This new find is interesting considering the Chinese government just recently banned time travel themes in movies and TV. Apparently they don't like the idea of themes that go back before the revolution and any idea that things might have been better back then.
Now, having said that, I think the way scientists are looking at time travel may be wrong. They're assuming that time is linear. Now, with quantum physics, string theory and the idea of multiple universes/parallel dimensions gaining traction, it could be that time is parallel and not linear.
If these dimensions exist, perhaps it might be possible. But it wouldn't technically be "time" travel.
"The same point comes up here often: the real value is in the service, not the content."
Hmmm. Without the content, there would be no service?
I think many of the writers to the HuffPo have professions where writing a blog is merely a sideline or vanity thing. They have people writing that are heavy hitters in their respective fields. When the site first started she had a stable of known names. That's what started the buzz.
Also, they do have paid staff, including in-house reporters, so people do get paid. The big question is, can you pay some and not others? As I noted in another post, the Fair Labor Standards Act prohibits working for free for a business that makes over 500K/yr.
And, the Dept of Labor has cracked down on such free labor like internships. One of the main criteria as to whether an unpaid internship is legal or not is whether it is "training." If the intern doesn't displace regular paid workers, and the employer “derives no immediate advantage,” from the intern, it is legal.
In the case of the HuffPo, since there are paid employees writing for them, is not paying the bloggers a way to avoid hiring people to write? Does that fall under the character of displacing a paid worker? No one is actually displaced but can the definition be broadened to mean avoid hiring people? I don't know.
Now, does HP derive an "immediate advantage" from unpaid bloggers and other writers? I'd be curious as to how HP sees these writers, in a legal sense.
I'm wondering if the the Fair Labor Standards Act might actually forbid this type of arrangement. "Under the FLSA, employees may not volunteer services to for-profit private sector employers." Now what constitutes an employee is up for debate. I do know that if the employer makes more than $500k/year they have to pay you to do work for them.
The problem is nobody wants to pay for anything anymore. Exposure? That's a crock. Before the internet it was hard enough to make a living as a freelance writer. Now everybody expects you to work for free. I'd be curious to know what percentage of writers for the HuffPo actually wound up getting paid assignments because of writing for them.
Yeah, I guess tangible would be a better word. But tactile works.
Accidental culture is just the way I described it, finding an album or book in a friend's collection that looks interesting.
Also, browsing in a bookstore or library. I can't tell you how many books I've bought/borrowed by just looking around in a bookstore or library. As everything goes more invisible, the less chance you have of finding that.
Amazon, Pandora. Netflix et al can "recommend" books, records, movies, but as good as that is, what is lost is the thrill of accidentally stumbling upon something yourself.
I looked forward to hitting the used record stores each week not knowing what I'd find. I remember one find, "Quacky Duck and his Barnyard Friends." Yes, it was the cover and title that made me pick it up. What I found was that it was a record by a bunch of name bluegrass players that just got together to cut a light, fun record.
I also picked up the original London cast recording of Rocky Horror before anyone knew what that was. Yeah, it was the cover.
After I sold my record collection I wished I would have held onto those weird obscure records that will never, ever see the light of day again, in any form.
Oh and one final thing, I was my own DJ when I had my records. At times, especially when people were over, I would play one song at a time from different albums, taking the next one out while another song was playing. And other people would scan the collection and pick out records and suggest songs. You can do that now with a few clicks and sit back. But with that old school method you were actively involved in each song, one at a time.
I'm a huge tech fan. I do it for a living, but there are some old school things I miss.
Okay, I'm finished ;-)
I'm no fan of Bon Jovi's music or the record industry, but I have to agree with much of what he says. I have mixed feelings about invisible culture. On one hand it's great to be able to download the music. On the other hand, I do miss the days of vinyl. I regret the day I sold off my 2,000+ albums. The days of "accidental culture" are fast fading. It used to be you would go to someone's place and peruse their record collection and see something and say, "Hey, this looks cool. Can we hear some of it?
And books, same basic thing. You'd look over their collection of books and pick one, skim through it.
Tactile culture.
Speaking of books, I still occasionally go the library and look through the stacks to see what might be of interest.
Accidental culture is replaced by invisible culture.
I think you're creating a logic that isn't there. Later in the article they talk about the "mating season"; that there is a two week window in which the producers have to make their money back on any given film before the pirates take over.
Then, they are "forced" to look for the next project in order to keep the money coming.
The pirates may have created the demand beyond the local market but they are the ones making the money off the sale of pirated films, not the people who created them.
What wasn't noted in that article is that the Nigerian filmmakers and musicians have been ramping up their efforts to stop it and that it is a big deal over there.
Here's another take from the website, Modern Ghana, "Kanayo Kanayo, an actor, blamed the NCC for the increase in piracy and the low quality of films produced in the Nigerian Film Industry. Kanayo divided people who work in the industry into two categories, the professionals and the prostitutes.
