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[2001-05-31 14:04:00] - car stereos than there are cell phones. - mig
[2001-05-31 14:03:00] - there is one thing i'm skeptical of the lp statistics though. it doesn't take into account the percentage of people who own cell phones and drive. sure, more accident as a whole are caused by radio tuning, but there are a hell of a lot more
[2001-05-31 14:02:00] - paul: i'm not too surprised about hearing that the computer won't detect something. i've heard of it before. just have to manually install it -dave
[2001-05-31 13:50:00] - @@@/?a=12 ~a
[2001-05-31 13:35:00] - anybody here have any ideas? -paul
[2001-05-31 13:32:00] - dave: I just can't think of something that would make a modem disappear and then somehow thwart plug-and-play so that the computer doesn't auto detect it anymore -paul
[2001-05-31 13:16:00] - dave: I mean, I could understand the video card not working if she didn't have the latest drivers for win2k or the latest version fo directx, but it sounds like the video card works -paul
[2001-05-31 13:15:00] - dave: I can't think of anything that could happen in which the video card works but the modem doesn't unless there is a hardware conflict of some sort -paul
[2001-05-31 13:12:00] - dave: http://www.lp.org/press/archive.php?function=view&record=204 -paul
[2001-05-31 13:11:00] - if in doubt, just send them. -dave
[2001-05-31 13:10:00] - and what are the libertarian's statistics about? the cell phone thing? -dave
[2001-05-31 13:10:00] - although theoretically i don't think it should do that. -dave
[2001-05-31 13:09:00] - paul: i have no idea what her problem might be. that might be it -dave
[2001-05-31 12:33:00] - dave: What do you think Aparna's problem could be? Do you think maybe the video card stole the interrupt for her modem? -paul
[2001-05-31 12:31:00] - dave: I can give you the Libertarian Party's stupid statistics if you want them. -paul
[2001-05-31 12:00:00] - http://www.bonsaikitten.com/ - aaron
[2001-05-31 11:44:00] - aba: you can manually "add a modem" in windows. or if all else fails you could try to physically take it out, boot, then put it back in, and reboot -dave
[2001-05-31 11:43:00] - anyway, i have to go, so if anyone has any ideas or anything, give me a call tonight at home. - aba
[2001-05-31 11:43:00] - and no, it made my modem disappear completely from my hardware profile and windows won't detect it anymore. - aba
[2001-05-31 11:42:00] - i thought he could call me to tell me whether he could help me since i can't use this computer for very long. - aba
[2001-05-31 11:42:00] - aaron: unfortunately, i think the speakerphone feature does basically the same thing, lol -dave
[2001-05-31 11:41:00] - aaron: it's called a speakerphone
- vinnie[2001-05-31 11:41:00] - It would be like the nintendo robot, how you could hit a button on the 1p controller to make the screen flash to make the robot hit a button on the 2p controller - aaron
[2001-05-31 11:39:00] - It is a perfect invention, the anti-cell-phone law must pass so that I can be rich!
[2001-05-31 11:39:00] - Ha! It wouldn't be illegal for a passenger to talk on a cell phone though... So how about a robot who sits in the passenger seat and talks on the phone for you and you tell him what to say? - aaron
[2001-05-31 11:39:00] - aba: do you mean it made your modem drivers disappear? if so, just install them again.....did you install the video card drivers? -dave
[2001-05-31 11:38:00] - aba: it made your modem disappear? in any case, it's kinda hard to debug computer problems over the phone, although you can try -dave
[2001-05-31 11:32:00] - paul: your voodoo 3 made my modem disappear.
i don't know what to do. will you have time tonight to help me fix things? i am using my dad's computer, so just call me when you get home from work. - aba[2001-05-31 11:27:00] - paul: i'm not trying to make fun of you, btw - vinnie
[2001-05-31 11:26:00] - aaron: neither do i. because like paul would say, "where would we stop? passenger licenses? handstand licenses?"
