Latest Techdirt Comments http://www.techdirt.com/ Easily digestible tech news.... Re: Re: Re: http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130617/11500923509/its-come-to-this-commentators-arguing-that-press-commits-crime-exposing-nsa-surveillance.shtml#c806 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:37:10 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130617/11500923509/its-come-to-this-commentators-arguing-that-press-commits-crime-exposing-nsa-surveillance.shtml#c806 You mean Mao?

Mow is the absolute dictator of my yard on Saturday mornings, so.....]]> Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: @"PaulT", compulsive yapper. http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130613/01121423439/hollywood-studios-keep-saying-its-employees-must-get-paid-now-may-be-forced-to-pay-its-interns.shtml#c1312 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:33:48 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130613/01121423439/hollywood-studios-keep-saying-its-employees-must-get-paid-now-may-be-forced-to-pay-its-interns.shtml#c1312
If you're full time, in-house employee, perhaps. I'm neither. Nor are most of the other writers here. Could we agree that for part timey work, that number should be about half?

"Then most companies contribute modestly toward health insurance, so call that $4,000."

You said you assumed I'm independent, which I am. Therefore benefits aren't included and I wouldn't need them even if they were, so I'm glad they aren't.

" Assuming the writer worked 40 hours per week to produce those articles, I'd say a minimum of $3200/moth for an inexperienced writer and double that for an experienced one."

You're not very good at math. You started at $30k/year, or $2500/month. Benefits are moot since I'm an independent contractor and we can cut your expectations in half since I'm part time, not full time. Payroll taxes are meaningless as well, since the only thing that matters is gross salary (for the purposes of payment discussions, I mean). What you arrive at is your suggestion, essentially, that a writer like me should make roughly $1250/month here.

Let me assure you, my payment meets your expectations. Glad you agree I'm compensated appropriately. Can we move on now?]]> Re: http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130613/02025423448/company-claims-patent-pop-up-ads-sues-porn-travel-companies.shtml#c143 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:31:18 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130613/02025423448/company-claims-patent-pop-up-ads-sues-porn-travel-companies.shtml#c143
Thats a pretty good idea. i think i will patent it.]]> Re: To be fair... http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130617/11500923509/its-come-to-this-commentators-arguing-that-press-commits-crime-exposing-nsa-surveillance.shtml#c800 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:31:06 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130617/11500923509/its-come-to-this-commentators-arguing-that-press-commits-crime-exposing-nsa-surveillance.shtml#c800 Only 25% of the United States is the richest nation in the world

Good point, but still. The immorality of the health care situation is staggering.

To your point, I recently learned that my own income is in the top 10% of the income range in the US. This struck me as deeply disturbing because I'm not anything like wealthy. I'm not poor, but I don't get to snort coke off of the asses of strippers or anything, either.]]> Re: Re: Watching hearing now http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130619/10213023529/fbi-admits-to-using-drones-to-spy-americans.shtml#c522 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:29:10 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130619/10213023529/fbi-admits-to-using-drones-to-spy-americans.shtml#c522 I'm sitting at my desk reading your comment]]> Re: Re: Re: http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130617/11500923509/its-come-to-this-commentators-arguing-that-press-commits-crime-exposing-nsa-surveillance.shtml#c777 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:27:20 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130617/11500923509/its-come-to-this-commentators-arguing-that-press-commits-crime-exposing-nsa-surveillance.shtml#c777 Or the Ford Motor Company. As in, what's good for them is good for America.

That was GM.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_General_Motors#Post-war_growth]]> Re: http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130619/10213023529/fbi-admits-to-using-drones-to-spy-americans.shtml#c506 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:26:58 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130619/10213023529/fbi-admits-to-using-drones-to-spy-americans.shtml#c506 I'll bet my left one that they will use them to watch the borders for illegals, Chase bank robbers, Watch known drug houses, etc etc.

It is the "etc. etc." that concerns any rational person...mainly because that is the same description of the extent to which their surveillance is limited.]]> Re: Re: fixing the issue http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130613/01121423439/hollywood-studios-keep-saying-its-employees-must-get-paid-now-may-be-forced-to-pay-its-interns.shtml#c1294 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:26:19 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130613/01121423439/hollywood-studios-keep-saying-its-employees-must-get-paid-now-may-be-forced-to-pay-its-interns.shtml#c1294
Sometimes, I enjoy reading the troll's posts. Sometimes, I just want to hear the sane people talking.]]> Re: Re: Re: Umm, Google has you all accustomed to its spying. http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130619/10213023529/fbi-admits-to-using-drones-to-spy-americans.shtml#c494 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:25:16 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130619/10213023529/fbi-admits-to-using-drones-to-spy-americans.shtml#c494
Counter-conspiracy-theory: Blue actually works for Google, who have hired him as a paid shill to discredit legitimate people seeking to expose their nefarious deeds.]]> Re: Re: So wait... http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130617/11500923509/its-come-to-this-commentators-arguing-that-press-commits-crime-exposing-nsa-surveillance.shtml#c763 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:24:15 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130617/11500923509/its-come-to-this-commentators-arguing-that-press-commits-crime-exposing-nsa-surveillance.shtml#c763 Pretty good point, but how would you avoid this unless you completely give up on any kind of secret services or armies?... Sure the court was not secret

