While I can see where this article is coming from, and I do think drawing skills are important, I can't help but feeling a slightly reactionary undercurrent to this. A lot of young people now are more comfortable using computers than drawing on paper... so what? You still have to put in a lot of work to create something good, regardless of the medium. Besides, I don't think you have to be good at drawing to be good at creating art on a computer, just as you don't need to be a great painter to produce an excellent sculpture. It's just a new medium that offers possibilities that paper drawing can't, as well as limitations that paper drawing doesn't have.
Would you trust Ford to make your Jaguar? Guess what, they do. Almost all the luxury car makers these days are owned by one of the larger, mass-market corporations. As long as the parent company isn't interfering with design (which they probably won't, since that's usually the basis for their purchase of the specialty maker) this kind of news is really only interesting to financiers.
The only thing I would disagree with in your comment is that only the government can grant monopoly status; An already established monopoly (established, perhaps, by being the first implementer of a new technology) doesn't need government support to maintain its position, especially in areas where entry costs are high. In these cases the monopoly can often drive new competitors out of business by operating at a loss long enough to ruin the competitor's finances. In reality, of course, the collusion of government is often bought to support the monopoly since that's a cheaper way to go about it. But sometimes it's just the opposite, and government intervention is required to overturn a monopoly that has established itself by choking its competition in the free market.
Of course, having a salary (i.e. being paid for your time and not your output) is good for employees, too, not just because it's too difficult for payroll departments to gauge output. What if your company says, "Oh, sorry, we don't have much for you to do this week, I'm afraid you won't be getting paid."?
This is pretty typical of the Japanese government and is doubtless motivated solely by a desire to artificially stimulate industry. They do the exact same thing with cars, which have a mandatory "safety inspection" every couple years that is really a disguised tax on old cars, basically making it cheaper to buy a new car instead. It seems they are trying to do the same thing with electronics; you'll note that they aren't banning them outright, but I suspect its just a ploy to make buying them economically unfeasible since the "certification" will no doubt in reality be a hefty tax. The funny part is that, as many previous posters have mentioned, the Japanese are already addicted to the newest and shiniest stuff.
And it's not as ridiculous as I first thought. They're not just getting uptight about their "trademark" I think they may be genuinely concerned that the symbol is used in a context that undermines their mission. After all, in a lot of games, a red cross means extra life so you can go out there and kill some more guys. The Red Cross aren't field medics, after all.
Does anyone remember that cutscene with the guys building the ark, where they'd sing that annoying song that was about five minutes long and UNSKIPPABLE? I think they must have thrown that in there just to poke fun at ridiculous cutscenes.
I RTFA, but it didn't mention how much memory this thing will have. This would be a pretty awesome toy if I could store my whole library on it for reference wherever I go.
Aren't subpoenas supposed to be reserved for matters where there is some kind of trial involved? Surely the government can't just subpoena information for research purposes.
I did my undergrad at Oxford (granted, it was history, not CS, so maybe slightly offtopic here) but the system in use there is a good model of how to eliminate this kind of problem. You write an essay (or program as the case may be) and then sit down and get grilled about what you wrote for an hour with your professor. If you are bullshitting, or god help you plagiarizing, it becomes obvious in about two minutes. It's not perfect, but you really have to focus on understanding, rather than regurgitating material or producing a set amount of text.
These days, sadly, a lot of people complain that this system is too "archaic" and "inefficient", which makes me wonder what exactly is gained by "efficiently" pumping out graduates who don't remember anything about their subject when finals are over.
Every time I see Vint Cerf's name, there is a split second where I confuse him with Bennett Cerf, and I think: "Why would they be soliciting the opinion of a pun writer about this?"
I've got some "virtual property" to sell you! I'm giving you a chance to invest early, too, because the property is so exclusive that right now it exists only in my own mind! Strike while the iron is hot! And, I'm willing to let you have it at BARGAIN BASEMENT prices! Checks and credit cards accepted.
Seriously, does any amount of wrangling about the legality of claims make any more difference on the moon than on Earth? Anyone who thinks that their property rights are sacrosanct past the point where they can be enforced is fooling themself.
To quote "The Lion in Winter":
Henry: The Vexin's mine.
Phillip: On what authority?
Henry: It's got my troops all over it, and that makes it mine.
Slashdot Mirror
While I can see where this article is coming from, and I do think drawing skills are important, I can't help but feeling a slightly reactionary undercurrent to this. A lot of young people now are more comfortable using computers than drawing on paper... so what? You still have to put in a lot of work to create something good, regardless of the medium. Besides, I don't think you have to be good at drawing to be good at creating art on a computer, just as you don't need to be a great painter to produce an excellent sculpture. It's just a new medium that offers possibilities that paper drawing can't, as well as limitations that paper drawing doesn't have.