- vinnie[2001-05-31 11:25:00] - how big of a problem is it anyways? does anyone have numbers on how many people die from accidents related to cell phone use? -dave
[2001-05-31 11:24:00] - aaron: somehow i don't think a license for it would be very accepted -dave
[2001-05-31 11:24:00] - vinnie: yeah, exactly, and banning people from having passengers in their car is ridiculous. i suppose you could say that even if it was just as dangerous, you wouldn't want to present more dangerous situations though -dave
[2001-05-31 11:21:00] - Maybe they could have a license you have to earn, by demonstrating you know how to operate a cell phone while driving... It sounds ridiculous but it might work, it's kind of a half-baked idea.... - aaron
[2001-05-31 11:21:00] - dave: also, i bet a lot of people who talk to people in the passenger seat take their eyes off the road to talk. I know i do on occasion - vinnie
[2001-05-31 11:21:00] - aaron: yeah, paul likes to be an idealist. it makes sense in a lot of cases, but in others, practicality sometimes overrides it -dave
[2001-05-31 11:20:00] - yeah, speakerphones. i wonder why those haven't picked up in popularity. probably goes back to inconvenience, but for me, it would seem more convenient - vinnie
[2001-05-31 11:19:00] - vinnie: how interesting, i wouldn't have thought of that, but i guess it makes sense -dave
[2001-05-31 11:19:00] - so if you can talk while not holding the phone, how is that more distracting than talking to someone who is sitting in the passenger seat? -dave
[2001-05-31 11:19:00] - dave: i've read cell phone use has become like the new radio, or the radio for people who don't like music. a lot of users use it to stop boredom - vinnie
[2001-05-31 11:18:00] - some business people really do have a need to use their phones while driving though, because they're driving so often and such. besides, don't they have those things where you can talk to people without actually holding the phone? -dave
[2001-05-31 11:18:00] - but people probably won't rally behind a cause that causes them more inconvenience than good
- vinnie[2001-05-31 11:17:00] - dave: From what I understand, I think paul either thinks that you should be able to either anything while driving, or nothing at all while driving. Or something like that. - aaron
[2001-05-31 11:17:00] - granted, i think people could keep their phone conversations to when they are not driving. -dave
[2001-05-31 11:17:00] - dave: agreed. convenience also must be taken into account - vinnie
[2001-05-31 11:16:00] - for example, driving cars is one of the most deadly actions that people do. but we still let people drive. so driving and talking on a cell phone is hazardous, the benefits still might outweight the consequences -dave
[2001-05-31 11:15:00] - vinnie: i think another thing that is considered is how convenient the action is. -dave
[2001-05-31 11:15:00] - at least, in our current system - vinnie
[2001-05-31 11:15:00] - "enough" people is however many it takes for people (or more importantly, the press) to notice and people to get a law passed against it - vinnie
[2001-05-31 11:14:00] - aaron: and did you say earlier that there are more deaths from people using the radio than using cell phones? -dave
[2001-05-31 11:13:00] - i think it is a fair way of doing things. you prevent potentially dangerous (in terms of percentages) things when they affect enough people. but don't ask me to draw the line where "enough" people is
- vinnie[2001-05-31 11:13:00] - aaron: i have heard that putting on makeup while driving is a problem. not as big, to be sure, but still a problem. i've seen it myself actually -dave
[2001-05-31 11:13:00] - Sorry guys, I have to go now. Seems they finally got the Badge system back online (stupid Win2000). Be back in an hour or so -paul
[2001-05-31 11:12:00] - vinnie: Agreed. The question is, do you think that is how it should work? -paul
[2001-05-31 11:11:00] - so wait, aaron, you think there should be a law against using cell phones while driving and paul doesn't? -dave
[2001-05-31 11:11:00] - aaron: Ok, a better example then. I have never heard of somebody feeding their baby cyanide but I think that is a problem -paul
[2001-05-31 11:11:00] - paul: But like Vinnie said, if there's not enough users, the law doesn't need to be made. If putting-on-makeup was resulting in a significant number of accidents, then it would be different - aaron
