Yeah, but I find it unfortunate that these terms have become so twisted in the popular usage. It makes it awfully difficult to have a fruitful discussion on the topic if we have to spend all our time arguing semantics.
Ahhh, it's so good to see that there are still a few self-described "right-wingers" who are actually conservatives rather than bible-humping, proto-fascist morons. I apoligize it I implied that all conservatives are on one side of this issue, or even that everyone one that side is a conservative. There were, after all, plenty of congresscritters who are generally relatively progressive criticising the original 9th circuit decision. Unfortunately, pissing on the Constitution seems to be a firmly bipartisan endeavor.
What's up with people making new web services in this fashion? I mean, how much harder is it to select technology that will work on all platforms and do your development from there?
Dude, the whole DRM trip is about restricting consumers' choices. Why would the media cartel want people to use a multiplicity of platforms rather than a single, centrally-controlled, restrictions-friendly system?
You are wrong. Agnosticism, as Huxley meant it when he coined the term, is not just "absence of belief"; it makes a definite claim, although an epistemic one rather than a metaphysical one: that definite knowledge of God's existance or nonexistance is impossible.
You're sort of right about atheism, in that when the term is used today it's usually understood to mean "strong atheism", which makes a definite metaphysical claim (although it should be noted that there is a vast gulf between the single philosophical position involved here and a whole "religion"). "Atheism" could also be taken to mean "weak atheism", though; simply the absence of a position one way or the other. A better term for this in a culture like ours, where practically every thinking person has thought about the existence of gods, would probably be "apatheism".
Umm... if you think a "dark Lord Satan" exists, you're not really an atheist. If you believe in and worship this dude, you're just a heretical Christian.
That said, you kind of have a point. To all the Xians who think this whole issue is just homolefty whining, every time you see a Xian reference in a public space, mentally replace the words "God" or "Christ" with "our Dark Lord Satan". How irrelevant does it seem now?
the non-destructive worm was the only one written to begin with. I'd be very curious to know why - system crackers with a conscience?
I would guess it has more to do with staying under the radar of the authorities. It's hard to catch these guys, but just imagine the kind of law enforcement effort that will be brought to bear on the worm writer who's responsible for $100 billion of international damage. These guys are just doing it for thrills and prestige in a tiny subculture; what benefit would they get for the extra risk of writing a really destructive worm?
Now, when guys start showing up at Al Quaeda summits with copies of "Windows Worms For Dummies" you should start to worry.
Here's the thing: if your record collection, no matter how large, is really a random sample, then you apparently really are a smack addict with far too much money. What, do you just go on Amazon and click like crazy until a box of CDs arrives at your door? All you've shown is that you don't seem to like coherent albums.
Here's an equally meaningful counterexample: of my collection of ~350 albums, I'd say at least 50% of them exhibit "MEANINGFUL uses of the album format".
Also, I sincerely recommend that you acquire a copy of DSotM. There's a reason it's still talked about with reverence 30 years after it was made.
Anything by Meshuggah (technical death metal), particularly Destroy Erase Improve or Nothing. Anything by Opeth (progressive death metal), especially Morningrise, Orchid or Still Life. Anything by Dream Theater (prog metal), except for Falling Into Infinity, which, while generally excellent, has some less-than-stellar moments. Anything by Cryptopsy (death metal), especially None So Vile. Anything by Eyehategod (sludge metal), especially Dopesick or Southern Discomfort. Dillinger Escape Plan (insane technical hardcore): Calculating Infinity and Irony Is A Dead Scene. Reign In Blood, Seasons In The Abyss, Ride The Lightning, Master Of Puppets,...And Justice For All, So Far, So Good, So What!, Rust In Peace, Beneath The Remains, Chaos A.D.; if you're into metal, you should not only own all these discs already, but have them commited to memory.
Not as metal, but still rocks:
Porcupine Tree: Sky Moves Sideways, Lightbulb Sun, In Absentia. Anything by the Flaming Lips, especially Clouds Taste Metallic and The Soft Bulletin. Marillion: Brave, Afraid Of Sunlight. Practially everything Yes, Genesis, King Crimson, and Pink Floyd put out in the 70's. Everything by The Velvet Underground.
