special-interesting (profile), 4 Mar 2013 @ 6:02am
Re: Not a free market? No, Duh!
There are areas (cities of 37,000 in 2007) that cannot build a hospital because of state mandated agencies that regulate medical facilities including emergency services. (Plainfield, IL) Seems that this 'authority' demanded that all medical facilities be built from a select (bribes and illicit contributions) few construction firms. (this authority was successfully prosecuted and its members thrown out)
And. What did the elected officials do? (after they were successfully prosecuted?) Thats right they RE-appointed the same president as before... (I mean REALLY... whats the use when voters are not paying attention.)
As such the residents of the city in question have to rely on emergency services from neighboring city (who paid up) hospitals with (as long as) 40 minuet travel times.
special-interesting (profile), 4 Mar 2013 @ 4:12am
Re: So many discussions we're not having
I wonder if this is related...
Your local community property association possibly (likely?) (can I make a more disgusting example of a legal organization? -puke-) prohibits hanging your clothes out, (a wonderful way to save energy costs, prohibits putting up a TV antenna(I mean... really!) because its an eyesore, or painting a cool picture on your garage door (what is free expression anyway?),
We all want to live as long as we can providing functionable feedback to our kids (or (generally) generation). This is a “why we live, kind of, argument”. Do our individual actions mater? (Yeeeessssss!)
I have said this before: “what is the difference between THINKING and THOUGHT? (argue with me.)
special-interesting (profile), 4 Mar 2013 @ 3:34am
Re: Re: Re:
Self diagnostic and treatment is the wave of the future. Its more than a trend. (Dump the DEA for their lifestyle enforcement stupidity)
The detail and (technical) knowledge of (the above makes) this comment is exceptional.
Health diagnistics and monitoring is becoming increasingly easily done with everyday devices like your cellphone and the only issues are ones of privacy (stand up for this) its best that we use a home computer rather than a smart(stupid)phone.
special-interesting (profile), 2 Mar 2013 @ 11:26pm
Re:
Wow! An actual metaphorical response! (I am sooo impressed) The infinite reciprocal response is unlimited. (a compliment) of which I will award you with my ultimate congratulations:
“We are aware of that we are aware of our awareness.”
Please (am begging you) argue (or intelligently discus) with me.
Intelligence is a function of thinking and not the slavery to our current thoughts.
Said before: “what is the difference between thinking and thought” (ask me specifically. I wont expound upon otherwise)
Medical records are ready for abuse. (it is likely the main way NSF and FBI identifies you as a citizen regardless of your drivers license or passport credentials.) Dental records anybody? A (lot) of states have implemented an abuse of prescriptions legislation that automatically transfer your list of prescriptions to a (what the hell ) law enforcement agency for, whatever, review.
Voice print technology is a very developed technology so much so that if you receive a phone call (regardless of whether you hang up immediately) requesting what radio or TV channel you like (three seconds of recorded background sound is enough to distinguish what you are watching or listening to at the moment) is enough to...
special-interesting (profile), 2 Mar 2013 @ 10:14pm
Re:
“Considering that accessing public documents in an unusual amount in an open network now amounts to Felony charges I see where you are going at but I have to disagree..”
both arrest records and felony convictions (excepting violent) are no indication of a citizens further actions. The whole idea of law is to teach the individual the consequence of taking advantage of others by fraud, theft or whatever.
The real measurement is that, does our, prison/enforcement procedures reduce recidivism? (repeat offenders)
“If you work at a bank you can look up the account information of any normal person but if you pull up the account information of either a movie star or a rich person it will raise a red flag. Those who are rich get special privileges that the rest don't.”
Really? Is that true? And. Technically, how does that happen in real life?
Most people expound the phrase 'Fame and fortune'. Fame is an expense (argue with me please)(am soooo lucky to avoid such a cost. So far, lol) in that public attention is to be managed, in such a way as, to allow a normal life (cost). While fortune is a profitable thing.
Hard to delineate a way to allow a famous person is to visit a local shopping mall (This has got to be a basic right, I mean really... shopping?) and the public need to ask for an autograph and create a (an embarrassing) scene.
Where dose culture enter the scene? How we act as a people/society/country does mater.
special-interesting (profile), 2 Mar 2013 @ 9:20pm
Re:
You point out fascinating conflicts of interest. Specifically the interests of Empire and individual human decency (want to say 'Rights' but its more basic than that) which are not equivalent.
The USA has been a belligerent animal as of late. Please be understanding as we work it out. Greatness is not achieved through bureaucracy (our current theme).
special-interesting (profile), 2 Mar 2013 @ 8:54pm
Re:
Profiling has become the defacto method of enforcement. Arrest-Proof Yourself: An Ex-Cop Reveals How Easy It Is for Anyone to Get Arrested, How Even a Single Arrest Could Ruin Your Life, and What to Do If the Police Get in Your Face. http://www.amazon.com/PRIVOXY-FORCE/Arrest-Proof-Yourself-Ex-Cop-Reveals-Arrested/dp/1556526377 there are other (I remember a book, from Jacksonville?) books on how (bullies?) normal human tendency affects law enforcement.
