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User: Morris+Thorpe

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Comments · 83

  1. They come that cheap? on Comcast Ghost-Writes Politician's Letters To Support Time Warner Mega-Merger · · Score: 2

    Of course everything is fucked, etc....but does anyone else find it surprising how cheaply these guys will bend over?
    10 grand to whore yourself?

    Seems almost like you could troll for fun at those prices: "Hey, whore, here's the money. Now sign this petition to outlaw ostriches."

  2. Cyber Monday? on China's "Singles Day" Is the World's Biggest Online Shopping Blitz · · Score: 3, Informative

    Interesting to see the term used here of all places.

    Remember when that term was rolled out in 2005 and we laughed? It was a bad marketing term (I mean cyber-anything went out in the 90's) for an obviously-concocted day. The Monday after Thanksgiving was not the busiest online shopping day of the year at the time. http://slashdot.org/story/05/11/29/135240/cyber-monday-doesnt-exist

    And here we are, a few years later....

  3. Re:Well, that didn't work out well... on Man Trying To Fly Across the Atlantic On Helium Balloons · · Score: 1

    Gotta give him credit for a sense of humor. From the article,
    By Thursday evening, he was well on his way, headed toward Newfoundland. But a couple of hours later, he posted that he'd landed. "This doesn't look like France," he posted on Facebook.

  4. You can use a workaround (for now) on Google Axes Free Google Apps For Businesses · · Score: 5, Informative

    I was able to register for a single-user free account this morning by doing this.

    http://www.labnol.org/internet/google-apps-free/26926/

    How to Get the Free Edition of Google Apps

    Alternatively, here’s a quick and simple workaround that will still let you sign-up for the free edition of Google Apps even though Google has officially retired the free edition – all you need is a free Gmail or Google account.

            Go to appengine.google.com, sign-in with your Google Account and create a new Application. You may fill in any dummy date and click the “Create Application” button.
            Open the “Dashboard” and on the next screen, click the link that says “Application Settings.”
            Scroll down a little (refer to the video tutorial) and choose “Add Domain” to associate a domain with your App Engine application.
            That’s it. Now you should see a special link* to sign-up for the free edition of Google Apps. You may either use your existing domain or buy one through Google Apps.

    [*] You have to access this link through App Engine as Google Apps checks the HTTP Referrer information before serving up the sign-up page for the free edition of Google Apps.

  5. A financial decision presented as ethical on Comcast Refusing To Comply With Piracy Subpoenas · · Score: 3, Insightful

    If you get bills through the mail (from Comcast included), then you've been urged to "Go Green!" by going paperless. We know they don't give a crap about saving a few trees. They're trying to reduce their costs (paper, stamps, design, etc.) If emailing statements was more expensive, they would not push us in that direction.

    I'm guessing Comcast is doing this exclusively for the same reason (saving money) and covering it up with the same moral wrapping paper.

    They're sick bastards but, hey, if it puts a stop to this....

  6. Does anyone really believe these peitions work? on White House Petition For Open Access To Research · · Score: 2

    "We the People"...ha!
    This is nothing more than a tool to give us the illusion of influence.

  7. Re:Sad state of affairs on Heartland Security Breach Class Action: Victims $1925, Lawyers $600,000 · · Score: 1

    No, I don't think salaries should be capped. And I do think the wronged ought to be compensated. But ultimately, I think, the largest compensees (?) were the wrong party.

  8. Sad state of affairs on Heartland Security Breach Class Action: Victims $1925, Lawyers $600,000 · · Score: 2

    This is sickening. No one in their right mind would argue otherwise. When lawyers make the rules (be it through lobbies or becoming lawmakers themselves), they favor their kind.
    We're becoming more and more a society in which the do-nothings make out like bandits. That can't last much longer, can it?

    Look at the google ads that came up on this page,

    Injury Compensation Claim
    How Much Is Your Injury Worth? Free Evaluation With An Attorney!
    Get Cash From Lawsuit Now
    Don't Wait For Settlement-Get Cash Now-If You Don't Win-You Pay Zero!
    Medical Malpractice Case
    Pain & Suffering from Your Injury? Talk to a Local Attorney for Free.

  9. Ubuntu 13.0 Frothy Gunk on 'Frothy Gunk' From Deepwater Horizon Spill Harming Coral · · Score: 2

    Anyone else saw Frothy Gunk and thought it was a story about a new Ubuntu release?

