I figure it's a matter of fear. They should look at it as a challenge - to provide better service. Where is their pride? (or do their landsharks allow them to have pride?)
If they outdo everyone else, then the worst which can be said about them is, "yeah, because they have all of the inside information."
If they can't provide better service with all of the aces they have up their collective sleeves, then there's something wrong.
"No one retires from IT: Either they die or they change careers"
One of the things people claim is younger people are less set in their ways and have fresher ideas. Think "Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah" There's a "Messiah's Handbook" which has a lot of good advice: "Argue your limitations, and sure enough, they are yours."
Besides, I've never been to a "Blue Sky" meeting where the younger people (I'm 46) did not necessarily have some super power for tossing ideas on the table. It's generally because I have a thick skin and really don't think how funny someone else thinks it is.
Several years ago, I stumbled across a quote - from someone here should know & love:
"Some critics have amused their readers with the wildness of the schemes I have occasionally thrown out; and I myself have sometimes smiled along with them. But such sparks may kindle the energies of other minds more favorably circumstanced for pursuing the enquiries."
-Charles Babbage
You do have alternatives where neither require four years of paper, nor working for someone who worries about such things: yourself:
1) head out on your own - as a "software whore". Do good things and repeat business is eas(y,ier).
2) head out on your own and create a startup. And no one says you have to do this instead of a full-time job. People spend enough time at a keyboard during off-hours, why not apply it to an idea or two? If this is a moonlight project, don't quit your day job. And certainly don't interfere with your day job.
One of the things we have here in Indiana is a "21st Century Technology Fund".
Put together a business plan +... +... and make a pitch for money without the interference of someone you've signed your first-born to. You can pass the hat when you really need to. If you don't need a lot of bucks to get going, then do the obvious thing: start small.
Another source here are university/college schools who have competitions - not necessarily big schools - I graduated from a school with fewer than 2k students - surrounded by corn fields. It's one of the most popular because of how well put together & fun it is.
If you choose to go this way (startup) and your work will involve the general public, I recommend creating your own Knights of the Round Table. It doesn't require rounding up enough people who can fill a football stadium. Take them out to supper - or just meet over a couple of beers after work -- for the purpose of soliciting feedback. You want honest people: the ones who will tell you if you need to either brush your teeth or take a shower.
Gov't bodies submit a list of things they want and John Q. Public submits proposals. (If you end up with some patents, you own them. The only exception is the gov't. They get to use it/them royalty-free.)
If you find some things interesting and are are intimidated by the paperwork, there is a shortcut: there are groups who will help you get a proposal ready. If you win, they get 10% of it. If you don't, then you (and they) are out the spent time. I found out about SBIR/STTR when one of those 10% groups has passed through town - ca. $75 per seminar.
One project I watched a few years ago involved the amount of time it takes to reload pop machines on large, floating ships/boats. The goal was to provide a mechanism which would make it possible to leave stacks of cans where you could stick a can of soda in it and and cool it within ten seconds. Tell me this wouldn't be cool! (pun intended) Incredible testing with beer...
I've seen questions posted elsewhere asking for advice about kids. Obviously, seeing animation in a commercial attracts not on the kids but makes the parents think it's likely apparent. I've talked to several people who have taken their kids & regretted it.
Ebert & Roeper both stated it was not a movie for kids. Hopefully, the next time I see it the parents will learn to keep their kids occupied (not ooh, ahh, laughter, but chatter, chatter, chatter) or adjourn them outside of the screening room when it's far enough into the movie it would be time for a commercial were it to be on television.
Sith Trailer: the "code" on the film reels is "Sand Dog" or "Sand Dogs".
If you ask the theatre which screens & shows have the trailer and they aren't certain, ask them to check the code name on the reels - they're supposed to be labelled clearly although not all of the threatre personnel know this is the distinction and have been confused regarding what the code means and have ignored it.
The bigger observation is you'll either be playing with a group of people where every one of them is a SW nebbish or you'll be playing with everyone who would score a 10% and can't answer very many questions. Either way, the game will border on boring....unless you're obtaining it for collection and selling it on eBay in 2025 (along with 500'000 other people)
Look at the theme of this site: "News for Nerds". So most of or nearly all of the reading audience [here] really can't cast a vote. Those walking into the voting booths are those users, first time - fumbling about, and power users.
