Violynne 's Techdirt Comments

Latest Comments (1974) comment rss

  • On the post: ES&S Sues Former Workers Over Taking Buggy, Vulnerability-Filled Code

    Violynne ( profile ), 09 Sep, 2009 @ 07:48am

    Start from scratch? This isn't the 70s, Mike.

    So if you were going to go off and start your own e-voting company (and it's not clear these individuals did that), wouldn't you be better off starting from scratch?
    Better yet, why not take what's broken and fix it, as this would be faster than starting from scratch and get the business up and running much faster.

    I would speculate these employees may know exactly what's wrong with the code in order to take it to begin with.

    That alone should make one wonder about it. But hell, what do I care.

    Corporate America owns every damn politician anyway, so it doesn't matter who gets "voted" in.

  • On the post: Pirate Bay Appeal To Be Heard By Judge Tied To Copyright Group As Well

    Violynne ( profile ), 08 Sep, 2009 @ 05:51am

    Re: RE : Dan, # 19

    Copyright is fine, but it needs to be, say, 25 years...
    Are you freakin' insane? My goodness, why is it people like you continually think ownership over an idea is a good thing so people can profit from it.

    Personally, if copyright is to remain, I prefer the system in which people had to file for one and continually repay the fee to renew it.

    Imagine our surprise when the entertainment industry no longer wanted this model as it would cost them millions to renew.

    I get the gist people want their "creations" protected against those who'd simply take, alter, and sell as their own. Makes sense, but it's unnecessary. If the creation didn't make the impression by the original creators, then a copy shouldn't be the focus of the problem. I would place that on the creator for doing little to instill the creation in the first place.

    Copyright sucks in its current form. It sucks in all its forms. It's legal DRM, preventing the use of creation by limiting, or making illegal, all innovation from such creation.

    You people can't stand DRM on your media, so why the hell accept it on creation? It's hypocritical thinking no matter how you look at it.

    Abolish copyright and let's see just how well the world really works.

  • On the post: Nintendo Pays Innovation Tax To Patent Holder

    Violynne ( profile ), 26 Aug, 2009 @ 03:37am

    Doesn't matter.

    Well, there goes a price drop on the console and its software.

    Oh, right.

  • On the post: Fine, Let Newspapers Collude

    Violynne ( profile ), 25 Aug, 2009 @ 04:58am

    Questions for the newspaper industry:

    -Why the special exemption from Congress? This should be the first wake-up call something's wrong with the paywall idea.

    -Will there be a single payment house to which consumers make their payments? If so, how will these funds get distributed? If not, this should be another wake-up call.

    -When a consumer coughs up the "$10" and assuming collusion has been granted, does this mean consumers have access to all news from all sites? If not, that's a BIG, BIG problem.

    -Is this collusion going to ensure consumers aren't being fleeced with exaggerated cost-to-value ratios?

    Let me give you some insight, given the internet is my field of expertise:
    It is impossible to monetize the internet.

    It is a distribution system. Use it to your advantage, as this globally accessible system can save costs.

    Quit being ignorant and start realizing what the industry's purpose is and make money from it. It's there. Trust me. Consumers will buy anything they place value in.

    And news isn't it.

  • On the post: Why Do Ebooks Cost So Much?

    Violynne ( profile ), 21 Aug, 2009 @ 10:18am

    Re: Re: Not so sure about this one.

    If you had a lemonade stand and you sold 100 lemonades at $1, but only 50 and $1.50, what would you do? Raise the price even more? Leave it alone? Raise it to $100 dollars and hope you just sell ONE?
    I'll grant you the absolutes, but there's no disputing digital prices are unjustly inflated to retain their real-world product costs.

    In your example, the lemonade is a scarce resource. You only have x number to sell. Now, if you were to sell an infinite supply, do you see justification in selling it at $1? I know your customers won't.

    Otherwise, we wouldn't be reading these issues on Techdirt.

  • On the post: Why Do Ebooks Cost So Much?

    Violynne ( profile ), 21 Aug, 2009 @ 08:43am

    Re: Re: Not so sure about this one.

    You don't need a math degree to know that 10x$50 is less than 1000x$5.
    True, but (prior to the price increase), I can't fathom why songs weren't sold at a mere $0.10. I would think this would provide a better "value for the cost" to most consumers. There would have been many more consumers as well.

