Okay, you take a successful company with 80 employees. You bring in VC money, you bring in a change in CEO, and with that, a change in direction. The first quarter, instead of the great growth you've been having, you start to slump. Then the next quarter after that you're even lower. I think at that point he should have stepped in a said "Hey listen, you guys might be great in your own respective fields, but you don't know what you're doing in this one. Step away from the console...."
Its a good example of knowledge separated from experience compared to knowledge embeded in experience - These VCs have great theoretical knowledge of running a business, but they don't necessarily know the ins and outs of fields they try to get into. VCs need to realise that specialised markets require specialised leadership.
Civ, Civ2, Dune2, Star Control 2. These are all games that kept you addicted, and had some "replay value."
I remember coming home from school every day to play CIV until bed time - there was no end to it!......
Until I started MUDing.
I recently wrote an essay on the addictive nature of the Internet, and specifically of MUDs. The fact that people can play more than you and become stronger gives you an urge to play more; to become stronger. You became proud of your objects, you guarded them fiercely. I remember once being a weaker character and being "grouped" with a more powerful character (a dragon). This person wasn't exactly the nicest person, and ended up locking me in a room, killing me, and destroying me items. The emotional rush, the anger, the desire for revenge I felt at that point could not be replicated by games of today's standards.
Another interesting link I found was that of MUDs and Maslow's triangle. Safety and Phisiological needs can be easily kept, but MUDs can fulfill the need for goals and the need for self-esteem. So right there - if you're "physical" needs are met, MUDs (and other games alike) can supply you with the next two steps.
I quite cold turkey when I realised I needed marks to get into university =)
Hello? Have you held a Palm Pilot lately?
We're generally making computers go faster and larger, and then taking older technologies and making them smaller. So eventually we'll have a 386 equivalent in a watch and a P6 3333 on our desktop.
Does anyone remember Super Mario Brothers for the Nintendo? In level 1-2 you could jump 'through' the wall and get to level -1 I could never figure out what to do from there, but it was a very difficult water world!
Exactly: Its very obvious to me that the entire scene is changing. Ways of making money have changed because of the creation of computers and the internet. I think they (record companies) might be starting to realise this.
I remember reading an article that was obviously against the RIAA, but it brought up a good point: Now CDs will be bought for its artistry, creativity, and quality. There will have to be much more thought put into CDs than before.
I'm not saying it costs the *artist* nothing to make a record. Its all relative right? If your making a record as an independant, its going to cost you an arm and a leg. What the companies make compared to what they put into it, using their power and influence to make it, is what I have a problem with.
I too, buy CDs when I believe the artists put a lot of work into it and deserve recognition. I just don't have any sympathy for the record companies
Like they're ever going to stop MP3s. Its too late. Stop crying over spilled milk. Your money and your power will not stop the innevitable - Digital music IS the FUTURE. Price gouging on plastic disks will no longer make you money. You better cut down your fat companies, because your going to start having declining sales. The days where you could charge whatever you want for something that costs you nothing to make is over.
You know, I agree with you. Society is moving somewhere fast, but I'm not quite sure where.
Things have changed so much in the past 10 years! I think we need some kind of movement (obviously its going to start on/.) to fight back against bullying corporations. Those with money who abuse it should not have the right to control our lives.
What ever happened to good intent in business? They're probably loosing money and/or out of business, since the immoral bastards at rich coroporations bought them out or created an unfair competitive environment.
Wow, another company stupidly struting their copyright laws. Sure they have a right, but why would you want to piss off your loyal fan base? Maybe the RIAA or Metallica is presuring people to stand up for their copyright rights. I mean, Metallica is in such a good standing with its fans right now - why wouldn't anyone not want that?
Unofficial websites are great - and they don't take any traffic away from the real ones, since the real ones often have more in depth coverage. I think a whole bunch of corporations need to hire new technology advisors. Whoever is advising right now needs to surf a bit more.
@Home users are getting a *great* price for their service and modems.
A friend who works with them to some degree once told me that the @Home cable ISP idea and ADSL is not as profitable, if at all, than once thought. Lets give these people a chance to make some websites faster for us and make money at the same time, keeping *our* costs down.
Good: - Network admins will be able to patch up a lot of their holes. - Novice admins will be able to locate many holes they would not have located - The network community as a whole will increase its security awareness Bad: - Crackers will know what will be patched on most systems - 12 year old will learn more about these holes, possible cracking un-protected systems Ugly - This will force companies to tighten up. See BAD, raising the bar/costing them resources - UNLESS they tighten up, cracking will become more common.