Office help are always forced into using unwieldy software in one place or another. Sometimes it's heard & corrected, other times it falls into the category of, "Everyone bitches about something." and ignores it.
Reading Micro$oft's XML file structure won't be the tough part. This means a migration from M$ Office is feasible. Going back to M$ Office has a drawback. A big one. Micro$oft submitted a patent application to protect their XML schemas. Does anyone know if it was granted [yet]? Unless|until someone sues to overturn that, Micro$oft is sitting pretty. Not only will someone have to take it into the courtroom, but legal fees will be involved; and Micro$oft has very deep pockets. Remember, 1/3 of their profit, not revenue, profit, comes from M$ Office.
You can read it all you want to and you can even pick it up and translate it. You just can't create one of your own. When you think about it, it's an excellent strategy. It keeps OpenSource from milking Micro$oft's ca$h cow. There are several open issues, including prior art. It will be an interesting case and even more interesting is what will Microsoft do if the patent is denied or revoked?
______________________________________
My Trunk Monkey can beat up your Trunk Monkey.
http://www.suburbanautogroup.com/ford/trunkmonkey. html
The high school kids can't resist submitting old stories so they can brag to their friends when they see their story posted on Slashdot.
I've suggested this a couple of times recently: maybe there needs to be some new blood on the approval committee - add someone (good) or replace some tired blood (better). There have been far too many repeat stories this summer.
by the way...
______________________________________
My Trunk Monkey can beat up your Trunk Monkey.
http://www.suburbanautogroup.com/ford/trunkmonkey. html
I'd be willing to wager a majority of/. readers have never worked with cards or papertape. I learned FORTRAN (language #2 after LISP) on cards my junior year in high school twenty-five years ago and used papertape as a backup for assembly language & BASIC on a HD-less PC during my senior year of high school at a local college.
First, a pet peeve: One of the dumbest (and misleading) things people, specifically on this list, can do is say, "...they can't do..." You don't have to write War & Peace; i.e., "diarrhea of the keyboard", but at least specify something which sounds more than fiat.
In this case, it's the ADA - American Disabilities Act - which comes into play as to what can be done with you when it comes to a medical situation.
In terms of an infectious disease, I've worked in the medical profession, both as a medical professional and as a member of the staff (IT). If someone - staff, patient, etc. comes down with something such as measles, mumps, etc. they will generally (hopefully) let the staff know so those who have not had the disease can be made aware of it. If you have any interaction with patients, particularly those who are more at risk (elderly, pregnant women, infants), you are removed from those duties (and generally sent home when it's something like measles or mumps)as a form of quarantine until you are no longer contagious [and a threat to other staff and patients]. In the case of TB, there would be more stringent action taken to determine the course of action.
As far as the issue dealing with antibiotics and efficacy, there are two parties at fault: 1) those capable of writing scripts (MD, Physician Assistant, Nurse Practitioner) for an antibiotic either when one is not needed (e.g., for a cold. Not because they want to, but because patients bug the hell out of them until they do. Yes, this does happen!) or a new one simply because it's new(!). (telling them to be cautious, well, you fill in the blanks). 2) patients. This falls into the "That which doesn't kill you makes you stronger". People refuse to follow directions. They take meds unitl they feel better, then stop. Perhaps this might get them by with painkillers, but when it comes to antibiotics, you're creating stronger bugs. Using antibiotic soap, wipes, laundry detergent, etc. isn't helping. You don't want to implement a eugenics program; i.e., all the stronger bugs survive and there are no weaker bugs around to help you build up an immunity.
As a result...fewer weapons to use against stronger enemies.
I have (on pretty good authority) the.Net Framework can be transported to Linux (and was designed as such) in an extremely short (relatively speaking in terms of software lifecycles) period of time.
I would daresay few new releases will not have some type of arrangement either available or working toward that direction should *nix-compatible products continue to show or grow in competition. They see open source as a threat but will choose to fight it with standard products on the *nix platforms. They also believe that's a battle they cannot lose, just as it has been for the standard desktop market.
