We won't fix it unless we remove the current congress-persons who are in the pockets of lobbyists, which would mean there would be what, 5 people in congress? ...
The problem here is that the 5 I might consider good would not necessarily be the 5 you are thinking about. Scale that out to the entire US voting population and you get...no change or very little change overall.
The system is rigged until/unless we can break up the major parties and find a way to open the system up so that it can become more directly representative. While I do not think something as drastic as going to a parliamentary (Europe) or direct democracy system (ref: Switzerland) would be wanted or welcomed, the simple fact that it results in greater participation in governance by most factions within a society leads to better results for all when balanced properly.
With that said, something needs to be done because the status quo is a complete disaster...
Someantimalwareguy (profile), 29 Dec 2011 @ 11:54am
Re: Re: Follow the agendas...
Nice shootin' Tex, but you shot the wrong guy...
I said nothing whatsoever about current policies real or proposed, any political party, or even the current Administration. You gleefully missed the entire point of my post and then went on a completely irrelevant rant.
-10 Internets
To aide you in better reading comprehension, I will try to make it easy enough for even you to understand: There are NO independent news organizations! And this sad state of affairs is ideology AND party agnostic so please take the time in the future to actually read what someone says before you pull out a typical knee-jerk reaction because someone criticizes big media for what it really is - a propaganda arm for whatever that organization's masters want the people to hear, read, and see rather than how it should be with everyone hearing, reading, and seeing all sides of a particular story.
We should not have to seek truth and valid criticism in foreign media; especially when that media organization is also nothing more than a propaganda arm for THEIR masters in turn. It cheapens the story, dilutes the message, discourages frank debate, and stifles efforts to bring about real substantive change when necessary because the reporting agency is, by default, already corrupted.
Someantimalwareguy (profile), 29 Dec 2011 @ 7:50am
Follow the agendas...
Whether or not you agree with Alkon's point, it seems bizarre that the big American media wouldn't even let her speak her mind on the subject...
It's not hard at all really; you just have to take note of the agendas of who is bank-rolling the target media outlet and let logic take you to the inevitable conclusion: If the story flies in the face of the prevailing power structure that in turn empowers the media outlet, don't expect them to say anything about a given topic. And if the power structure does like the message, expect to see it over reported ad nauseam...
This is the tragedy we face with the loss of truly independent news agencies. They all have masters and when the master says "no way", the story gets killed faster than a vote down on Digg...
Someantimalwareguy (profile), 28 Dec 2011 @ 2:36pm
Humans will be humans...
...and any story that can be told will have similar themes. The only thing that changes are scenery. props, costumes, and language - not what the core story is about...
Someantimalwareguy (profile), 23 Dec 2011 @ 1:20pm
Re: Re:
And this is how you get led down the garden path. If they are going to say something, they should know what they are talking about before opening their mouths...
Someantimalwareguy (profile), 22 Dec 2011 @ 1:41pm
Treating your fans like partners...
...has a pull you have only really started to take advantage of and will only get better the more interactive and responsive you become. Being open, honest, and showing you actually care makes the bonds all that tighter going forward.
In a way, this is what I have been trying to do with technical support for the past decade and I can tell you it works; especially when times are hard. The best part of this is that they (customers or fans) will be there when things get tough for Louis if it ever happens.
Someantimalwareguy (profile), 21 Dec 2011 @ 10:15am
Re: Re: Re: Re:
So your solution is to just put people in jail; jails that are already so overcrowded that many simply get put back onto the streets a few days after getting there because there is no more room to house them?
The penal system is not the answer to everything as it only hardens those incarcerated, makes it impossible for them to find jobs after serving out their debt to society, and you actually try to equate the fact that they are unemployable while trying to survive as a reason to simply put them back into jail on the tax payers dime?
The "get tough" wave that has been going on for over 30 years now is not working and only creating a sub-culture who's only recourse for survival is more criminality.
What a waste of effort, money, and people... It's sad that your world is so black and white. try to add some color to your world view and then see how destructive this has been and will only get worse as time passes without real reform.
