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Comment: Re:And your point is? (Score 4, Informative) 627

I wrote back and they replied insisting that the $50k was a firm number. I had forgotten too that they had approached me about buying advertizing from them several weeks ago and I rejected them because although Boston is the major DMA, my campaign can't afford to pay to broadcast to 5million who are not in my district.

Comment: Re:Idealism is Impractical (Score 1) 3

There was no announced criteria previously. It seems most likely that this is a response to my having refused to buy advertising from them, which I did because I'm buying on local cable in my district rather than on a broadcast that reaches 5 million people who are not in my district.

+ - Libertarian Candidate Excluded From Debate For Refusing Corporate Donations-> 3

Submitted by
fishdan writes "I'm a long time /. member with excellent karma. I am also the Libertarian candidate for U.S. Congress in Massachusetts 6th District. I am on the ballot. I polled 7% in the only poll that included me, which was taken 6 weeks ago, before I had done any advertizing, been in any debates or been on television. In the most recent debate, the general consensus was that I moved a very partisan crowd in my favor. In the 2 days since that debate, donations and page views are up significantly.

Yesterday I received a stunning email from the local ABC affiliate telling me that they were going to exclude me from their televised debate because I did not have $50k in campaign contributions, even though during my entire campaign I have pointedly and publicly refused corporate donations. They cited several other trumped up reasons, including polling at 10%, but there has not been a poll that included me since the one 6 weeks ago — and I meet their other requirements."

Link to Original Source

+ - Ebooks for libraries to self destruct?->

Submitted by
fishdan writes "The New York Times is reporting that HarperCollins Publishers announced last week that they would begin making the eBooks that they give to libraries expire after 26 readings (assuming a 2 weeks checkout period, that means one year of being loaned).

Simon & Schuster and Macmillan (among other publishers), do not sell eBooks to libraries at all because checking out ebooks from an online library in many cases is easier than buying a book online.


Link to Original Source

+ - Comcast's box rental rules violate antitrust laws?->

Submitted by DaGoatSpanka
DaGoatSpanka writes "A federal lawsuit has been filed against Comcast, alleging that the cable company's rules requiring customers to lease a cable box for premium services violates antitrust laws. The lawsuit states that Comcast and other companies require customers to lease the cable box, which consists of a converter box and a cable descrambler, directly from them even though the devices are available on the open market. "Importantly, the premium channel cable service and the cable box are separate and distinct products," the complaint states."
Link to Original Source

Comment: Re:REALLY misleading title (Score 3, Interesting) 417

by fishdan (#27759129) Attached to: US ISPs Using Push Polling To Stop Cheap Internet

I'm with you on this -- the monopoly is completely anti-consumer. The problem is that with significantly lower operating costs, the city will be able to drive the telcos out, and then THEY will be the monopoly. I hate private monopolies but I hate the state as monopoly equally. Simple solution here. Tell the city they cannot collect fees/taxes on the ISPs we're all good. I definitely want the city to come in and bust up the Telco monopoly -- I just don't want one monopoly to be replaced by another.
I agree the way the telcos are going about this is wrong though. I'd rather see legislation like: Where municipalities set up their own ISP, they cannot assess city taxes or fees on competing ISPs."

It's all about operating costs -- make those as equal as you can, and THEN let everyone compete.

Comment: Re:REALLY misleading title (Score 1) 417

by fishdan (#27759059) Attached to: US ISPs Using Push Polling To Stop Cheap Internet

>provision of communications service

They used that language because it's internet today, and VOIP tomorrow.

>Is a telco or cable company required to keep separate accounts for their internet service?

Geez. http://www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/news/Stock%20News/2296405/

>...the bill would say that *ALL* internet providers would be subject to these rules

That is an excellent suggestion, and I agree that would be the perfect wording. On the other hand, I doubt that the current Telcos are collecting much in the way trash and water fees.

Comment: REALLY misleading title (Score 4, Insightful) 417

by fishdan (#27758205) Attached to: US ISPs Using Push Polling To Stop Cheap Internet
Read the senate bill: http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/Sessions/2009/Bills/Senate/PDF/S1004v1.pdf I hate the telcos as much as anyone, but this bill says that when the city enters into the communications business, it should have to pay all the same taxes and fees as private business would, and be burdened with the same oversight. They also say that other fees the citizens pay (trash, water etc) cannot be used to fund the communications business. I don't see how this bill is unfair at all. The telcos are essentially saying "If we didn't have to pay any fees to the city to provide service, we could be competetive." If government wants to set up a business, they should have go compete with other businesses on a level playing field. If municipalities want to open up their own ISP, I am all for that, but then they should stop collecting fees and taxing the other ISPs they are competing with. Municipal government should not be using taxes and fees to provide a commercial advantage for themselves. I think the "level playing field" is actually a good title for this bill, and not an unreasonable request. We're all hopped up on this because it's something that's near and dear to us, but imagine if the city set up a taxi service, but then did not have to pay gasoline tax or hackney licenses. Obviously it benefits the public who uses taxis, but is it fair to the taxi drivers and cab companies that they now have to charge more than the city taxis.

+ - Frito Lay sues Derby Dames in Trademarkdispute.->

Submitted by
fishdan writes "You think it's tough when your hobby involves you getting blindsided by a leggy blond while on the track? Imagine if the same hobby got you blind sided by a multinational! Frito-Lay, a company previously thought of favorably by 5 out of 5 code monkeys, recently filed a suit of opposition against Coleen Bell, a Madison WI native and former Mad Rollin' Dolls roller derby player. Frito-Lay claims that Bell's roller derby name, Crackerjack, is too similar to the name of their famous caramel popcorn and nut snack.

Which seems ironic, when in their own ads they say "What do you call a kid, who can skate like that? You call that kid a Cracker Jack."

Bell has posted a video that succinctly makes her point."

Link to Original Source

Comment: Re:Alamo Drafthouse is awesome (Score 1) 437

by fishdan (#27505611) Attached to: Star Trek Premiere Gets Standing Ovation, Surprise Showing In Austin
>but that industry is in danger due to poaching from states like Lousiana and New Mexico. >If you live in Texas, write your state representative and senator and get them to support >Representative Dawnna Duke's economic incentive bill. If you live in Louisiana or New Mexico, find some random rep/sen in Texas and tell them how they better not waste any more money on films that make $$$. :)

Some people carve careers, others chisel them.