Re: Pirates, as always, were completely unaffected
I used to pirate much, much more than nowadays because I had to choose between having money to buy the hardware to play the games or the games themselves. That said, my financial situation improved and I started buying a lot of games I once pirated. However, I favor GOG DRM free stuff and if I see DENUVO in the DRM disclaimer it doesn't matter how much I like or want the game - I simply don't buy. Ever. Actually the few titles I bought unaware of the presence of Denuvo run like crap compared to stuff released in the same year without this piece of garbage.
I was totally joking but I won't be surprised if I see somebody using this argument seriously. In fact I heard some idiot, a woman on top of it, saying that mothers shouldn't breastfeed because they feel sexual arousal from the act. Darwin was wrong.
Are ISPs responsible for showing nipples to our children Masnick? (???) Because that's where the line is drawn. It's all the Big Tech and their evil algorithms. You syncophants are in Zuckeberg's payroll to ignore facts. Nipples are bad and Big Telco is good and has Jesus' (???) support. Sheesh.
*contains nonsense because that's the only way you can defend telcos while demonizing tech companies.
The idea is awesome. Imagine playing a game with quality settings cranked up to "insanely high" with only a computer and connection that can stream 4k image? No need to maintain expensive configurations while getting all the benefits sounds like a very good idea financially-wise. No need to worry about scalpers, chip shortage, game pricing? And I'd go even further, imagine being able to use heavy software for image editing, CAD, GIS etc etc. There is potential in Stadia. I just think Google isn't up to the challenge.
I'm here wondering.. Wouldn't the huge amounts of subsidies granted by various levels of the US govt to telcos have the same result of having public telecom (as in State owned) companies (or company, nationally speaking) and investing that money into bringing connectivity to unprofitable places while still racking in profit from profitable areas where the private sector couldn't care less about offering good service? I mean, companies can invest where they want while still having the public telco to ensure people will have options against egregious behavior and unprofitable areas would still be served. Instead we have a dysfunctional situation where tax money is still funneled towards incentives to serve all Americans but even those who are served are having tons of problems be with lack of maintenance or arbitrary caps and privacy violations. Call me communist but I don't see how this would be worse than handing tons of cash to private entities that couldn't care less.
It is a downright nonsequitor that giving people money would somehow improve the importance they give education.
There are studies on universal income showing that yes, it improves health and education of those receiving. There will always be those who will use it for alcohol and whatever idiotic excuse you come with of course. And I already anticipated your comment but I'll quote it here: Distribute the wealth more evenly be it in direct money transfer or by investing in good public services (mainly education and health) and you'll have a more educated and less prone to this bs population in no time. If aliens disintegrated Jeff Bezo, Elon Musk, Warren Buffet and similar big bad billionaires along with all of their fortunes at this we would see a sudden big drop in inequality metrics.
However if their wealth was redistributed in the form of both direct transfer and investment in education, health, sanitation and other needs we would see a big drop. It's painfully clear here.
From what I've been experiencing on this front I'm inclined to agree with the findings but I do have a few things on my mind:
I do think social platforms can do better to moderate more egregious fakes such as anti-vax, anti-mask and other established scientific facts. I mean, we are talking about century(ies)-old science, not bleeding edge stuff AND it's usually a handful of profiles generating most of the problematic content (with bots that can be tracked helping spread). See Trump, they took ages to start taking action against his bullshit and it wasn't that hard.
Fox News is indeed a byproduct of wealth inequality. Of capitalism. It exists because there is a despicable insanely-rich idiot with power to steer the whole thing towards fake news without real consequences. As other dysfunctions capitalism provides, some regulation is needed. Unfortunately even if such regulation comes it will be poisoned by rich buying their will into law. Nothing we haven't seen before.
Inequality in general is the main driver behind a whole lot of the (possibly extinction-inducing) problems we are facing. From social unrest to environmental issues. Distribute the wealth more evenly be it in direct money transfer or by investing in good public services (mainly education and health) and you'll have a more educated and less prone to this bs population in no time. Also, stop enshrining and deifying profit above all, specially when it directly affects basic needs such as food and you'll start seeing a better world. Brazil is breaking record after record exporting grains (quantity), meat because the currency value shot through the roof (value) and yet almost half of the Brazilian population is suffering from some degree of hunger. This system is utterly broken.
My bad, I have to clarify: those TV Senate videos were used on critical publications about the government so they are not targeting TV Senate itself on Youtube but rather opposition channels and outfits. Sorry about the confusion.
Here in Brazil there is at least one bigger news outfit (Joven Pan News) claiming copyright on public domain videos from TV Senate (an open air broadcast channel that showcases stuff happening in the senate) that's critical of the current catastrophic government. For perspective it's Fox News on steroids. Copyright has to be abolished.
One of the things I would like to see scrutinized is how much resources that ultimately translate into energy consumption the online advertisement industry use. There are sites that slow browsers running in quite fast rigs to a crawl. Techdirt was one of those some years ago. ArsTechnica is a very big offender in this issue, the experience is unbearable without a good adblocker enabled.
