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User: beebware

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Comments · 515

  1. Re:general dmoz stuff on Dmoz (aka AOL) Changing Guidelines In Sketchy Way · · Score: 1

    If you contact an editor (via editor feedback they will usually try and help you where possible. I always try to (even though last time someone asked for help, I was moving house so it took 2 weeks to respond but...)
    The application form has got to be filled in completely as it's the only way 'meta editors' can judge if you know 'the basics' (ie 'What is a URL?', 'What sort of sites should go in which categories', 'Can you spell?' sort of thing)
    Richy C.
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  2. Re:I am a former Meta-Editor on Dmoz (aka AOL) Changing Guidelines In Sketchy Way · · Score: 2

    I posted this story more than a month ago.
    The guidelines were only changed 5 days ago - but, admittedly, some action regarding the Warez section was taken. It was taken because several editors were complaining about it being listed, it is linking to illegal content and Netscape's legal department informed ODP that they couldn't be sure what position ODP is in.
    Therefore ODP took the only sensible cause of action under the circumstances - pull the content out of the directory (actually, I believe it's been temporarly moved to a 'hidden' area) while discussions in the internal editor forums decide what should be done.
    Richy C.
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  3. Re:I think this is a good thing... on Dmoz (aka AOL) Changing Guidelines In Sketchy Way · · Score: 1

    They say it's illegal regarding US laws (California IIRC), but because they do have international editors they have tried to 'spell out' exactly what they mean.
    IIRC - Reverse Engineering in the UK is illegal.

    Richy C.
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  4. Re:gave up on dmoz on Dmoz (aka AOL) Changing Guidelines In Sketchy Way · · Score: 1

    Ensure your site is working, the URL is correct and it has been submitted to the CORRECT category (quite a few submissions are deleted because of this).
    ODP is human-edited, and therefore the site's got to be viewable by humans.
    If you send me the URL by 'editor feedback' (when the server comes back up), with the details, I'll personally look into the matter and get back to you.
    There is no secret, it's just that there may have been something on your site that an editor couldn't see, or your server was down or ...
    Richy C.
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  5. Re:Hmm on Dmoz (aka AOL) Changing Guidelines In Sketchy Way · · Score: 2

    ODP has been suffering quite a bit of downtime the past fortnight - this is due to a hardware problem which is due to be fixed shortly (it /was/ scheduled for Monday at 12PST, but the maintenace was unable to be conducted for some reason).
    Normally, it is VERY fast, and hopefully will be again very shortly.
    Richy C.
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  6. Re:What did you expect? on Dmoz (aka AOL) Changing Guidelines In Sketchy Way · · Score: 2

    ODP editors have also asked for clarification of certain issues (particular the warez category) as they feel 'uncomfortable' in dealing with the issue.
    In recent internal ODP forum posts, editors have raised the question about their own COUNTRY suing them due to strict regimes in the country. ODP is just trying to help their editors and their downstream users in whichever ways it can.
    Richy C.
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  7. Re:Copyright changes on Dmoz (aka AOL) Changing Guidelines In Sketchy Way · · Score: 1

    Quote from the guidelines:
    Netscape will have the non-exclusive right to use and modify this material.
    You are not giving Netscape the full copyright, and Netscape is not restricting usage - in fact, they encourage it - see the licence file regarding the data.
    Richy C.
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  8. Re:Quit bitching & do something. on Dmoz (aka AOL) Changing Guidelines In Sketchy Way · · Score: 2

    Several editors do, in fact, keep copies of the RDF dumps on their machine and it is well known within the ODP community that any action by Netscape/AOL that displeases a large majority of editors will result in us setting up a competing service (probably even with assistance of skrenta and co - the founders).
    Netscape know that any major fowlups on their part will result in them being shot in the foot.
    Richy C.
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  9. Re:Why should you promote suicide? on Dmoz (aka AOL) Changing Guidelines In Sketchy Way · · Score: 1

    I believe Netscape (who own ODP) have been informed by their lawyers that linking to information about suicide could be seen as 'promoting suicide' and therefore place AOL, Netscape, ODP, and it's editors in a very tricky legal situation. They are just trying to avoid people getting in trouble.
    Richy C.
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  10. Editor's viewpoint on Dmoz (aka AOL) Changing Guidelines In Sketchy Way · · Score: 4

    I'm a 'editall+catmv' at ODP (see my editor profile) and have been an editor practically since it started, and these guidelines are currently being discussed on the internal ODP editor forums.
    The copyright, at no time, remained with the editor. If it did, then ex-editors could use court rulings to remove their listings. Netscape do own the copyright (and always have) - but with an 'non-exclusive licence', meaning you grant them the right to use the data but you still have full rights to do what you want with it.
    The illegal sites section has been under planning for about 9 months now - and the mud has 'flown' over certain issues (mainly drugs and warez, but some porn). What some editors fail to realise is the ODP could be sued, and Netscape lawyers are just trying to 'cover their backs'.
    As far as I'm concerned, this, like many other issues, will be resolved over time in the internal forums - with assistance from Netscape lawyers where there are 'gray areas'.
    Richy C.
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  11. Re:its pop-cubed-mail and smtp-mail on "e-mail" vs "email" · · Score: 1

