Vog 's BestNetTech Comments

Latest Comments (98) comment rss

  • On the post: Shocking Revelation: It Isn't The Phone That's Dangerous; It's The Driver

    Vog ( profile ), 27 Aug, 2012 @ 09:09am

    Re: Re:

    I think the appropriate conclusion is that cell phones cause you to miss, which means that drive-by shooters would have perfect aim if they'd just hang up beforehand.

  • On the post: Shocking Revelation: It Isn't The Phone That's Dangerous; It's The Driver

    Vog ( profile ), 27 Aug, 2012 @ 08:46am

    The thing I find disappointing about studies like this is that they tend to conflate aggressive driving with distracted driving.

    I, myself, am unabashedly guilty of the former. I tend to average about 6 to 7 mph over the speed limit, and when I have somewhere to go, I don't want to have to touch my brake. Consequently, if you v-e-r-y s-l-o-w-l-y pull out right in front of me because you have a smartphone jammed up your nose, I'm going to be displeased.

    That said, I recognize the danger of aggressive driving, but I wouldn't be so quick to categorize "driv[ing] faster, ... spend[ing] more time in the left hand lane, ... brak[ing] harder, and ... chang[ing] lanes more often" as implicitly dangerous behaviors. If I'm more focused on driving and on my surroundings, I'm going to be more alert, reactive, and maneuverable than a distracted driver.

  • On the post: Award-Winning Manga Author Opens Up His Work To Be Used By 'Anyone, Anywhere, For Anything,' Royalty-Free

    Vog ( profile ), 27 Aug, 2012 @ 08:35am

    Sato will not actually be renouncing his copyright. Instead, he has chosen to not enforce it, in essence granting the entire world free rein to use his work to create foreign language adaptations, applications, commercial films, TV series, produce merchandise or anything else the "second users" can come up with.

    This is commendable, but the cynic in me can't help but suggest a more appropriate title for this article: Award-Winning Manga Author Greenlights Doujinshis That Were 'Pretty Much Going To Happen Anyway'

  • On the post: $17,000+ Bounty Offered For Leaks Of TPP Negotiating Texts

    Vog ( profile ), 23 Aug, 2012 @ 11:04am

    Re: Re:

    Incidentally, in before "Mike wrote the title that way to stir up his rabid TD pirate dogs hurr durr."

  • On the post: $17,000+ Bounty Offered For Leaks Of TPP Negotiating Texts

    Vog ( profile ), 23 Aug, 2012 @ 11:02am

    Re:

    So let me get this straight: you're suggesting that the EFF, which released an infographic that encourages citizens to protest the secrecy surrounding the TPP negotiations and push for more transparency, actually knows the content of the TPP agreement?

    Why, then, would the EFF waste their time with the infographic - why wouldn't they just share the details? Surely the facts would speak better to the situation, even if, as I'm sure you will claim, the EFF's goal is to spread FUD?

    Please explain how this makes sense.

  • On the post: $17,000+ Bounty Offered For Leaks Of TPP Negotiating Texts

    Vog ( profile ), 23 Aug, 2012 @ 10:56am

    Re:

    That's how I read the title. I'm glad to know it's not the case, but the whole situation is pretty terrible anyway.

  • On the post: $17,000+ Bounty Offered For Leaks Of TPP Negotiating Texts

    Vog ( profile ), 23 Aug, 2012 @ 10:33am

    I'd think that someone's basic conscience about having access to such a document should be a better reason, but you never know...

    I'm actually interested to know, if it is leaked, who cracked first. A representative in government, who we shouldn't have to pay to release public information (isn't it illegal for them to accept that money, anyway?) or one of the industry shills in it for the cash?

    It's disappointing either way. This initiative shouldn't have to happen.

  • On the post: Fifteen Years Ago Today, BestNetTech Was Born

    Vog ( profile ), 23 Aug, 2012 @ 10:29am

    Rev. Pirate Mike: Preaching freetard "ethics" for fifteen years strong! Someone get him his complimentary parrot and a bottle of Kool-Aid!

    YAAAAARRRRRRRRR!

    (Congrats, BestNetTech!)

  • On the post: Rep. Nadler Proposes The RIAA Bailout Act Of 2012

    Vog ( profile ), 23 Aug, 2012 @ 08:32am

    Can we just skip to the part where the artists start paying the labels to perform their own music?

