Comments on: I wish I could write

By: tgirsch

tgirsch — Thu, 06 Jan 2005 20:28:03 +0000

I�m not a detail-oriented person

Anyone who’s read any of your gun-related posts — particularly your posts fisking AWB editorials — would beg to differ.

By: smijer

smijer — Thu, 06 Jan 2005 17:06:17 +0000

We Showed Them Who Was Atlas
Go read the back story. Done? Back? In the spirit of blogospheric collaboration, I offer my humble effort to fill in some of the blanks… In Long Island, the looting continues. Big ticket items and weapons were the first to…

By: TriggerFinger

TriggerFinger — Wed, 05 Jan 2005 22:09:07 +0000

As a fairly hard-core libertarian, I have two weaknesses: anti-trust law as applied to Microsoft and the space program. As you can probably guess, I’m here to talk about the first.

Most libertarian types see Microsoft as a hero, resisting a government determined to hobble them. And to an extent that’s accurate, because the anti-trust trials really were designed to hobble Microsoft. But if there was ever any case where the ends justified the means, this is it. And Microsoft’s actions have forfeited any claim to heroism.

I won’t get into an argument about what they’ve done that is so horrible, because this really isn’t the place. But realize that casting “MacroHard” in the role of hero against the government is sort of like Godzilla vs King Kong: no matter who wins, the city gets smashed.

By: mike hollihan

mike hollihan — Wed, 05 Jan 2005 20:38:36 +0000

Sounds a bit like “Jennifer Government” by Max Barry. You might like it, too.
http://www.maxbarry.com/jennifergovernment/

By: mx5

mx5 — Wed, 05 Jan 2005 20:05:05 +0000

...and of course, by "fantastic gem of a movie," I mean >avoid at all costs, unless you like Claire or Rachael.

By: mx5

mx5 — Wed, 05 Jan 2005 20:01:59 +0000

When I first started reading this post, I halfway expected you to start describing Antitrust, that fantastic little gem of a movie starring Tim Robbins, Ryan Phillipe and a couple hottish chicks in irritating roles. Mmmm....Claire Forlani...

By: SayUncle

SayUncle — Wed, 05 Jan 2005 17:22:56 +0000

Dammit. I should probably read it then.

By: ben

ben — Wed, 05 Jan 2005 17:06:49 +0000

it’s essentially identical.

By: SayUncle

SayUncle — Wed, 05 Jan 2005 17:02:13 +0000

Actually, I’ve never read that. Is it similar or something?

By: skb

skb — Wed, 05 Jan 2005 16:49:36 +0000

And then, Atlas shrugged.

By: lobbygow

lobbygow — Wed, 05 Jan 2005 15:09:59 +0000

The struggle is eventually won by Macrohard, and our flag is replaced by their famous “Portals” logo. Chief Imperial Office Frederick Fence III is crowned for life. An imperial program is created that gives all Portalians (they renamed the country Portalus) a choice. In their 13th year, following corporation approved testing, they can choose a guaranteed job with a steady salary as a coder, system administrator, analyst, etc., depending on their skill level. If they want the possibility of greater financial reward with increased risk, they can enroll in the Portalian “managed free market” for a small annual user’s fee, where they are free to design, manufacture or sell their own products – as long as they are compatible with Portalian information commerce protocols. The Portalian operating system becomes as standard as our shared voltage or road sign symbology. The creation of alternate OS is punishable by death – the risk to vital infrastructure is too great.

Finally, they can enroll in the Portalian IPPF (Intellectual Property Protection Force), which offers its members opportunities to visit strange foreign markets, meet interesting hackers, innovators or counterfeiters and kill them.

Bartering is illegal.
Creating unregistered (outside the MFM) competing products is punishable by imprisonment.
The creation of non-sanctioned viruses or malware is punishable by death.

Welcome to the Free Republic of Portalus! Please click the “I Accept” button at the bottom of our Constitutional EULA to proceed.

SU, this has potential.

By: SayUncle : I wish I could write (part 3ish)

SayUncle : I wish I could write (part 3ish) — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

[...] I wish I could write (part 3ish) |By SayUncle| I wrote part one here. And Lobbygow contributed possible part two in comments. Smijer now has [...]