The novel Flash Forward already depicted the Higgs Boson at the CERN discovery, published in 1998. Robert's famous for doing months of research for a novel, but still this is definitely weird.
Here's the Cover Blurb copy:
Robert J. Sawyer's award-winning science fiction has garnered both popular and critical acclaim. The New York Times called
Factoring Humanity "filled to bursting with ideas, characters, and incidents," while The Gainesville Sun said, "Sawyer is a brilliant stylist who depicts daily life events with a shattered worldview."
Sawyer now brings us Flashforward, the story of a world-shattering discovery at the CERN research facility in Switzerland. The research team of Lloyd Simcoe and Theo Procopides is using the particle accelerator at CERN in pursuit of the elusive Higgs Boson, a theoretical subatomic particle. But their experiment goes incredibly awry, and, for a few moments, the consciousness of the entire human race is thrown ahead by about twenty years.
While humanity must deal immediately with the destructive aftermath of the experiment -- thousands were injured and killed as every single person's body was left unconscious in the here-and-now -- the greater implications take longer to surface. People who had no vision of the future seek to learn how they will died, while others seek out future lovers.
Lloyd must deal with the guilt of accidentally causing the death of his fiancée's child, while Theo gets caught up in the search for his own murderer. As the implications truly hit home, the pressure to repeat the experiment builds. Everyone wants a glimpse of the future, a chance to flashforward to see their successes . . . or learn how to avoid their failures.
It's a very good book, and published a couple years before this incident. Well worth a read. His entire site, since it's in frames, is at http://www.sfwriter.com/.
It's funny that many of these companies trying to persuade the big corps to MOVE AHEAD on technology and provide what the customers want get hit hard with lawsuits and C&D's and whatnot... These big corps have the money because they're quashing alternatives. I'm not saying mp3.com was right, but why the hell can't I walk into a Sam Goody or Best Buy and buy myself an MP3 CD?
Also, why is it that the DoJ isn't going after these companies for price fixing and antitrust violations for quashing technological bypasses? And why the hell are we passing laws to benefit these big corps who are keeping technology from moving forward?
It's all just hilarious when we look at it. In 225 years we've gone from A Nation of the People, for the People, and by the People, to a Nation of Money, Corporatism and Lawyers. It took the Roman empire, what, 800 years to collapse?
Most companies, especially Pioneer and ADV Films, are infamous for pushing back release dates because the DVD release needed more work or was behind schedule. The best way to find out exactly when a DVD comes out, is to see it physically on the store shelves.
Not ragging on anime or DVDs, as I enjoy both, just wish that companies would take a bit more precaution in their release dates with items that constantly show to have problems. Would make the fans happier to wait a month with a release date that doesn't change, than hearing more than one release date for their favourite products.
Here's to many more great series to make it to DVD! (Hey, um, where's that Escaflowne DVD box yet??? (: )
Even though the Patent Office makes MANY mistakes about software patents in the past, I have faith in them that they'll realize prior art on so many of these patents. Sounds like they're just patenting a couple companies' software from the past two or three years.
Even so we should still forward off a letter to the patent office giving them a heads up about the prior art, just in case.
Yes, friends, McDonald's, that international restaurant of new and original sandwich names and children toys, has announced their license of the FreePad device in service in all of their McDonald's throughout the world. Instead of their usual plastic trays, McDonald's will now use a device based on FreePad.
Said a McDonald's spokesperson, "We saw it and it came to us immediately. We could allow our consumers to see updated news and advertisements while they ate."
What's more, those who Super Size their FreePad-based trays get use of internet browsing and email while they eat. Even some stores have integrated Muzak into speakers found on either side of the handles.
In a related story, Bill Gates has decided to clone himself for the new molecular computer . . .
[sorry, it's hot and it's what the freepad lookslike!]
Yes, I don't disagree that many athletes would sacrifice everything to be at the Games, but there are many people in smaller events who can't get big name advertisers to sponsor them. Like those who do the events which are just printed in newspapers the next day with just stats instead of a story, among others. These types of events really don't get smothered by the high-money sponsors.
Then there's the thought of competing sponsors. Maybe Coca-Cola gains exclusive rights to be the only drink sponsor. Then Pepsi wants to support say one of our pole-vaulters. Well, Pepsi and that pole-vaulter are suddenly out of luck at the Games. All because of commercialism restrictions. It could also be that Kraft can't be allowed to sponsor the games because they're owned by Phillip Morris, and PM is not allowed to sponsor the games due to their cigarette brands. Who knows where this will all end?
My thought is, if you're going to allow sponsors, allow them all or none. Just because they're not approved, means that there's a sense of elitism in the Games, and those who need those sponsorships are stuck without funds they deserve. The sponsors have plenty of money and don't lose much by not sponsoring, and the Games already get money from the other sponsors and merchandising. Let's think about the little guys for a change, eh? They're representing our countries, NOT a specific list of corporations.
Is there a form of NDA when you enter the Olympics or a contract to keep you from wearing such items? Also, is the ban only for the athletes, so that anyone viewing the Olympics can still write their feelings of the games?
Commercialism has taken something that was supposed to unite many countries and turned it into something ugly fast. Salt Lake City bribes, bans on free speech from Oz... I think it's time we find a new event to bring the countries together, or rehaul the Olympic Committee.
Here's a couple snippets from the Ask the RIAA page:
What is your stand on MP3?
This is one of those urban myths like alligators in the toilet. MP3 is just a technology and the technology itself never did anything wrong! There are lots of legal MP3s from great artists on many, many online sites. The problem is that some people use MP3 to take one copy of an album and make that copy available on the Internet for hundreds of thousands of people. That's not fair. If you choose to take your own CDs and make copies for yourself on your computer or portable music player, that's great. It's your music and we want you to enjoy it at home, at work, in the car and on the jogging trail. But the fact that technology exists to enable unlimited Internet distribution of music copies doesn't make it right. To learn more about digital music, visit the Music and the Internet section.
