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1. Comment - Geeks vs. journalists: A tale of two worldviews

   (Jul 3, 2009 - 7:58 PM)

   One of my luxuries since I retired early is Astrophysics. From this body of limited knowledge, one quickly sees that Achievement, work, Advancement (put in any word you want), is built upon the shoulders of those that came before. No science or art or "objective thinking" (not possible) can survive without the water of others before and yes, those to come. Conventional news outlets have forgotten this and I hope that all of you involve in computers can step back and see that, even here, one builds upon the work of others. This collaboration is something to celebrate not tear apart and as I leave Betanews (no offense to Betanews but Time does march on), I hope that each of you can set aside your individual "worldview' and work together to build a better world using the new technologies as your guide. I have often marveled at the knowledge both at Betanews and the posters but I have often see the darker side that is each of us. As we move into the darken forest we call the future, each has a choice to reach down to elevate someone who might one day elevate you or to tear down and ignore. Technology is neutral- how we use it isn't.
   In the end, this isn't about Browsers or OSs but about how do we make something better. the old media died both from self-inflicted wounds as they turned their back on those greats that came before them but also because they refused to embrace with open arms the new technology and how it could better even one life. Life is not defined by ones and zeros but by the totality of how one lives and contributes. So, in leaving, I would say this- as easy as it is to resort to a putdown or crack a joke maybe try to in that darken forest, elevate that person. If the hand is refused so be it.
   Finally, I didn't follow your guide to picking up Geek women since those types of books or posting are silly but the article was well-said.
   Always remember Einstein saying:
   "You can't separate the observer from the observed."

2. Comment - The law vs. the right to know: Whose news is it anyway?

   (Jul 3, 2009 - 10:23 AM)

   "The debate rages still about coordinated efforts by The New York Times and Wikipedia to embargo news of David Rohde's kidnapping from appearing in either information source. I have no ethical problem with the two organizations having done so, though I wish the practice was consistently extended to all situations in which publicity is one of the goals of the kidnapping itself. (Jill Carroll, anyone?)"
   Very good point.
   In some ways, it is the uneven approach that creates the problem. What Posner is trying to do (besides throwing "grenades" as he is prone to do) is save a dying media news format just as the time will come when printed books go the same way. Where these protection laws need to change is trying to figure out how to make the new medium work to the betterment of society and not to prop up one industry or another.
   The question for the news media (whether general news or tech news or the comics:) is how to make the new model work instead of fighting a losing battle.
   I don't subscribe to any paper. I get my news from their online version minus the comics. What we see in these attempts to move online is trying different ways to generate revenue to support the reporters (whatever they report on) and the online presence.
   Just as the day will come when most music is obtained online and most movies go online or direct to TV, the same applies to the print medium.
   I think the word is called evolution or progress.

3. Comment - ASCAP wants money for your ringtone

   (Jul 3, 2009 - 9:50 AM)

   Here is a link to copyright law in the U.S.
   http://www.copyright.gov/title17/
   
   The law has long been broken down into 4 broad categories and this again is taken from the law itself:
   "Section 107 contains a list of the various purposes for which the reproduction of a particular work may be considered fair, such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Section 107 also sets out four factors to be considered in determining whether or not a particular use is fair:
   1. The purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes
   2. The nature of the copyrighted work
   3. The amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole
   4. The effect of the use upon the potential market for, or value of, the copyrighted work
   The distinction between fair use and infringement may be unclear and not easily defined. There is no specific number of words, lines, or notes that may safely be taken without permission.
   Acknowledging the source of the copyrighted material does not substitute for obtaining permission. "
   Court cases have been all over the map. In some point #1 takes center stage and in others point#3 has. What can be said is that there really isn't a min. or max. amount allowed or not allowed. I'll leave it to everyone to look at the case law because, as I have said it is all over the map including the 30 second common belief.
   Having said all that, This is one more example of the need to update and modernize patent, trademark, and copyright laws. I would also say that based on some case law ( I'll leave it up to the resourcefulness of each to find those cases), a case can be made that the DMCA is unconstitutional under the rulings of the Supreme Court over the last 50 years and needs to die.
   Finally, This case will probably be decided on point 1 and that involves the question of whether company A charges for the ringtones. I would also say that the only ones that will benefit from this action is the music industry. The ones that will suffer are the artists and the consumer. I would end by saying that the ambiguity or wiggle-room allows the RIAA and other Mafia-oriented groups to gouge the public.
   Others may disagree and I respect that but we need, in a public way, to begin a discussion of how the law has been abused by some groups.

4. Comment - What's Next: The first signs of improvement for the tech economy

   (Jul 1, 2009 - 9:00 AM)

   To extremely well-
   First change your Sn because you are not well. Second drop the "YAWN" bs- just shows how immature you are. third, if the articles bore you don't post that way we are not subjected to your boring posts. "Yawn". Fourth, some other Sn used "Yawn" and I would you two get together and start a little family of little yawmies.:P

5. Comment - Afloat on the endless news tide

   (Jun 26, 2009 - 10:13 PM)

   Thank you Mz. Gunn for a good piece and I especially like your last sentences:
   "Mark the waterline. You'll want to remember it later. "This moment," indeed."
   Everyone here (for the most part) has tremendous knowledge of computers and their workings . I sometimes stand or sit in awe of your knowledge. But I hope that in this rush to benchmark and advocate this or that, we never forget that it is the uniquely human experience that allows technology to transfixed and then transform us in a moment. Sometimes we need to change the filters we've put on but without the human experience we are left with nothing but wires and circuit boards.
   In my many moments, the most important one came in the 60's when for some reason, I changed from a gangling basketball fanatic to a passionate advocate for Civil Rights and the Anti-war movement. What move me? Yes technology but more impotently, the use of that technology to transform me .
   So, in typical BLt30 fashion, I leave you with an off-the wall thing (no offense Facebook): a poem
   A Curriculum for Poetry
   1) Walk in the October moon.
   2)Dream.
   3)WAKE UP!
   4 Look for ground luminosity in every living thing,
   and under the moving marks on paper.
   5 Make a rosary out of your scars. Pray it.
   6) make peace with the fact that the sun will explode in 1.1 billion years, melting everything, then shrinking into some kind of dwarf or other, leaving nothing but a bunch of frozen dust floating around in the cold dark.
   7) Eat more spinach.
   8)Accept the fact that we are all made of stardust
   our little lives are held in pace by the specific gravity
   of the stories we spin.
   9) Spin a new story
   10) Remember-Truth is heavier than fiction.
   11) Cut the hand open and let the heart speak for itself.
   12) Love. Love it all. Let its mortality tear the heart to
   bits. let go. then love it all. allover again.13) When feeling like a fool, strive to be the perfect fool.
   14) Descend into hell, but always be home in time
   for supper.
   13) Write it all down.
   Written by Claudia Mauro
   what does it mean? that is up to each of us
   wires, motherboards and benchmark = Nothingness
   wires, motherboards, benchmarking PLUS that "moment" that transform us = Greatness and mortality. In each person here, these qualities lie if only we, for a brief moment, change our own filter and see our world slightly differently.
   And now in typical blt30 fashion, I'll leave to smoke a joint and ponder how many universes reside in each pore of my thumb:)