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Off-Topic Discussion => General Discussion => Topic started by: Flipside on March 17, 2004, 05:22:49 pm

Title: Go Eu! Go! ;)
Post by: Flipside on March 17, 2004, 05:22:49 pm: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=581&ncid=581&e=6&u=/nm/20040317/tc_nm/tech_microsoft_dc_5

Probably nothing will come of it, but still, we live in hope ;)
Title: Go Eu! Go! ;)
Post by: Zeronet on March 17, 2004, 05:30:59 pm: Meh, i like Windows Media player, beats all the other rubbish programs, like realplayer, which sucks immensely.
Title: Go Eu! Go! ;)
Post by: Thorn on March 17, 2004, 05:33:55 pm: I think this is moronic..
They're bundling their own software, with THEIR OWN BLOODY SOFTWARE
Title: Go Eu! Go! ;)
Post by: Flipside on March 17, 2004, 05:37:42 pm: Yes, that's how they killed Netscape as well, by providing Explorer with every copy of Windows ;)
Title: Go Eu! Go! ;)
Post by: vyper on March 17, 2004, 05:43:42 pm: Ah but Mozilla's success came of that if we're being perfectly honest. ;)
Title: Go Eu! Go! ;)
Post by: Flipside on March 17, 2004, 05:48:25 pm: This is certainly true, mainly because good ol Bill managed to wangle his way out of the law suit ;)

I don't have any problems with Media player, but I see the point, in a way, Microsoft can actually make more money by offering Media Player for money, or a free download, but then it would have to compete, and that is something Microsoft isn't very used to doing.
Title: Go Eu! Go! ;)
Post by: SadisticSid on March 17, 2004, 06:21:37 pm: Huh, that's rich, the corrupt and backward EU making a judgement on the business practices of Microsoft.

And I don't see what's wrong with MS bundling IE, WMP et al with their software. If people want there are many (better) alternatives they can use. Put it this way - should hoover manufacturers not be allowed to bundle hoover bags with their appliances in order 'to give the competition a chance'?
Title: Go Eu! Go! ;)
Post by: Rictor on March 17, 2004, 06:25:09 pm: "Corrupt and backward."

Que pas?
Title: Go Eu! Go! ;)
Post by: Flipside on March 17, 2004, 06:27:38 pm: Well Sid, you need to talk to Dyson about that one ;)
Title: Go Eu! Go! ;)
Post by: SadisticSid on March 17, 2004, 06:38:59 pm: Corrupt, in that its internal workings are open to its operators who can siphon funds (gathered from taxpayers of member states) for themselves, and nepotistic EU bodies can determine who gets are where financial aid is directed.

Quote
But today, the Commission is again faced with scandal and allegations of financial mismanagement and serious fraud, centred on this nondescript office in a bleak, modern suburb of Luxembourg. It's the headquarters of Eurostat, the EU statistics agency. On the face of it, Eurostat is a department as dry and tedious as its name. It publishes economic and financial data and statistics across Europe. But it's very powerful. The figures that it publishes can determine who gets regional aid. And it's now the centre of a fraud enquiry that threatens to negate all those promises of a new clean European Commission. The allegations, which are being investigated by the EU's anti- fraud office OLAF and by authorities in Luxembourg and France, centre on Eurostat's dealings with a series of other companies to whom they subcontracted work. One of them, Planistat, based in France, sold on Eurostat data quite legally. But it's alleged by EU investigators that some 920,000 euros ended up in an account outside EU financial scrutiny. Commissioner Pedro Solbes, the monetary affairs commissioner who is responsible for Eurostat, told a committee of MEPs last week, on the record, that OLAF, the EU anti- fraud agency, had given him this information. Another company, Eurogramme, based in Luxembourg was said to have falsified its financial history to win contracts with Eurostat. Commissioner Solbes told the same committee of MEPs that he had received this from Eurostat itself. This man, who still works at Eurostat, first tipped-off the authorities about the problems there, two years ago. At his request, we have concealed his identity. In an exclusive interview with Newsnight, he told us how money has been wasted.

