Joe Publius 's BestNetTech Comments

Latest Comments (331)

• On the post: Yes, You've Got Something To Hide

  

  Joe Publius ( profile ), 09 Jan, 2013 @ 02:57pm

  MY favorite line

  The line about constant surveillance and selective enforcement is great, but my favorite panel is the last one:
  
  This coversation is being recorded.
  That's a violation of my privacy!
  
  If we wish to maintain a level of privacy regarding our activities from the government, then we must be doing something wrong. If we as the public demand or even for transparency from the government for their own activities they claim it's classified or necessary for the national defense.
  
  Something is fundamentally wrong when the secrets of an individual aren't worth protecting, but the secrets of the government are forever above scrutiny. A lot of bad things follow that path.

• On the post: Is Using A Single Lyric From A Musician You're A Fan Of 'Theft' Or 'An Homage'?

  

  Joe Publius ( profile ), 07 Nov, 2012 @ 01:47pm

  Re: Re: Re:

  Not much of a limb to go out on, since I've never heard of this dude.
  
  He's one of those romantic singer-songwriter with a guitar weenie types. Like that guy who learned to play guitar to pick up girls in college, except with a record contract, and an apparent distaste for Taylor Swift.

• On the post: Why Do Both Major Parties Suck So Badly On Civil Liberties?

  

  Joe Publius ( profile ), 05 Nov, 2012 @ 01:25pm

  This sums up well what I think is fundamentally broken about the system as is. The only thing that both parties can agree on is restricting the liberties of the citizenry.

• On the post: George Lucas Finally Relinquishes His Tight Control Of Star Wars… To Mickey Mouse

  

  Joe Publius ( profile ), 30 Oct, 2012 @ 02:50pm

  Re: Re: I hope they let someone fresh do the writing

  On the other hand, the consensus from the Clone Wars series runnning on Cartoon Network has been postive. IMO, It all rests on a showrunner with the clarity to explain to the viewers what they're going to get. Will it be for better or worse:
  
  - Pulpy mature Space Opera? (Ep5; Clone Wars mini series from 2002)
  - An adventure story with hooks for all ages? (Eps 4 and 6)
  - The somewhat fluffy action flick? (Ep 2, 3, Clone Wars Series)
  - A show for kids? (Ep 1, Clone Wars Movie, Droids)
  
  Not that I've thought a lot about this.

• On the post: UN: The Problem With The Internet Today Is It's Just Too Open & Terrorists Might Use It

  

  Joe Publius ( profile ), 24 Oct, 2012 @ 10:05am

  So many tools available to the bad guys

  I see what you did there:
  
  The problem with bicycles today is that anyone can learn to use them, and Bad Guys* might use them!
  
  The problem with underwear today is that anyone can wear them, and Bad Guys might use them!
  
  *Don't want to say the "T" word. I heard if you say three times you'll be teleported to Gitmo.

• On the post: This Is What's Wrong With The Music Industry: Musicians Have To Pay To Pay Themselves

  

  Joe Publius ( profile ), 20 Sep, 2012 @ 11:06am

  Just goes to show,

  You can't have SACEM, without SCAM.

• On the post: Why Computer Companies Should Copy The Fashion Industry

  

  Joe Publius ( profile ), 19 Sep, 2012 @ 09:37am

  I thought of something in regard to one particular line from Raustiala:
  
  2) patents require a standard of novelty and originality that's often hard to reach in the fashion industry, where many things are reworkings of previous things.
  
  I'm sorry that I don't have the time to cite it, but I know there have been stories, some posted here, that talk about how patent examiners are overloaded. If it is true, then submitting a design patent, no matter how unsuitable, might work actually work in the submitters favor. If for nothing then the pressure to approve them for the sake of proving how "innovative" we are in the US.

• On the post: NY Times Picks Up On The Fact That Craigslist Has Become A Legal Bully Against Anyone Who Makes Its Site Better

  

  Joe Publius ( profile ), 03 Aug, 2012 @ 10:35am

  Re:

  I think you're totally right. There was a WIRED article from a few years back now that essentially said the same thing. Craigslist has a specific mission and vision in mind, and Newmark is going to stick with it no matter what. If Craigslist is going to change in any way Craig wants to be the one to do it, for better or worse, and if it does happen it will likely be to serve that vision of a local, and simple service.

• On the post: Did You Know That Professional Writing Is Dying And Only Taxing The Public To Pay Writers Can Save It

  

  Joe Publius ( profile ), 02 Aug, 2012 @ 11:32am

  First they came for the scribes, and I said nothing.
  
  Next they came for the horse and buggy drivers, and I said nothing.
  
  Then they came for the telegraph operators, and still I said nothing.
  
  After that they came for the typewriter repairmen, and even then I said nothing.
  
  Then they came for me, and asked "How the Hell OLD are you anyway"?

