Just a guy jumping from a hot mess into more prosperous waters.

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Joined 1 year ago
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Cake day: June 22nd, 2023

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  • Fixing requires readers support their preferred news outlets with subscriptions. Currently headlines need to drive the ad machine if the lights are going to stay on. Challenging the ad buyer’s main revenue stream is not financially viable. It’s the main reason news outlets do not want to touch Medicare For All, pharmaceutical ads are big money makers. Money in politics is a no-go because it’s a guaranteed cash infusion every two years, not to mention the overlap with other ad buyers. Decoupling the ads from the main revenue gives media outlets the freedom they need to address the news as they seem fit.



  • As a Californian and with regards to Pelosi that blame is on us–the voters. Incumbents with mediocre records can still win reelection on name recognition alone. Getting progressive challengers in California isn’t hard. But getting progressives that can build their brand and base to a competitive size to match incumbents, while surviving the mudslide of bad press from establishment outlets? That’s hard.

    Hell, my home town despised the previous mayor. Still won his reelection in 2016 by nearly 2/3rds despite a progressive challenger who has been active in city politics and community outreach for over a decade. Had to wait until he termed out in 2020 before we could get the current progressive mayor in office.









  • Every time I see this argument it reminds me of how little people understand how copyright works.

    • When you buy that book the monetary amount is fair compensation for the contents inside. What you do afterwards is your own business so long as it does not violate the terms within the fine print of the book (no unauthorized reproductions, etc.)
    • When someone is contracted for an ad campaign there will be usage rights in the contract detailing the time frame and scope for fair compensation (the creative fee + expenses). If the campaign does well, they can negotiate residuals (if not already included) because the scope now exceeds the initial offer of fair compensation.
    • When you watch a movie on TV, the copyright holder(s) of that movie are given fair compensation for the number of times played. From the copyright holders, every artist is paid a royalty. Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker still get royalty checks whenever Rush Hour 2 airs or is streamed, as do all the other obscure actors and contributing artists.
    • Deviant Art and ArtStation provide free hosting for artists in exchange for a license that lets them distribute images to visitors. The artists have agreed to fair compensation in the form of free hosting and potential promotion should their work start trending, reaching all front page visitors of the site. Similarly, when the artists use the printing services of these sites they provide a license to reproduce and ship their works, as fair compensation the sites receive a portion of the artists’ asking price.

    The crux is fair compensation. The rights holder has to agree to the usage, with clear terms and conditions for their creative works, in exchange for a monetary sum (single or reoccurring) and/or a service of similar or equal value with a designated party. That’s why AI continues to be in hot water. Just because you can suck up the data does not mean the data is public domain. Nor does it mean the license used between interested parties transfers to an AI company during collection. If AI companies want to monetize their services, they’re going to have to provide fair compensation for the non-public domain works used.



  • This is a scam as old as time. An old professor of mine did the math, realized buying a new bottom tier printer was cheaper than buying its corresponding refills. Her husband was understandably furious at the stack of pristine printers pilling up in the garage.

    While you do save money on ink for larger printers (laser/pro photo inkjet) you are losing a lot of money just to start up. Its also worth noting that liquid ink has a shelf life, drying out, hardening, and a hassle to clean out if not used.

    On an interesting note: the EcoTank system is a reversal of the Stylus Pro and SureColor tank system. Instead of slotting in a fresh tank, you’re just pouring a bottle into a permanent tank. Good to see Epson taking a practical and consumer friendly approach.