[2001-05-31 11:10:00] - paul: yes, i think. surprisingly (or perhaps not so) that's how our current system works - vinnie
[2001-05-31 11:10:00] - paul: No, I can't answer that question. like I said, we just choose a number somewhere. You can't just have officers arbitrarily saying, "Yeah, I guess you LOOK drunk enough. Let's take you in" or something. You have to draw a line - aaron
[2001-05-31 11:09:00] - Why don't you think it is a problem? I'll bet that a higher percentage of women who drive and put on make-up cause accidents then people who use cell phones. -paul
[2001-05-31 11:08:00] - Terrorist nuclear bomb incidents have not happened yet but if they do, the results are much more dramatic, so I think more precautions need to be taken for that - aaron
[2001-05-31 11:08:00] - aaron: I can't answer that question. I don't see why it is wrong to have a ba of 0.5% but not wrong to have a ba of 0.49999999%. Can you answer the question? -paul
[2001-05-31 11:08:00] - Paul, that's not what I mean. I meant that I don't actually think there is a problem at all with women driving while wearing makeup - aaron
[2001-05-31 11:07:00] - vinnie: Interesting way of looking at things. We shouldn't outlaw dangerous stuff till it gets too popular? -paul
[2001-05-31 11:07:00] - So to answer your question, yes, we just choose a number - aaron
[2001-05-31 11:06:00] - aaron: What I am saying is that you can't say a problem doesn't exist just because you don't know about it -paul
[2001-05-31 11:06:00] - paul: My point is we have to set a line somewhere. Like the 0.5% ba level for DUI.... What's wrong with 0.5001%? What's wrong with %0.49999? - aaron
[2001-05-31 11:06:00] - jdb: So do having children in a car... -paul
[2001-05-31 11:05:00] - paul: that's where we get back to total users. if there aren't enough users, then the law probably shouldn't be made - vinnie
[2001-05-31 11:05:00] - aaron: So we just choose a number like 100 and say if 99 people die of something then tough, but if 100 die of something then it is illegal? -paul
[2001-05-31 11:04:00] - So you're comparing a person getting in an accident due to putting on makeup while driving, to a nuclear bomb? Okay - aaron
[2001-05-31 11:03:00] - cell phones require a lot more interaction than radios... -jdb
[2001-05-31 11:03:00] - vinnie: What do you think about televisions in mini-vans? -paul
[2001-05-31 11:02:00] - ...Right? Just like the arbitrarily chosen drinking age of 21 or the arbitrarily chosen BA level of 0.5% (or whatever it is) for deciding if someone is DUI - aaron
[2001-05-31 11:02:00] - aaron: I have never heard of a single terrorist incident involving a nuclear bomb in america, it's still a problem -paul
[2001-05-31 11:02:00] - i do think when you are talking about laws banning things though, it makes more sense to look at percentage. if we ban radios, how more are we inconveniencing than by banning makeup in cars? - vinnie
[2001-05-31 11:01:00] - aaron: it does matter where you draw the line though, you said it yourself. Radio should not be illegal but cell phones should be because there is an arbitrarily chosen line which cell phones cross but radios don't -paul
[2001-05-31 11:00:00] - paul: i honestly couldn't tell you what that function is - vinnie
[2001-05-31 11:00:00] - Okay, I have never heard about a single accident which was caused because someone was putting on makeup while driving - aaron
[2001-05-31 10:59:00] - aaron: Well, I have never seen a woman get raped before, but I consider it a problem -paul
[2001-05-31 10:59:00] - It doesn't matter where you draw the line, it matters that a line needs to be drawn - aaron
[2001-05-31 10:58:00] - I have never seen someone putting on makeup while driving, so I do not see it as a problem - aaron
[2001-05-31 10:57:00] - vinnie: So where do we draw the line? 100 people? 500 people? 1000 people? -paul
[2001-05-31 10:56:00] - jdb: I look forward to it -paul
[2001-05-31 10:55:00] - aaron: How do you know that cell phones contribute to more accidents then make-up? And besides, isn't that a stupid statistic to use since more people use cell phones then put on make-up while driving? -paul
[2001-05-31 10:55:00] - if one person dies in a car doing a handstand, obviously it doesn't need a law - vinnie
[2001-05-31 10:54:00] - paul: next week, we will have to discuss this more.
