barrenwaste 's Techdirt Comments

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  • On the post: Whistleblower Reacts To FCC Clearing The FCC On Supressing Study For Politican Reasons

    barrenwaste ( profile ), 26 Oct, 2007 @ 06:44am

    Does anybody truly believe that the FCC is about furthering communication? Come on, the organization was set up to censor communication and has a position titled Inspector General. If that isn't one of the steps to tyranny I don't know what is. Next stop, block wardens and the gestappo...wait, we have those already.

  • On the post: Acacia's Latest Target: NetFlix

    barrenwaste ( profile ), 24 Oct, 2007 @ 06:40am

    So Stupid

    Ok, lets try this again with text this time.

    First of all, that there is even a patent for this blows my mind. This process has been going on as long as there has been trade. Why would a patent have even been issued on this? Don't get me wrong, in many cases I am for patents. Used correctly they can help smaller businesses gain thie foothold in markets innundated with monolithic multi-nationals. Unfortunately our judicial system and government tends to promote the abuse of the system.

    Second of all, how can anyone have the sheer gall to patent an idea that has been around for over a thousand years? This one should be chucked out the window and Refined Recomendation Corporation should be levied some heavy fines.

    And finally, how can any judge sitting this case not see it for what it is, armed robbery. Refined Recomendation Corporation may not be holding the gun itself, but that hasn't seemed to matter in other cases of armed robbery. "Give us $20mil or we have our government lackies kill you NetFlix!" Or, if you like, it's at least blackmail. No wonder our country is falling apart with the government allowing, no encouraging, such travesties.

  • On the post: Acacia's Latest Target: NetFlix

    barrenwaste ( profile ), 24 Oct, 2007 @ 06:27am

    So stupid

  • On the post: Your Kids May Be Telling The Whole Internet Your Secrets

    barrenwaste ( profile ), 23 Oct, 2007 @ 02:05am

    And here it is folks, another American lawsuit brought to you in part by insanity. Who cares if dear old mom gave her 19 year old kids some beer. Not I. Personally, and yes I have a son...somewhere, I'm of the mind that it's better at home than in some backwoods sandpit or abandoned hirise. Skipping that, our legal system allows for underage drinking...there are exceptions to the laws, so why have the laws? I can't think of a single case where there should be extenuating circumstances for drinking. "Ok, we are the beer terrorists, drink this or die, kid!" Lets take a quick peek at the age progression for several laws. It is legal to hunt at the ripe old age of 11. Hmm, you can kill but you can't drive, smoke, drink, or vote...cause that wouldn't be morally right. At 15 you can drive (some with adults, some without) and can now legally carry your gun to your hunting camp. Yup, we'll set you up for the drive-by but don't you smoke or drink! Next, you can have sex at 16, but only with 16 and 17 year olds. Better not get caught kissing your girlfriend if your parents held you back a year in kindergarten. Then, at 18 you can smoke and vote. I really don't have to point out how rediculus this is when taken in conjunction with the others do I? I mean, you can be a parent at 16 but you can't smoke or rent an apartment? WTF! Finally, at the age of 21 you get all the privilages of an adult....even though you have been legally culpable for all your actions since 15. Man is our country totally messed up or what?

  • On the post: Thanksgiving Tradition: Bogus Legal Threats From Stores Against Posting Black Friday Prices

    barrenwaste ( profile ), 19 Oct, 2007 @ 03:36pm

    Walmart really does damage local economies as well as the national debt. For those of you who do not know, and I see several by posts here, when we speak of a deficet it does not refer to a lump sum that we owe some investment bankers. Especially when talking about our foreign deficet. It isn't something the government owes to another government or group of governments.

    As for Walmart... I agree, it has initiated a few good things, and I will also admit that it isn't the antichrist in disguise. However, for the damage it does to the economy I can only despise it. If you look at county records you will see that nearly everytime it moves into a new location it causes more loss of employment than it creates jobs. Not only that, but by importing most all of it's product while exporting nothing it continues a dangerous downward spiral in the national economy. Some rationalize it by saying it's a changing market and if your business couldn't stand the competition then it only proves that the competing businesses provide better service/goods at lower prices. That is a fallacy. Three stores in my area just went out due to the economic pressure of Walmart and all three of them offered lower prices and one on one service for equal or better quality product. Walmart simply crushed them with money and glitter. Say what you want, wear all the blinders you want. But when the rug get's jerked out from under you don't whine to me. You did it to yourself by refusing to educate yourself to the realities of the world you are creating.