Someantimalwareguy (profile), 20 Dec 2011 @ 2:27pm
Go baby go!.
Thanks - signed it today as I missed it having signed the first one when it was put up.
Interesting note is that the signatures are still accumulating at a pace I have never seen on that site before - keep refreshing the page to see how quickly. So much for a lack of concerned citizens...
Someantimalwareguy (profile), 16 Dec 2011 @ 11:37am
Keep the screws tightened
Keep reminding your Senators and Representative about your opposition and disgust with the whole process and how utterly terrible these proposed laws would be. Don't let them relax or enjoy their holidays in comfort - keep those phones ringing off the hook and their in-boxes full or this will get worse...
Someantimalwareguy (profile), 15 Dec 2011 @ 12:05pm
Re: Re: Re:
The first instance - get the benefit of the doubt
The next instance - get the benefit of an enormous fine and the revocation of the right to file any further DMCA take-down notices for at least 1 year.
Still abusing after 1 & 2 - get the benefit of a wrecking ball with forced divestiture of all holdings to competitors who have been proven not to have abused the DMCA for at least 5 years.
That should scare the bejesus out of any company planning to issue casual or unverified take downs, increase the work force by having to hire an army of researchers and verification staff, and place the onus of proof right back where it belongs - with the accuser, not the accused...
Someantimalwareguy (profile), 15 Dec 2011 @ 11:30am
Re:
This case will, for a relatively small legal fee and probably minimal damages for Universal, ...
A "small fee" will just be absorbed as one of the costs of doing business, like campaign br****...erm contributions. the penalty for a verified case of abuse must be so huge that no one will ever try it again...
Someantimalwareguy (profile), 6 Dec 2011 @ 12:33pm
Re: Re: Re: Re:
The general consensus of Libertarians, not the entire American population. And if you don't like them, they can very easily be avoided - just don't move to or purchase property in or near an HOA.
I am not saying I like them any more than others who do not like them, just that they are a derivative of civilized behavior which has at its core some restrictions on what people can or cannot do based on contract or agreement.
This too is civilized behavior whereas anarchy might be preferential to some, it is far from being civilized when you look at it this way...
Someantimalwareguy (profile), 6 Dec 2011 @ 12:19pm
Re: Re:
I am not sure that a country that forces all of their male citzens into becoming part of a militia is all that "civilized".
It is when they are a neutral, and land isolated country with traditionally hostile nations on all their borders. This is no different than what the Israelis must do to protect their small nation and under the circumstances, it is a highly civilized way to address a pressing need. It is also cost effective as they do not need to keep a large, expensive, and cumbersome military on hand in case of hostilities.
Did you know it is illegal to hang laundry, wash your car, or mow your lawn on a Sunday in Switzerland?
What is uncivilized about laws that are designed to respect the comforts and rights of neighbors? Think of these as no different than your local Home Owners Assiciations and we all know how uncivilized the suberbs are here in the US...
Someantimalwareguy (profile), 6 Dec 2011 @ 12:05pm
Re: Re: Re: Switzerland was a "safe haven" for Nazi gold, too.
At some point when the pushing goes too far, the pushed, pushes back - hard. Just be happy that the push-back is with something as innocuous as copyright infringement and not something else.
In the case of banking havens, the Swiss finally recognized and acknowledged the errors of their ways to a great extent, even if not very loudly (loud would not be Swiss).
The issue here is that they took a look and quite reasonably saw the overreach, the political points they could gain with their citizens at showing a backbone after having their moral fiber widely questioned, and the realization of what this issue actually is - a power grab by the Entertainment industry at the expense of all other industries because they are trying to use the law to stifle competition and innovation due to a lack vision and ability to adapt.
Don't be so certain that their new backbone will not stiffen further with more pushing...
Now that's a strawman. Can you tell me if any protected speech being conducted at the site in question? You can bloviate about generalities all you like, but we are talking about a specific case here. If not, then it appears that all those keystrokes about the 1st Amendment were in vain.
