Zilberfrid’s Comments

• Aug 14th, 2012 @ 7:41am

  Re: :: sigh ::

  on If I Were The MPAA... How I Would Deal With My Car Break-In
  "This article is an example of a bad analogy argument. "Minds, like rivers, can be broad. The broader the river, the shallower it is. Therefore, the broader the mind, the shallower it is." "
  
  Do you know that most broad rivers simply displace a large amount of water, and that they are, in general, deeper then narrow rivers? Two bad analogies don't make one good analogy.
• Aug 10th, 2012 @ 4:23am

  A lot of right things to do were done.

  on Honest Mistake: Order A TV From Amazon, Receive An Illegal Assault Rifle
  Someone receives a package containing something illegal for him to have, he calls the police. (I, for one, would not risk keeping the thing as well)
  Police arrives, does not charge the one who called.
  Receiver is dissatisfied with the product, and posts a negative review.
  Amazon does not allow links in reviews, so does not post it.
  
  The fuck-up is at UPS, in essence, they should be charged for "tampering with the post" because it is an awesome charge (yeah, of course, criminal negligence or illegal carrying could be charged, but "tampering with the post" is more accurate and sounds better).
  
  For the most part, the correct procedures were followed, and the results thus are not very bad.
• Aug 2nd, 2012 @ 7:25am

  Economy

  on Defensive Posturing: E-Book Author Takes On The 'Old Guard' At Crime Writing Festival [UPDATED]
  I used to go to the library, buy about two new books each year, and four or five second hand ones, now I purchase about fifteen to twenty new e-books each year, while still buying two books, second hand or new, each year.
  
  I end up spending about the same (if I cancel my library subscription) but the profit generated will be better. A larger percentage of this will go to writwers, who in turn will have to spend more time writing.
  
  I don't really bother with the library often anymore, and especially my second hand purchases have suffered, which previously did not net the author anything.
  
  Another change is that I almost always have most of my books with me, I read a lot more.
• Jul 31st, 2012 @ 7:39am

  From a political science teacher?

  on Would US Education Be Better If We Replaced Algebra Requirements With Stats & Logic?
  A political science teacher wanting to teach people about statistics and economics? This would be many a congress critter's nightmare.
  
  If you include programming/logic, I don't see the issue. This would have more real-world applications.
  
  Disclaimer, I like maths, especially geometry and algebra, I never had any issues with it. I just don't think algebra is for everyone, as long as they can handle themselves.
• Jul 31st, 2012 @ 1:25am

  Argentina still has to face its past

  on Add Argentina To The List Of Countries Looking To Censor The Internet (For The Children, Of Course)
  Argentina had a very bad stain in history for which no full account has been taken, them censoring information on the internet might not be just what you need.
  
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dirty_War
• Jul 30th, 2012 @ 5:06am

  Piracy incentive

  on Ubisoft DRM Fiasco: Allows Any Website To Take Control Of Your Computer
  Another nice example of a game developer making the pirated versions easier and safer to use then the paid game.
• Jul 23rd, 2012 @ 4:49am

  Re: Underground clubs-- isn't that just another way to say "tax cheat"?

  on GEMA Hikes Venue Performance Royalties 500%, Threatens Germany's Underground Club Scene
  They are paying. They just object to being put out of business by someone making one of their cost centers five times as expensive.
  They can't even laugh and go to a competitor like with almost every other cost center.
• Jul 23rd, 2012 @ 4:36am

  Some thoughts

  on GEMA Hikes Venue Performance Royalties 500%, Threatens Germany's Underground Club Scene
  Since these fees for smaller venues will amount to as much a cost as rent, what would you say if your rent went up 500 to 1400%?
  
  I don't have that much rent, just shy of $500 a month, if I'd have to pay $2500 in half a year, I'd be looking for soft spots under the bridge as it's more then I make even before taxes. If I'd have to pay $7000, I'd be stocking up on gasoline to make sure the one destroying me won't have a house for himself as well.
  
  Then there is this: The music played in the underground bars is not from the artist you'll be paying most.
  
  So back to the rent: I will have to pay enough to break my back, it will not be used to actually pay someone who services my house, or owns the ground it is on, or even is in the same area, these will still be poor.
  It will be paid to someone who already has enough, and of course to some shady baseball bat bearing types who drive around looking for a toe stepped out of line.