  • On the post: Thanksgiving Tradition: Bogus Legal Threats From Stores Against Posting Black Friday Prices

    barrenwaste ( profile ), 19 Oct, 2007 @ 09:46am

    Re: Mark Murphy

    Well, speculation isn't illegal, either. I mean, how can there be a copywrite violation on intellectual property that doesn't exist yet. That's not the answer.

  • On the post: Thanksgiving Tradition: Bogus Legal Threats From Stores Against Posting Black Friday Prices

    barrenwaste ( profile ), 19 Oct, 2007 @ 09:39am

    Ok, annals. My therapist says it's not my fault and that I have deep seated issues stemming from a rejection I experienced as a child. Personally I just thought I was having a problem because I rejected english class, who knew?

  • On the post: Thanksgiving Tradition: Bogus Legal Threats From Stores Against Posting Black Friday Prices

    barrenwaste ( profile ), 19 Oct, 2007 @ 09:05am

    It's a good thing Walmart sent out those preventative letters. Wouldn't want such sensitive information getting back to the Chinese.

    Seriously, use that kind of exposure, don't quash it. Who ever thought this policy up ought to be relegated to the anals of history and a sign hung for posterity....or the anal moron should be kicked in the posterior...

  • On the post: Is It Copyright Infringement To Skip Commercials?

    barrenwaste ( profile ), 19 Oct, 2007 @ 08:57am

    Hmm, ok. I can't spell for squat and don't take the time to spell check. Mostly because I'm at work and am typing all this in between customers and projects. Doesn't change the validity of what I am saying.

  • On the post: Is It Copyright Infringement To Skip Commercials?

    barrenwaste ( profile ), 19 Oct, 2007 @ 07:52am

    Either way, it doesn't matter, as the companies/networks do not own the intellectual content in question (commercials).

    The commercials are owned by the companies who create them, and I'm fairly certain that Nike is not owned by Fox. Even if it did, once the intellectual property (if commercials can be called intellectual) is bought and paid for it becomes the consumer's choice on whether they use it or not.

    The reason cable networks/cable companies have to play certain commercials at certain times is contractual. They set up a fairly standardized contract where in the network will play commercials at such and such a time for such and such a sum. However, there is nothing they can do to force people to watch these commercials at such and such a time.

    I'm not an expert on copywright law, but I cannot see how the truck stop violated any networks rights by refusing to use intellectual property that they made no contract to use and the network doesn't own.

    I can see why the network wouldn't like the truckstops use of the technology. If the commercials the network contracts to show aren't seen, then the companies that contract with them will cease to do so, thereby reducing most of the networks potential revenue. However, that is not a violation of any law, simply a changing market.

    In the end it seems clear to me that either the judge took a pay off or he got his degrees in law from acme.

  • On the post: Before Filing Patent Infringement Lawsuit, Please Make Sure The Patent In Question Has Been Granted

    barrenwaste ( profile ), 19 Oct, 2007 @ 07:19am

    Re:Re: Wait a minute....

    And if people don't see how rediculous that is, they deserve to get swindled.

    Now, excuse me while I go patent the wheel and fire. I'm in the money, I'm in the money...

  • On the post: Congress: P2P Promotes Identity Theft! We Need New Laws!

    barrenwaste ( profile ), 18 Oct, 2007 @ 09:26am

    Brothers! I stand here to tell you of a threat to your imortal soul! Of something so insidious that even the devil himself stands awed. Yes, brothers, I speak to you of P2P....

    Congress is combining two of the greatest motivational policies ever. A revival mixed with a witch hunt. I guess it was inevitable. I mean, when has the american people been satisfied with only one subject for witch hunting (read sex offenders, drug addicts, or any other "Popular" crime)? I've said it before in conjuction with other laws, and I'll say it again. When the majority of a people are labeled criminals, then there is something wrong with the laws, not the people. Maybe it's time we excercised our constitutional right to find a new government. Scrap congress and half the laws of the last couple decades and start over from the '40's or maybe even the '30's. Couldn't be any worse than it is now.