According to his analysis, the professionals were the ones who concentrated on their primary roles as actors or directors while the prostitutes were the jack-of-all-trade who juggled work in the movie industry with political appointments or business activities. He said that the surge in piracy has driven many professionals in Nollywood to become prostitutes and some have even left for good because they could not make returns for the money spent on making a film."
"The problem is when you confuse price and value. Price gets driven by the real demands of the market, but is not the same as value."
I think you're wrong here. I remember back in the late 80s when I published a small local alternative paper, the fist batch went with FREE on the cover. Not many people picked them up. Someone then suggested I put 50 cents as the price. I did that and even though the papers were still free and in the same places with the other free papers, I found that more people picked them up.
When I started as an independent computer tech, I was told that my rate was too low. I was told by a client/friend that if you charged too low, people think you're an amateur and not very good. So, I raised my rate drastically and I started picking up more clients almost immediately.
So, yeah, I think price and value go hand in hand. At least in the mind of the consumer. I guess it's the old adage, "you get what you pay for."
>>>So the article expresses that this guy has chosen to show everything. It does not say that he didn't think about the ethical considerations first.
Maybe he did, but chose to ignore them.
>>>Personally, I feel like the help that these citizens are getting outweighs the benefits to the cartels, so it's worth it, ethically.
It does help citizens but like I said, just throwing it all up there gives the cartels a platform to intimidate the residents as well. But why show video that is nothing more than a blatant attempt at propaganda or intimidation?
People who live in those places know of the brutality of the gangs. Is it necessary to show it all? Do you feel cheated that the news media in this country didn't show Daniel Pearl getting his throat slit?
I'm not saying he should be shut down. If the blog wants to give people useful information to keep them safer, fine. I just don't understand why he gives a platform to the cartels. How does a video of a cop with a gun to his head "inform" anyone? And what is it informing them about?
>>>That's hilarious. Really, truly hilarious. The only difference between this guy and America's mainstream media is that this guy isn't commenting on it.
Man, you guys just don't get it, do you? According to your standards there should be no filtering at all. It doesn't matter that what you are watching/reading/hearing is true or false.
No matter how smart we think we are, we can't make informed judgments on everything.
So, I guess it's okay to run "uncommented" a video done by a big pharma company that says their new cancer drug is 100% effective in curing cancer? Why not? They gave it to the news station. It's not their position to comment on it.
>>What makes you think that he hasn't thought through the ethical considerations?
The article itself calls it "undifferentiated content." Is it ethical to air a video by a cartel that serves to intimidate local residents?
What ever happened to the idea that just because you can doesn't mean you should?
Let's look at it from a different perspective. Do you go around blabbing everything you know or do you self-censor? Say you're at a dinner party and get seated next to someone who you know everyone dislikes. Do you tell them that no one likes them? It's true, but should you say it?
And regarding that prison video that got the warden arrested. The blogger aired a video of a cop confessing to their involvement with a rival cartel, with a gun to his head. It turned out to be true, but how did the blogger know it was true when he posted the video? Did he do any investigation to find out the validity of the confession or was it just a confession because he had a gun to his head? That's the kind of thing that Lauria was talking about.
>>>How is the public release of your image any more damaging than the public release of your image that would happen when a bad cop gave it out?
So, you're saying the blogger has the same morals as a corrupt cop?
>>>People were not getting the information that they needed, like what areas to avoid during time of violence. This guy has stepped up and filled that gap.
I'm not arguing that point
>>>In at least one case Blog del Narco may have led to a major arrest — of a prison warden after a video posting detailed her alleged system of setting inmates free at night to carry out killings for a drug cartel."
Right. A video taken by a rival cartel sent to del narco to eliminate the competition. Sure, in this case it has a positive outcome, but by the same token, another video could lead to the deaths of innocents.
I brought up the wiki leaks guy. Even he understands the idea that he needs to edit the documents in his possession to safeguard lives.
No, they aren't because they can't. I don't disagree that he is filling a void, I just question his throwing everything he gets up there without any without any ethical considerations such as is he being used by the cartels and/or the govt.
Imagine this scenario. You witness a drug cartel gun down a local cop. The police say they have a witness that can identify the killers. Then, security camera footage shows up on a website and there you are, the only witness. According to you, that's okay. The website should not have taken any steps to blur your image? They shouldn't have been a "gatekeeper" to protect you?
On the post: Physicists Claim Time Travel Is Impossible (This Time, They Mean It)
Now, having said that, I think the way scientists are looking at time travel may be wrong. They're assuming that time is linear. Now, with quantum physics, string theory and the idea of multiple universes/parallel dimensions gaining traction, it could be that time is parallel and not linear.