I think that digital books hardly have any substance - its a text file on your computer, and not the same. The whole point of reading a book either from the library or buying it, is to get the whole experience. If you really want to put something on the net - I recall someone who put the first couple chapters on the net, thus enticing people to go buy it once they're hooked. You could combine this with a digital copy and a hardcover. It might just work.
If someone comes into your home and trashes the place, is it okay to go to his/her home to trash the place? If they steal your car, is it acceptable to steal their car? Of course not! that's what we have laws for. This is how turf/gang wars start and continue - people take the law into their own hands. Someone hacks your site, you hack theirs, they hack yours, you hack theirs. When does it stop? Don't let the internet become a big turf war - we're better than that.
does anyone remember that movie with Sandra Bullock called "THE NET"? One of the crazy russian (or various derrivatives of bad guy) had this crazy keyboard that was sortof like a ball. Compeltely ergonomic because the keys are vertical'ish, so its as if you're holding a ball. Imagine having the "ball" of the keyboard also act as a mouse, so you move the ball around, almost like an airplane joystick with a ball type keyboard at the tip. mmmm that would be cool
Now the question is, is this a good thing or a bad thing. Sure, implementing this across the nation in burger joints is good for business, but when does it stop? A large investment can do the work of two people, but what of those two people? Or everyone else this puts out of work. Sure, robots and technology are great, but there has to be a moral point when putting people out of work - like students for whom McDonalds is a great source of tuition - becomes wrong. We have millions of people on this planet, with thousands being born everyday. Does *anyone* see a problem in the near future? Human nature makes us progress and use technology to our benefit, but human nature also makes a lot o' babies! We might see a huge rise in unemployment soon.
If this virus links to a specific site, the people who own that site are pretty stupid. Sure, you'll get hits (if people ACTUALLY click on the obviously porn shortcut on the desktop) but this country is just looking for people to blame, charge, and potentially jail with regards to anything virus related. Ugh.
>True enough, but it did eat up a lot of time >containing it. For those of us who are already >stupidly busy at work, stuff like this is more >than a minor inconvenience. I've lost the best >three working days to stopping this bloody worm >spreading and trying to make sure our systems >are protected against variants. I was at work as well, and yes, we did loose an entire day, and our IT department lost a good two days. Our fix was simple - no more VBS attatchments, which fixed the problem for now. I have absolutely no sympathy for anyone that writes *any* virus, but I think that there is a line between a virus that delays (those idiotic DoS attacks, ILOVEU) and one that destroys things maliciously. Imagine what would have happened if the new variant that came out just a week ago (deletes all files on network and local computer) came out BEFORE ILOVEU. Imagine the damage it would have caused?
I work for a company that is restricted in exporting encryption to certain countries, but I have read on Microsoft's site that they are now allowed to export 128 bit encryption anywhere in the world. Does anyone know where the line in drawn in terms of what is allowed and what isn't?
Another wonderful example of ignorance. Apparently Metallica believes that trading MP3s and distributing music is the end of the world, but violating the TOS is not. So now the law doesn't apply because it isn't on their side? Is this the old case of "I will uphold and follow the law until it doesn't not suit my needs?" It would have been nice to see Metallica go about this in a legal manner.... maybe they should practice what they preach. And as a note, I'm never listening to metallica again... nor will I erase my mp3s.
I agree with the original post - it does sound a bit suspicious. I think this virus was a good warning to the email community (many of them ignorant) about these kinds of viruses. The virus may have caused some damage and shutdown time, but it did not *destroy* systems. I can imagine that someone will cook up a copycat virus that actually destroys things - at least now we are prepared. As for the arrest - I think the person would be smart enough to destroy the evidence... ie smash his computer. I heard that they 'found' a cut computer connection line. My concern is someone innocent being blamed. Unfourtuatnely we have this notion that *someone* has to be blammed for everything, even if that person ends up being an innocent scapegoat.
I think that althought the record companies have won in the courts, that they have: a) Waited too long for this kind of action b) Misplayed their action. Its a fact: mp3 will not go away. I don't think making it illegal is the right way to deal with the problem. The reocrd companies, with this ruling, now have an incredible chance to work with the format and partly control it. These court battles will only make the format go underground. Why send it underground when you can try to make money from it and use it to your advantage?
Slashdot Mirror
Microsoft has a history of using their money to buy into markets. If they wanted to try to compete with the large labels in any way, this would be it.
Can you imagine U2's next album on the Microsoft label? Yikes!
The question is, which is worst? The current labels or Microsoft?
Too bad they're not doing it - it would be a very interesting battle.
