[Quote of the day] When I hear the word culture . . .

I reach for my Browning.”

CULTURE CLUBFOOT. TRex at Firedoglake (get well so…:

I’ve said it many times before and I will say it many times more: these pricks say they are at war for the “culture,” but what they really want is to replace all vestiges of culture wih propaganda — which is the only thing they know how to produce.

links for 2007-01-31

an idea whose time has come?

Senate Multimillionares Vote To Block Minimum Wage Hike:

After repeated delays by conservatives, the Senate voted 87-10 today to end debate on legislation that will raise the minimum wage for the first time in a decade, from $5.15 to $7.25. The bill will move to a full vote in the next several days.

Ten right-wing senators stuck together and voted to further delay raising the minimum wage:

Rep. Roy Blunt (R-MO) wants a raise.:

Backers of raising the minimum wage are blocking the annual congressional pay raise until 13 million working Americans also receive a raise. Blunt is objecting, saying the raise is “crucial for members of Congress who are not independently wealthy and must operate two households.” Members of Congress currently receive an annual salary of $165,200. The minimum wage is stuck at $5.15/hour.

Link Congressional Pay to the Minimum Wage Petition:

To: The President and Congress of the United States

Whereas, the members of the United States Congress already earn more than thirty (30) times the federally mandated minimum wage and are in a position to vote against pay raises that would otherwise be automatic;
Whereas, the opportunity to serve in the United States Congress is a privilege that should be its own reward;
We, the undersigned, propose a Constitutional Amendment linking Congressional Pay to the federal minimum wage, with Congress members to be paid no more than ten (10) times the amount of someone earning the minimum wage for a full year (or 2000 hours).

Only 87 people agree? Come on . . .

links for 2007-01-30

links for 2007-01-29

the catbird seat

The old “Apple should stop making hardware” argument resurfaces.

Theocacao Comment for “Apple is About the Mac”:

As an AAPL shareholder, I think a pretty good business case can be made for restructuring Apple more along the lines of Microsoft.

So I guess you would have liked to be an MSFT stockholder during the last 10 years? *scratches head*

Microsoft has been branching out into hardware and services like crazy over the last years, and for good reason. Deep inside, every software-maker and other content-provider knows that copying is what bits are for, and once a critical mass of technology-aware consumers is reached, that is what will happen with them, without fail.

You have only three options:
1) Provide an experience that is so great that consumers actually feel compelled to contribute to its continued development.
2) Couple your software with services or hardware that are practically irreplaceable.
3) Impose artificial restrictions on your content.

Apple is currently able to do all three of those things, in all their businesses, and with most consumers’ consent. This is an insanely great position to be in, why in the world would they give that up?

Some other good comments there, and some staggeringly dumb observations as well.