Waitaminute!!! The RIAA stated only a couple years ago that MP3 was a dangerous technology, did they not? And they tried to sue such items as RIO (the portable mp3 player) because it promoted piracy? Sounds like they were saying MP3 was dangerous and that carrying around a personal copy of a CD you duplicated to MP3 was wrong . . . Nice change of heart, after they lost their lawsuits . . .
And on a link from the "Ask the RIAA" page on cost of CDs, there's this paragraph:
Another factor commonly overlooked in assessing CD prices is to assume that all CDs are equally profitable. In fact, the vast majority is never profitable. Each year, of the approximately 27,000 new releases that hit the market, the major labels release about 7,000 new CD titles and after production, recording, promotion and distribution costs, most never sell enough to recover these costs, let alone make a profit. In the end, less than 10% are profitable, and in effect, it's these recordings that finance all the rest.
Whoa, waitaminute . . . If you lose money on 90% of what you sell, you're not doing very well anywhere. If a hardware manufacturer did this, they'd be out of business. Same with software. You don't go out and lose money on 90% of your products in hoping that the 10% can carry you. No wonder they're suing to get royalties on such things as MyMP3 and Napster, to make up for their lack of marketing and music sense!
Maybe what the RIAA should do is explain to the music industry, "Just because the Backstreet Boys sell, doesn't mean any boy band who sings falsetto will sell well." Get the dino's out of manager spots and contract areas and maybe we'd have better music and less crappy bands, so that they wouldn't lose money on 90% of the CDs and we could get cheaper CDs already.
Sorry for my rant, but I laughed at the front page article regarding how the RIAA was telling us how the law states different copyright infringements, then adds their own, as though it made that law. And then a quick check of their site had even more humour. (: Please, get back on topic now!
Already submitted and rejected by the Slashdot team, ADV Films picked up FarScape, a sci-fi show on the Sci-Fi Channel's Friday Nights, for home video distribution. I can't fathom how this show cannot be news to these masses, but Battle Bots and ReBoot are considered headlines. (: They should all fit in the same genre, shouldn't they?
This may be a little reaching, but perhaps instead of a university researching it, why not have Universities test it out on a private internet?
Internet2 is already there, with several tech-filled campuses using it. Why not just have the Internet2 test out the Carnivore and have those U's figure out its flaws, its innards, and what vulnerabilities to people's rights it would have.
To me, that seems like the best idea, and it won't disturb anything with other countries or people's rights, just make the U's on I2 a little more worked, but for the good of everyone. Dragon Magic
Didn't anyone remember that Apple is just as bad, suing people for trademark infringement for making Themes similar to their new OS look? They sued for trademark infringement for "simple" machines similar to their iMac. Suddenly, Cobalt is suing Apple for a similar design, and people are saying that Cobalt is wrong?
Did people forget that it's just Apple getting a piece of their own medicine? I'm not saying that Cobalt is right, but Apple does this to others, why's it so bad that they're getting it right back?
Why are people preparing an RIAA boycott? According to the ZDNet story, the judge made an injunction that trading of the RIAA member's music shall stop, not all mp3s. Also, though Washington Post stated "all copyrighted music", which is incorrect because every song, when created, is automatically copyrighted, this is a smart decision.
The RIAA has a perfect right to defend their music. It's THEIRS. Sony publishes an album, it's their copyright. You can't just take that album, copy it via CD-R, and start handing it out in front of a record store. Why should you hand the music out online?
Some bands allow free trading of their music, which is perfectly fine. They want it done. Some people use Napster to trade their music, and allow people to sample it. That's fine too. This is how Napster should work.
But if you don't have the rights to the music, nor are any rights granted to freely trade them, why on earth do you feel you are entitled to get them for free?
This is not an attempt at a flamewar or trolling. I just don't understand why there's a common thought that people are "entitled" to someone else's hard work, if that person feels that his or her works shouldn't be given away free. That's their rights, not yours.
Not one person would enjoy it if someone took something of theirs that they were hoping to make a living on, or hope to control how it was distributed, and started giving it away for free and undermining their control.
Please, don't boycott the RIAA for doing what everyone here would do if they were in their shoes. You would protect your house from intruders, you would protect you financial records from banks getting your information, this is no different.
I've been reading the transcripts on 2600 throughout the trial because it's too far to drive to sit in on the court case, and realized many things during the course of the trial.
First off, that the MPA admitted that their original suit and their original assumptions changed over the course of the trial. They admitted they only targeted DeCSS and knew when the trial was starting that they weren't going to get a piracy issue through. The true nature of the suit filed had been changed so that they had a better chance to win.
Secondly, that the MPA was really looking to make the DeCSS code and software a tool to help copy DVDs and help take away their licensing powers, but failed to call the proper witnesses. They did do a better job cross-examining the Defense witnesses than examining their own witnesses, from what I could see. As well, calling only one MPA agent for the prosecution seemed to weaken their case more, since she failed to shed much light on anything.
Truthfully, I think that DeCSS will win, just based on the lackluster case built by the MPA lawyers. I don't think they've actually built any substantial case about anything other than they're going to lose their ability to control licensing of their DVD encryption. If the MPA had better prepared for the case and realized earlier on that they were focusing on the wrong points, we might have seen DeCSS shut down permenantly. Not that such a thing could happen effectively, but it would have been the ruling.
My only hope is that Congress sees the growing trend of corporations trying to take away rights of their consumers by using the laws, and stop listening to lobbyists for the corporations about "proper" copyright laws. It just leads to cases like these.