The damage of even a single arrest can get you fired from, not just a sensitive government or related job, but even a regular bonded cashier (at a convenience store) job. Read how arrest records are abused. What is life in the gutter anyway?
Related is how we are aware of the individual habits of who we elect. How do we differeciate between a good candidate and a bad one? How a judge treats politically connected accused from a homeless person (familly?) is notable.
special-interesting (profile), 2 Mar 2013 @ 8:09pm
Re:
Teach me, let me learn... I want knowledge! I need to know.
Trash my logic. Whip my inattention of, typical, artists reality. (of anything really) Crush my (admittedly) lame written essay. But. Please (please) elaborate. (otherwise its hard to reciprocate)
The anonymous coward post above was very inspiring. (with great quotes) Was that you? Keep at it. Impossible to reply with only unspecific dissatisfaction.
My consistent theme has be for the total abolishment of the copyright amendment and replacing it with a new OriginalRights (call it what you want) amendment that expands fair use, constrains what can be copyrighted, along with temporal (time) limits to less than the lives of their audience (15-30 years) so that we can achieve 'cultural atomic mass'.
special-interesting (profile), 2 Mar 2013 @ 3:36pm
now we get to some meat.
Most bands make their rent by touring and the copyright to their work? Was, permanently, lost long ago to some clever big label media salesperson with a contract 12 pages thick with fine print and signed while drunk after a great concert.
A hastily signed big label media contract might also be like making a creative content slave of oneself (A band could always break up still allowing each musician a musical life unless, of course, they all sighed the contract... hehehe) by contractual stupidity. Talk about classic copyright abuse!
Any new artist should consider a 'creative commons' license of which there are several flavors: http://creativecommons.org/
If we can limit the terms of copyright, to much less that the lives of the audience say 15-30 years or so, we put a cork on the many life crippling abuses of present copyright practice. Better yet kick the entire copyright amendment out and enact a new 'Right of Creative Origin' amendment. (or whatever) A term limitation (15-30y) would also benefit the artist who could reinterpret their original work, picking up where they left off some, years down the road.
The present copyright law of 70y from the demise of the artist only celebrates the death of great artists. By dying the 70y clock countdown to public domain starts ticking. (macabre thinking for sure but who allowed that kind of law anyway?) It was in fact BAD that Tolkien died but its good that his work (under the ridiculous present copyright law) will enter the public domain sooner. (cripes! I really do hate that kind of analysis)
When the public domain increases we all benefit. Our shared culture and thus common public awareness benefits. No one looses except eternal copyright dogs. The damage, without regard of the consequence, to a free society and the possibilities of shared culture is without measure and... certifiably insane.
Amanda Palmer for RIAA President...? Yey!
It is impossible to describe the insightfullness of several of the comments I've read in this topic so far. Thanks. (Some were anonymous too.)
special-interesting (profile), 2 Mar 2013 @ 6:13am
Public domain although perfectly viable is yet an (popularly) unrecognized concept. (unfortunately).
Open sourced software using gnu or other similar licensing has some restrictions in that the writer wants compensation when their brilliant (or worthless) contributions are used for profit. How do we as a society reward the individual software writers contributions? Some method would be cool. Public domain would not do this. Hard to analyze is the collaboration which the open sourced community provides.
“(Apple is an example of one that has succeeded, basing its Mac OS X operating system on the free BSD version of Unix.)” Wow! I did not know that. I mean really... WOW! -metaphorically kicks S. Jobs- (I have learned something.)
My theme lately is limiting the terms of copyright to much less that the lives of the audience say 15-30 years or so. Better yet kick the entire copyright amendment out and enact a new 'Right of Origin' amendment. (or whatever)
This is a great topic that exemplifies the difficulty of rewarding ones personal coding effort and conflicting needs of the public at large. NOT resolved but it great to try to tackle it.
Disclaimer: went Linux years ago. (Apple = Windows = walled proprietary garden = DUMP)
Chris Maresa: beyond me but what I comprehend I agree with.
out_of_the_blue (unregistered nick) raises good moral controversy. All solved by limiting copyright terms to less than the lives of the audience. (hehehe)
Chris (again): “Microsoft has been a large contributor to open sourced software”. -suspicion- (the officially unsecured windows OS does not breed trust) #7 what country?
To the topic: if copyright was limited to a term less than my (your) lifetime what would it matter about restrictive copyright terms? (gnu or otherwise?) It is culturally (vitally?) important that we be able to use what we learn within our own lifetimes!!! to enable our individual greatness, or that our entire lives be declared irrelevant? (wow what a concept! Please expand on this,)
special-interesting (profile), 2 Mar 2013 @ 4:42am
Censorship is ugly in every form and its surprising that any such practice escapes democratic legal review. Due process, one of the foundation principles of a democratic society, is under attack.
This censorship way of thinking leads directly to the walled garden approach to a country's Internet accessibility. Evil prediction: each country will not allow foreign based opinions. (its inevitable in a time of war (on terror?))
As for censorship of porn or copyrighted material that never just happens. Its NEVER just about porn or 'the children'. Along with the porn a censoring body will include whatever controversial site requested by the ruling party. We are talking about, normal human nature, an irrevocable force.