    I'd love to see Amazon take the initiative and use this model. I'd venture to say that "illegal" downloading would drop as people would love to buy 10 songs for $1.

    But sadly, those greedy (yes, I know this term isn't right) bastards who don't create the content want their money yesterday all the while saying "Screw the consumer. They'll pay what we tell them to.".

    Now, if you'll excuse me, I must don my eyepatch and hat to prepare my schooner for sailing. Avast ye, matey. Time to plunder.

  • On the post: Why Do Ebooks Cost So Much?

    Violynne ( profile ), 21 Aug, 2009 @ 08:13am

    Not so sure about this one.

    And, at some point, a lot of people will just stop paying for the higher priced ebooks.
    But all it takes is one to buy, and the price remains.

    After all, people pay $1.30 per song.

    In fact, people pay extraordinary prices for quite a bit of digital content.

    It's when everyone stops buying that prices come down.

    And that's never going to happen.

  • On the post: Rather Than Waiting For Someone Else To Leak Your Music, Why Not Leak It Yourself?

    Violynne ( profile ), 21 Aug, 2009 @ 06:40am

    Stop for a second and review the article.

    What if this song was in post-production prior to said leaking attempts?

    From the artist's perspective, I can see where this could very well be an issue in that the leaked song wasn't what the artist intended for the audience.

    This reminds me of the Wolverine leak. Yes, the flip side is to take this event and market it, but sometimes that just isn't possible.

    I can't imagine the costs involved to "play down" an intentional selfish act like this. It places so much on the artist and all involved.

    Worse, it can create potential for destroying possible ideas in connecting with fans. We have no idea how this track was going to be used.

    But now, any ideas of a "surprise" are now shattered.

    Going after the criminal doesn't make a difference if an idea was shattered. It's now time to clean up the mess.

    I get the gist on how to handle situations like this, but damn, to state the artist should have done it anyway is a bit arrogant.

    Sorry for the small rant. Just some days I can't simply agree with what I read.

  • On the post: Tech Columnist Calls Model 'A Hero' For Exposing Anonymous Blogger

    Violynne ( profile ), 20 Aug, 2009 @ 08:07am

    You all are damn idiots!

    Entertainingly so.
    ;)

    On topic:
    I read the "apology" statement this morning and was a little stunned at her final words as describing this poster's life as "sad" for having nothing better to do.

    Granted, I'm going from what was presented to me in "news", but this is now a cat fight.

    Both these girls have thin skins. One can't take an insult and laugh it off while the other hides behind the anonymity of the internet to make said insults.

    The internet is wonderful.

  • On the post: Convicted Stalker Was Approved By Lancaster To Manage Surveillance Cameras

    Violynne ( profile ), 20 Aug, 2009 @ 06:25am

    It may just be me, but...

    ...I get the very odd feeling this newspaper will have "juicy" stories derived from this "generous" contribution, and probably why they don't mind the previously-convicted individual monitoring the camera.

    Hire the best, of course.

  • On the post: The Web Is More About Free Communication Than Transactions

    Violynne ( profile ), 19 Aug, 2009 @ 11:56am

    Re: Connectivity Beats Content

    The Internet was always more about connectivity than content (a lesson that content owners still seem unwilling to learn).
    Can you elaborate a bit more on this, because what would be the point of connectivity if the content doesn't exist?

    The initial development of the internet was about sharing data between two universities and this defaults to acquiring content in an easy-to-use communication device (browser).

    The problem with the internet are from content owners trying to monetize the communication aspect, and that's what they're unwilling to learn from.

    Sadly, when this idiocy proves true from one who actually did monetize the internet (before the competition blew it out of existence), it gave precedence to others thinking they can do the same.

    It just sucks the rest of us have to endure this crap until they finally wake up and realize their mistake.

  • On the post: Sirius XM Passes RIAA Tax On To Consumers

    Violynne ( profile ), 19 Aug, 2009 @ 10:01am

    ---

    THIS IS OLD NEWS!!!!
    was answered with:
    "Not quite sure how I missed this earlier"

    Too bad monies are taken away from our public education system, as reading comprehension is becoming a lost art.

    Now, on topic:
    It's a good thing I no longer listen to radio, free or not.
    Now I'll just sit back and wait until the tax propagates itself to online music.

    Wait. $1.30 per song.

    Nevermind.

  • On the post: University Offers New Grade For Cheating Students: FD

    Violynne ( profile ), 14 Aug, 2009 @ 09:57am

    Rhetorical question?