Backward, in that it uses mountains of regulation and reels of red tape to suppress business and limit freedom in its member states. Take, for example, the man who was locked up for selling fruit in pounds and ounces instead of metric measurements. And then there's the enduring Common Agricultural Policy that distorts the agricultural market and forces farmers out of business, the Euro, a mickey mouse currency that has reduced the value of money workers take home, and that ghastly constitution that is the first step towards a United States of Europe.

Flip: ;)
Title: Go Eu! Go! ;)
Post by: mikhael on March 17, 2004, 07:33:24 pm: So they're just like American government, Sid?
Title: Go Eu! Go! ;)
Post by: aldo_14 on March 17, 2004, 07:35:38 pm: I like the EU, actually........... mainly because I'd rather live on the mainland than in this country :nervous:
Title: Go Eu! Go! ;)
Post by: Flipside on March 17, 2004, 07:51:59 pm: LOL There are actually still parts of Britain you can go that will take your breath away (The North Circular on a Monday morning, for example), it's a lovely island, shame about the government :(
Title: Go Eu! Go! ;)
Post by: Rictor on March 17, 2004, 08:11:22 pm: Ever thought of having yourselves and old fashioned revolution? Get pissed, burn down Parliment and have a few public executions. Guaranteed to get rid of all your social ills.

Done and over with in a few days, with enough time to send an invasionary force over the Atlantic. Teach that bastard little colony who's boss.

Ah, good stuff.
Title: Go Eu! Go! ;)
Post by: Grey Wolf on March 17, 2004, 08:13:28 pm: If you were to invade the US, this would actually be the easiest time in recent history, considering a good deal of the armed forces are abroad. Still wouldn't be successful, and I wouldn't like it if they did. Rampant anarchy and all tends to cause problems in your life.
Title: Go Eu! Go! ;)
Post by: Flipside on March 17, 2004, 08:14:31 pm: hehehehehe Ah the good old days, when the only roadworks you saw was where they were putting up more gallows ;)
Title: Go Eu! Go! ;)
Post by: redsniper on March 17, 2004, 09:03:34 pm: Quote
Originally posted by Grey Wolf 2009
If you were to invade the US, this would actually be the easiest time in recent history, considering a good deal of the armed forces are abroad.

*cough* we got the nuke *cough*
Title: Go Eu! Go! ;)
Post by: Mr. Vega on March 17, 2004, 10:01:55 pm: In the form of 18 Ohio submarines:blah:
Title: Go Eu! Go! ;)
Post by: demon442 on March 17, 2004, 10:48:07 pm: Umm...redsniper? Everyone has 'the nuke'. The only reason nobody's used one in war-time since Hiroshima and Nagasaki is because a dominoe effect similar to the one that started WWI would occur and royally f**k everyone.

On Topic: I have no idea how the EU is about things, but it does sound very familiar.
Title: Go Eu! Go! ;)
Post by: Bobboau on March 17, 2004, 11:23:23 pm: something good comes out of Europe... finaly
Title: Go Eu! Go! ;)
Post by: Kazan on March 17, 2004, 11:31:36 pm: anyone who says "i don't see what's wrong with that they're doing" doesn't really understand the situation, etc

I don't mean to be offensive - but there is a clear corellation between increased REAL knowledge and dislike of microsoft
Title: Go Eu! Go! ;)
Post by: Nico on March 18, 2004, 12:11:59 am: Quote
Originally posted by Bobboau
something good comes out of Europe... finaly

yeah, you're right, starting from when the USA "came" from Europe, we kept ****ing up :rolleyes:
You have other arrogant things like that to say?
Title: Go Eu! Go! ;)
Post by: Rictor on March 18, 2004, 12:16:43 am: Alright Bob, could you please go ahead and name five great inventions or concepts which were spawned in the good old US of A? Shouldn't be too hard, since the general mentality appears to be that America not only came up with every great thing humanity has ever encountered, but that they also have a monopoly on all the "right" social, political and economic concepts currently in existence.
Title: Go Eu! Go! ;)
Post by: Bobboau on March 18, 2004, 01:01:57 am: ugg it was just a little sarcastic... I wasn't intending to offend, you lot rip into us constantly

but sence you asked... uhh
modern cars (built on the assembly line)
airplaines
the internet/most modern computers in general
tellephones
and... nuclear weapons

