Speaking of Second Level Domains (SLDs)... we haven't heard a peep out of New Net in quite some time. They too are selling second level domains. And, they even have a.kids SLD going. I think that the people who are buying these domains are morons. We should all set up an SLD so that every domain on the Net answers to "www.[insert name here].kids.tld".
It's amazing how many admins of wireless networks leave the default password and don't use encryption! The media loves to jump on "war driving" stories to scare the public with evil-hackers. But, the fault lies squarely with the admins who are too lazy to take even the basic precautions. Anyhow... enough preaching. I must say that this new access point kicks ass! I think I'm going to get one and test it out by copying my entire MP3 directory and timing it! Good times.
It doesn't seem too unreasonable to me. Let's see:
There roughly 79 million people in the US between the age of 15 and 34(*). If 12% of them subscribed to such service that would be 9,480,000 people. If each of these people paid $5.00 USD per month that would be $47,400,000. Fourty seven million dollars! A month! On an ongoing basis. And, the money that the RIAA would save on advertising and distribution would make up even more.
I don't see where the downside is. But, at the rate the RIAA is going -- they will put themselves out of business because they are a bunch of bass-ackwards, stubborn bastards. They have the choice to make almost 50 million a month (600 million a year) or go obsolete.
* the census figures are real. the other numbers I just pulled the percentage out the air and, I think I was being real conservative with 12%. This also doesn't count the people over 34. I'm sure grandmas would listen to MP3s too.
Jesus Shawn.... get out of there already! I thought that he had left the company over a year ago. But, I guess I was wrong. Shawn needs to come up with another "killer app" to set the world on its ear. Maybe if Shawn Fanning and Justin Frankel teamed up we could create the perfect distributed file sharing network. Preferably one with "counterstrike" capabilities. If it detects that you are trying to fuck with or break the network -- it performs a massive DoS attack on your ass. Take that Hilary Rosen!
I am 32 now and I took the non-college route. I got out of high-school and eventually worked my way into a sys-admin position by teaching myself. I have much more experience than my friends with degrees. But, I have found that the diploma is a sticking point when I interview for new jobs or send out my resume. I know it's stupid. But, employers would rather see a 4-year degree in "Underwater Basket Weaving" than a solid history of 10 years of direct experience sometimes. I have about 120 credits from various junior colleges and I transferred them to the Univeristy of Phoenix. I am taking online classes now and plan to get my degree in another year or so. It is a tough decision to make. But, unless our society does a 180 degree turn-about in the next decade -- you will face discrimination because you didn't get the degee. I know it's stupid to base a decision on a piece of paper and you know it's stupid too. But, the people who are hiring feel that it is a requirement. If you and another guy are up for the same position. You both have the same certifications. But, he has a degree and you don't --- he will get the job.
Step 1 - Verizon and Kazaa force compulsory licensing.
Step 2 - Verizon and Kazaa force compulsory music billing.
I pay those blood-sucking-bastards at Verizon too much money as it is. I don't want to see my Internet bill jump another $20 a month for a new licensing/billing scheme. These guys aren't trying to help the community or the artists. They are just trying to make a quick buck. Verizon owns the pipes and Kazaa supplies the software. Of course it's even better for Kazaa since they get to "double-dip" by selling time on their distributed computing network. I don't think this is good news at all.
I've used Yahoo! since day one. I use a lot of their services now (mail, auctions, shopping, bill pay, weather, etc...) and find it to be convenient. I was angry when they pulled the old "presto-chango" routine by setting all my preferences back to "YES".
I went in and switched them all back to "NO" and then wrote a couple of angry messages to Yahoo! and bitched them out for messing with my account settings. I was annoyed with them for changing the settings. But, it wasn't enough to over-ride the convenience of the services that I had access to. In the end I decided not to cancel my account.
If you read the email that Yahoo! sent out they told people that they were doing it and they gave you 60 days to change your preferences. If you were too lazy to go in an change them -- then you get spammed. Of course, this being Slashdot, everyone went into *rant* mode. What Yahoo! did was bad. But, at least they told you they did it and then they gave you a chance to decide.
If only other companies would be so nice! I get barrels of spam all the time from people who "opted me in" but, forgot to tell me about it.
