Which actually makes sense. $15 is about the average pay in that area of the world; think about it. When Homer started snitching on teh other inmates, they rather obviously noticed his Plasma TV, his Segway, etc. If our intelligence started paying 3, 4, 5 000 for an operation, it would be noticed rather quickly. This is also why (in my opinion) no one has come forward with any information on bin Laden.
But not in the way they think. TFA mentions two points, but doesn't explore them in depth. The first is their algorithms they use; let's face it, Google is starting to fall to the SEOs. If they have a new algorithm that was able to actually follow your web browsing all the way, they'd be able to provide much better results. Google claims to do this, but they can't follow you more than your first link. Second, they seem to pick up that most people find their entire information on the second or think link they visit.
Combine these together, and the program could offer you 80 gigs of data to just sit on your computer and be sifted through at yuor leisure. It would be able to follow you through, and find exactly how you get through your data. When it needs to, it can spider into areas that it might think you'd want to go (Been looking at a lok of Wikipedia? Next time you connect, it goes an picks up some wikibooks).
The best part, is that all the "Big Brother" information is being stored on YOUR computer, not their servers. You want that info, Bush? You'll have to supoena every user.
If they tergeted this more towards a desktop-search type thing with better search algos than Google, this could just work.
Powers three Oh where may these possibly be seen? Google Labs Aptitude Test could be given a new little problem to stumble and confuse Stanford Doctors
Until the Japanese (and the world) realize thier old favorite Nintendo has a console that is 1/2 the price, fun, INNOVATIVE (where have we heard that claimed?) and has all the old games they loved, plus the crazy "Tomagatchi" style new games.
That was one of my favorite parts of FFVII; the date scene. When I first played through the game, I did it fairly normally, and ended up with Aeris. The second time, I played a bit more towards Tifa (Something about knowing your girlfriend decides to do something incrediably stupid and gets killed over it kinda turns me off...), and was amazed when SHE turned up for the date. At that point, I started the other things that *could* happen if I played differently, and was a bit dissapointed when they didn't...
FFX really ticked me off in this way, because it was ONE story (albeit with cinematic quality). And this is what drew me to FFX-2. There are so many different stories, and different ways to get to AN end based off what you do. That was really what made me love FFX-2. FFXI was MMO... that's all I have to say.
Well, here's to hoping FFXII does something unique (and if not, I'm picking up Oblivion CE for PC on Thursday (f*ing European release).
As I mentioned, Sony knowing what's good for them. I also see that as a big possiblility, and in that case... I would buy an xBox 360. I don't know if it's just me, but if it isn't Sony needs to do everything it can to keep Square-Enix (and any other vendor *cough*Rockstar*) on board as exclusive third-party developers.
But thinking about it more and more, if Sone can keep third party support, the only winner this round will be Nintendo. Yep. Sony will win 1/2 of Japan, MS will win half of US, and everyone else will experience a Revolution...
They will do everything they can to realize the following:
"One excited fan asked Wada to release a remake of Final Fantasy VII for PlayStation 3, to which Wada responded "We'll consider it." "
If there is ever a killer app for the PS3, it would be an exclusive FF VII. Right now, I am rather disgusted with Sony, but my love and support for Square-Enix would be enough to overcome that with FF VII. I would go so far as to saying it could rival Halo as a console seller (if done right; though I could still see Sony screwing it up).
This reminds me of a Paul Bunyan story I heard once...
SO, Paul and the guys were logging in the Wisconsin area, when all of a sudden, the entire horizon fills with dark, ominous clouds. Well, not to be pushed around by some rain or maybe a little hail, the guys keep on working. But as the cloud comes closer, they start hearing these strange buzzing sounds. Finally, they realize that it is indeed not a storm, but a huge cloud of Giant Mosquitoes!
Well, the guys haul but into the tin huts, but the giant mosquitoes start punching holes in the roof with their stingers! Paul, always being a quick thinker, grabs a hammer and starts pounding on the mosquito stingers, and they get flattened to the roof. Now, some of the mosquitoes couldn't get in or out, and the rest called it quits.
Now, Paul knew that the mosquitoes would probably be back, so he sent young Tom down the river to St. Louis to bring back some of them Guard Bees he had heard about. Tom gets back a couple of weeks later, and the bees proceed to fly patrol around the camp.