Okay, you take a successful company with 80 employees. You bring in VC money, you bring in a change in CEO, and with that, a change in direction. The first quarter, instead of the great growth you've been having, you start to slump. Then the next quarter after that you're even lower. I think at that point he should have stepped in a said "Hey listen, you guys might be great in your own respective fields, but you don't know what you're doing in this one. Step away from the console...."
Its a good example of knowledge separated from experience compared to knowledge embeded in experience - These VCs have great theoretical knowledge of running a business, but they don't necessarily know the ins and outs of fields they try to get into. VCs need to realise that specialised markets require specialised leadership.
Does anyone remember a MUD called Darkheart? I used to play it, I IMMed it, and I wouldn't mind finding the code again, just to muck around with it.
mat - player on Avatar, Shadow of Terror, Darkheart, and Vault of Darkness ( in that order )
Civ, Civ2, Dune2, Star Control 2. These are all games that kept you addicted, and had some "replay value."
I remember coming home from school every day to play CIV until bed time - there was no end to it!......
Until I started MUDing.
I recently wrote an essay on the addictive nature of the Internet, and specifically of MUDs. The fact that people can play more than you and become stronger gives you an urge to play more; to become stronger. You became proud of your objects, you guarded them fiercely. I remember once being a weaker character and being "grouped" with a more powerful character (a dragon). This person wasn't exactly the nicest person, and ended up locking me in a room, killing me, and destroying me items. The emotional rush, the anger, the desire for revenge I felt at that point could not be replicated by games of today's standards.
Another interesting link I found was that of MUDs and Maslow's triangle. Safety and Phisiological needs can be easily kept, but MUDs can fulfill the need for goals and the need for self-esteem. So right there - if you're "physical" needs are met, MUDs (and other games alike) can supply you with the next two steps.
I quite cold turkey when I realised I needed marks to get into university =)
Hello? Have you held a Palm Pilot lately? We're generally making computers go faster and larger, and then taking older technologies and making them smaller. So eventually we'll have a 386 equivalent in a watch and a P6 3333 on our desktop.
I think Star Wars I was only dissapointing to some people because they expected so much.
I didn't find it that bad - I liked a lot of the depictions of things we were not certain of - Corruscant for the example... or the senate.
This first episode was more meant to give information and set things up for the next two.
Yes, but I believe there was a way to pass minus world. Do you know how?
Does anyone remember Super Mario Brothers for the Nintendo? In level 1-2 you could jump 'through' the wall and get to level -1 I could never figure out what to do from there, but it was a very difficult water world!
Exactly: Its very obvious to me that the entire scene is changing. Ways of making money have changed because of the creation of computers and the internet. I think they (record companies) might be starting to realise this.
I remember reading an article that was obviously against the RIAA, but it brought up a good point: Now CDs will be bought for its artistry, creativity, and quality. There will have to be much more thought put into CDs than before.
I'm not saying it costs the *artist* nothing to make a record. Its all relative right? If your making a record as an independant, its going to cost you an arm and a leg. What the companies make compared to what they put into it, using their power and influence to make it, is what I have a problem with.
I too, buy CDs when I believe the artists put a lot of work into it and deserve recognition. I just don't have any sympathy for the record companies
Like they're ever going to stop MP3s. Its too late. Stop crying over spilled milk. Your money and your power will not stop the innevitable - Digital music IS the FUTURE. Price gouging on plastic disks will no longer make you money. You better cut down your fat companies, because your going to start having declining sales. The days where you could charge whatever you want for something that costs you nothing to make is over.
You know, I agree with you. Society is moving somewhere fast, but I'm not quite sure where.
/.) to fight back against bullying corporations. Those with money who abuse it should not have the right to control our lives.
Things have changed so much in the past 10 years! I think we need some kind of movement (obviously its going to start on
What ever happened to good intent in business?
They're probably loosing money and/or out of business, since the immoral bastards at rich coroporations bought them out or created an unfair competitive environment.
Wow, another company stupidly struting their copyright laws. Sure they have a right, but why would you want to piss off your loyal fan base? Maybe the RIAA or Metallica is presuring people to stand up for their copyright rights. I mean, Metallica is in such a good standing with its fans right now - why wouldn't anyone not want that?
Unofficial websites are great - and they don't take any traffic away from the real ones, since the real ones often have more in depth coverage. I think a whole bunch of corporations need to hire new technology advisors. Whoever is advising right now needs to surf a bit more.
@Home users are getting a *great* price for their service and modems.
A friend who works with them to some degree once told me that the @Home cable ISP idea and ADSL is not as profitable, if at all, than once thought. Lets give these people a chance to make some websites faster for us and make money at the same time, keeping *our* costs down.