I once went onto Battle.net to play FFA StarCraft. One time, I went in to play against two others who "didn't know each other" and two computer opponents. I went easily after the computers, but found out halfway through the rest why the other two opponents seemed to be very strong.
Out of the blue, I saw a message on the chat giving away one of the people's positions and needing help. They had been duping me up to that point about being part of a FFA, but knew each other and were planning on "winning" by knocking me out of the game, and then claiming that one of them won.
I still cannot understand the mentality of cheating to win. To me, you can't really win against someone if you take a severe handicap to do so. Cheating, whether through codes, fraud, trainers or the like, does no good. Sure, you can win more often, but is that win really worth anything? Dragon Magic
I dunno exactly how long the beta test for Rocket Arena Q3A was, but it needed to be longer with a few more testers who could point out some of the simpler problems.
I was a big fan of Rocket Arena Q2 back when I played Quake II. I loved the team play and survival aspects of it. Realisticly, it was what Quake should have been for deathmatches.
However, playing RAQ3A last night, I was horrified by how much had yet to be fixed. The menu, though fancy, is dreadful. When you go to the mp3 player, mp3s don't play, there's no exit button to the menu, and it seems overly burdened with functions.
Also, the download is 60 megabytes just for the client side, and it's multiplayer only. There's no playing against the bots when the master server is down, no practice...
And in some arenas, when you're booted back to the main arena for some reason, there's only a few spawnpoints, all about floor height, so if more than a few players spawn at the same time, they'll be stuck together, which is not fun at all.
And it seems that many server admins are confused by how to setup a server. I was on quite a few last night which had bad time limits or confusing play.
crt probably did make another breakthrough mod for Quake, but it seems that it needed more brewing. Hopefully he'll fix these problems and make it a bit easier and better before too long.
Well, it seems that setting up a site which allows for easier transfers of binary files (Hey, whatever happened to FTP? Isn't that the easiest?) in the good ol' USA where someone or someones will use it for piracy, means that your technology is harmful to big bad corporations.
I mean, they lose money on a few files and will spend even more money trying to shut you down just to look good. I realize that they have to defend their copyrights, but it's very hard to get a grip on the internet's actions when it's all networked computers throughout the world, not just in the USA.
And these corporate giants, instead of doing what they do best with their competitors who make a legal dollar (which is to acquire them or merge with them), they instead go after these demons of technology and have their technology pushed underground.
If they were wiser, they'd buy the software, brand themselves all over it, place restrictions on it, and enjoy the riches. Time/Warner Scour. Sony Music Napster. Disney Gnutella. Make it easy and free. Sell ads (a'la CuteFTP's shareware tryout) and marketing ploys with it. I mean, who would want to use Napster if your email were going to be placed on a list, unless they REALLY wanted to use Napster?
And then use these tools to MARKET the companies who own them. Got a movie coming out? Cool, put up a screener on Scour. Eminem has a new EP coming out? Why not throw out a free track to Napster users as they login?
However, in pushing these technologies underground, they're also pushing them to machines in countries where our copyright and trademark laws aren't as enforced or cared about. Take a look at the box. That's http://www.box.sk/ It's a very helpful site for the right reasons, but also a very ILLEGAL site, if you consider DeCSS, Napster, Scour, Gnutella and other such technologies illegal.
On the Box, you can find cracks, serial numbers, ftp sites of mp3s, and so much more. And yet, they've never been touched by the Corporate American lawyers.
If Napster is shut down, you can expect to find many alternate versions throughout the world. If Scour is told to cease operations, perhaps a scour.sk will appear.
And perhaps one day, the corporations will learn to embrace the internet, not sue it for control of everything.
Didn't we see this fight before?
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Haven't we seen a similar fight before between the Censorware makers, who are commercial entities? Many would place the others' sites on the blacklist, so you wouldn't be able to view competition.
Now we have MAPS bl'ing ORBS? And possibly vice versa in retaliation? And MAPS/Above.net moving their blackhole listing software to a commercial brand?
We've seen the bad mouthing of the censorware softwares for many reasons, so are we now going to see similar words for the blackhole lists? Dragon Magic
Get you more up to date and entertained w/ Tenchi
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For those who aren't as enlightened with Tenchi Muyou, you can find out information on the series and characters from The Anipike's Tenchi Muyou! Links page.
However, if you wish to be held over until this third series appears, one of the largest fan sites online happens to be a fan fiction site dedicated to Tenchi Muyou! itself. You can visit the Tenchi Muyou! Fan Fiction Archive and read several hundred pieces of works in nicely organized categories.
Many people have gotten hooked on Anime with Tenchi and would love to see it continued. This is why Slashdot figured it would be so newsworthy. It's been one of the major shows to help the explosion of anime in America. Dragon Magic
I once owned a domain of a company I was once a part of. I registered it in February, 1998. Back then, you could only register it for two years for the initial signup, so it would expire February 2000.
I got a notice in February that it had expired, then a final notice a few weeks later. I had no intentions of re-registering it, since it was not valuable anymore, and the company had dissolved.
Then, in mid-May, I got a letter from NSI saying that since I had not renewed the domain, it was now freely available to anyone who wanted it. If I wanted, there was an URL on the paper where I could go and directly re-register this domain, so no one else could take it.
Sure enough, the domain is available. However, I don't like the idea that someone is given notice that the domain is expiring, then a final warning a month later, and then two more months go by (a total of THREE months now) before it "expires", and then notice given that anyone can register it.
This is just begging for squatters to grab it again, with their "enticing deals" of cross advertising with VeriSign's products for businesses. I really wish that ICANN would start watching the registrars, maybe give NSI a final smack on the back of the hand, before it sends it to the corner with a loss of registration of.com,.net and.org if it doesn't play nice.
