"The only problem with that is if a search engine refused to keep records of what was searched for and perhaps which links were taken, how could the engines ever improve their effectiveness?
It's a double-sided sword. It cuts both ways."
I have seen this bandied about several times...It is utter bunk. Pray, tell us how keeping track of searches "improve their effectiveness"? The only thing it does is allow for targeted advertising. It has nothing to do with improving anything other than their income.
"I'm really impressed that the appeal to Sept. 11th came in on the FIRST article."
The issue of commnications between agancies (fire, police, federal search & rescue) isn't addressed in this legislation but it sure is being used as an excuse to push it through without thinking first. Let's look at this issue.
1.) Radios used in 9/11 did not function when the person on the other end went into the building. This spectrum is said to "go through" building materials. Although a valid point, it isn't the only frequencies that do that. It is however a way to get television spectrum locked down digitally eventually making it all pay TV.
2.) The issue of the agancies being on different frequencies within the same spectrum and unable to communicate isn't addressed either. You had fire companies responding from other states that could not even tell someone they were there over the radio because nobody was listening on their frequency. Add to that the companies that responded with "digital radios" (and proprietary protocols) and even if you could listen it would be nothing but noise.
This legislation does nothing to address either of those issues properly and is a knee-jerk reaction following 9/11 and the more recent issues in the hurricanes. (The same as above, I might add, only 4 years after this was supposed to be fixed with billions being spent in DHS for it).
Using the 9/11 tragedy for every hot button issue has become the favorite among the politicians that have other agendas and this issue is no different.
There are 2 billing systems. Hourly and contingency. What you are talking about is contingency. It is evident that she chose one that is hourly. Most contingency cases you are the plaintif against an insurnace agency or individual and real money is involved. This case however, she is the defendant and unless she has counter-claims is only entitled to verifiable court costs if she wins. In short, there is no money to be made if you are the defendant and most lawyers will only take those cases if you pay hourly.
It is a messed up system to be sure but there are other avenues she can take such as a pro-bono lawyer or a cheaper one looking to make a name.
Keyboard problems aside, it has been stated, "The person that represents themself in court has a fool for a client." The law is not a small matter to be taken lightly no matter the charges. You don't think the other side is going to do it without a lawyer do you? So why should the defendant be put at a handicap simply because they can't afford one? I know if it was me I would be very worried not having a lawyer no matter what this lawyer says should happen.
"Without them, we would still be listening to public domain recordings of Classical music. There's nothing wrong with the Classical tunes, but our culture would be so much less vibrant than it has become without incentives of success available to performers."
People seem to forget that it is supposed to be for the "public domain" that copyright exists in the first place. These things are supposed to go into that public domain no matter what the media companies like to think. That is the problem. Copyright wasn't invented solely for the media companies to make profit but to "promote science and the useful arts". Of course, you couldn't tell that with the terms on copyright these days, but that can change.
"Microsoft is already paying for development of an ODF converter for MS Office. They'd rather feed smear stories to the press and buy off politicians than give their customers what they want, but they'll readily support OpenDocument if they start losing those customers."
And as I keep replying to people who insist the MS will "support" ODF....
SUPPORT != DEFAULT
Have you ever been in any MS office product and tried to change the default? I can just about assure you that the default will be (or already is) MS XML patents and all. People are lazy when it comes to saving documents and won't go through hoops to change the format even with the law being what it is.
"There is good potential benefit for a system like this. I'd love to be able to dial up a map of the Boston metro area and see the congested roads marked in red (Never mind that/all/ of them would be red in Boston...)."
And how do you automatically make the leap that this MAJOR privacy concern (think of the massive potential abuses) isn't one? And it isn't going to be at all accurate given the amount of people that don't (and won't) own a cell phone. So your map of Boston would be totally wrong.
"- Allow your Insurance company to track the number of miles driven, your average speed, percentage of quick stops, etc..."
That will never fly. It is the fear of the screwing people will get (as if they aren't getting it anyway) that keeps things like this out as well as the political backlash involved with it. That doesn't mean they won't try....
