Sony are the arrogant ones here, though, right? OK, just checking. I'm finding it increasingly hard to keep track.
Yes, they are. If I don't need a HD video player, and don't want an HD video player, it's only Sony that's forcing me to buy one (by "bundling" it) if I want their console.
Please, no. No more Queen. That friggin' song is already one of the most over-used, cliched rock anthems ever produced. Every time I hear it in a commercial, I feel embarassed to hear it.
Hear, hear. It is about time that the Western world drop the ignorant, self-centered egotism. It does nothing to help anyone.
Are you saying it is impossible to hold moral opposition to Chinese practices without being an ignorant, self-centered egotist? I can't speak for everybody, but I think most Americans agree, that we hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
Well, in a free society, "freedom" does not include the right to restrict others' freedom
Are you sure? I own private property, which by necessity allows me to restrict the freedom of others to use it. Are you saying that in a free society, "freedom" does not include private property?
No, for many reasons. First, because it uses a published plugin API that Microsoft provides specifically for third parties to create Office plugins. Second, because the DMCA doesn't prohibit circumvention of file formats, but of encryption implementations. Third, because the DMCA only applies when circumvention is done for the purpose of copyright violation, and since you own the copyright on the documents you create, this would not apply.
If this is written for the US government, remember that they are immune to patent claims.
I think you forgot a "not" in there somewhere.
35 USC 296. Liability of States, instrumentalities of States, and State officials for infringement of patents
(a)
In general. Any State, any instrumentality of a State, and any officer or employee of a State or instrumentality of a State acting in his official capacity, shall not be immune, under the eleventh amendment of the Constitution of the United States or under any other doctrine of sovereign immunity, from suit in Federal court by any person, including any governmental or nongovernmental entity, for infringement of a patent under section 271 [35 USC 271], or for any other violation under this title.
(b)
Remedies. In a suit described in subsection (a) for a violation described in that subsection, remedies (including remedies both at law and in equity) are available for the violation to the same extent as such remedies are available for such a violation in a suit against any private entity. Such remedies include damages, interest, costs, and treble damages under section 284 [35 USC 284], attorney fees under section 285 [35 USC 285], and the additional remedy for infringement of design patents under section 289 [35 USC 289].
Parent made a good point, though. One thing that I think a lot of people react strongly to is that IF the other person is not familiar with the "Wii", you WILL sound like you are saying "we" or "wee" and using broken or ungrammatical English (e.g., YOU: "Wii is fun!" FRIEND: "We are fun, stupid.") or saying something nasty. In other words, unless you know that the person you are talking to is familiar with the product, you'll have to worry about sounding like a fool. So you just won't say it.
I believe he is referring to the apparently British Governor Tarkin, saying, "I think it is time we demonstrated the full power of this station. Set course for Alderaan."
That's nonsense. How can they possibly take into account the medical advances made in the next sixty to ninety years, most of which we probably can't even yet guess at?
No, there's a scene where they show the tape and memory banks shooting sparks and flame. They even apologize for this in the commentary, admitting that it doesn't make sense, but looked cool at the time.
You can also bet that switching the default in IE7 is not an option that can be purchased by the likes of Yahoo or Google since Microsoft has a finacial interest that all browsers point to MSN.
The OEM's can change it, though. Google is already doing this with Dell, getting the Google Toolbar (which defaults searching to Google) preinstalled and set as the default.
What's even funnier: Last time I checked Firefox didn't even come preinstalled where IE did. Maybe, but Google has paid Dell to pre-install the Google toolbar which makes the default search engine Google. So it's not like Google doesn't also play the OEM game.
I think it has more to do with the fact that the elderly are the single largest voting bloc, and nobody can propose any changes to their detriment without being demonized by his or her political opponents.
I completely agree. The problem is that it may work out to be more politically expedient to cause a catastrophe, then clean up the mess, as opposed to prudently planning and adjusting for real-world factors.
The obvious answers are of course to: increase immigration while ensuring existence of domestic industry, raise taxes or raise the reitrement age. And balance the whole scheme more carefully.
Yes, that's exactly what we've been saying. The status quo cannot stand. The problem is that there is no political will to do make any necessary changes.
It's a matter of simple demographics that the worker to retiree ratio is going to be declining quite dramitically over the next thirty or so years, and that's assuming that population growth doesn't continue its downward trend.
