Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Slashback: Railing, Blocking, Scoffing

Posted by timothy on from the in-seattle-it-never-rains dept.

Slashback tonight brings you more information on homemade railguns, the future history of SCO (seen from the past), one website's response to alleged RIAA mendacity, a legal victory for famous web jerk Tucker Max, and more -- read on for the details.

Please don't point that thing at me. BoomZilla writes "If you thought that the recent Gauss Gun article on Slashdot was spiffy, check out Jengel & Fatro's Rail Gun Page. Everything you need to know about the physics behind building your very own rail gun. Ever used the Quake rail gun and lusted after the real thing? Here's your opportunity."

Telepathic telegrams work as well as ever, though. markgo2k writes "After the web site experienced 'an unusually high number of visitors,' the White House modified the contact page and added a prominent link to president@whitehouse.gov. Here's the latest NYT story (once again, reprinted here in the non-subscription Seattle PI). Of course, the White House is still confused on the difference between the New York Times effect and the Slashdot effect. It's not mentioned in the story, but there is also now a feedback link to submit comments to the 'White House Web Development Team,' if you want to drop them a line..."

It's half-Greek to me. In response to the recent story on perpendicular data storage in next-generation hard drives, Anonymous Coward writes "Here is a better overview of Perpendicular HDD technology. Here is a real detailed scientific article that seems to be written in Greek."

They're off my Christmas card list, too. Techfocus ran an interview with Fred von Lohmann earlier this year. Now, an anonymous reader points to an update on their site: "Effective immediately, the RIAA and MPAA will need to find another way to get to Techfocus. In response to their legal targeting of individual file-swappers, access from their known networks to this site has now been blocked. While it may still be possible for them to access Techfocus via address ranges which we're not aware of, they'll otherwise have to use non-RIAA and non-MPAA networks to view the site."

Techfocus cites three reasons for the denial, the top one being that the RIAA took advantage of the interview with von Lohmann, "quoting him out of context in a manner which could lead readers of their materials to believe that we supported their efforts. This could not be further from the truth."

The secret is to predict enough things. An anonymous reader points out this article from early 2000 citing Gartner analyst Al Hilwa's prediction that Linux is "probably going to kill SCO UnixWare," writing "As you can read, SCO's end was predicted near perfectly." I think "hinted at" is more accurate, since SCO is still alive and at least making a good show of kicking, but it's interesting to revisit a story about SCO which mentions that "industry observers thought that the company would be Linux's first victim," back when Project Monterey was a going concern.

A victory for discourteous boors everywhere. aeaas writes "The beauty queen Katy Johnson dropped her suit against Tucker Max over the posting of stories from their relationship on his website. This story was first brought up in the context that he was forced to take down stories relating to her without holding a hearing or notifying Max prior to it. This is unusual in American law."

A quarter mil is a lot of suffering, even in Canadian money. Skippy321 writes "Justified or not, Ghyslain Raza--better known as the Star Wars Kid--is suing the four students who posted his homemade video of himself doing acrobatic "sword-fighting stunts" on the Internet for $250,000. He claims that he has suffered harassment and persecution. It's also interesting how the article states that he quit high school due to this video, at only 15 years of age. Although things aren't so bad for him -- here's a petition for him to get a role in Episode III."

71 of 324 comments (clear)

  1. Note to self by John+Paul+Jones · · Score: 3, Funny

    Sell SCO short.

    --
    Feh.
    1. Re:Note to self by beacher · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Second note to self: This is the forge that will make Linux either extremeley hard and brittle or strong and flexible with the ability to stay sharp. As much as I hate hearing SCO stories, I am glad that the threat is a light-weight that spews out so many lies that their story is hardly credible. Hopefully everyone will analyze what they are doing and some preventive measures can be put in place for tougher future challengers when IBM isn't taking up the defense.

      I really hate MCBride and SCO, but I think this is a good thing for us in the long run. Please remember that we all have to concentrate on making Linux just right for us. If other people/corporations appreciate Linux, then it will be on merit alone. Corporate backing is great and it makes other corporations look towards supporting hardware for Linux, but we're not selling to corporations, we're selling Linux to ourselves - and I think I'm my own worst customer.

      -B

    2. Re:Note to self by MrLint · · Score: 2, Interesting

      "John Fisher, SCO's Canadian manager, disagreed, saying so far there's no evidence Linux is to blame for what he call the 'sharp" drop in sales in this country."

      Well in the context of SCO's claims that linux couldn't have reached enterprise level without code 'from' SCO, we have an admission that Linux played no part in their revenue loss (in 2000).

      The question is.. what is the sale drop for SCO products in 01, 02, and 03 as compared to 99-00?