• On the post: US Now Supporting Ridiculous Broadcast Treaty; Suggests It Could Cover The Internet Too

  

  Joe Publius ( profile ), 20 Jul, 2012 @ 10:33am

  Wouldn't that mean that our own government would have to pay CSPAN for footage of their own hearings? The mind boggles.

• On the post: MPAA Points To Its Roster Of Crappy Online Services And Asks What We're Complaining About

  

  Joe Publius ( profile ), 13 Jul, 2012 @ 08:06am

  Re: Re: The Problem

  It might be what some people say as their excuse for piracy, but the reality is that they just wanted:
  1) The product sooner
  2) The product cheaper
  3) The product in a country it isn't sold in
  
  Providing stuff I want in a matter that is afforable, and easily available sounds like a great way to get my money. Why doesn't someone try doing that instead of whinging?

• On the post: UK Pensioner Could Face Arrest For Atheist Poster

  

  Joe Publius ( profile ), 05 Jul, 2012 @ 11:33am

  When I saw that the speech in this situation was related to religion and athiesm, I quickly sped to the troll pens to feed them, as is the requirement in such situations.Turns out I was too late, they are already fat and happy!
  
  The real point isn't about the person's stance/belief/opinion, it's what has already been said earlier, speech should be protected unless there's a very good reason to do, and benefit of the doubt should be given to the speech when the reason for stopping it boils down to hurt feelings or challenged perceptions.

• On the post: Former Righthaven CEO Secretly Hires Lawyers For The Company He No Longer Has Anything To Do With

  

  Joe Publius ( profile ), 25 Jun, 2012 @ 03:03pm

  You know, if I was as foolish to go through what the Gibsons went through, and then got the boot from Righthaven, I would have considered it a relief. I mean, who would really want the hassle of being the one who has to dismantle a business that is essentially assets-on-the-hoof? The mind boggles.

• On the post: David Lowery Wants A Pony

  

  Joe Publius ( profile ), 19 Jun, 2012 @ 03:05pm

  Re: boys will be boys

  Infringement is definitely illegal at this time, but far from unethical. Copying ideas, expressions and culture is the bedrock that today's culture has built itself on.

• On the post: Because We All Know What Skype Was Missing Was Intrusive Advertising, Microsoft Has Decided To Add It

  

  Joe Publius ( profile ), 19 Jun, 2012 @ 12:28pm

  Re:

  The last thing an internet user needs is a conversation started from a targeted ad that was generated using browsing history.
  
  "Hey Tim, why do you need to buy a kitten in a kiddie pool, a cheerleader outfit, and a bottle of mustard?"

• On the post: Apple Steps Into Patent Fight To Unnecessarily Silence A Little Girl

  

  Joe Publius ( profile ), 13 Jun, 2012 @ 10:16am

  Re: Re: "We Believe Everyone Deserves A Voice"

  The progress of useful arts and sciences continues!

• On the post: Senator Ron Wyden Slams Cybersecurity Legislation Proposals For Eroding Trust & Privacy

  

  Joe Publius ( profile ), 23 May, 2012 @ 02:39pm

  Re:

  Since posting on blogs is the furthest I will go into social networking, couldn't someone more savvy nudge the other social/news sites to spread the word?
  
  I'm sure sypathetic folks could be found at Reddit, Fark, and other places.

• On the post: Chelsea Clinton: We Must Protect The Children On The Internet

  

  Joe Publius ( profile ), 22 May, 2012 @ 10:30am

  Re:

  We urgently need a public conversation in our country among key stakeholders: parents, educators, musicians, policymakers and young people themselves. The dialogue must focus on the ways Rock-and-Roll music influences kids to give up their modesty before they fully understand what love between a husband and wife is and why it's important to all of us. We should also discuss how music can help empower kids to find their voice, find their purpose and potentially enrich artistic culture.
  
  All adults know that the teen years are a critical time for identity exploration the growth of faith. Yet this important developmental phase can be dramatically twisted when obscene music, however melodic, alters one's peceptions to love and its physical expressions for life.
  
  
  I close my eyes and I can smell the 50s. Oddly it's like TV dinners and irrational social repression.

• On the post: How Copyright Extension Undermined Copyright: The Copyright Of Parking (Part I)

  

  Joe Publius ( profile ), 22 May, 2012 @ 08:23am

  Re: Parking Today?

  I paraphrase George Carlin from his Jammin in New York show:
  
  Any activity engaged by more than four people has got a magazine *!%&@ devoted to it

• On the post: The Ridiculous Hoops Mad Men Had To Jump Through To Use Part Of A Beatles Song

  

  Joe Publius ( profile ), 09 May, 2012 @ 12:05pm

  Re:

  In Futurama they call it "the Stupid Ages". As a member of that era, I'm hurt a little, but it seems applicable.

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