Not quite off topic is my personal evaluation of whether a site is 'telling me the truth as they know it'.
Does your site allow cuss words like shit, fuck, asshole and the like? If they don't they are censoring the responses plus whatever else that pisses them off. Do you allow links to what some would consider disgustful photos? (sorry, wont be giving an example here) Same answer as above.
An easy measurement is if you allow (or delete like many manufacturer forum sites do) dissenting commentary. ANY site that prohibits free and uncensored speech is suspect. (some children sites excepted of which I expect to be locally enforced and not by some government agency list)
If this post makes it... thanks (again) Mike for providing an uncensored environment that evaluates the technological implications of our modern day environment.
The abuses of present copyright law is becoming legendary in that even the declared by the Library of Congress normal fair use items are still subject to take-down requests.
Adrian Lopez: you said almost everything.
Due process is hard and difficult to do in reality but this is why we hire professional attorneys and such. The expectation that these jobs be easy is beyond comprehension. (way, way, waaaaay beyond)
More importantly what percentage of the USA GDP (Gross Domestic Product) is lost to copyright madness?
special-interesting (profile), 2 Mar 2013 @ 3:48am
Thank you Mike for not just crapping about the numerous complications that technology does to our everyday lives but actually giving reasonable analysis AND SOLUTIONS! The TechDirt site (along with the commenting) has unmeasurable value as a forum to work our many, of the messy, details.
Cwf-Rtb (Connect with fans – Reason to buy) is pure marketing genius and I have used this philosophy myself. Thank you!
The Internet has the ability to bypass the middlemen of culture as long as we don't let the copyright dogs get in the way with ridiculous, and questionable, legislation. (an unregulated 6 strikes plan anyone?)
special-interesting (profile), 2 Mar 2013 @ 3:29am
I would think that because of the video (new technology making an impact on the courtroom environment) would make it TechDirt material. Unspoken is the environment within the courtroom and the long standing traditions that are enforced.
Much is made of the (fallacy?) that we don't have sharia law (of dress codes) on the books. However. Has anyone tried to ware a bandanna, headband or t-shirt with a peace sign on it into a courtroom? Ever see a congressman on the Senate floor in khakis? If you are dark skinned and wearing a hoodie what kind of untoward profiling does that get you?
Minimum is the requirement that you wear your 'Sunday best' to the courtroom. There are whole charity programs that loan suits and ties to the unfortunate ones who cannot afford bail and thus show up in court in prison drags. Its a shame that appearances mean so much. A suit and tie is one of your best unspoken defenses. (along with your lawyer)
On the other hand maintaining some level of decorum in the courtroom is important. Just imagine the prosecution and defendant attorneys professional level pranks if a judge did not thrash them thoroughly on a daily basis. (the motion is rescinded!) it is impossible to underestimate the (the effects of) outright acting and posturing capable by an experienced, in the courtroom, attorney.
In some ways a judge is looking for your awareness of the severity of a 'legitimate' complaint brought against you and that you will take seriously the procedures of the court itself. (released on your own recognizance is a great example that the judge recognizes, that you recognize, this) Flipping off, and cussing out, the judge, however seemingly appropriate, does not breed respect.
Even I have cussed in the courtroom (luckily not noticed) about some ridiculous prank of the prosecution (of a ticket) that the judge went along with. (3 continuations for an officer who did not show and when he did purgered himself so badly the judge threw it out less than 2 minuets into the case). Never was I more embarrassed of anything in my life. (had pictures and diagrams)
Please note, that so far, I have spoken only of the procedures and perceptions of those procedures in the courtroom. Not irrelevant are the laws being enforced themselves. Are they just and proper? (Hint, hint: copyright law abuse)
On incumbent judges and politicians its tempting to say just vote um out. However we really need a way to identify good ones from bad ones. How a judge differentiates between a rich and spoiled brat or fellow judge (or son or daughter of a judge) or police chief and a poor homeless person with only a public defender is of note. It would be healthy if your local newspaper reporter would measure this.
It would be more healthy if we voted on this intelligently.
special-interesting (profile), 2 Mar 2013 @ 2:07am
A VPN is a better way than just doing nothing. In much of the privacy case law it seems that if you make some action to protect your privacy (putting up No Trespassing signs is good physical example) you then have gained an “expectation of privacy” that is fully recognized by the law.
Even if your ISP can recognize torrent usage behind the encrypted VPN imagine the warning letter as compared to a actual violation letter that has real (spoofed or otherwise) IP or modem MAC (the modem MAC address is in your ISPs account, its your unofficial account number and technically how it recognizes you uniquely otherwise it could not 'talk' to you at all) addresses along with file names. If you had your VPN up and running all they could say was that they were suspicious and that would be that. There are hundreds of thousands of legitimate torrents being downloaded every second.
Examples: go to the transformed MiniNova site which sponsors 100% legit torrents of public commons licensed artists. (a great new way to bypass the middlemen of culture) Its also becoming more popular to disseminate software updates via torrents also. Ninja: thats a great example! Of the extremely popular South by Southwest® (SXSW®) http://sxsw.com/ live event and the torrent method of live music distribution.