-jdb[2001-05-31 10:54:00] - paul: i agree with that. but it needs to be some function of dangerousness percentage and total users - vinnie
[2001-05-31 10:53:00] - Right but cell phones are contribute to more accidents than make-up, and they at least appear more dangerous to use than the radio or A/C.... - aaron
[2001-05-31 10:52:00] - aaron: I figured that since my normal attempts only seem to get you more upset, maybe you would respond better if I argued the same way you do -paul
[2001-05-31 10:51:00] - vinnie: If you are to do a comparison of dangerous things to do while driving, there are far more dangerous things then cell phone use. I've seen people put on make-up while driving for instance -paul
[2001-05-31 10:50:00] - Yeah I know, but that's the norm for me, whereas you usually (or at least used to) chastise me for doing that kind of thing, now you seem to be joining in - aaron
[2001-05-31 10:50:00] - jdb: I think that politicians zeroing in on cell phone use while ignoring other more dangerous activities is silly -paul
[2001-05-31 10:50:00] - i don't understand your analogy, paul - vinnie
[2001-05-31 10:49:00] - aaron: I know, it's kind of rude how you started off your arguments by using insults instead of logical arguments -paul
[2001-05-31 10:49:00] - Because people don't do their taxes while driving, paul - aaron
[2001-05-31 10:48:00] - vinnie: In that case, I would think it would be a lot more dangerous to do your taxes while driving, why don't we outlaw that? -paul
[2001-05-31 10:48:00] - Hm resorting to insults already. I'd prefer a logical explanation of why you think that way but insults are fine too - aaron
[2001-05-31 10:48:00] - paul: do you think that individuals should have pretty unlimited rights on the highway? -jdb
[2001-05-31 10:47:00] - Cell phones seem more dangerous. You have to use a hand to hold it up, and it's more distracting to have a conversation than to just listen to the radio - aaron
[2001-05-31 10:46:00] - but like aaron has pointed out paul, how dangerous something is should be defined in terms of some percentage of total users - vinnie
[2001-05-31 10:46:00] - I mean, it's incredibly stupid to think that outlawing cell phone use while driving is a good idea but still allow people to use the radio and climate control systems -paul
[2001-05-31 10:45:00] - I think what's more amusing is that politicians want to outlaw cell phone use while driving instead of outlawing radio use -paul
[2001-05-31 10:41:00] - i don't have time to read that libertarian thing now, but that sounds pretty ridiculous. -jdb
[2001-05-31 10:38:00] - Then they show that radios cause more accidents, and hence conclude that radios are more dangerous than cell phones? Pfft. It's amusing, really - aaron
[2001-05-31 10:37:00] - ugh. don't get me started on r-rated movies. - mig
[2001-05-31 10:37:00] - It's amusing how stupid these libertarian statistics are.... Obviously all drivers use a radio, while only a small percentage use cell phones - aaron
[2001-05-31 10:28:00] - Shrek was really good! - aaron
[2001-05-31 10:19:00] - so how was shrek? -jdb
[2001-05-31 10:10:00] - it's supposed to be the official trailers for the cowboy bebop movie, but i can't get them to work - vinnie
[2001-05-31 10:09:00] - dave: see if you can get the trailers on this page to work: http://www.cowboybebop.com/door/news/010518.html - vinnie
[2001-05-31 09:32:00] - paul: I would sure hope so, with all that money he has -dave
[2001-05-31 09:11:00] - ugh... thin = think -paul
[2001-05-31 09:10:00] - dave: I thin he said he wasn't going to marry her but he fully intends to help support the child -paul
[2001-05-31 09:02:00] - paul: so is he actually going to raise the child? or just going to leave it to the mother? -dave
[2001-05-31 09:02:00] - http://www.lp.org/press/archive.php?function=view&record=205
[2001-05-31 09:00:00] - http://www.lp.org/press/archive.php?function=view&record=204
[2001-05-31 08:59:00] - dave: He released a press statement saying he and a woman had "humped" during his anger management tour and since the baby (a boy) was conceived in Dallas, his name is going to be Dallas -paul
[2001-05-31 08:58:00] - http://www.lp.org/press/archive.php?function=view&record=206
[2001-05-31 08:56:00] - vinnie: i do care. i can't fix it from work though. ~a
[2001-05-31 08:48:00] - i didn't see anything about his child. he had one? -dave
[2001-05-31 08:47:00] - http://www.salon.com/news/wire/2001/05/30/exxon/index.html
[2001-05-31 08:41:00] - dave: Then how come nothing about Fred Durst's child?