  2. wow, cool by Trelane,+the+Squire · · Score: 3, Interesting
    3. The RIAA is choosing to devote their resources to target individuals, rather than devoting their resources to creating a feasible distribution method (see iTunes).
    It's nice to see this presented somewhere other than slashdot.

    but then, I don't get out much, so I don't know how prevalent this viewpont is ;)

    1. Re:wow, cool by Kris_J · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I think now that the RIAA is suing grandparents and the girl next door, braindead consumers of mainstream media are finally able to form an opinion.

  3. Petition by Adam9 · · Score: 2, Informative

    It's currently at 17,085 signatures. Can Slashdot get it to at least 20,000?

    1. Re:Petition by Anne_Nonymous · · Score: 3, Funny

      >> here's a petition for him to get a role in Episode III

      With this kid's luck, he'll get some sort of Jar-Jaresque character to play, and people will hate him too.

    2. Re:Petition by n9hmg · · Score: 4, Insightful

      people will hate him too
      That brings me to the point I wanted to make. Until he sued, I didn't think badly of him. He got access to a camera and wanted to see if his moves were as smooth as he imagined. Frankly, they weren't completely clumsy.
      The whole point of the story was that we've all done things that aren't "cool", and it's funny to see someone else acting silly. Now, the point is that he's a pussy who can't laugh at himself. Let the taunting begin.

    3. Re:Petition by NanoGator · · Score: 4, Funny

      "It's currently at 17,085 signatures. Can Slashdot get it to at least 20,000?"

      I think Slashdot rolled it back a bit. It says 404 now.

      --
      "Derp de derp."
  4. The Star Wars Kids Videos by pgrote · · Score: 5, Funny

    Here is the original and remix videos
    of the kid. Pretty funny stuff.

    I guess this will teach him to leave his tapes laying around. Good lesson to learn in case he actually gets out of puberty and starts taping his girlfriends.

    1. Re:The Star Wars Kids Videos by Chmarr · · Score: 3, Informative

      RTFA: Having them stolen from a locked school locker is not 'leaving them around'.

    2. Re:The Star Wars Kids Videos by Cyno01 · · Score: 3, Informative

      it wasn't a locker, it was an unlocked filing cabinet in the a/v room

      --
      "Sic Semper Tyrannosaurus Rex."
    3. Re:The Star Wars Kids Videos by clambake · · Score: 4, Funny

      RTFA: Having them stolen from a locked school locker is not 'leaving them around'.

      Depends on your definition of "leaving around"... Now help me jimmy this car door, I can see somone "left around" a CD player in thier front seat.

    4. Re:The Star Wars Kids Videos by secolactico · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Yeesh... ok, so he's acting like a doofus, but it's not like he did a Libby whatever... (you know... the girl whose "private" strip act for her boyfriend is all over the internet now).

      Kids do things far more embarrasing to their "friends" and usually don't even end in detention... such as pulling your pants down in public... or shave *one* eyebrow when you are passed out drunk... (must... repress... memory...).

      It's a pretty funny video, and cool in a geeky sort of way. He shouldn't feel demeaned for it. Plus he's fifteen, for god's sake. At that age, that is a way of making an ass out of yourself in a socially aceptable way.

      --
      No sig
    5. Re:The Star Wars Kids Videos by genka · · Score: 4, Funny

      I can see somone "left around" a CD player in thier front seat
      Yeah! And let sucker be served with a suit for sharing that CD from the player!

    6. Re:The Star Wars Kids Videos by IvyMike · · Score: 5, Funny

      but it's not like he did a Libby whatever... (you know... the girl whose "private" strip act for her boyfriend is all over the internet now).

      How did this get rated up without having a link?

    7. Re:The Star Wars Kids Videos by Phroggy · · Score: 2, Insightful

      He shouldn't feel demeaned for it. Plus he's fifteen, for god's sake. At that age, that is a way of making an ass out of yourself in a socially aceptable way.

      It's socially acceptible to 20-yr-olds, not to 15-yr-olds.

      --
      $x='S24;r)>63/* h@<5+oZ)32"5cz';$me='phroggy'x$];
      $x=~y+ -xz+\0-Tx+;print$_^chop$me for split'',$x;
    8. Re:The Star Wars Kids Videos by IamTheRealMike · · Score: 2, Insightful

      And if I remember rightly, didn't he get enough donations to by like 5 iPods or something crazy? Pretty harsh to be trying to get more money now.

    9. Re:The Star Wars Kids Videos by nadadogg · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Libby Hoeler, you can get the full collection off kazaa/your favorite filesharing program. Ah, sweet, sweet libby, she kept me company many a night before i managed to snag a female...

      --
      i use linux and windows oh god how can i have an opinion
  5. Ghyslain Raza by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    it should be noted that even though embarrased, he actually wasnt/isnt angry at the people who posted it. simply; he has greedy parents...

    shame, i think they are doing more damage to him by teaching him to be greedy versus 'taking' the joke.

