Hey everyone, I just discovered something! This article is referring to singles. That's not a fair comparison! I mean, nobody buys CD singles anymore! Where would you people be without me to point these things out?!
Alright, I except that if you are traveling to another country then you are oblidged to follow the rules that govern their society. However, in the United States this kind of interrogation is against our principles of moderate governmental control (or at least what we claim to be moderate gov't control). If I were asked those questions without them having a legitimate reason for suspicion I would have immediately replied, "None of your Goddamn business." to each and every question.
In the United States (again, supposedly) we beleive that it is more important to protect the rights of those that are innocent then to punish those that are not and do not sacrifice those rights unless absolutely necessary. Benjamin Franklin said, "It is better to let a 100 guilty people go free than to convict a single innocent person" [paraphrased]. I for one would rather deal with a gun-toting terrorist on a plane than have to go through life with a gun constantly to my head.
Actually, you can also simply install MYIE2 to internet explorer. Its an add-on to IE that includs pop-up blocking, tabbed browsing, and slew of other features many of which are available no where else. And you still get the benefits of Internet Explorer, (doesn't take an hour to load). That's really the only benefit I can think of . . .
"Philips Labs, at Redhill in Surrey, are currently designing clothes that keep you warm in the cold and cool in the heat by responding to the body's shivering."
If this thing's responding to the amount that my body is shivering, then I'd have to say if pretty well missed the fucking boat on keeping me "warm".
That's a really good point and probably a very likely scenario considering some people who probably don't consider themselves "stupid people" damn-near post the SOC in their./ sig.
"Addressing the issue recently, Matt Oppenheim, senior vice president of business and legal affairs at the RIAA, said that courts have already ruled that individuals are not anonymous when they publicly distribute music online.
Gee, it sure is nice to know that the individuals behind the recent destruction of our privacy rights at least understand the issue. Matt clearly point out here why privacy is not an issue: the RIAA has already decided that these individuals are indeed sharing files. No evidence, no due process, just hand over the personal information so we can slap them with a lawsuit they can't possibly afford to defend themselves against. Thank God for the DMCA.
"When we say "community," perhaps what we really are looking at is a special case of a broader phenomenon that sociologists call collective action, when a group of people do something together. And this turns out to be the No. 1 thing people do with their computers: It's to send each other e-mail. The No. 2 thing is to send groups of people e-mail--to join the list of people who like to knit, or who like Microsoft products."
Is he trying to play pyscho-babble mind games on us?
"The Gates foundation is today the biggest charitable contributer, funded by the founder himself. Sure, it's a tax relief for him, but he didn't have to do it to help researchers in financial terms in finding vaccin to the most common diseases affecting the 3rd world in the first place. Thats $10 bill available for worthy causes."
I respectfully disagree. Gate's does have to do it. As with all business ventures, you have to read between the lines and follow the money if you want to understand the true motivation behind business moves involving ammounts in the billions. In order to understand Bill's motives, one has the to draw the connection between the AIDS apedmic in 3rd world countries, and the concept of protecting Intellectual Property.
Currently, medical treatment for AIDS is extrememly expensive, to the point of unavailability, in most African countries. The American Medical "drug cartels" have effectively obtained patents on these AIDS medications, making it illegal for medical companies in Africa to produce and sell them. This medical intellectual property is protected by the WTO's TRIPs (Trade Related Intellectual Property) Agreement. In order for the millions suffering in these 3rd world countries to obtain the medical treatments, it requires huge money donations that are simply then channeled back into the IP holders (one might also note Gate's million dollar stock investments in these drug companies). These huge "donations" are simply protecting the WTO's TRIP's aggrement to protect intellectual property from public decree. Because if anything is going to break the TRIP's agreement it wont be a bunch of geeks on slashdot raving about the unfair RI** anti-piracy practices, it will be the AIDS issue in 3rd world countries.
