Hugh S. Myers’s Comments

• Oct 3rd, 2011 @ 1:56pm

  Been there, done that, got the T-Shirt...

  on Gaming Company Sees Massive User & Revenue Growth Because Of Piracy
  In the 80's, we (Bourbaki Inc.) had a product for the PC called 1Dir+. One day we got a peculiar letter from the purchasing agent for the German Postal Service, wanting to know how much it would cost for 5000 copies of the user manual. Needless to say, we were a bit surprised in that we had never sold any packages to anyone in Germany (we were a little laid back, but would have noticed). Our solution was to give them a grant of amnesty and a hell of a good price on the necessary artwork so that they could print the manuals themselves. Obviously we would have preferred to have sold each one, but that was water over the dam and this beat the hell out of no money at all. They became real good customers for succeeding versions :)
• Jun 28th, 2011 @ 2:18pm

  turntable in real time.

  on How Turntable.fm Could Be Even More Awesome... And Make Everyone Money
  Don't know if anyone here listens to Chicago's WFMT---more importantly to the portion that airs on Saturday night. 5 hours or so of folk music selected by folks who know the industry inside and out. Well enough that the industry knows them and sends along new material as it occurs. One of the new programs called (I think) 'Sweet Folk Chicago' is an hour long section where the DJ's are other folk singers! Apply this to turntable and you've got an insanely great offering. But your are probably right, it would take both the Justice League of America and an alternate Universe for this to happen---too bad :(
• Jun 27th, 2011 @ 7:10am

  American West and the guys with guns and ropes

  on Telstra Having Second Thoughts Over Censorship Plan; Fears Reprisals From Hactivists
  At some point, if history is any indicator, people begin to take serious offense to the actions of those who would abuse whatever system might be in place. In the history of the West we first had vigilantism then moved to a brief period of hired gun slingers then to something vaguely resembling modern police practice. Perhaps what we are seeing here is a contemporary version. I'm fairly sure that it is what is needed, warts and all...
• May 23rd, 2011 @ 7:51pm

  Cisco lawsuit

  on Cisco Sued For Helping China Repress Falun Gong
  To the degree that this is the same as similar cases against gun manufacturers you would be correct in saying that this is a stretch. To the degree that Cisco provided after the sale help, you would be in-correct. At what point is the line drawn in the sand for culpability? I sell you a gun and walk away---no problem. I sell you a gun and teach you how to use it. Less clean, but still no problem. I hold your hand when you shoot the politician? Pretty clear that there would be a problem. I think it wishful thinking at best to believe that this is black and white. It will be interesting to see what the Falun Gong have card wise. It will need to be compelling in a country that still doesn't think Coal Mine owners and Tobacco manufacturers are not guilty of anything in particular.
• Mar 10th, 2011 @ 10:42pm

  is there a possibility of money

  on Bath & Bodyworks Goes To Court To Explain To Summit Entertainment That The Word Twilight Existed Before The Movie
  in the declarative judgment? Would be nice to see these people not only stopped in court but forced to reach into their bank account and cough up a bit 'just because'...
• Feb 9th, 2011 @ 8:44am

  Balance?

  on Smashing The Scales: Not Everything Needs 'Balance'
  This reminds me of the long ago argument about spotted owl protection and the EPA--- the forces 'against' kept demanding compromise and I kept having this picture of a tree limb lined with owls where the senior owl says "Draw straws?" as to who was going to be the compromise victim (i.e. dead)
• Feb 7th, 2011 @ 7:18pm

  And where did the monolithic communications providers come from?

  on EFF Warns That FCC Net Neutrality Rules Are A Bad, Bad Idea
  Why from the valiant efforts of the FCC of course! Which is as good a reason as any to keep them out of the net business...
• Feb 4th, 2011 @ 5:47pm

  Pete Seeger and the folk process

  on Star Wars Is A Remix
  I don't have an exact citation but a quick Google of his name and the phrase 'folk process' will give you a number of hits. As I understand it the 90+ year old singer Seeger has often pointed out that music is a living stream that you dip into from time to time--- at best you sample, hopefully improve and then pass it on. Mind you this doesn't prevent the copyright process or the typical mechanisms of the industry, but he is quite explicit in describing where things come from...
• Feb 4th, 2011 @ 8:58am

  Incremental Action

  on Senator Wyden Asks WTF Is Up With Homeland Security Domain Seizures
  I wrote Senator Wyden even though he is not mine--- I live in orange county north, i.e. Idaho. Here is what I said:
  
  I believe that your recent letter to John Morton and Eric Holder represents a "still small voice" of resistance in a dangerous slide to corporatism. When former President Eisenhower warned against the military-industrial complex no one listened--- and perhaps rightfully so since the attack on our rights comes not from Northrup and Boeing, but from Hollywood and Walt Disney. It is still an attack designed to eliminate precious rights that all citizens need preserved even if they don't clearly under stand them. I salute your efforts and would like to know how I might help in your efforts.
  
  I don't particularly expect a response and have no idea of what I could do, other than to voice my support. Still as the events of the last month or so have shown, great change comes from critical mass and critical mass is acquired incrementally...