There's only one thing wrong with your diatribe. Even if the president isn't personally responsible for every little detail at the federal level, he's still responsible. Why? Because he's the president. Every military commander knows you can delegate authority but not responsibility. Of course, Mr. Obama wouldn't know that because he never served in the military (unless you count his title as "Commander in Chief") and perhaps, neither have you.
I just read every comment on this article and 90 percent (or more) of it was either Average Joe's inexcusable stupidity or people responding to his inexcusable stupidity.
In my neck of the woods, not the US, where I like watching specific TV series from the US, the local stations hack it up - censoring anything that might upset the local censorship board. Of course, it's not just TV shows. HDO Asia and Cinemax Asia don't broadcast uncut movies either.
To top it off, they're usually behind and they don't offer everything, so there's always something I can't watch on regular TV.
Rather than hunt (without any TV guide of any kind) and try to remember when or where a particular show is being aired, I've done the next best thing. I've switched off the TV.
My wife watches the local channels while I watch episodes downloaded via EZTV. Am I a pirate? Only by Hollywood's definition.
I've been patiently waiting for the uprising. When the public, whether off or on the net, realizes that the current copyright laws are unconstitutional, heads should roll.
While I was pirating my favorite TV show*, I paid attention to the locations of the peers that were part of the swarm. I would guestimate there was less than 1% of them originating from the US. Almost all of my fellow pirates were from other countries, countries that are blocked from watching them any other way.
Yes, I have attempted to get my weekly fix the legal way and in every instance, my country wasn't authorized. Now, to be honest, they'll probably be broadcast on my local cable network sometime before 2020, but that's beside the point. I am more than willing to pay to get my TV fix here in the Philippines, but I'm not willing to wait until someone else says it's okay to broadcast them where I live or even sell DVDs of them.
The *AAs are targeting the wrong people. There actually are gangs of thieving** copyright fiends who make something like a 2% profit and they're untouchable.
Just my 2 cents.
* I'm American and I started watching this show when I still lived in the US. Why does being in a different country prohibit me from even paying?
** Copyright infringement != theft, regardless of the idiots that say so.
I think I now understand why Google pursued Chromium. It's the least patented tech so far (except maybe by them with the wicked stepdaughter known as Chrome).
One day, while trying to download the wrong thing, I ended up getting a thoroughly corrupted copy of the latest version of "The Karate Kid". I don't remember the name of the file, but it wasn't what I was looking for in the first place (I was actually looking for something anime for my son since that's his thing).
I'm in the Philippines and my ISP at the time was Subictel. They received an e-mail message from the MPAA, which they forwarded to me. Along with all the stupid condescending stuff they wrote, they pointed me to places where I could legally buy the movie. Guess what?
I can't buy anything from even one of 20 places they had on the list. If I really want that movie (and I don't), I can only get it by 1) scouring every mall in the Philippines, hoping to find a copy (at the US price, by the way) or 2) by illegally downloading it.
So, someone please tell me again that the MPAA wants my money and I'll let you know when I can breathe again after a very large bout of side-splitting, blood-curling laughter.
I used to work for a telemarketing company that specialized in newspaper subscriptions. There are so many cancelled subscriptions every month, it's surprising they can even stay in business.
The offers are ridiculous. For example, they may include a separate Sunday edition for free with a regular subscription or they may include a regular subscription along with a Sunday edition. They claim these as separate numbers when they're really the same. 79,000? More likely to be 39,000 or less. My bet is way less for the online edition.
You'd be surprised at how many people subscribe to newspapers for the "coupon incentive". That really doesn't exist the same way online.
On the post: President Obama Is 'Troubled' About Chilling Effects His Own Administration Is Causing To Journalism?
Re: Re: Re:
On the post: If You Think You Should Actually Own Products You Bought, Now Would Be A Good Time To Call Congress
Please...make. it. stop.
On the post: Windows 8's Arbitrary App Certification Rules Could Block Skyrim And Other Huge Games
VirtualBox anyone?
I use Ubuntu for everything except one or two apps and for those, I have Windows XP set up as virtual machine. No problems whatsoever.
On the post: Philippines Outlaws Cybersex
On Review...