  6. Pay him! by sebi · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I can feel for that Star Wars kid. Being an outsider in school is hard enough when you are only mocked by those that you see every day. But suddenly being laughed at by a global audience must be hell. I haven't seen the video, so I can't comment on how stupid he looks on it, but that is beside the point. He clearly did not intend it to be seen by anyone. High school bullying is good fun, until one of the victims decides to shoot some classmates. Then it is newsworthy. When they drop out, or even kill themselves then nobody cares. This case can send the right message if you ask me (which you really shouldn't)

    --
    Hank! White!
    1. Re:Pay him! by dacetone · · Score: 2, Informative

      The article says: "They say the four stole the video from a school filing cabinet where Ghyslain had stored a video camera he was using for a student project."

      --
      Just follow the day, and reach fo
    2. Re:Pay him! by fermion · · Score: 3, Insightful
      I agree that being an outsider is high school is hard, and being mocked is hard, but i think what this kid needs is counseling. Dropping out of school for this is a bit much.

      I guess what i really feel bad about is that he has to go to a substandard school where the kids don't think the movie was cool. Any real geek knows that the clip is cool, and would respect it. In my public high school, I would have had any number of people coming up to me telling me how cool it was. I would have had teachers coming up to me telling me how impressive it was. Sure he looks stupid, but he is high school. He is supposed to look stupid.

      As far as feeling sorry for him, and thinking he should get money, I just can't. If a crime has been committed, then arrest the people who did it. If he doesn't want the clip out, send cease and desist orders. Otherwise let it go. Yesterday he was just a kid, now he is a celebrity.

      The fact is there are kids with real problems out there. Kids who don't get enough food. Kids who change clothes before getting on the bus to go home so they don't get beat up for looking like a dork. Kids who ride the bus for over an hour to get a good education. This incident just seems like a good lesson that if you film yourself, then it might get out. Just ask Pamela Anderson.

      --
      "She's a scientist and a lesbian. She's not going to let it slide." Orphan Black
    3. Re:Pay him! by sebi · · Score: 2, Insightful

      If he didn't intend for anybody else to see it, then how did 4 students that didn't like him get a copy of it to post to the net?

      Let me quote TFA:
      They say the four stole the video from a school filing cabinet where Ghyslain had stored a video camera he was using for a student project.

      Even if this is not true and he just left the tape lying around, or even forgot it in the camera, common decency (who am I kidding? There is no such thing anymore) should have led to any other course of action than posting the clip on the internet.

      --
      Hank! White!
    4. Re:Pay him! by benjamindees · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Look, I just downloaded the video and I don't think he looks stupid at all. It's obvious that he spent a little time working out the choreography of his performance and that's commendable considering it's something he just did for fun.

      The people who spent the time to add sound and video effects obviously felt his work was worth adding to, otherwise they wouldn't have done it.

      I'll admit, it's the funniest thing I've seen in a long time, but that shouldn't make it embarrassing for him. Lots of people make a good living doing seemingly foolish things. Lots of people did nerdy stuff like this in highschool just for the experience and that has turned out to benefit them later in life.

      I feel like an ass whenever I'm on camera mostly because I don't have the ability to entertain people. This kid seems to have attracted a large audience and a lot of attention. He should take that as a sign that he's doing something right.

      --
      "I assumed blithely that there were no elves out there in the darkness"
    5. Re:Pay him! by sebi · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I'll admit, it's the funniest thing I've seen in a long time, but that shouldn't make it embarrassing for him.

      The funniest thing I have seen in a long time was Steve Ballmer's demented dance act. I have no problem laughing at people who set themselves up for it, but when events are forced into the public my problems start. Jackass can be really funny, hidden camera style humour can't. There is a line that many people don't seem to respect--the border between public and private. Ultimately the kid should have been the one to decide, whether or not the video was to be seen by an audience. The four others took that decision out of his hands. This might not be a crime, but it should be. I don't know if the Canadian legal system recognises the right of ones own image, but if it does then Ghyslain Raza would have enough grounds for litigation even without resorting to psychiatry.

      --
      Hank! White!
    6. Re:Pay him! by pi_rules · · Score: 3, Funny

      I say we start making a list of stupid things that we've done.

      I submit: this mp3. Granted, I posted this as a one-off thing for a buddy so he'd get a laugh out of it and after such a postive response from him (and former coworkers) kept it online.

      If I had a video if the dumb-assed look on my face as I had a half Stevie Wonder half 'Timmmay!' (South Park) look to me it'd be even funnier.

      For a football game where the women played football and the men cheerleaded in high school I signed up. Twice, although the first was accidental. I got pressured by some friends who signed up to be part of the halftime show. We were all wrestlers, me being a lightweight so I was litterally -tossed- between groups for the show. Not safe, but a skinny guy going "gaaaahhaha!" through the air is hugely entertaining I guess.

      The next year I signed up and got some buddies to do it with me. We all dressed up in something stupid -- I picked a wrestling signlet. A small one... cut like briefs... in 40 degree weather... can you say "turtle effect"? I hadn't counted on that one. Shoulda brought an extra sock. Or two. I've never said "Oh shutup -- it's cold" so many times in a night in my life.