The first, given the population growth and immigration dynamics is exceedingly unlikely
That's utterly incorrect. Population growth is a fraction of what it once was. Worse, there is a large demographic "bulge" (known as the "baby boom") which is currently approaching the age at which they will draw money out of the system, and worse, they are living far longer than the generation that they paid for did, which will compound the effect of the bulge. The result is that the worker-to-retiree ratio is going to decerase quite substantially, for at least the next thirty or so years. Immigration does help somewhat, preventing situtations like they have in Japan or western Europe, but it's a drop in the bucket.
Slashdot Mirror
I'm pretty hard-core; I buy many PC games and play them often. I'm still milking a 9800 Pro. For almost everything, it works Good Enough.
Yes, they are. If I don't need a HD video player, and don't want an HD video player, it's only Sony that's forcing me to buy one (by "bundling" it) if I want their console.
It's not odd at all, because MCE is just XP Professional with extra apps, except the ability to connect to domains has been nerfed.
Good point. The Chicoms have killed far more innocents than the Nazis ever dreamed. They're really not the same.
You own the DVD. You do not own the copyright on the DVD. Therefore CSS is a system for protecting a copyright that you do not own.
Please, no. No more Queen. That friggin' song is already one of the most over-used, cliched rock anthems ever produced. Every time I hear it in a commercial, I feel embarassed to hear it.
I instantly thought of "Cosmo."
It's the same on XP Professional. Has been the same since NT4. It's just the home versions where setting ACL's requires hackery.
Are you saying it is impossible to hold moral opposition to Chinese practices without being an ignorant, self-centered egotist? I can't speak for everybody, but I think most Americans agree, that we hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
And it's not ignorant egotism to believe this!
Are you sure? I own private property, which by necessity allows me to restrict the freedom of others to use it. Are you saying that in a free society, "freedom" does not include private property?
That's too easy:
1. The U.S. is always wrong.
2. Microsoft is, was, and always will be the worstest company ever.
3. Apple can do no wrong.
4. We are all doomed.
No, for many reasons. First, because it uses a published plugin API that Microsoft provides specifically for third parties to create Office plugins. Second, because the DMCA doesn't prohibit circumvention of file formats, but of encryption implementations. Third, because the DMCA only applies when circumvention is done for the purpose of copyright violation, and since you own the copyright on the documents you create, this would not apply.
I think you forgot a "not" in there somewhere.
Parent made a good point, though. One thing that I think a lot of people react strongly to is that IF the other person is not familiar with the "Wii", you WILL sound like you are saying "we" or "wee" and using broken or ungrammatical English (e.g., YOU: "Wii is fun!" FRIEND: "We are fun, stupid.") or saying something nasty. In other words, unless you know that the person you are talking to is familiar with the product, you'll have to worry about sounding like a fool. So you just won't say it.
Chicks, from the sound of it. Of course, if that's the case, they should have just named it the "VibraShaft" and be done with it.
I believe he is referring to the apparently British Governor Tarkin, saying, "I think it is time we demonstrated the full power of this station. Set course for Alderaan."
That's nonsense. How can they possibly take into account the medical advances made in the next sixty to ninety years, most of which we probably can't even yet guess at?
No, there's a scene where they show the tape and memory banks shooting sparks and flame. They even apologize for this in the commentary, admitting that it doesn't make sense, but looked cool at the time.
The OEM's can change it, though. Google is already doing this with Dell, getting the Google Toolbar (which defaults searching to Google) preinstalled and set as the default.
What's even funnier: Last time I checked Firefox didn't even come preinstalled where IE did. Maybe, but Google has paid Dell to pre-install the Google toolbar which makes the default search engine Google. So it's not like Google doesn't also play the OEM game.
I think it has more to do with the fact that the elderly are the single largest voting bloc, and nobody can propose any changes to their detriment without being demonized by his or her political opponents.
I completely agree. The problem is that it may work out to be more politically expedient to cause a catastrophe, then clean up the mess, as opposed to prudently planning and adjusting for real-world factors.
Yes, that's exactly what we've been saying. The status quo cannot stand. The problem is that there is no political will to do make any necessary changes.
It's a matter of simple demographics that the worker to retiree ratio is going to be declining quite dramitically over the next thirty or so years, and that's assuming that population growth doesn't continue its downward trend.
That's utterly incorrect. Population growth is a fraction of what it once was. Worse, there is a large demographic "bulge" (known as the "baby boom") which is currently approaching the age at which they will draw money out of the system, and worse, they are living far longer than the generation that they paid for did, which will compound the effect of the bulge. The result is that the worker-to-retiree ratio is going to decerase quite substantially, for at least the next thirty or so years. Immigration does help somewhat, preventing situtations like they have in Japan or western Europe, but it's a drop in the bucket.