Apple can aggressively block any and all applications that they don't approve from and iPhone, aggressively tie the iTunes store with the iPod, and sue anyone who so much as speculates about their upcoming products--and that's just them "acting within their rights." But if MS so much as installs IE as the default browser on a Windows install, slashdotters are breaking out their pitchforks (never mind that Apple and Linux do the EXACT SAME THING on their OS's).
This "MS is evil. But Apple and Google can do no wrong" meme got tired a LONG time ago. I suggest a new graphic with Steve Jobs as a borg too.
The funny thing is that Monday morning I saw Comcast's executive vice president on CSPAN-2 saying that they fully supported the principle of net neutrality.
No, he's just questioning the obvious hyperbole of the OP and the article. Calling this an "island the size of Alaska" is disingenuous at best, outright alarmist propaganda at worst.
My grandfather was a Marine in Korea and moved up the ranks from enlisted to officer very quickly. When I asked him once how he got to be an officer so fast he joked (I *hope* he was joking, anyway) that any Marine who could read and write was immediately promoted to officer. On the other hand, considering the level of discourse on most social networks, maybe modern Marines are better off not refining their writing skills there anyway.
However, it does seem bizarre that guys who are entrusted to carry loaded automatic weapons around (and use them), aren't trusted to write a tweet to their buddies back home. A guy is given the power to shoot people, but not to blog or buy a beer (if he's under 21). Seems like a mixed message.
Not to worry. CERN just got word that a group of experienced programmers is now available to help finish the job. They all recently got laid off at 3D Realms, and are raring to go on a new project. In their first released statement, they assured CERN and the public that "The LHC will be done when it's done."
No you may not. Section 103 (17 U.S.C Sec. 1201(a)(1)) of the DMCA states: "No person shall circumvent a technological measure that effectively controls access to a work protected under this title." Be sure to thank your helpful Congressmen for this provision.
Well yes, of course. In an ideal world we would all have 365 paid days a year off. But I'm pretty sure most businesses would collapse if we did. Obviously a balance must be struck between what's best for the worker and what's best for the business. We may disagree on what that balance is, but sometimes it is indeed more beneficial (in the bigger picture) to have less days off than more.
I remember back when the WIPO copyright treaty that would lead to the DMCA was being quietly passed by member nations. Only a few of us were even talking about it at the time. But the implications were pretty clear to me even then. Making it illegal to even CIRCUMVENT copy protection measures would inevitably lead to people being prosecuted for even the most innocuous and widely accepted activities (at that time, it was mostly stuff like bypassing Macrovision, copying videotapes, copying CD's, and taping stuff on cable). It was quietly outlawing activities most people considered sacrosanct, and we let it happen. The U.S. signed onto the treaty, the Congress passed to DMCA to implement it, and everyone just sort of ignored it--figuring that the local guy in the neighborhood who copied a CD or VHS for you would never be effected. But it was always only a matter of time before they got down to enforcing it in at the local level. It may have started with the big pirate operations, but it was bound to come down to local modders too. It was only a matter of time.
Just pointing out that it's all relative. One man's "You're working too hard" is another man's "What a bunch of lazy-asses!" Just because Europe has the world's most generous policy toward laborers doesn't necessarily make it the best, and certainly not only, system out there.
If you think Americans work too hard, try working in Japan or China sometime. Ask your employer for 2 weeks off in most Japan companies and you'll get 52 weeks off instead.
I know everyone will be tempted to use this as some excuse to blast "Generation Y" as some over-entitled bunch of brats. But might I caution you, before you do so, to remember that this is ONE PERSON (likely a nutball) and ONE LAWSUIT (which clearly has no merit and will be thrown out). Judging the actions of an entire generation by one single person is even worse than assuming every/. poster is a smelly virgin who plays WoW all night and wears a pen protector and goofy glasses.
Last time I checked, illegals weren't exempt from sales taxes. Many of them even pay income tax and FICA taxes under assumed identities (money which they will never get back). And their landlords certainly pay property taxes.
I've used both Word and InDesign, and most of the time I still use Word for most simple and mid-range documents. I tried OpenOffice once before (an older version, not sure how much has changed since), but it couldn't even do some relatively simple stuff at the time (didn't recognize transparent layers in graphics, no option for setting a transparent color in a graphic, etc.). OpenOffice is indeed fine for most "mom & pop" users. But it lacks a lot of even the relatively simple features of Word. Word may not be useful for the high end stuff (that's what InDesign is for), but it's much more powerful for the lower level and mid-range stuff than OpenOffice. As for the expense, you can buy Office with the full versions of Word and Powerpoint for $80. So the price is a pretty nominal consideration now.
Slashdot Mirror
Actually, the low end of Fox can't even read. They get their news from what they overhear at bars and NASCAR races.
Wow, the Swiss Army actually CARRIES Swiss Army knives? I always thought that was just some clever marketing.
As a non-Republican I, for one, welcome anything that makes Fox News more obscure.