      I wore a 3 foot tall foam Guiness top had during a short stroll from my buddie's house to the beer store downtown in a decent sized town once. Somebody stuck their head out the window doing 25 to express their feelings with the word "Shithead" rather loudly. Not a fan of Guiness I guess.

      Ventured out onto my balcony once to watch a thunderstorm. Chilled ou there for about a half an hour reveling in how insignificant I really am in comparsion with the One that can make stuff like that happen on command. I go to open the slider door and realize how insignificant I really am as the door has locked itself behind me. With my keys inside. With my cellphone. Oh, and I'm on the 2nd story -- and it's still raining. A 20 foot fall into some mushy ground and 20 minutes of walking later I'm using somebody's phone (who thankfully I knew) to call maintence and get back into my apartment.

      Of course, standing around with a group of guys in high school chit chatting and interjecting, "yeah, I noticed that X has a huge friggen crank. Wouldn't have thought that" and then being informed that you completey misunderstood about 4 of the 6 words out of the last guys sentence really puts a crimp in our style. Hey, I'm not the smartest peanut in the turd. Try explaining -THAT- one off!

      Got on a mechanical bull once drunk... well, three times in a night. 'Nuff said there.

      My first jump out of a plane I was informed that me yelling "waaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!" can be heard 3500 feet below. I've probably watched 100 people dump so far and I've never heard somebody yell loud enough to hear them. I think I got a record there.

      Hopefully the 'Star Wars Kid', if he's reading this, doesn't feel so bad now. Personally, if he had developed a little more flexibility in his legs he coulda looked a whole lot cooler in some of those shots.

    7. Re:Pay him! by Planesdragon · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Never mind the extreme personal hell inflcited in the one being bullied. Guns or words, either one can ruin a life.

      Bull

      Shit.

      Everyone I consider a friend was an outsider for at least one significant stretch of their life. Most of them suffered the kind of school-age ostracizing that fits the geek stereotypes--and those that didn't went through social problems just as hard and painful.

      Being bullied isn't an "exterme personal hell." It's a fact of life, for every last person in this country. The only variable is when the bullying happens. (Think that you're in a "personal hell?" Go to a holocaust museum, or a drug recovery clinic. THOSE deserve the name "hell". School does not.)

      A geek who can't figure out how to adapt to social quandaries isn't intelligent--he's just a rude, wierd bastard. Adapting to either influence the crowd or hardening to keep the crowd from bothering you is part of how you define who we are--it's not a unique trial that only the geeky go through.

      Oh, and no one ever got killed by a word. Not even "kill him." Bullets, now--bullets kill and maim and almost always end their users' lives (try getting a job with "assault with a deadly weapon" on your record). Being mocked and belittled at every turn is just practice for marriage--I mean, the meeting your spouse's family part. ;)

    8. Re:Pay him! by sjames · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I guess the Star Wars Kid is working under MPAA/RIAA copyright infringement law.

      Actually, the case is a bit different. He's not upset about copyright infringement of something he wanted to publish, he's upset because he feels deeply embarrassed by it's publication against his will.

      It is reasonable that this would go beyond simple theft since in addition to owing him restitution for his lost physical property and for the commision of theft by taking, they also owe him for deliberatly and with malice holding him up to public ridicule.

      It really doesn't matter if he SHOULD be embarrassed or not, that was for him to decide. The invitation to make derisive comments about it shows that the 4 intended to bring public ridicule and the kid's reaction shows that they succeeded in causing that damage. For all of that, they are only seeking $62,500 each rather than $100,000 and jail time each.

      File sharing lacks theft by taking as well as malice. It is not a deliberate infliction of emotional pain. While the RIAA members SHOULD be deeply embarrassed by many of their published works as well, apparently they're not.

      The amount may or may not be fair (looks like the court will determine that), but it is certainly not as grossly unfair as the RIAA which asks for far more for far less.

  7. Now... what we really need to figure out how to do by miketang16 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Is how to ban the RIAA from accessing the Internet.

    --
    -------
    "In times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act."
    -- George Orwell
  8. The real question by pcgamez · · Score: 5, Interesting

    ...is if Slashdot has the balls to ban the RIAA.

    1. Re:The real question by Myuu · · Score: 3, Funny

      They wouldnt do that, remember /. is completely objective and neutral :)

      --

      forget it.
  9. Wouldn't the DMCA apply? by RedLeg · · Score: 5, Insightful
    "In response to their legal targeting of individual file-swappers, access from their known networks to this site has now been blocked. While it may still be possible for them to access Techfocus via address ranges which we're not aware of, they'll otherwise have to use non-RIAA and non-MPAA networks to view the site."

    So, this site's admin has put in place a technical measure to prevent or limit certain persons from accessing his site. Wouldn't attempts by those persons to circumvent that access control technology constitute a violation of the DMCA?

