James Carmichael 's Techdirt Comments

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  • On the post: Joe Biden: There's No Reason To Treat Intellectual Property Any Different Than Tangible Property

    James Carmichael ( profile ), 13 Apr, 2011 @ 01:48pm

    Re: Re: Re: Re:

    Buuuuuurn! (x4)

  • On the post: Joe Biden: There's No Reason To Treat Intellectual Property Any Different Than Tangible Property

    James Carmichael ( profile ), 13 Apr, 2011 @ 01:46pm

    My friend Paul bought a Radiohead album.
    Then I downloaded a Radiohead album.
    Now Paul can't listen to his Radiohead album because I downloaded it.
    Piracy harmed Paul.

    Also, Joe Biden is old and the intranets are confusing. Politicians should ask experts about what they're talking about instead of just being humanly ignorant and say stupid shit about things they don't even begin to understand.

    (Seriously though, I can't wait to get the Newspaper Album delivered. Come OOOOOON May 9th!)

  • On the post: New Zealand Uses Earthquake As An Excuse To Sneak 3 Strikes Law Through

    James Carmichael ( profile ), 13 Apr, 2011 @ 12:01pm

    Can politicians get punished for being sneaky rats like that? Honestly, wouldn't that kind of behavior be against the law somehow?

  • On the post: Senators And Reps Grandstand Against Online Pornography Which Is Destroying Our Social Fabric

    James Carmichael ( profile ), 11 Apr, 2011 @ 01:57pm

    Re: Re: Re: Re:

    surprise butsecks

  • On the post: Senators And Reps Grandstand Against Online Pornography Which Is Destroying Our Social Fabric

    James Carmichael ( profile ), 11 Apr, 2011 @ 01:52pm

    Re:

    I wasn't gay before, but last week I touched a gay guy in the street so I caught his gay. I also watched porn on the intranet and now I have an irresistible urge to start a prostitution ring. GOD HELP US ALL!

  • On the post: Copyright Fight Over GoDaddy CEO Shooting An Elephant?

    James Carmichael ( profile ), 11 Apr, 2011 @ 12:46pm

    Re: Re: Re:

    When I started out a few years ago I tried GoDaddy because it was the one I heard about the most (again, say what you want about them, but they have aggressive advertising). Then I discovered much better options. I personally use HostPapa now, but I've used HostMonster in the past, and there are TONS of similar companies (BlueHost is another one). $6 or so per month for unlimited shared hosting, and it includes a free domain which they renew for free for you. It's a no brainer, and they use Linux with Control Panel, PHP/SQL one-click CMS installs... a web dev's dream. HostPapa just happens to be Canadian and I often need to get .ca domains for clients, something other companies can't always do for you if they're American. I still need a GoDaddy account since a lot of my clients buy their hosting before getting in touch with me, so I have to access their accounts to transfer permissions, setup databases or FTP permissions, etc.

  • On the post: Defense Dept. Not Planning On Closing Security Hole That Resulted In Wikileaks Disclosure… Until 2013

    James Carmichael ( profile ), 11 Apr, 2011 @ 08:48am

    Re: 2013?

    Yeah, 2013 sounds just far enough away for people to forget there was a promise made back in 2011 about fixing the networks. In 2013, things will have changed enough so that they can either fix the problem, or more likely just shrug it off again saying "well we promised something two years ago, but that was two years ago, and now is now, so we just won't do anything."

    Either way, government transparency and accountability is NOT a problem, and it shouldn't be 'fixed'. It's a good thing.

  • On the post: Copyright Fight Over GoDaddy CEO Shooting An Elephant?

    James Carmichael ( profile ), 11 Apr, 2011 @ 08:42am

    Re:

    "Parsons is one of those people that I would like to see tied down and punched in the face repeatedly while asking, "Do you want another domain?""

    Hahaha I would pay to see that. We could definitely try to put a spin on it as if it's a 'humanitarian mission'.

    I'm a web developer, and GoDaddy is pretty much the anti-christ. Every single page, every single DIV on their website is optimized to try to suck as much money from you as possible, with a total disregard to ethical user interface. I usually recommend my clients to stay away from them, unfortunately their marketing department was given way, way too much money and I'm assuming a LOT of crack cocaine as well.

    Anyways, great job killing an elephant, Parsons. It proves you have really good aim.

  • On the post: 14,000 'Unsaved' Votes Suddenly 'Found' In Wisconsin?

    James Carmichael ( profile ), 08 Apr, 2011 @ 05:25pm

    Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

    Yes, lots of people have it rough, and I'm having it easy in comparison, sure. I was accused of blowing hot air by an anonymous coward, and I'm overly proud of my principles.

    It's entirely possible it's terrible idea. I guess it only works in a society where most people trust most other people, though I'm not even sure Canada has that. Actually... maybe.

    Anyways, I know there *could* be a lot of bad things that would happen to you if the votes weren't secret, but if there's such a tension in the political system that people are scared of telling others who they voted for, then the entire system is broken, and making votes secret or not won't change the situation much.

    To me, and this is just my view of it, but to me, a vote isn't just a token you're given to play the election lottery, it's a pledge, a way to say you trust a candidate to lead you. If you don't trust someone, then don't vote for them. If you have a gun pointed at your head when you're voting (and yes, I know it happens elsewhere), then fine, you can make the ballots secret, but then again, it wouldn't really matter, would it, because you're already screwed?

