Gee, surely it had nothing to do with Microsoft's $25,000 donation to the National Republican Congressional Committee, or their $867,000 in Republican campaign contributions. Surely not. I mean, that would be bribery, right? Or would it be extortion on the part of the National Republican Congressional Committee, since they asked for (and by MS' own admission, probably received) another cool million on top of it? Nobody made a big stink about it at the time except some pesky "liberal media elites", so guess what? We all consented.
"But the authors state that it is not the intent, and that it will be modified to exclude casual sellers before it goes into affect."
Sure they will. Trust them. I mean, would a politician lie? Surely they will exclude "casual" sellers.
Great. Now define "casual". No, if there's no specific numerical threshhold attached, everybody who sells more than one thing could be considered non-"casual".
So what if you don't sell it as an auction but just stick a "buy it now" price on it? (disclaimer: I am not a frequent eBayer and this question might be very stupid indeed)
"They will get away with anything we let them get away with and they will never stop until somebody makes them stop." - Max Barry
"when you talk about "communists", you're really referring to stalinists."
No, I was referring to people who ran under the banner of the "communist party" of whatever country they're in. Kim Jong Il is one (but he'd be absolutely nothing if he didn't have nukes, North Korea is not even on the radar screen of world powers), Fidel is another (and he's pretty much emasculated at this point).
When has a communist ever been democratically elected in a REAL election, where there's more than one party? (IE one the UN monitored and approved of) By that logic you could say Saddam was elected. He was, but there was a slight caveat - there was nobody else on the ballot. Same for the Soviets in the 20th Century.
Seriously, name a communist that was elected in a real election.
OK, you got me on that one. Li'l Kim is indeed a communist. But, were it not for him having nukes, I think you'd have a pretty hard time making case that he's got any real power.
Now read the second one... The Communist party in Russia is trying to OUST Putin right now. They ran a candidate AGAINST him in the election. Remove your head from the sand. Putin is simply not a communist.
youfuckingmoron. Russian does not equal communist. The Russian Communist party is in the middle of trying to OUST Putin, you phenomenally ignorant anonymous coward.
" I have no problem with companies having free speech and selling deficient products (such as with DRM, undocumented code, etc.) but I want to have the option not to buy these products or have my tax dollars go to these products."
Ah, but that would mean there was competition. That would actually be capitalism. Why would we want a silly little thing like market competition get in the way of unrestrained, unregulated corporate hegemony?
"Fascism: Government by corporation" - Benito Mussolini.
"Ray Charles benefitted from the usual Grammy policy of rewarding big name artists AFTER they die."
Yeah, it's not just the Grammies. I'd go so far as to say it's the entire American entertainment industry. "I,robot" would never have been made when Asimov was alive. I've known bands signed to major label who were literally told, "maybe you'll die in a bus crash and then we can sell these".
REM, the Dead Milkmen, They Might be Giants, the White Stripes...
But honestly, Green Day's catchy and all, but the only reason they did pop-punk was cuz the Mr T Experience showed em how. And the only reason they're trying new things is cuz the Mr T Experience showed em how. Dr Frank literally taught BillieJoe how to play guitar. Listen to the MTX song "dumb little band" one time.
And if you wanna hear revolutionary, experimental, and incredibly beautiful, you might wanna pick up SMiLE by Brian Wilson. Or not.
The Billboards are worse, you're right. But can you name the last act to win a Grammy that didn't have at least a Gold record (besides this internet chick)?
Ah, but the significance is that the Grammys are based strictly on sales. Whoever sells the most albums gets a Grammy, period. Which means that internet sales are finally getting noticed and accepted as a revenue generator.
Yeah. There's a good reason for that. The general public can't figure out how to set a VCR timer. The general public has to call their cable company to have a channel unblocked because they can't remember their code. You honestly expect ANY idiot-friendly interface to make up for this? This will fail spectacularly, not because nobody wants it, but because the only people who will be able to use it are those that already are, in the form of their PC's. If it involves more than 5 seconds of attention or thought, middle America wants NOTHING to do with it.
The only way this could work would be if, at the store, the person selling you this piece of equipment conducted a 30-minute verbal interview with the buyers and programmed the box accordingly, and it was 100% automated.
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Gee, surely it had nothing to do with Microsoft's $25,000 donation to the National Republican Congressional Committee, or their $867,000 in Republican campaign contributions. Surely not. I mean, that would be bribery, right? Or would it be extortion on the part of the National Republican Congressional Committee, since they asked for (and by MS' own admission, probably received) another cool million on top of it? Nobody made a big stink about it at the time except some pesky "liberal media elites", so guess what? We all consented.
"But the authors state that it is not the intent, and that it will be modified to exclude casual sellers before it goes into affect."
Sure they will. Trust them. I mean, would a politician lie? Surely they will exclude "casual" sellers.
Great. Now define "casual". No, if there's no specific numerical threshhold attached, everybody who sells more than one thing could be considered non-"casual".