What about the advertiser's free speech? As a 4th party to the dispute, they had nothing whatsoever to do with any infringing activity that may or may not have occurred yet they were drawn into court to defend against a ruling that should never have been made against them.
Nice try - try again...
Those rights are all based in criminal law and procedure. This is a civil case, not a criminal one.
You were the one bringing in criminal issues, not me so are you attempting to backpedal or simply trying to deflect again?
It is, but it's also one that the hard-liners regarding seizures don't recognize either. My point is that certain situations are more nuanced and require more careful consideration than that provided by the commentariat here.
Nuanced to the point that these "hardliners" should be given a pass just because they fail to understand the limits of authority spelled out under the Constitution and Bill of Rights? So in your world blinders are a valid defense against the law?
No kidding. But then again, no one is being arrested for copyright infringement in this case. All that's happening is that a domain name is being temporarily seized.
But it IS ok to cause interference with another business, force onto them costs for no reason, and stifle THEIR free speech because the Entertainment industry has a bug up it's collective rear-end because they can't adapt to reality?
On the post: The Insanity Of Copyright Law: When Even Professionals Have No Idea They're Breaking The Law
Re: It's not broken
The system is rigged until/unless we can break up the major parties and find a way to open the system up so that it can become more directly representative. While I do not think something as drastic as going to a parliamentary (Europe) or direct democracy system (ref: Switzerland) would be wanted or welcomed, the simple fact that it results in greater participation in governance by most factions within a society leads to better results for all when balanced properly.
With that said, something needs to be done because the status quo is a complete disaster...
On the post: US Mainstream Media Refuses Op-Ed About TSA Eroding Civil Liberties... But Pravda Publishes It
Re: Re: Follow the agendas...
I said nothing whatsoever about current policies real or proposed, any political party, or even the current Administration. You gleefully missed the entire point of my post and then went on a completely irrelevant rant.
-10 Internets
To aide you in better reading comprehension, I will try to make it easy enough for even you to understand: There are NO independent news organizations! And this sad state of affairs is ideology AND party agnostic so please take the time in the future to actually read what someone says before you pull out a typical knee-jerk reaction because someone criticizes big media for what it really is - a propaganda arm for whatever that organization's masters want the people to hear, read, and see rather than how it should be with everyone hearing, reading, and seeing all sides of a particular story.
We should not have to seek truth and valid criticism in foreign media; especially when that media organization is also nothing more than a propaganda arm for THEIR masters in turn. It cheapens the story, dilutes the message, discourages frank debate, and stifles efforts to bring about real substantive change when necessary because the reporting agency is, by default, already corrupted.
On the post: US Mainstream Media Refuses Op-Ed About TSA Eroding Civil Liberties... But Pravda Publishes It
Follow the agendas...
This is the tragedy we face with the loss of truly independent news agencies. They all have masters and when the master says "no way", the story gets killed faster than a vote down on Digg...
On the post: Can You Keep Up With Everyone Suing Over How Avatar 'Stole' Its Story?
Humans will be humans...
On the post: Breaking: GoDaddy Drops SOPA Support
Re: Re:
On the post: Louis CK: Over $1 Million In Sales In Just 12 Days For DRM-Free Download
Treating your fans like partners...
In a way, this is what I have been trying to do with technical support for the past decade and I can tell you it works; especially when times are hard. The best part of this is that they (customers or fans) will be there when things get tough for Louis if it ever happens.
On the post: Righthaven Tries New Strategy: Maybe If It Just Ignores Marc Randazza, He'll Go Away
Re:
On the post: ICE Admits That It Just Wants To 'Put People In Jail' With Operation In Our Sites
Re: Re: Re: Re:
The penal system is not the answer to everything as it only hardens those incarcerated, makes it impossible for them to find jobs after serving out their debt to society, and you actually try to equate the fact that they are unemployable while trying to survive as a reason to simply put them back into jail on the tax payers dime?
The "get tough" wave that has been going on for over 30 years now is not working and only creating a sub-culture who's only recourse for survival is more criminality.