note I didn't realy think about that realy hard an I know about the french contribution to the car, Cugnot and his tractor/car/steam engine thingy
Title: Go Eu! Go! ;)
Post by: Bobboau on March 18, 2004, 01:04:14 am: whould you have prefered something more along the lines of
"yee haw!! you take it to em Europe! bring that sonofa***** to his knees! EU EU EU#1!"
Title: Go Eu! Go! ;)
Post by: kode on March 18, 2004, 04:17:03 am: isn't this thing quite similar to what the us courts tried to do?
Title: Go Eu! Go! ;)
Post by: SadisticSid on March 18, 2004, 04:18:45 am: Quote
Originally posted by Kazan
anyone who says "i don't see what's wrong with that they're doing" doesn't really understand the situation, etc

I don't mean to be offensive - but there is a clear corellation between increased REAL knowledge and dislike of microsoft

Oh I don't doubt there're some dodgy things about MS, but what was intrinsically wrong about this particular thing? I am eager to learn about these things. :D
Title: Go Eu! Go! ;)
Post by: Bobboau on March 18, 2004, 04:27:04 am: you mean killing off all competition buy forceing everyone to by there product as a requierment of there OS?
Title: Go Eu! Go! ;)
Post by: Zarax on March 18, 2004, 04:52:26 am: Quote
Originally posted by Bobboau
ugg it was just a little sarcastic... I wasn't intending to offend, you lot rip into us constantly

but sence you asked... uhh
modern cars (built on the assembly line)
airplaines
the internet/most modern computers in general
tellephones
and... nuclear weapons

note I didn't realy think about that realy hard an I know about the french contribution to the car, Cugnot and his tractor/car/steam engine thingy

Arghh what i have to hear!!!
Telephones have been invented by an Italian
Nukes are born thanks to Einsten and Fermi
Cars... mmm i have to check but something tells me germany very strongly...
Title: Go Eu! Go! ;)
Post by: RandomTiger on March 18, 2004, 05:03:03 am: Who invented stuff is usually more complex than that, usually three people are working on it at once and one of them steals the others ideas or something like that.

Other times, like the computer its invented and kept secret and totally reinvented by someone else.

A lot of confusion also arrises from the fact that a lot of significant inventions were by Europeans but they were finished in America with American money because America was willing to fork out the money to get it done.
Title: Go Eu! Go! ;)
Post by: Martinus on March 18, 2004, 06:00:28 am: [color=66ff00]My brother studies law and recons that M$ can drag this through to european courts for somewhere in the region of 9 to 15 years if they feel the need, by then they'll have long released Longhorn and it will be cleverly designed to not work with other media players and thus M$ will give each other another hi-5 and start the whole shebang all over again.

Hopefully Linux will be idiot proof by then and windows will be in difficulties.
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Title: Go Eu! Go! ;)
Post by: Zarax on March 18, 2004, 06:02:40 am: Murphy's law: if you make an idiot proof system, only an idiot will use it.
Title: Go Eu! Go! ;)
Post by: aldo_14 on March 18, 2004, 06:06:12 am: Quote
Originally posted by Zarax

Arghh what i have to hear!!!
Telephones have been invented by an Italian
Nukes are born thanks to Einsten and Fermi
Cars... mmm i have to check but something tells me germany very strongly...

Radio was developed by an Italian IIRC - Marconi. Telephones are credited to Graham Alexander Bell, a Scot, if I remeber rightly.
Title: Go Eu! Go! ;)
Post by: Zarax on March 18, 2004, 06:08:54 am: Telephone was invented by Meucci, not Bell!
Even the US government had to recognize it, and in fact it was recognized in 1998 or 99 IIRC.
Title: Go Eu! Go! ;)
Post by: Martinus on March 18, 2004, 06:11:50 am: [color=66ff00]Also remember that the people credited with the invention are usually the people responsable for discovering the concept and not for creating the actual device.
Anywho it's all God's fault. ;)

Zarax, I disagree an idiot proof system simply means that someone with little skill in the area can use it and not break it, it does not necessarily mean that it would impede a person who could use a system to its full potential.
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Title: Go Eu! Go! ;)
Post by: Zarax on March 18, 2004, 06:15:01 am: Err... Maeglamor, it was a cheap attempt of taking it on the humoristic side...
Title: Go Eu! Go! ;)
Post by: Martinus on March 18, 2004, 06:22:15 am: [color=66ff00]Use the ;) smiley more. ;)
[/color]
Title: Go Eu! Go! ;)
Post by: Styxx on March 18, 2004, 06:40:55 am: Quote
Originally posted by Bobboau
airplaines

Wrong.

