ElijahBlue 's Techdirt Comments

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  • On the post: North Carolina Demands Amazon Reveal Every Detail Of Purchases By NC Residents

    ElijahBlue ( profile ), 20 Apr, 2010 @ 09:23pm

    Re: Re: Revenue

    L.A. just rolled back the city business tax, but only after the few remaining tech-related employers in the city warned the mayor the moving trucks were on the way. If you can call yourself an internet or multimedia business with a straight face, you probably qualify for the lower tax rate.


    http://mayor.lacity.org/PressRoom/PressReleases/LACITYP_009351

  • On the post: North Carolina Demands Amazon Reveal Every Detail Of Purchases By NC Residents

    ElijahBlue ( profile ), 20 Apr, 2010 @ 01:25pm

    I'm really irked that Amazon turned over the personal data on what consumers in NC bought - they shouldn't have given over any of this information, even if the names and addresses remained confidential.

  • On the post: Judge Rules: Drunk Moron In A Hurry Wouldn't Know Tequila From Maker's Mark

    ElijahBlue ( profile ), 16 Apr, 2010 @ 05:36pm

    How many great ideas are abandoned, bursts of inspiration are extinguished because of these abusive (and stupid) copyright, patent and trademark lawsuits? I've noticed recently that the most inane advertising slogans now bear a copyright or TM logo - slogans so dumb I can't even pull one from memory to post here. Some of the print ads I've seen recently are recycling common everyday sayings - capping the sentence with a copyright or TM mark.

  • On the post: The Number of People Giving Up TV for the Web Is Slowly Gaining Pace

    ElijahBlue ( profile ), 14 Apr, 2010 @ 09:08pm

    RE: once a month jones for the history channel

    You can find a lot of History Channel's content on Itunes, usually for $1.99 an episode, or from Netflix. Itunes removed the DRM restrictions on their content a while ago, so you can burn just about any movie/TV content you buy from them to a DVD or put it on a video IPOD.

  • On the post: The Number of People Giving Up TV for the Web Is Slowly Gaining Pace

    ElijahBlue ( profile ), 14 Apr, 2010 @ 03:36am

    Re: Who will create?

    I forgot to note the positives of not having cable TV or an over-the-air signal. The things I like to watch are available for free or inexpensively online. Such as, I'm a huge fan of true-crime documentaries and PBS documentary show Frontline. My husband is addicted to 48 hours, and he watches these shows for free on the CBS website.

    I can buy individual episodes for $2.99 or less from Itunes, watch the Frontline episodes for free on the PBS website, or I can buy or rent the DVD and rip it to my IPOD. Of all these choices, my least favorite is streaming the video live from a website because of the time factor - I don't really have time to park my butt in front of the computer monitor. So far I haven't downloaded anything from bittorrent, because I've been able to find everything I want to watch at a reasonable price.

    There's more than enough down time for me. I'm often waiting in remote places where there's no internet connection - because of family circumstances, I spend more time than I'd like in doctors' office waiting rooms. The people around me are usually stressing out, staring at their watches, giving the receptionist dirty looks, while I'm totally involved in a documentary about Mexican street gangs that I've ripped to my video IPOD.

  • On the post: The Number of People Giving Up TV for the Web Is Slowly Gaining Pace

    ElijahBlue ( profile ), 14 Apr, 2010 @ 02:13am

    Going web-only wasn't by choice in my house. I got rid of the cable TV subscription about two years ago to save money. We never had an available over-the-air signal before the switch to digital.

    After the change to digital, we get exactly two English-language TV channels with the digital coverter box and a huge and greatly embarrassing set of rabbit ears in the window.

    I'd rather stream movies on Netflix over the internet - nothing says failure with a capital F quicker than a 40-something renter with a rabbit ears antenna taped to the glass in the living room window. (This was the only way we could get any signal at all.)

  • On the post: Why The eBook Industry Needs More Piracy

    ElijahBlue ( profile ), 12 Feb, 2009 @ 09:10am

    For me, these are the negatives of e-books and proprietary e-book reader machines:

    The e-content is too expensive. Why would I pay nearly retail price for an e-book that I can't do anything with once I'm done reading it? I can't sell it used on Amazon or trade it for credit at my local used bookstore.

    Most of the e-book readers lock up the content so tightly with DRM and copy protection that researchers and others who would buy non-fiction e-books don't bother.