Will gene patents still be viable?
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Now that the human genome is documented, what happens to the genes and sequences which people and companies have patented? They're now known and documented and published, plus they're part of a government-assisted project. Does this mean now that those patents are inviable, or does this mean that the Government and all science papers have to leave out these patented items or fear infringement cases? Dragon Magic
http://www.invent.org/ would be where to get more information on Inventure Place, which is the National Inventor's Hall of Fame and Museum. It's a lovely looking building, in Downtown Akron. Also, it's very easy to get to, since Akron is just south of the Ohio Turnpike, easy access from New York and Chicago.
Well, you've put up some good titles. It seems that your list is more toward the violence genre.
Here are some other titles, by genre, worth seeing:
Science-Fiction Neon Genesis Evangelion -- Based off the Dead Sea Scrolls, man tries to create god through his inventions, and instead rains the destruction of the Earth upon its people.
Key the Metal Idol -- Though a bit less hyped up and known, Key still has not only a cuteness factor to it, but a dark and mezmorising feature to itself. It's a show you can't stop watching, because of the weird twists it takes. It's about a girl who's a machine built by a man, who continues giving her new bodies as she grows, just like a real girl. Unfortunately, he passes away before she can be completed. He leaves behind a message saying that she can become real if she can get 100,000 people to love her.
Fantasy Vision of Escaflowne -- A girl with mystical powers has strange visions of the future, some of which involve tragedy with people close to her. One of the few fantasy animes with really cool mechas, as well.
Record of Lodoss War -- Based off role-playing adventures published in novel format, this series is a must-see for all fantasy buffs. Dragons, magic, warriors, kings, thieves, elves . . . It has it all.
Romance Maison Ikkoku -- Though long, this series does have its great moments in nearly every episode. From the creator of Ranma 1/2, this series has a couple who fall in love with each other, but can't tell the other how they feel. Tons of comedy as well.
Comedy Tenchi Muyo! -- An unintentional pun on the name, which was supposed to mean "Heaven and Earth", a common Japanese phrase for "everything", also translates to "This End Up". A space pirate, two princesses, two Galaxy police officers and a cute furry space ship all happen to end up living with the heir to the strongest throne in the universe.
Goldenboy -- Though very borderline adult, this series is full of comedic anecdotes and mature humour. A very short run of the series, it's easy to collect.
Dirty Pair -- Two female officers with licenses to kill end up doing a bit more than that, as busts usually end up with entire races, even planets, being wiped out in the process.
There are plenty more series out there to see. I could list over 100 titles easily. But these are some of the better ones, if you want to get into anime on the good side.
First off, I'd like to say that I once was a Metallica fan. I've seen them in concert a couple of times, even paying the $30+ for lousy seats, because they entertain well. You get your money's worth. I've also bought some CDs of theirs.
However, I do not have respect for a band with ideals such as what they've put forth. They've become hypocrites and sell outs. Before everyone attacks, here's my reasons:
1) Why is it that Metallica, a band as big and as rich as they may be, cannot find the ability to sell cheaper CDs or market them as other bands, such as Elvis Costello and They Might Be Giants have, through eMusic? No, Metallica needs not do this, but if they are concerned about their profits being damaged, why not make more profits, instead of spending money trying to get rid of a few infringers.
If there are only 1.4 Million infringements in 48 hours, and their albums go gold in about that much time, where's the hurt? It's about 1 infringement to 1 album sale, is it not? Plus, many of those infringements aren't being downloaded. How many using Napster get EVERYTHING someone has, instead of just what you wanted? Not everyone's a Metallica fan, after all.
2) Why is it that it's fine to copy a Metallica album to cassette? Why is it okay that Metallica does pirating, but it's not okay for its fans to pirate them? That's a massive double standard here. You can do it if they don't see it, or it's fine for them to do it, but the moment you put up music with about 1/32 the quality as a CD because it downloads faster, and not necessarily distribute it, just make it available, you're suddenly very very bad.
3) Is Lars here, and the band themselves, promoting bootlegging? I can take a digital DAT recorder, place it up near a monitor on the stage, and get a good quality copy of the show, in digital format. Let's say I put that on Napster. They're not shutting down users who have bootlegs, so it's cool, right?
How is the live version different than the CD? Both are quality digital recordings. The DAT recording here would be better, because it has versions of songs you can't buy in the stores. Plus, hey, it's $16 to buy a Metallica album, but about $30 to go to a concert. Sure, you see more at a concert, but that's still a lot of money.
Why go see the concert when you can just listen to a few cities before? Their thinking hasn't been truly thought through yet.
4) When it comes down to it, Metallica isn't really concerned about loss of money, so much as loss of control. What it sounds like, from what Lars was saying, is that Metallica is more concerned about the online trading of CD-quality mp3s that they sell in stores. I would bet some money that if Metallica were marketing through eMusic or one of several other online mp3 marketing sites, they wouldn't be as concerned. But now, why would they bother, since there are over a million infringements out there with such songs already?
Metallica has lost a fan through its absurdity. I've moved on to other bands who want to use the next frontier in technology, much like all these users Metallica put out of Napster. Dragon Magic
Tom Mabe, a self-employed family man, found out that telemarketers call often, especially when you're home all day. He's an extremely funny man without resorting to vulgarities, sex jokes or direct insulting of people.
http://www.tommabe.com/ is his website. He has a CD out of some of his exploits of telemarketers who call him, available for sale from his site.
What's more, there are a few samples of his works. This, I feel, is the best way to combat telemarketers. Asking them to remove you from their lists often ends you up with having to write a letter or taking weeks to do. Instead, make yourself such an asshole that NO ONE wants to call you.
