Groups like the National Consumer Law Center (NCLC) have repeatedly issued studies showing how “legitimate” companies and debt collectors use all the same tools and tricks as scammers, often harassing people they know can’t pay (or don’t want their services) sometimes hundreds of times a day. And they do so with the blessing of federal and state policy and lawmakers, who’ve been lobbied into apathy.
This sort of garbage happens every time in tech (and I'm sure other fields). Sometimes it doesn't even have much of anything behind it, like the mysterious "Web 2.0" I haven't heard anybody mention in awhile. Any next gen item has a bad habit of getting co-opted by marketing speak and yielding unrealistic expectations and literal trash sales ads or investor hype pitches.
Finally, a smack against copyright maximalists. Can't wait to hear them try to explain this one away and how they still "own the rights" and they were shaking people down for payments in good faith...
Quote from the article on ArsTechnica: "This is a great step forward for all music creators," said Recording Industry Association of America Chairman and CEO Cary Sherman. "Music has tremendous value, whether it was made in 1970 or 2015. We hope others take note of this important agreement and follow SiriusXM's example."
Well, that sounds like the typical slimeball MPAA/RIAA speak we've come to expect. Basically some form of: 'Just look at all the money it has made us! And look at how little we've passed on to the people that wrote it! I mean, we said it had tremendous value -- we never said that value was for the artists! Hahaha, suckers!'
Maybe we can finally stop using SSNs as a unique identifier for people, or pretend it confirms someones' identity, since every company seems to request/require/have access to people's SSNs (and then treat that access with the type of non-chalant, non-caring attitude we've come to expect in the cyber security age).
I can still get parts for my 1952 antique tractor. Parts I don't have, I can find used, or have machined. In my work in electronics, I find that anything that has been built before can be built again, even if the parts that went into it are obsolete (microprocessors, etc.). It just takes money and planning. Did they just now realize they have a parts problem? Or did they plan this as a convenient excuse and not keep parts on hand or have orders in for replacement parts in advance?
I like the "I took a picture and he asked me for ID", because in what world does that make sense? How is that even a relevant question!? Ugh. This makes me sad.
Ugh, nothing is worse in the checkout lane at the store than the person who decides they're going to pay by check... Only, they just heard their total, and NOW they start looking for their checkbook. Rather than, you know, filling everything out but the total ahead of time... Or even just having it in hand ready to go! I'm the type of guy who usually shops without a cart and only has 2 or 3 items in hand that I specifically came in for, and this drives me crazy. Express lanes are the greatest myth of all time!
I am not a person who tells people to use a specific site or anything like that. What I am prone to do is pass along links of relevant stories of interest. For me, that is usually things related to musicians and copyright expansion and software patents (as it covers my interests and hobbies of software development, making music, and reading).
As for commenting... It depends. If the story has a low post count, or is a very relevant topic to me, I will always go in and read the comments. 80% the time I post a comment, it is because I want to comment on the story. The other 20% of the time, it is because I want to comment on something somebody else has said. I usually will make it a point to post if my viewpoint is somehow contrarian to the direction that the comments are going (no need for another "me too" post, ya know?).
Oh, and if I think I have something funny or insightful to say (ie. a relevant joke pops into my head), and the topic has a low post count, I'll almost always post as well.
I think it's just collusion with the toner cartridge industry lobby! First they get you with vendor lock in to their specific cartridges, then they get the government to use tankerloads of black ink per page!
Of course...
Consistent
This sort of garbage happens every time in tech (and I'm sure other fields). Sometimes it doesn't even have much of anything behind it, like the mysterious "Web 2.0" I haven't heard anybody mention in awhile. Any next gen item has a bad habit of getting co-opted by marketing speak and yielding unrealistic expectations and literal trash sales ads or investor hype pitches.
Classic
That CNET sentence snippet almost looks like they got a PR blurb directly from AT&T on the subject and just printed it verbatim.
Finally, a smack against copyright maximalists. Can't wait to hear them try to explain this one away and how they still "own the rights" and they were shaking people down for payments in good faith...
My favorite quote...
Quote from the article on ArsTechnica: "This is a great step forward for all music creators," said Recording Industry Association of America Chairman and CEO Cary Sherman. "Music has tremendous value, whether it was made in 1970 or 2015. We hope others take note of this important agreement and follow SiriusXM's example."
Well, that sounds like the typical slimeball MPAA/RIAA speak we've come to expect. Basically some form of: 'Just look at all the money it has made us! And look at how little we've passed on to the people that wrote it! I mean, we said it had tremendous value -- we never said that value was for the artists! Hahaha, suckers!'
On a side note about SSNs...
Maybe we can finally stop using SSNs as a unique identifier for people, or pretend it confirms someones' identity, since every company seems to request/require/have access to people's SSNs (and then treat that access with the type of non-chalant, non-caring attitude we've come to expect in the cyber security age).
Re:
"Err, pass out the complimentary cigarettes."
"Yeah, we smoke when we shoot the bird!"
CEO (or politician) has no idea how technology works and proceeds to spread FUD? Typical day in America, sadly. :(
Fortunately this was not a problem for me, as I still haven't forgiven them for cancelling Mega Man Legends 3. And I *DO* vote with my wallet.
A time of shareware games with no micro transactions. Truly, simpler times.
Man, I miss playing Doom and Wolfenstein in the 90s...
Wait... You can literally trademark a W?
I can still get parts for my 1952 antique tractor. Parts I don't have, I can find used, or have machined. In my work in electronics, I find that anything that has been built before can be built again, even if the parts that went into it are obsolete (microprocessors, etc.). It just takes money and planning. Did they just now realize they have a parts problem? Or did they plan this as a convenient excuse and not keep parts on hand or have orders in for replacement parts in advance?
I like the "I took a picture and he asked me for ID", because in what world does that make sense? How is that even a relevant question!? Ugh. This makes me sad.
sarcasm ahead
Hey now, they're just thinking proactively about their publicity rights!
Won't somebody think of the military juntas!?
Ugh, nothing is worse in the checkout lane at the store than the person who decides they're going to pay by check... Only, they just heard their total, and NOW they start looking for their checkbook. Rather than, you know, filling everything out but the total ahead of time... Or even just having it in hand ready to go! I'm the type of guy who usually shops without a cart and only has 2 or 3 items in hand that I specifically came in for, and this drives me crazy. Express lanes are the greatest myth of all time!
Wow, as a CS person, I feel bad I never knew about the Morris worm.
Or, even worse, the travesty that befell Robert Morris due to it.
Re: Re:
Whelp, now I'm sad. :-(
I am not a person who tells people to use a specific site or anything like that. What I am prone to do is pass along links of relevant stories of interest. For me, that is usually things related to musicians and copyright expansion and software patents (as it covers my interests and hobbies of software development, making music, and reading).
As for commenting... It depends. If the story has a low post count, or is a very relevant topic to me, I will always go in and read the comments. 80% the time I post a comment, it is because I want to comment on the story. The other 20% of the time, it is because I want to comment on something somebody else has said. I usually will make it a point to post if my viewpoint is somehow contrarian to the direction that the comments are going (no need for another "me too" post, ya know?).
Oh, and if I think I have something funny or insightful to say (ie. a relevant joke pops into my head), and the topic has a low post count, I'll almost always post as well.
I think it's just collusion with the toner cartridge industry lobby! First they get you with vendor lock in to their specific cartridges, then they get the government to use tankerloads of black ink per page!
Obligatory dark money shilling!