Latest Techdirt Comments http://www.techdirt.com/ Easily digestible tech news.... Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130520/11200723149/war-journalists-doj-claimed-fox-news-reporter-was-aider-abettor-co-conspirator-with-leaker.shtml#c1111 Tue, 21 May 2013 06:57:08 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130520/11200723149/war-journalists-doj-claimed-fox-news-reporter-was-aider-abettor-co-conspirator-with-leaker.shtml#c1111 Re: Re: Wrong target. Medicare is insurance http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130502/07475922914/why-even-good-hospitals-doctors-are-obstacle-to-better-cheaper-healthcare.shtml#c157 Tue, 21 May 2013 06:52:51 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130502/07475922914/why-even-good-hospitals-doctors-are-obstacle-to-better-cheaper-healthcare.shtml#c157
The reason why the cost is so high is that Doctors have to pay the safety measures of runnning nuclear equipment, malpractice insurance, not buying packets of medications in bulk (mainly because each order is custom made for a patient's matabolism and specific body chemistry), and for generally the inherent risk of working in a hospital...which includes but is not limited to Biogazzard risks, potential radiation exposure ove time, the doctor has to cover the malpractice insurance based on the staff in his charge...so yeah the expense is very justified.]]> Re: Re: The law according to - LOOK! SQUIRREL! http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130520/12190223151/prendas-paul-hansmeier-asks-appeals-court-to-delay-sanctions-appeals-court-says-no-try-again.shtml#c405 Tue, 21 May 2013 06:51:05 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130520/12190223151/prendas-paul-hansmeier-asks-appeals-court-to-delay-sanctions-appeals-court-says-no-try-again.shtml#c405 Re: Re: Einstein didn't publish a theory of relativity http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20110311/01393713442/dailydirt-crackpots-versus-real-scientists.shtml#c295 Tue, 21 May 2013 06:48:04 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20110311/01393713442/dailydirt-crackpots-versus-real-scientists.shtml#c295
Arguments like these, while they do have some good philosophical elements, largely boil down to people who have issues with science trying to drag it down to the level of religion. Possibly there are philisophical issues with science, but in the end, it WORKS, and unlike religion generally, it self-corrects and advances. Not since the early days of Islam have I seen any religion trying to actually advance science and the knowledge of Man.

Yes science is only a tool, but it's a damn effective one, and for many of us it's infinitely better than authoritarian hand-me-downs from the Bronze Age.

You can't complain that science is no use because it's not perfect - that's the point of science. We learn, we add to it, and we develop new ideas and theories.

I've also noticed a lot of science-deniers fixate on "what ideology is needed for funding", conveniently ignoring that many of the 'anti-science' positions are equally well-funded, if not more so. Science funding is not some sinecure for life, where one has to just publish one thing and lay back in comfort (join the RIAA for that). Science requires justifying everything you do to people who also know the topic, and relies heavily on being published, which only happens reliably if you *convince* people of being correct. It's not logic games or appeals to authority like religious apologetics and debate often are. Unlike religion (or even philosophy), Science doesn't claim to have all of the answers, especially not 'right now'.

Gravity happens. Evolution happens. In this sense, they are factual statements of what happens about us. There are hypotheses and (scientfic) theories about these which need investigated, but it doesn't invalidate it. As they are different sciences, there are differences in the levels of these. Gravity is more observable than Evolution, but we probably have better theories (and more evidence of mechanisms) of Evolution.