Also, if you don't buy anything or subscribe to anything from a telemarketer, or ask for any products or freebies, you tend not to get added to what's known as the "sucker" list. This list is sold exclusively as a list of people who have purchased things through telemarketing calls. This is why the moment you sign up for anything or buy anything from someone calling you, you immediately get more calls.
Slashdot Mirror
Here's the Cover Blurb copy:
It's a very good book, and published a couple years before this incident. Well worth a read. His entire site, since it's in frames, is at http://www.sfwriter.com/.
Dragon Magic
It's funny that many of these companies trying to persuade the big corps to MOVE AHEAD on technology and provide what the customers want get hit hard with lawsuits and C&D's and whatnot... These big corps have the money because they're quashing alternatives. I'm not saying mp3.com was right, but why the hell can't I walk into a Sam Goody or Best Buy and buy myself an MP3 CD?
Also, why is it that the DoJ isn't going after these companies for price fixing and antitrust violations for quashing technological bypasses? And why the hell are we passing laws to benefit these big corps who are keeping technology from moving forward?
It's all just hilarious when we look at it. In 225 years we've gone from A Nation of the People, for the People, and by the People, to a Nation of Money, Corporatism and Lawyers. It took the Roman empire, what, 800 years to collapse?
Dragon Magic
Well, there's La Blue Girl, Midnight Panther, Urotsukudoji, Venus 5, Best of Kitty...
There's enough Hentai Anime on DVD to whet your whistle, and wet... well... (:
Dragon Magic
Most companies, especially Pioneer and ADV Films, are infamous for pushing back release dates because the DVD release needed more work or was behind schedule. The best way to find out exactly when a DVD comes out, is to see it physically on the store shelves.
Not ragging on anime or DVDs, as I enjoy both, just wish that companies would take a bit more precaution in their release dates with items that constantly show to have problems. Would make the fans happier to wait a month with a release date that doesn't change, than hearing more than one release date for their favourite products.
Here's to many more great series to make it to DVD! (Hey, um, where's that Escaflowne DVD box yet??? (: )
Dragon Magic
Even though the Patent Office makes MANY mistakes about software patents in the past, I have faith in them that they'll realize prior art on so many of these patents. Sounds like they're just patenting a couple companies' software from the past two or three years.
Even so we should still forward off a letter to the patent office giving them a heads up about the prior art, just in case.
Dragon Magic
Yes, friends, McDonald's, that international restaurant of new and original sandwich names and children toys, has announced their license of the FreePad device in service in all of their McDonald's throughout the world. Instead of their usual plastic trays, McDonald's will now use a device based on FreePad.
Said a McDonald's spokesperson, "We saw it and it came to us immediately. We could allow our consumers to see updated news and advertisements while they ate."
What's more, those who Super Size their FreePad-based trays get use of internet browsing and email while they eat. Even some stores have integrated Muzak into speakers found on either side of the handles.
In a related story, Bill Gates has decided to clone himself for the new molecular computer . . .
[sorry, it's hot and it's what the freepad lookslike!]
Dragon Magic
Yes, I don't disagree that many athletes would sacrifice everything to be at the Games, but there are many people in smaller events who can't get big name advertisers to sponsor them. Like those who do the events which are just printed in newspapers the next day with just stats instead of a story, among others. These types of events really don't get smothered by the high-money sponsors.
Then there's the thought of competing sponsors. Maybe Coca-Cola gains exclusive rights to be the only drink sponsor. Then Pepsi wants to support say one of our pole-vaulters. Well, Pepsi and that pole-vaulter are suddenly out of luck at the Games. All because of commercialism restrictions. It could also be that Kraft can't be allowed to sponsor the games because they're owned by Phillip Morris, and PM is not allowed to sponsor the games due to their cigarette brands. Who knows where this will all end?
My thought is, if you're going to allow sponsors, allow them all or none. Just because they're not approved, means that there's a sense of elitism in the Games, and those who need those sponsorships are stuck without funds they deserve. The sponsors have plenty of money and don't lose much by not sponsoring, and the Games already get money from the other sponsors and merchandising. Let's think about the little guys for a change, eh? They're representing our countries, NOT a specific list of corporations.
Dragon Magic
Is there a form of NDA when you enter the Olympics or a contract to keep you from wearing such items? Also, is the ban only for the athletes, so that anyone viewing the Olympics can still write their feelings of the games?
Commercialism has taken something that was supposed to unite many countries and turned it into something ugly fast. Salt Lake City bribes, bans on free speech from Oz... I think it's time we find a new event to bring the countries together, or rehaul the Olympic Committee.
Dragon Magic
Here's a couple snippets from the Ask the RIAA page:
What is your stand on MP3?
This is one of those urban myths like alligators in the toilet. MP3 is just a technology and the technology itself never did anything wrong! There are lots of legal MP3s from great artists on many, many online sites. The problem is that some people use MP3 to take one copy of an album and make that copy available on the Internet for hundreds of thousands of people. That's not fair. If you choose to take your own CDs and make copies for yourself on your computer or portable music player, that's great. It's your music and we want you to enjoy it at home, at work, in the car and on the jogging trail. But the fact that technology exists to enable unlimited Internet distribution of music copies doesn't make it right. To learn more about digital music, visit the Music and the Internet section.
Waitaminute!!! The RIAA stated only a couple years ago that MP3 was a dangerous technology, did they not? And they tried to sue such items as RIO (the portable mp3 player) because it promoted piracy? Sounds like they were saying MP3 was dangerous and that carrying around a personal copy of a CD you duplicated to MP3 was wrong . . . Nice change of heart, after they lost their lawsuits . . .
