From that, we have finally gotten Prop 11 on the ballot in California thanks to our Governor(ator). Take what you've learned, and vote accordingly. This proposition will have a significant impact on every election to come in California, and you should really put in the time to learn about it.
I doubt it will pass, but I really hope it does. Whatever happens, I hope other states follow in getting this prop on the ballot.
Insurance shouldn't be tied to your job. (McCain gets this right)
Reward Healthy Living w/tiered pricing. (McCain also gets this right)
Premiums can't skyrocket for good customers.
Customer choice will help right the system. (Another McCain point)
I suggest a hybrid of "government run" and "privately executed".
My solution would be to do all of the above bullets, and then force individuals to contribute 2% of their income to health insurance. If they don't spend it, they lose it. They can then use it on any insurance company they want with any plan they want.
You could see some really cool plans develop. For example, an insurance company might say "average rate for ACL surgery is $10k. If you get it done for less than that, we'll give you a 10% discount on your premium for a year. If you want the best, that's fine too.
Wait until Google Docs stops exporting to deprecated MS Word 97 format (and ignorers.docx entirely), but does export to Google Document Format for their new Google Desktop Office; then you'll see Microsoft behavior.
They'd only do that once they had 80%+ of the market. And given their recent actions, I'm pretty sure they *would* do that in a market where they have a monopoly.
Their whole "don't be evil" thing only applies when it's a minor inconvenience.
Positioning it as an extension of office is much more appealing to me than google's broadband-dependent offering. For all the times MS looks completely befuddled by consumer needs, the office team seems to know what it's doing.
Pretty sure there's a difference between me uploading my video to youtube to use and google taking a copy of my video and scanning/posting it without my consent.
I'm still more mad about universities, which do not have any kind of employment contract with students, forcing students to give up their copyrights to their work.
At what point does someone's actions online permit distribution of their work? I think it's pretty unclear right now.
If there's a version 6.3 of software in my field that I've never heard of, I generally assume it's some crappy shareware knockoff of what I'm already using.
If it's version 1.0, I want to see what was so important that they had to make a new piece of software (which is why I tried out Google Chrome).
I really wouldn't mind games being locked into one owner with zero resale. The problem is the industry pricing isn't built that way right now. You shouldn't be able to lock me in as the only owner of a 8-10 hour game with a $60 price point, or I simply won't buy. That's rental territory and should be around $10-$15. On the other hand, games like Gears of War 2 I'd probably be willing to pay $60 and have $0 resale value, because it's that awesome and has awesome replay/online play longevity (and should have free map packs too).
Bottom line, the games industry needs to either lock customers into 1 game per person and lower, variable price points; or sell resellable games at their inflated $60 price point. They can't have their cake and eat it too, or people just won't buy.
Honestly, I hate to be mean but you need to know the truth. If you're getting any kind of interview, the problem isn't your resume it's your interview skills. You wouldn't get an interview if they weren't ok with the tech support background.
The resume gets you in the door, the interview skills get you the job.
The risk-to-reward of skipping DRM just isn't good enough for publishers. We can complain all we want, but it's not going to change it. It's like a buying insurance. You know it's a net negative investment, but it makes you feel a lot better.
Now, I imagine the extreme DRM in Spore will be the exception rather than the rule as publishers figure out better DRM systems. I mean, Spore's DRM is just sooo dick I didn't even get it.
You would think real scientists would like that statement. Things like drug research in the US really only get funded because there is money to be made. If you don't protect science IP, there'll be a whole lot less science done.
While I get all up in arms about the RIAA, MPAA, and other stupid organizations/patents, investment in medical and science research is far more important to me than those.
"It's just biology" is hooey. I can think of a million examples where my biology tells me to do something (see: strippers) but my mind overrules it. If my biology naturally makes me want to favor someone of my own races, it's my obligation as an evolved human to have my logic overrule it.
But they'd seriously have lost all focus if they did become a publisher. They probably would be the next Yahoo.
Realistically, they'll probably sell advertising to video game publishers. Lots of companies have tried this and done it quite poorly. Google might be able to do it better.
"History has taught us it will lead to stagnation and quirky (rather than standards-compliant) rendering."
While I agree with your overall point, I need to nitpick. Standards-compliance isn't important if everyone uses the same browser. The browser IS the standard.
Pros: Fast. Lower footprint than FF Tabs dont crash each other. Clean layout.
Cons: Pretty bare-bones. No bookmark Sync (showstopper for me) Breaks on many pages with flash that safari doesn't No adblocker in default install Really, really difficult to manage bookmarks.
Slashdot has been streamlined and optimized based on user feedback and eliminated all articles from front-page news headlines.
This provides two unique benefits: 1) No one can copy articles in their entirety into posts. 2) No one can correct the summary and tell the editors to RTFA.
Slashdot Mirror
Earlier, we had slashdot stories on the http://www.redistrictinggame.org/ and how it was educating people through video games.
From that, we have finally gotten Prop 11 on the ballot in California thanks to our Governor(ator). Take what you've learned, and vote accordingly. This proposition will have a significant impact on every election to come in California, and you should really put in the time to learn about it.