So not only is this a 10 bil tax right-off, but the money is then channeled back into drug companies in which Bill and wife hold millions of shares, all the while protecting the laws governing IP without which the MS empire would likely crumble. What would be more beneficial for the millions suffering from AIDS untreated in 3rd world countries, would be if the Gates' used their power, money and influence to knock down the international copyright laws barring pharmaceutical companies in these countries from inexpensively producing these drugs with the readily available resources.
Yes, kind of ironic such a biased statement appearing in the lead for an article reporting on how media consolidation is eroding unbiased broadcasting . ..
While many see Bill and wife donating millions to select charities, the link is there if you follow the money.
Take Gate's million dollar donations to the medical efforts of treating AIDS patients in African countries, for instance. Currently, medical treatment for AIDS is extrememly expensive, to the point of unavailability, in most African countries. The American Medical "drug cartels" have effectively obtained patents on these AIDS medications, making it illegal for medical companies in Africa to produce and sell them. This medical intellectual property is protected by the WTO's TRIPs (Trade Related Intellectual Property) Agreement. In order for the millions suffering in these 3rd world countries to obtain the medical treatments, it requires huge money donations that simply then channeled back into the IP holders (one might also not Gate's million dollar stock investments in these drug companies). These huge "donations" are simply protecting the WTO's TRIP's aggrement to protect intellectual property from public decree. Because if anything is going to break the TRIP's agreement it wont be a bunch of geeks on slashdot raving about the unfair RI** anti-piracy practices, it will be the AIDS issue in 3rd world countries.
And suddenly, the link is clear. Gate's "contributions" are mearly protecting his empire which is built on and would crumble without de facto protection of intellectual property rights for corporations. And at what expense to those suffering from AIDS and without treatment?
For further reading on the subject see Greg Palast's "The Best Democracy Money Can Buy."
Nick Driver: "Maybe more and more people will continue to be lulled into the entertaiment and media industries hypnotic mind-numbing oceans of depraved soul-less hype until every person in the world becomes a slave to this constant feed of marketing sludge and every person in the world becomes so complacently hypnotised that they shrivel up, rot, and starve to death, their own brains mush in their heads before their soul-less hearts cease to beat in their sunken decaying chests and the earth stops spinning and time stands still and the entire universe implodes into nothingness!"
Actually, your University paid $200,000 to obtain the licensing deal. If you switch schools, you don't get to keep it, and the $200,000 was reflected in your student fees (even for those students who already own Office, don't want it, or don't know about the deal).
Your collective student body actually paid quite well for Office. For those who would have ended up buying Office anyways, they ended up getting a very good deal. For everyone else, they lost the right to choose.
Your school made a gamble with purchasing Microsoft Office depending on how many students take advantage of the offer. And you know what they say about gambling . . . the house always wins.
"Perhaps you ought to think about how lucky you are to even HAVE a job right now."
This is something said by people who don't have the confidence and heart to seek out a better position in life because it may mean hard times and sacrificing some of their quality of life for a while. However, those that are more enlightened realize that doing something that is rewarding and fulfilling, where you are appreciated, actually improves your quality of life much more than all the creature comforts of a steady employment position.
First of all, you should have known that message was SPAM. In fact, if you were using a hotmail account (as most youngsters do) that message would have gone to your junk mail folder. In fact, a 15 year old should have known that message was SPAM. Oh and here's a little factoid that will make your heart skip a beat. (In the United States) the average age girls lose their virginity is 14. So, if you've been playing the "I will protect you from all things harmful" game until the age of 15, you probably already missed the boat.
So at what age does a child actually need an email account? Let's see, my nephew is 7 and he is really starting to read really well. But he seems to be doing better than the rest in his class and he can read the learner books, but his brain could never process the heap of information that gets flooded at you at a hotmail page. And he can type probably 5 words a minute. I don't think he's a prime candidate. I'm thinking at ten years old they are going to want to start sending messages back and forth between their friends at school. Now relating back to my own personal experience (that's all I've got, ya know) I first started messing around with my girlfriend at the age of 12. (Yes that's too young and no I'm not advocating it). I'm just illustrating that its a little late to "protect" at this point. At this point, they can and will just figure it out on the playground after lunch so you're going to have to teach em, not protect em.