    I don't want or need another gadget in my pocket. I have a Google phone, and I would be willing to pay for e-content that I could access on my G1.

  • On the post: Dear Newspapers: Locking Up Archives Shrinks Your Business

    ElijahBlue ( profile ), 13 Oct, 2008 @ 09:34pm

    I have paid for archived newspaper articles in the past, and I'm not sure what this guy is complaining about in his letter. If the content was so important to him, why didn't he save it the first time he read it?

    It sounds like whining to me.

  • On the post: T-Mobile Sends G1 Android Data Users To The Slow Lane: 50kbps Over 1 Gig

    ElijahBlue ( profile ), 23 Sep, 2008 @ 07:32pm

    Re: Re:

    I have a truly unlimited T-Mobile data plan @ $50 a month. However, this is a plan that isn't available to new customers, and if I drink the Android Kool-Aid next month, I will have to give up this plan in order to buy the new T-Mobile wonder phone at a discount.

    I might just keep what I have. I really like T-Mobile and am happy with the plan that I have, and all I need is a new handheld device, as the PDA I have is three years old and is now being held together with duct tape.

  • On the post: Prisons Upset That Prisoners Don't Get Discounts On Digital TV Converters

    ElijahBlue ( profile ), 05 Sep, 2008 @ 01:51pm

    Many prisoners do work and watching TV is an end of the day ritual for them just as it is for those of us on the outside. There are also sick prisoners who can't even leave their cells or medical wards.

    So what is the reasoning behind the government refusing to provide the converter coupons to prisoners? I personally think the whole program was a stupid idea to begin with, but there's no valid reason to exclude an entire class of people, except for government bureaucracy at work.

  • On the post: HP And Walmart Get Rid Of Laptop Box; Buy The Computer And Get It In A Messenger Bag

    ElijahBlue ( profile ), 04 Sep, 2008 @ 07:05pm

    I think this is a great idea, for a few reasons:

    First off, I don't give a flying f--- about global warming, the environment, the size of my carbon footprint or leaving the planet a better place.

    However, I think eliminating excess consumer packaging is an excellent idea, for several reasons. Those of us who live in urban areas don't have to worry about the meth addicts next door rooting through our recycle bins, finding the laptop computer box and then breaking into the house when we're at work and stealing the laptop we just bought.

    If eliminating consumer-level packaging saves Wal-Mart or HP money, then it's better for all of us, because no matter what you think of Wal-Mart, they will eventually drop the price of their laptops if it's cheaper for them to obtain those products in the first place.

    I am also highly reluctant to walk through a parking garage with my huge brand new laptop computer box advertising to every potential car jacker that I'm ready to be taken for a ride. It just makes common sense and this is a great idea.

  • On the post: 30% Of Internet Users Admit To Buying From Spam

    ElijahBlue ( profile ), 21 Aug, 2008 @ 10:14am

    I think this number (30%) is awfully high, and agree that the question was probably not written in a way that was clear to people. As a curious side note, I just checked my spam email box to make sure nothing legit got caught up in the spam filters. Here's a list, and this is only four hours' worth of spam:



    From Subject Date Size
    Natalie Mccabe What time is okay for you 9:35 am 2.3 k

    Samuel Harden Reliable software only! 8:51 am 1.7 k

    hamlen carrie Journalists shot in Georgia 7:00 am 9.3 k

    hermon jesus Never be limp again, make your cock rock solid! 6:30 am 1.8 k

    hansel kathleen debt agreement 6:26 am 1.2 k

    Wendi Rushing Best way to cure yourself 7:47 am 3.4 k

    Sunny gomez Britney Spears' actions too Far Out for Newspaper 7:38 am 1.8 k

    leonerd butch Journalists shot in Georgia 5:43 am 9.3 k

    Viagra Inc RE: Sale 79% OFF !!! Dec 31, 1969 0.6 k

    Andre Henry Instead of our old formula, the new one is more ... 6:23 am 6.6 k

    DOUG Petridis Now Tom Cruise wants Britney Spears to marry him... Jan 3, 2002 1.8 k

    dorie binod Journalists shot in Georgia 3:26 am 9.3 k

    Ingrid Tapia What time is okay for you 5:09 am 3.1 k

    Lauri Pickens Replica Rolex Swiss Watches 5:33 am 0.9 k

    Cheri Cartwright Best way to cure yourself 4:00 am 6.7 k

    Phinizy Miettunen Kim Kardashian wants a lesbian tango with Britne... 3:41 am 1.8 k