I doubt it will pass, but I really hope it does. Whatever happens, I hope other states follow in getting this prop on the ballot.
I suggest a hybrid of "government run" and "privately executed".
My solution would be to do all of the above bullets, and then force individuals to contribute 2% of their income to health insurance. If they don't spend it, they lose it. They can then use it on any insurance company they want with any plan they want.
You could see some really cool plans develop. For example, an insurance company might say "average rate for ACL surgery is $10k. If you get it done for less than that, we'll give you a 10% discount on your premium for a year. If you want the best, that's fine too.
They'd only do that once they had 80%+ of the market. And given their recent actions, I'm pretty sure they *would* do that in a market where they have a monopoly.
Their whole "don't be evil" thing only applies when it's a minor inconvenience.
Or employers, or banks...
Correct, the combination of the two apps working together is better than just having the browser-only google offering.
Positioning it as an extension of office is much more appealing to me than google's broadband-dependent offering. For all the times MS looks completely befuddled by consumer needs, the office team seems to know what it's doing.
Pretty sure there's a difference between me uploading my video to youtube to use and google taking a copy of my video and scanning/posting it without my consent.
I'm still more mad about universities, which do not have any kind of employment contract with students, forcing students to give up their copyrights to their work.
At what point does someone's actions online permit distribution of their work? I think it's pretty unclear right now.
500k / 2 people = $250k per person / 3 years = $80k/yr
I really can't see how that's worth it. Get a job (you obviously have computer skills), avoid the prison time, get paid about as much or more.
Or burn people at the stake.
Or lynch people for the color of their skin.
Or torture people to "confess" their sins.
All carried out by church-loving citizens. Oh wait, we were bashing Islam here. My bad.
If there's a version 6.3 of software in my field that I've never heard of, I generally assume it's some crappy shareware knockoff of what I'm already using.
If it's version 1.0, I want to see what was so important that they had to make a new piece of software (which is why I tried out Google Chrome).
I have 5 moderator points, and no way to moderate the summary.
For me, it's bookmark syncing. Firefox (foxmarks) syncs my toolbar on my PC at work, my mac at home, and also my account on my wife's computer.
No other browser does that for free, reliably, and across multiple platforms.
I really wouldn't mind games being locked into one owner with zero resale. The problem is the industry pricing isn't built that way right now. You shouldn't be able to lock me in as the only owner of a 8-10 hour game with a $60 price point, or I simply won't buy. That's rental territory and should be around $10-$15. On the other hand, games like Gears of War 2 I'd probably be willing to pay $60 and have $0 resale value, because it's that awesome and has awesome replay/online play longevity (and should have free map packs too).
Bottom line, the games industry needs to either lock customers into 1 game per person and lower, variable price points; or sell resellable games at their inflated $60 price point. They can't have their cake and eat it too, or people just won't buy.
Honestly, I hate to be mean but you need to know the truth. If you're getting any kind of interview, the problem isn't your resume it's your interview skills. You wouldn't get an interview if they weren't ok with the tech support background.
The resume gets you in the door, the interview skills get you the job.
The risk-to-reward of skipping DRM just isn't good enough for publishers. We can complain all we want, but it's not going to change it. It's like a buying insurance. You know it's a net negative investment, but it makes you feel a lot better.
Now, I imagine the extreme DRM in Spore will be the exception rather than the rule as publishers figure out better DRM systems. I mean, Spore's DRM is just sooo dick I didn't even get it.
"The iPhone is one of the most draconian platforms ever produced for a consumer market"
You've obviously never been a Verizon subscriber. Seriously.
You would think real scientists would like that statement. Things like drug research in the US really only get funded because there is money to be made. If you don't protect science IP, there'll be a whole lot less science done.
While I get all up in arms about the RIAA, MPAA, and other stupid organizations/patents, investment in medical and science research is far more important to me than those.
So, flame me too.
I don't know, I'm thinking maybe... Rapture?
Greek Hackers? What is this, Revenge of the Jocks?
"It's just biology" is hooey. I can think of a million examples where my biology tells me to do something (see: strippers) but my mind overrules it. If my biology naturally makes me want to favor someone of my own races, it's my obligation as an evolved human to have my logic overrule it.
Yep.
But they'd seriously have lost all focus if they did become a publisher. They probably would be the next Yahoo.
Realistically, they'll probably sell advertising to video game publishers. Lots of companies have tried this and done it quite poorly. Google might be able to do it better.
"History has taught us it will lead to stagnation and quirky (rather than standards-compliant) rendering."
While I agree with your overall point, I need to nitpick. Standards-compliance isn't important if everyone uses the same browser. The browser IS the standard.
Pros:
Fast.
Lower footprint than FF
Tabs dont crash each other.
Clean layout.
Cons:
Pretty bare-bones.
No bookmark Sync (showstopper for me)
Breaks on many pages with flash that safari doesn't
No adblocker in default install
Really, really difficult to manage bookmarks.
Slashdot has been streamlined and optimized based on user feedback and eliminated all articles from front-page news headlines.
This provides two unique benefits:
1) No one can copy articles in their entirety into posts.
2) No one can correct the summary and tell the editors to RTFA.