TheResidentSkeptic’s Techdirt Profile
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About TheResidentSkeptic
CTO, Rv'er, biker, pilot, total geek. Real grey-haired CTO who still codes because I enjoy it - and because it annoys the hell out of the little day coders that the old fart can out-code 'em.
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Re: Attention 14-year-olds: quit playing games, leave the basement.
To begin, I'm not 14. I'm 60.
I'm a real hard-core dyed-in-the-wool CTO who can still out-code most of the 20-somethings in our industry. I own (personally) a Sunfire E20K... and I keep an application server and development environment running at home (In an Antique French Armoire for SteamPunk style points). Can't get any more hard-core than that. I've worked on mainframes, mini's, dedicated, embedded - and stuff you've never heard of. I have done IT from private, local, state, Federal, International and even Military points of view. Been there, done that - and have the bloody t-shirt collection to prove it. Started, Managed, and Sold businesses. I know it from both sides. That qualified enough for you to debate me or at least listen to a different point of view here?
If so, then let's have some fun.
I am no "freetard" or "pirate". I don't believe in it. I own 500+ movies, I go out to movies regularly, I go to concerts (and buy the t-shirts, apparently just to piss you off..), and I enjoy the hell out of culture.
However, the arrogance and stupidity running rampant in "IP" based industries makes me totally understand and relate to the "pirates". Not the true idiots who really do only want everything for free - I think there is no excuse for that...but back to the arrogance for a minute.
I want to buy a book. "Sorry, it is out of print.. and *I* am the only one who has authority to print it". This makes me go get it somewhere else. Maybe a used copy on ebay or the old half.com - or I have to download it somewhere because I can't buy it. So how about we make the infamous "making available" move to the other side of the argument? If you don't "Make It Available" for purchase ALL THE TIME, then you lose your "Exclusive right to make and sell copies (Copyright) for a limited time". This should no longer be a one-way street.
As for the Arrogance+Stupidity principle - "We're locking it away in the vault". NO YOU AREN'T. YOU ARE WITHDRAWING IT FROM THE MARKETPLACE. If no one can buy it from you, then I totally agree with your LOST CUSTOMERS getting it from someone else. And I will totally agree with you that it does truly represent a "LOST SALE".. but it is YOUR FAULT you lost the sale. "Well, just do without". Oh please - get real, and get a clue.
I've yet to lose a book from my shelves. Not so much with my Kindle. Explain that again? I spent money and have NOTHING to show for it but a "lesson learned" - and probably not a lesson you wanted me to learn.
As for culture and "copying"... I suggest you read up on Chuck Berry. He appeared EVERYWHERE in the world - WITHOUT A BAND. He didn't need one, because EVERY band knew his licks - they had the "abundant" (skill and knew the material) - he had the "scarce" (himself and his showmanship). He sold the hell out of the scarcity by giving away the abundant. but wait - that only works for a few modern musicians who don't count - right?
Mike may just push all your buttons because he can. Ever think that he words some things certain ways just to taunt you? Mike isn't right 100% of the time. No one is. He's a LOT closer than you however.
This is a colorful world. It is neither black nor white. It changes - as does culture, business, and having total control. All evolve (or die). Fisher buggies evolved. The others died. What is your industries choice?
But you banned them...
We're happy to wear our uniform - but you can't order us to wear it if you allow countries to ban importing the mask...
Re: There will be no physical...
Please... 10 years? 10 DECADES maybe - have you purchased a blu-ray "with digital copy" recently? Note that the "digital copy" is on a physical disk... not a link...
As long as the IIC (Idiots In Charge) think that a digital copy has to be provided on a physical media ... we have a LONG battle ahead of us...
Cockpit Electronics
I got my private pilot's license way back in 1984.. since then, we've had available to us in the cockpit many of the EXACT SAME forbidden devices. From a Compaq iPaq with GPS that clipped onto the yoke (anywhere map, IIRC) to full iPAD "instrument flight systems"...
But hey, let's not let reality or facts enter into the picture here.. so I remain skeptical that anything will come of this other than more FUD, and unfortunately, more regulations which will be in conflict with other mandatory regulations so that whatever we do is wrong.
It is just sad...
.. that "inevitable" doesn't mean "imminent".
Shakespeare was right.
You forget - they also learned Hollywood accounting
$1,000,000 in legal fees spent to collect $100 means victory. The $1,000,000 is used to "offset" the income to prove that the movie never made a profit so there are no royalties to pay out. Just more money to the lawyers so they can siphon some off to the lobbyists to pay off the lawmakers to change the law back to their version of a reasonable fee. Never ending spiral. But fun to watch.
Watching while jogging???
... if someone on the jogging path happens to catch a glimpse of the movie, doesn't that make it a public performance, subject to LOTS of charges/fees ??? And since I have to think of the poor corn farmers, do I now have to carry a bucket of popcorn with me while I jog and watch my movie? c'mon... let's see if we can come up with something more stupid than what is about to come out of the mafiaa spin doctors...
