A lot of times (I suspect most of the time) these sorts of class-action lawsuits are instigated by not just the usual suspects (greedy lawyers), but also with the support of the companies themselves. The lawyers get a big payday. The company gets shielded from any further individual lawsuits. And the consumers get stripped of their right to sue individually, for the "settlement" of a "5% off your next purchase" coupon.
In other words, when you hear "class-action lawsuit," don't think "Yeah, we're sticking it to the big guys!" Think "No, they're sticking it to *YOU*."
It's illegal in a lot of nutball Muslim countries for a Muslim to convert to Christianity (by penalty of death). That doesn't mean I can escape criticism when my company starts helping the authorities hunt Christians by saying "Hey, I'm just obeying the law."
The FOSS community will never agree to implement DRM, and the commercial video sites will never agree to support a format without any DRM. It would seem we're at an impasse.
Is the video tag in HTML5 a kludge? Yes. Is it more an ideal than a practical implementation? Sure. Can it compete with a commercial product that has been an accepted part of the web for over 10 years now? Perhaps not. Is it poorly implemented in most modern browsers, with no agreed upon video codec common to any two of them? Yep. Would it be getting any attention at all if Steve Jobs hadn't used it as part of his cheap excuse to block free flash apps from his iControlU line of products? Not likely.
But all that's missing the point. The point is that it's *OPEN* and not under the control of any nasty for-profit corporation. And that makes it superior. Who *cares* if it doesn't work worth a damn in actual practice?
You would think by now that shareholders would begin to understand that short-term gains and long-term gains are two VERY different things. But, then again, in this era of "day trading," it seems that everyone on the stock market is looking for the quick buck and not the long-term investment. So a company destroys itself just for a few good quarters.
Yes, the numbers tell the tale--because 1.5 billion people who make $3-a-day are MUCH more appealing to advertisers than the 1.2 billion people of the Western world and their $100-a-day salaries.
I remember back in the 90's when I used to recommend them (not only for their quality computers, but also excellent customer service). But in more recent years, their stuff (in my experience) is garbage. They've become what Compaq and Packard Bell used to be.
No, they're true because women and men are physically different and have different hormonal make-ups. You pump a woman full of enough testosterone and she would probably love Call of Duty. You cut a guy's balls off and pump him full of estrogen, and he'll probably want to go shopping. Society may give aggressive and empathic behavior a certain context, but the differences have a very real physical underpinning. I know because I had a sister who thought the same as you do--until she had kids. She tried teaching her boys to play with dolls--instead they made guns out of sticks and played war behind her back.
Yeah, except it NEVER worked that way in practice. The founding fathers of the U.S. put in safeguards to protect their own interests (*representative* democracy instead of direct, the electoral college, etc.) and ensure that the rabble could only send their betters to represent them. And their "betters" have been taking bribes and abusing their power ever since.
The hyperbole of the claim that this somehow shows that "Plato anticipated the Scientific Revolution 2,000 years before Isaac Newton" is what struck me as most ridiculous part of the summary (and article). This shows pretty clearly that the article's author not only has no appreciation for what was ACTUALLY found, but also no appreciation for Newton and the scope and importance of his work.
Oh, but they'll argue that it's for the consumer! Of course, you're right. It's not "We want more choice and freedom, for the benefit of the people," more like "Hey, we want our cut!"
No doubt this avoidance or departure from another Space Race will have a lot of people concerned that the US is out of the game.
Hate to break it to you, but NASA hasn't been "in the game" in almost 40 years now. You want a perfect illustration of the last time they were fielding a real team? Just look at their historical budget. Notice a pattern after 1970? Yeah, that's when they stopped being the Yankees and started becoming the Mets.
It's very difficult in real life to just walk up to someone out of the blue and strike up a conversation without being thought of as some kind of weirdo. Hot women and handsome guys in romantic comedies can get away with that kind of stuff. But try that on most people in RL and they'll think there is something wrong with you.
But when you reach a certain age, it becomes harder and harder to meet new friends. I used to have tons of them, but then I moved to a new city and have almost none here. And if you're too old for the clubs, don't have a family, and aren't religious or a sports fan--you're pretty much SOL in many places. I can see where something like this would be appealing.
Slashdot Mirror
A lot of times (I suspect most of the time) these sorts of class-action lawsuits are instigated by not just the usual suspects (greedy lawyers), but also with the support of the companies themselves. The lawyers get a big payday. The company gets shielded from any further individual lawsuits. And the consumers get stripped of their right to sue individually, for the "settlement" of a "5% off your next purchase" coupon.