    And if it's a case of a repeat offender taking part in egregious cheating, why not just kick them out and refuse to give them a degree?
    $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

    I'd have colored the above in green, but I think the point's been made.

  • On the post: The Return Of Cable Boxes That Spy On You

    Violynne ( profile ), 12 Aug, 2009 @ 10:23am

    Re: Re: I have a great piece of technology for you

    Maybe we'll start selling special "privacy protector" duct tape.
    And prevent the CONTENT from displaying?

    Besides, I own the patent. Pay me, plus licensing rights, and it's all yours.
    ;)

  • On the post: As Expected, Judge Still Bans Real From Selling RealDVD

    Violynne ( profile ), 12 Aug, 2009 @ 05:30am

    Maybe there's bias?

    In reading judge Patel's ruling in the Napster case, I would agree this decision was not a surprise.

    Ever read her position regarding copyright outside the courtroom?

    If she had been a judge in the Pirate Bay case, the ruling wouldn't be any different.

    This woman clearly has a reading comprehension problem when it comes to actual copyright laws.

    Thank you, judge Patel, for stripping us of yet another useful tool because YOU feel it violates copyright.

    Judge. Law. Ruling. Problem.

  • On the post: $1 Trillion Copyright Infringement Lawsuit Against Oprah Dismissed

    Violynne ( profile ), 11 Aug, 2009 @ 09:35am

    The math is...

    Even the big shots in the RIAA and MPAA don't go that far...
    Forcing someone to pay $1.2 million, when they don't have it, might has well been $1.2 trillion. Either way, it's still an asinine amount over a copyright issue.

  • On the post: Rewriting An AP Story Just To Show We Can

    Violynne ( profile ), 11 Aug, 2009 @ 06:12am

    Re: Sad ramblings of a little boy looking for attention

    Most of his articles do nothing more than twist the truth around to try to further his agenda of a free everything world....
    Thank goodness my intelligence doesn't accept this rhetoric.

    I've yet to see you prove his articles are wrong.

    I don't agree in some cases either, but most of what he writes is dead on.

    Take the blinders off and quit believing the propaganda shoveled to you and you may just see it.

    Some of his ideas may be... unique, but don't discredit them so easily.

    To date: I've yet to see any distributor fully accept the internet as a tool, but instead uses it as a cash cow. When that fails (and it will always fail), they turn and blame it for their woes.

    This is fact, Michial. Not twisted truth.

  • On the post: New Study States The Obvious: Kids Download A Lot Of Music

    Violynne ( profile ), 11 Aug, 2009 @ 06:07am

    Ah, the internet. Such a wonderful invention.

    I don't think anyone should download music from an artist who does not authorize it.
    An artist who doesn't authorize it isn't an artist.

    They're the damn problem.

    Artists create to share with the world.

    These new "artists" today need to realize we didn't ask them to create their works, so where do they get off thinking they can charge us to enjoy it?

    I've yet to charge everyone for the use of my applications every time its used.

    Maybe I should start. From now one, every time my programming gets used, people owe me $1 damn dollar. No, $1.30, just to ensure it's DRM free.

    Ha. I just put myself out of work.

  • On the post: UK ISP That Used To Cut Off Users On Accusation Now Wants Court Order

    Violynne ( profile ), 11 Aug, 2009 @ 03:36am

    Just to clarify...

    It's one thing for Techdirt to write an article and "complain".

    Quite another when those who comment do it. As if this UK ISP (or other idiotic system changing business) would ever show up here, read the comments, then change.

    THAT'S just wishful thinking on those getting screwed.

  • On the post: Once Again, Established Businesses Get Angry At 'Free' Competition

    Violynne ( profile ), 11 Aug, 2009 @ 03:30am

    Re: Most Graphic Designers do not know how to make a website - still

    I second this comment.

    I remember the days in which we were told to KISS websites for those with 14.4/56k modem speeds.

    Yet, today, it's acceptable to have a "Please wait. We didn't create this website properly, so now it has to load..." messages?

    Not to me. That's poor design, regardless how well the page looks. "Professionals" have long forgotten the primary rule for building a website: CONTENT. COMES. FIRST.

    Good job, Portland! I don't blame the city for doing this. Now, let's just hope they don't hire one of these "professionals" which turns it into a crap filled, eye candy website.

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