Everyone's homework assignment for tonight is to download some PS2 games from their favorite P2P network. We should all band-together to offer a nice, friendly, "Fuck You!" to Sony.
I was bitching about this same thing in the/. review of Spider-man. There was some guy in there who was complaining that the movie was PG-13 and worried if it was "appropriate" to take his 6 year-old. Being the good/. reader that I am -- I immediately went into rant-mode and ripped him a new one. When I saw Spider-man there was a kid like 2 rows in front of us who kept making noise and talking. Of course the parents also got up a mimimum of 3 times to go to the bathroom, get popcorn, candy, etc... I was shocked. They paid $10 to see the movie and then only watch 1.5 hours of it. The other.5 hours is spend fucking around with the kid (who was making noise and disturbing the other people in the theater).
It pisses me off that parents think that somehow the rules are different for them. It's OK to bring a kid to a late-movie, or a crowded sporting event, or wherever. Fuck the rest of the world -- we should be more understanding because they have a kid. There is a time and a place for kids. If it is quiet, crowded, or the temperature is extreme (hot or cold) -- get a babysitter and leave the fucking rugrats at home! Just because you have a kid doesn't entitle you to bring them wherever you want! Have some respect for the other adults and leave them at home. I've seen parents whine -- "what do you expect me to do? stay at home until they're 18"? To which I respond: "IT'S NOT MY FUCKING PROBLEM! I don't have kids and I shouldn't have to suffer because you did!" My parents either:
a) got a babysitter and went out or, b) they stayed home and didn't go out.
These parents who bring their kids everywhere (ie: the incosiderate assholes) should do the same! Your kids are your problem! You may be miserable... but, you don't have the right to bring your kids and make everyone else around you miserable too.
I thought it was great! It had a real "Stan Lee" feel to me. It really did justice to the spirit of the comic books. It was fun, it was a good story, and it had great effects! I walked away feeling like I want to see it again. And, I just want to add -- "Damn you Rob! Damn you!" (for getting AoC tickets this early !!!) The countdown has begun!
Main demographic of video games? 12 - 24 year olds. How many 12 - 24 year olds you know that have credit cards and can spend money on subscription sites? Imagine a world of cable television where you had to pay the individual channel for content? You watch Cartoon Network? You pay them.05 cents to see a show. You watch MTV -- you pay them.05 cents to see a show. This "nickel and dime" tactic won't work for the long run because the Web is too vast. If I ended up spending a little here and a little there I would go broke.
This reminds me of the subscription model that CNN went to for video this past month. You want to watch a video clip on CNN? Well, break out your wallet because it ain't free anymore! All of these pay-per-view content models will fail and the companies that started them will be out of business and bankrupt. If it's free -- I'll enjoy it. If you start to charge me -- I'll go elsewhere or find something else to do.
I'm going to do everyone in the "Internet business" a favor by answering the most buring question on all of your minds since 1995:
Maybe he tried to experiment with something (like Jar Jar) but, it didn't work like he thought and it back-fired on him? Sure Lucas has the right to make his movies however he wants to. But, the public has the right to complain. Why not? In a way Lucas kind of does owe us all something -- we are the ones who made him rich!
But, I don't think George Lucas really give a shit what people think about him or his movies. He's a rich mother-fucker and does exactly what he loves doing everyday for living.
If this happens... I'm moving to Canada. I think if this starts to become serious that MILLIONS and MILLIONS of people will start to scream about it. I'm sorry, but, I don't buy into the "One World. One System" bullshit.
"...as this Ogg business becomes a (perceived) "threat", we're back to square one"
Maybe so. But, we would be in a lot better position than we are now. Now, they are going to attack it from the copyright angle. If they can convince all the manufacturers to stop producing MP3 players and sign legislation that forces everyone to use a secure format -- we won't have a leg to stand on. But, if there is a freely available open-source format that everyone switches to they will be up shits-creek without a paddle. I like free music. I download it by the gig. And, I'm not planning on stopping anytime soon. Fuck the RIAA, and fuck the copyright issue! It's not my problem and I hope to keep using tools and formats that prevent it from becoming my problem for a long, long time.
