Within 10 years there will be exactly two jobs in the US: CEO and IP lawyer. All the companies will be getting rich suing each other. Everybody else will be on welfare. Nobody will be producing anything except three chicken farmers in Louisiana and they won't be allowed to spend their cash.
"We assume it was a deliberate decision on the customer's part to accrue the overage charges because we went out of our way to hide the fact they were accruing until 3 years after the fact, at which point we sent a couple guys named Bruno and Luigi to collect on the charges and the 243% APR added interest. We think this is fair and obvious."
So they're used to either hiding information from the customer or lying to them, and getting away with it. This new-fangled idea of being transparent, honest, and responsible? It could bankrupt the phone companies!
I'm surprised they didn't try to stall further by claiming that the technology isn't up to automating the notification feature. Though there's still time for that. Next they'll be splitting hairs about what "sufficient notice" is.
I recall hearing that AOL used to censor the word "breast". It caused a bit of problem for women who wanted to discuss breast cancer issues.
Apparently "breast cancer" is obscene.
Also apparently so is the nickname "Dick". If you want to discuss Richard Nixon, god forbid you mention his nickname. Or the actor whose last name is Van Dyke. (Could be a double-whammy if AOL had decided that "dyke" was obscene too, as it obviously denotes lesbianism, which we all know is inherently obscene. Like breast cancer and breastfeeding.)
The good news is that AOL is ancient history. But FB is doing their best to pick up the banner regarding photographs.
As a moron in a hurry, I think I can safely say that I'm confused. The two bottom logos in the right column look the same to me! And top right one is the same shape but a different size and color, so it's obviously a different logo.
I keep reading "underserved customers" as "undeserved customers". I know that's not what it says and always go back and re-read it, but my backbrain keeps insisting that it's "undeserved customers". It's just a pattern-matching issue with amusing results.
The (somewhat ironic) amusing part is that it's just as true. If they can't service their customers properly, those customers are undeserved. Even if those customers end up illegally hacking the product.
(On a Punctuation Nazi note, I have to wonder if "under-served" should be hyphenated?)
There's this place in Rancho Cordova called Ike's Deli and Bakery, and they serve sandwiches.
They bake this really nice pocket bread, cut it in half, and stuff the rest of the materials inside.
I just realized -- THESE ARE NOT SANDWICHES. They are NOT meat and/or vegetables between two slices of bread. There are no bread slices here! They are pocket meals!
“If I want it, it’s mine.
If I give it to you & I change my mind later, it’s mine.
If I can take it away from you, it’s mine.
If I had it a little while ago, it’s mine.
If it’s mine, it will never belong to anybody else, no matter what.
If we are building something together, all the pieces are mine.
If it looks like mine, it is mine.” Anon
So, if I turn the mailbox inside-out the USPS owns the universe?
Except the space now inside the box, yes.
Please don't do that. The Galactic Collective had a hell of a job fixing it last time that happened. They had to get the Time Corps to go back in time and prevent it, and we're still seeing probability ripples from the resulting disruption of the space/time continuum.
Imagine a world where everyone could put anything in your mail box. It would be filled with even more endless crap. That's why it is illegal and has been illegal for decades for anyone but the USPS to put stuff in your mail box.
Actually no, it's because the USPS wanted a monopoly.
They just need to apply the logic that many other companies are using: if people are willing to buy their products, then they can increase their profits proportionately simply by increasing the price.
Then when people find ways around it they simply have to pay the government to pass draconian laws that prohibit that behavior, and increase their prices more.
And when more people break the law just pass more laws that are more draconian and raise prices again.
Wash, rinse, repeat.
Because this is America, and our motto is "If that doesn't work, do more of the same."
But having presumably gotten $3520 out of this guy, if they manage to do that, and assuming it doesn't cost them anything to do so (not the case, but hypothetically), what good do they think it will do in the long run? They've just alienated a customer, who may eschew USPS as much as he can from now on, and probably a lot of his neighbors when they hear about it. And friends and family. And people reading this article and others, aside from the trolls, shills, and corporate apologists. Certainly next time he distributes anything like this he'll leave it on their porches or stick it in their doors.
And what happens as this repeats around the country, again and again? Even if they win every case, they turn people against their cause.
Hey, I can help. A credit card company recently pissed me off and I decided to go with paper bills until I can pay them off and destroy the card. I went paper because I decided I wanted to cost them as much as possible in the interim. (Yeah, I can be petty. But they cost ME money.) Well, if I decide I dislike the USPS more, I can log in and tick a box, and presto! there's one less letter a month for them to carry. And the CC co. still gets to lose my business in the long run.
If 80 people do that with all their bills, how much did the USPS make from charging one guy for 80 letters?
The USPS needs to find new ways to be relevant. Diversify. Improve and extend their package delivery, for example. Shipping bits can be done electronically, but shipping atoms still takes people and trucks. I don't know what or how, but that's not my problem. I just know that beating up kids for their lunch money isn't the answer.
On the post: Justin Bieber: Senator Klobuchar Should Be Locked Up For Felony Streaming Bill
If you disagree with me, you must not have understood me, because mine is the only possible rational position.
On the post: DailyDirt: More Manned Spaceflight
On the post: Just As Valve Shows That You Can Compete With Piracy In Russia, Russia Starts Cracking Down On Piracy
I haven't figured out not selling it (ever) in the US makes money for the studio.
(Yes, I've dragged out this example before. Sorry, I don't have a lot of them.)
On the post: PROTECT IP Renamed E-PARASITES Act; Would Create The Great Firewall Of America
At least the new acronym is more appropriate.
On the post: PROTECT IP Renamed E-PARASITES Act; Would Create The Great Firewall Of America
At least the new acronym is more appropriate.