What a waste of effort, money, and people... It's sad that your world is so black and white. try to add some color to your world view and then see how destructive this has been and will only get worse as time passes without real reform.
On the post: ICE Admits That It Just Wants To 'Put People In Jail' With Operation In Our Sites
Re: Re: Re:
On the post: Did You Embed The Leaked Trailer For Dark Knight Rises On Your Blog? Under SOPA, You May Face Jail Time
Re:
On the post: Senate Approves Intelligence Bill, But Extension Of Secret Law Allowing Spying On Americans Cut Back
Re: Pirate Masnick
I sincerely hope it is ignorance as that can be fixed with enough time and effort; but if it is just stupidity...lord help us!
On the post: SOPA Is So Bad, Political Cartoonist Comes Out Of Retirement To Create New Comics Warning About It
Re: New Year's Resolution
There, fixed that for you...
On the post: Public Opposition Accelerates As Latest Anti-SOPA Petition Hits Goal In Two Days
Go baby go!.
Interesting note is that the signatures are still accumulating at a pace I have never seen on that site before - keep refreshing the page to see how quickly. So much for a lack of concerned citizens...
On the post: SOPA Markup Runs Out Of Time; Likely Delayed Until 2012 [Update: Or Not...]
Keep the screws tightened
On the post: UMG, MegaUpload Case Gets Even Stranger; Will.i.am Says He Didn't Authorize A Takedown
Re: Re: Re:
The next instance - get the benefit of an enormous fine and the revocation of the right to file any further DMCA take-down notices for at least 1 year.
Still abusing after 1 & 2 - get the benefit of a wrecking ball with forced divestiture of all holdings to competitors who have been proven not to have abused the DMCA for at least 5 years.
That should scare the bejesus out of any company planning to issue casual or unverified take downs, increase the work force by having to hire an army of researchers and verification staff, and place the onus of proof right back where it belongs - with the accuser, not the accused...
Just a thought...
On the post: UMG, MegaUpload Case Gets Even Stranger; Will.i.am Says He Didn't Authorize A Takedown
Re:
On the post: Swiss Government Says File Sharing Isn't A Big Deal; Artist Are Fine, Industry Should Adapt
Re: Re: Re: Re:
I am not saying I like them any more than others who do not like them, just that they are a derivative of civilized behavior which has at its core some restrictions on what people can or cannot do based on contract or agreement.
This too is civilized behavior whereas anarchy might be preferential to some, it is far from being civilized when you look at it this way...
On the post: Swiss Government Says File Sharing Isn't A Big Deal; Artist Are Fine, Industry Should Adapt
Re: Re:
On the post: Swiss Government Says File Sharing Isn't A Big Deal; Artist Are Fine, Industry Should Adapt
Re: Re: Re: Switzerland was a "safe haven" for Nazi gold, too.
In the case of banking havens, the Swiss finally recognized and acknowledged the errors of their ways to a great extent, even if not very loudly (loud would not be Swiss).
The issue here is that they took a look and quite reasonably saw the overreach, the political points they could gain with their citizens at showing a backbone after having their moral fiber widely questioned, and the realization of what this issue actually is - a power grab by the Entertainment industry at the expense of all other industries because they are trying to use the law to stifle competition and innovation due to a lack vision and ability to adapt.
Don't be so certain that their new backbone will not stiffen further with more pushing...
On the post: Why Adversarial Hearings Are Important: Rulings Change When The Other Side Is Heard
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Justice Delayed = Justice Denied
Nice try - try again...You were the one bringing in criminal issues, not me so are you attempting to backpedal or simply trying to deflect again?Nuanced to the point that these "hardliners" should be given a pass just because they fail to understand the limits of authority spelled out under the Constitution and Bill of Rights? So in your world blinders are a valid defense against the law?But it IS ok to cause interference with another business, force onto them costs for no reason, and stifle THEIR free speech because the Entertainment industry has a bug up it's collective rear-end because they can't adapt to reality?
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