Finally, in the not-at-all-metal-but-still-great category:
Anything by Belle & Sebastian. Anything by Bjork. Wilco: Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. Mogwai: Young Team and Rock Action My Bloody Valentine: Loveless Pavement: Slanted And Enchanted
And of course, I've left out some better-known bands like Pearl Jam, Radiohead, Depeche Mode, U2, Black Sabbath, Tool, and Rush, who have all made some near-perfect albums.
I think the point you are missing is that you seem to just have a really shitty collection of albums. Either that or someone cut your smack with Drano and your mind has rotted away to nothing. Seriously, you don't think Dark Side Of The Moon is "artistically harmed" by pulling it apart into singles? You don't think the White Album is just two discs full of unrelated singles? Your post is just more bullshit whining about how "boo hoo these musicians keep tricking me into buying albums with only two good songs", except it's worse than usual because you picked some really shitty examples.
Also Misplaced Childhood and Clutching At Straws. And, although it isn't really a concept album, Afraid Of Sunlight definitely has a cohesive mood and set of themes.
For that matter, most everything by (Gabriel-era) Genesis, Yes, Porcupine Tree, Tull, Peter Gabriel, King Crimson, Radiohead, Tool, Today Is The Day, Opeth, Mogwai, Flaming Lips, Nine Inch Nails, (old, good) Metallica, Dream Theater, Flower Kings, Meshuggah, Fates Warning, Rush, etc etc, is closer to album-as-single-cohesive-work-of-art than album-as-haphazzard-collection-of-singles.
Basically, anyone who complains about albums that are mostly "filler" is just listening to the wrong stuff. Free hint, people: TURN OFF THE FUCKING RADIO and go buy/steal/download some real music. You'll be happy you did.
Actually, all their lame installer does is dump a bunch of crappy software on your machine, then point it's web browser at a site of theirs where you do the actual initial registration. The site has Microshaft-specific JS, but you can access it from any Windows machine (think public library). I forget the web site, but if you call tech support they'll give it to you (and in my limited experience, their tech support is pretty good). After that SBC DSL works fine with anything that can talk PPPoE.
Microsoft should work with those interested in using their device to do other things than play video games.
You don't sound stupid, so I'll assume you just haven't been paying attention. Here's the thing: Microsoft loses big bucks selling XBox hardware (see a whole bunch of/. articles, particularly the recent one about the profitability of MS's various divisions, if you don't believe me). They make the money back on game licenses. How many boxes do you think they would sell for $500 each? Right. Bill would be out of his twisted little mind if he promoted anything other than playing (or, really, buying) games with the XBox.
I agree with you about the crappiness of the DMCA and the thing about foreign games, though.
Now who would you say is in the back pocket of the Movie/Music business?
I would say both parties are, as is the case with any large business. Otherwise, why aren't more repubs opposing this indefensible legislation?
However, to the extent that it makes sense to differentiate between the parties, all the blame for the next two years' hideous legislation can be placed on the GOP, as they now control the entire federal government.
Really? Odd... I've been using the nightlies exclusively for months, and they're great. Sometimes the helper app bindings get a little screwed up, but no other problems. Are you using Moz on Linux?
Having said that, my comments weren't directed towards the company. It was directed towards the shortcut / instant-gratification attitude Dalroth expressed.
And why is he wrong for holding that attitude? He wants to play one type of game, you want to play a different type. OSI thinks they can make the most money providing a sort of bizarre hybrid of the two (and I actually agree with you, it very well may end up being a bad decision on their part). What gets me is your apparent attitude that people like Dalroth are committing some transgression against you by wanting the game to be a certain way. UO is not your party; it's OSI's party, and you're only there because they agreed to let you in for a price. If they decide to change the game, you're welcome to leave, but complaining about how OSI and Dalroth won't pander to your desires is just whining of the worst sort. If this really pisses you off, I suggest you stop taking this silly game so seriously and go find some amusement that you can actually have some control over.