Quote
Originally posted by Bobboau
tellephones

Wrong.

Quote
Originally posted by Bobboau
the internet/most modern computers in general

Debatable.
Title: Go Eu! Go! ;)
Post by: vyper on March 18, 2004, 07:16:44 am: [q]Telephone was invented by Meucci, not Bell![/q]

Bull****.

[q]mainly because I'd rather live on the mainland than in this country[/q]

Can I hang you from the spire of Glasgow Uni now or shall I wait for your treason charges to come through? :p
Title: Go Eu! Go! ;)
Post by: TheCelestialOne on March 18, 2004, 07:16:58 am: Quote
Originally posted by Styxx
Wrong.

Exactly
Quote
Wrong.

Exactly
Quote
Debatable.

Exactly.

:D
Title: Go Eu! Go! ;)
Post by: Zarax on March 18, 2004, 07:20:33 am: Quote
Originally posted by vyper
[q]Telephone was invented by Meucci, not Bell![/q]

Bull****.

No ****, it is the thruth.
Having mass usage in a country does not give you the right to rape the inventors.
Many of US fortunes in technlogies are due to european governments shortsight...
If in Italy the newborn electronics industry had got the needed support now the history of computer industry would be much different.
Title: Go Eu! Go! ;)
Post by: vyper on March 18, 2004, 07:22:35 am: Ahem - I wasn't representing the US position I was representing the Scottish one.

Bell invented it. End of story :p
Title: Go Eu! Go! ;)
Post by: Zarax on March 18, 2004, 07:24:08 am: No, Meucci is the inventor, go and get updated history books.
Title: Go Eu! Go! ;)
Post by: Styxx on March 18, 2004, 07:28:53 am: Quote
Originally posted by Zarax
No, Meucci is the inventor, go and get updated history books.

That's true. He even got a temporary one-year patent for it, but didn't have the money to make it permanent or renew it afterwards.
Title: Go Eu! Go! ;)
Post by: Ghostavo on March 18, 2004, 07:38:45 am: Not sure if this helps but I found these...

Telephone (http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/bltelephone.htm), although (http://inventors.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://www.uh.edu/engines/epi1625.htm)
Computers (http://inventors.about.com/library/blcoindex.htm?PM=ss12_inventors)
Automobile aka Car (http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blcar.htm)
Nuke (http://inventors.about.com/library/weekly/aa050300a.htm)
Airplane (http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blairplane.htm)
ARPAnet which would become (more or less) the Internet (http://inventors.about.com/library/weekly/aa091598.htm)
Title: Go Eu! Go! ;)
Post by: Zarax on March 18, 2004, 07:45:02 am: Telephone - Meucci
Computers - This is not a simple answer, it depends on how you take the concept... So it might be Blaise Pascal, John Presper Eckert & John W. Mauchly or Even Von Braun
Cars - Not sure, but i tend to agree with your source
Nuke - Albert Einstein and Enrico Fermi
Airplane - Orville Wright and Wilbur Wright
ARPANet - US DOD

BTW, most in not all of these things have to thank another invention: Electricity and the first battery, by Alessandro Volta.
Title: Go Eu! Go! ;)
Post by: Styxx on March 18, 2004, 07:57:39 am: Quote
Originally posted by Zarax
Airplane - Orville Wright and Wilbur Wright

Sure they did...
Title: Go Eu! Go! ;)
Post by: TheCelestialOne on March 18, 2004, 09:31:50 am: (http://unix.rulez.org/~calver/pictures/Europa1.jpg)
Quite... appropriate in this thread :p
Title: Go Eu! Go! ;)
Post by: Martinus on March 18, 2004, 09:41:44 am: [color=66ff00]Ok we are not about to turn this into an America bashing thread, if I can keep my opinions to myself so can you all.

