Annoying? They're practically dangerous. There's nothing worse than being in traffic and suddenly hearing a car horn with the snap-to-attention reaction and potential danger the noise represents... only to realize it's a $^*&$^$*ing radio ad.
Of course, 95% of the time, when an ad comes on the radio (and I only listen to talk radio or classical since Clear Channel seems to think the entire world should only ever hear about 100 songs.), I just plug in my 80GB Nueros.
If people would stop talking about the RIAA like it's a branch of the Dept. of Justice? I mean, this article doesn't really do it, but in general, it seems like the RIAA and MPAA are de facto law enforcement agencies.
These are just companies, and while companies have more rights (and fewer rules) than individuals in this country, they aren't (yet) the government.
You know, it's ironic that when the government attempts to deal with one of these modern day annoyances that might not be life threatening, but annoying, stressful and costly, that the best anyone can hope for is that the problem doesn't get worse?
Our expectations are so low, and not without reason.
... i.e., now, no one will be able to remember, understand or even be aware of all the absurd legislation being constantly dumped on us. The police will be able to stop anyone for any reason and find a violation at will. Contempt for the law will increase (look what that stupid National Speed Limit did) and not just the dumb laws, but the important ones... the ones that actually do help keep us safe.
This is the world we have created by allowing our country to evolve towards a Nanny State, and it's just getting started.
Our legislators are trying to legislate common sense (as stated in an above comment) which is about as likely and feasible as real AI. They won't stop until they have us legally reduced to robots following a script to do everything.
You know, the software industry went through all this in the 80's with copy-protected floppy disks which were a huge pain for legitimate users and little deterrent for pirates. Eventually, the companies realized they were penalizing the good guys and having little or no effect on the bad guys, and stopped doing it.
It's funny how it happened again with CD-ROMs in the past 5 years or so, and now we're going through it all over again with digital media. I'd accuse the media giants of not learning from history, but that presupposes that they are capable of learning anything.
Yeah, and given the fact that almost no one needs, or can even benefit from, the newer processors, Intel is really hurting themselves.
There is nothing that 90% of computer users do that couldn't be done on 10-year old computers. Faster hardware only gives people like Microsoft permission to write bigger and more bloated code.
If you leave your hose running in the middle of the street, can you fault someone who uses it rather than letting it run down the storm sewer?
If you don't want to share, then don't give it away. It's not about stealing.
People leave candy on their front steps when they aren't at home on Halloween. Is it stealing for kids to take the candy? How do you know it's there to be taken... there's no note and you are taking goods off of their property with no express permission?
where the focus is finding people with whom users share activity interests, permitting relationships to develop more naturally
To me, this is the only way that is going to have any chance of success, unless you are _very_ _very_ average. I'd tried dating services a bit in the late 80's/early 90's and it was a complete bust (largely because there's about a 10:1 male to female ratio, which bites if you're a male). I had much better success meeting nice women at the church group activities... and I'm all-around nerd who does not have a lot of popular interests or non-esoteric interests.
Still after 13 years of being happily married to a wonderful young lady with whom I am still very much infatuated, I can say it worked for me. This was not a "dating" group or anything like that, in fact, I was primarily involved in the Bible study rather than the more social activities like dances or bowling, etc. Still, the "common interests" aspect of it in addition to the more low-key social interaction (you're not there solely to meet potential mates, even if that's your goal), makes it much better environment. Of course, I'm not typical, so YMMV.
So, I would say your idea is a great one. Good luck!
As a Windows user, I really am getting sick and tired of dealing with anti-virus software. Anti-trust risks or no, as a customer, MS owes me at no additional cost, and everyone else, the software necessary to put their OS in the same time zone as secure. It's not my fault an unsecured Windows machine can be completely PWNED in minutes, far faster than you can download the appropriate updates to fix the problem.
I don't expect perfection, but I shouldn't have to shell out ~$50/year per machine just to prevent my system from getting damaged. I'm an experienced user, I know what you shouldn't do, but when your OS is as riddled with flawed security design as Windows, just being smart isn't enough.
On the post: Up Next: Pavlovian Phantom Rings To Make You Pay Attention
Re: old news...
Of course, 95% of the time, when an ad comes on the radio (and I only listen to talk radio or classical since Clear Channel seems to think the entire world should only ever hear about 100 songs.), I just plug in my 80GB Nueros.
On the post: Are The RIAA's $750-Per-Song Fines Unconstitutional?
Wouldn't it be nice...
These are just companies, and while companies have more rights (and fewer rules) than individuals in this country, they aren't (yet) the government.