Hate to break it to you, pal, but these games aren't there for "other's fun", either. They're there for a company to make money from. If they can make more money from people like Dalroth (that is, you'll notice, people with jobs) than from clowns like you, it's their right (and dare I say it, a moral imperitive for them) to do so. If you don't like that kind of game, find another one that more suits your obsessive level-building style. Just remember that as long as you're sucking the corporate teat for your amusement, any sense of ownership or entitlement that you have exists only in your imagination.
No kidding. Get Afraid Of Sunlight while you're at it. Seriously, everbody: get these albums RIGHT NOW. The fact that you've never heard them negates anything worthwhile or valuable you've ever done, and reduces your entire existance to an vapid, pointless semblance of life. No exaggeration; they're really that good.
Anyway, before some anorak corrects me: I do realize that Marillion got played on the radio in Europe back in the 80's. It's just a crock that they can't get played these days; Map Of The World and Between You And Me would make such fantastic radio fodder. It's a shame that the suits at Clear Channel have forgotten that it's possible for a song to be accessible and fun, but also musically interesting. I guess it probably has to do with the fact that not many 13-year-old girls would find Steve Rothery cute.
What artist puts out masterfuly crafted albums of songs that explore the human condition?
Marillion
Dream Theater
Belle & Sebastian
Dark Tranquility
Wilco
Opeth
etc & etc, I'm not going to list any more, but you get the point: you're a fool if you don't think any worthwhile music is being made these days. I'll grant you that there's a difference, which is that Pink Floyd got played on the popular radio, and none of these bands have any chance of that, but that hardly means they don't exist. (And don't get me wrong, the RIAA can have my copies of Dark Side Of The Moon and Close To The Edge when they pry them from my cold, dead hands, but musical evolution didn't screech to a halt in the early 70's.)
Tell you what: I'll check out some 60's South-American psych-pop if you'll check out some 00's Scandinavian black/death metal.
Give me a fucking break. Perens isn't being confined to his house or prohibited from working in this industry. His views aren't being suppressed. I doubt he's going to be starving to death in a hovel for lack of work. HPQ is just shooting themselves in the foot, and if Bruce isn't pissed off about it, I don't see why the rest of us should be.
The only people who should really care are HPQ investors, as this is a sign that the company is just sinking further into the crapper.
guybarr, you are my hero, and I'm not being sarcastic. I've never more wished that I had mod points than for this post. If more people would keep this thought in mind as they lived their lives, and try to be a Dijkstra rather than a Gates, the world would be a vastly, vastly better place.
Give me a fucking break. Read the Franklin quote again, and this time notice the word "essential". You don't have the freedom to build a nuclear reactor in your back yard; you don't have the freedom to drive down Main Street at 200 mph; you don't have the freedom to carry an uzi onto a commercial airline flight. Why? Because we, as a society, have decided that the benefits of doing these things don't outweigh the likely harm they will cause.
This balance between freedom and security is always shifting; we haven't found the perfect equilibrium yet. You seem to think that the ideal situation would be complete anarchy; that is, absolute freedom at the expense of any security. Ignoring the question of whether it would really be possible to bring about that situation, if that is what you really want, then you are the fool.
Some things, like mandatory encryption backdoors, are clearly unacceptable, and need to be fought against with ferocity and determination; however, that doesn't mean that there can be no beneficial compromises.
You realize, of course, why that wouldn't work. Right? The point of the internet is that it's so open ended; anyone can publish what they want, and you can never predict what you're going to find. If you're going to restict your surfing to three sites, you might just as well forget the internet and read magazines instead. If Johnny's Mom is going to sit next to him and unblock sites as he finds them, she could just as well forget the filtering software and sit beside him while he's on the internet to make sure he isn't going to objectionable sites. Furthermore, do you want to be the guy in the IT department who handles the 10,000 unblock requests per day from your company?
Which brings up another question: the article isn't talking about filters for little Johnny; it's talking about filters at law firm and universities. Filters for people who read the Tech Law Journal. Presumably, these people are adults, and can decide for themselves whether something is appropriate for viewing at the office. Why do these people need filters? What the hell happened to just firing people who spend their time masturbating to goat porn instead of doing work?
