I read lots of comments from geeks like us saying "F-ck ICANN lets just start our own root". And, while that's all well and good- it's not going to help your grandmother, or your neighbors, or 96% of the population of the US who is too stupid to set the clock on their VCR.
Here are some of the main problems with ICANN:
There are no "checks-and-balances" to their power.
They are accountable to no one but the Dept. of Commerce
A bunch of scum-bags like Louis Touton, Ken Stubbs, and Joe Sims are pulling "double-duty" as both members of the ICANN board and paid consultants, lawyers, or board members of the companies who are getting rich because of ICANN.
There is no "bottom-up" approach; only "top-down" decrees.
They are funded by corporate interests
If you really feel strongly about the issues you should go to The Committee on Energy and Commerce homepage, click the link labeled "Feedback" and help to educate these members of Congress who may not fully understand just how badly ICANN is screwing the people on the Net.
So I get the letter today too and it smelled like a bad marketing stunt straight from the advertising dept. So the "error that occured" on some 5,000,000 ebay people who opted-out from the start was they weren't getting spammed like good little ebay monkeys should.
I went and opted-out *again* and these are the categories where the default was set to "YES":
Other Emails:
Special Promotions, Offers and Events Receive notices about special offers for eBay members.
eBay Product Surveys:
Take part in occasional surveys to help us evaluate new features and proposed changes to our services.
Daily Status Emails
Receive a daily email status on auctions for which you are a bidder or seller.
Auction Watch Reminder
Receive daily lists of all items in your watch list that will end within 36 hours
Other Contacts
Telemarketing
Receive calls on behalf of eBay regarding eBay related products and services.
Direct Mail
Receive eBay's product and service related direct mail(through the postal service).
All I got to say is that these guys got balls the size of a small planet. The nerve! I opt-out and tell them "don't spam me". To which they reply: "sorry, we didn't hear you -- did you say 'SPAM ME' ??"
Re:IT Independence Transporter
on
What is 'IT'?
·
· Score: 2
If that is what it is then there are photos here:
http://www.nhmagazine.com/99editions/99october/min ovemat/
I think it is very cool too- but, the MSNBC article is hyping it up *way* too much. They make it sound like your own personal hovercraft or something! * Sheesh *
Batteries not included... some assembly required.
on
What is 'IT'?
·
· Score: 2
Dean Kamen "assembled two Gingers -- or ITs -- in 10 minutes, using a screwdriver and hex wrenches from components that fit into a couple of large duffel bags and some cardboard boxes." - could it possibly be some sort of nitrogen-powered vehicle?
I found at least 20 patents from Deka Products Limited Partnership (Dean Kamen et al.). Supposedly he holds more than 100 US patents. Some of the more interesting ones include:
5,701,965 Human Transporter
5,971,091 Transportation vehicles and methods
6,155,824 Apparatus and method for cleaning teeth
6,062,600 Anti-tipping mechanism
5,522,568 Position stick with automatic trim control
We can only guess at what this genius is cooking up - but, he is definately a man who could do it. We'll just have to wait and see what IT is. Maybe we could get the Chinese to help us out a bit? I wonder if DEKA is hiring engineers?
Keep it up Jeff! You'll be flat broke before you know it. I haven't bought a *single thing* from Amazon since last February. They fucked up big time when when started their "one-click-patent-war". And, I think they alienated plenty of geeks in the process. Real smart Jeff - piss off the people who will spend the most money in your store - geeks, authors and publishers.
All I can say is: "Good-bye and good riddance!" Just wait, by 2005, Amazon will drive themselves out of business (maybe even sooner!)... just ask Jay Walker. And, if you want more proof, check this out:
Ever heard Jello Biafra talk about the media? He said -
"Don't hate the media... become the media"
Maybe this is what is will take. When we all get so sick of the AOL/Microsoft/Sony/IBM/RIAA/MPAA controlled media -- maybe we will form our own form of media?
If you want to see a really interesting point of view go to the The Berkman Center for Internet & Society. Scroll down to the Board Meeting, November 16 and launch the RealVideo Archive. Then, fast-forward to 06:08:00.