On the post: Philippines Outlaws Cybersex
In the Philippines
Silly laws written by silly people.
On the post: Feds Back To Seizing Websites Over Claims Of Copyright Infringement
Re: Re: Re:
On the post: Duh: The TV Business Is On The Verge Of Collapse
Down with TV, or most of it
To top it off, they're usually behind and they don't offer everything, so there's always something I can't watch on regular TV.
Rather than hunt (without any TV guide of any kind) and try to remember when or where a particular show is being aired, I've done the next best thing. I've switched off the TV.
My wife watches the local channels while I watch episodes downloaded via EZTV. Am I a pirate? Only by Hollywood's definition.
On the post: Sprint Changes 'Unlimited' Broadband To 5 Gigs... While Still Advertising Unlimited Broadband
This is why I don't mess with data plans
I don't own a smartphone and by the looks of how the providers treat their consumers, I probably never will.
On the post: Yes, Copyright's Sole Purpose Is To Benefit The Public
Re: Re: Re: Harmed? I'm not harmed by rich artists. I'm made happier
On the post: Yes, Copyright's Sole Purpose Is To Benefit The Public
Unconstitutional
On the post: If Piracy Is So Devastating, Why Are We Seeing An Unprecedented Outpouring Of Creativity?
What Piracy?
Yes, I have attempted to get my weekly fix the legal way and in every instance, my country wasn't authorized. Now, to be honest, they'll probably be broadcast on my local cable network sometime before 2020, but that's beside the point. I am more than willing to pay to get my TV fix here in the Philippines, but I'm not willing to wait until someone else says it's okay to broadcast them where I live or even sell DVDs of them.
The *AAs are targeting the wrong people. There actually are gangs of thieving** copyright fiends who make something like a 2% profit and they're untouchable.
Just my 2 cents.
* I'm American and I started watching this show when I still lived in the US. Why does being in a different country prohibit me from even paying?
** Copyright infringement != theft, regardless of the idiots that say so.
On the post: AOL Sells Its Patents To Microsoft For $1 Billion: Microsoft Now Owns Netscape IP
OSS
On the post: Why Do Publishers Treat Customers As Crooks With Scolding Copyright Notices?
Re: Re:
On the post: Why Do The Labels Continue To Insist That 'Your Money Is No Good Here?'
This is MY Story too!
I'm in the Philippines and my ISP at the time was Subictel. They received an e-mail message from the MPAA, which they forwarded to me. Along with all the stupid condescending stuff they wrote, they pointed me to places where I could legally buy the movie. Guess what?
I can't buy anything from even one of 20 places they had on the list. If I really want that movie (and I don't), I can only get it by 1) scouring every mall in the Philippines, hoping to find a copy (at the US price, by the way) or 2) by illegally downloading it.
So, someone please tell me again that the MPAA wants my money and I'll let you know when I can breathe again after a very large bout of side-splitting, blood-curling laughter.
On the post: Funniest/Most Insightful Comments Of The Week At Techdirt
CwF + RtB
On the post: Will Politicians' Support For Draconian IP Laws While Ignoring Civil Liberties Issues Come Back To Bite Them?
Re: Re: Re: Re: Hmm
The very mechanism being screwed with is the one they're using to determine what site is situated where. Their efforts are wasted before they begin.
On the post: Mythbusters Crew Accidentally Fire Cannonball Through Suburban Neighborhood... Quickly Start Deleting Tweets Of The Evidence
Re: The myth they need to test
On the post: Guy Claims Google Owes Him $500 Billion
Flashbacks
On the post: Big Media To Innovative App Maker: Stop Innovating Without Our Permission!
Re: Re: Re: Sorry Mike, you are wrong on this one
On the post: News Corp. Claims 79,000 Subscribers To Its Paywall For The Times
Don't believe the numbers
The offers are ridiculous. For example, they may include a separate Sunday edition for free with a regular subscription or they may include a regular subscription along with a Sunday edition. They claim these as separate numbers when they're really the same. 79,000? More likely to be 39,000 or less. My bet is way less for the online edition.
You'd be surprised at how many people subscribe to newspapers for the "coupon incentive". That really doesn't exist the same way online.
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