http://www.techdirt.com/ Easily digestible tech news.... http://www.techdirt.com/blog/innovation/articles/20130224/22344422088/why-does-entertainment-industry-insist-that-it-can-veto-any-innovation-it-doesnt-like.shtml#c62 Tue, 26 Feb 2013 09:21:34 PST http://www.techdirt.com/blog/innovation/articles/20130224/22344422088/why-does-entertainment-industry-insist-that-it-can-veto-any-innovation-it-doesnt-like.shtml#c62
Not that the entertainment industry is filled with egotistical, over-entitled, spoilt brats, or anything!]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130215/16442522003/bestselling-author-childrens-books-accuses-public-libraries-stealing-his-paychecks.shtml#c236 Tue, 19 Feb 2013 06:09:54 PST http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130215/16442522003/bestselling-author-childrens-books-accuses-public-libraries-stealing-his-paychecks.shtml#c236 http://www.terry-deary.com

For example, on the "contact Terry Deary" page there is an FAQ which shows his incredible arrogance:

"Where do you get your ideas?
I'm a writer. It's my job. I don't have to go anywhere or do anything to "get" ideas. They are already in my head."

Note that he aslo has a low opinion of schools:

"I detest schools with a passion. I'd rather cut off my left arm and eat it with Marmite than go into a school. And I don't even like Marmite. Schools are an utter waste of young life. Learning things that will never be any use to you. The only reason they are there is to keep kids off the street."

While I may have reservations about the public school system per se, I find this somewhat extreme to say the least.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130201/12210721856/cbs-bans-commercial-that-disparages-coke-pepsi-lets-them-disparage-each-other.shtml#c21 Fri, 1 Feb 2013 14:07:34 PST http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130201/12210721856/cbs-bans-commercial-that-disparages-coke-pepsi-lets-them-disparage-each-other.shtml#c21
But sticking to the point, CBS are clearly out for some form of award for making fools of themselves what with the CNET/CES affair and now this.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130130/02052521823/icann-boss-were-not-ready-to-launch-these-half-baked-new-gtlds-so-lets-launch-them.shtml#c35 Wed, 30 Jan 2013 11:55:54 PST http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130130/02052521823/icann-boss-were-not-ready-to-launch-these-half-baked-new-gtlds-so-lets-launch-them.shtml#c35 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130124/02014721776/finnish-activists-may-force-parliament-to-vote-crowdsourced-new-copyright-law.shtml#c392 Thu, 24 Jan 2013 22:05:59 PST http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130124/02014721776/finnish-activists-may-force-parliament-to-vote-crowdsourced-new-copyright-law.shtml#c392
For all those claiming an interest in moving to Finland, bear in mind that incomes here may be lower than those in the US and taxes are MUCH higher. Tax on purchases is now raised to 24% from the start of this year and income taxes are on a sliding scale and with other deductions from salary, can reduce one's income by a third.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130103/18281621578/prenda-law-accused-fraud-court-defending-itself-against-claims-fraud-court.shtml#c53 Fri, 4 Jan 2013 07:50:08 PST http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130103/18281621578/prenda-law-accused-fraud-court-defending-itself-against-claims-fraud-court.shtml#c53 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120621/01282619409/why-do-people-who-always-ask-us-to-respect-artists-seem-to-have-so-little-respect-artists.shtml#c218 Thu, 21 Jun 2012 12:34:53 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120621/01282619409/why-do-people-who-always-ask-us-to-respect-artists-seem-to-have-so-little-respect-artists.shtml#c218
I can't imagine why any self-respecting institution would want to be associated with this bozo!]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120222/01562717837/how-new-internet-spying-laws-will-actually-enable-stalkers-spammers-phishers-yes-pedophiles-terrorists.shtml#c431 Thu, 23 Feb 2012 09:52:09 PST http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120222/01562717837/how-new-internet-spying-laws-will-actually-enable-stalkers-spammers-phishers-yes-pedophiles-terrorists.shtml#c431 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120222/01562717837/how-new-internet-spying-laws-will-actually-enable-stalkers-spammers-phishers-yes-pedophiles-terrorists.shtml#c387 Thu, 23 Feb 2012 09:48:32 PST http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120222/01562717837/how-new-internet-spying-laws-will-actually-enable-stalkers-spammers-phishers-yes-pedophiles-terrorists.shtml#c387
Yeah, that kind of thinking is what allows out of control governments to get away with this kind of crap.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120220/12341317818/dutch-economics-minister-says-acta-is-designed-to-shut-down-child-porn-sites-even-though-thats-not-true.shtml#c667 Tue, 21 Feb 2012 23:04:00 PST http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120220/12341317818/dutch-economics-minister-says-acta-is-designed-to-shut-down-child-porn-sites-even-though-thats-not-true.shtml#c667
Perhaps we could introduce this to all forms of political campaigning in such a way that any politician who tries to claim anything is to "combat child porn", is immediately disqualified.

There would of course be a single exception and that is where the subject matter actually is about combatting child porn.