I think you hit on a big point right there. If this were not all handled through a court that by default makes everything secret, it would be a better situation. These things should go through regular federal courts where they might get examined with a critical eye rather than rubber stamped.]]> Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: @"PaulT", compulsive yapper. http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130613/01121423439/hollywood-studios-keep-saying-its-employees-must-get-paid-now-may-be-forced-to-pay-its-interns.shtml#c1273 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:21:28 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130613/01121423439/hollywood-studios-keep-saying-its-employees-must-get-paid-now-may-be-forced-to-pay-its-interns.shtml#c1273 I'd say a minimum of $3200/moth for an inexperienced writer and double that for an experienced one.

So, you think that writers here should make more than twice the average income in the US? You aren't even on the same continent as reasonableness.]]> Re: Re: http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130619/10213023529/fbi-admits-to-using-drones-to-spy-americans.shtml#c469 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:20:27 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130619/10213023529/fbi-admits-to-using-drones-to-spy-americans.shtml#c469
We've only pissed off half the country, so perfect balance!]]> Immunity http://www.techdirt.com/blog/innovation/articles/20130619/01031623524/more-details-emerge-as-states-attorneys-general-seek-to-hold-back-innovation-internet.shtml#c19 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:17:41 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/blog/innovation/articles/20130619/01031623524/more-details-emerge-as-states-attorneys-general-seek-to-hold-back-innovation-internet.shtml#c19
The actual criminals breaking the law.

Why bother trying to investigate and find some rogue pharmacy? That sounds like hard work! Once you get Google to pay up, and the AG gets to do his song and dance in front of the press, the case is over, and the people running that pharmacy got off scott-free.

That's what would happen in practice, and anyone who can read between the lines sees it.

So who is the one really standing up for the rule of law?]]> Re: Watching hearing now http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130619/10213023529/fbi-admits-to-using-drones-to-spy-americans.shtml#c449 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:17:00 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130619/10213023529/fbi-admits-to-using-drones-to-spy-americans.shtml#c449 Re: Re: Re: Oh, I doubt the mythical exculpatory evidence! http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130619/07515923527/leaseweb-deletes-megauploads-servers-without-warning-destroying-key-evidence.shtml#c963 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:16:54 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130619/07515923527/leaseweb-deletes-megauploads-servers-without-warning-destroying-key-evidence.shtml#c963 Re: http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130613/02025423448/company-claims-patent-pop-up-ads-sues-porn-travel-companies.shtml#c131 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:11:23 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130613/02025423448/company-claims-patent-pop-up-ads-sues-porn-travel-companies.shtml#c131 Re: http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130613/02025423448/company-claims-patent-pop-up-ads-sues-porn-travel-companies.shtml#c123 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:10:17 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130613/02025423448/company-claims-patent-pop-up-ads-sues-porn-travel-companies.shtml#c123 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130613/02025423448/company-claims-patent-pop-up-ads-sues-porn-travel-companies.shtml#c98 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:09:59 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130613/02025423448/company-claims-patent-pop-up-ads-sues-porn-travel-companies.shtml#c98 Re: http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130619/10213023529/fbi-admits-to-using-drones-to-spy-americans.shtml#c431 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:07:06 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130619/10213023529/fbi-admits-to-using-drones-to-spy-americans.shtml#c431 If they send up a helicopter it probably takes 3 cops. If they send up a drone, it takes one with a joystick. Saves the taxpayers money.

No, it doesn't. It just means that they'll do three times as much surveillance.

What do you honestly think they are going to do with these drones? Spy on you? Are you really that important?


As with the other spying issues, the point isn't that you, or I, in particular are being surveilled. It's that massive surveillance has a large number of detrimental effects to society as a whole, and that the cops & spy outfits have repeatedly demonstrated, over a period of many decades, that they will inevitably use their new power to do things like suppress legitimate dissent, punish political enemies, etc.

If you don't want to be seen nude in your backyard than don't go outside without clothes on


This is a stunning statement. So now we have to refrain from legal activity in the privacy of our own land just so cops get to play with their new toys?

Stop bitching about everything that the government does


I don't bitch about everything the government does. I bitch about the things I see the government doing wrong. This is not only my right, but it is my responsibility as a citizen.

For the record, I don't think the drones issue is nearly as big of a deal as the telephone spying, but there's no reason not to call out both of these as issues that need to be addressed.]]> Of course there were http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130613/02025423448/company-claims-patent-pop-up-ads-sues-porn-travel-companies.shtml#c77 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:06:14 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130613/02025423448/company-claims-patent-pop-up-ads-sues-porn-travel-companies.shtml#c77