    Where's the FBI and a Federal Prosecutor when you need one?
    1. Re:Wouldn't the DMCA apply? by digidave · · Score: 2, Interesting

      The problem is that the RIAA used the Von Lohmann quote before the technical measures were put in place, so your argument is only good if they decide to grab another quote. Even then, some RIAA lawyer working from home or a separate office could easily view the site.

      The bigger picture is the fallout.

      boycott-riaa.com has covered Techfocus' efforts, as has several other web sites. There seems to be quite an underground movement supporting Techfocus. I am a moderator for the Techfocus forum on this subject. Check it out and help if you can.

      --
      The global economy is a great thing until you feel it locally.
    2. Re:Wouldn't the DMCA apply? by Arker · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Probably not since they would just have to use an IP that is not being blocked - an IP that is allowed thus.

      What techfocus, slashdot, and everyone else should really do is put up one of those porno-style front pages where you have a disclaimer that says by entering the site, you are attesting that you are not an employee or associate of the RIAA, and you have to press 'agree' to enter. That might make them a little shy of quoting us out of context...

      --
      =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
      Friends don't let friends enable ecmascript.
  10. Re:Now... what we really need to figure out how to by Trelane,+the+Squire · · Score: 3, Interesting
    That is actually what the website supports...
    In a perfect world this wouldn't be an act we'd want to take - but we've had it with the RIAA and MPAA. Their contribution to the internet is stifling programming creativity (see the DMCA, etc), and they are acting in bad faith. As such, they can find their opposition information elsewhere. While we are sure that these actions are not going to stop the RIAA and MPAA from acting against individuals, we hope that other sites take a similar approach. If you are a website owner or content creator, drop us a note and we'll provide you with the file - it would be a powerful statement if webmasters around the net just shut them out.
  11. Star Wars Kid by Keebler71 · · Score: 4, Informative

    Here is the link to a "Star Wars Kid" Parody site. I didn't want to post it till I watched the videos for fear of slashdoting depriving me of nearly wetting myself it was so funny.

    --
    "It takes considerable knowledge just to realize the extent of your own ignorance." - Thomas Sowell
  12. He forgot to say thank you by DennisZeMenace · · Score: 4, Informative

    Ghyslain/Star-Wars-Kid forgot to say thank you for the $3250 he received from the Internet community. I wonder whether it's him or his parents pushing for the lawsuit...

    -DZM

    1. Re:He forgot to say thank you by Tyler+Eaves · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Well considering he's currently in a mental hospital I think he got the short end of the stick personally.

      --
      TODO: Something witty here...
  13. For those wishing to block RIAA/MPAA: by bivaughn · · Score: 5, Informative

    12.150.191.0 - 12.150.191.255 | RECORDIN50-191 | RECORDING INDUSTRY ASSOC OF AMERICA | RIAA | 1330 CONNECTICUT AVENUE NW SUITE 300 - WASHINGTON US | 2001-08-11 | reassignment | ARIN

    12.29.112.0 - 12.29.112.15 | MPLC-112-0 | Motion Picture Licensing Corp | MPLC | 5455 Centinela Ave. - LA - CA - 90066 - US | US | 1999-07-29 | reassignment | ARIN

    208.49.164.0 - 208.49.164.255 | GBX-REQ000000015136 | MPAA/Motion Picture Association | C00282131 | 15503 Venture Blvd - Encino - CA - 91436 - US | US | 2002-03-07 | reassignment | ARIN

    198.70.114.0 - 198.70.114.255 | NET-MPA-1 | Motion Picture Association | C00012562 | 15503 Ventura Boulevard - Encino - CA - 91436 - US | US | 1998-03-04 | reassignment | ARIN

    63.199.57.120 - 63.199.57.127 | SBCIS68048 | Motion Picture Assoc. | C00048959 | 15503 Ventura Boulevard - Encino - CA - 91436 - US | US | 1999-12-08 | reassignment | ARIN

    208.50.66.224 - 208.50.66.255 | GBX-REQ000000012662 | MPAA | C00194717 | 15503 Venture Blvd - Encino - CA - 91436 - US | US | 2001-06-26 | reassignment | ARIN

  14. Re:$250,000 is a lot of $ for kids to pay by Hnidan · · Score: 4, Interesting

    At least it isn't $250,000,000 like it would be in one of your American courts.

    Here in Canada they're going to have a hard time triing to get any money for Psychological damages. Our judges like to see receipts.

  15. Greedy Star Wars Kid! by Noksagt · · Score: 2, Informative

    Didn't we already help buy him an ipod?

    1. Re:Greedy Star Wars Kid! by josh+crawley · · Score: 3, Insightful

      He's not suing the people who bought him an Ipod, he's suing the people who held him up for global ridicule and ruined his life. If I beat the shit out of you, and someone else comes along and gives you a teddy bear to comfort you, does that mean you shouldn't take action against me?