Sun? Deepest pockets? I don't think so. (something's deep, but it's not pockets)
Between the value of outstanding shares and cash in the bank, I don't think there are any software companies close to Micro$oft.
as always,
______________________________________
My Trunk Monkey can beat up your Trunk Monkey.
http://www.suburbanautogroup.com/ford/trunkmonkey. html
Nope. If Micro$oft is alone in any suits, they're just "being Microsoft". If someone else is with them, "it must have merit".
Microsoft has started drafting talent they think can teach them the mindset of OS. Unfortunately, Microsoft is so set in their ways WRT capitalism (to an extreme) they don't know how to deal with things which aren't done for the [sole] purpose of money. They seriously do not know. They've tried to employ the overused FUD by making the suits think ownership is an issue because someone can write code, sell the package and the source, the new owner can modify the source, sell the result and the source, etc. This bothers Microsoft - again, they don't understand this and it bothers them. It's like trying to sleep with sand in their bed and they can't sweep it out. And that just makes them more frantic. So now they're going to look at the same ownership cycle and throw the law at it. The question is: why should they care? They're selling things, OS folks are selling things.
Perhaps they feel they can compete on that one level but worry all subsequent "generations" of the OS making the repeated sales + builds somehow threaten their business model? If so, they're going to have to admit they've lost a competitive edge. That won't bother them because that then removes the label monopoly.
How can you have a monopoly if you don't always (or nearly always) have the competitive edge [on the grand scale]?
Just remember...
______________________________________
My Trunk Monkey can beat up your Trunk Monkey.
http://www.suburbanautogroup.com/ford/trunkmonkey. html
I don't know if the approval has occurred yet or not, but Microsoft did apply for a patent to cover the XML format of their Office files. They obviously want to make it so no one can create software to write new Office files. I would presume reading them wouldn't be an issue because you aren't creating a structure which would be compatible with their file.
I'm sure you did do a good job. We certainly wouldn't expect you to say, "I unhappily did a poor job."
Don't forget to put this: I can happily say I did a very good job. on your resume. It'll fit right in with people who create a section labelled "Personal" followed by Health: Excellent...as if someone's going to say Health: Poor.
Or replace a few people on the "editorial committee" who pay enough attention to the posted stories to know what's new and what's not. Methinks some of them just look at incoming stories because "they don't have enough time". If that's the case, they shouldn't have editorial control to begin with.
It's not a technical issue, it's a financial issue masking itself as a legislative issue. The US isn't a Democracy or a Republic, at least, not where it counts. We are a Plutocracy[1]. When the "you CAN-SPAM" law was put into play, it was written largely by the DMA (Direct Marketing Assocation). They wanted to ensure there was a feasible business model - then through in opt-out to avoid too much backlash by the users and losing everything. Unfortunately, something equally as distasteful is a "Do Not Email" list - see "Do Not Call List" for phones.
I agree about phishing. If it's used to prime the pump and enough people make enough noise that phishing is dangerous because of anonymous email and legislation which cures it can be used to cure spam, it would only take a couple of people running for office to get vocal about it (and start the momentum), even if they are sitting on the wrong side of a 75%-25% poll going into the election. IOW, if someone's running for office at the Congressional level and they hold some type of town hall meeting (in office) or a rally taking questions during a campaign, that's probably a good time to start pushing this simple agenda.
What should exist is "I'll accept business email" and "I'll accept telemarketing calls." The problem with that is those who believe they have something to lose from that philosophy (or those philosophies) would say, "But no one would sign up!" and the appropriate response is, "Exactly."
[1]Or: "He who has the gold makes the rules." "Life is like a sh%t sandwich: the more bread you have, the less sh%t you have to eat."
Once again...
______________________________________
My Trunk Monkey can beat up your Trunk Monkey.
http://www.suburbanautogroup.com/ford/trunkmonkey. html
Rx companies don't hate cures - they don't even hate FDA regulations - particularly when you look at all of the off-the-label[1] uses MDs[2] find for their medications. What they hate is someone tinkering with their income. They claim it's for research of future products but you know they have to keep the stockholders happy. Surprisingly, the incumbent Indiana Governor (short term - his predecessor died ~ a year ago of a stroke) is campaigning to improve upon his current methods of reducing Rx prices, particularly to the elderly, even if it means importing from Canada![3] Many cities & a few states do this now so it probably seems a bit strange [even to those of you reading this]. That is, until you realize Eli Lilly's[4] headquarters are just down the street from the Governor's office. So far, nothing has been publicly stated by Lilly, but you know there's got to be some maneuvering behind the scenes to provide support for the opposition (who was a Bush Budget Manager).