So what if you don't sell it as an auction but just stick a "buy it now" price on it? (disclaimer: I am not a frequent eBayer and this question might be very stupid indeed)
"They will get away with anything we let them get away with and they will never stop until somebody makes them stop." - Max Barry
"when you talk about "communists", you're really referring to stalinists."
No, I was referring to people who ran under the banner of the "communist party" of whatever country they're in. Kim Jong Il is one (but he'd be absolutely nothing if he didn't have nukes, North Korea is not even on the radar screen of world powers), Fidel is another (and he's pretty much emasculated at this point).
When has a communist ever been democratically elected in a REAL election, where there's more than one party? (IE one the UN monitored and approved of) By that logic you could say Saddam was elected. He was, but there was a slight caveat - there was nobody else on the ballot. Same for the Soviets in the 20th Century.
Seriously, name a communist that was elected in a real election.
Sure. Except that you have no idea how paper receipts work.
OK, you got me on that one. Li'l Kim is indeed a communist. But, were it not for him having nukes, I think you'd have a pretty hard time making case that he's got any real power.
Now read the second one... The Communist party in Russia is trying to OUST Putin right now. They ran a candidate AGAINST him in the election. Remove your head from the sand. Putin is simply not a communist.
whoops, I guess the first one did go through... that's OK, the second one was better... freakin dial-up...
you fucking moron. Russian does not equal communist. The Russian Communist party is in the middle of trying to OUST Putin, you phenomenally ignorant anonymous coward.
Vladimir Putin was elected, you phenomenally ignorant anonymous coward.
Amen to that. They'd never have brought this out if the republicans didn't control all three branches of the federal government exclusively.
" I have no problem with companies having free speech and selling deficient products (such as with DRM, undocumented code, etc.) but I want to have the option not to buy these products or have my tax dollars go to these products."
Ah, but that would mean there was competition. That would actually be capitalism. Why would we want a silly little thing like market competition get in the way of unrestrained, unregulated corporate hegemony?
"Fascism: Government by corporation" - Benito Mussolini.
Name one communist alive today besides Fidel Castro that's in ANY position of serious power ANYWHERE in the world. Just one. Anywhere.
Have you no decency? At long last, sir, have you no decency?
Ah, but state courts *had* to take them. Federal courts don't. They can just take their ball and go home.
"when is the last time the public actually stood up for their rights?"
How would we know? The corporate media would never tell us even if it actually happened.
"I'm waiting for the email attachments without extension that include 'instructions' on how to 'save as'"
I was just gonna say this. Consider me redundant.
"Ray Charles benefitted from the usual Grammy policy of rewarding big name artists AFTER they die."
Yeah, it's not just the Grammies. I'd go so far as to say it's the entire American entertainment industry. "I,robot" would never have been made when Asimov was alive. I've known bands signed to major label who were literally told, "maybe you'll die in a bus crash and then we can sell these".
"mandolins in their music?"
REM, the Dead Milkmen, They Might be Giants, the White Stripes...
But honestly, Green Day's catchy and all, but the only reason they did pop-punk was cuz the Mr T Experience showed em how. And the only reason they're trying new things is cuz the Mr T Experience showed em how. Dr Frank literally taught BillieJoe how to play guitar. Listen to the MTX song "dumb little band" one time.
And if you wanna hear revolutionary, experimental, and incredibly beautiful, you might wanna pick up SMiLE by Brian Wilson. Or not.
The Billboards are worse, you're right. But can you name the last act to win a Grammy that didn't have at least a Gold record (besides this internet chick)?
Milli Vanilli. No, it's an industry award, and, like most other industry awards, goes to the people who made the industry the most money.
Oh, but it's on their official website. Well then. I'm sure they woulnd't bend the truth to not look like corporate whores.
...long live the business model.
Ah, but the significance is that the Grammys are based strictly on sales. Whoever sells the most albums gets a Grammy, period. Which means that internet sales are finally getting noticed and accepted as a revenue generator.
Which is very significant indeed.
FYI, there are indeed BloTools setups that run on 98. I know cuz I've done it. Don't believe the hype.
Although, last time I checked, you did have to have a Mac to use Didi interfaces, but who wants to pay for those instead of paying for Apogees?
"Can't see what problem or need this is solving."
Which is exactly why nobody will buy it.
"the general public is harder to target."
Yeah. There's a good reason for that. The general public can't figure out how to set a VCR timer. The general public has to call their cable company to have a channel unblocked because they can't remember their code. You honestly expect ANY idiot-friendly interface to make up for this? This will fail spectacularly, not because nobody wants it, but because the only people who will be able to use it are those that already are, in the form of their PC's. If it involves more than 5 seconds of attention or thought, middle America wants NOTHING to do with it.
The only way this could work would be if, at the store, the person selling you this piece of equipment conducted a 30-minute verbal interview with the buyers and programmed the box accordingly, and it was 100% automated.