    Coy Mason {CasinoSubject} 2:55 am 1.1 k

    Alison Blackman Best way to cure yourself 2:50 am 5.1 k

    Rebecca Hanley What does the Bible say about rape? 2:41 am 2 k

    Rodrigo Dutton What time is okay for you 2:10 am 2.3 k

    Gaspar Sorenson California Storm is Britney Spears Fault 1:22 am 1.8 k

    bridgette Jonsson Britney Spears Denies Having Seminal Moments wit... 12:47 am 1.8 k

    Garth Woodard No test, No class, buy yourself Bacheelor/Mastee... 12:45 am 2.5 k

    Maribel Timmons Reliable software only! 12:34 am 1.7 k

    Chad Whitehead P0pular software at low low price$$$. 12:24 am 3.1 k

    Mia Roper Big Tits Wed, 11:43 pm 2.4 k

    Dorothy Kenny Reliable software only! Wed, 11:37 pm 1.7 k

    Carole Saenz Won't forget last night Wed, 11:07 pm 4.2 k

    Hartly Neuendorf Rolex, Rado, Patek Philipppe,, Omega, Gucci Wed, 10:01 pm 2.5 k

    Anne Newsome Most reliable replica from Patek Philippe ... 2:29 am 0.9 k

    Johanna Washburn Won't forget last night Wed, 9:18 pm 6.6 k

    Tomiko Stamm Britney Spears Recording New Album - Forgotten H... Wed, 8:52 pm 1.8 k

    Quinten sahami Britney Spears is dating a girl Wed, 8:15 pm 1.8 k

    Napoleon Stanton Today get 30-70% off all watches. 3:52 am 1.2 k

    Murray Cherry Satisfy your lover like never before! Wed, 7:13 pm 1.5 k

    alep vincenza Britney Spears To Donate Eggs For Darfur Wed, 6:49 pm 1.8 k

    Clair Monogue Britney Spears Applies For Barack Obama Masseuse Job Wed, 5:58 pm 1.8 k

  • On the post: Has Anyone At AT&T Ever Called AT&T Tech Support?

    ElijahBlue ( profile ), 19 Aug, 2008 @ 04:59pm

    Re: RE:Shame that there is absolutely no other choice in the Silicon Valley

    I am a very happy DSL Extreme customer and have been for years. I second your recommendation.

  • On the post: Has Anyone At AT&T Ever Called AT&T Tech Support?

    ElijahBlue ( profile ), 19 Aug, 2008 @ 04:25pm

    Yeah sounds like the same script I've been reading from for years. I was a reasonably satisfied customer of a flat-rate AT&T dial-up internet account, which I kept open as a backup service, even after I switched to high-speed cable internet. I also kept AT&T as my primary email account.

    There were certain mail settings for Outlook Express that didn't match what was in the online help files on AT&T Worldnet's website. The POP3 and SMTP settings were changed at some point but the info on the website was never updated.

    Once a year or so, I'd find myself at a remote work site or using a borrowed or loaner computer, and I'd be in a place where I didn't have access to the email settings that I'd printed out and filed away.

    For years, all I had to do was place a two-minute call to AT&T tech support and they always knew exactly what I needed to know, and the problem was solved. The specifics had something to do with the point in time that I'd opened my original account, where I was located, etc., that meant I had to use mail server settings that were different from the standard ones that most people use.

    It also helped that the techs were American and long-time employees who knew exactly what I was talking about.

    The last time I called about two years ago, I got some chick in the Phillipines, who informed me that she wasn't allowed to give out that information. 'We don't provide tech support for Outlook Express.' I tried to explain 'I don't need tech support, bitch. (I didn't really call her a bitch, but I would have.) I just need you to pull up my account and read me off the email server settings.'

    After calling back three or four times and getting the same response, I just accessed my email directly through the web until I returned from my business trip, and then I cancelled my AT&T account. Useless fuckers.