That was all fine great and dandy, until the Mosquitoes actually came back. See, the mosquitoes and the bees liked each other so much, they flew off and got married. Sure enough, their bee-squitoe kids came back a couple of weeks later with stingers on BOTH ends!
In the end, their craving for sweets caused them to swarm a fleet of ships which were bringing molasses to Paul's lumbercamp. They ate so much molasses that they could no longer fly and soon they were all drowned. Paul saved two of the mosquitoes which he later used for drilling holes in maple trees.
No, they advertised to gamers that it would be based on mods; I was expecting at least something as powerful as the CivIII world builder. They didn't provide what they hyped, and they lost my support over it. I don't care that they chose Python; in fact, I was looking forward to practicing Python with Civ IV, but when they don't give me somthing as simple as a reference card of functions, I can't do jack. It's one thing when a community wants to mod the game, it's something else the game wants the community to mod it.
Nope. If they didn't build it right the first time, and don't have Auto Update features, I won't a)know about or b) install the patch. I spend my comp time programming, reading slashdot, and playing games. As a gamer, I just use windows, and as a geek, I leave auto update on, I've never been hit with a virus or spyware. If you can't release a perfect (in my experience) product that I'm paying >$50, I won't come back.
The things he mentions are fun to do, and for some projects they may be necessary, but the big thing seems to be "My profiler is more customized than yours!" As for byte-code hacking and other "Refliective" programming techniques, that's the all-mighty Heavenly Father's (ar at least Matz's) gift to Ruby.
Well, most of the article ended up talking about it, so I might as well go along (I still think he has better ideas, but hey).
1. Graphics. Overdone, didn't work on three seperate systems I tried.
2. AI. I still think Civ 2 was their best in AI; Civ 3 was too big and slow, Civ 4 was (to me) the exact same AI.
3. The mod system. Definately the biggest failure. XML and Python is great, but my big reason for staying with Java and PHP is simple, documentation. Javadocs for java.* and javax.*, and the PHP amnual are huge documents that cover every nitty-gritty of the the functions, the unexpectued results, and the plain hacks. While I don't expect the guys at Firaxis to write a full-fledged tutorial on Python, but I at least expect documentation of their functions/classes IN THE BOX. They might be online somewhere, but if it doesn't come with the package, it doesn't exist.
I don't care if they open up the AI, Graphics, whatever code they have; they already blew it. I've already uninstalled Civ4 to make a bit more room for the mods I'm planning on making for Oblivion, and I won't be pre-ordering, or ordering, or late-ordering Civ 5.
*I was unable to find a link to the legislation itself, the best I could find was the Senate Press Release. If anyone has this, it would be great!
Also, I have another complaint about the VGVN: I am not allowed to personalize my message when I click "Contact Senator". This is a gross problem with Grassroots organizations in this day and age. For those interested, here is my updated version of their letter:
Dear [Elected Official]:
This was originally a from letter I have copied from Video Game Voters Network. It would not allow me to edit and personalize the letter; as I have several objections to the original letter, I am posting it here, with changes in CAPITALS. Thank you for your time (or at least the time your aid spends deleting this;)
I am writing to express my SUPPORT to the so-called "Family Entertainment Protection Act" (FEPA). WHILE this bill will do little to keep violent video games out of the hands of minors, it thrusts government into parenting, and moreover similar BUT NOT THE SAME proposals have been ruled unconstitutional by several Federal courts in the last few years.
I am an avid video game player who has been playing for many years. I believe this bill WILL DO NOTHING to my choice of video games as game publishers would DIRECT ATTENTION TOWARDS making games for mature users like me, and retailers would shy away from selling them TO MINORS as they would fear prosecution under this legislation. As an adult who cares about protecting kids, I share in the spirit of the law, which is aimed at keeping inappropriate content out of the hands of minors, but I strongly AGREE with the approach of this bill.
The average video game player is 30 years old, and according to the Federal Trade Commission's own statistics, parents are involved in the purchase and rental of games over 80 percent of the time. Therefore, the best way to keep adult-oriented video games away from minors is through the existing standardized industry game ratings, parental education, and continued voluntary retail enforcement of industry ratings. In addition to these efforts, all new video game consoles will come equipped with parental controls, so in due course parents will have total power, if they choose to use it, to control the games their kids play. (Funny, that is exactly what this bill does.)
