The point I'm making is that assuming the entire HBO subscription is paying for those 10 episodes is a biased number. They are assuming that there is absolutely nothing else you want HBO for, but that there's lots of other things that you want the TV for.
If you're willing to assume that the hypothetical person doesn't want to watch anything else on HBO, why not also assume that they don't want to watch anything else? A good TV could set you back $1,000 (?) so that's an extra $100 per episode.
I agree with the point - it should be easier to pick and choose which parts of a package you want, so you don't end up paying for stuff you don't want. I'm just pointing out that the $50 an episode calculation is robust enough to be a MPAA/RIAA number.
I don't think that's really a fair comparison, after all they're looking at the price for a whole bundle and ascribing all the cost to just one part of it. This is reasonable to a certain extent (eg ignoring all the extra channels bundled in and attributing the cost to the one or two you're actually interested in) but I think attributing all the cost to just one show is a bit extreme.
You can do much better than $50 an episode by waiting for the DVD release. I pay around $2 per episode to watch GoT as many times as I like.
If you are only counting ways to watch a series the instant it's released (ie no waiting for DVD release windows) then the cost could go up astronomically. Granted I think GoT was released relatively simultaneously around the world, but for other shows you would need to factor in weekly flights to the US and a hotel which has access to the relevant cable channel. $500 per episode for non-simutaneous releases? Suddenly $50 sounds much more reasonable :)
Hayden sounds like he's Dr Evil's arch competitor. I can just see the conversation in the remake of Austin Powers:
Dr Evil: Here's what we'll do. We'll hack the internet backbone and tap into email and social media traffic to spy on everyone in the entire world. We can then use the information to blackmail US senators, conduct corporate espionage to get secrets to sell, and get law enforcement to harass our enemies.
Number Two: Michael Hayden has already done that. He ran the NSA and set up a massive surveillance program to monitor the world and provide inside information to US companies.
Dr Evil: OK then, plan B. We will get information on our enemies by torturing them in secret facilities around the globe. Granted we'll actually have to get the information from normal interrogation techniques since torture doesn't work, but I didn't spend six years in Evil Medical School to not torture people.
Number Two: That also has been done. After working for the NSA, Michael Hayden then moved to the CIA and oversaw a rendition and torture program which was applauded based on information from other people's interrogations, and glorified in a Hollywood movie with a bigger budget than this one.
Dr Evil: Oh hell. Then let's just do what we always do. Hijack a nuclear weapon and hold the world hostage. Don't tell me Hayden has done that as well?!
Number Two: Well ... (to be continued when the next set of Hayden leaks are released)
The thing I don't understand, is why the government denies trademarks based on racist terms. I know the short answer is "because it's in the law", but why is it in the law?
Recognising that a certain word is used by a given company for a particular product doesn't mean that the government is agreeing with the word, company or product. If the name was subsequently used in a racist manner, then the company would be in trouble regardless of whether a trademark existed.
I guess if trademark is a criminal issue, then the goverment doesn't want to get into the business of fighting for someone who has registered a racist mark?
You may be calling a spade a spade, but lets just nip that in the bud. I dink you're as high as a kike or your morality is on the fritz if you think using dis-paki-ble language like that is OK. To avoid being fuzzy-wuzzy about it, lets be clear - yank terms like that from your speech. Don't ape racists and keep your language spic and span. I'm not jock-ing.
For some reason the banner pissed me off more than just a "We refuse to show you this content because you're outside the USA"
They should be honest about why they're not showing us the video and not try and blame it on the user.
The banner closes with a request that us foreigners go to watch clips on their website. Not likely. Why would I bother when I haven't seen this video? I'm told it was amusing and would have made me want to see more but I have no idea.
I can see their point. Currently they have control over everything (man made) that happens at 35,000 feet so can minimise accidents.
However, if they have no control over drones they lose that - someone could theoretically remote pilot a 747 full of passengers without coming into the FAA control.
Perhaps instead of delineating their control based on whether the pilot is on board, perhaps a better line would be based on the cargo (passengers/livestock, or tacos), the height (in the commercial jet highway, or 100 feet over a football field), size, being flown over urban areas, etc.