1) Develop cool, affordable, and portable Ogg Vorbis hardware that ONLY plays files in.ogg and.mp3 formats (we will not support Windows Media anything!)
2) Develop software that will batch convert your entire MP3 collection to.ogg files en masse (it doesn't have to do it quickly, just so long as I don't have to do each track one at a time!).
3) Set up a service like AudioGalaxy (or sign a deal with to license their service) that trades and deals only in Ogg Vorbis files.
This way the Gov't can do anything they want to get people to stop using MP3's and start using secure, protected formats like Windows Media Player or Liquid Audio. However, the rest of us will continue to listen to, and trade Ogg Vorbis files for free! Why hasn't this format taken off? Why is everyone so reluctant to get behind it and ditch their current MP3s?
You should zip up the files and put them on some pub FTP somewhere to allow people to mirror the site. I really want to see the pics... but, the site's been down for 3 days now.
We Slashdotted the hell out of her site! Yesterday it said that connections were being refused. Today it says: 'no address for host www.amyhughes.org'. Whatever we did must have killed her server. And, unfortunately, she set up her "robots.txt" file to ban all robots. Now, we may never get to see this goddamn Lego church!
Because you might actually learn something reading a book. You will expand your vocabulary and you will become more of a critical thinker. Not to mention... books don't have commercials.
Amen. They can only control us if we buy into their crap. But, if everyone loses interest and stops watching and buying their stuff... they become powerless.
Maybe the US Goverment, Congress, and the FCC can give each citizen $1,700 to buy one of these damn things. Because, until digital TV's cost around $300, I'm not buying one. Why? So I can watch Southpark in HDTV? Screw that.
The RIAA may suceed in forcing the Webcasters to begin paying for audio streams. The Webcasters in turn will have to pass the costs along to the users. The users will tell the Webcasters to go fuck themselves. Nobody will get paid and the plan will ultimately fail. Meanwhile, I will continue to enjoy listening to my MP3s and maybe even streaming them over the web to my friends using Shoutcast. The RIAA will find that there is no way to win against us. They must be eliminated at all costs. I will jump through the streets, happy and dancing the day Jack Valenti dies! And, I will be just as happy when the RIAA files for chapter 11 bankruptcy.
Slashdot Mirror
Speaking of Second Level Domains (SLDs)... we haven't heard a peep out of New Net in quite some time. They too are selling second level domains. And, they even have a .kids SLD going. I think that the people who are buying these domains are morons. We should all set up an SLD so that every domain on the Net answers to "www.[insert name here].kids.tld".
It goes a little something like this:
<SCRIPT LANGUAGE="JavaScript">
<!--
function open () {return true;}
//-->
</SCRIPT>
It's amazing how many admins of wireless networks leave the default password and don't use encryption! The media loves to jump on "war driving" stories to scare the public with evil-hackers. But, the fault lies squarely with the admins who are too lazy to take even the basic precautions. Anyhow... enough preaching. I must say that this new access point kicks ass! I think I'm going to get one and test it out by copying my entire MP3 directory and timing it! Good times.
It doesn't seem too unreasonable to me. Let's see:
There roughly 79 million people in the US between the age of 15 and 34(*). If 12% of them subscribed to such service that would be 9,480,000 people. If each of these people paid $5.00 USD per month that would be $47,400,000. Fourty seven million dollars! A month! On an ongoing basis. And, the money that the RIAA would save on advertising and distribution would make up even more.
I don't see where the downside is. But, at the rate the RIAA is going -- they will put themselves out of business because they are a bunch of bass-ackwards, stubborn bastards. They have the choice to make almost 50 million a month (600 million a year) or go obsolete.
* the census figures are real. the other numbers I just pulled the percentage out the air and, I think I was being real conservative with 12%. This also doesn't count the people over 34. I'm sure grandmas would listen to MP3s too.
Jesus Shawn.... get out of there already! I thought that he had left the company over a year ago. But, I guess I was wrong. Shawn needs to come up with another "killer app" to set the world on its ear. Maybe if Shawn Fanning and Justin Frankel teamed up we could create the perfect distributed file sharing network. Preferably one with "counterstrike" capabilities. If it detects that you are trying to fuck with or break the network -- it performs a massive DoS attack on your ass. Take that Hilary Rosen!