On the post: Up Next On NPR: Gangsta Rap, Heavy Metal and Howard Stern
Re:
On the post: How NTP Kept Wireless Email Prior Art Quiet For $20,000
Gaming the USPTO for fun and profit...
On the post: Accidental Link Love From The NY Times
This sums it all up...
No kidding. It seems that a lot of MSM outlets have stopped even pretending they are about anything but a political agenda.
On the post: FCC Issues Rules Against Junk Faxes, Problem Probably Not Gone
Our expectations are so low, and not without reason.
On the post: Plumbers Union Fighting The Big Job Threat: Waterless Urinals!
Re: Re: Re:
I can't speak for the person in question, but I can easily see where a plumber could be worth that.
On the post: Touching Your Earpiece Violates Driving-While-Yakking Law?
In the future...
This is the world we have created by allowing our country to evolve towards a Nanny State, and it's just getting started.
Our legislators are trying to legislate common sense (as stated in an above comment) which is about as likely and feasible as real AI. They won't stop until they have us legally reduced to robots following a script to do everything.
On the post: Techdirt: Looking A Bit Different
New Look: Ding! Fixed Width: Bzzzt!
On the post: More People Realizing That Copy Protection Is Just Bad
HIstory repeats itself...
It's funny how it happened again with CD-ROMs in the past 5 years or so, and now we're going through it all over again with digital media. I'd accuse the media giants of not learning from history, but that presupposes that they are capable of learning anything.
On the post: So Viiv Means What Exactly?
Re: No Subject Given
There is nothing that 90% of computer users do that couldn't be done on 10-year old computers. Faster hardware only gives people like Microsoft permission to write bigger and more bloated code.
On the post: Ethicist Says Nothing Wrong With Using Free WiFi
Re: Bad analogy warning
If you leave your hose running in the middle of the street, can you fault someone who uses it rather than letting it run down the storm sewer?
If you don't want to share, then don't give it away. It's not about stealing.
People leave candy on their front steps when they aren't at home on Halloween. Is it stealing for kids to take the candy? How do you know it's there to be taken... there's no note and you are taking goods off of their property with no express permission?
On the post: Rearranging The Deck Chairs (Comics) On The Titanic (Newspapers)
Re: deck chairs
But Mork from Ork and Exidor live in Boulder! Oh, wait. You're right.
On the post: EFF Tells Clear Channel To Record This Patent
Re: My patent on dumping.
Sorry, I've got prior art on that. How old are you?
On the post: A Great Way To Discourage Legal Music Downloads
If you treat your customers like crooks...
On the post: Dating Site Offers Services For Married Couples (Not What You Think)
Re: Interesting approach to online dating
To me, this is the only way that is going to have any chance of success, unless you are _very_ _very_ average. I'd tried dating services a bit in the late 80's/early 90's and it was a complete bust (largely because there's about a 10:1 male to female ratio, which bites if you're a male). I had much better success meeting nice women at the church group activities... and I'm all-around nerd who does not have a lot of popular interests or non-esoteric interests.
Still after 13 years of being happily married to a wonderful young lady with whom I am still very much infatuated, I can say it worked for me. This was not a "dating" group or anything like that, in fact, I was primarily involved in the Bible study rather than the more social activities like dances or bowling, etc. Still, the "common interests" aspect of it in addition to the more low-key social interaction (you're not there solely to meet potential mates, even if that's your goal), makes it much better environment. Of course, I'm not typical, so YMMV.
So, I would say your idea is a great one. Good luck!
On the post: Microsoft Sets Price To Fix Its Own Security Holes
Re: There is a solution to bugs and viruses....
As a Windows user, I really am getting sick and tired of dealing with anti-virus software. Anti-trust risks or no, as a customer, MS owes me at no additional cost, and everyone else, the software necessary to put their OS in the same time zone as secure. It's not my fault an unsecured Windows machine can be completely PWNED in minutes, far faster than you can download the appropriate updates to fix the problem.
I don't expect perfection, but I shouldn't have to shell out ~$50/year per machine just to prevent my system from getting damaged. I'm an experienced user, I know what you shouldn't do, but when your OS is as riddled with flawed security design as Windows, just being smart isn't enough.
On the post: Is The Music Album An Outdated Concept?
Re: Cover Art No more!
I have two words for you: Ed Unitsky.
On the post: Extra, Extra, Read All About These 240,000 Credit Card Numbers
Just like Microsoft...
The Apocalypse will be started by some low-level person doing something really dumb.
On the post: You've Already Paid $2,000 For A Fiber Connection You'll Never Get
Re: lest we forget
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