UNFORTUNATELY, FEPA unfairly targets video games for regulation while other media with violent and sexual content, such as movies, magazines, and books can and are legally sold to consumers of all ages, including minors. There is no law banning kids from buying or getting into R or NC-17 rated movies, or watching TV shows with adult content, and there is no reason to treat video games any differently. IF LEGISLATION SIMILAR TO OR AMMENDED TO THE "Family Entertainment Protection Act" WAS CREATED TARGETING MOVIES, MUSIC, ETC, I WOULD SUPPORT IT AS WELL.
Please DO support the Family Entertainment Protection Act. It does MUCH to protect children from inappropriate content and MAY only stifle AN ALREADY UNcreative INDUSTRY and consumer choices in video game entertainment. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this issue.
*I was unable to find a link to the legislation itself, the best I could find was the Senate Press Release. If anyone has this, it would be great!
Also, I have another complaint about the VGVN: I am not allowed to personalize my message when I click "Contact Senator". This is a gross problem with Grassroots organizations in this day and age. For those interested, here is my updated version of their letter:
Dear [Elected Official],
This was originally a from letter I have copied from Video Game Voters Network. It would not allow me to edit and personalize the letter; as I have several objections to the original letter, I am posting it here, with changes in CAPITALS. Thank you for your time (or at least the time your aid spends deleting this;)
I am writing to express my SUPPORT to the so-called "Family Entertainment Protection Act" (FEPA). WHILE this bill will do little to keep violent video games out of the hands of minors, it thrusts government into parenting, and moreover similar BUT NOT THE SAME proposals have been ruled unconstitutional by several Federal courts in the last few years.
I am an avid video game player who has been playing for many years. I believe this bill WILL DO NOTHING to my choice of video games as game publishers would DIRECT ATTENTION TOWARDS making games for mature users like me, and retailers would shy away from selling them TO MINORS as they would fear prosecution under this legislation. As an adult who cares about protecting kids, I share in the spirit of the law, which is aimed at keeping inappropriate content out of the hands of minors, but I strongly AGREE with the approach of this bill.
The average video game player is 30 years old, and according to the Federal Trade Commission's own statistics, parents are involved in the purchase and rental of games over 80 percent of the time. Therefore, the best way to keep adult-oriented video games away from minors is through the existing standardized industry game ratings, parental education, and continued voluntary retail enforcement of industry ratings. In addition to these efforts, all new video game consoles will come equipped with parental controls, so in due course parents will have total power, if they choose to use it, to control the games their kids play. (Funny, that is exactly what this bill does.)
UNFORTUNATELY, FEPA unfairly targets video games for regulation while other media with violent and sexual content, such as movies, magazines, and books can and are legally sold to consumers of all ages, including minors. There is no law banning kids from buying or getting into R or NC-17 rated movies, or watching TV shows with adult content, and there is no reason to treat video games any differently. IF LEGISLATION SIMILAR TO OR AMMENDED TO THE "Family Entertainment Protection Act" WAS CREATED TARGETING MOVIES, MUSIC, ETC, I WOULD SUPPORT IT AS WELL.
Please DO support the Family Entertainment Protection Act. It does MUCH to protect children from inappropriate content and MAY only stifle AN ALREADY UNcreative INDUSTRY and consumer choices in video game entertainment. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this issue.
Sincerely,
David Souther
41 Valley Dr.
Billings, MT 59101
I am aged 18, and this post will contain exactly 1 (one) instance of the word "lol"-there.
First, I cannot give support to a group who makes a claim against legislation without quoting the legislation; in this day and age, they should link directly to the bill, or at least the press release. I have this same issue with the NRA, MoveOn, Michael Moore, and just about every other "grassroots" organization.
That aside, the main point of the Video Game Voters Network as it stands appears to be the defeat of The Family Entertainment Protection Act* (Wiki), whose main purpose is Government enforcment of ESRB ratings. I, for one, support (mostly) the ESRB ratings, and do not believe that 12-year-olds should have access to Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. And yes, I have seen 12-year-olds purchase GTA at my local Gamestop (pre-Hot Coffee). I informed the manager that I would never again purchase a game at their store, left, and have never again set foot in any Gamestop.
The problem with the Gaming industry isn't the fear of Government regulation or "oppresive" laws, which don't even punish the developers or gamers, but retailers, and Clinton et al aren't out for the total abolishment of The World As We Know It(tm), but rather out to protect the children of their constituencies. Thus, the Video Game Voters Network shouldn't be out to oppose this legislation, but instead, should be organizing boycotts of EA for re-releasing every Sports games with questionably "better" graphics and AI, much less their employer-practices.