    2. Re:Greedy Star Wars Kid! by Noksagt · · Score: 2, Interesting

      It isn't greed when you claim your life is ruined, when people do thing like buy an ipod or gift certificates for you or try to give you a few minutes of international fame?

      This kid didn't have the shit beaten out of him. He had his likeness promoted on the internet. If you released a video I made in high school on the inernet & I got a teddy bear (let alone thousands of dollars and an ounce of fame), I wouldn't take action against you...I'd hire you as my @#$@#ing agent.

  16. Ghyslain in Episode III by LMariachi · · Score: 3, Funny

    Wouldn't that just compound his humiliation?

    1. Re:Ghyslain in Episode III by pixel_bc · · Score: 4, Funny

      > Wouldn't that just compound his humiliation?

      Only if Yoda whips his French ass.

      Otherwise, he be da man.

  17. heheh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    why don't we hook the star wars kid up with that
    blair whorenstein chick that sued to be sole
    valedictorian?

    people, people .. just take the lumps as they come.
    nobody promised you Anything

  18. Poor kid by Rhinobird · · Score: 2, Interesting

    That poor star wars kid...

    This reminds me of this one Bloom County comic:
    Opus the penguin was listening to headphones and playing air guitar. There he was twirling and spinning and sut in general jamming. Then he turns around and ALL the other charachters are watching him and the rabbit has a lighter lit up in mock praise of the performance.

    This is a bit more than his friends seeing it, but still, being morbidly embarrassed is nothing to sue over.

    --
    If Mr. Edison had thought smarter he wouldn't sweat as much. --Nikola Tesla
  19. What I'm interested in... by shr3k · · Score: 5, Funny
    Slashback tonight brings you more information on homemade railguns, the future history of SCO (seen from the past),

    Hey, speaking of which, I know a great place you can test out those railguns:
    355 South 520 West
    Suite 100
    Lindon, Utah 84042 USA
  20. Do they know something I don't? by bopo · · Score: 4, Funny

    "The connection was refused when attempting to contact techfocus.org"

    Either this is the result of a good slashdotting, or I've been brainwashed into an *IAA agent. Stand back, I don't know what I'll do next!!

    --
    "Understand you're having a little Jimmy Page trouble."
  21. She dropped her suit by N8w8 · · Score: 5, Funny
    The beauty queen Katy Johnson dropped her suit
    She dropped her suit! Did anyone take any pictures? Where are the pictures?
    1. Re:She dropped her suit by Gherald · · Score: 3, Funny

      Protected under the DMCA. She proved in court that her suit was an "effective method" for avoiding public scrutiny of her privates.

      --
      The unofficial /. digest
  22. Stop with the damn lawsuits by MalleusEBHC · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I suppose I shouldn't be shocked anymore about the kind of lawsuits that get filed, but there are two in this Slashback that did so.

    First, I am happy that Tucker Max won his case. While he seems like an arrogrant asshole on his website, he does have the right to be one. I'm just afraid about what kind of precedent may have been set by the judge who ordered him to take down the story in the first place. IANAL, but if the lawsuit had been seen through to the end, wouldn't that have undone the precedent in a way? As it stands now, it seems like the moronic judge has put a bit of legal validation (however wrong it may be) on his actions.

    Second, the kid in the Star Wars video needs to get over it. We all have videos floating around of stupid things we have done, although some of us are at least lucky enough to have the excuse of being drunk. Sure the kids who stole the tape should get in a bit of trouble, but suing for $250,000 apiece won't make things any different for Star Wars Kid. All it will do is financially crippled the parents of the other children.

  23. Bruce Perens's second cousin's roomate on SCO! by gatesh8r · · Score: 4, Funny
    "Yeah I think SCO is in it for the money and they'll go bankrupt." -- ONLY ON SLASHDOT!


    (Yes yes I know, it should of been "father's second cousin's roommate", just like in Spaceballs. The subject box isn't that big...)

    --
    Karma whorin' since 1999
  24. Slashdot? by Lord_Dweomer · · Score: 3, Funny
    We slashdotted the Whitehouse? Whitehouse.gov right? I sure as hell hope it wasn't Whitehouse.com

    --
    Buy Steampunk Clothing Online!
  25. Starwars Kid by Lord_Dweomer · · Score: 2, Interesting
    Hey, ya know what, I gotta be honest, if I was in his situation, I'd be milking this for all its worth too. Once you're on the news, especially for something that has potential to pull heartstrings like this......you can make some big bucks. Especially for a 15 year old kid. Nothing says revenge like letting kids at school see you drive around in your new Ferrari the second you turn 16.

    --
    Buy Steampunk Clothing Online!
  26. Ahem! by Myuu · · Score: 3, Funny

    "they'll otherwise have to use non-RIAA and non-MPAA networks to view the site"

    And if they use a different provider to bypass my .htacess file blocking them, wouldn't that constitute a DMCA voilation by circumventing an access control?

