I'm not sure if you are insinuating that the majority of voters get their news from the internet, or if you are noting that the objectivity of the media is already long lost. I strongly doubt the former, and sadly admit the latter.
Why would the founders be appalled by the office of FCC commissioner?
Because the founders also wrote in, a free press. Having three giant corporations controlling all of mass media isn't free. That's why there were ever restrictions on how many newspapers or radio stations or television channel any one company could own. Whatever size chuck of the media one group controls, it is that same size chunk of the electorate that they can spin towards the candidate of their choosing. Imagine if we only had Fox News, or only had Air America. You can see how that might give one company undue influence. Just look at what happened to the quality of pop music since ClearChannel has be allowed to take over radio stations all over the country. Now apply that to the quality (and pay for play) of all of the news that mainstream America gets.
Considering that the newspaper as we know it is circling the drain
But the companies will still have undue influence of the press. Having a free press isn't just about not having government interference, but also about having a diverse enough job market for journalists that they are not simply serfs in a corporate fiefdom. At least with the 30% ownership law, we will still have three media outlets left in ten years. Of course there is nothing preventing them from having many of the same people on all three Board of Directors.http://sociology.ucsc.edu/whorulesamerica/power/corporate_community.html Face it, whoever controls the "tone" of the media can pick the winner of major elections. That's what all these giant elections funds are about, advertising. Now if big media become even more highly concentrated, then big election funds become secondary to being blessed by those who tell mainstream America what to think.
No one connected with the RIAA mob has any accountability.
Even if RIAA loses money on this, it doesn't matter much. Until some RIAA board members are facing real prison time, they will use whatever tactics the manage to get away with.
politicians are corrupt -- pretty much all of them
True, but this isn't about politicians being corrupt, this is about The Military being corrupt. That is a rather important line we have crossed. This isn't about hiding a lucrative exclusive contract to your nephew's business or fucking hookers in the Lincoln Bedroom. This is about the largest military in the world pursuing it's own agenda rather than the will of the American people. Of course this has been going on for some time.
Shortly before the launch of the "war on terror," an unnamed Pentagon war planner seemed to warn journalists everywhere when he told Washington Post reporter Howard Kurtz: "This is the most information-intensive war you can imagine... We're going to lie about things." (9/24/01)
In February 2002, the New York Times reported that the Pentagon's Office of Strategic Influence (OSI) was "developing plans to provide news items, possibly even false ones, to foreign media organizations" in an effort "to influence public sentiment and policy makers in both friendly and unfriendly countries."http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=1983
We have been fed false information for the entire "War on Terror". This isn't about some politician trying to get re-elected, this is about military/government that has slipped away from the control of the people and has started a war killing tens of thousands of people, indebted us trillions of dollars, and made a mockery of ever virtue that America ever (nominally) stood for.
In the realm of "counter to the interests of the US populace and unconstitutional" there is so much more important stuff than this. This is just an aftershock of the much bigger "counter to the interests of the US populace and unconstitutional" practices going on like Gitmo itself, not the Wikipedia entry.
Now you might think that it would be wrong for the US Government to use a part of the military against US citizens, but then you would be supporting the terrorists. Here's why: The Terrorists can read the internet. It's OK to trample on you if it is in the name of Stopping The Terrorists. Any red blooded American should be proud to read purposefully distorted information, because they know that it is the only way to Stop The Terrorists and protect Freedom. America, fuck yeah.
apparently some people think that Microsoft having that kind of control might not be in the best interests of anyone else and are trying to do something about that.
Ah yes, the very wise little group of people that want to use governmental power to make everyone else "do what is best". How many time and in how many venues do we have to see this played out before every petty "expert in their field" learns to stop trying to force everyone else to do things their way. This kind of shit is just as bad as all of the "think of the children" laws. If you hate MS, go buy a Mac and then shut the fuck up. Adding new court precedents towards shit that shouldn't be the business of the courts only adds to the nanny state.
If that is the case, and 77% of the market uses IE, then Microsoft is the real regulatory body. These "standards" talked about in the article are apparently not so standard. Perhaps it is everyone else who is not following the standards set forth by MS. If they have the leverage to make people use or not use sites, then they are the defining institution.
when do you think IE will support SVG without any 3rd party plugins?
When two important thing happen: 1. Web designers stop worrying about IE as a special case and just build sites according to the stated standards. Any browser that doesn't follow the standards will not work so well. 2. When websites don't work because of a non-standardized browser, they should be redirected to a site that explains this and offers links to browsers that comply with standards.
Really that's all that needs to happen. As it stands now, most of the time I use FireFox, but I have to keep a copy of IE around because my bank's website only works with IE. Standards that are not followed are just suggestions.
I thought it wasn't so much a matter of wanting free songs, as much as not finding any songs worth paying for. The same goes for most of the current crop of movies. To top that off I already get quite a bit of music and movies for free (or at least already paid for) with my cable/internet package.
I presume you have some sort of motorized land vehicle
Better still if you have a sea vehicle. On the East Coast, it's really tough to get away from light pollution. Ten miles straight out to sea and the stars open up. Good luck using a telescope or camera though.