    For me, it's SMTP and IMAP mail then, with a little bit of POP3. If only I could remember what RFC822 states...
    Richy C.
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  12. Re:email on "e-mail" vs "email" · · Score: 1

    Microphone? Telephone? Phonetics? Just off the top of my head. :)
    Richy C.
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  13. Everlasting light on Displays That Harvest Light Instead Of Creating It · · Score: 2

    Hang on, if it needs ambient light to operate but creates 30xambient - you've got an infinite power source. Each light will create enough light to power 29 of its fellows which could then power your computer system (okay, might need a few more than 30 but..). Continually environmentally friendly power source for the cost of a few bulbs...
    Richy C.
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  14. Patent on creation of Carbon based lifeforms on Enter The 'Stupid Patent Tricks' Contest · · Score: 1

    "This patent covers the method of reproducing, cloning or copying carbon based bipeds by the method of non-asexual reproduction. This method is defined by direct internal contact of a cbb (carbon based biped) with an external protuberation of another cbb."
    Sounds good - yeah or nah? Let's hope the UK government doesn't finance 60million UKP to encourage people to stay virgins or else I won't get any money from this patent...

    Richy C.
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  15. Re:What about the cost? on Opera 4.0b1 For Linux · · Score: 1

    Opera for Windows cost $39 (USD - even though they are based in Norway). Discounts are avaiable for education usage, bulk-orders, ISP orders etc. Although (IIRC), the pricing for the Linux version hasn't been set yet - so it's probably a time limited version.
    Richy C.
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  16. Re:Long, long, long... on Opera 4.0b1 For Linux · · Score: 1

    True, but Opera Software wrote Opera for Windows from scratch five years ago - and it's undergone major rewrites. And now they have versions for Win32, Linux, Palm and several other platforms (see the 'Ports' section of www.opera.com when the site's recovered from the slashdotting).
    It's not a too bad browser, small faults in it, but it's worth getting (and registering).
    Richy C.
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  17. Re:What happened to Internet2? on The Scientific Internet · · Score: 1

    It's just that ManicDeity called it a 'Napster for Scientists', Hemos likened it to 'Internet2', but it seems it's more like distributed.net . Sorry about that, I forgot to read the article before posting - but I'm sure I heard of something like this a few months (even a year) ago. Any1 else?
    Richy C.
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  18. What happened to Internet2? on The Scientific Internet · · Score: 1

    Whatever did happen to 'Internet2' - I know some american universities were testing something along those lines, but what happened to it.
    (Sorry if it's offtopic, but if I2 did take off it would be ideal for everyone...)
    Richy C.
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  19. Re:E-Petitions on Electronic Signatures Now Legal? · · Score: 1

    See the BBC's story about MP3.com' s 'e-mail march' where MP3 is launching a 'million e-mail march' in support of an American bill which could end legal action against it.
    Richy C.
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  20. Difference between public and private companies on Publicly Funded Competition For NASA? · · Score: 3

    The way I see it, NASA is a public company - it is owned by the American population via their taxes. Whereas Microsoft is owned by their shareholders. There's a big difference.
    I can't see what's stopping anyone setting up private competition to NASA, but why should the American people have to pay to fund 2 space associations?
    Disclaimer: BTW I'm British so it doesn't matter that much to me anyway...

    Richy C.
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  21. Re:Intel's undue credit.. on Intel Unveils New StrongARMs · · Score: 1

    IIRC Digital (who originally made the StrongARM with ARM) contributed a very very significant part of its design. It's based on the main ARM design core, but with Digital's 'optimization' to increase its speed with the use of it's two caches and various other enhancements.
    Intel brought the Digital Semiconductor section and have been enhancing the SA ever since.
    I'm still happy with my 5yr old 202Mhz RISC PC though - it still goes faster than this 1mnth old 400Mhz Compaq Deskpro...
    Richy C.
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  22. See Also... on Intel Unveils New StrongARMs · · Score: 2
    Also covered in/on:

    More detail on the StrongARM range can be found on ARM's website.

    Richy C.
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  23. The Register's Coverage on The End of The Line for Iridium · · Score: 2

    The Register's coverage states that it's costing several millions of dollars per month to maintain the network - who _could_ afford to take it over?
    I know Castle Harlan offerd $50million for it, and several Linux fans were going to use them as an open source datacomms network - but does anyone know what happened to those offers?
    Richy C.
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  24. Invisability on The Invisible Man? Kinda. · · Score: 1

    Okay, let's just forget about the ability to stand invisable next to a naked hot-grit covered Natalie Portman and think what other usages this technology has.
    Yeah, there's the medical one (which is covered in the article) allowing doctors to see 'below the skin', but there is also the possible military usage. Perfect it to get somebody totally invisable and you've got a damn good killing machine... What other usages (apart from being able to see what you had for dinner) are there?

    Richy C.
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  25. Re:This is only for Akamized sites. on Censorware Blocking Methods Using Akamai · · Score: 2

    Seems to work for any sites: see SuperSpandex and Beebware.com - neither of which have connections to Akamize. Even the Alt.Sex.Stories Text Repository works!
    Richy C.
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