"But right now, I'm left feeling that Sony thinks they have a PR problem, not that they think they did something deeply wrong."
And that's it in a nutshell. Since all they can think about is money, I'm going to oblidge them. I AM boycotting Sony and everything dealing with them. A boycott of BMG alone does nothing to address the Sony corporate issue of accountability.
"My point was that Sony BMG is not the same as Sony, and that (perhaps especially) with Sony, one hand doesn't know what the other is doing. Thus you had ATRAC3 being pushed at the same time as they sold CD burners, and now you have Vaio ripping stations and MP3 playing Walkman cell phones being sold at the same time as CDs that won't work with either."
In that case they shouldn't have acquired (or been allowed to acquire) BMG. The parent company *IS* the responsible entity. That is why you have language in law like "they knew or should have known". If it's good enough for lawyers it's good enough for me...
"I don't know whether any bloggers have been sued for libel yet, but I bet some will be. If you're going to "publish" something, you really do need to check your facts, and that usually takes more time than a hobbyist has."
You need to check out your facts a little bit. In the 1980s Regan did away with the "fairness doctrine" which required news to report both sides ironically saying, "it goes against investigative reporting". What you get now is one sided with most of the interviewees being from "think tanks" and special intrest groups like the conservative Heritage Foundation. This goes for Fox New just more than any of the others. Check out their next segment and note where the people are from to see what I mean.
"McCain/Feingold campaign finance laws, which limit the Freedom of Speech of anyone with a political opinion, forces us to define what types of speech should remain legal."
This has got to be the most rediculous statement I have ever read here. Since when does campaign finance reform==freedom of speech? Give me a fucking break. What it does do (to some extent) is limit the quid pro quo (aka legalized bribery) that is rampant in DC. Just because Mr.Big Business wants to be able to finance their Pocket Politician v. 1.0 (tm) at the cost of the rest of the nation doesn't mean it is either right or desired.
"if Microsoft doesn't make it really easy for these people to patch their systems they probably won't patch their systems and then the security and stability of their system will degrade."
I claim BS in this statement. If Microsoft were really interested in a system being patched why are they using the patch system to check for "authenticity"? Microsoft will always be a menace to networking as long as this stance is held. I can see checking authenticity for upgrades or newer products discounts but for critical patches that protect everyone around them is a silly and in my view malicious act against others on the net.
DISCLAIMER: I don't do Windows but see the effects of all those who do in the form of spam zombies, worms, and other M$ nastiness.
It is possible there is but there is no guarentee that there will be one. The program pays for the hardware not the administration of it. Not all countries are wealthy enough to afford that.
"What are you wanting people to learn, exactly? Arcane UNIX commands? Uh, how is that good for kids?"...
When was the last time you were in Linux? Not everything is commandline reguardless of the FUD from M$. Repeat after me...GNU is Not Unix! There is some fine code (both CLI and GUI based) that can be used for teaching technical skills. Last I checked (I can be wrong and am willing to admit it unlike some) you can't get the source for OS X. At least not all of it.
"And with that, you prove your ignorance about OS X! My DarwinPorts installation hates you now."
And with that you prove your ignorance about Linux!
You are thinking 1st world where there IS a network administrator in the school. Think 3rd world where the school is a grass hut in the middle of God's country and the "network" is via cellular or satelite.
Slashdot Mirror
CEO saleries...
B.
"The only problem with that is if a search engine refused to keep records of what was searched for and perhaps which links were taken, how could the engines ever improve their effectiveness?
It's a double-sided sword. It cuts both ways."
I have seen this bandied about several times...It is utter bunk. Pray, tell us how keeping track of searches "improve their effectiveness"? The only thing it does is allow for targeted advertising. It has nothing to do with improving anything other than their income.
B.
"I'm really impressed that the appeal to Sept. 11th came in on the FIRST article."
The issue of commnications between agancies (fire, police, federal search & rescue) isn't addressed in this legislation but it sure is being used as an excuse to push it through without thinking first. Let's look at this issue.
