The litigious nature of this society is drawing it into a very frightening pattern of litigating for profit. What happened to the idea that people must take responsibilty for their own actions? Could this be the start of a "my company is failing . . . I need to find someone to sue FAST!" campaign?
I wonder if the labels will admit how little they give the artists. Let's see . . . $18 for a CD. $1 goes to the artist, $1 in packaging, another dollar for marketing, another for shipping, the rest is PROFIT FOR the already bloated coffers of the record labels.
If 50 million Americans voluntarily signed up for this list, isn't that the same thing as 50 million Americans saying "I don't want telemarketers calling me" and likewise 50 million "votes" for a no-call list? The judge must have an issue with *implementation* because it's painfully obvious that there is overwhelming support for this. Even if there are implementation issues, with 50 million supporters, one must wonder if the lobbyists got a hold of him and clouded his judgement with small green pieces of paper.
Neil's books may not be for everyone . . .
on
Quicksilver
·
· Score: 1
I think that he has two different "styles." You have the Diamond Age and Snowcrash style, and then you have the Cryptonomicon (and it sounds like Quicksilver too)style. Though somewhat disconjointed, I really enjoyed the Diamond Age. Neil is not afraid to spend a chapter or two on some story completely unrelated to the plot or development of the book. He uses these digressions, I think, to give color and depth to his worlds. Not everyone appreciates these digressions though, because it can be viewed as worthless and distracting to the focus of the book.
This has been a pleasurable thread to read. Neil does seem to be one of those authors you either like or you don't. Very few "in betweens."
Contractors at IBM are not even allowed to talk to their own managers. They must communicate through their contracting firm. The badges are different, the e-mail addresses are different, they are not allowed to go to group functions, including their own department's meetings. Like many Very Large Corporations of America, they treat valuable and important workers as if they were third class citizens in a caste system. We have the legal system and the greed of lawyers to thank for this (not to mention the folks that worked at IBM as contractors and decided to sue the hand that fed them).
Slashdot Mirror
The litigious nature of this society is drawing it into a very frightening pattern of litigating for profit. What happened to the idea that people must take responsibilty for their own actions? Could this be the start of a "my company is failing . . . I need to find someone to sue FAST!" campaign?
I wonder if the labels will admit how little they give the artists. Let's see . . . $18 for a CD. $1 goes to the artist, $1 in packaging, another dollar for marketing, another for shipping, the rest is PROFIT FOR the already bloated coffers of the record labels.
If 50 million Americans voluntarily signed up for this list, isn't that the same thing as 50 million Americans saying "I don't want telemarketers calling me" and likewise 50 million "votes" for a no-call list? The judge must have an issue with *implementation* because it's painfully obvious that there is overwhelming support for this. Even if there are implementation issues, with 50 million supporters, one must wonder if the lobbyists got a hold of him and clouded his judgement with small green pieces of paper.
I think that he has two different "styles." You have the Diamond Age and Snowcrash style, and then you have the Cryptonomicon (and it sounds like Quicksilver too)style. Though somewhat disconjointed, I really enjoyed the Diamond Age. Neil is not afraid to spend a chapter or two on some story completely unrelated to the plot or development of the book. He uses these digressions, I think, to give color and depth to his worlds. Not everyone appreciates these digressions though, because it can be viewed as worthless and distracting to the focus of the book.
This has been a pleasurable thread to read. Neil does seem to be one of those authors you either like or you don't. Very few "in betweens."
I second that motion, brother. IGS is about the most incompetent group of people I've ever had to work with. Software engineers my *ss!
Contractors at IBM are not even allowed to talk to their own managers. They must communicate through their contracting firm. The badges are different, the e-mail addresses are different, they are not allowed to go to group functions, including their own department's meetings. Like many Very Large Corporations of America, they treat valuable and important workers as if they were third class citizens in a caste system. We have the legal system and the greed of lawyers to thank for this (not to mention the folks that worked at IBM as contractors and decided to sue the hand that fed them).