-paul[2001-05-31 08:40:00] - who's next? patrick stewart?
- vinnie[2001-05-31 08:39:00] - paul: just posting interesting tidbits from my morning news read -dave
[2001-05-31 08:39:00] - a: in case you still care anymore, search is broken again
- vinnie[2001-05-31 08:37:00] - hey, wow, not only is halle berry in swordfish, but hugh jackman's in it! - vinnie
[2001-05-31 08:37:00] - dave: Boy you like talking to yourself
-paul[2001-05-31 08:35:00] - dave: i've seen a bunch of ads for swordfish, and i didn't even know halle berry was in it
- vinnie[2001-05-31 08:31:00] - bush only asks for 5.6 billion to supplement the military's budget. apparently, everyone is upset that he didnt' ask for more. the post even quotes a democrat saying they should give more. must be bad if the democrats are saying that -dave
[2001-05-31 08:25:00] - the post hinted that this might not be so great since pg-13 might start having a larger range of things it can have -dave
[2001-05-31 08:24:00] - about the r rated movie thing - supposed they are getting much less money than expected because the underage people aren't able to get into the theatre to see them like they used to -dave
[2001-05-31 08:23:00] - and in other morning news, it is rumored that halle berry was paid a half million to drop her top in "swordfish," an upcoming action movie -dave
[2001-05-31 08:22:00] - and fewer R rated movies are going to be made = ( less sex and violence for us = ( -dave
[2001-05-31 08:21:00] - hehe, bush's kids got busted for trying to buy alcohol -dave
[2001-05-31 08:21:00] - hehe, bush
[2001-05-30 22:20:00] - arghhh, why do I always miss all the interesting conversations? -paul
[2001-05-30 20:44:00] - i wish i had more time to play on message board. some evening, i'll catch up reading the archives. and i am going to implement a new feature probably durring lunch tomorrow. ~a
[2001-05-30 20:43:00] - http://boing.dhs.org/aaron/face.html [16, 746.4] ~a
[2001-05-30 16:49:00] - whoops - anyone = all industries. - mig
[2001-05-30 16:49:00] - how a company could claim they have an absolute right to a certain acronymn or a single english word as a domain name. - mig
[2001-05-30 16:48:00] - anyways, there is another reason why i don't agree with cybersquatting laws is because since duplicate trademarks are allowed to exists, as longs as they are in different industries. and since the internet is supposed to represent anyone i don't see
[2001-05-30 16:36:00] - catch ya later miguel -dave
[2001-05-30 16:35:00] - hoooooome. sweeeet home. -dave
[2001-05-30 16:35:00] - on a percentage of what they might make if they win -dave
[2001-05-30 16:34:00] - mig: true. everything isn't fair. and i don't think you could ever make it so that everything was. but if your case has enough merit, you could still get a very good lawyer to represent you. there are tons of lawyers who work on a percentage of -dav
[2001-05-30 16:33:00] - and then forced to settle, most of the times because its cheaper that way. - mig
[2001-05-30 16:33:00] - of course it goes both ways. companies get unfairly sued as well. - mig
[2001-05-30 16:31:00] - hence, comes the other problem that our court system. Simply the threat of a lawsuit from a wealthy company is enough to force someone who is not as wealthy to simply settle out of court, which i think is plain wrong. - mig
[2001-05-30 16:31:00] - vinnie: yeah, i'm not totally clear on it, but there are general copyright laws that apply to everything, and then there are more specific laws for things that get special licenses. not positive -dave
[2001-05-30 16:30:00] - yes, but they get applied into cases that should have never even be considered in the first place. - mig
[2001-05-30 16:30:00] - mig: yeah, sorry about that, i think you're right -dave
[2001-05-30 16:29:00] - anyway, i've gotta get out of here - vinnie
[2001-05-30 16:29:00] - mig: and i do believe that people still make money off of buying domain names and then selling them. i'm not positive, but i think the cybersquatting laws are just there to handle extreme cases -dave
[2001-05-30 16:29:00] - "drivers only" is a phrase. and i think the correct ad slogan was "drivers wanted". - mig