1.) Radios used in 9/11 did not function when the person on the other end went into the building. This spectrum is said to "go through" building materials. Although a valid point, it isn't the only frequencies that do that. It is however a way to get television spectrum locked down digitally eventually making it all pay TV.
2.) The issue of the agancies being on different frequencies within the same spectrum and unable to communicate isn't addressed either. You had fire companies responding from other states that could not even tell someone they were there over the radio because nobody was listening on their frequency. Add to that the companies that responded with "digital radios" (and proprietary protocols) and even if you could listen it would be nothing but noise.
This legislation does nothing to address either of those issues properly and is a knee-jerk reaction following 9/11 and the more recent issues in the hurricanes. (The same as above, I might add, only 4 years after this was supposed to be fixed with billions being spent in DHS for it).
Using the 9/11 tragedy for every hot button issue has become the favorite among the politicians that have other agendas and this issue is no different.
B.
Damn I need better drugs...
That is Billion not trillion like I thought. Too many damned digits...
B.
Military exports tops them all...
p
http://www.nationmaster.com/graph-T/mil_us_mil_ex
TOTAL: $10,661,802.00 thousand
or
$10,661,802,000.00
I think 10 trillion tops anything the RIAA can do.
B.
There are 2 billing systems. Hourly and contingency. What you are talking about is contingency. It is evident that she chose one that is hourly. Most contingency cases you are the plaintif against an insurnace agency or individual and real money is involved. This case however, she is the defendant and unless she has counter-claims is only entitled to verifiable court costs if she wins. In short, there is no money to be made if you are the defendant and most lawyers will only take those cases if you pay hourly.
It is a messed up system to be sure but there are other avenues she can take such as a pro-bono lawyer or a cheaper one looking to make a name.
B.
Keyboard problems aside, it has been stated, "The person that represents themself in court has a fool for a client." The law is not a small matter to be taken lightly no matter the charges. You don't think the other side is going to do it without a lawyer do you? So why should the defendant be put at a handicap simply because they can't afford one? I know if it was me I would be very worried not having a lawyer no matter what this lawyer says should happen.
B.
You were fine until you spewed this...
"Without them, we would still be listening to public domain recordings of Classical music. There's nothing wrong with the Classical tunes, but our culture would be so much less vibrant than it has become without incentives of success available to performers."
People seem to forget that it is supposed to be for the "public domain" that copyright exists in the first place. These things are supposed to go into that public domain no matter what the media companies like to think. That is the problem. Copyright wasn't invented solely for the media companies to make profit but to "promote science and the useful arts". Of course, you couldn't tell that with the terms on copyright these days, but that can change.
B.
"But expecting an entertainment system to be totally redesigned to accomodate 1% of the population, is presumptuous."
This isn't a "total redesign" since the damned thing worked before they issued the patch. Simply issue another patch that puts the ramp back in.
B.
"Microsoft is already paying for development of an ODF converter for MS Office. They'd rather feed smear stories to the press and buy off politicians than give their customers what they want, but they'll readily support OpenDocument if they start losing those customers."
And as I keep replying to people who insist the MS will "support" ODF....
SUPPORT != DEFAULT
Have you ever been in any MS office product and tried to change the default? I can just about assure you that the default will be (or already is) MS XML patents and all. People are lazy when it comes to saving documents and won't go through hoops to change the format even with the law being what it is.
B.
"Oh dear", said God, "I hadn't thought of that!" and he promptly disappeared in a puff of logic.
--Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy
B.
"Clever. I'll cut it out, though!"
Want a knife or is a spoon good enough for you...;)
B.
The GP said GOOD movies! With the exception of Dilbert, I would say your list doesn't qualify...
B.
"There is good potential benefit for a system like this. I'd love to be able to dial up a map of the Boston metro area and see the congested roads marked in red (Never mind that /all/ of them would be red in Boston...)."