VPNs are used by many business firms to create a secure tunnel connection from any unsecured hot-spot wifi location to the home office. Its like normal SOP. (Standard Operation Procedure)
There is no possible way the existence of torrent use, evidence, is conclusive proof of copyright violation(s). So. Basically what we are being fed is FUD (Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt). And, more importantly, at the technical level all this is obvious and they must know it.
Its hard to comment on the method of warning its got to be a hands off walled garden (DNS redirect) approach which would not require any clever programming. Its hard to imagine even the heavy hands of Concrast of trying to insert code into anyones computer browser. If you have a VPN its actually impossible to insert anything anyway. Man in the Middle attacks are actual subterfuge and doubt this will be used and you cant do it on the fly. The legal risks, for either, would be insane and -drooling- the resulting lawsuits would be GREAT TechDirt. At the very least hijacking is hijacking, why the double standard?
Some hints of privacy on Internet: http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130222/14191722072/six-strikes-officially-begins-monday.shtml#c17 52 Purchase your own modem and router. Also, smart Internet users turn off Javascript (NoScript) and never have installed flash. (and have never gotten a virus either even without a virus scan) Its best to have two browsers installed, one with your fave flashy scripts enabled to go to a known site that needs (needlessly?) it and one locked down for general purpose browsing.
Terms Of Service (TOS) are traps and anyone who avoids such nonsense gets points. Its hilarious how cable firms (through lax federal enabling) can change such terms at their whims. I mean that when you originally signed up you agreed to certain terms but... they change over time and become worse and worse from a users perspective in the same way your car insurance company sends you a little note with every in every renewal payment that basically says, in very fine print, that your insurance coverage is less. Why would anyone agree to a contract that changes over time and you have no input/choice in the matter? Its commercial insanity and borged contract law gone wild.
Quest is a rare example of a firm that stood up to the 'war on terror' nonsense. Kudos and lucky are they who have Quest as an option. Good luck and support to them. Yay!
Mike: 35 bucks to review on a case by case basis has GOT to be the goal of the entire 6-strikes effort ' In Comclasts eyes because now we have the scent of money. Money is its own draw. (Adam Chandler historical cultural reference “follow the money”) Am sure such a review would be short and not in ones favor. 35usd sounds low but its a starting point and will surely be bumped up to 135 soon enough.
Laughable are the warning e-mails sent to ones ISP e-mail accounts (which are likely filed with 6,000 or more Viagra spams) and ignored by almost all. The quote from Douglas Adams is hilarious.
The 6 strikes (youuuuur Out!) is only a symptom of the runaway eternal copyright industry acting, as middlemen of culture, problem. My theme lately is limiting the terms of copyright to much less that the lives of the audience say 15-30 years or so. Better yet kick the entire copyright amendment out and enact a 'Right of Origin' amendment. (or call it what you will)
The abolishment of the present copyright amendment (and related legislation) makes for great controversial party conversation, of imagined consequence, (while talking about some obscure legislation is boring silence) even if you lose the argument (which is likely atm) it gets people to think about it. (just wait till their kids rack up a few strikes)
the comments about Clamcast merger with NBC/Universal conflict of interest seems important.
Wow I am sooooooooo late to this huge party (again. Ha!). More great comments that were inspiring. Thanks. I admit some of it was over my programing head but... I have learned stuff. (salem witch trials... yes.) And, thank you trolls... your contrast is refreshing.
Josh: “Naive, innocent, starry-eyed and optimistic” thats me!
special-interesting (profile), 1 Mar 2013 @ 4:51pm
It seems the USA has been this belligerent animal since the end of WW2 which gave it the kind of power over others that corrupts even angels. Its no surprise hearing about 'pressure' being applied to Canada. What goes on behind the scenes in the machination of such force?
How and what 'incentives' were discussed and what punishments were implied or outright spoken of to force such a rapid and publicly unwanted capitulation? I mean that ACTA is like universally despised both in its writing and how it has been negotiated in secrecy. (When was the last time any politician actually cared about a protest anyway?) and logic? The European union countries chewed it up and spit it out whole like a sane USA should have done.
I wanna say something like “Bow, wow. Woof woof” but hey... I like Canada. I have to admit surprise at this one as CA seems to have a few more scruples that the USA of late. Lets see what the response is from this bit of political trickery.
If the Canadians were smart they would have to maneuver around the USA pressure like introducing the bill but how far will it get? I would not be surprised if it did not vanish later (assuming some political willpower on their part). Lets see when April comes around what the status is.
special-interesting (profile), 1 Mar 2013 @ 4:21pm
Obviously Senator Ira Silverstein is another victim of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLBA).
Here is a decent (and typical,there are many) article on the misguided emphasis on how the NCLBA measures only Reading Writing and Math ignoring Science and History. http://www.nea.org/home/39774.htm In local newspapers its common that teachers cry of history being passed over in place of NCLBA test score remedial classes. Thats right, special classes just to game the NCLBA test scores. Gym class? Ha! Why would gym be more important than Science and History?