Apple can aggressively block any and all applications that they don't approve from and iPhone, aggressively tie the iTunes store with the iPod, and sue anyone who so much as speculates about their upcoming products--and that's just them "acting within their rights." But if MS so much as installs IE as the default browser on a Windows install, slashdotters are breaking out their pitchforks (never mind that Apple and Linux do the EXACT SAME THING on their OS's).
This "MS is evil. But Apple and Google can do no wrong" meme got tired a LONG time ago. I suggest a new graphic with Steve Jobs as a borg too.
The funny thing is that Monday morning I saw Comcast's executive vice president on CSPAN-2 saying that they fully supported the principle of net neutrality.
He's not ronery anymore, he has Bill Crinton visiting to keep him company!
Zing!
And apparently it's invisible to boats and divers too. Maybe it only appears to the faithful, at sunset on Christmas Day.
As far as I can tell, none of those pictures is actually of the purported "island" in question.
No, he's just questioning the obvious hyperbole of the OP and the article. Calling this an "island the size of Alaska" is disingenuous at best, outright alarmist propaganda at worst.
The emperor's clothes are there, you see--they're just beneath the surface and very small.
My grandfather was a Marine in Korea and moved up the ranks from enlisted to officer very quickly. When I asked him once how he got to be an officer so fast he joked (I *hope* he was joking, anyway) that any Marine who could read and write was immediately promoted to officer. On the other hand, considering the level of discourse on most social networks, maybe modern Marines are better off not refining their writing skills there anyway.
However, it does seem bizarre that guys who are entrusted to carry loaded automatic weapons around (and use them), aren't trusted to write a tweet to their buddies back home. A guy is given the power to shoot people, but not to blog or buy a beer (if he's under 21). Seems like a mixed message.
We Americans don't need health insurance. Jesus will protect us!
With that attitude you're never going to make it to the moon, buddy!
I want both. And make it cheap too.
Not to worry. CERN just got word that a group of experienced programmers is now available to help finish the job. They all recently got laid off at 3D Realms, and are raring to go on a new project. In their first released statement, they assured CERN and the public that "The LHC will be done when it's done."
No you may not. Section 103 (17 U.S.C Sec. 1201(a)(1)) of the DMCA states: "No person shall circumvent a technological measure that effectively controls access to a work protected under this title." Be sure to thank your helpful Congressmen for this provision.
Maybe if you weren't taking those 5 weeks a year of vacation time and working more than 35 hours a week, you could get it done on time! ;-)
Well yes, of course. In an ideal world we would all have 365 paid days a year off. But I'm pretty sure most businesses would collapse if we did. Obviously a balance must be struck between what's best for the worker and what's best for the business. We may disagree on what that balance is, but sometimes it is indeed more beneficial (in the bigger picture) to have less days off than more.
I remember back when the WIPO copyright treaty that would lead to the DMCA was being quietly passed by member nations. Only a few of us were even talking about it at the time. But the implications were pretty clear to me even then. Making it illegal to even CIRCUMVENT copy protection measures would inevitably lead to people being prosecuted for even the most innocuous and widely accepted activities (at that time, it was mostly stuff like bypassing Macrovision, copying videotapes, copying CD's, and taping stuff on cable). It was quietly outlawing activities most people considered sacrosanct, and we let it happen. The U.S. signed onto the treaty, the Congress passed to DMCA to implement it, and everyone just sort of ignored it--figuring that the local guy in the neighborhood who copied a CD or VHS for you would never be effected. But it was always only a matter of time before they got down to enforcing it in at the local level. It may have started with the big pirate operations, but it was bound to come down to local modders too. It was only a matter of time.
Just pointing out that it's all relative. One man's "You're working too hard" is another man's "What a bunch of lazy-asses!" Just because Europe has the world's most generous policy toward laborers doesn't necessarily make it the best, and certainly not only, system out there.
If you think Americans work too hard, try working in Japan or China sometime. Ask your employer for 2 weeks off in most Japan companies and you'll get 52 weeks off instead.
I know everyone will be tempted to use this as some excuse to blast "Generation Y" as some over-entitled bunch of brats. But might I caution you, before you do so, to remember that this is ONE PERSON (likely a nutball) and ONE LAWSUIT (which clearly has no merit and will be thrown out). Judging the actions of an entire generation by one single person is even worse than assuming every /. poster is a smelly virgin who plays WoW all night and wears a pen protector and goofy glasses.
Last time I checked, illegals weren't exempt from sales taxes. Many of them even pay income tax and FICA taxes under assumed identities (money which they will never get back). And their landlords certainly pay property taxes.
I've used both Word and InDesign, and most of the time I still use Word for most simple and mid-range documents. I tried OpenOffice once before (an older version, not sure how much has changed since), but it couldn't even do some relatively simple stuff at the time (didn't recognize transparent layers in graphics, no option for setting a transparent color in a graphic, etc.). OpenOffice is indeed fine for most "mom & pop" users. But it lacks a lot of even the relatively simple features of Word. Word may not be useful for the high end stuff (that's what InDesign is for), but it's much more powerful for the lower level and mid-range stuff than OpenOffice. As for the expense, you can buy Office with the full versions of Word and Powerpoint for $80. So the price is a pretty nominal consideration now.