What are you talking about? Do you think someone who wrote in to Slashdot about organizing his library has any other kind of books?
Would you trust Ford to make your Jaguar? Guess what, they do. Almost all the luxury car makers these days are owned by one of the larger, mass-market corporations. As long as the parent company isn't interfering with design (which they probably won't, since that's usually the basis for their purchase of the specialty maker) this kind of news is really only interesting to financiers.
The only thing I would disagree with in your comment is that only the government can grant monopoly status; An already established monopoly (established, perhaps, by being the first implementer of a new technology) doesn't need government support to maintain its position, especially in areas where entry costs are high. In these cases the monopoly can often drive new competitors out of business by operating at a loss long enough to ruin the competitor's finances. In reality, of course, the collusion of government is often bought to support the monopoly since that's a cheaper way to go about it. But sometimes it's just the opposite, and government intervention is required to overturn a monopoly that has established itself by choking its competition in the free market.
ROB the Family Robot? I think that should have made the cut.
Of course, having a salary (i.e. being paid for your time and not your output) is good for employees, too, not just because it's too difficult for payroll departments to gauge output. What if your company says, "Oh, sorry, we don't have much for you to do this week, I'm afraid you won't be getting paid."?
This is pretty typical of the Japanese government and is doubtless motivated solely by a desire to artificially stimulate industry. They do the exact same thing with cars, which have a mandatory "safety inspection" every couple years that is really a disguised tax on old cars, basically making it cheaper to buy a new car instead. It seems they are trying to do the same thing with electronics; you'll note that they aren't banning them outright, but I suspect its just a ploy to make buying them economically unfeasible since the "certification" will no doubt in reality be a hefty tax. The funny part is that, as many previous posters have mentioned, the Japanese are already addicted to the newest and shiniest stuff.
So, finally, after all this time, jerking the controller frantically *will* actually help Mario jump over a pit.
I'da called it a chazzwozzer!
And it's not as ridiculous as I first thought. They're not just getting uptight about their "trademark" I think they may be genuinely concerned that the symbol is used in a context that undermines their mission. After all, in a lot of games, a red cross means extra life so you can go out there and kill some more guys. The Red Cross aren't field medics, after all.
I never exactly said "hello" to tedious bathroom cleaning, as the watermelon-sized bacteria in there can attest to.
Does anyone remember that cutscene with the guys building the ark, where they'd sing that annoying song that was about five minutes long and UNSKIPPABLE? I think they must have thrown that in there just to poke fun at ridiculous cutscenes.
I RTFA, but it didn't mention how much memory this thing will have. This would be a pretty awesome toy if I could store my whole library on it for reference wherever I go.
Aren't subpoenas supposed to be reserved for matters where there is some kind of trial involved? Surely the government can't just subpoena information for research purposes.
I did my undergrad at Oxford (granted, it was history, not CS, so maybe slightly offtopic here) but the system in use there is a good model of how to eliminate this kind of problem. You write an essay (or program as the case may be) and then sit down and get grilled about what you wrote for an hour with your professor. If you are bullshitting, or god help you plagiarizing, it becomes obvious in about two minutes. It's not perfect, but you really have to focus on understanding, rather than regurgitating material or producing a set amount of text.
These days, sadly, a lot of people complain that this system is too "archaic" and "inefficient", which makes me wonder what exactly is gained by "efficiently" pumping out graduates who don't remember anything about their subject when finals are over.
Better get to the gym!
*BA-bum* Thank you, I'll be here 'til Thursday.
It must have been that "Thunder Chief" I keep hearing about...
...is the "price" of air pollution, well, you'll pardon me if I keep my old Pontiac. ;)
Every time I see Vint Cerf's name, there is a split second where I confuse him with Bennett Cerf, and I think: "Why would they be soliciting the opinion of a pun writer about this?"
I've got some "virtual property" to sell you! I'm giving you a chance to invest early, too, because the property is so exclusive that right now it exists only in my own mind! Strike while the iron is hot! And, I'm willing to let you have it at BARGAIN BASEMENT prices! Checks and credit cards accepted.
Seriously, does any amount of wrangling about the legality of claims make any more difference on the moon than on Earth? Anyone who thinks that their property rights are sacrosanct past the point where they can be enforced is fooling themself.
To quote "The Lion in Winter":
Henry: The Vexin's mine.
Phillip: On what authority?
Henry: It's got my troops all over it, and that makes it mine.
I already have the parts assembled for my "Whalers on the Moon" attraction...
Hey, now that you mention it, that box idea doesn't sound so bad! I could get some peace and quiet for a change ;)
If it's as informative and entertaining as Yahoo Serious's "Young Einstein," I'm sold!