And on a link from the "Ask the RIAA" page on cost of CDs, there's this paragraph:
Another factor commonly overlooked in assessing CD prices is to assume that all CDs are equally profitable. In fact, the vast majority is never profitable. Each year, of the approximately 27,000 new releases that hit the market, the major labels release about 7,000 new CD titles and after production, recording, promotion and distribution costs, most never sell enough to recover these costs, let alone make a profit. In the end, less than 10% are profitable, and in effect, it's these recordings that finance all the rest.
Whoa, waitaminute . . . If you lose money on 90% of what you sell, you're not doing very well anywhere. If a hardware manufacturer did this, they'd be out of business. Same with software. You don't go out and lose money on 90% of your products in hoping that the 10% can carry you. No wonder they're suing to get royalties on such things as MyMP3 and Napster, to make up for their lack of marketing and music sense!
Maybe what the RIAA should do is explain to the music industry, "Just because the Backstreet Boys sell, doesn't mean any boy band who sings falsetto will sell well." Get the dino's out of manager spots and contract areas and maybe we'd have better music and less crappy bands, so that they wouldn't lose money on 90% of the CDs and we could get cheaper CDs already.
Sorry for my rant, but I laughed at the front page article regarding how the RIAA was telling us how the law states different copyright infringements, then adds their own, as though it made that law. And then a quick check of their site had even more humour. (: Please, get back on topic now!
Dragon Magic
Already submitted and rejected by the Slashdot team, ADV Films picked up FarScape, a sci-fi show on the Sci-Fi Channel's Friday Nights, for home video distribution. I can't fathom how this show cannot be news to these masses, but Battle Bots and ReBoot are considered headlines. (: They should all fit in the same genre, shouldn't they?
Dragon Magic
This may be a little reaching, but perhaps instead of a university researching it, why not have Universities test it out on a private internet?
Internet2 is already there, with several tech-filled campuses using it. Why not just have the Internet2 test out the Carnivore and have those U's figure out its flaws, its innards, and what vulnerabilities to people's rights it would have.
To me, that seems like the best idea, and it won't disturb anything with other countries or people's rights, just make the U's on I2 a little more worked, but for the good of everyone.
Dragon Magic
Didn't anyone remember that Apple is just as bad, suing people for trademark infringement for making Themes similar to their new OS look? They sued for trademark infringement for "simple" machines similar to their iMac. Suddenly, Cobalt is suing Apple for a similar design, and people are saying that Cobalt is wrong?
Did people forget that it's just Apple getting a piece of their own medicine? I'm not saying that Cobalt is right, but Apple does this to others, why's it so bad that they're getting it right back?
Dragon Magic
Why are people preparing an RIAA boycott? According to the ZDNet story, the judge made an injunction that trading of the RIAA member's music shall stop, not all mp3s. Also, though Washington Post stated "all copyrighted music", which is incorrect because every song, when created, is automatically copyrighted, this is a smart decision.
The RIAA has a perfect right to defend their music. It's THEIRS. Sony publishes an album, it's their copyright. You can't just take that album, copy it via CD-R, and start handing it out in front of a record store. Why should you hand the music out online?
Some bands allow free trading of their music, which is perfectly fine. They want it done. Some people use Napster to trade their music, and allow people to sample it. That's fine too. This is how Napster should work.
But if you don't have the rights to the music, nor are any rights granted to freely trade them, why on earth do you feel you are entitled to get them for free?
This is not an attempt at a flamewar or trolling. I just don't understand why there's a common thought that people are "entitled" to someone else's hard work, if that person feels that his or her works shouldn't be given away free. That's their rights, not yours.
Not one person would enjoy it if someone took something of theirs that they were hoping to make a living on, or hope to control how it was distributed, and started giving it away for free and undermining their control.
Please, don't boycott the RIAA for doing what everyone here would do if they were in their shoes. You would protect your house from intruders, you would protect you financial records from banks getting your information, this is no different.
Dragon Magic
I've been reading the transcripts on 2600 throughout the trial because it's too far to drive to sit in on the court case, and realized many things during the course of the trial.
First off, that the MPA admitted that their original suit and their original assumptions changed over the course of the trial. They admitted they only targeted DeCSS and knew when the trial was starting that they weren't going to get a piracy issue through. The true nature of the suit filed had been changed so that they had a better chance to win.
Secondly, that the MPA was really looking to make the DeCSS code and software a tool to help copy DVDs and help take away their licensing powers, but failed to call the proper witnesses. They did do a better job cross-examining the Defense witnesses than examining their own witnesses, from what I could see. As well, calling only one MPA agent for the prosecution seemed to weaken their case more, since she failed to shed much light on anything.
Truthfully, I think that DeCSS will win, just based on the lackluster case built by the MPA lawyers. I don't think they've actually built any substantial case about anything other than they're going to lose their ability to control licensing of their DVD encryption. If the MPA had better prepared for the case and realized earlier on that they were focusing on the wrong points, we might have seen DeCSS shut down permenantly. Not that such a thing could happen effectively, but it would have been the ruling.
My only hope is that Congress sees the growing trend of corporations trying to take away rights of their consumers by using the laws, and stop listening to lobbyists for the corporations about "proper" copyright laws. It just leads to cases like these.
Dragon Magic
I once went onto Battle.net to play FFA StarCraft. One time, I went in to play against two others who "didn't know each other" and two computer opponents. I went easily after the computers, but found out halfway through the rest why the other two opponents seemed to be very strong.
Out of the blue, I saw a message on the chat giving away one of the people's positions and needing help. They had been duping me up to that point about being part of a FFA, but knew each other and were planning on "winning" by knocking me out of the game, and then claiming that one of them won.
