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Comment DRM wins (Score 4, Insightful) 395

I think Microsoft is starting a trend that Sony and Nintendo will continue as the market is ready for this. As consumers we've been programmed to accept that you can't trade anything digital. Buying anything on itunes, google play, or steam is a one time purchase, can't trade or even give away. Kindle lets you loan books - if the publisher allows - for a single short period. Get a book loaned to you but something comes up and can't read it in that window? Oh well out of luck!

Comment Re:A "bitcoin wallet" (Score 1) 104

It's simplier to launder coins. You move them to one of the many exchanges that keep coins in a common pool. Then you withdraw coins to a new address - chain is broken. Bounce around to a few exchanges in different countries. That's the easy way, there are even services specifically designed for laundering.

Comment Local comedy clubs closing. (Score 1) 123

I've noticed the local comedy clubs have closed down. South Bend, IN Funny bone closed then Kalamazoo Michigan had a smaller club downtown that closed. Is this a national problem or just the bad economy in the area?

I saw Dunham at a local club before he got big, twice. He was a regular on the tour of local clubs I believe. I guess it was part of the right of passage for that job? Saw a stage hypnotist - with a member of our group getting hypnotized to have an orgasm with a tap on the forehead. Absolutely hilarious evening. Shame that entertainment option isn't around anymore.

Comment Re:Oy. (Score 2) 408

1) Hahahahaha. I hope Google does drive them out. The same companies that had higher "wholesale" DSL rates than they were offering retail to end users direct? The ones that have government mandated monopolies for regions where they can set any price they want for interconnect fees? There's a reason thousands of ISPs closed up shop in the early 2000s, they simply could not gain access to lines at anywhere near competitive rates because the incumbents got the FCC to undo the reform that forced them to share. The baby bells have received hundreds of billions of tax breaks and monies they got to roll out uprgades that never appeared (Google 200 billion broadband scandal) so I hope they do lose out. Now a few independent ISPs that are around, the few that have survived, I do hope they keep surviving.

2) Some areas have municipal fiber where anyone can connect. If an area wants this they should go for it and start the bond process. I don't think many do as they're rather rare.

Comment Re:LOL! American "priorities"! (Score 1) 461

You're right, off the cuff I'm going to say the typical skilled tradesman will have better financial success than a typical college grad.

Master plumber in my state requires 5 years apprenticeship with mandated tests to be licensed. I wouldn't compare it to a 5 year engineering program but it sure the hell beats the pants off of a typical management or lib arts class load. Although there are a lot of people who call themselves plumbers or engineers who aren't really those things.

Comment Re:Capitalism works despite regulation (Score 1) 404

Deregulation like the 1996 telco reform act helped spawn the ISP industry and is responsible for making the 'net ubiquitous. Then telecom firms got rid of the pesky rules requiring them to provide open access to competitors when the FCC was ran by Powel's son under Bush Jr. The thousands of ISPs across the country died because wholesale costs to lines were more expensive as the telcos were charging for retail. Kill the competition and force the clients back to the monopolies all through regulation. Corporatism is bad for consumers.

Comment Re:They are forced to (Score 1) 404

FIOS is halted because the large telcos made deals worth hundreds of billions and then realized they could keep their money without rolling it out. Although states like NJ are supposed to have 45Meg to every household by now - it's in the contracts the telcos signed. Sadly no politician has the gumption to go against such big companies.

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