Something like anything with people/animals on board or anything flown over 1000 feet? Should give them the ability to maintain passenger airspace safety, while allowing low flying freeform innovation (and avoiding people being arrested for flying unsanctioned paper aeroplanes)
Fortunately, in this time, the people of Ukraine not only had the will to change their government, they had the ability to organize and export their story to the world via the internet, ubiquitous camera phones, and a citizen press. In other words, twenty years ago, this might not have been possible. Now it's eminently so.
Other nations looking to tamp down on free speech and a free internet may want to take note of the consequences.
That reads like their ability to revolt depended on having free speech and the ability to spread the news. Therefore taking that away from them would make any revolt much more contained.
Of course it would also make revolt much more likely ...
Guess that's the tradeoff in running a dictatorship though - lots of containable revolts (hoping they don't link up) or a few uncontainable revolts?
He certainly is implying that. Think of the following quotes which we've seen various flavours of on Techdirt:
Politician: We need to snoop on all your web browsing to catch paedophiles. Obviously paedophiles won't like this, so you will see some stories trying to cast this program in a sinister light.
NSA: We need to snoop on all your web browsing to catch terrorists. Obviously terrorists won't like this, so you will see some stories trying to cast this program in a sinister light.
Gabe: We need to snoop on all your web browsing to catch cheaters. Obviously cheaters won't like this, so you will see some stories trying to cast this program in a sinister light.
In each case they are pointing out that their objective is to catch bad people, which of course has to be a good thing. After all, bad people! So of course bad people won't like this and will write nasty things about the program. Think about that every time you see someone argue against this program, and think of the children(tm)!
And of course with the NSA this is happening at this moment - with David Miranda and Jesselyn Radack being treated as terrorists for opposing the NSA's anti-terrorist program, and politicians sparing no opportunity to attack Snowden, Greenwald et al.
Now I would reiterate that I think Gabe did the right thing in issuing a prompt response, and in a human manner rather than something tied up in lawyerese and PR-speak. I also trust Steam far more than I trust politicans/NSA and actually believe what he says.
I just think he could have ditched the line where he tried to associate anyone who disagreed with their browsing being spied on with cheaters.
I would point out that I do use Steam and am happy with the service they provide. I'm not going to stop as a result of this disclosure.
"For most cheat developers, social engineering might be a cheaper way to attack the system than continuing the code arms race, which means that there will be more Reddit posts trying to cast VAC in a sinister light."
So, anyone who disagrees with him is obviously a cheater? How about someone who doesn't like finding out that their activity is being spied on outside of a game?
While I applaud Gabe for coming out with a human and straightforward response, he could have done so without trying to denigrate anyone who disagrees with him.
Surely if the legacy content industries fail three times to get their beloved three strikes rules implemented, then they should be forced to stop pushing it?
Quite, I was trying to square the term "peace officer" with commentary about armed people kicking someone's door in and announcing their presence with flashbang grenades.
As King says: "Who actually put [Snowden] in the same classification as the director of national intelligence?”
Um. Nobody.
One is a traitorous weasel who has betrayed their oath to the constitution and thereby harmed the American people, and the other is in enforced exile in Russia.
From the NJ AG's "screw you" letter they want information regarding "whether the Bitcoin code was present on websites owned and/or operated in the State or visited by New Jersey consumers."
Presumably the EFF can quote from their earlier letter. The one the AG is responding to: - "Tidbit's code has never been functional and is incapable of mining for bitcoins" - "Tidbit's code is not functional and unable to mine for bitcoins at all"
Nice to know the AG read the EFF's letter before responding.
On the post: Would You Pay $50 Per Episode To See Game Of Thrones?
Re: Re:
If you're willing to assume that the hypothetical person doesn't want to watch anything else on HBO, why not also assume that they don't want to watch anything else? A good TV could set you back $1,000 (?) so that's an extra $100 per episode.
I agree with the point - it should be easier to pick and choose which parts of a package you want, so you don't end up paying for stuff you don't want. I'm just pointing out that the $50 an episode calculation is robust enough to be a MPAA/RIAA number.