I still cannot understand the mentality of cheating to win. To me, you can't really win against someone if you take a severe handicap to do so. Cheating, whether through codes, fraud, trainers or the like, does no good. Sure, you can win more often, but is that win really worth anything?
Dragon Magic
I dunno exactly how long the beta test for Rocket Arena Q3A was, but it needed to be longer with a few more testers who could point out some of the simpler problems.
I was a big fan of Rocket Arena Q2 back when I played Quake II. I loved the team play and survival aspects of it. Realisticly, it was what Quake should have been for deathmatches.
However, playing RAQ3A last night, I was horrified by how much had yet to be fixed. The menu, though fancy, is dreadful. When you go to the mp3 player, mp3s don't play, there's no exit button to the menu, and it seems overly burdened with functions.
Also, the download is 60 megabytes just for the client side, and it's multiplayer only. There's no playing against the bots when the master server is down, no practice...
And in some arenas, when you're booted back to the main arena for some reason, there's only a few spawnpoints, all about floor height, so if more than a few players spawn at the same time, they'll be stuck together, which is not fun at all.
And it seems that many server admins are confused by how to setup a server. I was on quite a few last night which had bad time limits or confusing play.
crt probably did make another breakthrough mod for Quake, but it seems that it needed more brewing. Hopefully he'll fix these problems and make it a bit easier and better before too long.
Dragon Magic
Well, it seems that setting up a site which allows for easier transfers of binary files (Hey, whatever happened to FTP? Isn't that the easiest?) in the good ol' USA where someone or someones will use it for piracy, means that your technology is harmful to big bad corporations.
I mean, they lose money on a few files and will spend even more money trying to shut you down just to look good. I realize that they have to defend their copyrights, but it's very hard to get a grip on the internet's actions when it's all networked computers throughout the world, not just in the USA.
And these corporate giants, instead of doing what they do best with their competitors who make a legal dollar (which is to acquire them or merge with them), they instead go after these demons of technology and have their technology pushed underground.
If they were wiser, they'd buy the software, brand themselves all over it, place restrictions on it, and enjoy the riches. Time/Warner Scour. Sony Music Napster. Disney Gnutella. Make it easy and free. Sell ads (a'la CuteFTP's shareware tryout) and marketing ploys with it. I mean, who would want to use Napster if your email were going to be placed on a list, unless they REALLY wanted to use Napster?
And then use these tools to MARKET the companies who own them. Got a movie coming out? Cool, put up a screener on Scour. Eminem has a new EP coming out? Why not throw out a free track to Napster users as they login?
However, in pushing these technologies underground, they're also pushing them to machines in countries where our copyright and trademark laws aren't as enforced or cared about. Take a look at the box. That's http://www.box.sk/ It's a very helpful site for the right reasons, but also a very ILLEGAL site, if you consider DeCSS, Napster, Scour, Gnutella and other such technologies illegal.
On the Box, you can find cracks, serial numbers, ftp sites of mp3s, and so much more. And yet, they've never been touched by the Corporate American lawyers.
If Napster is shut down, you can expect to find many alternate versions throughout the world. If Scour is told to cease operations, perhaps a scour.sk will appear.
And perhaps one day, the corporations will learn to embrace the internet, not sue it for control of everything.
Dragon Magic
Haven't we seen a similar fight before between the Censorware makers, who are commercial entities? Many would place the others' sites on the blacklist, so you wouldn't be able to view competition.
Now we have MAPS bl'ing ORBS? And possibly vice versa in retaliation? And MAPS/Above.net moving their blackhole listing software to a commercial brand?
We've seen the bad mouthing of the censorware softwares for many reasons, so are we now going to see similar words for the blackhole lists?
Dragon Magic
For those who aren't as enlightened with Tenchi Muyou, you can find out information on the series and characters from The Anipike's Tenchi Muyou! Links page.
However, if you wish to be held over until this third series appears, one of the largest fan sites online happens to be a fan fiction site dedicated to Tenchi Muyou! itself. You can visit the Tenchi Muyou! Fan Fiction Archive and read several hundred pieces of works in nicely organized categories.
Many people have gotten hooked on Anime with Tenchi and would love to see it continued. This is why Slashdot figured it would be so newsworthy. It's been one of the major shows to help the explosion of anime in America.
Dragon Magic
I once owned a domain of a company I was once a part of. I registered it in February, 1998. Back then, you could only register it for two years for the initial signup, so it would expire February 2000.
.com, .net and .org if it doesn't play nice.
I got a notice in February that it had expired, then a final notice a few weeks later. I had no intentions of re-registering it, since it was not valuable anymore, and the company had dissolved.
Then, in mid-May, I got a letter from NSI saying that since I had not renewed the domain, it was now freely available to anyone who wanted it. If I wanted, there was an URL on the paper where I could go and directly re-register this domain, so no one else could take it.
Sure enough, the domain is available. However, I don't like the idea that someone is given notice that the domain is expiring, then a final warning a month later, and then two more months go by (a total of THREE months now) before it "expires", and then notice given that anyone can register it.
This is just begging for squatters to grab it again, with their "enticing deals" of cross advertising with VeriSign's products for businesses. I really wish that ICANN would start watching the registrars, maybe give NSI a final smack on the back of the hand, before it sends it to the corner with a loss of registration of
Dragon Magic
Now that the human genome is documented, what happens to the genes and sequences which people and companies have patented? They're now known and documented and published, plus they're part of a government-assisted project. Does this mean now that those patents are inviable, or does this mean that the Government and all science papers have to leave out these patented items or fear infringement cases?