Good: - Network admins will be able to patch up a lot of their holes. - Novice admins will be able to locate many holes they would not have located - The network community as a whole will increase its security awareness Bad: - Crackers will know what will be patched on most systems - 12 year old will learn more about these holes, possible cracking un-protected systems Ugly - This will force companies to tighten up. See BAD, raising the bar/costing them resources - UNLESS they tighten up, cracking will become more common.
I think that digital books hardly have any substance - its a text file on your computer, and not the same. The whole point of reading a book either from the library or buying it, is to get the whole experience. If you really want to put something on the net - I recall someone who put the first couple chapters on the net, thus enticing people to go buy it once they're hooked. You could combine this with a digital copy and a hardcover. It might just work.
If someone comes into your home and trashes the place, is it okay to go to his/her home to trash the place? If they steal your car, is it acceptable to steal their car? Of course not! that's what we have laws for. This is how turf/gang wars start and continue - people take the law into their own hands. Someone hacks your site, you hack theirs, they hack yours, you hack theirs. When does it stop? Don't let the internet become a big turf war - we're better than that.
does anyone remember that movie with Sandra Bullock called "THE NET"? One of the crazy russian (or various derrivatives of bad guy) had this crazy keyboard that was sortof like a ball. Compeltely ergonomic because the keys are vertical'ish, so its as if you're holding a ball. Imagine having the "ball" of the keyboard also act as a mouse, so you move the ball around, almost like an airplane joystick with a ball type keyboard at the tip. mmmm that would be cool
Now the question is, is this a good thing or a bad thing. Sure, implementing this across the nation in burger joints is good for business, but when does it stop? A large investment can do the work of two people, but what of those two people? Or everyone else this puts out of work. Sure, robots and technology are great, but there has to be a moral point when putting people out of work - like students for whom McDonalds is a great source of tuition - becomes wrong. We have millions of people on this planet, with thousands being born everyday. Does *anyone* see a problem in the near future? Human nature makes us progress and use technology to our benefit, but human nature also makes a lot o' babies! We might see a huge rise in unemployment soon.
If this virus links to a specific site, the people who own that site are pretty stupid. Sure, you'll get hits (if people ACTUALLY click on the obviously porn shortcut on the desktop) but this country is just looking for people to blame, charge, and potentially jail with regards to anything virus related. Ugh.
>True enough, but it did eat up a lot of time >containing it. For those of us who are already >stupidly busy at work, stuff like this is more >than a minor inconvenience. I've lost the best >three working days to stopping this bloody worm >spreading and trying to make sure our systems >are protected against variants. I was at work as well, and yes, we did loose an entire day, and our IT department lost a good two days. Our fix was simple - no more VBS attatchments, which fixed the problem for now. I have absolutely no sympathy for anyone that writes *any* virus, but I think that there is a line between a virus that delays (those idiotic DoS attacks, ILOVEU) and one that destroys things maliciously. Imagine what would have happened if the new variant that came out just a week ago (deletes all files on network and local computer) came out BEFORE ILOVEU. Imagine the damage it would have caused?
I work for a company that is restricted in exporting encryption to certain countries, but I have read on Microsoft's site that they are now allowed to export 128 bit encryption anywhere in the world. Does anyone know where the line in drawn in terms of what is allowed and what isn't?
Another wonderful example of ignorance. Apparently Metallica believes that trading MP3s and distributing music is the end of the world, but violating the TOS is not. So now the law doesn't apply because it isn't on their side? Is this the old case of "I will uphold and follow the law until it doesn't not suit my needs?" It would have been nice to see Metallica go about this in a legal manner.... maybe they should practice what they preach. And as a note, I'm never listening to metallica again... nor will I erase my mp3s.
I agree with the original post - it does sound a bit suspicious. I think this virus was a good warning to the email community (many of them ignorant) about these kinds of viruses. The virus may have caused some damage and shutdown time, but it did not *destroy* systems. I can imagine that someone will cook up a copycat virus that actually destroys things - at least now we are prepared. As for the arrest - I think the person would be smart enough to destroy the evidence... ie smash his computer. I heard that they 'found' a cut computer connection line. My concern is someone innocent being blamed. Unfourtuatnely we have this notion that *someone* has to be blammed for everything, even if that person ends up being an innocent scapegoat.
I think that althought the record companies have won in the courts, that they have: a) Waited too long for this kind of action b) Misplayed their action. Its a fact: mp3 will not go away. I don't think making it illegal is the right way to deal with the problem. The reocrd companies, with this ruling, now have an incredible chance to work with the format and partly control it. These court battles will only make the format go underground. Why send it underground when you can try to make money from it and use it to your advantage?