Natural selection is just one element of evolution (see Dawkins' "The Greatest Show on Earth"). Just because you can subdivide Evolution, and some bits are better understood than others, doesn't mean you can invalidate it as an incredibly powerful description of historical, current and future life any more than doubts about black holes invalidate the ability of an airplane to fly.]]> Re: Re: HEY, TIMMY, don't forget the illegal WARS: http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130517/13573923121/retired-lt-col-violent-media-has-bred-generation-killers.shtml#c324 Tue, 21 May 2013 06:47:57 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130517/13573923121/retired-lt-col-violent-media-has-bred-generation-killers.shtml#c324 Then the people revolted and we did nothing to help them.
Then we realised we didn't like the price of oil and invaded.]]> Re: HEY, TIMMY, don't forget the illegal WARS: http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130517/13573923121/retired-lt-col-violent-media-has-bred-generation-killers.shtml#c314 Tue, 21 May 2013 06:43:59 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130517/13573923121/retired-lt-col-violent-media-has-bred-generation-killers.shtml#c314
But you know, if you combined your insane drivel with something that at least gives people a clue as to what the hell your point is, you might get somewhere. As it is, you're just informing me of a well known failure of US foreign policy under the previous administration. Yep, that happened. What that has to do with the article is something you need to make a little clearer.]]> Re: HEY, TIMMY, don't forget the illegal WARS: http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130517/13573923121/retired-lt-col-violent-media-has-bred-generation-killers.shtml#c312 Tue, 21 May 2013 06:42:35 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130517/13573923121/retired-lt-col-violent-media-has-bred-generation-killers.shtml#c312
Iraq: a country that DID use WMDs, DID harbor international terrorists, DID invade other countries (twice), and DID commit genocide. The Iraq War wasn't only not illegal, it was technically mandated by the UN genocide convention. What was illegal was anyone voting against it. Don't let Bush's bumbling confuse you into thinking it was an illegal war.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130517/13573923121/retired-lt-col-violent-media-has-bred-generation-killers.shtml#c298 Tue, 21 May 2013 06:40:42 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130517/13573923121/retired-lt-col-violent-media-has-bred-generation-killers.shtml#c298 Re: http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20101209/09504712210/dailydirt-taking-another-look-nuclear-energy.shtml#c96 Tue, 21 May 2013 06:40:26 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20101209/09504712210/dailydirt-taking-another-look-nuclear-energy.shtml#c96
Reducing energy consumption won't work; it never has. Other people just consume the cheaper fossil fuels. And unless you want to go to war to enforce your opinion, it is a losing battle.

Green energy is waiting for battery technology. The best we have is lithium ion, and that took a quarter century to develop.

One solution to global warming is to move fully to nuclear and wean off coal. (Oil and gas don't really affect climate change compared to coal.) Of course, another solution is to just deal with the consequences, like migrating farms and relocating coastal cities.]]> Re: Ripping wings off flies http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130517/13573923121/retired-lt-col-violent-media-has-bred-generation-killers.shtml#c291 Tue, 21 May 2013 06:38:27 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130517/13573923121/retired-lt-col-violent-media-has-bred-generation-killers.shtml#c291 I laugh at Prenda's 'reputational harm' http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130520/12190223151/prendas-paul-hansmeier-asks-appeals-court-to-delay-sanctions-appeals-court-says-no-try-again.shtml#c388 Tue, 21 May 2013 06:37:11 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130520/12190223151/prendas-paul-hansmeier-asks-appeals-court-to-delay-sanctions-appeals-court-says-no-try-again.shtml#c388
From the RIAA's heart I stab at thee; for the MPAA's sake I spit my last breath at thee.
]]> Setting the record straight. http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130502/07475922914/why-even-good-hospitals-doctors-are-obstacle-to-better-cheaper-healthcare.shtml#c142 Tue, 21 May 2013 06:35:30 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130502/07475922914/why-even-good-hospitals-doctors-are-obstacle-to-better-cheaper-healthcare.shtml#c142
One might think that this one size fits all deal is great, but one has to look at the full story behind the recent IRS scandal to see it doesn't work.]]> Re: http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130517/13573923121/retired-lt-col-violent-media-has-bred-generation-killers.shtml#c281 Tue, 21 May 2013 06:33:33 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130517/13573923121/retired-lt-col-violent-media-has-bred-generation-killers.shtml#c281 for a small minority of nut cases they are training for mayhem which no rational person can comprehend.

Ahhh, the heart of the bullshit, served with the duck included. No rational people can comprehend but trust us, it's there.

This notion that video games train people is such epic bullshit. Let's break it down shall we?

Let's analyze a bit what's needed to kill, and how videogames do or do not help:
1. Knowledge of how to use weapons - I've never fired a gun in my life, but I've heard tell from people who have that video games don't help you shoot. I've never learned shit about knife work from video games, though two years in a butcher shop sure helped.
2. Physical conditioning - Running around attacking people takes a certain amount of stamina. Halo never helped my endurance of anything except junk food.
3. Strategy and tactics - Video game AI is pretty lame sauce when compared to the real thing, even to this day, and game scenarios are rarely realistic.

