becomes expensive to spam, then the spam will stop and email advertising will become what it's good for, telling potential customers about products that they ARE interested in.
I can't wait for the California law to take effect. It's way more restrictive. I pity the spammers.
M
What about taxing every email for a very small amount. This would be virtually unnoticable to all but the spammer. I know our marketing dept. wouldn't mind paying for the ability to send out several thousand emails if the result was a signifigant drop in spam levels.
Face it, most spammers aren't expecting a large hit rate. They're abusing the fact that spam is practically free to send.
I get junk mail in my snail mailbox but I've never gotten junk snail mail for viagra, penis enlargement, free teen sex or most of the spam crap that I get in emails. It's just not cost-effective to mail that stuff.
Now you'd have to tax the ISPs who would then charge their customers who would then think twice about spamming and running insecure mailservers.
M
In that the better the spam filter, the better the spammer that gets through. Imagine now your spam is one of 3 or 4 instead of 1 of a hundred. Isn't that more valuable to the spammer thus an incentive to work harder at defeating the filters. It's a viscious circle methinks. Unfortunately, I think legislation and lawsuits will end up taking the profit out of spamming M
The idea of SPAM is just that. It's unwanted email sent unsolicited.
If I want email, I'll ask for it. I can subscribe to list servers, software updates bulletins, and lots of other requests for email. I don't think anyone has a right to put mail in my mailbox unless I consent to it. If I do business with someone AND I consent to email notices, then fine. If I put an "email me here" link on a web page, then anyone can email me.
I don't want someone's kid emailing me a request for donation or a grandma trying to sell me some handmade crap. They can put up a website that I can search for if I'm looking for that kind of thing.
The difference between outlawing spam and outlawing a common weed is that someone makes money by sending spam. Money is traceable. Stop that process and you'll stop the spam.
There does need to be some common sense in such a law. You wouldn't want a mistaken email to result in a huge fine, etc.
Bottom line, don't send email to someone unless you're sure they want it.
M
The ease with which the RIAA can issue subpeonas is the problem not the compliance with the law. This ability to issue a court order WITHOUT going through the normal channels should never have been allowed and will be challenged in court and hopefully found unconstitutional.
The bigger picture is the trend towards less and less judicial oversight. Ashcroft is the man behind much of this trashing of the constitution. I'm surprised he hasn't sided with the RIAA in the name of fighting terrorism.
M
This is not a "use" tax. 911 emergency phone service is useful to everyone whether or not you have phone service. It should be paid for out of the general tax fund.
The government will try and add taxes wherever it can to supplement the regular tax base.
Anytime you see a special fee, surcharge or outright tax you should wonder why it's there.
Using broadband for telephone service is one area where the government has no business.
M
While solar cells may be less efficient to produce for the power they give, they do have benefits such as not letting Cheney and his buddies rape and pilage the world... Actually, the economies of scale haven't yet been tapped with solar panel production. Couple an inexpensive solar panel with a fuel cell storage system and you are no longer hostage to power outages and corporate greed. M
$25/hr...are you serious?
A good programmer, let alone someone who has the initiative to write a signifigant piece of software on their own, is worth no less than $50/hr contract. You have to remember that the actual cost of an employee is around 30% above their base salary.
Ask for $75/hour and negotiate down to no less than $50/hour.
Believe me, I hire people like you and this is what I would pay.
M
There are government regulations on advertising for a reason. The nature of business is that the enterprising marketers will try to find away around anything that hinders their advertising.
Hence, product placement is so popular because it hides the fact that it is advertising.
I don't think we should allow advertising to be concealed in this way. It could eventually lead to political support or lobbying efforts that are disguised as the nightly news.
It seems that product placement would be when the studio or station receives compensation for the effort of making sure the product is seen by the viewer. Incidental product placement without compensation or conflict of interest would be exempt.
M
The California Anti-spam law that was recently signed is simply an expression of the people. Last time I checked it was "We The People" who made up the laws we live with in the USA. These laws didn't just come down with a lightning bolt on a mountain somewhere.
In other words, we can make up whatever laws we want. It's a scary thought and one that makes everyone responsible for our way of life.
Read, listen, vote, speak out and please pay attention!
It seems like the high level directors at NASA would like nothing better than for all the hoopla surrounding this to go away. Kind of a "everyone just move along now" attitude.
Unfortunately, there are dead bodies now...
It's a long book but totally engrossing. He puts forth a number of fascinating concepts, any one of which would have made a great plot by itself.
As far as the PDA readability idea is concerned, I've read a few PDA books (both Palm and IPaq) and it does work. I like it best for reading in the dark (like when the wifey's sleeping) or in the car at night, etc...
Fire Upon The Deep - Highly recommended reading
M
After reading the article I realized that I must be doing something wrong. I always click on every link in every email I get but still my penis hasn't gotten bigger, I don't have a horde of horny teens after me and I'm not rich.
What gives?
M
At least it's a quick sell to the "gotta have the latest gadget" crowd...
It should be quite obvious to anyone that the only reason this law is here is because of the sheer volume of spam out there.
Maybe Davis' is hoping to fix the budget problems with revenue from suing the spammers.
What's really flawed is the courts seeming indifference to the constitution and the way they uphold these new laws...all in the name of fighting terrorism. Wouldn't it be just fitting to prosecute one of these government officials under the patriot act or DMCA for a trivial offense and let them see the back end of a prison cell. This country will suck big time if we don't get Dubya out come next election.
So if you don't want your name and address listed, just put in a phony one. You can use a unique email address if you want to check messages relating to the registration.
Geez, it's not that hard to be virtually unlisted.
M
We've processed several software engineers through the H1-B program. Simply put, when you hire a really good software engineer and he tells you he has a collegue that is really good and is willing to relocate his family but needs an H1-B visa, it's all too tempting to go that route. The other option is to advertise and hope you get someone good.
There is a requirement to advertise the position in the US before you can get an H1-B but it doesn't really make a difference.
Now personally, I can't tell the difference between the people we've hired locally and those who've immigrated. They're all good people.
I'd rather have companies help immigrate good, hard working foreigners than have our government tell me I have to hire some slob just because he lives here.
I do agree than any company that exploits a 3rd world cheap labor force without following labor practices like we have here is guilty of a crime.
M