What about the Google toolbar for Firefox? It tells Google where the search comes from, and it's got a bucketload of features to boot! As an exchange/foreign language student, I find the Translator to be quite usefull (though it could be better written, now it is only en-fl), and the Form Spellchecker is awesome!
I read 100% of the article, and the linked decision. This is my take on your questions, not a rebuttal.
HOW does IAC know WHAT he deleted?
His job was to gather information for the company. Thus, this information should be on the computer. If it is not, he obviously deleted something that was not his, it was the companies. He can delete his photos, ACAD, whatever was HIS, but if it in any way related to his job (finding real-estate), it should be there. As for how I understand these "Super deleters" to work, they fill the area with 0s over and over, totally destroying the "original" encoding. Thus, some residual trace would be there that something happened, you just don't know what. Think of a fire; no more wood, but still some ash.
WHY be such specious pieces of shit and sue him for something they cannot prove/trying to prove the unknowable?
While the company may be being "specious pieces of shit", he did quit to start a competing job. If you were paying someone for a project, and 90% through they decide to quit, and go work on the project on their own, wouldn't you get pissed off? The company may have better luck filing suit elsewhere (non-competition clause in his contract, or something), they do have a (in my non-legal opinion) case. How it turns out is up to the court; there hasn't yet been an actuall trial, so we'll have to wait and see. I do hope this case shows up on/. again, either way the trial goes.
Yes, and it came out... yesterday? At least this week. Sure, it's not good now, but how much better have News, Groups, and Mail gotten in their time? Give it 6 months, and it'll easily equal most pf the other free services.
Just a thought, but how many machines would it take to run a DDoS against 180? And (I assume they use XP) are their machines all up to date? I've always wondered what it would be like to have/use a botnet...
Slashdot Mirror
Which actually makes sense. $15 is about the average pay in that area of the world; think about it. When Homer started snitching on teh other inmates, they rather obviously noticed his Plasma TV, his Segway, etc. If our intelligence started paying 3, 4, 5 000 for an operation, it would be noticed rather quickly. This is also why (in my opinion) no one has come forward with any information on bin Laden.
But not in the way they think. TFA mentions two points, but doesn't explore them in depth. The first is their algorithms they use; let's face it, Google is starting to fall to the SEOs. If they have a new algorithm that was able to actually follow your web browsing all the way, they'd be able to provide much better results. Google claims to do this, but they can't follow you more than your first link. Second, they seem to pick up that most people find their entire information on the second or think link they visit.
Combine these together, and the program could offer you 80 gigs of data to just sit on your computer and be sifted through at yuor leisure. It would be able to follow you through, and find exactly how you get through your data. When it needs to, it can spider into areas that it might think you'd want to go (Been looking at a lok of Wikipedia? Next time you connect, it goes an picks up some wikibooks).
The best part, is that all the "Big Brother" information is being stored on YOUR computer, not their servers. You want that info, Bush? You'll have to supoena every user.
If they tergeted this more towards a desktop-search type thing with better search algos than Google, this could just work.
Powers three
Oh where may these possibly be seen?
Google Labs Aptitude Test could be given a new little problem to stumble and confuse Stanford Doctors
Powers
twos for this post
grow still faster than those darn primes
now I have to get sixteen syllables on one line; 4th is good!
Primes
Also
Make a poem
though the size can get
rather large, rather quick so
I will stop while I am a bit over ten.
Until the Japanese (and the world) realize thier old favorite Nintendo has a console that is 1/2 the price, fun, INNOVATIVE (where have we heard that claimed?) and has all the old games they loved, plus the crazy "Tomagatchi" style new games.
That was one of my favorite parts of FFVII; the date scene. When I first played through the game, I did it fairly normally, and ended up with Aeris. The second time, I played a bit more towards Tifa (Something about knowing your girlfriend decides to do something incrediably stupid and gets killed over it kinda turns me off...), and was amazed when SHE turned up for the date. At that point, I started the other things that *could* happen if I played differently, and was a bit dissapointed when they didn't...
FFX really ticked me off in this way, because it was ONE story (albeit with cinematic quality). And this is what drew me to FFX-2. There are so many different stories, and different ways to get to AN end based off what you do. That was really what made me love FFX-2. FFXI was MMO... that's all I have to say.
