It's interesting to see what concepts they felt the need to state explicitly back then. "If a player-controlled car has a serious crash, it will blow up after a short time. Hence, the player must get out of the car and find another one."
I'm not so sure why this example is especially interesting. Why would you not explicitly state that a player-controlled car would blow up soon after a serious crash, and that the player would have to get out and find another car? This was in a design document, was it not? That's exactly the sort of thing a design doc should have.
Oh, wait. Perhaps the submitter is not a programmer? That would explain the "developers should just know what I want; I should not have to explicitly state it" attitude.:-P
How about something like this:
First 5 years: 0 tax
Next 5 years: Entry into public domain or remain under copyright for a fee of 10% of gross profits earned in any way off of the copyright during the previous 5 years
Next 5 years: Entry into public domain or remain under copyright for a fee of 20% of gross profits earned in any way off of the copyright during the previous 5 years
Next 5 years: Entry into public domain or remain under copyright for a fee of 40% of gross profits earned in any way off of the copyright during the previous 5 years
Next 5 years: Not Allowed. Forced entry into public domain after 20 years.
Watson's answer was correct - he just didn't phrase it the way they want.
No, Watson's answer was both incorrect and not phrased properly. If Watson had prefaced his response with "What is...", it would have still been incorrect because it was missing the critical information that the leg was missing. An "anatomical oddity" with a leg could also have been something else (much shorter than the other, on backwards, whatever)
And just do the sensible thing and just pirate everything (and then whine unceasingly when shows get canceled for lack of revenue from viewers) or is this a "popular culture is so crass and I'm so sophisticated it hurts, but in a snooty way, not a plebeian way" statement?
Right. As if piracy has ever been the cause of a show being cancelled.
There it is again: evidence that just about every fan-fiction explanation of the Matrix universe is better than what the Wachowskis threw up on film in the two sequels.
Or, better yet, movies. The movie you just watched in the theatre should be on DVD/Blu-Ray for $5 on your way out. How often have you been blown away by a movie in the theatre, only to realize days later that it wasn't so great after all. Why not capitalize on the post-theatre excitement? Studios would make bank!
I still admire the effects used in the original (and, IMO, only good version of) War of the Worlds. Particularly the shields around the martian war machines and the little sizzling burn marks their electromagnetic "legs" made on the ground as they moved along.
I don't mean to belittle Zuckerberg's donation, but it really bugs me when the media goes crazy about how "generous" the ultra-wealthy are when then give away a portion of their excess...
Jesus sat down near the collection box in the Temple and watched as the crowds dropped in their money. Many rich people put in large amounts. Then a poor widow came and dropped in two small coins.
Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions. For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on.” - Mark 12:41-44
Honestly, I think the technology to digitally super-impose one person onto another is a great idea. It would be great to see some new Star Trek episodes with the original cast voiced by good impressionist voice actors.
Sadly, the Great Stumbling Block of the arts and sciences -- copyright laws and their ilk -- will probably prevent that from ever happening.
Too bad. They're essentially a "common carrier" for funds and should have to act that way.
Also, I don't associate MasterCard with, say, a big box store that royally pisses me off by jerking me around (which is similar to the situation with MC and Wikileaks). The excuse that MC doesn't want to be associated with Wikileaks is B.S.
Mozilla stopped working on a similar feature for Firefox after pressure from advertisers
This is the first I am hearing about this. Such behavior from Mozilla is a serious problem. I thought FireFox was supposed to be the new and better way to do web browsing, and now I find out that this project is just as beholden to moneyed interests as other browsers.
Not cool, Mozilla. Not cool.
Slashdot Mirror
Not only that, but now that we are firmly in the "information age", copyright law is something that shouldn't even exist anymore.
I'm not so sure why this example is especially interesting. Why would you not explicitly state that a player-controlled car would blow up soon after a serious crash, and that the player would have to get out and find another car? This was in a design document, was it not? That's exactly the sort of thing a design doc should have.
Oh, wait. Perhaps the submitter is not a programmer? That would explain the "developers should just know what I want; I should not have to explicitly state it" attitude. :-P
I have a more equitable proposal. How about Canadian songwriters fuck the hell off?
Here's a better idea for future-proofing software: end insane copyright laws.
*cough*Star Wars?*cough*
You'll get it right one of these days, Lucas.
(oh, wait. you said "art"work...)
14 years is an eternity in the digital age.
How about something like this:
First 5 years: 0 tax
Next 5 years: Entry into public domain or remain under copyright for a fee of 10% of gross profits earned in any way off of the copyright during the previous 5 years
Next 5 years: Entry into public domain or remain under copyright for a fee of 20% of gross profits earned in any way off of the copyright during the previous 5 years
Next 5 years: Entry into public domain or remain under copyright for a fee of 40% of gross profits earned in any way off of the copyright during the previous 5 years
Next 5 years: Not Allowed. Forced entry into public domain after 20 years.
No, Watson's answer was both incorrect and not phrased properly. If Watson had prefaced his response with "What is...", it would have still been incorrect because it was missing the critical information that the leg was missing. An "anatomical oddity" with a leg could also have been something else (much shorter than the other, on backwards, whatever)
I know what those words mean, but that phrase makes no sense.
Easy. Reduce patents and copyrights to 5 years or less. You'll then see an increase in innovation like you've never seen before, guaranteed.
Go easy on the guy. He probably bought some Sony product that secretly installed malware which makes anti-piracy posts on web forums.
And just do the sensible thing and just pirate everything (and then whine unceasingly when shows get canceled for lack of revenue from viewers) or is this a "popular culture is so crass and I'm so sophisticated it hurts, but in a snooty way, not a plebeian way" statement?
Right. As if piracy has ever been the cause of a show being cancelled.
There it is again: evidence that just about every fan-fiction explanation of the Matrix universe is better than what the Wachowskis threw up on film in the two sequels.
Or, better yet, movies. The movie you just watched in the theatre should be on DVD/Blu-Ray for $5 on your way out. How often have you been blown away by a movie in the theatre, only to realize days later that it wasn't so great after all. Why not capitalize on the post-theatre excitement? Studios would make bank!
Exactly. It's only now that we've managed to decode that formula.
What is "BT"? "Bit Torrent"?
Other countries take note: this is what happens when your country just rolls over and lets the terrorists win.
I'm sorry, but this bit of advice has had a pretty terrible track record over the past few decades.
Capitalism requires informed consumers in order to work properly.
I still admire the effects used in the original (and, IMO, only good version of) War of the Worlds. Particularly the shields around the martian war machines and the little sizzling burn marks their electromagnetic "legs" made on the ground as they moved along.
Honestly, I think the technology to digitally super-impose one person onto another is a great idea. It would be great to see some new Star Trek episodes with the original cast voiced by good impressionist voice actors.
Sadly, the Great Stumbling Block of the arts and sciences -- copyright laws and their ilk -- will probably prevent that from ever happening.
Too bad. They're essentially a "common carrier" for funds and should have to act that way.
Also, I don't associate MasterCard with, say, a big box store that royally pisses me off by jerking me around (which is similar to the situation with MC and Wikileaks). The excuse that MC doesn't want to be associated with Wikileaks is B.S.
This is the first I am hearing about this. Such behavior from Mozilla is a serious problem. I thought FireFox was supposed to be the new and better way to do web browsing, and now I find out that this project is just as beholden to moneyed interests as other browsers. Not cool, Mozilla. Not cool.
No, it would not. What an incredibly stupid comment to make.
Don't worry, I'm sure you'll still fit. ;-)