Why was his first solution be to restrict the rights of citizens anyway. If he reads a lot ya think he would start with the first and fourth amendments. I wish someone would copyright the NY bill so it would vanish down the drain of eternal copyright (which actually might do some minuscule good in this case). But that would be historically bad because we need to learn from such nonsense.
For the children... he would forge chains of bondage with his limited mindset. In fact just because he mentioned the word “children” makes me shiver anticipating future tainted legislation.
It is impossible to understate the value of anonymity in all dealings with the net so much so I question his reading list. He did not read 1984 did he? And if he did... how many brain cells are actually plugged in and powered up in his head anyway.
On the post: Healthcare Isn't A Free Market, It's A Giant Economic Scam
Re: Not a free market? No, Duh!
And. What did the elected officials do? (after they were successfully prosecuted?) Thats right they RE-appointed the same president as before... (I mean REALLY... whats the use when voters are not paying attention.)
my comment on Illinois elected officials and the stupid voters who put them there: http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130219/10065822029/illinois-politician-seeks-to-outlaw-anonymous- comments-allow-anonymous-gun-ownership.shtml#c631
and http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130222/18003222079/illinois-bill-to-outlaw-online-anonymity-dropp ed-because-people-got-pissed-off-not-because-its-unconstitutional.shtml#c92
As such the residents of the city in question have to rely on emergency services from neighboring city (who paid up) hospitals with (as long as) 40 minuet travel times.
On the post: Healthcare Isn't A Free Market, It's A Giant Economic Scam
Re: So many discussions we're not having
Your local community property association possibly (likely?) (can I make a more disgusting example of a legal organization? -puke-) prohibits hanging your clothes out, (a wonderful way to save energy costs, prohibits putting up a TV antenna(I mean... really!) because its an eyesore, or painting a cool picture on your garage door (what is free expression anyway?),
We all want to live as long as we can providing functionable feedback to our kids (or (generally) generation). This is a “why we live, kind of, argument”. Do our individual actions mater? (Yeeeessssss!)
I have said this before: “what is the difference between THINKING and THOUGHT? (argue with me.)
On the post: Healthcare Isn't A Free Market, It's A Giant Economic Scam
Re: Re: Re:
The detail and (technical) knowledge of (the above makes) this comment is exceptional.
Health diagnistics and monitoring is becoming increasingly easily done with everyday devices like your cellphone and the only issues are ones of privacy (stand up for this) its best that we use a home computer rather than a smart(stupid)phone.
On the post: Healthcare Isn't A Free Market, It's A Giant Economic Scam
Re: Medical "Vacations"
On the post: Undisclosed USPTO Employees Write Report Saying USPTO Does A Great Job Handling Software & Smartphone Patents
Re: lies and damned lies
On the post: Comcast: We Won't Terminate Your Account Under Six Strikes; We'll Just Block Every Single Website
Re:
On the post: DailyDirt: Are You Smarter Than A Dolphin?
Re:
“We are aware of that we are aware of our awareness.”
Please (am begging you) argue (or intelligently discus) with me.
Intelligence is a function of thinking and not the slavery to our current thoughts.
Said before: “what is the difference between thinking and thought” (ask me specifically. I wont expound upon otherwise)
On the post: State Audit Finds More Than Half Of Minnesota's 11,000 Law Enforcement Users Misused Driver Data
Re:
Medical records are ready for abuse. (it is likely the main way NSF and FBI identifies you as a citizen regardless of your drivers license or passport credentials.) Dental records anybody? A (lot) of states have implemented an abuse of prescriptions legislation that automatically transfer your list of prescriptions to a (what the hell ) law enforcement agency for, whatever, review.
Voice print technology is a very developed technology so much so that if you receive a phone call (regardless of whether you hang up immediately) requesting what radio or TV channel you like (three seconds of recorded background sound is enough to distinguish what you are watching or listening to at the moment) is enough to...
Thank you for the comments.
On the post: State Audit Finds More Than Half Of Minnesota's 11,000 Law Enforcement Users Misused Driver Data
Re:
both arrest records and felony convictions (excepting violent) are no indication of a citizens further actions. The whole idea of law is to teach the individual the consequence of taking advantage of others by fraud, theft or whatever.
The real measurement is that, does our, prison/enforcement procedures reduce recidivism? (repeat offenders)
“If you work at a bank you can look up the account information of any normal person but if you pull up the account information of either a movie star or a rich person it will raise a red flag. Those who are rich get special privileges that the rest don't.”
Really? Is that true? And. Technically, how does that happen in real life?
Most people expound the phrase 'Fame and fortune'. Fame is an expense (argue with me please)(am soooo lucky to avoid such a cost. So far, lol) in that public attention is to be managed, in such a way as, to allow a normal life (cost). While fortune is a profitable thing.
Hard to delineate a way to allow a famous person is to visit a local shopping mall (This has got to be a basic right, I mean really... shopping?) and the public need to ask for an autograph and create a (an embarrassing) scene.
Where dose culture enter the scene? How we act as a people/society/country does mater.
On the post: UK Lets The Recording Industry Decide What Websites To Censor
Re:
The USA has been a belligerent animal as of late. Please be understanding as we work it out. Greatness is not achieved through bureaucracy (our current theme).