So what? Monitor their internet usage for two years. Use the tools that are out there. Better yet, teach your children how to spot these internet no-no's, why they are wrong, forbid them to look for them, and then trust them not to . . . and if they do anyways come down on their ass like its going out of style.
And if its absolutley postively necessary, go after the SPAMers that sent them. BUT, do not sacrifice our anonymous, free, uncensored intenet to do so, please. I actually like the way it is. No, other forms of media are not allowed to lie and try to force adult material on you. However, other forms of media also suck. Do you honestly want the internet to go the way of cable tv? Before you jump on the "protect our children" bandwagon, just contemplate for a second what you might be sacrificing. Legislation is a trickie game to play to achieve your goals. Someone else mentioned, "how much do you trust your governing authorities to justly oversee and enforce these new laws". For myself, as an American, I don't.
I'm trying to remember the quote from Holden Caulfiend in the Catcher in the Rye: Something to the tune of,
"You can't erase all the 'fucks' from the walls"
Well, this holds true. You can't erase all the videos of chicks fucking donkies on the internet. In fact, some asshole will probably read this post, disagree with it, and then reply AC with a link to goatse for me.
" . . . and with the Linux computer operating system and a batch of other open-source programs biting at its heels, Microsoft will have to do a better job of persuading customers it has something they need."
"I know you're out there. I can feel you now. I know that
you're afraid. You're afraid of us. You're afraid of change. I
don't know the future. I didn't come here to tell you how this is
going to end. I came here to tell you how it's going to begin.
I'm going to hang up this phone, and then I'm going to show these
people what you don't want them to see. I'm going to show them a
world....without you. A world without rules and controls. Without
borders or boundaries. A world where anything is possible. Where
we go from there, is a choice I leave to you."
I couldn't agree with you more, if you want to experience the element, get out of the vehicle. Skydiving may be the single greatest experience in my short life so far, but there is one thing that rollar coasters give you that skydiving does not . . . G's. And unless you're a fighter pilot in the military or an otherwise experienced aerobatics pilot, or drag racer or other obvious exception that only an extreme minority of people in the world get to experience, the rollar coaster is your best bet to pull 4.5 G's or better yet, negative G's which is what you get when a 4000+ lb train is pulling you toward the earth much faster than you fall out of a plane.
To those that are wondering, Skydiving is great for exactly the opposite reason: zero gravity. And everyone should at some point try skydiving, cause unless you're an astronaut or . . .
"But know this: Cedar Point's Gemini was a record-breaker in 1978, at 125 feet in height. Think about what's happened in the last 25 years.
Then think about the next 25 years. That, my friends, is really scary."
Actually, that's a great friggin point and the first thing in a long time to give me something to look forward to in the future. Let's do the typical geek thing for just a sec . . .
From 125 to 420 feet is 336% increase. Also, according to the rollar coaster database, the Gemini reaches a top speed of 60 mph (96.5 kph), which the Top Thrill Dragster doubles. Now, that may not even be the speed record for time, so if we experience the same increase over the next 25 years we're talkin' bout a 1411 ft high coaster that reaches a top speed of 240 mph (386 kph).
Jesus! They'd have to outfit you with G-suits prior to launch. But look at the bright side; by then, if you pop a vien in the ol heart during the ride, they can just throw a monkey heart in there and no worries . . .
Slashdot Mirror
Thank God someone put it in terms I can understand. Anyone want to try Heliopause for Dummies?
Hey everyone, I just discovered something! This article is referring to singles. That's not a fair comparison! I mean, nobody buys CD singles anymore!
Where would you people be without me to point these things out?!
Alright, I except that if you are traveling to another country then you are oblidged to follow the rules that govern their society. However, in the United States this kind of interrogation is against our principles of moderate governmental control (or at least what we claim to be moderate gov't control). If I were asked those questions without them having a legitimate reason for suspicion I would have immediately replied, "None of your Goddamn business." to each and every question.