[1] For those unfamiliar with the term, it means "used for something other than the intended use". There are obviously some limits lest the physician stray too far, but there are some really helpful situations. I was in a car accident a little over nine years ago and have a "permanent headache". I take an anti-seizure medication to help keep the pain at a manageable level although I have never had a seizure. It does have several uses relating to chronic pain. An ideal off-the-label scenario. [2]The punctuation-challenged can pretend I wrote that as MD's. [3]Unfortunately, the media seems rather dense on this subject and permit the various drug companies to get away with, "One of the dangers is the fact the medications are likely to be unsafe." Now if they are unsafe, why are the Canadians taking it from the drug companies [directly] and dispensing it to their citizenry? The media needs to grow some cajones and follow up with these types of questions. [4]Makers of Prozac and now Cialis. I love the ED meds: "Do not use after you've consumed very much alcohol." (what if it took a lot of drinks to get her into the mood?) "If an erection lasts more than four hours, although rare, seek medical attention." How many guys are going to walk away from a four-hour hard-on when they're taking a pill to get one in the first place?
By the way...
______________________________________
My Trunk Monkey can beat up your Trunk Monkey.
http://www.suburbanautogroup.com/ford/trunkmonkey. html
Slashdot Mirror
I figure it's a matter of fear. They should look at it as a challenge - to provide better service. Where is their pride? (or do their landsharks allow them to have pride?) If they outdo everyone else, then the worst which can be said about them is, "yeah, because they have all of the inside information." If they can't provide better service with all of the aces they have up their collective sleeves, then there's something wrong.
"Make things simple, not simpler." - various "From simplicity arises elegance." -me
piezoelectricity from the friction & pressure?
How many channels does NBCUniversal have? (besides lots) They now own the origin & the pipe.
> So if I change my mind and decide to drive there - it's 20 miles from home - I'm screwing myself? ;)
There's a saying:
... + ... and make a pitch for money without the interference of someone you've signed your first-born to. You can pass the hat when you really need to. If you don't need a lot of bucks to get going, then do the obvious thing: start small.
"No one retires from IT: Either they die or they change careers"
One of the things people claim is younger people are less set in their ways and have fresher ideas. Think "Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah" There's a "Messiah's Handbook" which has a lot of good advice: "Argue your limitations, and sure enough, they are yours."
Besides, I've never been to a "Blue Sky" meeting where the younger people (I'm 46) did not necessarily have some super power for tossing ideas on the table. It's generally because I have a thick skin and really don't think how funny someone else thinks it is.
Several years ago, I stumbled across a quote - from someone here should know & love:
"Some critics have amused their readers with the wildness of the schemes I have occasionally thrown out; and I myself have sometimes smiled along with them. But such sparks may kindle the energies of other minds more favorably circumstanced for pursuing the enquiries."
-Charles Babbage
You do have alternatives where neither require four years of paper, nor working for someone who worries about such things: yourself:
1) head out on your own - as a "software whore". Do good things and repeat business is eas(y,ier).
2) head out on your own and create a startup. And no one says you have to do this instead of a full-time job. People spend enough time at a keyboard during off-hours, why not apply it to an idea or two? If this is a moonlight project, don't quit your day job. And certainly don't interfere with your day job.
One of the things we have here in Indiana is a "21st Century Technology Fund".
Put together a business plan +
Another source here are university/college schools who have competitions - not necessarily big schools - I graduated from a school with fewer than 2k students - surrounded by corn fields. It's one of the most popular because of how well put together & fun it is.
If you choose to go this way (startup) and your work will involve the general public, I recommend creating your own Knights of the Round Table. It doesn't require rounding up enough people who can fill a football stadium. Take them out to supper - or just meet over a couple of beers after work -- for the purpose of soliciting feedback. You want honest people: the ones who will tell you if you need to either brush your teeth or take a shower.
