mermaldad 's Techdirt Comments

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  • On the post: California Right To Repair Bill Gets Scuttled By Lobbyists

    mermaldad ( profile ), 04 Jun, 2022 @ 07:15am

    But this is in California...

    But this is in California, the land of the proposition. I could see this becoming one.

  • On the post: It Can Always Get Dumber: Trump Sues Facebook, Twitter & YouTube, Claiming His Own Government Violated The Constitution

    mermaldad ( profile ), 07 Jul, 2021 @ 05:41pm

    Methinks Facebook May Revise the Term of Trump's Banishment

    Remember that Facebook has converted Trumps indefinite suspension to a two-year conditional suspension. If this goes as I expect it will and the courts throw these lawsuits out, and if they require him to pay Facebook's lawyer fees, I have a feeling that one of the conditions of lifting the suspension in two years will be that he has to have paid those lawyer fees.

  • On the post: A Few More Thoughts On The Total Deplatforming Of Parler & Infrastructure Content Moderation

    mermaldad ( profile ), 16 Jan, 2021 @ 01:13am

    Re: Re: Let go of my Knee, Jerk

    Sorry, but Mike's intro tempted me to think of the most extreme example of a kneejerk reaction. I guess that this was intended to be humorous was not evident enough. I'm actually guilty of use of contractions to the point of overuse myself.

  • On the post: A Few More Thoughts On The Total Deplatforming Of Parler & Infrastructure Content Moderation

    mermaldad ( profile ), 16 Jan, 2021 @ 01:00am

    Re: Re: Re: Re:

    I don't believe those two statements are mutually exclusive.

  • On the post: A Few More Thoughts On The Total Deplatforming Of Parler & Infrastructure Content Moderation

    mermaldad ( profile ), 16 Jan, 2021 @ 12:42am

    Let go of my Knee, Jerk

    Didn't have time to read all of the article, or the comments, but I strongly object to the use of "I've" rather than "I have" at the start. This contraction belies a laziness that invalidates all the points you make in the rest of the article.

  • On the post: Congress Looks To Rush Through Unconstitutional Pro-Copyright Trolls Bill, Despite Promising To Explore Alternatives

    mermaldad ( profile ), 22 Oct, 2019 @ 05:43am

    A minor note

    @Mike, in the "filed under" section under the article, it looks like you have two keywords, "$30" and "000". I think your article submission algorithm got confused about a keyword with a comma in it.

    Too bad Techdirt article keywords aren't legally binding.

  • On the post: Techdirt Podcast Episode 143: No Easy Answers: Facebook & The Election

    mermaldad ( profile ), 08 Nov, 2017 @ 04:35am

    Not Perfect, But...

    It seems to me that there could be an algorithm that polls users about ads, news stories, and links to form a consensus of whether the item is true. Then the algorithm could frame the ad based on this rating. Everyone is still able to click on it if they want to, but at least they have been warned. The algorithm could weight the opinions of users based on their past history to reduce the chance of errors due to someone gaming the system or general ignorance.

  • On the post: Techdirt Podcast Episode 142: Who Still Needs A Personal Computer?

    mermaldad ( profile ), 25 Oct, 2017 @ 04:54am

    Re: When it breaks…

    I guess I didn't get the message about disposible laptops. I have fixed and upgraded multple laptops and smartphones. Obviously a desktop is more designed for maintenance and upgrade, but it is a myth that laptops and especially phones are not openable.

  • On the post: Techdirt Podcast Episode 142: Who Still Needs A Personal Computer?

    mermaldad ( profile ), 25 Oct, 2017 @ 05:04am

    Obsolescence from another direction.

    The usuals discussed improved phone hardware capabilities and better phone software as hastening the death of the desktop/laptop. I think they missed another factor. As A.I. advances, the nature of our work will change. Even for creative work, the ability to express your ideas without many of the things that are particularly suited to laptops/desktops will be de-emphasized. When? I hestate to make a prediction, but it will be sooner than most people think.

  • On the post: Techdirt Podcast Episode 138: When Godwin's Law Met The Streisand Effect

    mermaldad ( profile ), 20 Sep, 2017 @ 04:16am

    mermaldad's mashup

    "In the absence of knowledge of the Streisand Effect, a lawyer's threats when attempting to suppress information on the Internet will approach the policies of Hitler and the Nazis."

    You heard it here, folks (unless you didn't; I didn't bother to check).

  • On the post: Techdirt Podcast Episode 133: These Scammers Picked The Wrong Guy

    mermaldad ( profile ), 09 Aug, 2017 @ 04:45am

    Good balance

    Kudos to Mike for maintaining a good balance between explaining the subject episodes to those who had not listened to them and giving those who had listened a more in-depth look at the story. Mike's and Alex's comments solidified some impressions that I had while listening to the episodes, but had not yet put together. Good job!