  10. Re:The companies aren't in Detroit. on Venture Capital in Detroit, Among Other Places (Video) · · Score: 2

    Agree.
    I was interested until I saw they describe themselves as all-digital: "We invest in social media, mobile apps, software, cloud computing, e-commerce, digital advertising & media, marketing technology, and general internet businesses."
    In other words, we don't want to create anything. I love Detroit but I don't think it will be reborn in this way.

    Two of the companies they've funded say they are "disruptive." I'm not up to date on marketing jargon. What does that even mean?

  11. Just make it clear: is it an ad or not? on How Much Stuff Can Timothy Jam Into His New Hoodie's Pockets? (Video) · · Score: 5, Informative

    Why don't you mark this as a paid advertisement? (or if it really isn't, then make it clear because everyone assumes it is.)

    Listen, I have no problem with Slashdot making money. But....you HAVE to know that this kind of thing is going to be flamed. So why not make it clear that a post has been paid for? Sure you'll still get some negative feedback, but I bet it'd be a lot less.

    If I were Scottevest, I'd be pretty pissed about the conversation.generated by my ad. Hell, if I were them I'd never have advertised in the first place precisely because of that.
    You upset your readers because they feel like they're being sold out - and you make the advertiser look bad. Not a good strategy, IMO.

  12. This goes beyond terror on Do You Like Online Privacy? You May Be a Terrorist · · Score: 4, Interesting

    There's a news story in Ann Arbor in which a pediatrician is accused of peeping involving a minor. Police confiscated his computer based on the investigation. That's great and I'm glad they caught the guy.

    But....after analyzing his computer, the cops presented the "evidence" they found.
    The detective was (can't find the news story right now, sorry) quoted as listing images, an electronic receipt to a child porn site and....the fact that the doctor deleted cookies and added other privacy measures to his browsing! The quote assumed that he must have been up to no good if he was careful about his privacy.

    More telling. Out of the 200-plus comments on the story, none referenced this.

  13. In-store exchange: taken away and given back? on Blockbuster Trying To Woo Disgruntled Netflix Customers · · Score: 1

    FTFA
    >>Both plans come with a 30-day free trial and include "unlimited in-store exchanges of by-mail rentals."

    So the in-store exchange is back?
    Bastards! I used to be a fairly happy Blockbuster customer until they cancelled in-store exchange. I moved to Netflix and, evidently, I was not alone. At the time, Blockbuster said stores were losing money because of this.
    So why did they bring the plan back? Seems to me they tried to see just how much they could get out of their customers and miscalculated. Badly.

    Of course, it's not the first time Blockbuster has made a dumb mistake. Remember the "No Late Fees" fiasco?

  14. Re:Hugin on The Best Unknown Open Source Projects · · Score: 1

    Agreed. Never heard of it until last week, when I wanted to stitch five photos together. Took a little while to figure it out but did a great job.

  15. My press release on FCC Commissioner Leaves To Become Lobbyist · · Score: 3, Interesting

    For Immediate release

    Comcast-NBC announced today that Meredith Attwell Baker is joining the company as a lobbyist.

    In our previous professional dealings, the company has found Attwell Baker to be wide open to hard and long discussions. Though faced with difficult positions, Attwell Baker was always flexible and willing to prod new and unexplored avenues. The drippings of our mutual efforts leave a permanent mark on the fabric of America and its citizens.

    Comcast-NBC will introduce Attwell Baker Thursday morning. Just as soon as she cleans her chin.

  16. Re:Free storage! on Google Launching Music Service Without Labels · · Score: 1

    Google already offers storage at 20GB for $5/yr; 80GB for $20.
    Is it really worth the trouble?

  17. Groupon customers not good in the long run on Has the Second Dotcom Bubble Started? · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Groupon seems to me like one of those ideas we'll look back in retrospect and think, "Why was it worth that much? It was so obvious!"

    The idea of landing a big number of first-time customers sounds great until the customers start coming in. From the experiences of business owners I know, Grouponers were, simply put, cheap (not condemning cheap people here, as the times demand it for many.) If the groupon is "get $50 for $25," you better damn be sure most customers will spend the $50 and not a penny more. And if it's a restaurant, they'll tip on the $25.
    I expect that those customers will not be back; they will move on to the next goupon.They're not looking for a new place to eat; they're looking for a deal.
    And for consumers, the deals are already being watered down by the typical (one month free at the gym, or free karate classes for a week) that you see everywhere.