  • On the post: DailyDirt: Making Memories

    Vog ( profile ), 22 Aug, 2012 @ 05:12pm

    Re:

    Does it have to be a quote? Fine, I'll take another stab at it:

    "Currently, implanting false memories in lab mice involves some combination of genetic engineering, boxes, electrical shocks, brain implants and drug injections," Michael pointed out, brightly.

    "--These procedures aren't recommended for humans," Bob quickly cut in.

  • On the post: DailyDirt: Making Memories

    Vog ( profile ), 22 Aug, 2012 @ 05:02pm

    Currently, implanting false memories in lab mice involves some combination of genetic engineering, boxes, electrical shocks, brain implants and drug injections, and these procedures aren't recommended for humans (yet). Ten points for re-writing that sentence as a Tom Swifty.

    Done:

    While implanting false memories in lab mice currently involves some combination of genetic engineering, boxes, electrical shocks, brain implants and drug injections, the process to approve this for humans would be tortuous.

  • On the post: Oxford Professor Says Mankind Is Ethically Obligated To Create Genetically Engineered Babies

    Vog ( profile ), 22 Aug, 2012 @ 02:48pm

    Re: Re: Re: Not yet slippery

    If competitive Pok?mon players are any indication of how far someone will go to have a perfect offspring, rest assured there will be plenty of people willing to take the "pretty hard and probably cost-prohibitive" route. Perfectionists abound, and a child is a large investment anyway.

    They kind of have a point though. I mean, if you're going to bother raising one, why gamble when your kid could have perfect speed.

    Speaking of which, since I guess it's still-sort-of-topical, if these theoretical kids grow up to be great athletes, do we let them compete in the Olympics, or are they relegated to their own separate competition? Because then it really would be Pok?mon.

  • On the post: Oxford Professor Says Mankind Is Ethically Obligated To Create Genetically Engineered Babies

    Vog ( profile ), 22 Aug, 2012 @ 02:21pm

    Re: Re: Re: the problem: is nutters are useful?

    I really need to read before I respond today.

    Anyway, it would be interesting to see, perhaps, what parents would choose to have in a kid, if they could. For example, maybe weaker-willed, frail parents would choose to live vicariously through their offspring?

    It's a shame there's such a taboo on the whole subject.

  • On the post: Oxford Professor Says Mankind Is Ethically Obligated To Create Genetically Engineered Babies

    Vog ( profile ), 22 Aug, 2012 @ 02:17pm

    Re: Re: the problem: is nutters are useful?

    Who's to say we wouldn't select for traits like larger muscle mass, increased aggression, heightened stamina, or tolerance for authority in soldiers? Just because we could have more peaceful, mentally healthy citizens doesn't mean we couldn't also have supersoldiers.

  • On the post: Oxford Professor Says Mankind Is Ethically Obligated To Create Genetically Engineered Babies

    Vog ( profile ), 22 Aug, 2012 @ 12:11pm

    On the timeline of evolutionary history, we're a blip on the radar. I say let's get weird with it.

  • On the post: The Stupidity Of The 'Just Go Without' Argument

    Vog ( profile ), 22 Aug, 2012 @ 09:46am

    Re: Re:

    There's the word I was looking for.

  • On the post: The Stupidity Of The 'Just Go Without' Argument

    Vog ( profile ), 22 Aug, 2012 @ 08:56am

    Re:

    Ones without an understanding of economics, anyway. I've got nothing against creators with innovative business models. (Where's that edit button?)

  • On the post: The Stupidity Of The 'Just Go Without' Argument

    Vog ( profile ), 22 Aug, 2012 @ 08:53am

    If everyone decided to 'just go without', I'm sure content creators would find a way to make that illegal, too.

  • On the post: People Are Willing To Pay, Even If You Offer Something For Free

    Vog ( profile ), 21 Aug, 2012 @ 05:33pm

    Re: Framing the pay

    Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the Humble Bundle site does the same thing. Clever indeed.

  • On the post: Australian Media Exec Uses Dickens & Shakespeare — Who Both Thrived Without Copyright — To Explain Why We Need More Copyright

    Vog ( profile ), 21 Aug, 2012 @ 08:29am

    Re: Doing it wrong

    How can you say this, when these CEOs and executive directors have depended on artists for their continued existence? You would deprive them of their quality of life just because they went to college instead of create some elitist, "community-organized" garage band and rode on handouts all the way to the top?

    Jay, these are people who have worked their noses to the bone influencing people just so they can have a job. I'm disappointed that you would question the money they take home just to support such hobbies as luxury car collecting, cocaine, or falconry. We all know motherfucking eagles don't buy themselves.

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