    --

    forget it.
  27. Re:Now... what we really need to figure out how to by arf_barf · · Score: 2, Interesting

    For starters, lets add all RIAA related domains (incl. those of lawfirms that work for them) to known spam lists :-)

  28. SCO Grows Second Head. Still No Brainwave Activity by powerlord · · Score: 2, Insightful
    From the article (Gartner report from 2000)

    But while Linux may have caused SCO to stumble, the blow won't likely be fatal, he said. Novell Inc. has been battling Windows for years and didn't die. Instead, it adapted, moving into directory services. SCO, he said, will have to evolve as well.

    I guess we all can guess how SCO adapted, eh?
    --
    This space for rent. All reasonable inquiries will be entertained at proprietors discretion.
  29. Tucker Max by El · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Er, if you make a habit of bragging on the net about what sluts the girls you used to date are, doesn't it make it a little difficult to get a date? Tucker must be more interested in impressing the guys in the locker room then of ever scoring with an attractive woman again! Seems like pretty self-defeating behaviour to me... on the bright side, it does decrease the chances that the jerk will breed!

    --

    "Freedom means freedom for everybody" -- Dick Cheney

    1. Re:Tucker Max by MalleusEBHC · · Score: 3, Funny

      Heh, only on Slashdot could a geek call out a guy who nailed Miss Vermont for his luck with the ladies.

  30. Re:Slashdot? - try whitehouse.org by AaronW · · Score: 2, Funny

    I actually prefer whitehouse.org.

    --
    This post is encrypted twice with ROT-13. Documenting or attempting to crack this encryption is illegal.
  31. Lightsaber boy! by Valar · · Score: 2, Funny

    No, lightsaber boy! You don't understand, we love you! You are a hero! You are a rockstar, even! Go lightsaber boy, go!

    --

    ====
    Crudely Drawn Games
  32. Right On by hayesjaj · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I agree completely. The kid, embarrassed as he may be, had a choice with this one: 1) be a total idiot, lose faith in himself, believe what other people say about him and drop out of high school(which, mind you, is about the DUMBEST thing a person could ever do, aside from making a guest appearance on Jack@ss...then the sky is the limit). Or, 2, he could have taken the opportunity to learn some grace, humility, and made a whole bunch of other friends by laughing at himself and gaining some self confidence. He may get a few bucks from some poor idiots in the school, but he will definately lose in the long run on this one.

    --
    The world is a comedy to those who think and a tragedy to those who feel.
    1. Re:Right On by suricatta · · Score: 2, Insightful

      The thing you have to take into account here though is that it takes a certain amount of maturity and life experience to be able to laugh at yourself like that, especially when you've got the whole world's attention and are subject to their ridicule.

      I remember back when I was in high school. You can laugh at yourself to a point, but eventually the continued taunting starts to leave emotional scars. Yeah I got over it, but back then it was hell. It's not difficult to imagine that a high school kid, especially one who probably has been bullied quite a bit throughout the years, is getting effected by this sort of attention in a very major sort of way.

      I agree with what you're saying, he could laugh at himself and gain some self confidence, and it would be the best thing for him to do. But given the world-wide scale of this, and the fact that he might not have that maturity and life experience I mentioned earlier, I'd frankly be very surprised if he was actually able to shrug it off, laugh at himself and gain that self confidence.

      All that I know is that if I ever see this kid IRL, I'm going to shake his hand and not make him feel bad about this is any way.

  33. Insightful? Fucking morons! by Chuck+Chunder · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Using and IP address that is permitted access to the site would be roughly equivalent to using a DVD player that is permitted access to DVDs.

    Nothing is being circumvented, you are just using a device that has been permitted access.

    --
    Boffoonery - downloadable Comedy Benefit for Bletchley Park
  34. here is mine, but 66.252.129 is still missing by nyet · · Score: 4, Interesting

