mike conte’s Comments

• Nov 9th, 2016 @ 10:43pm

  But WHY do citizens feel angry?

  on If You're Blaming Facebook For The Election Results, You're An Idiot
  ...because by most objective measures, the country is far better off (dow, unemployment, gas prices, crime, growth, deficit, etc).
  
  Maybe it's because they read every day how they are being cheated, how their taxes are being wasted, how the government is corrupt, how the country is overrun by thugs and terrorists. They read that because FB ranks posts according to "engagement" not "truth." So their feed, rather than getting more truthful over time, gets more outrageous.
  
  I am not saying FB intends this to happen, but they are far from blameless. It's bad.
  
  And why call people idiots? You don't think this is a problem? You don't see increasing division?
• May 11th, 2012 @ 7:46am

  tempest in a teapot? (as mike)

  on Old Habits Or New Envy? Microsoft Bans 3rd Party Browsers On Windows RT
  MS isn't banning 3rd party browsers in Windows 8, as sensational as that might sound.
  
  They are just limiting apps - ALL new apps - to the metro UI, where they clearly want the innovation to be centered. Windows on ARM is focused touch and mobile, not legacy.
  
  i would also say its a bit of a red herring. browsers are free and a commodity for most users.
• Apr 2nd, 2012 @ 6:05am

  is there any upside to protectionism

  on How The RIAA & MPAA Are Like The Anti-Innovation German Weavers' Guild Of The 16th Century
  fascinating as always (and I liked your speech at Midem).
  
  innocent question: can you think of situations in the past where protectionism was a good thing? might inform the current debate.