An aunt was a 'lifetime' subscriber to the New Yorker until she died at 89. That subscription lasted 70+ years. Someone else down the block was a lifetime subscriber of The Reader's Digest (they were from the Midwest--not their fault) and had a similar run.
I'd love to see the early customers band together to launch a class action lawsuit against these clowns. No one really wins in those things except the lawyers, but if it makes the company keep their promises, great. Otherwise, they deserve to go out of business.
Why aren't Colbert and John Steward looking to move
If the distributor isn't doing their job by making their content available, why aren't Colbert and John Stewart's attorneys now screaming at Viacom to get their head outta their collective anni? If that's not part of their contracts, it sure ought to be. "Keep your corporate hands offa my show or you loose the right to distribute it. Where _I_ want it distributed."
I recently had a story on a fanfiction site taken down without explanation. I wrote a number of times asking why only to be ignored. Finally, I emailed a copy of the story and they objected to my use of the word "Bitch" in the title and the song lyrics I had in the story. I researched Fair Use and the advise from the US Copyright office said "when in doubt, get permission". If you can't, then don't use it. The use-case for Fair Use would require a judge and jury to decide, according to this site. This from
Once the internet uploading phone app appears, which would stream directly to the cloud, confiscating the phone will be the least of the police's problems. A court order to take down the video (as "evidence") would soon follow.
What I think is needed here is skilled observers. This would make a great 1st year associate's job. Go around filming police, staying out of their way, getting arrested, phone impounded, 'resisting arrest' and 'inciting' while being arrested to compound the arresting officer's offenses, and ultimately fighting the entire thing in court, filing damages against the city, police chief, and officers involved. Cities would settle. Marginal cops would be off the streets guarding the malls of America, and these law firms would make a ton of money.
When this all comes to trial if some DA decides to prosecute, I'm sure the ranger will be called to the stand to explain why she tazed the suspect. And to explain why, when asked, "Can I go now?" she said yes.
If the judge throws this out of court, I would not be surprised.
If the DA charges this guy and not accept a plea, I would not be surprised.
If this park ranger continues tasing people with impunity, I would not be surprised.
If the UK will extradite one of their citizens to the US for doing something that's legal in the UK but illegal in the US, then I see the reverse happening. Meeting the grounds for libel and defamation in the UK is a lot easier, so suing a US citizen in a UK court for such might be interesting. Same for other crimes.
A disaster that caused a gas pipeline to explode killing 8 people in SF has been found to be caused by various illegal and the company diverted funds collected from rate payers to pay themselves. Suppose some QC in the UK decides to prosecute the CEO and Board of the gas company various criminal charges because a UK citizen died in the explosion. Doubt the US courts would extradite these 1%-ers to the UK for trial. So Interpol sends some people to 'extradite them' with extreme prejudice. I can see this as a LAW & ORDER-UK episode in the near future.
What's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.
I did a little victory dance when an owner of a property that illegally went into foreclosure sued the bank that did the robosigning. He won a judgement against them and made every attempt to contact them for funds. So he showed up at their offices with a moving van, court order, and sheriff's deputies. It took the bank president 5 minutes to make out a cashier's check for the amount of the settlement plus the cost of the van, court costs and the sheriff's time. It made the papers and was on the AP.
I'd love to see this happen with Righthaven's CEO. The asset of Righthaven hauled away in a van along with their cars and the contents of their house.
If the DA files on this case, I'd go after them for prosecutorial misconduct. I hope the family court judge sanctions them. And the kid's mom should contact the ACLU. I wonder what strategy they'd use to go after the school district and specifically this clueless administrator.
A chain lamp store sold my 85yo mom a lamp that broke 4 months later. When she called them to get a replacement, she was told over the phone that they didn't do repairs and she'd need a reciept to exchange it. She'd thrown that out along with the box it came in so she was out $50. I called to clarify and got the same sales person and talked to the store manager who reiterated the store's policy. I made a point of offering 'service' vs. a product and that I got 'service' from the family owned lamp store down the street who know me and my mom but the manager wouldn't budge. I put all this on Yelp and a corporate communications type from the store's main office sent email to assure me that the incident was being used as a teaching moment for the store's staff even though we'd already purchased a replacement from the local store.
bring a friend and have him video you taking photographs. When the police question you, have the friend continue to video the incident. With luck, they'll claim you were wiretapping them and you can go after their photographers policy and the "no videotapeing police" craziness. And while you're at it, do an open carry thing with an unloaded gun on your belt wearing an NRA t-shirt.
when I found out their business tithes to the Mormon Church. After all the California Pro-Prop 8 stuff the Mormon church was supporting, I didn't want my money going to such a company.