Now, open the Real-Time Chat Log and do a search for: "Oh. My." (spoken by Christopher Ambler) and read along after watching the video! See as Vint Cerf goes into "attack-mode" and takes on Louis Touton and Joe Sims.
Check out Christopher Ambler and the chat-room's reaction to the whole thing! Incredible and hilarious at the same time! Watch the look on the Board Member's faces when they realize that Afilias isn't going to get.web!
I don't want to hear about it! I want to see it, read about it, find out how it works and ultimately -- take it apart, change the ISP it connects to and add a hard drive. Is that too much to ask?
I have one of these things. And, it's really funny too because I already packed mine up and was planning on sending it back to them - then I got the email telling me that they were being discontinued. So, lucky for me now I don't have to pay shipping back to them! Actually I'm hoping they'll let us keep the damn thing and just forget about it. Is it really worth spending the time on?
I took mine apart soon after I got it. It has an M-Systems Disk On Chip 2000 64Mb flash memory card with embedded Linux. I have found a site from an EE where he talks about hacking it - check it out here. It's got an open IDE connector but the question was always the BIOS. Nobody has ever successfully removed the DiskOnChip and gotten the iBrow (aka "Webplayer") to boot. Apparently the BIOS has a password that noone has been able to hack yet.
The message boards over on the Linux-hacker site have a section dedicated to the Virgin Webplayer. But, as far as I know the project has advanced very far. When I took it apart, the only thing I reall wanted out of it was the Samsung flat panel LCD screen.
Oh well.. we'll see what happens
You seem to be missing the point. Sure MP3 is ubiquitous now, but what about in the future? What happens if the Fraunhofer Institute stops licensing it to hardware and software makers?
Or, what if the RIAA and others muscle the manufacturers to stop supporting the MP3 format? So, here you are in the future with 40 gig of MP3s on your HD and no one to share files with. All the software that is available has switched to SDMI formats like Liquid Audio or Micro$oft Media. Your Rio, Yepp, and Lyra stopped playing MP3s long ago.
So, there you are with a hoard of MP3s that were made obsolete in a coordinated maneuver by the record companies, ISPs and large corporations.
Vorbis is young -- sure it has limitations now and isn't quite at the level of MP3 yet. But, give them a few years and I bet you will see a much improved format that is truely FREE! That is what it is really about -- freedom, not format.
What's wrong with a VOTE FOR RALPH NADER? He doesn't support the Republicrats and his stated mission would be to remove the US from the WTO, NAFTA and all that other bullshit that is feeding the twisted IP laws to begin with! You might as well write-in "The Devil" on your ballot -- because voting Libertarian is just as useless as voting for Satan himself. But, hey it's a free country (until "Dubya" wins) vote for whoever you want.
So, they have a subscription service...that I could deal with and $5 a month would be fine with me for "all you can download" music.
My problem is the format. BMG, Warner Bros., and Sony have all experimented with downloadable music -- *all* of it is either Liquid Audio or M$ Media format. That is where I draw the line. Nobody is going to tell me how many times I can listen (or copy) a song! And after they tag and encrypt the music they sell me... then they can track me and find out who I share it with as well.
Forget that! If Napster / BMG stuck with MP3 they might have a chance in hell of pulling this off. But, I doubt it -- they MUST have SDMI or they won't play ball. Looks like this could be the big boost that Ogg Vorbis is looking for. We need to set up a Napster2 that only supports.ogg files. Then, the "great jukebox in the sky" can continue to play on and on for FREE !!!
Pay the artists? YES! (like I said subscription service would be fine with me). Support SDMI or any other proprietary or controlling format? HELL NO!!! I get this weird feeling that about 20 million Napster users are about to make a mass exodus real soon.
As we all know, it doesn't matter that we can freely share things with people we know, or give things away just because we can. No... the Internet... nay the world is all about making the almighy buck! If there is no way to capitalize or expand the market share what's the point? Why bother? Why would anyone in their right mind want to create something and then give it away? These companies (and C|net themselves) are nothing but money-grubbing bastards. If the world had it's head on straight they would be the ones who don't have a future....
