just like Google did with Google Voice on the iPhone...
In a little noticed development, Windows Live Messenger is now available on almost any mobile phone via web browser for FREE. In Canada, Bell charges $8/month to use the IM app on the handset - I'm not sure about the pricing for other carriers. MS totally bypassed the carrier for this little gem. And since Symbian was until very recently a closed system, no other app is available on my phone. So MS does a good thing (FINALLY!) but I think they are a bit late with this since pretty soon they will probably be a number of different IM applications for handsets running Symbian. Garden walls are crumbling faster and faster.
Bronfman and WMG appear to have decided to ignore what the market wants
Don't worry! Good ole Edgar Bronfman JR. will turn it all around. On the heels of his smashing successes at Seagram's and MCA Universal... Granpa Samuel is rolling in his grave!
How does one sue for infringement of a folk song? Did the publisher identify themselves in the filing as "We, the People"?
Therefore, I suggest for the people of Moldova to immediately sue the Russian Federation for Tchaivovsky's use of a folk song in his 1st Concerto.
I also disagree with the idea that there was even an opportunity to "[nip] the free music expectation in the bud" from the point of view of the technology. As has been said, the Internet-based distribution has accelerated the downward pressure on the price of music but that expectation of free was already largely there since well before Napster made it to the scene. People have been exchanging and copying the tapes for quite some time. As soon as the technology that allowed the copying has appeared that expectation came alive. It would have been follish not to assume that future technological breakthroughs would not have made it even simpler. The only way to "nip" it would be to go back to vinyl and gramaphone.
National children's mortality rate in inversely proportional to number of TV sets per capita
So I does being "Anti-Mike" means being anti-logic, anti-evidence, anti-comrehension, etc...
Nobody is disputing the current state of things. Also, nobody is disputing where children learned the LOL-speak. What people here are disputing is the implication that Faceboor, Twitter and texting are responsible for the situation.
"We haven't taught grammar for 30-40 years...(and it) hasn't worked."
"It's not that hard to teach basic grammar," [Budra] says.
I would posit that people use the LOL-speak because they don't know any better. If grammar isn't taught in schools, do you honestly think that children would pick up the grammar manuals if only it weren't for Facebook, Twitter, and cellphones?
James Turk of the Association of University Teachers takes all the complaints about student literacy with a grain of salt.
"There's a notion of a golden age in the past that students were wonderful, unlike now. I'm not sure that golden age ever existed," he says.
It would seem that at least Mr. Turk disagrees with such a notion.
In fact, let's examine what ALL the experts (in order of appearance) in this article are saying:
1. Ann Barrett, managing director of the English language proficiency exam at Waterloo University:
"Poor grammar is the major reason students fail, says Barrett."
"Some students in public schools are no longer being taught grammar, she believes."
2. Rummana Khan Hemani, Simon Fraser university's director of academic advising - no quotes regarding causality
3. Paul Budra, an English professor and associate dean of arts and science at Simon Fraser:
"He says this has been going on now for the 20 years he's taught college and university in B.C. and Ontario-only the mistakes have changed.
He too blames poor - or no - grammar instruction in lower schools."
4. Joel Postman, author of "SocialCorp: Social Media Goes Corporate," who has taught Fortune 500 companies how to use social networking:
"I think it has," - in regard to the statement that "Cellphone texting and social networking on Internet sites are degrading writing skills"
5. Margaret Proctor, University of Toronto writing support co-ordinator - no opinion on causality
6. James Turk - see above
So out of six (6) experts mentioned in this article two (2) have not said anything regarding the cause of the problem, one (1) thinks that there's in no specific problem with the current generation (the one that is supposedly negatively affected by technology), one (1) - the one with a book to sell - agrees with the article's premise, and two (2) think that the problem is with the schools not teaching grammar.
Need I say more? Have you actually read the artile?
P.S. If you think sarcasm replaces logical arguments, you're dreaming in Technocolor.