Oh, I thought of something else -- small business:
STTR: Small Business Technology Transfer Program / (SBIR) Small Business Innovation Research Program.
Gov't bodies submit a list of things they want and John Q. Public submits proposals. (If you end up with some patents, you own them. The only exception is the gov't. They get to use it/them royalty-free.)
If you find some things interesting and are are intimidated by the paperwork, there is a shortcut: there are groups who will help you get a proposal ready. If you win, they get 10% of it. If you don't, then you (and they) are out the spent time. I found out about SBIR/STTR when one of those 10% groups has passed through town - ca. $75 per seminar.
One project I watched a few years ago involved the amount of time it takes to reload pop machines on large, floating ships/boats. The goal was to provide a mechanism which would make it possible to leave stacks of cans where you could stick a can of soda in it and and cool it within ten seconds. Tell me this wouldn't be cool! (pun intended) Incredible testing with beer...
IIRC, intentionally invoking Godwin removes the ability for it to be Godwin.
I'm surprised they didn't arrest him for mopery.
I've seen questions posted elsewhere asking for advice about kids. Obviously, seeing animation in a commercial attracts not on the kids but makes the parents think it's likely apparent. I've talked to several people who have taken their kids & regretted it.
Ebert & Roeper both stated it was not a movie for kids. Hopefully, the next time I see it the parents will learn to keep their kids occupied (not ooh, ahh, laughter, but chatter, chatter, chatter) or adjourn them outside of the screening room when it's far enough into the movie it would be time for a commercial were it to be on television.
Sith Trailer: the "code" on the film reels is "Sand Dog" or "Sand Dogs".
If you ask the theatre which screens & shows have the trailer and they aren't certain, ask them to check the code name on the reels - they're supposed to be labelled clearly although not all of the threatre personnel know this is the distinction and have been confused regarding what the code means and have ignored it.
It's not the special editions.
The bigger observation is you'll either be playing with a group of people where every one of them is a SW nebbish or you'll be playing with everyone who would score a 10% and can't answer very many questions. Either way, the game will border on boring....unless you're obtaining it for collection and selling it on eBay in 2025 (along with 500'000 other people)
Look at the theme of this site: "News for Nerds". So most of or nearly all of the reading audience [here] really can't cast a vote. Those walking into the voting booths are those users, first time - fumbling about, and power users.
Office help are always forced into using unwieldy software in one place or another. Sometimes it's heard & corrected, other times it falls into the category of, "Everyone bitches about something." and ignores it.
Reading Micro$oft's XML file structure won't be the tough part. This means a migration from M$ Office is feasible. Going back to M$ Office has a drawback. A big one. Micro$oft submitted a patent application to protect their XML schemas. Does anyone know if it was granted [yet]? Unless|until someone sues to overturn that, Micro$oft is sitting pretty. Not only will someone have to take it into the courtroom, but legal fees will be involved; and Micro$oft has very deep pockets. Remember, 1/3 of their profit, not revenue, profit, comes from M$ Office.
You can read it all you want to and you can even pick it up and translate it. You just can't create one of your own. When you think about it, it's an excellent strategy. It keeps OpenSource from milking Micro$oft's ca$h cow. There are several open issues, including prior art. It will be an interesting case and even more interesting is what will Microsoft do if the patent is denied or revoked?
______________________________________
My Trunk Monkey can beat up your Trunk Monkey.
http://www.suburbanautogroup.com/ford/trunkmonkey
The high school kids can't resist submitting old stories so they can brag to their friends when they see their story posted on Slashdot.
I've suggested this a couple of times recently: maybe there needs to be some new blood on the approval committee - add someone (good) or replace some tired blood (better). There have been far too many repeat stories this summer.
by the way...
______________________________________
My Trunk Monkey can beat up your Trunk Monkey.
http://www.suburbanautogroup.com/ford/trunkmonkey
I'd be willing to wager a majority of /. readers have never worked with cards or papertape. I learned FORTRAN (language #2 after LISP) on cards my junior year in high school twenty-five years ago and used papertape as a backup for assembly language & BASIC on a HD-less PC during my senior year of high school at a local college.
