bassmadrigal 's Techdirt Comments
Latest Comments (10)
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On the post: Yes, Twitter And Facebook Can Make People More Productive
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On the post: Firefox Guys Admit That Competition Is What Drives Innovation
bassmadrigal ( profile ), 18 Feb, 2010 @ 06:49amAdmit??
I don't ever remember seeing something that firefox execs put out saying that competition doesn't drive innovation. They didn't even mention it in the article. I think with Mozilla's background anyone saying that it doesn't is ridiculous.
I think they have understood it from the get go. They started out by taking features that Opera had implemented before.
You make it seem like they were caught with their hand in the cookie jar. I think that it should read
"This point is made quite clear by Mike Beltzner"
The title could be changed to "Firefox Guys Agree That Competition Is What Drives Innovation" -
On the post: Baltimore Accused Of Stacking The Deck For Speed Cameras
bassmadrigal ( profile ), 26 Jan, 2010 @ 06:50amRe: Cameras can be good
I am going to just paste my comment I had in another story.
In my experience in Germany, the speed cameras don't do anything to help safety. All it means, is in the areas where we know there is a camera, we slow down right before we get to the camera and then speed right back up once we pass it. Then there are those people who right as they see the cameras, they lock up their brakes. I have seen a few accidents happen because of that.
All the cameras do, is make people slow down within a couple hundred yards of where the camera is at. Now if they were to set up an temporary camera 1/2 mile past the original one occasionally, then they would realize how many people slow down for just the camera and then go right back to speeding.
I'm all for trying to find ways to make people drive more safely, but from everything I have seen while living in Germany, speed cameras don't provide that. -
On the post: Parked Car Gets Multiple Speed Camera Tickets
bassmadrigal ( profile ), 24 Jan, 2010 @ 11:44pmRe: Re: Re: Re: Re: Missing data
In my experience in Germany, the speed cameras don't do anything to help safety. All it means, is in the areas where we know there is a camera, we slow down right before we get to the camera and then speed right back up once we pass it. Then there are those people who right as they see the cameras, they lock up their brakes. I have seen a few accidents happen because of that.
All the cameras do, is make people slow down within a couple hundred yards of where the camera is at. Now if they were to set up an temporary camera 1/2 mile past the original one occasionally, then they would realize how many people slow down for just the camera and then go right back to speeding.
I'm all for trying to find ways to make people drive more safely, but from everything I have seen while living in Germany, speed cameras don't provide that. -
On the post: Could You Prove That The Government Was Watching You Illegally?
bassmadrigal ( profile ), 24 Nov, 2009 @ 11:51pmTo at least have some fun with the situation, when you are by yourself, occasionally say something along the lines "I know you are listening."
Doesn't cause any problems if no one is listening, but you could really mess with them if they are listening. -
On the post: Apple Tries To Patent Annoying People With Intrusive Advertising That Requires Attention
bassmadrigal ( profile ), 16 Nov, 2009 @ 10:14pmRe: Re: Opt-In Only
It wouldn't be forcing them. The way I had envisioned it was the same way Hulu's big long commercial at the beginning is. Where they ask you beforehand whether or not you are willing to do it. And if you don't, then you would just see commercials in their normal spots while watching the video.
Like I said, it isn't something I would like to see happen, but this is the only way I could see it happen without too much backlash from the community. -
On the post: Apple Tries To Patent Annoying People With Intrusive Advertising That Requires Attention
bassmadrigal ( profile ), 16 Nov, 2009 @ 04:43amOpt-In Only
The only way I can see this actually be semi-sensible would be as an opt-in service in certain ad-based models. Such as movie watching on the likes of Hulu. You make sure you are paying attention to this ad, then you can watch the whole movie ad free. Although their current model of watching a longer ad, to see the movie uninterrupted is great.
I'm not saying I would prefer this over hulu's current model, but this would be the only way I could see it be feasible without a massive backlash from the community. -
On the post: EU's Cookie Law Should Crumble
bassmadrigal ( profile ), 16 Nov, 2009 @ 02:15amRe: so Your to rely on the ignorance and apathy of the general population to ignore security: "out of sight out of mind as it were!"
The one issue I see with your arguement is that so many people will just end up clicking to agree to them. Sure at first they might read through them, but how many people actually read through EULA's? Most of the time people will just look for that box that is near the sentence that starts with "I Accept".
The fundamental problem with this, is the majority of people don't want to be constantly bombarded with messages to allow or deny. This is one reason why so many people hated Vista's UAC.
Now, one way I could see that they could implement this, is only if it covers cookies not placed by the original domain. So if you go to example.com that site can place any cookies, but if an ad on that site from advertising.com it would request permission for it.
I still think this is a bad idea. The more security popups we get the less time we will take to read them until you just blindly click yes. Then we are no better than we were before except getting ticked off anytime the stupid popup comes up.
If you are worried about this, learn enough to be able properly use your browser. Whether you are making use of the features of the browser itself, or adding additional features with addons/plugins. -
On the post: Dear Hulu: Stop Treating Me Like A Criminal
bassmadrigal ( profile ), 11 Nov, 2009 @ 11:02pmRe: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: VPN + security = Hulu viewing?
I am curious as to your argument as well.
There are many unsecured websites out there that you are putting in a password, whether it be a forum or a bank (although if you bank isn't using https, I would recommend a new one). Or even on facebook. Gmail is able to be run with https or without, are you recommending that since it can be run without, it should be? The point of the VPN is to add an additional layer of security. Just like https. Is it 100% secure? No, nothing is. But if this prevents people from getting my facebook password, then it is a step in the right direction.
I don't personally use a VPN, but I have used SSH Tunneling in the past, and it takes some work to go from unsecured to secured and back. First you have to make the connection then you have to change your browser to use that connection. If VPN's are anything like that, I can understand why someone wouldn't want to log out.
And to go along with your lock box/key analogy, on the internet you are always walking down a dark alley... There is always the possiblity that someone is lurking over you. Why wouldn't you want to protect everything possible? Whether it is your car keys or a couple million dollars worth of stock. -
On the post: Dear Hulu: Stop Treating Me Like A Criminal
bassmadrigal ( profile ), 04 Nov, 2009 @ 05:12amRe: US military overseas
I agree. I am in the military and am stationed in Germany. While living on base (here at least) you can watch hulu, but on base housing is limited to low ranks and limited housing options for families only. Most of us are required to live off base. According to wikipedia there are over 150,000 military members just between Europe and Asia/Pacific. And I am pretty sure that doesn't count US Contractors or any dependents. So the number is probably easily 3x-5x that. All the US ads still apply to me, because I still shop in the US. And due to the major delay in getting shows broadcast on AFN (sometimes more than a season behind), I have been forced to use alternative means to keep up with my shows. As others have mentioned, I would be more than willing to watch those ads (and I have been pursuaded to click on those ads as well), because I am fine supporting things like that, but if I want to watch my favorite shows and can't through any legal measures, then I am going to go to alternative options. Jeremy Hansen Ramstein Air Base, Germany
DoD Finally Agrees
http://www.af.mil/news/story_print.asp?id=123192436
I was shocked when I got word that they are going to start allowing all these sites that they have tried so hard to block in the past. It is nice to see some top-level officials finally understanding the benefit for you to unwind while at work.
Hopefully people are smart enough to balance work and play, so this new policy doesn't get reverted.