And told the CEO this when he sent me a 'personal note' to find out why I canceled my account. Never heard back and I am glad I steered clear.
I agree that a phone call is inherently intrusive either at home or on the go. As a rule I don't answer my stupid cell phone unless I recognize the number. Business calls will leave a VM if it's important. Once I stopped hearing a phone ringing as an automatic "Answer me! I'm important", I looked at other means of communication. And I don't feel I'm at the beck and call of a device in my pocket. Don't text or want to pay for it, so that's not an option.
All of my family still have a phone but only 50% have a computer. So email isn't for everyone, but that's what I tend to use. If I had a smart phone, I suppose Twitter or SMS would replace that, but email however 20th century still is my fallback. If I need immediate communication, a phone call is still the only thing.
The whole "nothing to hide argument" has been fought back and forth between legal scholars for years. I may truly have nothing to hide but that's none of your beeswax. And making the rational decision to opt-out of being scanned and being patted down should not be required. I think TSA is in for a fun time on Nov 24 when the "OPT OUT" crowd shows up at America's airports essentially shutting them down.
Personally, I'd be happy to be patted down while wearing my kilt commando. Just so long as the guy doing it is hot. I'll even bring my own lube for a cavity search if it goes that far.
If I haven't seen the movie, chances are I decided "wait until video" when it was in the theaters. I'm most likely not going to buy that movie anyway. That's why it's on my Netflix list. I either see movies in the theaters or via DVD rental.
If I've already seen the movie, loved it, and want to own it so I can watch it again and again, I'll wait until it's in the stores and not bother renting it. There are very few movies in this category. I don't own many movies for this reason.
Such release windows don't influence my buying behavior because I don't usually buy DVDs.
My condo association was able to go from 2yd^3 bins for trash to 2 2yd&3, 1 for trash and one for paper. It cost us less per month for the paper+trash so we did it. It requires the residents be mindful and separate their trash from their paper recycling. Every once and a while we get some lazy-ass renter throwing everything in the recycling bin and have to yell at the landlord. I don't see an easy way to enforce the lazy-asshole element to recycle except charging more per-pickup up front (make recycling bins free but don't empty them if there's obviously trash in them and charge slightly more per trash bin 66%).
Various cash strapped cities in the SF Bay area are considering doing away with the free Sunday parking. I've already paid more in parking tickets than I care to in San Mateo taking my sick mom around. And don't get me started on the City. I haven't been up there in 3 years because parking got so bad. Looks like it's Netflix from now on and to hell with theater.
I'd have liked to see the judge impose a "with prejudice" clause on this case so that the teacher would have to pay the student's court and attorney costs.
Actually, "it's all true" isn't a defense against a claim of libel. So be very careful what you post that's critical. Someone doesn't like it, they can sue regardless. Stupid, I know.
Then again, the attorney that's fighting this case for the MD sure saw her coming. I wonder if she's a real blonde 'cause she sure is acting like one. I wonder if the attorney told her that discovery for the case would probably be worse than an unsedated colonoscopy and last for much longer. And IMO, the upside of litigating this is very small. If you win, you're the MD that sued their critics on how bad your skills are. There's is no upside to the Streisand Effect.
On the post: Bait & Switch: Buy A Lifetime Account For As Long As We Exist Or Until We Get Tired Of You
Some companies keep their promises
I'd love to see the early customers band together to launch a class action lawsuit against these clowns. No one really wins in those things except the lawyers, but if it makes the company keep their promises, great. Otherwise, they deserve to go out of business.
On the post: Viacom Uses Fans As Hostages: Blocks Daily Show, Colbert Streams For Everyone To Spite DirecTV
Why aren't Colbert and John Steward looking to move
On the post: Fair Use/Fair Dealing Doesn't Require Payment Or Permission
Song lyrics
http://www.copyright.gov/fls/fl102.html
So, I trimmed the song down to 4 lines rather than the whole song. The site seemed to accept that. I took out "bitch" in the title.
So Mike, where did you get your guidelines for Fair Use. When someone won't accept them, do you say "Talk to my lawyer" and leave it at that?