Sadly if they were prevented from using this as a bogus claim, they would simply move on to the next emotive concept, whatever that might be. "killing kittens" perhaps?]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120220/12341317818/dutch-economics-minister-says-acta-is-designed-to-shut-down-child-porn-sites-even-though-thats-not-true.shtml#c661 Tue, 21 Feb 2012 22:50:55 PST http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120220/12341317818/dutch-economics-minister-says-acta-is-designed-to-shut-down-child-porn-sites-even-though-thats-not-true.shtml#c661 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20110817/22340815569/woman-kicked-out-restaurant-complaining-about-bartender-twitter.shtml#c3 Fri, 19 Aug 2011 04:03:48 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20110817/22340815569/woman-kicked-out-restaurant-complaining-about-bartender-twitter.shtml#c3
"Down House's owner Chris Cusack defended the manager's actions and told KPRC Houston it was not out of line to kick Ms Matsu out.

"Any business is allowed to set the tone of their establishment. If you go to someone's house and start calling them names, I wouldn't really expect to stay too much longer after that," Mr Cusack said."

So setting the tone of the establishment includes kicking out paying customers but apparently not ensuring the establishment's own staff adhere to these standards against name-calling, if the customer's original reason her tweet is to be believed. Nice double standard!

That other account I saw also included this gem from the person who was allegedly the subject of the bartender's original comments:

"Mr Heugel, the person at the centre of the Twitter-storm, even weighed in on the incident. "Social media can be a fickle bitch or your best friend," he tweeted. "Some of ya'll need to chill.""

So true!]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20110816/09223615548/european-nations-wish-to-ban-negative-thoughts-investments-their-financial-position.shtml#c41 Wed, 17 Aug 2011 11:14:28 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20110816/09223615548/european-nations-wish-to-ban-negative-thoughts-investments-their-financial-position.shtml#c41 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20110617/14211514730/dannybs-favorite-techdirt-posts-week.shtml#c142 Sat, 18 Jun 2011 21:54:59 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20110617/14211514730/dannybs-favorite-techdirt-posts-week.shtml#c142
Your comment: "It's a shame the US government doesn't understand the importance of anonymous public whistle blowing. Of course, maybe they do, but I'd rather not go there" got me thinking (briefly).

Here's how that ambivalence might play out:

"Thank you for calling the Anonymous Whistleblower Hotline. We value your help in highlighting issues which we need to cover up. Please remain at your current location. A federal agent has already been dispatched and will be pleased to arrest you. Your concern for the public good is appreciated. Have a nice day."]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20110526/14444814445/ny-stock-exchange-claims-trademark-any-depiction-trading-floor-threatens-tpm.shtml#c86 Fri, 27 May 2011 08:51:08 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20110526/14444814445/ny-stock-exchange-claims-trademark-any-depiction-trading-floor-threatens-tpm.shtml#c86 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20110520/16102414365/forget-streisand-effect-i-think-weve-seen-dawning-giggs-effect.shtml#c130 Mon, 23 May 2011 08:30:41 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20110520/16102414365/forget-streisand-effect-i-think-weve-seen-dawning-giggs-effect.shtml#c130
An interesting development is that a second soccer player has also been granted one of these ridiculous super injunctions following hot on the heels of this case.

Apparently the judge granted that injunction because the player concerned claimed publication of his name would have a significant impact on his wife and family. Hmmm, or perhaps it was his alleged adultery that had the impact rather than the reporting of that affair.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20110518/03135114315/sony-ceo-howard-stringer-month-long-hackathon-merely-hiccup.shtml#c78 Wed, 18 May 2011 09:58:00 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20110518/03135114315/sony-ceo-howard-stringer-month-long-hackathon-merely-hiccup.shtml#c78
http://sony.nyleveia.com/2011/05/17/warning-all-psn-users-your-accounts-are-still-not-safe/

There are a series of updates there relating progress.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/blog/wireless/articles/20110505/00370614161/chicago-politicians-say-mobile-phones-should-block-kids-texting-while-driving.shtml#c516 Thu, 5 May 2011 21:26:24 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/blog/wireless/articles/20110505/00370614161/chicago-politicians-say-mobile-phones-should-block-kids-texting-while-driving.shtml#c516
Seriously, I suppose the tendency to resort to legislation as a cure for all ills is the result of a culture in which politicians (and many times, the public) see their job as "lawmakers". If your job is to make laws, that is what you will do even though legislation is many times not the appropriate solution.

These cases are already covered by plenty of laws so one more on the books will not help. But education campaigns to help stigmatize these practices (as has been successfully done with drunk driving in many places) would be a better use of resources.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20110421/02013513984/how-adobe-drives-infringement-its-products-through-incompatibility.shtml#c115 Thu, 5 May 2011 07:54:03 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20110421/02013513984/how-adobe-drives-infringement-its-products-through-incompatibility.shtml#c115
I consider their products to be expensive to purchase (with frequent updates being required caused by the very backwards compatibility issue described in the article) and in many cases ludicrously bloated. It is beyond inconvenient.

Ironically, one of our former employees, who was enthusiastically advocating our own products be locked down by some complex licensing technology, was an ex-Adobe salesperson. He was extremely enamoured of the company for which he had previously worked and had no grasp of the trouble these tools cause for the customer who has actually bought their licence. And as has been observed so many times before, these same products can be obtained with cracks and serial codes from the torrents, thereby proving the pointlessness of these appalling mechanisms.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20110426/17595814048/is-it-rude-to-link-to-someone-without-first-asking-permission.shtml#c215 Wed, 27 Apr 2011 10:38:50 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20110426/17595814048/is-it-rude-to-link-to-someone-without-first-asking-permission.shtml#c215