  • On the post: Blaming The Messenger: Student Almost Expelled For Spotting Security Flaw

    barrenwaste ( profile ), 18 Oct, 2007 @ 07:49am

    Replies

    Well Coward, if it shows flaws in the policies of big businesses and or large and established corporate/political/educational entities then it most likely favors one of Mike's theories. However, since that part of my reply was mostly vitriol and sarcasm and had no true substance other than critiscism of the unreal expectations of others, I can't see how it matters.

    To those who still don't grasp the point of the article, here it is. The campus has a policy that attempts to punish any student for accesing condfidential files that were erronously posted to the world wide web. That was the point of Mike's article. The Campus does in fact have such a policy, so there was no error or misdirection on Mike's part.

    The fact that the campus administration tried to redirect focus from thier failures and inapropriate policies was never mentioned in Mike's article, nor was the students actions, other than his finding the misplaced file.

    I have to wonder at why people keep stating it was wrong of the student to bring the file, and it's contents, to the newspaper. Even had the newspaper printed the contents of the folder no more harm could be done. The campus had already made that information available to the general public by way of the internet, which gets aruably more readers than a local paper. Also, looking at how and why the campus attempted to punish the student it seems to me that bringing the whole sordid affair into the spotlight was a very smart move. Had he kept quiet there is no doubt in my mind that he would have been expelled. However, with the spotlight on them, the campus administration could hardly punish another for what was undeniably thier failure. If anybody should have legal action taken against them it is the campus, and I gleefully await the lawsuit that any sane person would bring against them for such a breach of confidentiality.

  • On the post: Blaming The Messenger: Student Almost Expelled For Spotting Security Flaw

    barrenwaste ( profile ), 17 Oct, 2007 @ 11:38am

    Re:Diingenuous

    Wait....it's that he copied invormation? Then why was he given a hearing based on the fact that he viewed it? The campus can't try to discipline him for one thing while claiming that his true infraction was something else intirely. Something, I might add, that isn't illegal. The student would have to be monumentally stupid not to provide evidence for the crime he said he, and he alone, witnessed. So, which is it? Was he wrong for finding it, or wrong for giving said information to the newspaper? Either way, neither action was a crime and the campus had no right to attempt an expulsion.

  • On the post: Blaming The Messenger: Student Almost Expelled For Spotting Security Flaw

    barrenwaste ( profile ), 17 Oct, 2007 @ 07:15am

    Wait....you mean Mike reports things that are biased in his favor? Well, there's no way he'd ever get a job with a major news agency with that kind of thinking! They have thier integert...inteergit...integity (Well, the newspapers can't spell it either) to think of.

    So the kid copies the info and sends it to the campus paper? Sounds smart to me. In this day and age it is much to easy to makes such mistakes disapeer, leaving the people who noticed the flaw standing around looking like fools. Hmm, what will get the greatest results, the goal being to make sure the campus doesn't do this sort of thing again. Should we send it to them first, so they can make it go away before the newsies see any proof, or should we rub thier faces in it, then let em take care of it. Tough question, though if I remember my puppy training right you rub it's nose in it before you clean up the piddle puddle.

    But, by all means, let's call the guy an idiot because he didn't feel like being made to look like one of the three stooges (most likely curly). And as for the "cover your @$$ mentality"? In sue-happy America do you blame the campus for shooting the messenger? When every honest mistake is seen as aiding and or abetting terrorism or some other villainous scheme, you kind of get jumpy when bad news comes in. Is it right? No. Doesn't mean it's not understandable. Heck, these days they are selling butprotectors instead of pocketprotectors. They're really quite handy. Leave your hands free to actually do something about the problem instead of just running around hunched over with one hand on your rear and the other fending off lawyers.

  • On the post: Email Communication Continues To Be Misunderstood

    barrenwaste ( profile ), 09 Oct, 2007 @ 06:20am

    Don't load it all on the individual who did the writing. First thing to think about....people can't read. It's true. Look at the average reading level accross the world and you will be disapointed and depressed. Cross that with the average attention span and it's no wonder there are misunderstandings. Imagine, if you will, a sixth grader with the attention span of a godfish on speed and you pretty much have the majority of the morons who make these misunderstandings flourish. It works both ways. After all, you can't communicate meaningfully with a goldfish, now can you?