Well, here's to hoping FFXII does something unique (and if not, I'm picking up Oblivion CE for PC on Thursday (f*ing European release).
Glad I'm not the only one to jump to that conclusion.
Neglecting Firefox's inability to pass Acid 2.0. this might be better for you.
As I mentioned, Sony knowing what's good for them. I also see that as a big possiblility, and in that case... I would buy an xBox 360. I don't know if it's just me, but if it isn't Sony needs to do everything it can to keep Square-Enix (and any other vendor *cough*Rockstar*) on board as exclusive third-party developers.
But thinking about it more and more, if Sone can keep third party support, the only winner this round will be Nintendo. Yep. Sony will win 1/2 of Japan, MS will win half of US, and everyone else will experience a Revolution...
They will do everything they can to realize the following:
"One excited fan asked Wada to release a remake of Final Fantasy VII for PlayStation 3, to which Wada responded "We'll consider it." "
If there is ever a killer app for the PS3, it would be an exclusive FF VII. Right now, I am rather disgusted with Sony, but my love and support for Square-Enix would be enough to overcome that with FF VII. I would go so far as to saying it could rival Halo as a console seller (if done right; though I could still see Sony screwing it up).
This reminds me of a Paul Bunyan story I heard once...
SO, Paul and the guys were logging in the Wisconsin area, when all of a sudden, the entire horizon fills with dark, ominous clouds. Well, not to be pushed around by some rain or maybe a little hail, the guys keep on working. But as the cloud comes closer, they start hearing these strange buzzing sounds. Finally, they realize that it is indeed not a storm, but a huge cloud of Giant Mosquitoes!
Well, the guys haul but into the tin huts, but the giant mosquitoes start punching holes in the roof with their stingers! Paul, always being a quick thinker, grabs a hammer and starts pounding on the mosquito stingers, and they get flattened to the roof. Now, some of the mosquitoes couldn't get in or out, and the rest called it quits.
Now, Paul knew that the mosquitoes would probably be back, so he sent young Tom down the river to St. Louis to bring back some of them Guard Bees he had heard about. Tom gets back a couple of weeks later, and the bees proceed to fly patrol around the camp.
That was all fine great and dandy, until the Mosquitoes actually came back. See, the mosquitoes and the bees liked each other so much, they flew off and got married. Sure enough, their bee-squitoe kids came back a couple of weeks later with stingers on BOTH ends!
In the end, their craving for sweets caused them to swarm a fleet of ships which were bringing molasses to Paul's lumbercamp. They ate so much molasses that they could no longer fly and soon they were all drowned. Paul saved two of the mosquitoes which he later used for drilling holes in maple trees.
No, they advertised to gamers that it would be based on mods; I was expecting at least something as powerful as the CivIII world builder. They didn't provide what they hyped, and they lost my support over it. I don't care that they chose Python; in fact, I was looking forward to practicing Python with Civ IV, but when they don't give me somthing as simple as a reference card of functions, I can't do jack. It's one thing when a community wants to mod the game, it's something else the game wants the community to mod it.
Nope. If they didn't build it right the first time, and don't have Auto Update features, I won't a)know about or b) install the patch. I spend my comp time programming, reading slashdot, and playing games. As a gamer, I just use windows, and as a geek, I leave auto update on, I've never been hit with a virus or spyware. If you can't release a perfect (in my experience) product that I'm paying >$50, I won't come back.
To say you did it yourself, duh!
The things he mentions are fun to do, and for some projects they may be necessary, but the big thing seems to be "My profiler is more customized than yours!" As for byte-code hacking and other "Refliective" programming techniques, that's the all-mighty Heavenly Father's (ar at least Matz's) gift to Ruby.
Well, most of the article ended up talking about it, so I might as well go along (I still think he has better ideas, but hey).
1. Graphics. Overdone, didn't work on three seperate systems I tried.
2. AI. I still think Civ 2 was their best in AI; Civ 3 was too big and slow, Civ 4 was (to me) the exact same AI.
3. The mod system. Definately the biggest failure. XML and Python is great, but my big reason for staying with Java and PHP is simple, documentation. Javadocs for java.* and javax.*, and the PHP amnual are huge documents that cover every nitty-gritty of the the functions, the unexpectued results, and the plain hacks. While I don't expect the guys at Firaxis to write a full-fledged tutorial on Python, but I at least expect documentation of their functions/classes IN THE BOX. They might be online somewhere, but if it doesn't come with the package, it doesn't exist.