Well, DUH... (as Louis Smith)
You can't skim 100's of millions out of a 10 million budget.
A great example of circular (non) logic (as Louis Smith)
Let me state this differently - "it has NEVER been used before, so it is illegal for you to be the first one to do so". ok.. "It's never been done, so it can't be done"... no, that doesn't help...
oh.. I know..." You didn't pay us enough for the privilege of modernizing us".. yeah, that must be it.
Short-term memory loss (as Louis Smith)
Would someone remind apple of the 50+ "pc vs mac" ads they had on their website for several years? I do believe those qualify as "referring to a rival on their website"
Finally! (as Louis Smith)
We finally will have a report that tops the Special 301!
I can't wait...I love reading fantasy novels...
Best case scenario (as Louis Smith)
"No".
"Okay, Congress will just vote the USTR out of existence."
yeah, I know - total fantasy - but wouldn't it be funny?
This isn't about Technology. (as Louis Smith)
... I worked/lived full-time in my RV for 5 years doing DoD IT work - and since I wanted NFL over my Satellite Dish - all I had to do was pay extra as an RV'r "with no fixed address" (don't get me started on that lunacy!) ... and I got all my local channels, ALL the NFL channels (including all games blacked out from my home no matter where I was). So.. seems to me that watching my local sports via satellite involves the signal going from ground to satellite to me... 44,000 miles of "signal length" wasn't an issue once I ponied up the $150 extra.. Isn't that all they really want... just "mo money" If "they" can't monetize it, it must be illegal. And don't try to bring logic into this - it just confuses them.
Remember the facts about facts. (as Louis Smith)
1) If the facts don't support the theory, they must be disposed of.
2) Marketing campaigns have NEVER needed actual facts. Are there actual facts behind "lather rinse repeat" or was it just the most successful marketing ploy ever to double sales?
3) Once money and politics are involved, then facts are anathema.
So, please ... quit using facts - they just get in the way of a good story.
What hypocrites! (as Louis Smith)
Let's see... google has the "right" to install products on my phone anytime they want - without my prior permission - and I don't have the "right" (or ability) to uninstall that product without rooting my phone. They have the "right" to transmit massive amounts of data to my phone - without my permission - to give me books I don't want on my phone. [note: lots of folks on google forums complaining about data overage bills] But if I do "buy" something from them that I do want, they have the "right" to delete it at will? uh... how's this "serve the customer" again???
Yes, us techies can change things... (as Louis Smith)
... like roll out a browser that doesn't even use DNS - just a hosts file - and share that hosts file with each other. Or maybe release World War Five (the logical successor to WW4) for ourselves. Lots of things techies CAN do - that you really don't want us TO do.
Techies created EVERYTHING you use. We invented every piece of equipment - even the whole movie industry was invented by one of the first "techies". You filled a gap when the gap was given to you by US. Well, we're eliminating that gap. Get over it, and find a new line of work. If you want, we'll even help you with a new technology that will make you more money than you ever dreamed of.
but - if you prefer (and it seems you do) we can become the enemy in your worst nightmare.
It is a real shame... (as Louis Smith)
... when a judge getting it right is major news.
Re: Re: I wish every law was measured by its success (as Louis Smith)
I totally agree. I have never pirated, and do NOT believe in it - *if* there are legal alternatives. Now - let's look at what the whiny industry has announced. At the end of this year, they are pulling all the Harry Potter movies from retail availability. What exactly do they think this accomplishes? Wanna bet that 60 days later they are on a rampage about all the "pirated" copies downloaded? I own close to 500 DVD/blu-ray movies - wait for it - because I AM A FAN!!!!. And the day that HP is pulled from legal sources, I will throw my copies away, and go download them all from a torrent site. Hoist 'er High!!! The Jolly Roger Must FLY!
I believe that copyright needs to have 2 rights - you have the right to be the sole producer/seller (for a time) and I have the right to be able to purchase at any time. You take away my right to purchase, I take away your right to be the sole source. Copyright expires the second you no longer offer legal, available-for-purchase copies.
A business point of view (as Dr.Smith)
One of the primary drivers is collection of sales tax. We all know that. But on what basis? Sales taxes on sales made by a business in the state to a resident of the state is certainly under the state's purview to tax. It was a business transaction taking place within the geo-political boundary of the state. Saying the state is "due" this tax because the person should have purchased locally but didn't isn't always valid. What if NO vendor in the state carries the article? No business in the state "lost" a sale. The state didn't "lose" local tax revenue. As stated, what if the item has some "charge" to it - political, social, or even against the "community standards of decency"? There are still areas where certain items are considered so immoral that jail time is required. Exposing even one instance of that forbidden purchase and ruining one life is too high a price to pay to save our over-bloated government agencies.
Second the Good Content Required. (as NeoArcane)
Don't know about the rest of you, but I happen to LOVE the mac banner ads. I watch those whenever I see a new one. But I totally agree on the intrusive annoying ads. Back to a common thread on TechDirt - try making it INTERESTING to the users and we won't block it! Otherwise, I put your company name on my "buy from anyone but" list.