In other words, when you hear "class-action lawsuit," don't think "Yeah, we're sticking it to the big guys!" Think "No, they're sticking it to *YOU*."
Legal != moral
It's illegal in a lot of nutball Muslim countries for a Muslim to convert to Christianity (by penalty of death). That doesn't mean I can escape criticism when my company starts helping the authorities hunt Christians by saying "Hey, I'm just obeying the law."
Quick question: Who would you rather risk pissing off, this guy or this guy?
The FOSS community will never agree to implement DRM, and the commercial video sites will never agree to support a format without any DRM. It would seem we're at an impasse.
I vote we use the cast of "Jersey Shore," and not give them spacesuits.
Is the video tag in HTML5 a kludge? Yes. Is it more an ideal than a practical implementation? Sure. Can it compete with a commercial product that has been an accepted part of the web for over 10 years now? Perhaps not. Is it poorly implemented in most modern browsers, with no agreed upon video codec common to any two of them? Yep. Would it be getting any attention at all if Steve Jobs hadn't used it as part of his cheap excuse to block free flash apps from his iControlU line of products? Not likely.
But all that's missing the point. The point is that it's *OPEN* and not under the control of any nasty for-profit corporation. And that makes it superior. Who *cares* if it doesn't work worth a damn in actual practice?
You would think by now that shareholders would begin to understand that short-term gains and long-term gains are two VERY different things. But, then again, in this era of "day trading," it seems that everyone on the stock market is looking for the quick buck and not the long-term investment. So a company destroys itself just for a few good quarters.
The ones in our solar system were getting so lame.
Yes, the numbers tell the tale--because 1.5 billion people who make $3-a-day are MUCH more appealing to advertisers than the 1.2 billion people of the Western world and their $100-a-day salaries.
I remember back in the 90's when I used to recommend them (not only for their quality computers, but also excellent customer service). But in more recent years, their stuff (in my experience) is garbage. They've become what Compaq and Packard Bell used to be.
No, they're true because women and men are physically different and have different hormonal make-ups. You pump a woman full of enough testosterone and she would probably love Call of Duty. You cut a guy's balls off and pump him full of estrogen, and he'll probably want to go shopping. Society may give aggressive and empathic behavior a certain context, but the differences have a very real physical underpinning. I know because I had a sister who thought the same as you do--until she had kids. She tried teaching her boys to play with dolls--instead they made guns out of sticks and played war behind her back.
They love The Sims and Second Life too. "The Sims" is the female equivalent of the Halo, Half-Life, and Call of Duty franchises all combined together.
Yeah, except it NEVER worked that way in practice. The founding fathers of the U.S. put in safeguards to protect their own interests (*representative* democracy instead of direct, the electoral college, etc.) and ensure that the rabble could only send their betters to represent them. And their "betters" have been taking bribes and abusing their power ever since.
The hyperbole of the claim that this somehow shows that "Plato anticipated the Scientific Revolution 2,000 years before Isaac Newton" is what struck me as most ridiculous part of the summary (and article). This shows pretty clearly that the article's author not only has no appreciation for what was ACTUALLY found, but also no appreciation for Newton and the scope and importance of his work.
...or so writes his most adoring student. Something tells me the reality wasn't nearly as heroic and interesting as Plato later claimed.
When did the nobility EVER serve the people? The Golden Rule ("He who has the gold makes the rules") is one of the oldest axioms of politics.
Oh, but they'll argue that it's for the consumer! Of course, you're right. It's not "We want more choice and freedom, for the benefit of the people," more like "Hey, we want our cut!"
Hate to break it to you, but NASA hasn't been "in the game" in almost 40 years now. You want a perfect illustration of the last time they were fielding a real team? Just look at their historical budget. Notice a pattern after 1970? Yeah, that's when they stopped being the Yankees and started becoming the Mets.
It's very difficult in real life to just walk up to someone out of the blue and strike up a conversation without being thought of as some kind of weirdo. Hot women and handsome guys in romantic comedies can get away with that kind of stuff. But try that on most people in RL and they'll think there is something wrong with you.
"All of it," replies Steve.
"Good use," replies Steve.
Yeah, unpaid. It's only a little better than just quitting.
Sort of like many wind and solar fans don't give much thought to what it takes to build those panels and turbines.
But when you reach a certain age, it becomes harder and harder to meet new friends. I used to have tons of them, but then I moved to a new city and have almost none here. And if you're too old for the clubs, don't have a family, and aren't religious or a sports fan--you're pretty much SOL in many places. I can see where something like this would be appealing.
Sanjay in Calcutta either follows the script or he gets fired. They didn't hire him to think.
I guess my Nazi porn collection is completely unacceptable then?