I don't care if they open up the AI, Graphics, whatever code they have; they already blew it. I've already uninstalled Civ4 to make a bit more room for the mods I'm planning on making for Oblivion, and I won't be pre-ordering, or ordering, or late-ordering Civ 5.
Sorry about that. (Puts on karma jacket):(
;)
*I was unable to find a link to the legislation itself, the best I could find was the Senate Press Release. If anyone has this, it would be great!
Also, I have another complaint about the VGVN: I am not allowed to personalize my message when I click "Contact Senator". This is a gross problem with Grassroots organizations in this day and age. For those interested, here is my updated version of their letter:
Dear [Elected Official]:
This was originally a from letter I have copied from Video Game Voters Network. It would not allow me to edit and personalize the letter; as I have several objections to the original letter, I am posting it here, with changes in CAPITALS. Thank you for your time (or at least the time your aid spends deleting this
I am writing to express my SUPPORT to the so-called "Family Entertainment Protection Act" (FEPA). WHILE this bill will do little to keep violent video games out of the hands of minors, it thrusts government into parenting, and moreover similar BUT NOT THE SAME proposals have been ruled unconstitutional by several Federal courts in the last few years.
I am an avid video game player who has been playing for many years. I believe this bill WILL DO NOTHING to my choice of video games as game publishers would DIRECT ATTENTION TOWARDS making games for mature users like me, and retailers would shy away from selling them TO MINORS as they would fear prosecution under this legislation. As an adult who cares about protecting kids, I share in the spirit of the law, which is aimed at keeping inappropriate content out of the hands of minors, but I strongly AGREE with the approach of this bill.
The average video game player is 30 years old, and according to the Federal Trade Commission's own statistics, parents are involved in the purchase and rental of games over 80 percent of the time. Therefore, the best way to keep adult-oriented video games away from minors is through the existing standardized industry game ratings, parental education, and continued voluntary retail enforcement of industry ratings. In addition to these efforts, all new video game consoles will come equipped with parental controls, so in due course parents will have total power, if they choose to use it, to control the games their kids play. (Funny, that is exactly what this bill does.)
UNFORTUNATELY, FEPA unfairly targets video games for regulation while other media with violent and sexual content, such as movies, magazines, and books can and are legally sold to consumers of all ages, including minors. There is no law banning kids from buying or getting into R or NC-17 rated movies, or watching TV shows with adult content, and there is no reason to treat video games any differently. IF LEGISLATION SIMILAR TO OR AMMENDED TO THE "Family Entertainment Protection Act" WAS CREATED TARGETING MOVIES, MUSIC, ETC, I WOULD SUPPORT IT AS WELL.
Please DO support the Family Entertainment Protection Act. It does MUCH to protect children from inappropriate content and MAY only stifle AN ALREADY UNcreative INDUSTRY and consumer choices in video game entertainment. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this issue.
Sincerely,
David Souther
41 Valley Dr.
Billings, MT 59101
*I was unable to find a link to the legislation itself, the best I could find was the Senate Press Release. If anyone has this, it would be great! Also, I have another complaint about the VGVN: I am not allowed to personalize my message when I click "Contact Senator". This is a gross problem with Grassroots organizations in this day and age. For those interested, here is my updated version of their letter: Dear [Elected Official], This was originally a from letter I have copied from Video Game Voters Network. It would not allow me to edit and personalize the letter; as I have several objections to the original letter, I am posting it here, with changes in CAPITALS. Thank you for your time (or at least the time your aid spends deleting this ;)
I am writing to express my SUPPORT to the so-called "Family Entertainment Protection Act" (FEPA). WHILE this bill will do little to keep violent video games out of the hands of minors, it thrusts government into parenting, and moreover similar BUT NOT THE SAME proposals have been ruled unconstitutional by several Federal courts in the last few years.
I am an avid video game player who has been playing for many years. I believe this bill WILL DO NOTHING to my choice of video games as game publishers would DIRECT ATTENTION TOWARDS making games for mature users like me, and retailers would shy away from selling them TO MINORS as they would fear prosecution under this legislation. As an adult who cares about protecting kids, I share in the spirit of the law, which is aimed at keeping inappropriate content out of the hands of minors, but I strongly AGREE with the approach of this bill.