    As for the businesses themselves,I wonder how many more of these kind of situations we'll see - a restaurant using a Groupon-like company hoping to land quick cash in desperation.

    Also, from my conversations with people who own businesses, Groupon's sales approach is very aggressive. They put dollar signs in the business owner's eyes. But eventually, they'll get found out. Right now, people don't want to miss out on this since all the cool kids are doing it.

    Of course there are businesses who've had great results with Groupon. I just think it's lunacy to think they're worth $15B.

  18. Congressional ignorance on FBI Releases File On the Anarchist Cookbook · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The letter from congressman George Mahon (D-TX) is disheartening.
    He tells Hoover that "several of my constituents" have expressed alarm about the book. He then says he has not read the book but "the reviews have caused quite a bit of controversy." Finally, he asks for something to tell the constituents.
    The process is totally hollow. And isn't that the way things continue to work40 years later? If anything, it's worse. Today's congressperson would scream louder and vilify the opposition (all while willingly ignorant about the issue at hand.)

  19. Anyone else think the ban was to curb garbage? on California's Santa Clara County Bans Happy Meal Toys · · Score: 2, Interesting

    After reading the subject, I thought the law was to cut down on plastic garbage. Too bad.

    Talk about brainless consumption. Those "toys" are completely useless. If they do anything at all, they'll break after a few hours, and they exist only there to promote new consumption (movies, TV, other toys.)
    I guess they keep kids entertained for the rest of the ride or meal, therefore freeing parents of the task of interaction.

  20. Officials are used to whoring on Raleigh Councilman Offers Child Naming Rights To Google · · Score: 1

    The stunts being done by these cities and their officials border on begging. I mean, sure it'd be cool to land the Google network, but c'mon man! Hold on to some dignity.

    This has been an interesting example of the mindset of the politicians as opposed to normal people, though. Some politicians are making fools of themselves to try and attract Google's gaze. Would normal people even consider doing something like this? Of course not. Why would having a mayor diving in icy waters or naming a child after the Google guys convince them to move to your town?

    For most politicians, begging and whoring themselves comes naturally. That's what's scary about this.

  21. Re:Not reform, capitulation. on House Passes Massive Medical Insurance Bill, 219-212 · · Score: 1

    10 million??

    If you *really* want to get your way, then you have to spend $100 million, like the drug companies did.
    http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/21/opinion/21holtz-eakin.html

    Just imagine...they spent $100 million dollars to get something passed. Their returns must be mind-boggling.

  22. This project was not about building a fence on The Death of the US-Mexico Virtual Fence · · Score: 4, Insightful

    This project was about two things:
    1) Lining the pockets of a lot of people
    2) Making those who fear illegal immigration feel better

    Goal 1 was *very* successful. Goal 2, not as much but...there will be other mufti-million dollar projects coming up that will.

    Seriously, did anyone really think this would work? Of course not. Plain common sense would immediately tell you this was destined for failure. Government and corporations simply ignored that and moved forward, That's a difference between "them" and "us."

  23. Re:90% of the calories from sugar and fat.. on Study Shows TV Makes Kids Fat, Computers Don't · · Score: 1

    Note that Nutella is available in two versions in the US: European and US-made.
    The imported version does not contain palm oil and it tastes, in my opinion, much better. Unfortunately, it costs twice as much.

  24. How about typewriters? Would this guy be banned? on Professors Banning Laptops In the Lecture Hall · · Score: 1

    My favorite is the "ding" at the end.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L29BCQFfqVo

  25. Red flag No. 1: Teacher unions like this plan on Obama Kicks Off Massive Science Education Effort · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The teacher unions complained loud and early about this plan. They pushed hard for (and eventually) got numerous changes to the original proposal.

    Most of my kids' teachers have been good people generally interested in educating kids. The unions, on the other hand, are out of touch with the classroom and mostly interested in their own survival.

    Sorry to be so cynical - and I only speak from personal experience - but I have yet to see the unions fight to get their way about something (tenure, testing methods, school hours, curriculum, etc.) and get a positive result in the end. And with this much money at stake...