Hope. (unspecified hope)
On the post: 'Cocky' Defendant Gets A Web Redemption
Re:
The damage of even a single arrest can get you fired from, not just a sensitive government or related job, but even a regular bonded cashier (at a convenience store) job. Read how arrest records are abused. What is life in the gutter anyway?
Related is how we are aware of the individual habits of who we elect. How do we differeciate between a good candidate and a bad one? How a judge treats politically connected accused from a homeless person (familly?) is notable.
On the post: Amanda Palmer On The True Nature Of Connecting With Fans: It's About Trust
Re:
Trash my logic. Whip my inattention of, typical, artists reality. (of anything really) Crush my (admittedly) lame written essay. But. Please (please) elaborate. (otherwise its hard to reciprocate)
The anonymous coward post above was very inspiring. (with great quotes) Was that you? Keep at it. Impossible to reply with only unspecific dissatisfaction.
My consistent theme has be for the total abolishment of the copyright amendment and replacing it with a new OriginalRights (call it what you want) amendment that expands fair use, constrains what can be copyrighted, along with temporal (time) limits to less than the lives of their audience (15-30 years) so that we can achieve 'cultural atomic mass'.
On the post: Amanda Palmer On The True Nature Of Connecting With Fans: It's About Trust
Most bands make their rent by touring and the copyright to their work? Was, permanently, lost long ago to some clever big label media salesperson with a contract 12 pages thick with fine print and signed while drunk after a great concert.
A hastily signed big label media contract might also be like making a creative content slave of oneself (A band could always break up still allowing each musician a musical life unless, of course, they all sighed the contract... hehehe) by contractual stupidity. Talk about classic copyright abuse!
Any new artist should consider a 'creative commons' license of which there are several flavors: http://creativecommons.org/
If we can limit the terms of copyright, to much less that the lives of the audience say 15-30 years or so, we put a cork on the many life crippling abuses of present copyright practice. Better yet kick the entire copyright amendment out and enact a new 'Right of Creative Origin' amendment. (or whatever) A term limitation (15-30y) would also benefit the artist who could reinterpret their original work, picking up where they left off some, years down the road.
The present copyright law of 70y from the demise of the artist only celebrates the death of great artists. By dying the 70y clock countdown to public domain starts ticking. (macabre thinking for sure but who allowed that kind of law anyway?) It was in fact BAD that Tolkien died but its good that his work (under the ridiculous present copyright law) will enter the public domain sooner. (cripes! I really do hate that kind of analysis)
When the public domain increases we all benefit. Our shared culture and thus common public awareness benefits. No one looses except eternal copyright dogs. The damage, without regard of the consequence, to a free society and the possibilities of shared culture is without measure and... certifiably insane.
Amanda Palmer for RIAA President...? Yey!
It is impossible to describe the insightfullness of several of the comments I've read in this topic so far. Thanks. (Some were anonymous too.)
On the post: Could Open Source Software Be Put Into The Public Domain Instead?
Open sourced software using gnu or other similar licensing has some restrictions in that the writer wants compensation when their brilliant (or worthless) contributions are used for profit. How do we as a society reward the individual software writers contributions? Some method would be cool. Public domain would not do this. Hard to analyze is the collaboration which the open sourced community provides.
“(Apple is an example of one that has succeeded, basing its Mac OS X operating system on the free BSD version of Unix.)” Wow! I did not know that. I mean really... WOW! -metaphorically kicks S. Jobs- (I have learned something.)
My theme lately is limiting the terms of copyright to much less that the lives of the audience say 15-30 years or so. Better yet kick the entire copyright amendment out and enact a new 'Right of Origin' amendment. (or whatever)
This is a great topic that exemplifies the difficulty of rewarding ones personal coding effort and conflicting needs of the public at large. NOT resolved but it great to try to tackle it.
Disclaimer: went Linux years ago. (Apple = Windows = walled proprietary garden = DUMP)
Chris Maresa: beyond me but what I comprehend I agree with.
Spaceman spiff: the 10c cuppa joe... (nostalgia) Inflation... monetary policy??? Yikes.
out_of_the_blue (unregistered nick) raises good moral controversy. All solved by limiting copyright terms to less than the lives of the audience. (hehehe)
Chris (again): “Microsoft has been a large contributor to open sourced software”. -suspicion- (the officially unsecured windows OS does not breed trust) #7 what country?
To the topic: if copyright was limited to a term less than my (your) lifetime what would it matter about restrictive copyright terms? (gnu or otherwise?) It is culturally (vitally?) important that we be able to use what we learn within our own lifetimes!!! to enable our individual greatness, or that our entire lives be declared irrelevant? (wow what a concept! Please expand on this,)
On the post: Why Is The UK Blocking Access To Sites Without Any Hearings?
This censorship way of thinking leads directly to the walled garden approach to a country's Internet accessibility. Evil prediction: each country will not allow foreign based opinions. (its inevitable in a time of war (on terror?))
As for censorship of porn or copyrighted material that never just happens. Its NEVER just about porn or 'the children'. Along with the porn a censoring body will include whatever controversial site requested by the ruling party. We are talking about, normal human nature, an irrevocable force.