  • On the post: Tech Company That Junked Unopened Rebate Claims Pays $10k In Fines

    ElijahBlue ( profile ), 31 Jul, 2008 @ 11:42am

    Re: @ Josh Martin

    Wrong. Completely wrong. I've never had a problem getting any rebate check, but friends of mine had a hell of a time with their AOL-branded rebates offered through Best Buy on the purchase of a computer. Going into Best Buy and bitching loudly was exactly what they did, and the store manager stepped up and did the right thing.

    First he called the rebate company and they hung up on him, even after he identified himself as a Best Buy store manager. So he was so mad that he gave my friends in-store Best Buy gift cards for the amount of the missing rebate checks. In my view, that's a sign of a Class-A retailer.

  • On the post: Escaped Spammer Found Dead In Murder/Suicide

    ElijahBlue ( profile ), 25 Jul, 2008 @ 03:26am

    I am sorry for the death of his wife and baby. What a loser! 21 months in minimum-security Club Fed, okay it's no country club, but real men have endured far worse. I can only hope that he had the joy of being a play toy for the big guys during the short time he was behind bars, and I hope it hurt like hell, too.

  • On the post: Now A German Court Says Open WiFi Owner Is Responsible For What Others Do On WiFi

    ElijahBlue ( profile ), 18 Jul, 2008 @ 03:28pm

    Re: German Idiocy!

    DoD'd

    Translation, please. I know you probably meant Department of Defense, but was curious what you meant exactly.

  • On the post: LA Times Just Realized That Print And Online Newsrooms Should Be The Same?

    ElijahBlue ( profile ), 07 Jul, 2008 @ 04:08pm

    Re: Re:

    If the comment was directed at me, that's fine, but I have always been extremely interested and knowledgeable about local, national and international events, trends and what regular people are living through at any given point in time.

    My point about the woes of Detroit was simple - those intensive, and important stories, are fine for national news magazines, but after the LA Times became a Chicago tribune property, the paper completely abandoned their rich and award-winning history of in-depth local stories, about our our own local residents and communities.

    That was why I quit subscribing to the LA Times. I didn't mean to imply that the suffering of Detroit residents wasn't important, just that the primary news focus of a local newspaper should be the community it serves.

  • On the post: LA Times Just Realized That Print And Online Newsrooms Should Be The Same?

    ElijahBlue ( profile ), 07 Jul, 2008 @ 08:46am

    The Los Angeles Times didn't lose the war for readers because of their website presence. The Times lost the battle in 2000 when the Chandler family sold their controlling interest in the paper to the Tribune company of - ta da - Chicago.

    Immediately, the focus of front page, left-hand column news stories switched from in-depth local interest to - Midwest, East Coast and after a time, irrelevant international stories. They meant nothing to me. I don't want to read about the struggle for economic survival in Detroit, on an in-depth first-person level. Those stories should have remained with a Los Angeles focus. As a former Times subscriber, I speak from personal experience.

    After a while, the web changed my news reading habits. I now have a Google home page customized for my interests - Time Mag, Newsweek, CBC, BBC and CNN, Techdirt, as well as some local Canadian newspaper websites. I have no reason to ever subscribe to a paper newspaper, ever again in my life.

    There was another simpler change that caused me to stop buying the Times at the newsstand, after I had cancelled my subscription. The news rack price doubled to 50 cents. When the price was still a quarter, I had the habit of grabbing a Times and reading it while I ate a meal in a restaurant. At 50 cents, which I certainly could still afford, it just wasn't worth digging in my pocket for the extra quarter to buy a newspaper. Instead, I'd read the one left behind by other diners.

    Now I scope out the news headlines on my wi-fi Smart Phone while I'm eating in a restaurant. My hands never get dirty with newsprint. Ultimately, these are not battles that the Times is positioned to win. They have lost the hearts and loyalty of former subscribers and paying customers.

  • On the post: Bad Trends: End User License Agreements On Tangible Goods

    ElijahBlue ( profile ), 03 Jul, 2008 @ 06:58pm

    Lexmarks are pieces of crap. I've warned friends not to buy these products, and I always end up hearing 'you were right' as they toss the non-working POS into the bottom of the nearest landfill.

    For friends who aren't using a computer for business or high-output printing, I always encourage them to buy an HP. I used to order generic printer cartridges on Ebay for them, but now, they're able to find affordable and reasonable name-brand cartridges on their own at Wallyworld. I've never met an unhappy HP printer owner. Seriously.

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