Slashdot Mirror
Yeah, but I find it unfortunate that these terms have become so twisted in the popular usage. It makes it awfully difficult to have a fruitful discussion on the topic if we have to spend all our time arguing semantics.
Ahhh, it's so good to see that there are still a few self-described "right-wingers" who are actually conservatives rather than bible-humping, proto-fascist morons. I apoligize it I implied that all conservatives are on one side of this issue, or even that everyone one that side is a conservative. There were, after all, plenty of congresscritters who are generally relatively progressive criticising the original 9th circuit decision. Unfortunately, pissing on the Constitution seems to be a firmly bipartisan endeavor.
What's up with people making new web services in this fashion? I mean, how much harder is it to select technology that will work on all platforms and do your development from there?
Dude, the whole DRM trip is about restricting consumers' choices. Why would the media cartel want people to use a multiplicity of platforms rather than a single, centrally-controlled, restrictions-friendly system?
You are wrong. Agnosticism, as Huxley meant it when he coined the term, is not just "absence of belief"; it makes a definite claim, although an epistemic one rather than a metaphysical one: that definite knowledge of God's existance or nonexistance is impossible.
You're sort of right about atheism, in that when the term is used today it's usually understood to mean "strong atheism", which makes a definite metaphysical claim (although it should be noted that there is a vast gulf between the single philosophical position involved here and a whole "religion"). "Atheism" could also be taken to mean "weak atheism", though; simply the absence of a position one way or the other. A better term for this in a culture like ours, where practically every thinking person has thought about the existence of gods, would probably be "apatheism".
Umm... if you think a "dark Lord Satan" exists, you're not really an atheist. If you believe in and worship this dude, you're just a heretical Christian.
That said, you kind of have a point. To all the Xians who think this whole issue is just homolefty whining, every time you see a Xian reference in a public space, mentally replace the words "God" or "Christ" with "our Dark Lord Satan". How irrelevant does it seem now?
the non-destructive worm was the only one written to begin with. I'd be very curious to know why - system crackers with a conscience?
I would guess it has more to do with staying under the radar of the authorities. It's hard to catch these guys, but just imagine the kind of law enforcement effort that will be brought to bear on the worm writer who's responsible for $100 billion of international damage. These guys are just doing it for thrills and prestige in a tiny subculture; what benefit would they get for the extra risk of writing a really destructive worm?
Now, when guys start showing up at Al Quaeda summits with copies of "Windows Worms For Dummies" you should start to worry.
Here's the thing: if your record collection, no matter how large, is really a random sample, then you apparently really are a smack addict with far too much money. What, do you just go on Amazon and click like crazy until a box of CDs arrives at your door? All you've shown is that you don't seem to like coherent albums.
Here's an equally meaningful counterexample: of my collection of ~350 albums, I'd say at least 50% of them exhibit "MEANINGFUL uses of the album format".
Also, I sincerely recommend that you acquire a copy of DSotM. There's a reason it's still talked about with reverence 30 years after it was made.
Kick-your-ass-until-it's-sore-for-a-week metal:
...And Justice For All, So Far, So Good, So What!, Rust In Peace, Beneath The Remains, Chaos A.D.; if you're into metal, you should not only own all these discs already, but have them commited to memory.
Anything by Meshuggah (technical death metal), particularly Destroy Erase Improve or Nothing.
Anything by Opeth (progressive death metal), especially Morningrise, Orchid or Still Life.
Anything by Dream Theater (prog metal), except for Falling Into Infinity, which, while generally excellent, has some less-than-stellar moments.
Anything by Cryptopsy (death metal), especially None So Vile.
Anything by Eyehategod (sludge metal), especially Dopesick or Southern Discomfort.
Dillinger Escape Plan (insane technical hardcore): Calculating Infinity and Irony Is A Dead Scene.
Reign In Blood, Seasons In The Abyss, Ride The Lightning, Master Of Puppets,
Not as metal, but still rocks:
Porcupine Tree: Sky Moves Sideways, Lightbulb Sun, In Absentia.
Anything by the Flaming Lips, especially Clouds Taste Metallic and The Soft Bulletin.