Why do we want to add power to an already out of control aspect of our government? When did the police stop serving the people of the community and start serving political masters?
Big media isn't interested unless it is going to help with DRM.
Executives with 7 figure salaries aren't interested unless it's going to help with DRM. As in most industries the top level of management has almost nothing to do with the actual industry, that is the actual work of making the product. How many music company executives have degrees in Music Theory?
Most people just don't have the luxury of a full time personal servant at the age of 6.
Most people don't have Mothers? Oh, you mean most mothers can't or just don't spend enough time interacting with their children. By age 6 it's way too late, most of the foundations have already been made. You can't just strap the kid into a stroller and sit them in front of Barney or even Baby Einstein and think that they will just catch up when they get to preschool. Babies learn through human interaction, go rediscover the world with your 0-3 year old. The more interaction they have as a baby, the faster and more easily your child will learn for the rest of their lives. Televisions, video games and inattentive nannies/day-care are not the same.
By age 6, you are right Gonoff, a child should be learning partly on their own.
but my "imagination" functionality is totally disabled.
Because of this I would wager that you are one of the few people who's driving isn't effected by talking a cell phone. Personally, the visual centers of my brain tend to focus on the concepts I'm talking about, not on the information coming from my eyes, I walk into things when talking on the phone or thinking intently about something.
These days reading isn't the only way to learn. The use and manipulation of different GUIs might as important 20 years from now as reading text. That said, early childhood education is very important, while the brain is growing and forming it's most basic pathways it's an educational advantage if "how to learn" is being hardwired in. The difference is most noticeable in children where given little interaction at as babies/infants. They (statistically)never are able to absorb new concepts or information as quickly.
Slashdot Mirror
I'm not sure if you are insinuating that the majority of voters get their news from the internet, or if you are noting that the objectivity of the media is already long lost. I strongly doubt the former, and sadly admit the latter.
Songs are part of the books, though Tolkien wasn't much of a song writer. If there is to be singing in the Hobbit, I'm pulling for "15 birds" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y30LAj502mY&feature=related
Why would the founders be appalled by the office of FCC commissioner?
Because the founders also wrote in, a free press. Having three giant corporations controlling all of mass media isn't free. That's why there were ever restrictions on how many newspapers or radio stations or television channel any one company could own. Whatever size chuck of the media one group controls, it is that same size chunk of the electorate that they can spin towards the candidate of their choosing. Imagine if we only had Fox News, or only had Air America. You can see how that might give one company undue influence. Just look at what happened to the quality of pop music since ClearChannel has be allowed to take over radio stations all over the country. Now apply that to the quality (and pay for play) of all of the news that mainstream America gets.
Considering that the newspaper as we know it is circling the drain
But the companies will still have undue influence of the press. Having a free press isn't just about not having government interference, but also about having a diverse enough job market for journalists that they are not simply serfs in a corporate fiefdom. At least with the 30% ownership law, we will still have three media outlets left in ten years. Of course there is nothing preventing them from having many of the same people on all three Board of Directors.http://sociology.ucsc.edu/whorulesamerica/power/corporate_community.html Face it, whoever controls the "tone" of the media can pick the winner of major elections. That's what all these giant elections funds are about, advertising. Now if big media become even more highly concentrated, then big election funds become secondary to being blessed by those who tell mainstream America what to think.
No one connected with the RIAA mob has any accountability.
Even if RIAA loses money on this, it doesn't matter much. Until some RIAA board members are facing real prison time, they will use whatever tactics the manage to get away with.
True, but this isn't about politicians being corrupt, this is about The Military being corrupt. That is a rather important line we have crossed. This isn't about hiding a lucrative exclusive contract to your nephew's business or fucking hookers in the Lincoln Bedroom. This is about the largest military in the world pursuing it's own agenda rather than the will of the American people. Of course this has been going on for some time.
We have been fed false information for the entire "War on Terror". This isn't about some politician trying to get re-elected, this is about military/government that has slipped away from the control of the people and has started a war killing tens of thousands of people, indebted us trillions of dollars, and made a mockery of ever virtue that America ever (nominally) stood for.
or we could believe some punk whose rich daddy paid him to go to an ivy league and then he turned into a hippie journalist.
or we could believe some punk whose rich daddy paid him to go to an ivy league and then he turned into a war profiteering President. http://democracyrising.us/content/view/57/72/
In the realm of "counter to the interests of the US populace and unconstitutional" there is so much more important stuff than this. This is just an aftershock of the much bigger "counter to the interests of the US populace and unconstitutional" practices going on like Gitmo itself, not the Wikipedia entry.
Why the hell are we paying for "mass communications officers" in the first place?
Because they are a part of the modern military: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychological_operations (read it quick before it get's edited)
Now you might think that it would be wrong for the US Government to use a part of the military against US citizens, but then you would be supporting the terrorists. Here's why: The Terrorists can read the internet. It's OK to trample on you if it is in the name of Stopping The Terrorists. Any red blooded American should be proud to read purposefully distorted information, because they know that it is the only way to Stop The Terrorists and protect Freedom. America, fuck yeah.
apparently some people think that Microsoft having that kind of control might not be in the best interests of anyone else and are trying to do something about that.