If these dimensions exist, perhaps it might be possible. But it wouldn't technically be "time" travel.
On the post: Dumbest Lawsuit Ever? HuffPo Sued By Bloggers Who Agreed To Work For Free... But Now Claim They Were Slaves
Re: Everyone's a user.
Hmmm. Without the content, there would be no service?
I think many of the writers to the HuffPo have professions where writing a blog is merely a sideline or vanity thing. They have people writing that are heavy hitters in their respective fields. When the site first started she had a stable of known names. That's what started the buzz.
Also, they do have paid staff, including in-house reporters, so people do get paid. The big question is, can you pay some and not others? As I noted in another post, the Fair Labor Standards Act prohibits working for free for a business that makes over 500K/yr.
And, the Dept of Labor has cracked down on such free labor like internships. One of the main criteria as to whether an unpaid internship is legal or not is whether it is "training." If the intern doesn't displace regular paid workers, and the employer “derives no immediate advantage,” from the intern, it is legal.
In the case of the HuffPo, since there are paid employees writing for them, is not paying the bloggers a way to avoid hiring people to write? Does that fall under the character of displacing a paid worker? No one is actually displaced but can the definition be broadened to mean avoid hiring people? I don't know.
Now, does HP derive an "immediate advantage" from unpaid bloggers and other writers? I'd be curious as to how HP sees these writers, in a legal sense.
On the post: Dumbest Lawsuit Ever? HuffPo Sued By Bloggers Who Agreed To Work For Free... But Now Claim They Were Slaves
Re: Re:
On the post: Dumbest Lawsuit Ever? HuffPo Sued By Bloggers Who Agreed To Work For Free... But Now Claim They Were Slaves
Re: Re:
On the post: Dumbest Lawsuit Ever? HuffPo Sued By Bloggers Who Agreed To Work For Free... But Now Claim They Were Slaves
It may be a losing lawsuit but I see his point.
On the post: Copyright Fight Over GoDaddy CEO Shooting An Elephant?
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
It's so tough to navigate. It's impossible to find where to go to do what you need to do. You shouldn't have to call them to find out.
btw: I use Lunarpages and I like them.
On the post: Copyright Fight Over GoDaddy CEO Shooting An Elephant?
Re: Re: Re:
On the post: Bon Jovi Thinks Steve Jobs Killed Music; More Old Rockers Shooing Those Darn Kids Off Their Lawn
Re: Re: he's right
Accidental culture is just the way I described it, finding an album or book in a friend's collection that looks interesting.
Also, browsing in a bookstore or library. I can't tell you how many books I've bought/borrowed by just looking around in a bookstore or library. As everything goes more invisible, the less chance you have of finding that.
Amazon, Pandora. Netflix et al can "recommend" books, records, movies, but as good as that is, what is lost is the thrill of accidentally stumbling upon something yourself.
I looked forward to hitting the used record stores each week not knowing what I'd find. I remember one find, "Quacky Duck and his Barnyard Friends." Yes, it was the cover and title that made me pick it up. What I found was that it was a record by a bunch of name bluegrass players that just got together to cut a light, fun record.
I also picked up the original London cast recording of Rocky Horror before anyone knew what that was. Yeah, it was the cover.
After I sold my record collection I wished I would have held onto those weird obscure records that will never, ever see the light of day again, in any form.
Oh and one final thing, I was my own DJ when I had my records. At times, especially when people were over, I would play one song at a time from different albums, taking the next one out while another song was playing. And other people would scan the collection and pick out records and suggest songs. You can do that now with a few clicks and sit back. But with that old school method you were actively involved in each song, one at a time.
I'm a huge tech fan. I do it for a living, but there are some old school things I miss.
Okay, I'm finished ;-)
On the post: Bon Jovi Thinks Steve Jobs Killed Music; More Old Rockers Shooing Those Darn Kids Off Their Lawn
he's right
And books, same basic thing. You'd look over their collection of books and pick one, skim through it.
Tactile culture.
Speaking of books, I still occasionally go the library and look through the stacks to see what might be of interest.
Accidental culture is replaced by invisible culture.
On the post: Screaming Justin Bieber Fans Using Camera Phones To Capture Snippets Of Movie Premiere Berated For Piracy
huh?
On the post: How 'Piracy' Helped Establish The Dominance Of Nigerian Films
Then, they are "forced" to look for the next project in order to keep the money coming.
The pirates may have created the demand beyond the local market but they are the ones making the money off the sale of pirated films, not the people who created them.
What wasn't noted in that article is that the Nigerian filmmakers and musicians have been ramping up their efforts to stop it and that it is a big deal over there.
Here's another take from the website, Modern Ghana, "Kanayo Kanayo, an actor, blamed the NCC for the increase in piracy and the low quality of films produced in the Nigerian Film Industry. Kanayo divided people who work in the industry into two categories, the professionals and the prostitutes.