[2001-05-30 16:28:00] - dave: wha? everything is copyrighted? - vinnie
[2001-05-30 16:27:00] - mig: i agree, hypocrites are very high on my list of things that annoy me -dave
[2001-05-30 16:27:00] - mig: even for single english words. i'm sure there are ad campaigns like "drivers only" that are built around a single word -dave
[2001-05-30 16:27:00] - and as for "sticking it to the man." it's not really that, it's just if there's one thing is this world that pisses me off a lot, it's fucking hypocrites. - mig
[2001-05-30 16:26:00] - vinnie: everything is copyrighted, but there are different degrees. if you want a higher degree, you have to do more stuff -dave
[2001-05-30 16:25:00] - sorry i wasn't very clear on that. i meant like, single english words. a group of english words would be acceptable. - mig
[2001-05-30 16:25:00] - so i don't see how you can agree with copyright and trademarks in one thing and not for english words -dave
[2001-05-30 16:25:00] - dave: that is true. let me clarify. there is no simple solution to every cybersquatting case. what about an uncommonly used word that isn't trademarked, like madonna? - vinnie
[2001-05-30 16:25:00] - Hey guys, did someone give me a call about the "Shrek" thing? It turns out I was busy last night, but still.... Anyway, let me know of things. - dewey
[2001-05-30 16:24:00] - like for the vw "drivers only" thing. it'd be pretty odd if all those advertisements and stuff had to be in non-english words -dave
[2001-05-30 16:24:00] - A wealthier company sends in a spy to find out the prospective company names, and registers all of those domain names. There's an example where cyber-squatting laws could benefit wealthy companies - aaron
[2001-05-30 16:24:00] - I can see why UNC would be upset. - dewey
[2001-05-30 16:24:00] - well if you can't own english words, then what? half of the "jingles" that companies make up are english words. -dave
[2001-05-30 16:23:00] - Quitting time. Talk to you all later. - dewey
[2001-05-30 16:23:00] - dewey: uncgirls.com was the something like the universal nude college girls, and university of north carolina sued them - vinnie
[2001-05-30 16:23:00] - Okay how about this. An up-and-coming company has several different names they're trying to decide on but they're not wealthy enough to buy them all. - aaron
[2001-05-30 16:22:00] - in one sense it is a case by case thing already. because if you want to force someone to give up your company name, then you have to take them to court, and the judge has to decide -dave
[2001-05-30 16:21:00] - OH okay. I thought you objected to cybersquatting laws for some sensible reason... But you actually don't care about the laws at all, you're just trying to "stick it to the man" or something - aaron
[2001-05-30 16:21:00] - acronymns and english words are one of those things i do not believe should be "owned". - mig
[2001-05-30 16:20:00] - i belive in intelletcual property, but i believe there are certain things that should not be owned. - mig
[2001-05-30 16:19:00] - d whiney and yell at the government. - mig
[2001-05-30 16:18:00] - the reason i object to cybersquatting laws on principle: businesses seem to think the unfettered capatilism is ok, and the government shouldn't step in. yet when capitalism works against them, as in the case of cybersquatting, they get all pissy an
[2001-05-30 16:17:00] - mig: I take it then you don't believe in intellectual property? - aaron
[2001-05-30 16:17:00] - vinnie: the one in the supposed sex video? if no, then I haven't heard of it - dewey
[2001-05-30 16:16:00] - and yes i think cybersquatting is ok. - mig
[2001-05-30 16:15:00] - dewey: no, but that's also an interesting case. did you hear about the uncgirls case? - vinnie
[2001-05-30 16:15:00] - yes, i think it's ok. and i think some issues have come up with sites that had hokie in them. - mig
[2001-05-30 16:15:00] - referring to the case of vw.org - vinnie
[2001-05-30 16:14:00] - A company name can be just as much intellectual property as a painting or a poem, like vinnie said, it's a case by case thing. - aaron
[2001-05-30 16:14:00] - mig: in that case, i would probably agree woth you. except that case was a little stranger because i don't think they were a legitimate company - vinnie