Not quite off topic is my personal evaluation of whether a site is 'telling me the truth as they know it'.
Does your site allow cuss words like shit, fuck, asshole and the like? If they don't they are censoring the responses plus whatever else that pisses them off. Do you allow links to what some would consider disgustful photos? (sorry, wont be giving an example here) Same answer as above.
An easy measurement is if you allow (or delete like many manufacturer forum sites do) dissenting commentary. ANY site that prohibits free and uncensored speech is suspect. (some children sites excepted of which I expect to be locally enforced and not by some government agency list)
If this post makes it... thanks (again) Mike for providing an uncensored environment that evaluates the technological implications of our modern day environment.
The abuses of present copyright law is becoming legendary in that even the declared by the Library of Congress normal fair use items are still subject to take-down requests.
Adrian Lopez: you said almost everything.
Due process is hard and difficult to do in reality but this is why we hire professional attorneys and such. The expectation that these jobs be easy is beyond comprehension. (way, way, waaaaay beyond)
More importantly what percentage of the USA GDP (Gross Domestic Product) is lost to copyright madness?
On the post: Amanda Palmer On The True Nature Of Connecting With Fans: It's About Trust
Cwf-Rtb (Connect with fans – Reason to buy) is pure marketing genius and I have used this philosophy myself. Thank you!
The Internet has the ability to bypass the middlemen of culture as long as we don't let the copyright dogs get in the way with ridiculous, and questionable, legislation. (an unregulated 6 strikes plan anyone?)
On the post: 'Cocky' Defendant Gets A Web Redemption
Much is made of the (fallacy?) that we don't have sharia law (of dress codes) on the books. However. Has anyone tried to ware a bandanna, headband or t-shirt with a peace sign on it into a courtroom? Ever see a congressman on the Senate floor in khakis? If you are dark skinned and wearing a hoodie what kind of untoward profiling does that get you?
Minimum is the requirement that you wear your 'Sunday best' to the courtroom. There are whole charity programs that loan suits and ties to the unfortunate ones who cannot afford bail and thus show up in court in prison drags. Its a shame that appearances mean so much. A suit and tie is one of your best unspoken defenses. (along with your lawyer)
On the other hand maintaining some level of decorum in the courtroom is important. Just imagine the prosecution and defendant attorneys professional level pranks if a judge did not thrash them thoroughly on a daily basis. (the motion is rescinded!) it is impossible to underestimate the (the effects of) outright acting and posturing capable by an experienced, in the courtroom, attorney.
In some ways a judge is looking for your awareness of the severity of a 'legitimate' complaint brought against you and that you will take seriously the procedures of the court itself. (released on your own recognizance is a great example that the judge recognizes, that you recognize, this) Flipping off, and cussing out, the judge, however seemingly appropriate, does not breed respect.
Even I have cussed in the courtroom (luckily not noticed) about some ridiculous prank of the prosecution (of a ticket) that the judge went along with. (3 continuations for an officer who did not show and when he did purgered himself so badly the judge threw it out less than 2 minuets into the case). Never was I more embarrassed of anything in my life. (had pictures and diagrams)
Please note, that so far, I have spoken only of the procedures and perceptions of those procedures in the courtroom. Not irrelevant are the laws being enforced themselves. Are they just and proper? (Hint, hint: copyright law abuse)
On incumbent judges and politicians its tempting to say just vote um out. However we really need a way to identify good ones from bad ones. How a judge differentiates between a rich and spoiled brat or fellow judge (or son or daughter of a judge) or police chief and a poor homeless person with only a public defender is of note. It would be healthy if your local newspaper reporter would measure this.
It would be more healthy if we voted on this intelligently.
On the post: Comcast: We Won't Terminate Your Account Under Six Strikes; We'll Just Block Every Single Website
Even if your ISP can recognize torrent usage behind the encrypted VPN imagine the warning letter as compared to a actual violation letter that has real (spoofed or otherwise) IP or modem MAC (the modem MAC address is in your ISPs account, its your unofficial account number and technically how it recognizes you uniquely otherwise it could not 'talk' to you at all) addresses along with file names. If you had your VPN up and running all they could say was that they were suspicious and that would be that. There are hundreds of thousands of legitimate torrents being downloaded every second.
Examples: go to the transformed MiniNova site which sponsors 100% legit torrents of public commons licensed artists. (a great new way to bypass the middlemen of culture) Its also becoming more popular to disseminate software updates via torrents also. Ninja: thats a great example! Of the extremely popular South by Southwest® (SXSW®) http://sxsw.com/ live event and the torrent method of live music distribution.
VPNs are used by many business firms to create a secure tunnel connection from any unsecured hot-spot wifi location to the home office. Its like normal SOP. (Standard Operation Procedure)
There is no possible way the existence of torrent use, evidence, is conclusive proof of copyright violation(s). So. Basically what we are being fed is FUD (Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt). And, more importantly, at the technical level all this is obvious and they must know it.