In the United States (again, supposedly) we beleive that it is more important to protect the rights of those that are innocent then to punish those that are not and do not sacrifice those rights unless absolutely necessary. Benjamin Franklin said, "It is better to let a 100 guilty people go free than to convict a single innocent person" [paraphrased]. I for one would rather deal with a gun-toting terrorist on a plane than have to go through life with a gun constantly to my head.
Actually, you can also simply install MYIE2 to internet explorer. Its an add-on to IE that includs pop-up blocking, tabbed browsing, and slew of other features many of which are available no where else. And you still get the benefits of Internet Explorer, (doesn't take an hour to load). That's really the only benefit I can think of . . .
"Philips Labs, at Redhill in Surrey, are currently designing clothes that keep you warm in the cold and cool in the heat by responding to the body's shivering."
If this thing's responding to the amount that my body is shivering, then I'd have to say if pretty well missed the fucking boat on keeping me "warm".
"Most Windows users will run any old attachment you send them . . ."
BURN! Hee hee.
That's a really good point and probably a very likely scenario considering some people who probably don't consider themselves "stupid people" damn-near post the SOC in their ./ sig.
*sigh*
"Addressing the issue recently, Matt Oppenheim, senior vice president of business and legal affairs at the RIAA, said that courts have already ruled that individuals are not anonymous when they publicly distribute music online.
Gee, it sure is nice to know that the individuals behind the recent destruction of our privacy rights at least understand the issue. Matt clearly point out here why privacy is not an issue: the RIAA has already decided that these individuals are indeed sharing files. No evidence, no due process, just hand over the personal information so we can slap them with a lawsuit they can't possibly afford to defend themselves against. Thank God for the DMCA.
Actually, I've always appreciated seeing this designation because it gave me the foresight to avoid that institution.
"When we say "community," perhaps what we really are looking at is a special case of a broader phenomenon that sociologists call collective action, when a group of people do something together. And this turns out to be the No. 1 thing people do with their computers: It's to send each other e-mail. The No. 2 thing is to send groups of people e-mail--to join the list of people who like to knit, or who like Microsoft products."
Is he trying to play pyscho-babble mind games on us?
as I was saying earlier in the thread . . .
Greg Palast covered this issue thoroughly in the revised for the United States edition of "The Best democracy Money Can Buy". (gregpalast.com)
"The Gates foundation is today the biggest charitable contributer, funded by the founder himself. Sure, it's a tax relief for him, but he didn't have to do it to help researchers in financial terms in finding vaccin to the most common diseases affecting the 3rd world in the first place. Thats $10 bill available for worthy causes."
I respectfully disagree. Gate's does have to do it. As with all business ventures, you have to read between the lines and follow the money if you want to understand the true motivation behind business moves involving ammounts in the billions. In order to understand Bill's motives, one has the to draw the connection between the AIDS apedmic in 3rd world countries, and the concept of protecting Intellectual Property.
Currently, medical treatment for AIDS is extrememly expensive, to the point of unavailability, in most African countries. The American Medical "drug cartels" have effectively obtained patents on these AIDS medications, making it illegal for medical companies in Africa to produce and sell them. This medical intellectual property is protected by the WTO's TRIPs (Trade Related Intellectual Property) Agreement. In order for the millions suffering in these 3rd world countries to obtain the medical treatments, it requires huge money donations that are simply then channeled back into the IP holders (one might also note Gate's million dollar stock investments in these drug companies). These huge "donations" are simply protecting the WTO's TRIP's aggrement to protect intellectual property from public decree. Because if anything is going to break the TRIP's agreement it wont be a bunch of geeks on slashdot raving about the unfair RI** anti-piracy practices, it will be the AIDS issue in 3rd world countries.
So not only is this a 10 bil tax right-off, but the money is then channeled back into drug companies in which Bill and wife hold millions of shares, all the while protecting the laws governing IP without which the MS empire would likely crumble. What would be more beneficial for the millions suffering from AIDS untreated in 3rd world countries, would be if the Gates' used their power, money and influence to knock down the international copyright laws barring pharmaceutical companies in these countries from inexpensively producing these drugs with the readily available resources.