Marillion: Brave, Afraid Of Sunlight.
Practially everything Yes, Genesis, King Crimson, and Pink Floyd put out in the 70's.
Everything by The Velvet Underground.
Finally, in the not-at-all-metal-but-still-great category:
Anything by Belle & Sebastian.
Anything by Bjork.
Wilco: Yankee Hotel Foxtrot.
Mogwai: Young Team and Rock Action
My Bloody Valentine: Loveless
Pavement: Slanted And Enchanted
And of course, I've left out some better-known bands like Pearl Jam, Radiohead, Depeche Mode, U2, Black Sabbath, Tool, and Rush, who have all made some near-perfect albums.
Happy listening!
I think the point you are missing is that you seem to just have a really shitty collection of albums. Either that or someone cut your smack with Drano and your mind has rotted away to nothing. Seriously, you don't think Dark Side Of The Moon is "artistically harmed" by pulling it apart into singles? You don't think the White Album is just two discs full of unrelated singles? Your post is just more bullshit whining about how "boo hoo these musicians keep tricking me into buying albums with only two good songs", except it's worse than usual because you picked some really shitty examples.
Marillion - Brave
Also Misplaced Childhood and Clutching At Straws. And, although it isn't really a concept album, Afraid Of Sunlight definitely has a cohesive mood and set of themes.
For that matter, most everything by (Gabriel-era) Genesis, Yes, Porcupine Tree, Tull, Peter Gabriel, King Crimson, Radiohead, Tool, Today Is The Day, Opeth, Mogwai, Flaming Lips, Nine Inch Nails, (old, good) Metallica, Dream Theater, Flower Kings, Meshuggah, Fates Warning, Rush, etc etc, is closer to album-as-single-cohesive-work-of-art than album-as-haphazzard-collection-of-singles.
Basically, anyone who complains about albums that are mostly "filler" is just listening to the wrong stuff. Free hint, people: TURN OFF THE FUCKING RADIO and go buy/steal/download some real music. You'll be happy you did.
No, he means the Ninety-Ninety rule.
Actually, all their lame installer does is dump a bunch of crappy software on your machine, then point it's web browser at a site of theirs where you do the actual initial registration. The site has Microshaft-specific JS, but you can access it from any Windows machine (think public library). I forget the web site, but if you call tech support they'll give it to you (and in my limited experience, their tech support is pretty good). After that SBC DSL works fine with anything that can talk PPPoE.
Microsoft should work with those interested in using their device to do other things than play video games.
/. articles, particularly the recent one about the profitability of MS's various divisions, if you don't believe me). They make the money back on game licenses. How many boxes do you think they would sell for $500 each? Right. Bill would be out of his twisted little mind if he promoted anything other than playing (or, really, buying) games with the XBox.
You don't sound stupid, so I'll assume you just haven't been paying attention. Here's the thing: Microsoft loses big bucks selling XBox hardware (see a whole bunch of
I agree with you about the crappiness of the DMCA and the thing about foreign games, though.
Now who would you say is in the back pocket of the Movie/Music business?
I would say both parties are, as is the case with any large business. Otherwise, why aren't more repubs opposing this indefensible legislation?
However, to the extent that it makes sense to differentiate between the parties, all the blame for the next two years' hideous legislation can be placed on the GOP, as they now control the entire federal government.
Really? Odd... I've been using the nightlies exclusively for months, and they're great. Sometimes the helper app bindings get a little screwed up, but no other problems. Are you using Moz on Linux?
Having said that, my comments weren't directed towards the company. It was directed towards the shortcut / instant-gratification attitude Dalroth expressed.
And why is he wrong for holding that attitude? He wants to play one type of game, you want to play a different type. OSI thinks they can make the most money providing a sort of bizarre hybrid of the two (and I actually agree with you, it very well may end up being a bad decision on their part). What gets me is your apparent attitude that people like Dalroth are committing some transgression against you by wanting the game to be a certain way. UO is not your party; it's OSI's party, and you're only there because they agreed to let you in for a price. If they decide to change the game, you're welcome to leave, but complaining about how OSI and Dalroth won't pander to your desires is just whining of the worst sort. If this really pisses you off, I suggest you stop taking this silly game so seriously and go find some amusement that you can actually have some control over.