There's an old Soviet joke from the times of Perestroika:
Stalin comes back to life, comes to Kremplin and proceeds to take control of the government. He assembles everyone and issues 2 orders:
1. Hunt down end execute all the non-communists.
2. Paint the Mausoleum colour green.
Everyone asks:
- Comrade Stalin, why green?
- Excellent. I knew the first point would not be an issue.
Next on the docket: a class action suit on behalf of Barney, Godzilla, Rex the Green Dinosaur, et al. against the American Museum of Natural History, The Smithsonian institution et al. for deriving a commercial benefit from showing dinosaurs in their exhibits. Can't wait!
I still can't get my mind around how this is even a question. Any given person's genes are a (somewhat) random result of the mix the biological parents created. The genetic materials are all the same - DNA is composed of the same nucleobases regardless of race or creed. The whole thing is a naturally occuring phoenomenon. In fact, there are millions of years of examples of prior art. Any particular makeup is governed by nature or God (take your pick) regardless of the present and future human ability to influence it. Either way, how can this be copyrighted? Can I copyright the colour spectrum and then sue every company in the world for using those colours in the advertising? Or if the big pharma are "only" interested in copyrighting the specific makeups, then here's a great idea: people should copyright their fingeprints and their genetic makeup and, if ever necessary, deny the police the usage license if they ever want to compare them to those found at the scene of the crime or at least prohibit from ever being presented as evidence in court. They can claim it's a public performance or something. How did this ever even pass a laugh test???
RE: So, apparently, these days you don't just have to be an innovative company to get sued for patent infringement. You can just be a rockstar or a sports team...
It loooks more and more like you only need to be perceived as having money. The reason to sue can be found later on.
How about even closer than the impersonators? How about the tribute bands that play the same songs and dress the same way as the artists and even completely recreate their look?
I remember listening to Buddy Guy and BB King talking about playing live. They were saying that it happens that you make an error and then you try to repeat so that no one would think that it was an error. Can't recreate that with a robot. That's why the live performace is the true scarcity in the parlayance of this blog. :-)
"There are times, however, when I feel that the strict "rules" that are put forth by grammar go too far."
Maybe you could switch to Russian? :-) Grammar rules are much more "relaxed": the rules that do exist are clear cut and fairly simple. Not to mention only three tenses! If only it weren't so damn foreign...
On the post: Five Reasons Not To Get Swept Up In App Madness
just like Google did with Google Voice on the iPhone...
On the post: Warner Music Shoots Self In Head; Says No More Free Streaming
Bronfman and WMG appear to have decided to ignore what the market wants
On the post: Google's Latest Music Blog Kerfuffle Highlights Problems With The DMCA
Google's Latest Music Blog Kerfuffle...
On the post: Comedian Has To Retell Joke 2nd Time, Because Viacom Couldn't Have Him Sing Four Words: 'We Are The World'
Exception for parody?
On the post: Australian Court Says Men At Work's 'Down Under' Infringes On Folk Song; Only Took Decades To Notice
Folk songs gone wild
Therefore, I suggest for the people of Moldova to immediately sue the Russian Federation for Tchaivovsky's use of a folk song in his 1st Concerto.
On the post: Did The Recording Industry Really Miss The Opportunity To 'Monetize' Online Music?
Misunderstanding of technological progress
On the post: Merriam Webster Dictionary Pulled From Elementary School For Defining Oral Sex; Guess What All The Students Just Found Out About?
Re: Question
On the post: Non-Practicing Patent Holders Winning Bigger And Bigger Awards -- And Why They Like East Texas
CwL+RtF
On the post: Technology Blamed For Bad Grammar Despite Total Lack Of Causal Evidence
National children's mortality rate in inversely proportional to number of TV sets per capita
Nobody is disputing the current state of things. Also, nobody is disputing where children learned the LOL-speak. What people here are disputing is the implication that Faceboor, Twitter and texting are responsible for the situation.
"We haven't taught grammar for 30-40 years...(and it) hasn't worked."