But don't hold your breath . . .
Yeah, that is intersting.
Yes, kind of ironic such a biased statement appearing in the lead for an article reporting on how media consolidation is eroding unbiased broadcasting . . .
"Gee Mickie, why are you so depressed?"
Mickie Mouse: "They're committing Minnie to the insane asylum."
"But Mickie, I thought you said you were mad at Minnie and that she was crazy."
Mickie Mouse: "I didn't say she was crazy! I said she was fuckin' Goofy!"
So how long until I can expect a cease and disist letter from Disney?
While many see Bill and wife donating millions to select charities, the link is there if you follow the money.
Take Gate's million dollar donations to the medical efforts of treating AIDS patients in African countries, for instance. Currently, medical treatment for AIDS is extrememly expensive, to the point of unavailability, in most African countries. The American Medical "drug cartels" have effectively obtained patents on these AIDS medications, making it illegal for medical companies in Africa to produce and sell them. This medical intellectual property is protected by the WTO's TRIPs (Trade Related Intellectual Property) Agreement. In order for the millions suffering in these 3rd world countries to obtain the medical treatments, it requires huge money donations that simply then channeled back into the IP holders (one might also not Gate's million dollar stock investments in these drug companies). These huge "donations" are simply protecting the WTO's TRIP's aggrement to protect intellectual property from public decree. Because if anything is going to break the TRIP's agreement it wont be a bunch of geeks on slashdot raving about the unfair RI** anti-piracy practices, it will be the AIDS issue in 3rd world countries.
And suddenly, the link is clear. Gate's "contributions" are mearly protecting his empire which is built on and would crumble without de facto protection of intellectual property rights for corporations. And at what expense to those suffering from AIDS and without treatment?
For further reading on the subject see Greg Palast's "The Best Democracy Money Can Buy."
Nick Driver:
/. and I wanna kill myself.
"Maybe more and more people will continue to be lulled into the entertaiment and media industries hypnotic mind-numbing oceans of depraved soul-less hype until every person in the world becomes a slave to this constant feed of marketing sludge and every person in the world becomes so complacently hypnotised that they shrivel up, rot, and starve to death, their own brains mush in their heads before their soul-less hearts cease to beat in their sunken decaying chests and the earth stops spinning and time stands still and the entire universe implodes into nothingness!"
This guy posts to
"Office is $5 for students, where I go to school"
Actually, your University paid $200,000 to obtain the licensing deal. If you switch schools, you don't get to keep it, and the $200,000 was reflected in your student fees (even for those students who already own Office, don't want it, or don't know about the deal).
Your collective student body actually paid quite well for Office. For those who would have ended up buying Office anyways, they ended up getting a very good deal. For everyone else, they lost the right to choose.
Your school made a gamble with purchasing Microsoft Office depending on how many students take advantage of the offer. And you know what they say about gambling . . . the house always wins.
"Perhaps you ought to think about how lucky you are to even HAVE a job right now."
This is something said by people who don't have the confidence and heart to seek out a better position in life because it may mean hard times and sacrificing some of their quality of life for a while. However, those that are more enlightened realize that doing something that is rewarding and fulfilling, where you are appreciated, actually improves your quality of life much more than all the creature comforts of a steady employment position.
First of all, you should have known that message was SPAM. In fact, if you were using a hotmail account (as most youngsters do) that message would have gone to your junk mail folder. In fact, a 15 year old should have known that message was SPAM. Oh and here's a little factoid that will make your heart skip a beat. (In the United States) the average age girls lose their virginity is 14. So, if you've been playing the "I will protect you from all things harmful" game until the age of 15, you probably already missed the boat.
So at what age does a child actually need an email account? Let's see, my nephew is 7 and he is really starting to read really well. But he seems to be doing better than the rest in his class and he can read the learner books, but his brain could never process the heap of information that gets flooded at you at a hotmail page. And he can type probably 5 words a minute. I don't think he's a prime candidate. I'm thinking at ten years old they are going to want to start sending messages back and forth between their friends at school. Now relating back to my own personal experience (that's all I've got, ya know) I first started messing around with my girlfriend at the age of 12. (Yes that's too young and no I'm not advocating it). I'm just illustrating that its a little late to "protect" at this point. At this point, they can and will just figure it out on the playground after lunch so you're going to have to teach em, not protect em.