Why did they orient the faucet sideways in that demo gif? I couldn't help but think that the pr0n industry is going to benefit from this technology immensly.
This patent would cover the process of the exchange of atmospheric gas "A" with atmospheric gas "B" utilizing a complex biomechanical device.
The process is initiated by a central CPU (brain stem) 10-12 times a minute, sending electrical current (nerve impulses) which cause a series of actuators (the diaphragm and thoracic cage muscles) to contract.
The contraction of these actuators expands the exchange chamber (rib cage), leading to the expansion of a series of inflatable bags (lungs) contained within. With each expansion of the bags a predetermined amount of atmospheric gas "A" is brought into the inflatable bags via an I/O duct (windpipe). After full expansion of the bags, the CPU issues a command to cease the expansion of the actuators which cause them to passively return to thier resting position, at the same time allowing the bags to return to their resting size. The contraction of the inflatable bags returning to their resting position forces atmospheric gas "B" out the system via the I/O duct. Thus, the exhange between gas "A" and "B" will have taken place allowing the cycle to begin again.
Another system currently under development is the release of pressurized methane gas from a contained system via a central oriface. Look for more information to come after lunch (bean burritos).
This thing rocks! With a frequency coverage of 0.495-2450 MHz (cellular frequencies blocked), and
AM, FM, WFM modes built-in. You can watch live camera feeds, security cameras, TV, and tons more! This used to be an NSA and FBI toy -- now anyone can get one. Lot's of fun to be had with this thing.
I want a FreePAD (http://www.freepad.net) or some other wireless Net device that I can use on the train to check email, surf the web, and telnet into the server.
I can see it now:
A crowded train. 6 pm rush-hour crowd. I reach down and say "Excuse me while I whip this out"... ladies scream people turn away. I pull out my sleek WebPAD flip up the antenna and dial in. Soon I'm reading Slashdot, telnetting into the server, checking email and loving every minute of it.
Hey while I'm dreaming... I'd like a Rotary Rocket and a couple of Origin servers in my home office too...:)
If there weren't a war on drugs we'd be in serious trouble! But, luckily our government funnels a few billion dollars to law enforcement who make a *real* effort to stop the drugs in this country!
The "war on drugs" has been going on since the Reagan/Bush era and as you can see -- it isn't working one bit. What they need to do is stop arresting people for drugs and throwing them in jail -- focus on treating drug abuse as an illness instead of a crime! We need more places where people can get help for their problem - not more prisons!
Feel free to use this as a template if you want, but whatever you do -- WRITE TO YOUR REPRESENTATIVE NOW!. If we slashdot Congress maybe they will start to get the message!
------------------------------------------
I support the legislation being proposed by Rich Boucher (D-Virginia) which is being cited as the "Music Owners' Listening Rights Act of 2000". You can find more information on it here:
As a consumer, I feel that it is my right to listen to my music when, where and how I choose. Too often, large and powerful organizations (like the Recording Industry Association of America - RIAA) are able to pay lawyers and lobbyists to prevent consumers from making their own choices.
I paid for this music, and I feel that it is my right to listen to it how I choose. Many organizations lately are using the DMCA (Digital Millenium Copyright Act) in ways that the Congress never intended. Individuals and companies are being sued and threatened for alleged "copyright infringement" under the DMCA by organizations like the RIAA and the MPAA.
Actually, what these organizations have forgotten is that the DMCA was written to protect consumers. And, in the long run it is in the interest of consumers (not corporations) to allow "space shifting" of music and other media. If you buy something once, you should be allowed to enjoy it for non-commercial purposes in any medium that you choose.
I believe that the Audio Home Recording Act of 1992 and the 1984 Sony Betamax case protect the consumer by allowing them this right to make and share non-commercial copies of their music and movies.