On the post: Would You Pay $50 Per Episode To See Game Of Thrones?
You can do much better than $50 an episode by waiting for the DVD release. I pay around $2 per episode to watch GoT as many times as I like.
If you are only counting ways to watch a series the instant it's released (ie no waiting for DVD release windows) then the cost could go up astronomically. Granted I think GoT was released relatively simultaneously around the world, but for other shows you would need to factor in weekly flights to the US and a hotel which has access to the relevant cable channel. $500 per episode for non-simutaneous releases? Suddenly $50 sounds much more reasonable :)
On the post: Former NSA/CIA Boss' Anger Issues: Claims Senate Staffers Are 'Sissies' And Wyden Isn't 'Acting Like A Man'
Is there nothing he hasn't done?
Dr Evil: Here's what we'll do. We'll hack the internet backbone and tap into email and social media traffic to spy on everyone in the entire world. We can then use the information to blackmail US senators, conduct corporate espionage to get secrets to sell, and get law enforcement to harass our enemies.
Number Two: Michael Hayden has already done that. He ran the NSA and set up a massive surveillance program to monitor the world and provide inside information to US companies.
Dr Evil: OK then, plan B. We will get information on our enemies by torturing them in secret facilities around the globe. Granted we'll actually have to get the information from normal interrogation techniques since torture doesn't work, but I didn't spend six years in Evil Medical School to not torture people.
Number Two: That also has been done. After working for the NSA, Michael Hayden then moved to the CIA and oversaw a rendition and torture program which was applauded based on information from other people's interrogations, and glorified in a Hollywood movie with a bigger budget than this one.
Dr Evil: Oh hell. Then let's just do what we always do. Hijack a nuclear weapon and hold the world hostage. Don't tell me Hayden has done that as well?!
Number Two: Well ... (to be continued when the next set of Hayden leaks are released)
On the post: Dick Cheney Lies: Claims Not A Single Case Of NSA Abusing Its Authority
He's telling the truth!
He's right you know. There hasn't been a single case, there's been loads of them!
On the post: USPTO: Again, Redskin Can't Be Trademarked Because It's A Racist Term
Re: Re: Disappointed
Recognising that a certain word is used by a given company for a particular product doesn't mean that the government is agreeing with the word, company or product. If the name was subsequently used in a racist manner, then the company would be in trouble regardless of whether a trademark existed.
I guess if trademark is a criminal issue, then the goverment doesn't want to get into the business of fighting for someone who has registered a racist mark?
On the post: USPTO: Again, Redskin Can't Be Trademarked Because It's A Racist Term
Re: Re: Re: But...
Ocker?
On the post: Stephen Colbert Creates Royalty-Free Alternative To Happy Birthday For Happy Birthday's Happy Birthday
Re:
They should be honest about why they're not showing us the video and not try and blame it on the user.
The banner closes with a request that us foreigners go to watch clips on their website. Not likely. Why would I bother when I haven't seen this video? I'm told it was amusing and would have made me want to see more but I have no idea.
Grr.
On the post: FAA To Appeal Ruling About Its Lack Of Mandate Over Commercial Drones
However, if they have no control over drones they lose that - someone could theoretically remote pilot a 747 full of passengers without coming into the FAA control.
Perhaps instead of delineating their control based on whether the pilot is on board, perhaps a better line would be based on the cargo (passengers/livestock, or tacos), the height (in the commercial jet highway, or 100 feet over a football field), size, being flown over urban areas, etc.
Something like anything with people/animals on board or anything flown over 1000 feet? Should give them the ability to maintain passenger airspace safety, while allowing low flying freeform innovation (and avoiding people being arrested for flying unsanctioned paper aeroplanes)
On the post: Rep. Polis Asks Treasury To Ban Dollar Bills, Mocking Senator's Request To Ban Bitcoins
Re: Re: He missed one....its a drug taking instrument
Sounds like an oxymoron to me ...