So what? Monitor their internet usage for two years. Use the tools that are out there. Better yet, teach your children how to spot these internet no-no's, why they are wrong, forbid them to look for them, and then trust them not to . . . and if they do anyways come down on their ass like its going out of style.
And if its absolutley postively necessary, go after the SPAMers that sent them. BUT, do not sacrifice our anonymous, free, uncensored intenet to do so, please. I actually like the way it is. No, other forms of media are not allowed to lie and try to force adult material on you. However, other forms of media also suck. Do you honestly want the internet to go the way of cable tv? Before you jump on the "protect our children" bandwagon, just contemplate for a second what you might be sacrificing. Legislation is a trickie game to play to achieve your goals. Someone else mentioned, "how much do you trust your governing authorities to justly oversee and enforce these new laws". For myself, as an American, I don't.
I'm trying to remember the quote from Holden Caulfiend in the Catcher in the Rye: Something to the tune of,
"You can't erase all the 'fucks' from the walls"
Well, this holds true. You can't erase all the videos of chicks fucking donkies on the internet. In fact, some asshole will probably read this post, disagree with it, and then reply AC with a link to goatse for me.
If your 15 year old daughter is mature enough to not want to see it, then she most likely wont.
. . . you people and your "we must protect all those other people out there who arn't as smart as me" line of reasoning.
Its never US specifically who need protecting. Its always some idiot out there who doesn't know better and desperatly needs our protection.
" . . . and with the Linux computer operating system and a batch of other open-source programs biting at its heels, Microsoft will have to do a better job of persuading customers it has something they need."
"I know you're out there. I can feel you now. I know that you're afraid. You're afraid of us. You're afraid of change. I don't know the future. I didn't come here to tell you how this is going to end. I came here to tell you how it's going to begin. I'm going to hang up this phone, and then I'm going to show these people what you don't want them to see. I'm going to show them a world....without you. A world without rules and controls. Without borders or boundaries. A world where anything is possible. Where we go from there, is a choice I leave to you."
I couldn't agree with you more, if you want to experience the element, get out of the vehicle. Skydiving may be the single greatest experience in my short life so far, but there is one thing that rollar coasters give you that skydiving does not . . . G's. And unless you're a fighter pilot in the military or an otherwise experienced aerobatics pilot, or drag racer or other obvious exception that only an extreme minority of people in the world get to experience, the rollar coaster is your best bet to pull 4.5 G's or better yet, negative G's which is what you get when a 4000+ lb train is pulling you toward the earth much faster than you fall out of a plane.
To those that are wondering, Skydiving is great for exactly the opposite reason: zero gravity. And everyone should at some point try skydiving, cause unless you're an astronaut or . . .
"But know this: Cedar Point's Gemini was a record-breaker in 1978, at 125 feet in height. Think about what's happened in the last 25 years.
Then think about the next 25 years. That, my friends, is really scary."
Actually, that's a great friggin point and the first thing in a long time to give me something to look forward to in the future. Let's do the typical geek thing for just a sec . . .
From 125 to 420 feet is 336% increase. Also, according to the rollar coaster database, the Gemini reaches a top speed of 60 mph (96.5 kph), which the Top Thrill Dragster doubles. Now, that may not even be the speed record for time, so if we experience the same increase over the next 25 years we're talkin' bout a 1411 ft high coaster that reaches a top speed of 240 mph (386 kph).
Jesus! They'd have to outfit you with G-suits prior to launch. But look at the bright side; by then, if you pop a vien in the ol heart during the ride, they can just throw a monkey heart in there and no worries . . .
"Who else could possibly be more qualified than the former Chief Security Officer for Microsoft Corporation?"
Uhhh, are you kiddin?