[2001-05-30 16:14:00] - Has the VT webnames issue come up yet? - dewey
[2001-05-30 16:13:00] - Miguel, you seem to be arguing that cybersquatting is always okay. Like registering www.mickeymouse.com would be okay or something - aaron
[2001-05-30 16:13:00] - i do not believe you have an absolute right to any internet domain. if you want a domain you register it just like everyone else. - mig
[2001-05-30 16:13:00] - mig: then you have at least a fighting chance - dewey
[2001-05-30 16:13:00] - I agree with vinnie. Someone stealing your company name can be fair or unfair depending on what you name your company.... "A Company" comes to mind
- aaron[2001-05-30 16:12:00] - how is registering the website www.vw.org stealing volkswagen's company name? what i had a company that had the initials vw. - mig
[2001-05-30 16:12:00] - i really think cybersquatting needs to be done case by case. there is a fine line on what is infringement of trademark - vinnie
[2001-05-30 16:12:00] - wow, I actually regurgitated something I learned in economics
- dewey[2001-05-30 16:12:00] - and then you will just have black-markets for lawyers which will cause the same exact problem. - dewey
[2001-05-30 16:11:00] - the only thing i can think of to change our system may be to make a fee cap on lawyers to balance things. but certain lawyers will always be better than others, and the good ones will just be booked from here to kingdom come - dewey
[2001-05-30 16:10:00] - dave: i agree. i think our legal system is a lot more fair than many other countries - vinnie
[2001-05-30 16:10:00] - i mean, what is cybersquatters are just opportunists. - mig
[2001-05-30 16:10:00] - mig: and i'll have to finish this discussion later, because i have more tests to run = ( -dave
[2001-05-30 16:10:00] - So you don't object to someone stealing a company name, miguel? How about a company logo, or the likeness of the company president? Are those okay to steal? - aaron
[2001-05-30 16:09:00] - I don't see many ways of improving our legal system. The only way is to change, appeal, and lobby for laws to be changed that you think are dumb. - dewey
[2001-05-30 16:09:00] - not that japan is any measure of anything though = ) -dave
[2001-05-30 16:09:00] - not that japan is any measure of anything though = ) -dae
[2001-05-30 16:09:00] - and i don't think there are many, if any, countries that have a better system. japan for one sends people over to the states just to study our system -dave
[2001-05-30 16:08:00] - mig: after all, the copyright, trademark, patent laws, etc etc have helped to make america the great inventing nation that it is today. it seems to have worked fairly well -dave
[2001-05-30 16:07:00] - heh, first use of the word 'mayhaps' - dewey
[2001-05-30 16:06:00] - yes, and i never agreed with the cybersquatting laws. to me cybersquatting laws are the result of hypocrticial business who got whiney because they got shafted by capitalism. - mig
[2001-05-30 16:06:00] - mig: that's my point, is there an easy way to improve it? -dave
[2001-05-30 16:06:00] - dewey: ahhh ok, thx -dave
[2001-05-30 16:05:00] - why should we be content with our piece of shit legal system, if we can improve it? - mig
[2001-05-30 16:05:00] - mig:mayhaps, but i don't think it is entirely fair to criticize something unless it's easily apparent how you could make a better one -dave
[2001-05-30 16:04:00] - or cellophane. i believe cellophane lost their trademark - vinnie
[2001-05-30 16:04:00] - mig: there's a separate law that deals with the web addresses. my dad says it's called the "cybersquatting" law or something like that -dave
[2001-05-30 16:04:00] - maybe it does, maybe it doesn't, but our legal system is still a piece of shit. - mig
[2001-05-30 16:04:00] - vinnie: Yeah, mclean. in the westgate building - dewey
[2001-05-30 16:03:00] - vinnie: i don't know if scotch lost it's trademark or not. my dad gave me an example. i think it was "formica" or something like that -dave
[2001-05-30 16:03:00] - dave: ems stands for emergency medical services - dewey
[2001-05-30 16:03:00] - that whole fairness and equality stuff... - dewey