  • On the post: Apple Sued For Cutting iPhone Price

    barrenwaste ( profile ), 02 Oct, 2007 @ 01:32pm

    Yup, this proves it. People on the whole are STUPID. Yes, capital letters were needed. When companies drop pices on thier products, it's a good thing for us consumers. Period. The moron who is suing ought to be found in contempt of court, forced to pay for the trial and a sum to apple and the courts for emotional distress, and then popped into county lock up for 60 days. Harsh? A little, but any moron that is complaining about price drops in todays overpriced world needs the stupid slapped out of them. Well, at least there is a good side to this. The thought of getting sued for dropping prices will surely encourage other companies to drop prices...oh, wait, nevermind.

  • On the post: Family Conversations More Likely To Include 'LOL' Than 'Pass The Butter, Please'

    barrenwaste ( profile ), 02 Oct, 2007 @ 01:12pm

    My family still spends evey holiday together, all the aunts and uncles, neices and nephews, cousins, and that wierd couple that we really don't know how they are related to us. I'm 30 years old, and still get together with my brother, his wife and kid, and my mom and pops at least once a month for a sit down meal, cards, and a beer or two. It's not that electronic media is changing the family dynamic, it's just that sociatel mores are changing and the electronics businesses are capitalizing on the changes. People just don't care as much about family these days. Sad, but true.

  • On the post: Court Realizes That Criticizing A Trademark Is Not Trademark Infringement

    barrenwaste ( profile ), 27 Sep, 2007 @ 07:53am

    Well, sad to say, it's just what I have come to expect from our judicial system. America, land of the free...ly prosecuted. Don't like your neihbors hair color? Sue her. Dude at the convience store make a comment about excrement when he spilled the coffee? Sue him! Put your shoes on the wrong feet this morning? Sue your parents! They were obviously to incompetent to teach you correctly when you were a child.....

    I'm probably going to get sued now for being a cynic or something. Oh well, government already took everything I haven't spent on food, and if they can get my car to start without gas in it and with a thrown rod, then they can sue me for that.

  • On the post: Note To Gloating Copyright Holders: Taking Down A Single Source Of Content Doesn't Stop Unauthorized Sharing

    barrenwaste ( profile ), 19 Sep, 2007 @ 09:43am

    RE: Everybody

    *Postulation*

    SOME free content is good for a business. The problem is you can get ALL the newest movies, music, apps, and games anywhere from twenty four hours to a week after it's release. In some cases you can even get it before it's official release date. That said, the way businesses are going about it is the very definition of insanity (performing the same actions repeatedly while expecting different results). They have to change thier tactics or continue to fail miserably, but they cannot give up the fight without going out of business. What that means for us is that the industry standards will fall, and the quality and quantity of new products will drop exponentially.

    *Collaborative Statements*

    1) Offering free goods and services has been proven to be a good draw for potential and repeat customers.

    2) Free goods and services are just that, free. In of themselves they generate no revenue for the business, and in most cases, cost them money in distribution, stock, and advertising fees.

    3) When all, or most, products a business offers can be aquired for free, it ceases to generate the required revenue to continue as a business.

    4) The entire point of a business is to generate wealth for it's self, owners, and employees.

    5) When an industry no longer generates revenue, the qualitative and quantitative growth stops, and in the case of quantity, regresses.

    6) A single person cannot consume enough free product to hurt an industry.

    7) When product is offered free to the populace, a large part of the target demographic who have access, and who do not already have enough of the product, will take part in said offer. *Wow, that's quite the run-on sentence*

    8) The internet offers access to the overwhelming majority of the populace with intrest in free digital product.

    9) The occurance of internet copyright infringements and piracy has increased in volume.

    10) The businesses with intrest in suppressing internet copyright infringements and piracy attempt to do so by safeguards on digital product and through legal action.

    11) Due to the nature of digital product, the internet, and the existence of privacy and national laws, preventitive and punative theft protection is, at best, extremely difficult.

    *Editorial*

    Unfortunately I have no answers on how to solve the problems here. I, like most people, like free product. I also think that the businesses involved with the problem charge way to much for thier products. On the other hand, as long as free product is available, why pay anything at all? Of course, nobody paying anything means very few will be intrested in spending the time, effort, and cash needed to make new, good quality, products. Personally, I don't think there is an answer here that will be acceptable to either side. As long as there are things out there to gain, we, as people, are going to continue to find the easiest and cheapest way to gain them.

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