That and the privacy aspect led me to simply ignore sites that prevent access if you have any adblocking enabled. To me they simply don't exist. And I know I'm not alone here.
By black children I mean minorities children.
"You can't tell children they're advantaged or disadvantaged by virtue of skin color (or whatever else), and expect that not to "screw them up" in some way. American children probably wouldn't treat skin color as anything more important that eye color or shoe size if not for what they learn from adults." <<< no, the kids are taught about bigotry and prejudice in general but the system was built by bigoted people in a way that screws minorities since birth.
Structural racism is deep ingrained in society and I'm not talking about the US alone. It starts by screwing up black children by denying them the same opportunities white kids have going up to screwing them by paying lower wages for the same positions or flat out denying them employment and forcing them towards crime as means of surviving. Then it further screws them with a biased judicial system that's rigged into piling up accusations while denying means of defending themselves which lands them in a completely dysfunctional prison system with punishment as its only goal. And good luck if they decide to be good persons, follow the law after serving prison time, innocent or guilty, because nobody is gonna employ them or they'll be subject to atrocious labor conditions and wages.
I'm describing far too many countries. Civilization my ass.
That's why I asked. I'm fairly sure there are laws in place for abusive behavior like hers. She may have some point (ie: minors violating the rules) but ostensibly recording the kids for years seems to violate other rights to me. Where is the line drawn? I'd be freaked out if my kids were in that school with some freak recording them so frequently.
I do agree with you that the 1st is king but... When does it turn into stalking? I mean, your kids are there doing their stuff, weirdo comes and films because kids are breaking some rule. Cool story but then the weirdo proceeds to filming your kids for 5 years? Honest doubt here.
On the post: Denuvo Games Once Again Broken For Paying Customers Thanks To DRM Mishap
Re: Pirates, as always, were completely unaffected
I used to pirate much, much more than nowadays because I had to choose between having money to buy the hardware to play the games or the games themselves. That said, my financial situation improved and I started buying a lot of games I once pirated. However, I favor GOG DRM free stuff and if I see DENUVO in the DRM disclaimer it doesn't matter how much I like or want the game - I simply don't buy. Ever. Actually the few titles I bought unaware of the presence of Denuvo run like crap compared to stuff released in the same year without this piece of garbage.
On the post: FTC Study Highlights How 'Big Telecom' Privacy Practices Are Even Worse Than 'Big Tech'
Re: Re: Nipples
I was totally joking but I won't be surprised if I see somebody using this argument seriously. In fact I heard some idiot, a woman on top of it, saying that mothers shouldn't breastfeed because they feel sexual arousal from the act. Darwin was wrong.
On the post: FTC Study Highlights How 'Big Telecom' Privacy Practices Are Even Worse Than 'Big Tech'
Nipples
Are ISPs responsible for showing nipples to our children Masnick? (???) Because that's where the line is drawn. It's all the Big Tech and their evil algorithms. You syncophants are in Zuckeberg's payroll to ignore facts. Nipples are bad and Big Telco is good and has Jesus' (???) support. Sheesh.
*contains nonsense because that's the only way you can defend telcos while demonizing tech companies.
On the post: Google's Stadia Pivots To Being Some White Label Game Streaming Platform For Others To Use
The idea is awesome. Imagine playing a game with quality settings cranked up to "insanely high" with only a computer and connection that can stream 4k image? No need to maintain expensive configurations while getting all the benefits sounds like a very good idea financially-wise. No need to worry about scalpers, chip shortage, game pricing? And I'd go even further, imagine being able to use heavy software for image editing, CAD, GIS etc etc. There is potential in Stadia. I just think Google isn't up to the challenge.
On the post: Want To Understand Why U.S. Broadband Sucks? Look At Frontier Communications In Wisconsin, West Virginia
I'm here wondering.. Wouldn't the huge amounts of subsidies granted by various levels of the US govt to telcos have the same result of having public telecom (as in State owned) companies (or company, nationally speaking) and investing that money into bringing connectivity to unprofitable places while still racking in profit from profitable areas where the private sector couldn't care less about offering good service? I mean, companies can invest where they want while still having the public telco to ensure people will have options against egregious behavior and unprofitable areas would still be served. Instead we have a dysfunctional situation where tax money is still funneled towards incentives to serve all Americans but even those who are served are having tons of problems be with lack of maintenance or arbitrary caps and privacy violations. Call me communist but I don't see how this would be worse than handing tons of cash to private entities that couldn't care less.
On the post: New Research Shows Social Media Doesn't Turn People Into Assholes (They Already Were), And Everyone's Wrong About Echo Chambers
Re: Re:
It is a downright nonsequitor that giving people money would somehow improve the importance they give education.
There are studies on universal income showing that yes, it improves health and education of those receiving. There will always be those who will use it for alcohol and whatever idiotic excuse you come with of course. And I already anticipated your comment but I'll quote it here: Distribute the wealth more evenly be it in direct money transfer or by investing in good public services (mainly education and health) and you'll have a more educated and less prone to this bs population in no time.