"It's not that hard to teach basic grammar," [Budra] says.
I would posit that people use the LOL-speak because they don't know any better. If grammar isn't taught in schools, do you honestly think that children would pick up the grammar manuals if only it weren't for Facebook, Twitter, and cellphones?
James Turk of the Association of University Teachers takes all the complaints about student literacy with a grain of salt.
"There's a notion of a golden age in the past that students were wonderful, unlike now. I'm not sure that golden age ever existed," he says.
It would seem that at least Mr. Turk disagrees with such a notion.
In fact, let's examine what ALL the experts (in order of appearance) in this article are saying:
1. Ann Barrett, managing director of the English language proficiency exam at Waterloo University:
"Poor grammar is the major reason students fail, says Barrett."
"Some students in public schools are no longer being taught grammar, she believes."
2. Rummana Khan Hemani, Simon Fraser university's director of academic advising - no quotes regarding causality
3. Paul Budra, an English professor and associate dean of arts and science at Simon Fraser:
"He says this has been going on now for the 20 years he's taught college and university in B.C. and Ontario-only the mistakes have changed.
He too blames poor - or no - grammar instruction in lower schools."
4. Joel Postman, author of "SocialCorp: Social Media Goes Corporate," who has taught Fortune 500 companies how to use social networking:
"I think it has," - in regard to the statement that "Cellphone texting and social networking on Internet sites are degrading writing skills"
5. Margaret Proctor, University of Toronto writing support co-ordinator - no opinion on causality
6. James Turk - see above
So out of six (6) experts mentioned in this article two (2) have not said anything regarding the cause of the problem, one (1) thinks that there's in no specific problem with the current generation (the one that is supposedly negatively affected by technology), one (1) - the one with a book to sell - agrees with the article's premise, and two (2) think that the problem is with the schools not teaching grammar.
Need I say more? Have you actually read the artile?
P.S. If you think sarcasm replaces logical arguments, you're dreaming in Technocolor.
On the post: Who Dat Holds The Trademark To Who Dat? NFL Threatens While WhoDat Inc. Asks Why?
The fleur de lis belongs to everyone including the people of New Orleans.
On the post: The Similarity Between ACTA And Chinese Internet Censorship
Going back to the good ole times?
On the post: UK Ministers 'Concede' Some Ridiculous Points in Digital Economy Bill In Attempt To Get Other Ridiculous Measures
Re: the sandwich method
Stalin comes back to life, comes to Kremplin and proceeds to take control of the government. He assembles everyone and issues 2 orders:
1. Hunt down end execute all the non-communists.
2. Paint the Mausoleum colour green.
Everyone asks:
- Comrade Stalin, why green?
- Excellent. I knew the first point would not be an issue.
On the post: Florida Not A Fan Of The Internet; Potentially Rules Out Lawyer Blogs
Lawyers, eh?
On the post: Village People Threaten Chef Jamie Oliver For Dressing Up Like Cowboy, Indian, Cop, Construction Worker, Etc...
Slippery slope
On the post: Australian Patent Lawyers Claim Patenting Genes Is Necessary For Biomedical Research
On the post: Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Others Sued For Patent Infringement For Appearing Larger Than Life
Who can be sued for patent infringement
It loooks more and more like you only need to be perceived as having money. The reason to sue can be found later on.
On the post: Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Others Sued For Patent Infringement For Appearing Larger Than Life
Re: Pah
So why then do you not only read this site but bother to respond? What a tool!
On the post: What If You Could Recreate Live Performances By Dead Artists On A Computer?
Re: Riddle me this, Batman...
On the post: What If You Could Recreate Live Performances By Dead Artists On A Computer?
Re: This is just the beginning.
On the post: Grammar Nazis: Useful Language Experts, Or Elitist Snobs?
Grammar rules
Maybe you could switch to Russian? :-) Grammar rules are much more "relaxed": the rules that do exist are clear cut and fairly simple. Not to mention only three tenses! If only it weren't so damn foreign...
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