Louis Smith’s Comments

• Sep 26th, 2011 @ 11:02am

  Another movie reference...

  on Rhode Island Teen Facing 'Domestic Violence' Charges For 'Inappropriate' Facebook Message Sent To A Girl He Met
  ... these kinds of articles make me think we are getting closer and closer to "you have been fined 1 credit for violating the verbal morality code". We've already taken PC too far in the office, now we're rolling it down to the kids.. Pretty soon, "growing up" will be illegal. But then again, this is just because it is "on the internet". Just get the kids to go back to being jerks and bullies on the playground where they belong.
• Jul 25th, 2011 @ 10:46am

  You forget what is being "stolen"

  on The Absurdity Of Comparing Copying To Stealing
  Let's not forget - the mindset is that a SALE has been stolen - the entire old business was based on SALES of recordings - measuring the success of a band by number of albums/singles SOLD. Copying completely destroys their whole way of life.
  Since not enough support was gained for propping up that model, then the obvious warpath is to prove that EVERY instance of copying is a THEFT so that THEFT obviously must be stopped. Yeah. That'll happen. That'll fix it.
• Apr 28th, 2011 @ 9:11am

  Let's help TSA make it better

  on TSA Molests Miss USA, Makes Her Cry... For Your Safety
  It seems to me that there is a MUCH easier way to solve this - that TSA is just approaching it wrong. I guarantee that this can be eliminated and make the pat-down become the desired method of passing security.
  All they need to do is to direct their HR department to hire all new inspectors. Go to Hooters, Cheetah Club, Gold Rush - and for the ladies - Chippendales and Harlequin to find new TSA agents. There isn't a man alive that wouldn't gladly volunteer to be patted down during a lap dance or by a totally qualified Hooters girl. And the women would be lining up for their Chippendale dancer or Harlequin cover model. The only complaints would be the length of the line to get to the inspectors! And if TSA is short on funds, they can start charging for the "service".
  
  Approach and Attitude - makes all the difference.
• Dec 2nd, 2010 @ 2:29pm

  Modding

  on Government Drops Xbox Modding Trial
  This is way beyond insane. Let's see how us "old farts" do on the modding things you bought category. It ain't a brand new "this young generation and their computers" thing. And for anyone who has a grandfather from the 50's or 60's.. ask them about any of these: Hurst, Holley, Cragar, Crane, Edelbrock, Cherry Bomb, Thrush, Manley. All companies based upon modding that which you legally bought.... many times into an illegal form! (guilty!!!! but damn that Chevelle would MOVE)
  
  An entire sports empire is based upon modding that which you legally purchased.
  
  How much of the PC industry is based upon "modding"???? Isn't upgrading to the newest NVIDIA card Modding? How about putting in a bigger hard drive? How about buying a PC/laptop with a sticker on it and marketing drivel about "ready for the next O/S that MS puts out!". Isn't that modding? Oh wait - that would be "contributory" modding - trying to convince us to make the change so we are guilty.
  
  Every day, with every one of these lawsuits - Shakespear's quote is more relevant.
• Sep 11th, 2010 @ 4:44am

  Re: Re: When the Prior Art is in a book....

  on Ancient Online Shopping Cart Patent Still Biting Retailers
  The book contained all the CGI scripts for a fully operational webstore, with flat-file database, the flat-file database manager, web chat... all the early perl versions of what are still popular tools. There was an accompanying website where you could also download the files. The book was published after Selena Sol had built up quite a following from his open scripts archive.
• Sep 10th, 2010 @ 11:41am

  When the Prior Art is in a book....

  on Ancient Online Shopping Cart Patent Still Biting Retailers
  I believe that close to a decade prior to these that Selena Sol and Gunther PUBLISHED their seminal work on scripts for the web (Instant CGI) - and that book had a web store with shopping cart as its core.
  
  These patents need to be thrown out - along with the examiner who approved them, the people doing the suing, and all the lawyers - preferably from a very high window.
  
  Somebody being sued needs to take that book to court with them to show how invalid the patents are.
• Jun 19th, 2010 @ 6:29am

  Legal T-Shirt for Contest

  on Official Twilight T-Shirt Contest Won't Let You Use Anything From Twilight
  black shirt, white letters:
  This shirt is a tribute to my favorite movie.
  However, due to copyrights and
  aggressive lawyers, I cannot say
  anything about the move, its characters,
  locations, props, common terms, or
  even tell you what genre of movie it
  is as I might get sued by somebody
  for something. This shirt in no way
  infringes on anyone's copyright for anything.
• Jun 19th, 2010 @ 6:28am

  Legal T-Shirt for Contest

  on Official Twilight T-Shirt Contest Won't Let You Use Anything From Twilight