On the post: California Politician Discovers That You Can't Ban Specific Type Of Music; Admits 'I Didn't Know What Was Going On'
On the post: House Trying To Rush Through Its Version Of PROTECT IP; Tech Industry Asks Why?
On the post: Wireless Carriers Finally Cave On Overage Fees; Reluctantly Agree To Stop Treating Customers Like ATMs
Let's not forget telling the customer that their out-of-country charges are 1/100th of what they really are because they don't understand the difference between cents and dollars. (And again.)
So they're used to either hiding information from the customer or lying to them, and getting away with it. This new-fangled idea of being transparent, honest, and responsible? It could bankrupt the phone companies!
I'm surprised they didn't try to stall further by claiming that the technology isn't up to automating the notification feature. Though there's still time for that. Next they'll be splitting hairs about what "sufficient notice" is.
On the post: The Unintended Consequences Of Trying To Overprotect Children From The Internet
On the post: Sony Ericsson Shows How Not To Connect With Fans: Forces Shutdown Of Xperia Fan Blog
Re: Re: Re: Re: Bricks
On the post: Amtrak Lets You Surf The Web While Traveling, But Don't Try To Read Anything About Gay People
Apparently "breast cancer" is obscene.
Also apparently so is the nickname "Dick". If you want to discuss Richard Nixon, god forbid you mention his nickname. Or the actor whose last name is Van Dyke. (Could be a double-whammy if AOL had decided that "dyke" was obscene too, as it obviously denotes lesbianism, which we all know is inherently obscene. Like breast cancer and breastfeeding.)
The good news is that AOL is ancient history. But FB is doing their best to pick up the banner regarding photographs.
On the post: Apple Continues To Insist Only It Can Use An Apple In A Logo; Threatens Small German Cafe
On the post: Nintendo Fans Hijack Twitter Hash Tag Meant For Nintendo Of America CEO And Are Promptly Ignored
The (somewhat ironic) amusing part is that it's just as true. If they can't service their customers properly, those customers are undeserved. Even if those customers end up illegally hacking the product.
(On a Punctuation Nazi note, I have to wonder if "under-served" should be hyphenated?)
On the post: Jeffrey Nonken's Favorite Techdirt Posts Of The Week
Re: Re:
On the post: Why Some 'Easy' Legal Questions Aren't Always So Easy: Is A Burrito A Sandwich?
They bake this really nice pocket bread, cut it in half, and stuff the rest of the materials inside.
I just realized -- THESE ARE NOT SANDWICHES. They are NOT meat and/or vegetables between two slices of bread. There are no bread slices here! They are pocket meals!
I'm gonna sue.
On the post: Can We Just Admit That It's Insane When Microsoft Has A 'Licensing Program' For Someone Else's Products?
The Toddler’s Creed
If I give it to you & I change my mind later, it’s mine.
If I can take it away from you, it’s mine.
If I had it a little while ago, it’s mine.
If it’s mine, it will never belong to anybody else, no matter what.
If we are building something together, all the pieces are mine.
If it looks like mine, it is mine.” Anon
http://edukidsinc.wordpress.com/2010/05/03/290/
Being selfish and egotistic is a normal part of toddler development. You just need to lock up the important and delicate stuff so they don't break it.
On the post: US Postal Service Sends Postage Due Bill To Guy Who Put Block Party Invites Into Neighbors' Mailboxes
Re: Re: The truth, who owns the mailbox
Except the space now inside the box, yes.
Please don't do that. The Galactic Collective had a hell of a job fixing it last time that happened. They had to get the Time Corps to go back in time and prevent it, and we're still seeing probability ripples from the resulting disruption of the space/time continuum.
On the post: US Postal Service Sends Postage Due Bill To Guy Who Put Block Party Invites Into Neighbors' Mailboxes
Re:
Actually no, it's because the USPS wanted a monopoly.
On the post: US Postal Service Sends Postage Due Bill To Guy Who Put Block Party Invites Into Neighbors' Mailboxes
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Who owns mailboxes?
On the post: US Postal Service Sends Postage Due Bill To Guy Who Put Block Party Invites Into Neighbors' Mailboxes
Re: Re: usps can solve its woes
Then when people find ways around it they simply have to pay the government to pass draconian laws that prohibit that behavior, and increase their prices more.
And when more people break the law just pass more laws that are more draconian and raise prices again.
Wash, rinse, repeat.
Because this is America, and our motto is "If that doesn't work, do more of the same."
But having presumably gotten $3520 out of this guy, if they manage to do that, and assuming it doesn't cost them anything to do so (not the case, but hypothetically), what good do they think it will do in the long run? They've just alienated a customer, who may eschew USPS as much as he can from now on, and probably a lot of his neighbors when they hear about it. And friends and family. And people reading this article and others, aside from the trolls, shills, and corporate apologists. Certainly next time he distributes anything like this he'll leave it on their porches or stick it in their doors.
And what happens as this repeats around the country, again and again? Even if they win every case, they turn people against their cause.
Hey, I can help. A credit card company recently pissed me off and I decided to go with paper bills until I can pay them off and destroy the card. I went paper because I decided I wanted to cost them as much as possible in the interim. (Yeah, I can be petty. But they cost ME money.) Well, if I decide I dislike the USPS more, I can log in and tick a box, and presto! there's one less letter a month for them to carry. And the CC co. still gets to lose my business in the long run.
If 80 people do that with all their bills, how much did the USPS make from charging one guy for 80 letters?
The USPS needs to find new ways to be relevant. Diversify. Improve and extend their package delivery, for example. Shipping bits can be done electronically, but shipping atoms still takes people and trucks. I don't know what or how, but that's not my problem. I just know that beating up kids for their lunch money isn't the answer.
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