It is a really good thing that the court has protected the movie studios by stopping people from linking to DeCSS!. I mean what kind of chaos could ensue if people could link to and find a copy of this evil program? I mean even companies like Disney would go out of business if people kept distributing this program! I am so glad that linking to DeCSS is a crime! I feel much safer now.
I am 32 now and I took the non-college route. I got out of high-school and eventually worked my way into a sys-admin position by teaching myself. I have much more experience than my friends with degrees. But, I have found that the diploma is a sticking point when I interview for new jobs or send out my resume. I know it's stupid. But, employers would rather see a 4-year degree in "Underwater Basket Weaving" than a solid history of 10 years of direct experience sometimes. I have about 120 credits from various junior colleges and I transferred them to the Univeristy of Phoenix. I am taking online classes now and plan to get my degree in another year or so. It is a tough decision to make. But, unless our society does a 180 degree turn-about in the next decade -- you will face discrimination because you didn't get the degee. I know it's stupid to base a decision on a piece of paper and you know it's stupid too. But, the people who are hiring feel that it is a requirement. If you and another guy are up for the same position. You both have the same certifications. But, he has a degree and you don't --- he will get the job.
Step 1 - Verizon and Kazaa force compulsory licensing.
Step 2 - Verizon and Kazaa force compulsory music billing.
I pay those blood-sucking-bastards at Verizon too much money as it is. I don't want to see my Internet bill jump another $20 a month for a new licensing/billing scheme. These guys aren't trying to help the community or the artists. They are just trying to make a quick buck. Verizon owns the pipes and Kazaa supplies the software. Of course it's even better for Kazaa since they get to "double-dip" by selling time on their distributed computing network. I don't think this is good news at all.
I've used Yahoo! since day one. I use a lot of their services now (mail, auctions, shopping, bill pay, weather, etc...) and find it to be convenient. I was angry when they pulled the old "presto-chango" routine by setting all my preferences back to "YES".
I went in and switched them all back to "NO" and then wrote a couple of angry messages to Yahoo! and bitched them out for messing with my account settings. I was annoyed with them for changing the settings. But, it wasn't enough to over-ride the convenience of the services that I had access to. In the end I decided not to cancel my account.
If you read the email that Yahoo! sent out they told people that they were doing it and they gave you 60 days to change your preferences. If you were too lazy to go in an change them -- then you get spammed. Of course, this being Slashdot, everyone went into *rant* mode. What Yahoo! did was bad. But, at least they told you they did it and then they gave you a chance to decide.
If only other companies would be so nice! I get barrels of spam all the time from people who "opted me in" but, forgot to tell me about it.
Anyhow -- that's my story and I'm sticking to it.
Everyone's homework assignment for tonight is to download some PS2 games from their favorite P2P network. We should all band-together to offer a nice, friendly, "Fuck You!" to Sony.
I was bitching about this same thing in the /. review of Spider-man. There was some guy in there who was complaining that the movie was PG-13 and worried if it was "appropriate" to take his 6 year-old. Being the good /. reader that I am -- I immediately went into rant-mode and ripped him a new one. When I saw Spider-man there was a kid like 2 rows in front of us who kept making noise and talking. Of course the parents also got up a mimimum of 3 times to go to the bathroom, get popcorn, candy, etc... I was shocked. They paid $10 to see the movie and then only watch 1.5 hours of it. The other .5 hours is spend fucking around with the kid (who was making noise and disturbing the other people in the theater).
It pisses me off that parents think that somehow the rules are different for them. It's OK to bring a kid to a late-movie, or a crowded sporting event, or wherever. Fuck the rest of the world -- we should be more understanding because they have a kid. There is a time and a place for kids. If it is quiet, crowded, or the temperature is extreme (hot or cold) -- get a babysitter and leave the fucking rugrats at home! Just because you have a kid doesn't entitle you to bring them wherever you want! Have some respect for the other adults and leave them at home. I've seen parents whine -- "what do you expect me to do? stay at home until they're 18"? To which I respond: "IT'S NOT MY FUCKING PROBLEM! I don't have kids and I shouldn't have to suffer because you did!" My parents either:
a) got a babysitter and went out or,
b) they stayed home and didn't go out.
