Microsoft is in decline. Between Windows 8 and the Xbox One, few if any consumers are interested in their products for the sake of their products anymore.

Ok, Windows 8 was a definite flop, but shouldn't we at lease wait to see how the Xbox One is released before we declare it dead?

Linux is far from "write once, works 3 years from now" and neither is OS X. You'll find greater stability in running a Windows app via WINE that you will a native OS X or Linux app several years down the road.

Ok, that's just total nonsense. Microsoft operating system and applications are, simply put, not known for their stability. I can't even imagine you typing that with a straight face.

Microsoft isn't in decline, however much people like you and I would like to imagine them to be.

Yeah, sure. They just haven't been able to break into the mobile device market while that market is in the process of devouring their core business. No big deal, right?

I would be less not ok with this if it were actually possible to purchase HBO Go, which it isn't.

Hollywood can’t seem to believe that software is made with logic, precision and concentration

Most software leaves users with the feeling it was slapped together by a rowdy group of inebriated teenagers, so it's not surprising hollywood feels that way. Of course, the problem is usually poor management practices and not alcohol, so truth is more boring than fiction in this case.

a scale that would dwarf anything that all but the most paranoid would imagine

I've known this was going on since the late '90s with ECHELON. And even before that, the government was already involved with large scale warrantless information gathering with COINTELPRO. It's not that I'm paranoid, I just looked at the evidence and accepted reality. Perhaps it's just more "normal" for most people to be in denial about this kind of thing?

The problem isn't the TSA

That's the stupidest thing I've read on /. today. Of course the TSA is the problem. Taking peoples pocket knives is a pointless knee-jerk reaction.

the problem is the grandparent is an idiot who won't take responsibility for his own actions.

That's a pretty big problem too, but then no one said there was only one problem.

There are no natural strains of corn that are roundup resistant. The farmer knew that and was attempting to exploit what he saw as a loophole in the patent system. The court, however, ruled that he knowingly infringed on the patent (which he obviously did). He was required to abide by the terms of sale in order to compensate Monsanto for their monetary losses (the loss of the sale to the farmer). That's how patents work.

The guy knowingly cultivated the patented seeds. You're making an absurd argument saying that you'd have to send in every seed for testing. The court wouldn't accept such a foolish argument.

You know some people work on computers, right?

Wishing something weren't true isn't a valid refutation.

once it's on my property, I should have the right to do whatever I want with it -- including harvesting and re-planting the seeds, because I never agreed not to.

No. You may be surprised to learn this, but patents apply to you and do not require your explicit consent. All government requirements apply to you without your consent. That includes the requirements that allow you to "own" land in the first place. You are just picking and choosing which ones you like and which ones you don't.

Actually, it's strange that the farmer took any action against the wheat at all. Around here they just let it grow, and I can't really think of a reason not to. Maybe he was worried about the wheat depleting the soil, but it would have to be a pretty big patch of wheat.

The US gov't wants to tax this money a second time, at the full tax rate, as if the money had never been taxed before, as if it had been made in the US.

The IRC actually allows you to deduct foreign taxes from the taxes you owe. The thing is, corporate taxes are much lower in other parts of the world, so what you said is practically true even though it's not actually true at all.

How do you sue people for telling the truth?

1) Fill out the forms. A Civil Cases Cover Sheet, a Summons, and a Complaint all must be filled out in order to file a lawsuit. You must include facts concerning the case and a legally recognizable cause of action in order for the suit to proceed. It is best to have an attorney help you do this to make sure the forms are filled out correctly. See USCourtForms.com for sample forms you can use.

2) File the complaint. Make two copies of your forms, go to the courthouse, and file the originals with the court according to their instructions. Make sure you provide the forms in the format specified by the court, to prevent delays from occurring. In most cases you will have to pay a filing fee, but this can be waived if you show you can't afford it. Keep the two extra copies.

3) Have the defendant served. The next step is to notify the defendant that he or she is being sued by serving him or her with a copy of the court documents. The case cannot move forward until this happens. Documents must be served by someone over 18 who is not part of the case. You cannot serve your own documents.
Ask for help at the courthouse if you aren't sure who should serve your documents.

4) Wait for a hearing. After the defendant has been served, the court will review the lawsuit and instruct you on how it will move forward.

the only consistency to their logic is that they are (obviously) right, and everybody else is (obviously) wrong.

But you wouldn't know anything about that, would you?