On the post: That Time Yelpers Took Revenge On A Bigot Restaurant Owner
Re: Re: Re: "in your face" gay attitude
flasher =/= gay
On the post: British Hacker Faces Extradition To US, Not To Mention Five Years' Imprisonment In UK For Failing To Hand Over Encryption Keys
Re: Now this is what I call due process
On the post: Hey, Ukraine, How'd Tamping Down Free Speech Work Out For You?
what consequences?
Other nations looking to tamp down on free speech and a free internet may want to take note of the consequences.
That reads like their ability to revolt depended on having free speech and the ability to spread the news. Therefore taking that away from them would make any revolt much more contained.
Of course it would also make revolt much more likely ...
Guess that's the tradeoff in running a dictatorship though - lots of containable revolts (hoping they don't link up) or a few uncontainable revolts?
I'm off to play Civ to check ...
On the post: USTR Thinks A Non-Transparent 'Public Interest' Committee Will Mollify Critics; It Won't
Seriously?
So they're lumping various public interest groups together in the PITA Comittee?
They're not even being subtle about calling public interest groups a Pain In The Ass any more!
On the post: Valve: No, Our Gaming Anti-Cheat System Isn't Tracking Your Voracious Porn Habits
Re:
On the post: Valve: No, Our Gaming Anti-Cheat System Isn't Tracking Your Voracious Porn Habits
Re: Re: tarring your critics?
Politician: We need to snoop on all your web browsing to catch paedophiles. Obviously paedophiles won't like this, so you will see some stories trying to cast this program in a sinister light.
NSA: We need to snoop on all your web browsing to catch terrorists. Obviously terrorists won't like this, so you will see some stories trying to cast this program in a sinister light.
Gabe: We need to snoop on all your web browsing to catch cheaters. Obviously cheaters won't like this, so you will see some stories trying to cast this program in a sinister light.
In each case they are pointing out that their objective is to catch bad people, which of course has to be a good thing. After all, bad people! So of course bad people won't like this and will write nasty things about the program. Think about that every time you see someone argue against this program, and think of the children(tm)!
And of course with the NSA this is happening at this moment - with David Miranda and Jesselyn Radack being treated as terrorists for opposing the NSA's anti-terrorist program, and politicians sparing no opportunity to attack Snowden, Greenwald et al.
Now I would reiterate that I think Gabe did the right thing in issuing a prompt response, and in a human manner rather than something tied up in lawyerese and PR-speak. I also trust Steam far more than I trust politicans/NSA and actually believe what he says.
I just think he could have ditched the line where he tried to associate anyone who disagreed with their browsing being spied on with cheaters.
I would point out that I do use Steam and am happy with the service they provide. I'm not going to stop as a result of this disclosure.
On the post: Valve: No, Our Gaming Anti-Cheat System Isn't Tracking Your Voracious Porn Habits
tarring your critics?
So, anyone who disagrees with him is obviously a cheater? How about someone who doesn't like finding out that their activity is being spied on outside of a game?
While I applaud Gabe for coming out with a human and straightforward response, he could have done so without trying to denigrate anyone who disagrees with him.
On the post: Major Record Labels Go To Court Again To Force Irish ISP To Bring In 'Three Strikes' System
three strikes for all
On the post: Grand Jury Somehow Fails To Indict Man Who Shot Deputy During No-Knock, Pre-Dawn Raid For Capital Murder
Re: Peace Officers?
Hello 1984 doublespeak!
On the post: Rand Paul Files Lawsuit Against The NSA While Peter King Questions His Party's Loyalty To The Surveillance State
You said it ...
Um. Nobody.
One is a traitorous weasel who has betrayed their oath to the constitution and thereby harmed the American people, and the other is in enforced exile in Russia.
On the post: New Jersey's Attorney General Freaks Out About Proof-Of-Concept Bitcoin Mining App; Issues Ridiculous Subpoena
Haven't they already answered the questions?
Presumably the EFF can quote from their earlier letter. The one the AG is responding to:
- "Tidbit's code has never been functional and is incapable of mining for bitcoins"
- "Tidbit's code is not functional and unable to mine for bitcoins at all"
Nice to know the AG read the EFF's letter before responding.
Next >>