First, a pet peeve: One of the dumbest (and misleading) things people, specifically on this list, can do is say, "...they can't do..." You don't have to write War & Peace; i.e., "diarrhea of the keyboard", but at least specify something which sounds more than fiat.
In this case, it's the ADA - American Disabilities Act - which comes into play as to what can be done with you when it comes to a medical situation.
In terms of an infectious disease, I've worked in the medical profession, both as a medical professional and as a member of the staff (IT). If someone - staff, patient, etc. comes down with something such as measles, mumps, etc. they will generally (hopefully) let the staff know so those who have not had the disease can be made aware of it. If you have any interaction with patients, particularly those who are more at risk (elderly, pregnant women, infants), you are removed from those duties (and generally sent home when it's something like measles or mumps)as a form of quarantine until you are no longer contagious [and a threat to other staff and patients]. In the case of TB, there would be more stringent action taken to determine the course of action.
As far as the issue dealing with antibiotics and efficacy, there are two parties at fault: 1) those capable of writing scripts (MD, Physician Assistant, Nurse Practitioner) for an antibiotic either when one is not needed (e.g., for a cold. Not because they want to, but because patients bug the hell out of them until they do. Yes, this does happen!) or a new one simply because it's new(!). (telling them to be cautious, well, you fill in the blanks). 2) patients. This falls into the "That which doesn't kill you makes you stronger". People refuse to follow directions. They take meds unitl they feel better, then stop. Perhaps this might get them by with painkillers, but when it comes to antibiotics, you're creating stronger bugs. Using antibiotic soap, wipes, laundry detergent, etc. isn't helping. You don't want to implement a eugenics program; i.e., all the stronger bugs survive and there are no weaker bugs around to help you build up an immunity.
As a result...fewer weapons to use against stronger enemies.
Melinda's just using Bill for sex.
Of course she is. She was the Product Manager for Microsoft Bob. Once it failed, she had to find something else to do....
"Download for a free trial."
Free is free.
What happens after the "free trial"?
(you don't have a vested interest in this critter, do you?)
______________________________________
My Trunk Monkey can beat up your Trunk Monkey.
http://www.suburbanautogroup.com/ford/trunkmonkey
I have (on pretty good authority) the .Net Framework can be transported to Linux (and was designed as such) in an extremely short (relatively speaking in terms of software lifecycles) period of time.
I would daresay few new releases will not have some type of arrangement either available or working toward that direction should *nix-compatible products continue to show or grow in competition. They see open source as a threat but will choose to fight it with standard products on the *nix platforms. They also believe that's a battle they cannot lose, just as it has been for the standard desktop market.
Sun? Deepest pockets? I don't think so. (something's deep, but it's not pockets)
. html
Between the value of outstanding shares and cash in the bank, I don't think there are any software companies close to Micro$oft.
as always,
______________________________________
My Trunk Monkey can beat up your Trunk Monkey.
http://www.suburbanautogroup.com/ford/trunkmonkey
Nope. If Micro$oft is alone in any suits, they're just "being Microsoft". If someone else is with them, "it must have merit".
. html
Microsoft has started drafting talent they think can teach them the mindset of OS. Unfortunately, Microsoft is so set in their ways WRT capitalism (to an extreme) they don't know how to deal with things which aren't done for the [sole] purpose of money. They seriously do not know. They've tried to employ the overused FUD by making the suits think ownership is an issue because someone can write code, sell the package and the source, the new owner can modify the source, sell the result and the source, etc. This bothers Microsoft - again, they don't understand this and it bothers them. It's like trying to sleep with sand in their bed and they can't sweep it out. And that just makes them more frantic. So now they're going to look at the same ownership cycle and throw the law at it. The question is: why should they care? They're selling things, OS folks are selling things.
Perhaps they feel they can compete on that one level but worry all subsequent "generations" of the OS making the repeated sales + builds somehow threaten their business model? If so, they're going to have to admit they've lost a competitive edge. That won't bother them because that then removes the label monopoly.
How can you have a monopoly if you don't always (or nearly always) have the competitive edge [on the grand scale]?
Just remember...
______________________________________
My Trunk Monkey can beat up your Trunk Monkey.
http://www.suburbanautogroup.com/ford/trunkmonkey
I don't know if the approval has occurred yet or not, but Microsoft did apply for a patent to cover the XML format of their Office files. They obviously want to make it so no one can create software to write new Office files. I would presume reading them wouldn't be an issue because you aren't creating a structure which would be compatible with their file.