Ah yes, the very wise little group of people that want to use governmental power to make everyone else "do what is best". How many time and in how many venues do we have to see this played out before every petty "expert in their field" learns to stop trying to force everyone else to do things their way. This kind of shit is just as bad as all of the "think of the children" laws. If you hate MS, go buy a Mac and then shut the fuck up. Adding new court precedents towards shit that shouldn't be the business of the courts only adds to the nanny state.
The sad thing is I'm probably going to be modded funny for this.
Or maybe modded redundant. http://www.worldtribune.com/worldtribune/WTARC/2007/me_israel_06_07.asp
Worth can't really be determined in a skewed market where costs are set independently of the process of creation.
Radiohead would disagree.
You forgot the step: People leave the game.
I know I lost interest in EVE after the corp I was in dissolved. I canceled my account about two months after the corp crashed.
If that is the case, and 77% of the market uses IE, then Microsoft is the real regulatory body. These "standards" talked about in the article are apparently not so standard. Perhaps it is everyone else who is not following the standards set forth by MS. If they have the leverage to make people use or not use sites, then they are the defining institution.
when do you think IE will support SVG without any 3rd party plugins?
When two important thing happen:
1. Web designers stop worrying about IE as a special case and just build sites according to the stated standards. Any browser that doesn't follow the standards will not work so well.
2. When websites don't work because of a non-standardized browser, they should be redirected to a site that explains this and offers links to browsers that comply with standards.
Really that's all that needs to happen. As it stands now, most of the time I use FireFox, but I have to keep a copy of IE around because my bank's website only works with IE. Standards that are not followed are just suggestions.
I thought it wasn't so much a matter of wanting free songs, as much as not finding any songs worth paying for. The same goes for most of the current crop of movies. To top that off I already get quite a bit of music and movies for free (or at least already paid for) with my cable/internet package.
I presume you have some sort of motorized land vehicle
Better still if you have a sea vehicle. On the East Coast, it's really tough to get away from light pollution. Ten miles straight out to sea and the stars open up. Good luck using a telescope or camera though.
"When you are in public, you are in public." should not equal "When you are public, you are presumed to have criminal intent." This is yet another symptom of the growing perceptual gap between the police and the community they are supposed to "protect and serve". There are new stories every day about the effects of the increased militarization of the civilian police forces. Some of the stories are about SWAT teams kicking in the wrong door and terrorizing and/or shooting innocent people in their own homes. http://archives.cnn.com/2000/US/10/06/tennessee.shooting.02.ap/index.html http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,188934,00.html http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/1107/474003.html
Some of the stories are about police view everyone they don't like as a "badguy" and then using that to justify violence. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tOVkT2YESU&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6e2-qi0Rc3w&feature=related
And some of the stories are about police purposefully criminalizing citizens when they want to protest peacefully (another right fading away) http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/07/28/SURVEILLANCE.TMP http://www.notinourname.net/restrictions/infiltration-19feb04.htm http://www.nettime.org/Lists-Archives/nettime-l-0101/msg00193.html http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/22/nyregion/22police.html
Why do we want to add power to an already out of control aspect of our government? When did the police stop serving the people of the community and start serving political masters?
Big media isn't interested unless it is going to help with DRM.
Executives with 7 figure salaries aren't interested unless it's going to help with DRM. As in most industries the top level of management has almost nothing to do with the actual industry, that is the actual work of making the product. How many music company executives have degrees in Music Theory?
The website actually says "It's got what plants crave!" in the logo. ....
This is exactly why we breeding licenses for humans.
it could describe both our current and former leader.
I'll take "fucks interns" over "fucks the constitution" any day.
In the cases of both the insurance and Congress, I already paid for it. Where exactly do you think they get their money from?
Most people just don't have the luxury of a full time personal servant at the age of 6.
Most people don't have Mothers? Oh, you mean most mothers can't or just don't spend enough time interacting with their children. By age 6 it's way too late, most of the foundations have already been made. You can't just strap the kid into a stroller and sit them in front of Barney or even Baby Einstein and think that they will just catch up when they get to preschool. Babies learn through human interaction, go rediscover the world with your 0-3 year old. The more interaction they have as a baby, the faster and more easily your child will learn for the rest of their lives. Televisions, video games and inattentive nannies/day-care are not the same.
By age 6, you are right Gonoff, a child should be learning partly on their own.
but my "imagination" functionality is totally disabled.
Because of this I would wager that you are one of the few people who's driving isn't effected by talking a cell phone. Personally, the visual centers of my brain tend to focus on the concepts I'm talking about, not on the information coming from my eyes, I walk into things when talking on the phone or thinking intently about something.
These days reading isn't the only way to learn. The use and manipulation of different GUIs might as important 20 years from now as reading text. That said, early childhood education is very important, while the brain is growing and forming it's most basic pathways it's an educational advantage if "how to learn" is being hardwired in. The difference is most noticeable in children where given little interaction at as babies/infants. They (statistically)never are able to absorb new concepts or information as quickly.