    is it a typo? their htaccess lists 66.252.128

    # Generated by iptables-save v1.2.8 on Thu Jul 24 18:52:32 2003
    *filter :INPUT ACCEPT [251238:18127669] :FORWARD ACCEPT [0:0] :OUTPUT ACCEPT [147443:28849496]
    [0:0] -A INPUT -s 12.29.112.0/255.255.255.240 -j DROP
    [0:0] -A INPUT -s 63.199.57.120/255.255.255.248 -j DROP
    [0:0] -A INPUT -s 198.70.114.0/255.255.255.0 -j DROP
    [0:0] -A INPUT -s 208.49.164.0/255.255.255.0 -j DROP
    [0:0] -A INPUT -s 208.50.66.224/255.255.255.224 -j DROP
    [0:0] -A INPUT -s 64.166.187.0/255.255.255.0 -j DROP
    [0:0] -A INPUT -s 64.241.31.0/255.255.255.0 -j DROP
    [0:0] -A INPUT -s 65.244.101.0/255.255.255.0 -j DROP
    [0:0] -A INPUT -s 66.252.128.0/255.255.255.0 -j DROP
    [0:0] -A INPUT -s 67.112.252.0/255.255.255.0 -j DROP
    [0:0] -A INPUT -s 67.125.49.0/255.255.255.0 -j DROP
    [0:0] -A INPUT -s 81.4.78.0/255.255.255.0 -j DROP
    [0:0] -A INPUT -s 146.82.174.0/255.255.255.0 -j DROP
    [0:0] -A INPUT -s 208.192.0.0/255.255.255.0 -j DROP
    [0:0] -A INPUT -s 208.209.2.0/255.255.255.0 -j DROP
    [0:0] -A INPUT -s 208.225.90.0/255.255.255.0 -j DROP
    [0:0] -A INPUT -s 208.229.253.0/255.255.255.0 -j DROP
    [0:0] -A INPUT -s 208.49.164.0/255.255.255.0 -j DROP
    [0:0] -A INPUT -s 212.241.48.0/255.255.255.0 -j DROP
    [0:0] -A INPUT -s 217.228.123.0/255.255.255.0 -j DROP
    COMMIT
    # Completed on Thu Jul 24 18:52:32 2003

  35. Re:oh no... by m4ximusprim3 · · Score: 2, Funny

    ill pay extra to see him kick the shit out of jar jar ;)

  36. SWK kid took the wrong angle -- by toganet · · Score: 4, Funny

    He should have acted like he _intended_ to look like an idiot -- instead of being laughed AT, he could have been the next Chris Farley!

  37. 250 grand, my ass. by Squeamish+Ossifrage · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I'm pretty sure I'm not the only slashdot reader who got picked on while going through the school system. And I'm sorry, as much as being picked on sucks, it doesn't suck $250,000 worth. That's like 20 years' worth of savings, depending on how one's employed.

    There's just no way that one embarrassing incident and the subsequent mockery is worth more than half a lifetime of hard work. Besides which, he's not even suing the people who actually mocked him. He's suing people who did something that may have induced the actual guilty parties to mock him. What's the accusation, contributory mockery?

  38. Re:Bullying doesn't cause school shootings... by Moryath · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Reposting with proper formatting -- why the hell "HTML Formatted" keeps popping up as default I'll never know. Doubly so why the hell "HTML Formatted" strips out basic end-of-line characters.

    Anyhow:
    Well no, there are two MAJOR differences between public and private schools.

    #1, Private schools have the authority to kick out and/or punish the troublemakers. Being ahead of the curve is actually encouraged, and the teachers who are there have (and tend to exercise) the power to adequately stop any harassment. This includes kicking out the worst.

    #2, The parents of the children in a private school, not always but with a much better tendency, have managed to impress on their kids the importance of education, and have taken something of an active hand in raising said children.

    Compare these with the public institution; teachers have no enforcement power, if they so much as send a kid off for detention they risk getting sued; the guidance counselors are more interested in punishing the victims, telling them it's all their fault for "attracting attention"; the parents of the bullies and harassers likely don't give a shit or aren't around.

    Yes, I was pushed ahead. I actually had a guidance counselor suggest that I deliberately get lower grades than I could on some tests, so that my name wasn't always at the top of the grading list and thus attracting attention.

    Rather than punish or correct the bullying students, they were focused on "what can we do to stop them noticing him as a target." This is the effect of letting liberals run the schools. My middle school VP actually said "there is no such thing as a bully." So, when there was a fight, it didn't matter if one student was attacked by three others, and had a broken nose and black eyes while the three had not so much as a scratch; all four got detention. The bullies didn't care, their grades were crap anyways -- the one they attacked had to miss tests and class time. The worst part is that his opinion was commonplace. Everyone wants to "understand" the bullies, make them "respect" the other students, make them "see that the other students are worthwhile individuals too."

    My parents had to threaten to sue the school district when they kept throwing one boy into study groups with my sister, despite the fact that he'd attacked her twice.

    "But if you teach the kid some social skills they'll probably be alright."

    BULLCRAP.

    The type of bullies that exist there don't have social skills to start with. All they have is brute force. Why do you think they made us all read Lord of the Flies? It was an allegory for the kind of crap that went on at recess or in the halls. When the entirety of your social structure is based on who can beat up who, no amount of "teach social skills" is gonna protect the kid.

    If you skipped a grade and were fine, you either were pushed ahead in the 60s when schools still had disciplinary control, OR you were in a rich neighborhood to begin with that had well-paid teachers and lots of money to throw in to the school system, not to mention a low ratio of bused-in inner city brats whose parents didn't care what they did.

    The solution is a certain modicum of force. You can reason with a college age student. The brains of the vast majority of students at grade/middle school level, on the other hand, haven't and may not ever evolve past "might makes right."