Please support the legislation being proposed by Rich Boucher. And, also please support legislation that is in the interest of consumers regarding file-sharing and "space shifting". Recently this has been in the news a lot with the lawsuit between MP3.com and the RIAA and soon it will repeat itself as Napster and the RIAA resume their battle in court. As a citizen of the US, I support file-sharing and I believe it is my right to enjoy my music in any form or media that I choose.
Digital file-sharing is here to stay and it will only get stronger. Congress needs to create laws that help the public make sense of the legalities of copyrights in the Internet age. After the laws have been passed then the courts can enforce those laws. But, currently they have nothing to go by and the copyright issue in the digital age is being decided by lawyers and litigation with conflicting results. Please encourage the Congress to pass sensible legislation that is in the best interest of consumers while still protecting artists and authors.
Slashdot Mirror
Here are some of the main problems with ICANN:
If you really feel strongly about the issues you should go to The Committee on Energy and Commerce homepage, click the link labeled "Feedback" and help to educate these members of Congress who may not fully understand just how badly ICANN is screwing the people on the Net.
I went and opted-out *again* and these are the categories where the default was set to "YES":
Other Emails:
Special Promotions, Offers and Events Receive notices about special offers for eBay members.
eBay Product Surveys:
Take part in occasional surveys to help us evaluate new features and proposed changes to our services.
Daily Status Emails
Receive a daily email status on auctions for which you are a bidder or seller.
Auction Watch Reminder
Receive daily lists of all items in your watch list that will end within 36 hours
Other Contacts
Telemarketing
Receive calls on behalf of eBay regarding eBay related products and services.
Direct Mail
Receive eBay's product and service related direct mail(through the postal service).
All I got to say is that these guys got balls the size of a small planet. The nerve! I opt-out and tell them "don't spam me". To which they reply: "sorry, we didn't hear you -- did you say 'SPAM ME' ??"
If that is what it is then there are photos here:n ovemat/
http://www.nhmagazine.com/99editions/99october/mi
I think it is very cool too- but, the MSNBC article is hyping it up *way* too much. They make it sound like your own personal hovercraft or something! * Sheesh *
We can only guess at what this genius is cooking up - but, he is definately a man who could do it. We'll just have to wait and see what IT is. Maybe we could get the Chinese to help us out a bit? I wonder if DEKA is hiring engineers?
Is an "EMP pulse" similar to a "DIMM module"? Only in the dept. of redundancy dept. I suppose.
My predictions:
1) I'll be drunk... (oops! too late)
2) Slashdotters will bitch about more stuff
3) We'll still be looking towards the future
All I can say is: "Good-bye and good riddance!" Just wait, by 2005, Amazon will drive themselves out of business (maybe even sooner!) ... just ask Jay Walker. And, if you want more proof, check this out:
Amazon Stock
Barnes & Noble Stock
"Don't hate the media... become the media"
Maybe this is what is will take. When we all get so sick of the AOL/Microsoft/Sony/IBM/RIAA/MPAA controlled media -- maybe we will form our own form of media?
Now, open the Real-Time Chat Log and do a search for: "Oh. My." (spoken by Christopher Ambler) and read along after watching the video! See as Vint Cerf goes into "attack-mode" and takes on Louis Touton and Joe Sims.
Check out Christopher Ambler and the chat-room's reaction to the whole thing! Incredible and hilarious at the same time! Watch the look on the Board Member's faces when they realize that Afilias isn't going to get .web!
Take that NSI !!!!!
I don't want to hear about it! I want to see it, read about it, find out how it works and ultimately -- take it apart, change the ISP it connects to and add a hard drive. Is that too much to ask?
I meant to say the project of hacking the Virgin Webplayer over on Linux-hacker message boards has NOT advanced very far.