The average video game player is 30 years old, and according to the Federal Trade Commission's own statistics, parents are involved in the purchase and rental of games over 80 percent of the time. Therefore, the best way to keep adult-oriented video games away from minors is through the existing standardized industry game ratings, parental education, and continued voluntary retail enforcement of industry ratings. In addition to these efforts, all new video game consoles will come equipped with parental controls, so in due course parents will have total power, if they choose to use it, to control the games their kids play. (Funny, that is exactly what this bill does.)
UNFORTUNATELY, FEPA unfairly targets video games for regulation while other media with violent and sexual content, such as movies, magazines, and books can and are legally sold to consumers of all ages, including minors. There is no law banning kids from buying or getting into R or NC-17 rated movies, or watching TV shows with adult content, and there is no reason to treat video games any differently. IF LEGISLATION SIMILAR TO OR AMMENDED TO THE "Family Entertainment Protection Act" WAS CREATED TARGETING MOVIES, MUSIC, ETC, I WOULD SUPPORT IT AS WELL.
Please DO support the Family Entertainment Protection Act. It does MUCH to protect children from inappropriate content and MAY only stifle AN ALREADY UNcreative INDUSTRY and consumer choices in video game entertainment. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this issue.
Sincerely,
David Souther
41 Valley Dr.
Billings, MT 59101
I am aged 18, and this post will contain exactly 1 (one) instance of the word "lol"-there.
First, I cannot give support to a group who makes a claim against legislation without quoting the legislation; in this day and age, they should link directly to the bill, or at least the press release. I have this same issue with the NRA, MoveOn, Michael Moore, and just about every other "grassroots" organization.
That aside, the main point of the Video Game Voters Network as it stands appears to be the defeat of The Family Entertainment Protection Act* (Wiki), whose main purpose is Government enforcment of ESRB ratings. I, for one, support (mostly) the ESRB ratings, and do not believe that 12-year-olds should have access to Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. And yes, I have seen 12-year-olds purchase GTA at my local Gamestop (pre-Hot Coffee). I informed the manager that I would never again purchase a game at their store, left, and have never again set foot in any Gamestop.
The problem with the Gaming industry isn't the fear of Government regulation or "oppresive" laws, which don't even punish the developers or gamers, but retailers, and Clinton et al aren't out for the total abolishment of The World As We Know It(tm), but rather out to protect the children of their constituencies. Thus, the Video Game Voters Network shouldn't be out to oppose this legislation, but instead, should be organizing boycotts of EA for re-releasing every Sports games with questionably "better" graphics and AI, much less their employer-practices.
They make BS statements, and use more system resources than the spyware they're trying to clean up!
What about the Google toolbar for Firefox? It tells Google where the search comes from, and it's got a bucketload of features to boot! As an exchange/foreign language student, I find the Translator to be quite usefull (though it could be better written, now it is only en-fl), and the Form Spellchecker is awesome!
I read 100% of the article, and the linked decision. This is my take on your questions, not a rebuttal.
HOW does IAC know WHAT he deleted?His job was to gather information for the company. Thus, this information should be on the computer. If it is not, he obviously deleted something that was not his, it was the companies. He can delete his photos, ACAD, whatever was HIS, but if it in any way related to his job (finding real-estate), it should be there. As for how I understand these "Super deleters" to work, they fill the area with 0s over and over, totally destroying the "original" encoding. Thus, some residual trace would be there that something happened, you just don't know what. Think of a fire; no more wood, but still some ash.
WHY be such specious pieces of shit and sue him for something they cannot prove/trying to prove the unknowable?While the company may be being "specious pieces of shit", he did quit to start a competing job. If you were paying someone for a project, and 90% through they decide to quit, and go work on the project on their own, wouldn't you get pissed off? The company may have better luck filing suit elsewhere (non-competition clause in his contract, or something), they do have a (in my non-legal opinion) case. How it turns out is up to the court; there hasn't yet been an actuall trial, so we'll have to wait and see. I do hope this case shows up on /. again, either way the trial goes.
Yes, and it came out... yesterday? At least this week. Sure, it's not good now, but how much better have News, Groups, and Mail gotten in their time? Give it 6 months, and it'll easily equal most pf the other free services.
You mean sensationalized bullshit, right?
Just a thought, but how many machines would it take to run a DDoS against 180? And (I assume they use XP) are their machines all up to date? I've always wondered what it would be like to have/use a botnet...