According to his analysis, the professionals were the ones who concentrated on their primary roles as actors or directors while the prostitutes were the jack-of-all-trade who juggled work in the movie industry with political appointments or business activities. He said that the surge in piracy has driven many professionals in Nollywood to become prostitutes and some have even left for good because they could not make returns for the money spent on making a film."
On the post: How Many Logical Fallacies Can You Make In A Single Column Defending A Paywall?
Re: Changing Business Models? Not really....
They're no different than anyone else, despite their size. I think you owe them an apology. ;-)
On the post: Comic Book Writer Mark Waid Defends Copying, Points To The Value Of The Public Domain
Re: Re: price vs value
On the post: Comic Book Writer Mark Waid Defends Copying, Points To The Value Of The Public Domain
price vs value
I think you're wrong here. I remember back in the late 80s when I published a small local alternative paper, the fist batch went with FREE on the cover. Not many people picked them up. Someone then suggested I put 50 cents as the price. I did that and even though the papers were still free and in the same places with the other free papers, I found that more people picked them up.
When I started as an independent computer tech, I was told that my rate was too low. I was told by a client/friend that if you charged too low, people think you're an amateur and not very good. So, I raised my rate drastically and I started picking up more clients almost immediately.
So, yeah, I think price and value go hand in hand. At least in the mind of the consumer. I guess it's the old adage, "you get what you pay for."
On the post: Anonymous Mexican Blog Becomes Go To Source For Drug War Info, 'Pro' Journalists Upset
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
Maybe he did, but chose to ignore them.
>>>Personally, I feel like the help that these citizens are getting outweighs the benefits to the cartels, so it's worth it, ethically.
It does help citizens but like I said, just throwing it all up there gives the cartels a platform to intimidate the residents as well. But why show video that is nothing more than a blatant attempt at propaganda or intimidation?
People who live in those places know of the brutality of the gangs. Is it necessary to show it all? Do you feel cheated that the news media in this country didn't show Daniel Pearl getting his throat slit?
I'm not saying he should be shut down. If the blog wants to give people useful information to keep them safer, fine. I just don't understand why he gives a platform to the cartels. How does a video of a cop with a gun to his head "inform" anyone? And what is it informing them about?
>>>That's hilarious. Really, truly hilarious. The only difference between this guy and America's mainstream media is that this guy isn't commenting on it.
Man, you guys just don't get it, do you? According to your standards there should be no filtering at all. It doesn't matter that what you are watching/reading/hearing is true or false.
No matter how smart we think we are, we can't make informed judgments on everything.
So, I guess it's okay to run "uncommented" a video done by a big pharma company that says their new cancer drug is 100% effective in curing cancer? Why not? They gave it to the news station. It's not their position to comment on it.
On the post: Anonymous Mexican Blog Becomes Go To Source For Drug War Info, 'Pro' Journalists Upset
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
The article itself calls it "undifferentiated content." Is it ethical to air a video by a cartel that serves to intimidate local residents?
What ever happened to the idea that just because you can doesn't mean you should?
Let's look at it from a different perspective. Do you go around blabbing everything you know or do you self-censor? Say you're at a dinner party and get seated next to someone who you know everyone dislikes. Do you tell them that no one likes them? It's true, but should you say it?
And regarding that prison video that got the warden arrested. The blogger aired a video of a cop confessing to their involvement with a rival cartel, with a gun to his head. It turned out to be true, but how did the blogger know it was true when he posted the video? Did he do any investigation to find out the validity of the confession or was it just a confession because he had a gun to his head? That's the kind of thing that Lauria was talking about.
On the post: Anonymous Mexican Blog Becomes Go To Source For Drug War Info, 'Pro' Journalists Upset
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
So, you're saying the blogger has the same morals as a corrupt cop?
>>>People were not getting the information that they needed, like what areas to avoid during time of violence. This guy has stepped up and filled that gap.
I'm not arguing that point
>>>In at least one case Blog del Narco may have led to a major arrest — of a prison warden after a video posting detailed her alleged system of setting inmates free at night to carry out killings for a drug cartel."
Right. A video taken by a rival cartel sent to del narco to eliminate the competition. Sure, in this case it has a positive outcome, but by the same token, another video could lead to the deaths of innocents.
I brought up the wiki leaks guy. Even he understands the idea that he needs to edit the documents in his possession to safeguard lives.
On the post: Anonymous Mexican Blog Becomes Go To Source For Drug War Info, 'Pro' Journalists Upset
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
On the post: Anonymous Mexican Blog Becomes Go To Source For Drug War Info, 'Pro' Journalists Upset
Re: Re: Re:
On the post: Anonymous Mexican Blog Becomes Go To Source For Drug War Info, 'Pro' Journalists Upset
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
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