If aliens disintegrated Jeff Bezo, Elon Musk, Warren Buffet and similar big bad billionaires along with all of their fortunes at this we would see a sudden big drop in inequality metrics.
However if their wealth was redistributed in the form of both direct transfer and investment in education, health, sanitation and other needs we would see a big drop. It's painfully clear here.
On the post: New Research Shows Social Media Doesn't Turn People Into Assholes (They Already Were), And Everyone's Wrong About Echo Chambers
From what I've been experiencing on this front I'm inclined to agree with the findings but I do have a few things on my mind:
On the post: University Of Hong Kong Wants To Remove A Sculpture Commemorating Tiananmen; To Preserve It, People Have Crowdsourced A Digital 3D Replica
Where do we fund replicas to be placed near chinese embassies around the world? :D
On the post: Copyright Continues To Be Abused To Censor Critics By Entities Both Big And Small
Re:
My bad, I have to clarify: those TV Senate videos were used on critical publications about the government so they are not targeting TV Senate itself on Youtube but rather opposition channels and outfits. Sorry about the confusion.
On the post: Copyright Continues To Be Abused To Censor Critics By Entities Both Big And Small
Here in Brazil there is at least one bigger news outfit (Joven Pan News) claiming copyright on public domain videos from TV Senate (an open air broadcast channel that showcases stuff happening in the senate) that's critical of the current catastrophic government. For perspective it's Fox News on steroids. Copyright has to be abolished.
On the post: CIA, NSA Block Ads Network-Wide To Protect Agencies. Ron Wyden Says Rest Of Gov't Should Do The Same.
Re:
And it's an environmental crime as well.
On the post: CIA, NSA Block Ads Network-Wide To Protect Agencies. Ron Wyden Says Rest Of Gov't Should Do The Same.
Energy consumption
One of the things I would like to see scrutinized is how much resources that ultimately translate into energy consumption the online advertisement industry use. There are sites that slow browsers running in quite fast rigs to a crawl. Techdirt was one of those some years ago. ArsTechnica is a very big offender in this issue, the experience is unbearable without a good adblocker enabled.
That and the privacy aspect led me to simply ignore sites that prevent access if you have any adblocking enabled. To me they simply don't exist. And I know I'm not alone here.
On the post: Techdirt's 'Plagiarism Collection': A Plagiarized Set Of NFTs About Plagiarism
Re:
Me, everytime I read about NFTs.
On the post: New Report On Predictive Policing Shows How New Tech Is Giving Us Little More Than The Same Old Racism
Re: Re:
By black children I mean minorities children.
"You can't tell children they're advantaged or disadvantaged by virtue of skin color (or whatever else), and expect that not to "screw them up" in some way. American children probably wouldn't treat skin color as anything more important that eye color or shoe size if not for what they learn from adults." <<< no, the kids are taught about bigotry and prejudice in general but the system was built by bigoted people in a way that screws minorities since birth.
On the post: New Report On Predictive Policing Shows How New Tech Is Giving Us Little More Than The Same Old Racism
Structural racism is deep ingrained in society and I'm not talking about the US alone. It starts by screwing up black children by denying them the same opportunities white kids have going up to screwing them by paying lower wages for the same positions or flat out denying them employment and forcing them towards crime as means of surviving. Then it further screws them with a biased judicial system that's rigged into piling up accusations while denying means of defending themselves which lands them in a completely dysfunctional prison system with punishment as its only goal. And good luck if they decide to be good persons, follow the law after serving prison time, innocent or guilty, because nobody is gonna employ them or they'll be subject to atrocious labor conditions and wages.
I'm describing far too many countries. Civilization my ass.
On the post: Billy Mitchell Lets His Site Lapse, With A Critic Of His High Score Claims Swooping In To Take It Over
Re:
Nah. You can easily spell this name. Not the case with the pseudo-inventor.
On the post: Appeals Court Says The First Amendment Protects Minnesota Woman's Right To Be Super-Shitty About Nearby Islamic School
Re: Re: Re:
That's why I asked. I'm fairly sure there are laws in place for abusive behavior like hers. She may have some point (ie: minors violating the rules) but ostensibly recording the kids for years seems to violate other rights to me. Where is the line drawn? I'd be freaked out if my kids were in that school with some freak recording them so frequently.
On the post: Appeals Court Says The First Amendment Protects Minnesota Woman's Right To Be Super-Shitty About Nearby Islamic School
Re:
I do agree with you that the 1st is king but... When does it turn into stalking? I mean, your kids are there doing their stuff, weirdo comes and films because kids are breaking some rule. Cool story but then the weirdo proceeds to filming your kids for 5 years? Honest doubt here.
On the post: PETA Sues NIH And HHS Directors For Blocking Comments With 'PETA' And '#StopAnimalTesting'
Well, at least they aren't fighting for the copyrights of a macaque monkey named after a famous anime show (or vice-versa?).
I'll show myself the door. Sorry.
On the post: Federal Court Blocks Enforcement Of Florida's New Anti-Riot Law
Another day, another unconstitutional law trying to further police state.
Next >>