Dragon Magic
http://www.invent.org/ would be where to get more information on Inventure Place, which is the National Inventor's Hall of Fame and Museum. It's a lovely looking building, in Downtown Akron. Also, it's very easy to get to, since Akron is just south of the Ohio Turnpike, easy access from New York and Chicago.
I'll be there to see the exhibits.
Dragon Magic
Well, you've put up some good titles. It seems that your list is more toward the violence genre.
Here are some other titles, by genre, worth seeing:
Science-Fiction
Neon Genesis Evangelion -- Based off the Dead Sea Scrolls, man tries to create god through his inventions, and instead rains the destruction of the Earth upon its people.
Key the Metal Idol -- Though a bit less hyped up and known, Key still has not only a cuteness factor to it, but a dark and mezmorising feature to itself. It's a show you can't stop watching, because of the weird twists it takes. It's about a girl who's a machine built by a man, who continues giving her new bodies as she grows, just like a real girl. Unfortunately, he passes away before she can be completed. He leaves behind a message saying that she can become real if she can get 100,000 people to love her.
Fantasy
Vision of Escaflowne -- A girl with mystical powers has strange visions of the future, some of which involve tragedy with people close to her. One of the few fantasy animes with really cool mechas, as well.
Record of Lodoss War -- Based off role-playing adventures published in novel format, this series is a must-see for all fantasy buffs. Dragons, magic, warriors, kings, thieves, elves . . . It has it all.
Romance
Maison Ikkoku -- Though long, this series does have its great moments in nearly every episode. From the creator of Ranma 1/2, this series has a couple who fall in love with each other, but can't tell the other how they feel. Tons of comedy as well.
Comedy
Tenchi Muyo! -- An unintentional pun on the name, which was supposed to mean "Heaven and Earth", a common Japanese phrase for "everything", also translates to "This End Up". A space pirate, two princesses, two Galaxy police officers and a cute furry space ship all happen to end up living with the heir to the strongest throne in the universe.
Goldenboy -- Though very borderline adult, this series is full of comedic anecdotes and mature humour. A very short run of the series, it's easy to collect.
Dirty Pair -- Two female officers with licenses to kill end up doing a bit more than that, as busts usually end up with entire races, even planets, being wiped out in the process.
There are plenty more series out there to see. I could list over 100 titles easily. But these are some of the better ones, if you want to get into anime on the good side.
Dragon Magic
First off, I'd like to say that I once was a Metallica fan. I've seen them in concert a couple of times, even paying the $30+ for lousy seats, because they entertain well. You get your money's worth. I've also bought some CDs of theirs.
However, I do not have respect for a band with ideals such as what they've put forth. They've become hypocrites and sell outs. Before everyone attacks, here's my reasons:
1) Why is it that Metallica, a band as big and as rich as they may be, cannot find the ability to sell cheaper CDs or market them as other bands, such as Elvis Costello and They Might Be Giants have, through eMusic? No, Metallica needs not do this, but if they are concerned about their profits being damaged, why not make more profits, instead of spending money trying to get rid of a few infringers.
If there are only 1.4 Million infringements in 48 hours, and their albums go gold in about that much time, where's the hurt? It's about 1 infringement to 1 album sale, is it not? Plus, many of those infringements aren't being downloaded. How many using Napster get EVERYTHING someone has, instead of just what you wanted? Not everyone's a Metallica fan, after all.
2) Why is it that it's fine to copy a Metallica album to cassette? Why is it okay that Metallica does pirating, but it's not okay for its fans to pirate them? That's a massive double standard here. You can do it if they don't see it, or it's fine for them to do it, but the moment you put up music with about 1/32 the quality as a CD because it downloads faster, and not necessarily distribute it, just make it available, you're suddenly very very bad.
3) Is Lars here, and the band themselves, promoting bootlegging? I can take a digital DAT recorder, place it up near a monitor on the stage, and get a good quality copy of the show, in digital format. Let's say I put that on Napster. They're not shutting down users who have bootlegs, so it's cool, right?
How is the live version different than the CD? Both are quality digital recordings. The DAT recording here would be better, because it has versions of songs you can't buy in the stores. Plus, hey, it's $16 to buy a Metallica album, but about $30 to go to a concert. Sure, you see more at a concert, but that's still a lot of money.
Why go see the concert when you can just listen to a few cities before? Their thinking hasn't been truly thought through yet.
4) When it comes down to it, Metallica isn't really concerned about loss of money, so much as loss of control. What it sounds like, from what Lars was saying, is that Metallica is more concerned about the online trading of CD-quality mp3s that they sell in stores. I would bet some money that if Metallica were marketing through eMusic or one of several other online mp3 marketing sites, they wouldn't be as concerned. But now, why would they bother, since there are over a million infringements out there with such songs already?
Metallica has lost a fan through its absurdity. I've moved on to other bands who want to use the next frontier in technology, much like all these users Metallica put out of Napster.
Dragon Magic
Tom Mabe, a self-employed family man, found out that telemarketers call often, especially when you're home all day. He's an extremely funny man without resorting to vulgarities, sex jokes or direct insulting of people.
http://www.tommabe.com/ is his website. He has a CD out of some of his exploits of telemarketers who call him, available for sale from his site.
What's more, there are a few samples of his works. This, I feel, is the best way to combat telemarketers. Asking them to remove you from their lists often ends you up with having to write a letter or taking weeks to do. Instead, make yourself such an asshole that NO ONE wants to call you.
Also, if you don't buy anything or subscribe to anything from a telemarketer, or ask for any products or freebies, you tend not to get added to what's known as the "sucker" list. This list is sold exclusively as a list of people who have purchased things through telemarketing calls. This is why the moment you sign up for anything or buy anything from someone calling you, you immediately get more calls.
Enjoy!
Dragon Magic