Hate to break it to you, pal, but these games aren't there for "other's fun", either. They're there for a company to make money from. If they can make more money from people like Dalroth (that is, you'll notice, people with jobs) than from clowns like you, it's their right (and dare I say it, a moral imperitive for them) to do so. If you don't like that kind of game, find another one that more suits your obsessive level-building style. Just remember that as long as you're sucking the corporate teat for your amusement, any sense of ownership or entitlement that you have exists only in your imagination.
No kidding. Get Afraid Of Sunlight while you're at it. Seriously, everbody: get these albums RIGHT NOW. The fact that you've never heard them negates anything worthwhile or valuable you've ever done, and reduces your entire existance to an vapid, pointless semblance of life. No exaggeration; they're really that good.
Anyway, before some anorak corrects me: I do realize that Marillion got played on the radio in Europe back in the 80's. It's just a crock that they can't get played these days; Map Of The World and Between You And Me would make such fantastic radio fodder. It's a shame that the suits at Clear Channel have forgotten that it's possible for a song to be accessible and fun, but also musically interesting. I guess it probably has to do with the fact that not many 13-year-old girls would find Steve Rothery cute.
What artist puts out masterfuly crafted albums of songs that explore the human condition?
Marillion
Dream Theater
Belle & Sebastian
Dark Tranquility
Wilco
Opeth
etc & etc, I'm not going to list any more, but you get the point: you're a fool if you don't think any worthwhile music is being made these days. I'll grant you that there's a difference, which is that Pink Floyd got played on the popular radio, and none of these bands have any chance of that, but that hardly means they don't exist. (And don't get me wrong, the RIAA can have my copies of Dark Side Of The Moon and Close To The Edge when they pry them from my cold, dead hands, but musical evolution didn't screech to a halt in the early 70's.)
Tell you what: I'll check out some 60's South-American psych-pop if you'll check out some 00's Scandinavian black/death metal.
Give me a fucking break. Perens isn't being confined to his house or prohibited from working in this industry. His views aren't being suppressed. I doubt he's going to be starving to death in a hovel for lack of work. HPQ is just shooting themselves in the foot, and if Bruce isn't pissed off about it, I don't see why the rest of us should be.
The only people who should really care are HPQ investors, as this is a sign that the company is just sinking further into the crapper.
guybarr, you are my hero, and I'm not being sarcastic. I've never more wished that I had mod points than for this post. If more people would keep this thought in mind as they lived their lives, and try to be a Dijkstra rather than a Gates, the world would be a vastly, vastly better place.
And this dramatic new trend is different from the way groups of people have behaved for the entirety of human history in what way, exactly?
Give me a fucking break. Read the Franklin quote again, and this time notice the word "essential". You don't have the freedom to build a nuclear reactor in your back yard; you don't have the freedom to drive down Main Street at 200 mph; you don't have the freedom to carry an uzi onto a commercial airline flight. Why? Because we, as a society, have decided that the benefits of doing these things don't outweigh the likely harm they will cause.
This balance between freedom and security is always shifting; we haven't found the perfect equilibrium yet. You seem to think that the ideal situation would be complete anarchy; that is, absolute freedom at the expense of any security. Ignoring the question of whether it would really be possible to bring about that situation, if that is what you really want, then you are the fool.
Some things, like mandatory encryption backdoors, are clearly unacceptable, and need to be fought against with ferocity and determination; however, that doesn't mean that there can be no beneficial compromises.
Which brings up another question: the article isn't talking about filters for little Johnny; it's talking about filters at law firm and universities. Filters for people who read the Tech Law Journal. Presumably, these people are adults, and can decide for themselves whether something is appropriate for viewing at the office. Why do these people need filters? What the hell happened to just firing people who spend their time masturbating to goat porn instead of doing work?
No, no, no, no, NO! This is a stupid cultural myth that has got to fucking stop. Try reading this book (but don't buy it from Amazon).
By the way, "de-evolution" is nonsensical; evolution isn't directed.