And how do you automatically make the leap that this MAJOR privacy concern (think of the massive potential abuses) isn't one? And it isn't going to be at all accurate given the amount of people that don't (and won't) own a cell phone. So your map of Boston would be totally wrong.
B.
"- Allow your Insurance company to track the number of miles driven, your average speed, percentage of quick stops, etc..."
That will never fly. It is the fear of the screwing people will get (as if they aren't getting it anyway) that keeps things like this out as well as the political backlash involved with it. That doesn't mean they won't try....
B.
"But right now, I'm left feeling that Sony thinks they have a PR problem, not that they think they did something deeply wrong."
And that's it in a nutshell. Since all they can think about is money, I'm going to oblidge them. I AM boycotting Sony and everything dealing with them. A boycott of BMG alone does nothing to address the Sony corporate issue of accountability.
B.
"My point was that Sony BMG is not the same as Sony, and that (perhaps especially) with Sony, one hand doesn't know what the other is doing. Thus you had ATRAC3 being pushed at the same time as they sold CD burners, and now you have Vaio ripping stations and MP3 playing Walkman cell phones being sold at the same time as CDs that won't work with either."
In that case they shouldn't have acquired (or been allowed to acquire) BMG. The parent company *IS* the responsible entity. That is why you have language in law like "they knew or should have known". If it's good enough for lawyers it's good enough for me...
B.
"I don't know whether any bloggers have been sued for libel yet, but I bet some will be. If you're going to "publish" something, you really do need to check your facts, and that usually takes more time than a hobbyist has."
6 26254&tid=153&tid=123&tid=17
http://yro.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=05/10/07/0
Bloggers have been sued and won...At least partly.
B.
You will have to prove this one to me. Where in Mcain/Feingold is that section?
B.
You need to check out your facts a little bit. In the 1980s Regan did away with the "fairness doctrine" which required news to report both sides ironically saying, "it goes against investigative reporting". What you get now is one sided with most of the interviewees being from "think tanks" and special intrest groups like the conservative Heritage Foundation. This goes for Fox New just more than any of the others. Check out their next segment and note where the people are from to see what I mean.
B.
"McCain/Feingold campaign finance laws, which limit the Freedom of Speech of anyone with a political opinion, forces us to define what types of speech should remain legal."
This has got to be the most rediculous statement I have ever read here. Since when does campaign finance reform==freedom of speech? Give me a fucking break. What it does do (to some extent) is limit the quid pro quo (aka legalized bribery) that is rampant in DC. Just because Mr.Big Business wants to be able to finance their Pocket Politician v. 1.0 (tm) at the cost of the rest of the nation doesn't mean it is either right or desired.
B.
"if Microsoft doesn't make it really easy for these people to patch their systems they probably won't patch their systems and then the security and stability of their system will degrade."
I claim BS in this statement. If Microsoft were really interested in a system being patched why are they using the patch system to check for "authenticity"? Microsoft will always be a menace to networking as long as this stance is held. I can see checking authenticity for upgrades or newer products discounts but for critical patches that protect everyone around them is a silly and in my view malicious act against others on the net.
DISCLAIMER: I don't do Windows but see the effects of all those who do in the form of spam zombies, worms, and other M$ nastiness.
B.
It is possible there is but there is no guarentee that there will be one. The program pays for the hardware not the administration of it. Not all countries are wealthy enough to afford that.
B.
"What are you wanting people to learn, exactly? Arcane UNIX commands? Uh, how is that good for kids?"...
When was the last time you were in Linux? Not everything is commandline reguardless of the FUD from M$. Repeat after me...GNU is Not Unix! There is some fine code (both CLI and GUI based) that can be used for teaching technical skills. Last I checked (I can be wrong and am willing to admit it unlike some) you can't get the source for OS X. At least not all of it.
"And with that, you prove your ignorance about OS X! My DarwinPorts installation hates you now."
And with that you prove your ignorance about Linux!
B.
You are thinking 1st world where there IS a network administrator in the school. Think 3rd world where the school is a grass hut in the middle of God's country and the "network" is via cellular or satelite.
B.