I'm sure you did do a good job. We certainly wouldn't expect you to say, "I unhappily did a poor job."
Don't forget to put this:
I can happily say I did a very good job. on your resume. It'll fit right in with people who create a section labelled "Personal" followed by Health: Excellent...as if someone's going to say Health: Poor.
Or replace a few people on the "editorial committee" who pay enough attention to the posted stories to know what's new and what's not. Methinks some of them just look at incoming stories because "they don't have enough time". If that's the case, they shouldn't have editorial control to begin with.
Cronyism?
It's time for some fresh blood!
It's not a technical issue, it's a financial issue masking itself as a legislative issue. The US isn't a Democracy or a Republic, at least, not where it counts. We are a Plutocracy [1]. When the "you CAN-SPAM" law was put into play, it was written largely by the DMA (Direct Marketing Assocation). They wanted to ensure there was a feasible business model - then through in opt-out to avoid too much backlash by the users and losing everything. Unfortunately, something equally as distasteful is a "Do Not Email" list - see "Do Not Call List" for phones.
. html
I agree about phishing. If it's used to prime the pump and enough people make enough noise that phishing is dangerous because of anonymous email and legislation which cures it can be used to cure spam, it would only take a couple of people running for office to get vocal about it (and start the momentum), even if they are sitting on the wrong side of a 75%-25% poll going into the election. IOW, if someone's running for office at the Congressional level and they hold some type of town hall meeting (in office) or a rally taking questions during a campaign, that's probably a good time to start pushing this simple agenda.
What should exist is "I'll accept business email" and "I'll accept telemarketing calls." The problem with that is those who believe they have something to lose from that philosophy (or those philosophies) would say, "But no one would sign up!" and the appropriate response is, "Exactly."
[1]Or: "He who has the gold makes the rules." "Life is like a sh%t sandwich: the more bread you have, the less sh%t you have to eat."
Once again...
______________________________________
My Trunk Monkey can beat up your Trunk Monkey.
http://www.suburbanautogroup.com/ford/trunkmonkey
Rx companies don't hate cures - they don't even hate FDA regulations - particularly when you look at all of the off-the-label[1] uses MDs[2] find for their medications. What they hate is someone tinkering with their income. They claim it's for research of future products but you know they have to keep the stockholders happy. Surprisingly, the incumbent Indiana Governor (short term - his predecessor died ~ a year ago of a stroke) is campaigning to improve upon his current methods of reducing Rx prices, particularly to the elderly, even if it means importing from Canada! [3] Many cities & a few states do this now so it probably seems a bit strange [even to those of you reading this]. That is, until you realize Eli Lilly's[4] headquarters are just down the street from the Governor's office. So far, nothing has been publicly stated by Lilly, but you know there's got to be some maneuvering behind the scenes to provide support for the opposition (who was a Bush Budget Manager).
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[1] For those unfamiliar with the term, it means "used for something other than the intended use". There are obviously some limits lest the physician stray too far, but there are some really helpful situations. I was in a car accident a little over nine years ago and have a "permanent headache". I take an anti-seizure medication to help keep the pain at a manageable level although I have never had a seizure. It does have several uses relating to chronic pain. An ideal off-the-label scenario.
[2]The punctuation-challenged can pretend I wrote that as MD's.
[3]Unfortunately, the media seems rather dense on this subject and permit the various drug companies to get away with, "One of the dangers is the fact the medications are likely to be unsafe." Now if they are unsafe, why are the Canadians taking it from the drug companies [directly] and dispensing it to their citizenry? The media needs to grow some cajones and follow up with these types of questions.
[4]Makers of Prozac and now Cialis. I love the ED meds: "Do not use after you've consumed very much alcohol." (what if it took a lot of drinks to get her into the mood?) "If an erection lasts more than four hours, although rare, seek medical attention." How many guys are going to walk away from a four-hour hard-on when they're taking a pill to get one in the first place?
By the way...
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My Trunk Monkey can beat up your Trunk Monkey.
http://www.suburbanautogroup.com/ford/trunkmonkey