I have one of these things. And, it's really funny too because I already packed mine up and was planning on sending it back to them - then I got the email telling me that they were being discontinued. So, lucky for me now I don't have to pay shipping back to them! Actually I'm hoping they'll let us keep the damn thing and just forget about it. Is it really worth spending the time on? I took mine apart soon after I got it. It has an M-Systems Disk On Chip 2000 64Mb flash memory card with embedded Linux. I have found a site from an EE where he talks about hacking it - check it out here. It's got an open IDE connector but the question was always the BIOS. Nobody has ever successfully removed the DiskOnChip and gotten the iBrow (aka "Webplayer") to boot. Apparently the BIOS has a password that noone has been able to hack yet. The message boards over on the Linux-hacker site have a section dedicated to the Virgin Webplayer. But, as far as I know the project has advanced very far. When I took it apart, the only thing I reall wanted out of it was the Samsung flat panel LCD screen. Oh well.. we'll see what happens
1) Mark your ballot in pencil with an "X"
2) Hand over to the legion of elderly women
(really high tech isn't it?)
I guess I'll feed the troll...
You seem to be missing the point. Sure MP3 is ubiquitous now, but what about in the future? What happens if the Fraunhofer Institute stops licensing it to hardware and software makers?
Or, what if the RIAA and others muscle the manufacturers to stop supporting the MP3 format? So, here you are in the future with 40 gig of MP3s on your HD and no one to share files with. All the software that is available has switched to SDMI formats like Liquid Audio or Micro$oft Media. Your Rio, Yepp, and Lyra stopped playing MP3s long ago.
So, there you are with a hoard of MP3s that were made obsolete in a coordinated maneuver by the record companies, ISPs and large corporations.
Vorbis is young -- sure it has limitations now and isn't quite at the level of MP3 yet. But, give them a few years and I bet you will see a much improved format that is truely FREE! That is what it is really about -- freedom, not format.
What's wrong with a VOTE FOR RALPH NADER ? He doesn't support the Republicrats and his stated mission would be to remove the US from the WTO, NAFTA and all that other bullshit that is feeding the twisted IP laws to begin with! You might as well write-in "The Devil" on your ballot -- because voting Libertarian is just as useless as voting for Satan himself. But, hey it's a free country (until "Dubya" wins) vote for whoever you want.
So, they have a subscription service...that I could deal with and $5 a month would be fine with me for "all you can download" music.
... then they can track me and find out who I share it with as well.
.ogg files. Then, the "great jukebox in the sky" can continue to play on and on for FREE !!!
My problem is the format. BMG, Warner Bros., and Sony have all experimented with downloadable music -- *all* of it is either Liquid Audio or M$ Media format. That is where I draw the line. Nobody is going to tell me how many times I can listen (or copy) a song! And after they tag and encrypt the music they sell me
Forget that! If Napster / BMG stuck with MP3 they might have a chance in hell of pulling this off. But, I doubt it -- they MUST have SDMI or they won't play ball. Looks like this could be the big boost that Ogg Vorbis is looking for. We need to set up a Napster2 that only supports
Pay the artists? YES! (like I said subscription service would be fine with me). Support SDMI or any other proprietary or controlling format? HELL NO!!! I get this weird feeling that about 20 million Napster users are about to make a mass exodus real soon.
As we all know, it doesn't matter that we can freely share things with people we know, or give things away just because we can. No... the Internet... nay the world is all about making the almighy buck! If there is no way to capitalize or expand the market share what's the point? Why bother? Why would anyone in their right mind want to create something and then give it away? These companies (and C|net themselves) are nothing but money-grubbing bastards. If the world had it's head on straight they would be the ones who don't have a future....
Why did they orient the faucet sideways in that demo gif? I couldn't help but think that the pr0n industry is going to benefit from this technology immensly.
t t"
Ron Jeremy in slow mo:
"Sqqqqqqqqquuuuuuuuuuuuiiiiiiiiirrrrrrrrttttttt
The process is initiated by a central CPU (brain stem) 10-12 times a minute, sending electrical current (nerve impulses) which cause a series of actuators (the diaphragm and thoracic cage muscles) to contract.