    I'm just kind of a hippie, I have this idea that people could get along without killing each other if they tried really hard and trusted each other.

    I'm totally guilty of heresy and blasphemy though, I'm the first one to admit it.

  • On the post: 14,000 'Unsaved' Votes Suddenly 'Found' In Wisconsin?

    James Carmichael ( profile ), 08 Apr, 2011 @ 05:06pm

    Re: Re: Forget secret votes

    Dictators get their power through violence, but ultimately through fear. If you want to live in an open, transparent society, you can't start making things a secret in the off chance that a dictator takes control of the country, or maybe the some country invades the US, in which case you won't see it coming anyway.

    Don't fear the Stalins and the Hitlers, that's how they get you. Open votes, honesty, transparency, it's like fiber it's great for you.

  • On the post: 14,000 'Unsaved' Votes Suddenly 'Found' In Wisconsin?

    James Carmichael ( profile ), 08 Apr, 2011 @ 01:58pm

    Re: Re: Re: Re: Forget secret votes

    "Then you can have someone watching to make sure everything stays smooth."

    Until that person takes over :P

    I do agree with you though, there ought to be a lot more parties representing the vast diversity of opinions out there.

    Canadian elections are coming up (May 2nd), the Liberals knocked on my door telling me I should vote for one of the major parties otherwise my vote is wasted. I'm voting Green Party.

  • On the post: 14,000 'Unsaved' Votes Suddenly 'Found' In Wisconsin?

    James Carmichael ( profile ), 08 Apr, 2011 @ 01:45pm

    Re: Missing votes

    "And NEVER, EVER should elections be allowed to be run from your own home computer"

    And the 45th President of the United States is........ Windows XP!

  • On the post: 14,000 'Unsaved' Votes Suddenly 'Found' In Wisconsin?

    James Carmichael ( profile ), 08 Apr, 2011 @ 01:42pm

    Re: Re: Re:

    I'm self-employed and I've left other jobs because of disagreements with my bosses. I stand up for myself, thank you very much, anonymous coward.

  • On the post: 14,000 'Unsaved' Votes Suddenly 'Found' In Wisconsin?

    James Carmichael ( profile ), 08 Apr, 2011 @ 01:40pm

    Re: Re: Forget secret votes

    Yeah, the current system demands a party to be in the majority... but the second anyone is in the majority, they get to oppress the minority. Anarchy, anyone?

  • On the post: 14,000 'Unsaved' Votes Suddenly 'Found' In Wisconsin?

    James Carmichael ( profile ), 08 Apr, 2011 @ 01:38pm

    Re:

    Again, if you can't stand up for yourself, you don't deserve to vote. If your employer fires you for not voting for the party it supports, sue them, and be glad you're not working for rich idiots anymore.

    "But I can't afford to lose my job! I have kids to feed!"

    Don't be so selfish. You can't afford to earn money for rich idiots either. Stand up for yourself, ffs.

  • On the post: 14,000 'Unsaved' Votes Suddenly 'Found' In Wisconsin?

    James Carmichael ( profile ), 08 Apr, 2011 @ 01:33pm

    Re: Re: Re:

    Your rebuttal is bulletproof. Very smart. I stand corrected. Thanks for your useful contribution.

  • On the post: 14,000 'Unsaved' Votes Suddenly 'Found' In Wisconsin?

    James Carmichael ( profile ), 08 Apr, 2011 @ 01:31pm

    Re: Re: Forget secret votes

    "Maybe you don't want to deal with the ostracization from going against local community norms."

    If you're too scared to vote for the person you believe in, you don't deserve to vote. It's not like voting is a revolution. Correct me if I'm wrong, but Kazakhstan used 'secret ballots', and it doesn't really help people at the voting boots.

    I'm not saying there isn't any trade-offs, but there could be a lot of positive aspects to such a decision, especially in a digital age.

  • On the post: 14,000 'Unsaved' Votes Suddenly 'Found' In Wisconsin?

    James Carmichael ( profile ), 08 Apr, 2011 @ 01:19pm

    Re:

    HEY! Lay off the Republicans. Just because they want to take away your rights, voice, votes, money -- and, if it existed, your soul -- doesn't mean you get to criticize them. Either way, if you ask them, they'll tell you the world is ending really soon, so it doesn't really matter if they're criminals at this point. [/sarcasm]

  • On the post: 14,000 'Unsaved' Votes Suddenly 'Found' In Wisconsin?

    James Carmichael ( profile ), 08 Apr, 2011 @ 01:15pm

    Forget secret votes

    Wouldn't it make things much, much simpler if we gave up the silly idea that votes should be kept secret? If we had a public database that you could look up to make sure your vote was counted (and for the right person), wouldn't it solve a LOT of problems with missing ballots, miscounted votes and fraud?

    I honestly don't see any GOOD reason why votes should be kept secret. If you have to hide who you vote for, ask yourself why it is that you don't want others to know who you support. If you really don't want to tell people who you vote for, don't vote at all.

    Having all the votes accounted for, with a name attached to it, does take away a bit of privacy, but it extremely transparent, fair, and you're actually accountable for who you vote for and how the votes are counted. Having a bunch of 'secret' votes makes it that much easier to control elections.

    Am I right or what?

  • On the post: China Says No More Movies And TV Shows About Time Travel

    James Carmichael ( profile ), 07 Apr, 2011 @ 11:05am

    Re: Re: Re: the four great classical novels of China

    How about just making stupidity illegal? You'd need a LOT more jails.

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