  • On the post: Driver Sues State After Receiving Ticket For 'Obscene' Stick Figure Vehicle Decal

    mermaldad ( profile ), 14 Mar, 2017 @ 08:54am

    Deeply offensive and obviously obscene

    While some may find the "making my family" image obscene, but I'd argue that the image of the "traditional" stick figure family is more obscene, because while "making my family" depicts a single sexual act, the traditional one implies three, no, seven sexual acts since every living creature depicted there is the result of sexual reproduction. Seven sexual acts is getting into porn movie territory.

  • On the post: Techdirt Podcast Episode 110: Luck In Silicon Valley, With Robert Frank

    mermaldad ( profile ), 23 Feb, 2017 @ 06:57am

    Consumption-Based Tax Options

    In this episode, one of the topics covered was the benefits of a consumption-based tax system vs. our current income-based system. Dr. Frank proposed a tax code where consumption is measured by subtracting savings from income. I have heard other proposals for a VAT, which in theory does the same thing. In practice, however, I suspect that the subtraction approach would do more to promote saving since the cost of the tax on an annual basis would be more apparent every tax day, compared to the VAT in which the tax cost in spead through the year. I also imagine the tax avoidance strategies (legal and not-so-legal) would differ between the two. IANAE, so all of this is a layman's speculation.

    This is not as tech-focused as most of Techdirt, but it might make a good future episode of the podcast.

  • On the post: Last Chance To Tell The Librarian Of Congress What's Important For A New Register Of Copyrights

    mermaldad ( profile ), 30 Jan, 2017 @ 06:24pm

    "Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside a dog, it's too dark to read."

    -Groucho Marx

    I'm hoping we won't be able to see anything in a new copyright office boss.

  • On the post: Butterball Sues Australian Wine Company Over Its 'Butterball' Chardonnay

    mermaldad ( profile ), 23 Dec, 2016 @ 03:24am

    Poor Research or Deliberate Reference?

    One AC has suggested that the winery didn't do a search for the term "butterball", but my guess is that they may have done it deliberately. Going for a boost from someone else's trademark isn't unheard of, and as Tim points out, isn't illegal if there's no opportunity for consumer confusion.

    If I were Butterball, I'd seriously consider if there's an opportunity to pair the turkey with the wine and give both brands a boost. A lawsuit just drains everyone's bank account (except the lawyers).

  • On the post: Awesome Stuff: Nerd Harder T-Shirt From Techdirt (Last Chance)

    mermaldad ( profile ), 31 May, 2016 @ 05:39pm

    Lots and Lots

    So to keep Techdirt going, your plan is to sell lots and lots of t-shirts? :-)

  • On the post: After Spending A Day As The Internet's Punching Bag, Philips Walks Back Firmware Update That Locked Out Third-Party Products

    mermaldad ( profile ), 18 Dec, 2015 @ 03:51pm

    Re: Decline and Fall

    Now, spending a lot of money on a computer means getting a machine which is basically useful for playing shoot-em-up games.


    ...or doing 3D CAD, animation, video production, music production, bitcoin mining, machine learning, or simulate protein folding for medical research. The fact that many people don't do much with their machines beyond playing games doesn't mean the technology has reached diminishing returns.

    I used to be dismissive of gamers until I realized that their pursuit of better frame rates and more realistic rendering had created a market that had outpaced the makers of scientific workstations costing ten times as much.

  • On the post: How Record Labels Conspired To Kill Off Public Domain Beatles Music In Canada

    mermaldad ( profile ), 06 Sep, 2015 @ 05:59pm

    Can't buy me

    Money can't buy me love, but apparently it can buy me Stephen Harper.

  • On the post: California Bill Would Require Libraries Post Scary Warning Signs Not To Do Infringy Stuff With 3D Printers

    mermaldad ( profile ), 16 Apr, 2015 @ 08:20am

    Amendment

    Perhaps an amendment should be made to this bill that would require a similar notice be posted in the workplaces of all copyright-enabled businesses (you know, like publishers, movie studios, and grocery stores) warning of the penalties associated with filing a false DMCA claim.

  • On the post: Funniest/Most Insightful Comments Of The Week At Techdirt

    mermaldad ( profile ), 16 Mar, 2015 @ 09:40am

    Re: Re: Re:

    Just like the television show Star Trek , "This Week In Techdirt History" is a five year mission. Any longer than that, and it would necessarily be reruns, since everything from 5 to 20 years would (obviously) have already been covered.


    No, it just goes recursive after that. I for one am looking forward to "This week in 'This week in Techdirt history' history" posts.

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