Now, if what you're trying to convey is that video games somehow morally "train" people to kill (which is nonsense on its face) bear in mind that the VAST majority of games have strong moral overtones, at least in the broad strokes. DOOM is fighting demons from Hell, Halo is fighting aliens who want to exterminate humanity, Warcraft is fighting the undead who want to exterminate life (there are other baddies in WoW, but that's 40 paragraphs on its own). Sure there are outliers such as indie/homegrown stuff with any kind of content you can imagine (and probably some sick shit you would have never thought of), but that's not what we're really talking about, is it?

In fact part of the appeal of many video games is being the good guy, saving the civilians, blah blah blah. It aligns with our pre-existing morals and hero fantasies.

So, how exactly does a video game train someone in ways no one can understand? Cause I sure can't understand it.]]> Re: Re: http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130520/12190223151/prendas-paul-hansmeier-asks-appeals-court-to-delay-sanctions-appeals-court-says-no-try-again.shtml#c381 Tue, 21 May 2013 06:32:59 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130520/12190223151/prendas-paul-hansmeier-asks-appeals-court-to-delay-sanctions-appeals-court-says-no-try-again.shtml#c381 1. that they are not engaged in fraud
2. that the attorneys are not the plaintiffs
3. that the copyright transfer was legitimate and real
4. that their investigation of copyright defendants was more substantial than the defense was claiming
5. that they were putting real attorneys in front of the judge and not just stand up guys with no power to represent or bind the plaintiffs
. . . and other things]]> Responsibility http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130517/13573923121/retired-lt-col-violent-media-has-bred-generation-killers.shtml#c270 Tue, 21 May 2013 06:30:34 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130517/13573923121/retired-lt-col-violent-media-has-bred-generation-killers.shtml#c270 Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130520/12190223151/prendas-paul-hansmeier-asks-appeals-court-to-delay-sanctions-appeals-court-says-no-try-again.shtml#c363 Tue, 21 May 2013 06:28:56 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130520/12190223151/prendas-paul-hansmeier-asks-appeals-court-to-delay-sanctions-appeals-court-says-no-try-again.shtml#c363 If the judge felt there was fraud here, should he have not
> referred it to the police or other authorities to look into?

Isn't that what he did? Isn't that what you are complaining about?

And lawyers engaging in fraud before the court should have to pay the defense's attorney's fees.

And Prenda did get due process. All kinds of due process. They had plenty of opportunity to show that they were not engaging in fraud and to rebut the defense accusations of fraud. But instead of embarrass the defense by showing their actions were legitimate, they engaged in hand waving and silence. The judge and defense rightfully concluded, based on the available evidence, that Prenda and gang are engaged in fraud.

So what's the problem exactly?]]> Copyfraud http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130520/11552823150/major-hollywood-studios-all-sent-bogus-dmca-takedowns-concerning-pirate-bay-documentary.shtml#c796 Tue, 21 May 2013 06:26:36 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130520/11552823150/major-hollywood-studios-all-sent-bogus-dmca-takedowns-concerning-pirate-bay-documentary.shtml#c796
This is a very clear copyright infringement, it's even a case of disputing the copyright away from the creator of the work.]]> Ripping wings off flies http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130517/13573923121/retired-lt-col-violent-media-has-bred-generation-killers.shtml#c257 Tue, 21 May 2013 06:25:30 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130517/13573923121/retired-lt-col-violent-media-has-bred-generation-killers.shtml#c257
So with my ill conceived logic the introduction of violent video games should show a reduction in animal cruelty and flightless flies.]]> Re: There's always a scapegoat http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130517/13573923121/retired-lt-col-violent-media-has-bred-generation-killers.shtml#c238 Tue, 21 May 2013 06:25:25 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130517/13573923121/retired-lt-col-violent-media-has-bred-generation-killers.shtml#c238 Re: http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130517/16464823123/swedish-prosecutor-claims-registrar-se-domains-being-accomplice-infringement-because-pirate-bay-domain.shtml#c842 Tue, 21 May 2013 06:25:01 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130517/16464823123/swedish-prosecutor-claims-registrar-se-domains-being-accomplice-infringement-because-pirate-bay-domain.shtml#c842