Please desist before I have to get global on your asses.
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Title: Go Eu! Go! ;)
Post by: TheCelestialOne on March 18, 2004, 09:44:16 am: Quote
Originally posted by Maeglamor
[color=66ff00]Ok we are not about to turn this into an America bashing thread, if I can keep my opinions to myself so can you all.

Please desist before I have to get global on your asses.
[/color]

Can't people take a joke? :p Anyway, I wasn't planning on going on either but this was just too funny to let go :p
Title: Go Eu! Go! ;)
Post by: Martinus on March 18, 2004, 09:46:05 am: Quote
Originally posted by TheCelestialOne

Can't people take a joke? :p Anyway, I wasn't planning on going on either but this was just too funny to let go :p

[color=66ff00]You can but you should be aware that america bashing is not taken kindly around these parts, there's many a patriot on HLP.

Anyhow it's getting really old.
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Title: Go Eu! Go! ;)
Post by: TheCelestialOne on March 18, 2004, 09:46:28 am: okok, but this just HAS to go here:

(http://unix.rulez.org/~calver/pictures/bill_gates_testimony.jpg)

:D:D:D:D
Title: Go Eu! Go! ;)
Post by: Martinus on March 18, 2004, 09:48:46 am: [color=66ff00]Now that's good humour. :nod: :D
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Title: Go Eu! Go! ;)
Post by: Rictor on March 18, 2004, 10:05:39 am: Alright, I'll shut up about US/European relations. Wasn't even the one who brought it up.

But yeah. Microsoft deserves whatever they get. I am of the opinion that huge multinationals are intrinsicly evil, unless they prove otherwise. And very few do, so I support efforts to give 'em a legal wedgie.
Title: Go Eu! Go! ;)
Post by: Bobboau on March 18, 2004, 11:12:28 am: yes I beleve we can all put asside our diferences and come together and unite in our utter hate for Microsoft.
Title: Go Eu! Go! ;)
Post by: Fineus on March 18, 2004, 11:27:08 am: But... but Bill Gates loves us!

He especially loves you...
Title: Go Eu! Go! ;)
Post by: J3Vr6 on March 18, 2004, 11:38:43 am: lol. You people are silly. Why is it that every thread turns into a US bashing?
Title: Go Eu! Go! ;)
Post by: TheCelestialOne on March 18, 2004, 11:42:10 am: Cuz he's American!!! :p

Errmm... never mind me... I think I've had a Jack Daniel's too much :p
Title: Go Eu! Go! ;)
Post by: Flipside on March 18, 2004, 12:23:21 pm: LOL Well, in a lot of these cases, it's like Television.

TV was invented by a Scot, no doubt about it, however, television was enhanced and it's full potential realised by an American.

This often happens.
Title: Go Eu! Go! ;)
Post by: vyper on March 18, 2004, 01:12:55 pm: Ye because our government and businesses laughed at him. Twats.
Title: Go Eu! Go! ;)
Post by: Flipside on March 18, 2004, 01:21:01 pm: Worst bit is, they made the same mistake AGAIN with High Definition, made by a British inventor and then sold to Japan because nobody here would fund it.
You would have thought they would have figured first time round :(
Title: Go Eu! Go! ;)
Post by: karajorma on March 18, 2004, 01:30:03 pm: The brits have a habit of ignoring good inventions. Take a long look at all the things invented by the british one day. It's a really long and rather sad list when you realise that Britain isn't the most powerful industrial nation inspite of all the stuff invented by brits.
Title: Go Eu! Go! ;)
Post by: phreak on March 18, 2004, 05:38:16 pm: considering you guys had a jump on everyone else with the steam engine and all the water-powered textile machines.
Title: Go Eu! Go! ;)
Post by: Flipside on March 18, 2004, 05:55:07 pm: hehehehe The principals of the Steam Engine are what keep you're computer running even today ;)
Title: Go Eu! Go! ;)
Post by: Martinus on March 18, 2004, 06:03:47 pm: Quote
Originally posted by Flipside
hehehehe The principals of the Steam Engine are what keep you're computer running even today ;)

[color=66ff00]Dude! No! That's not steam! It's smoke! Turn your computer off now!

*looks manically for an extinguisher*
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Title: Go Eu! Go! ;)
Post by: Flipside on March 18, 2004, 06:04:35 pm: Damn, I just got an 'Out of Coal' error ;)