The contraction of these actuators expands the exchange chamber (rib cage), leading to the expansion of a series of inflatable bags (lungs) contained within. With each expansion of the bags a predetermined amount of atmospheric gas "A" is brought into the inflatable bags via an I/O duct (windpipe). After full expansion of the bags, the CPU issues a command to cease the expansion of the actuators which cause them to passively return to thier resting position, at the same time allowing the bags to return to their resting size. The contraction of the inflatable bags returning to their resting position forces atmospheric gas "B" out the system via the I/O duct. Thus, the exhange between gas "A" and "B" will have taken place allowing the cycle to begin again.
Another system currently under development is the release of pressurized methane gas from a contained system via a central oriface. Look for more information to come after lunch (bean burritos).
the Icom IC-R3 Handheld audio/video receiver!
This thing rocks! With a frequency coverage of 0.495-2450 MHz (cellular frequencies blocked), and AM, FM, WFM modes built-in. You can watch live camera feeds, security cameras, TV, and tons more! This used to be an NSA and FBI toy -- now anyone can get one. Lot's of fun to be had with this thing.
I can see it now:
A crowded train. 6 pm rush-hour crowd. I reach down and say "Excuse me while I whip this out"... ladies scream people turn away. I pull out my sleek WebPAD flip up the antenna and dial in. Soon I'm reading Slashdot, telnetting into the server, checking email and loving every minute of it.
Hey while I'm dreaming... I'd like a Rotary Rocket and a couple of Origin servers in my home office too... :)
"Rooney... pardon my French, but you're an asshole!"
Ummm.... the guy's father owned the company - should he sue himself?
I see your point though... I wouldn't work 100 hr. weeks either! Fuck that! If you get past 70 hrs a week it's time to go job hunting...
If there weren't a war on drugs we'd be in serious trouble! But, luckily our government funnels a few billion dollars to law enforcement who make a *real* effort to stop the drugs in this country! The "war on drugs" has been going on since the Reagan/Bush era and as you can see -- it isn't working one bit. What they need to do is stop arresting people for drugs and throwing them in jail -- focus on treating drug abuse as an illness instead of a crime! We need more places where people can get help for their problem - not more prisons!
------------------------------------------
I support the legislation being proposed by Rich Boucher (D-Virginia) which is being cited as the "Music Owners' Listening Rights Act of 2000". You can find more information on it here:
http://www.house.gov/boucher/doc s/m olra-leg.htm
As a consumer, I feel that it is my right to listen to my music when, where and how I choose. Too often, large and powerful organizations (like the Recording Industry Association of America - RIAA) are able to pay lawyers and lobbyists to prevent consumers from making their own choices.
I paid for this music, and I feel that it is my right to listen to it how I choose. Many organizations lately are using the DMCA (Digital Millenium Copyright Act) in ways that the Congress never intended. Individuals and companies are being sued and threatened for alleged "copyright infringement" under the DMCA by organizations like the RIAA and the MPAA.
Actually, what these organizations have forgotten is that the DMCA was written to protect consumers. And, in the long run it is in the interest of consumers (not corporations) to allow "space shifting" of music and other media. If you buy something once, you should be allowed to enjoy it for non-commercial purposes in any medium that you choose.
I believe that the Audio Home Recording Act of 1992 and the 1984 Sony Betamax case protect the consumer by allowing them this right to make and share non-commercial copies of their music and movies.
Please support the legislation being proposed by Rich Boucher. And, also please support legislation that is in the interest of consumers regarding file-sharing and "space shifting". Recently this has been in the news a lot with the lawsuit between MP3.com and the RIAA and soon it will repeat itself as Napster and the RIAA resume their battle in court. As a citizen of the US, I support file-sharing and I believe it is my right to enjoy my music in any form or media that I choose.
Digital file-sharing is here to stay and it will only get stronger. Congress needs to create laws that help the public make sense of the legalities of copyrights in the Internet age. After the laws have been passed then the courts can enforce those laws. But, currently they have nothing to go by and the copyright issue in the digital age is being decided by lawyers and litigation with conflicting results. Please encourage the Congress to pass sensible legislation that is in the best interest of consumers while still protecting artists and authors.
Thank you for your time.
------------------------------------------