Its hard to comment on the method of warning its got to be a hands off walled garden (DNS redirect) approach which would not require any clever programming. Its hard to imagine even the heavy hands of Concrast of trying to insert code into anyones computer browser. If you have a VPN its actually impossible to insert anything anyway. Man in the Middle attacks are actual subterfuge and doubt this will be used and you cant do it on the fly. The legal risks, for either, would be insane and -drooling- the resulting lawsuits would be GREAT TechDirt. At the very least hijacking is hijacking, why the double standard?
Some hints of privacy on Internet: http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130222/14191722072/six-strikes-officially-begins-monday.shtml#c17 52 Purchase your own modem and router. Also, smart Internet users turn off Javascript (NoScript) and never have installed flash. (and have never gotten a virus either even without a virus scan) Its best to have two browsers installed, one with your fave flashy scripts enabled to go to a known site that needs (needlessly?) it and one locked down for general purpose browsing.
Terms Of Service (TOS) are traps and anyone who avoids such nonsense gets points. Its hilarious how cable firms (through lax federal enabling) can change such terms at their whims. I mean that when you originally signed up you agreed to certain terms but... they change over time and become worse and worse from a users perspective in the same way your car insurance company sends you a little note with every in every renewal payment that basically says, in very fine print, that your insurance coverage is less. Why would anyone agree to a contract that changes over time and you have no input/choice in the matter? Its commercial insanity and borged contract law gone wild.
Quest is a rare example of a firm that stood up to the 'war on terror' nonsense. Kudos and lucky are they who have Quest as an option. Good luck and support to them. Yay!
Mike: 35 bucks to review on a case by case basis has GOT to be the goal of the entire 6-strikes effort ' In Comclasts eyes because now we have the scent of money. Money is its own draw. (Adam Chandler historical cultural reference “follow the money”) Am sure such a review would be short and not in ones favor. 35usd sounds low but its a starting point and will surely be bumped up to 135 soon enough.
Laughable are the warning e-mails sent to ones ISP e-mail accounts (which are likely filed with 6,000 or more Viagra spams) and ignored by almost all. The quote from Douglas Adams is hilarious.
The 6 strikes (youuuuur Out!) is only a symptom of the runaway eternal copyright industry acting, as middlemen of culture, problem. My theme lately is limiting the terms of copyright to much less that the lives of the audience say 15-30 years or so. Better yet kick the entire copyright amendment out and enact a 'Right of Origin' amendment. (or call it what you will)
The abolishment of the present copyright amendment (and related legislation) makes for great controversial party conversation, of imagined consequence, (while talking about some obscure legislation is boring silence) even if you lose the argument (which is likely atm) it gets people to think about it. (just wait till their kids rack up a few strikes)
the comments about Clamcast merger with NBC/Universal conflict of interest seems important.
Wow I am sooooooooo late to this huge party (again. Ha!). More great comments that were inspiring. Thanks. I admit some of it was over my programing head but... I have learned stuff. (salem witch trials... yes.) And, thank you trolls... your contrast is refreshing.
Josh: “Naive, innocent, starry-eyed and optimistic” thats me!
On the post: USTR To Canada: 'Bow Down And Accept ACTA!' Canada: 'Yes, We Shall Do Your Bidding'
How and what 'incentives' were discussed and what punishments were implied or outright spoken of to force such a rapid and publicly unwanted capitulation? I mean that ACTA is like universally despised both in its writing and how it has been negotiated in secrecy. (When was the last time any politician actually cared about a protest anyway?) and logic? The European union countries chewed it up and spit it out whole like a sane USA should have done.
I wanna say something like “Bow, wow. Woof woof” but hey... I like Canada. I have to admit surprise at this one as CA seems to have a few more scruples that the USA of late. Lets see what the response is from this bit of political trickery.
If the Canadians were smart they would have to maneuver around the USA pressure like introducing the bill but how far will it get? I would not be surprised if it did not vanish later (assuming some political willpower on their part). Lets see when April comes around what the status is.
On the post: Illinois Bill To Outlaw Online Anonymity Dropped Because People Got Pissed Off, Not Because It's Unconstitutional
Here is a decent (and typical,there are many) article on the misguided emphasis on how the NCLBA measures only Reading Writing and Math ignoring Science and History. http://www.nea.org/home/39774.htm In local newspapers its common that teachers cry of history being passed over in place of NCLBA test score remedial classes. Thats right, special classes just to game the NCLBA test scores. Gym class? Ha! Why would gym be more important than Science and History?
Why was his first solution be to restrict the rights of citizens anyway. If he reads a lot ya think he would start with the first and fourth amendments. I wish someone would copyright the NY bill so it would vanish down the drain of eternal copyright (which actually might do some minuscule good in this case). But that would be historically bad because we need to learn from such nonsense.
For the children... he would forge chains of bondage with his limited mindset. In fact just because he mentioned the word “children” makes me shiver anticipating future tainted legislation.
It is impossible to understate the value of anonymity in all dealings with the net so much so I question his reading list. He did not read 1984 did he? And if he did... how many brain cells are actually plugged in and powered up in his head anyway.
Heres my post on the political circus playing out daily in IL (its actually not very long); http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130219/10065822029/illinois-politician-seeks-to-outlaw-anonymous- comments-allow-anonymous-gun-ownership.shtml#c631 Want to be an IL politician? Its aaaall in the name.
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