[2001-05-30 16:03:00] - that was in reference to the xerox thing messages ago
- vinnie[2001-05-30 16:03:00] - mig: i know what you mean. it seems unfair that richer people with better lawyers get out of more things. but on the whole, our country does a pretty good job compared with other countries doesn't it? -dave
[2001-05-30 16:02:00] - i don't think it should matter if its well known or not. i have just as much a right to own www.vw.org as volkwagen does. - mig
[2001-05-30 16:02:00] - dave: like scotch tape? - vinnie
[2001-05-30 16:02:00] - although i guess some people would feel shafted if they only got a week as opposed to some other people getting a month. - dewey
[2001-05-30 16:02:00] - mig: the whole purpose of the thing is to prevent random people from taking advantage of well known names to promote their products -dave
[2001-05-30 16:01:00] - actually that's a problem i have with the justice system in this country as a whole. -mig
[2001-05-30 16:01:00] - mig: it's true that those with the most money are generally more well known, but if you're not well known, then you don't really have anything to protect -dave
[2001-05-30 16:01:00] - first in = you - vinnie
[2001-05-30 16:00:00] - mig: it's not necessarily money. it's just how well known you are. -dave
[2001-05-30 16:00:00] - dewey: ok, i don't think that's the division my dad is in. are in working in the mclean branch? - vinnie
[2001-05-30 16:00:00] - dewey: what's ems? -dave
[2001-05-30 16:00:00] - that's the problem i have with this whole trademark bullshit. those with the money are the ones that get the courts to be nice to them. - mig
[2001-05-30 15:59:00] - so you get great protection, unless your name or jingle gets so well known that people start describing stuff by it. take xerox for instance. they do a lot of adds trying to emphasize that copies are "photocopies" and not "xerox copies" -dave
[2001-05-30 15:59:00] - They have all sorts of appreciation weeks too. EMS appreciation week was two weeks ago. - dewey
[2001-05-30 15:59:00] - and i don't see why groups can't have overlapping months. - mig
[2001-05-30 15:58:00] - well it's not really 2 months, if it's from day x to day x, which is still technically one. - mig
[2001-05-30 15:58:00] - vinnie: i asked my dad about the copyright / trademark thing. he said that the bigger and more well known you are, the more leeway the courts give you in protecting your copyright / trademark -dave
[2001-05-30 15:58:00] - Why does the message board insist on ading my stupid words? I proably am spelling them all worng aneway.
- dewey[2001-05-30 15:58:00] - dave: They can always just overlap them. -paul
[2001-05-30 15:57:00] - Officially, my department is Airspace Design. Don't know what I will be working on yet. - dewey
[2001-05-30 15:56:00] - do they have enough months for all the different american heritages? i mean, if hispanics get two months.... -dave
[2001-05-30 15:56:00] - dave: a quarter of me can celebrate with you.
-paul[2001-05-30 15:55:00] - Yeah, I don't get that either. But I figure I might as well bring in some movies
- dewey[2001-05-30 15:54:00] - dewey: Much thanks. Hopefully I will be able to get the responses to all these letters up by tomorrow (I was on track to get them up today but then my damn boss actually gave me work
) -paul[2001-05-30 15:54:00] - awwww, why can't the month be asian and indian? it's no fun celebrating by myself -dave
[2001-05-30 15:54:00] - what division, dewey? i suppose it's not the one my dad works in though - vinnie
[2001-05-30 15:54:00] - unless people start putting software on dvds, which i don't think will happen anytime soon. -dave
[2001-05-30 15:53:00] - that's one thing i don't quite understand. dvd drives for computers at work. some people have them, but i can't think of any possible work application for them -dave
[2001-05-30 15:53:00] - I work for MITRE (that should be in caps), not doing anything yet, but oh well. - dewey
[2001-05-30 15:53:00] - hmmm, why can't I get the surprised face?
-paul[2001-05-30 15:52:00] - white male power? really? -dave
[2001-05-30 15:52:00] - Paul: you have full permission to use my letter. - dewey
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