On the post: Police Arrest Woman For Filming Them, Take Phone Out Of Her Bra, Claim That It Must Be Kept As 'Evidence'
growth industry for litegators
What I think is needed here is skilled observers. This would make a great 1st year associate's job. Go around filming police, staying out of their way, getting arrested, phone impounded, 'resisting arrest' and 'inciting' while being arrested to compound the arresting officer's offenses, and ultimately fighting the entire thing in court, filing damages against the city, police chief, and officers involved. Cities would settle. Marginal cops would be off the streets guarding the malls of America, and these law firms would make a ton of money.
On the post: Park Ranger Tases Guy Walking Dogs Without A Leash
Bust gone bust
If the judge throws this out of court, I would not be surprised.
If the DA charges this guy and not accept a plea, I would not be surprised.
If this park ranger continues tasing people with impunity, I would not be surprised.
On the post: US Can Extradite UK Student For Copyright Infringement, Despite Site Being Legal In The UK
what about the reverse
A disaster that caused a gas pipeline to explode killing 8 people in SF has been found to be caused by various illegal and the company diverted funds collected from rate payers to pay themselves. Suppose some QC in the UK decides to prosecute the CEO and Board of the gas company various criminal charges because a UK citizen died in the explosion. Doubt the US courts would extradite these 1%-ers to the UK for trial. So Interpol sends some people to 'extradite them' with extreme prejudice. I can see this as a LAW & ORDER-UK episode in the near future.
What's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.
On the post: Who Wants To Own Righthaven.com? Domain Seized, About To Be Auctioned
import the assets
I'd love to see this happen with Righthaven's CEO. The asset of Righthaven hauled away in a van along with their cars and the contents of their house.
On the post: First Grader Investigated For Sexual Harassment For Kicking A Bully In His Private Parts
If the DA files, fire them
On the post: TSA Agent Threatens Woman With Defamation, Demands $500k For Calling Intrusive Search 'Rape'
Can't imagine this going to court
On the post: Woman Kicked Out Of A Restaurant For Complaining About Bartender On Twitter
Social Media does make a difference
On the post: Police Say They Can Detain Photographers If Their Photographs Have 'No Apparent Esthetic Value'
kill two birds with 1 stone
Should be a fun speaking engagement.
On the post: Koch Brothers Can't Abuse Trademark & Hacking Laws To Sue Satirical Critics
I stayed clear of BLUEHOST
And told the CEO this when he sent me a 'personal note' to find out why I canceled my account. Never heard back and I am glad I steered clear.
On the post: Phone Calls Are So Last Century
Still stuck in the 20th century
All of my family still have a phone but only 50% have a computer. So email isn't for everyone, but that's what I tend to use. If I had a smart phone, I suppose Twitter or SMS would replace that, but email however 20th century still is my fallback. If I need immediate communication, a phone call is still the only thing.
On the post: Botched TSA Pat Down Leaves Traveler Covered In Urine
This Pistole guy needs to go
On the post: TSA Threatens To Sue Guy For Not Agreeing To Having His Groin Touched By TSA Agents
Re: Deal with it.
Personally, I'd be happy to be patted down while wearing my kilt commando. Just so long as the guy doing it is hot. I'll even bring my own lube for a cavity search if it goes that far.
On the post: Warner Bros. Claims That Annoying Customers With 28-Day Rental Delay Is Working
Re: They need to get over themselves.
If I've already seen the movie, loved it, and want to own it so I can watch it again and again, I'll wait until it's in the stores and not bother renting it. There are very few movies in this category. I don't own many movies for this reason.
Such release windows don't influence my buying behavior because I don't usually buy DVDs.
On the post: Big Brother In Your Garbage Cans
keeping the bums at bay
On the post: Is Free Parking Costing Us Billions?
no parking = no business
On the post: Teacher Loses Defamation Lawsuit Against Student Journalist
What about costs?
On the post: Plastic Surgeon Sues Online Reviewers Who Gave Her Bad Reviews
Re: Re: libel v malpractice
Then again, the attorney that's fighting this case for the MD sure saw her coming. I wonder if she's a real blonde 'cause she sure is acting like one. I wonder if the attorney told her that discovery for the case would probably be worse than an unsedated colonoscopy and last for much longer. And IMO, the upside of litigating this is very small. If you win, you're the MD that sued their critics on how bad your skills are. There's is no upside to the Streisand Effect.
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