These parents who bring their kids everywhere (ie: the incosiderate assholes) should do the same! Your kids are your problem! You may be miserable... but, you don't have the right to bring your kids and make everyone else around you miserable too.
Green == Go
Red == Stop
Yellow == Go Faster!
I thought it was great! It had a real "Stan Lee" feel to me. It really did justice to the spirit of the comic books. It was fun, it was a good story, and it had great effects! I walked away feeling like I want to see it again. And, I just want to add -- "Damn you Rob! Damn you!" (for getting AoC tickets this early !!!) The countdown has begun!
I'm going to do everyone in the "Internet business" a favor by answering the most buring question on all of your minds since 1995:
Q: How do I make money off the Internet?
A: Unless you're running a porn site -- you dont!
When will these stupid asshole learn?
Maybe he tried to experiment with something (like Jar Jar) but, it didn't work like he thought and it back-fired on him? Sure Lucas has the right to make his movies however he wants to. But, the public has the right to complain. Why not? In a way Lucas kind of does owe us all something -- we are the ones who made him rich!
But, I don't think George Lucas really give a shit what people think about him or his movies. He's a rich mother-fucker and does exactly what he loves doing everyday for living.
What more could want?
If this happens... I'm moving to Canada. I think if this starts to become serious that MILLIONS and MILLIONS of people will start to scream about it. I'm sorry, but, I don't buy into the "One World. One System" bullshit.
Maybe so. But, we would be in a lot better position than we are now. Now, they are going to attack it from the copyright angle. If they can convince all the manufacturers to stop producing MP3 players and sign legislation that forces everyone to use a secure format -- we won't have a leg to stand on. But, if there is a freely available open-source format that everyone switches to they will be up shits-creek without a paddle. I like free music. I download it by the gig. And, I'm not planning on stopping anytime soon. Fuck the RIAA, and fuck the copyright issue! It's not my problem and I hope to keep using tools and formats that prevent it from becoming my problem for a long, long time.
We (as a community) need to do the following:
.ogg and .mp3 formats (we will not support Windows Media anything!)
.ogg files en masse (it doesn't have to do it quickly, just so long as I don't have to do each track one at a time!).
1) Develop cool, affordable, and portable Ogg Vorbis hardware that ONLY plays files in
2) Develop software that will batch convert your entire MP3 collection to
3) Set up a service like AudioGalaxy (or sign a deal with to license their service) that trades and deals only in Ogg Vorbis files.
This way the Gov't can do anything they want to get people to stop using MP3's and start using secure, protected formats like Windows Media Player or Liquid Audio. However, the rest of us will continue to listen to, and trade Ogg Vorbis files for free! Why hasn't this format taken off? Why is everyone so reluctant to get behind it and ditch their current MP3s?
You should zip up the files and put them on some pub FTP somewhere to allow people to mirror the site. I really want to see the pics... but, the site's been down for 3 days now.
:(
We Slashdotted the hell out of her site! Yesterday it said that connections were being refused. Today it says: 'no address for host www.amyhughes.org'. Whatever we did must have killed her server. And, unfortunately, she set up her "robots.txt" file to ban all robots. Now, we may never get to see this goddamn Lego church!
Because you might actually learn something reading a book. You will expand your vocabulary and you will become more of a critical thinker. Not to mention ... books don't have commercials.
Amen. They can only control us if we buy into their crap. But, if everyone loses interest and stops watching and buying their stuff... they become powerless.
Maybe the US Goverment, Congress, and the FCC can give each citizen $1,700 to buy one of these damn things. Because, until digital TV's cost around $300, I'm not buying one. Why? So I can watch Southpark in HDTV? Screw that.
The RIAA may suceed in forcing the Webcasters to begin paying for audio streams. The Webcasters in turn will have to pass the costs along to the users. The users will tell the Webcasters to go fuck themselves. Nobody will get paid and the plan will ultimately fail. Meanwhile, I will continue to enjoy listening to my MP3s and maybe even streaming them over the web to my friends using Shoutcast. The RIAA will find that there is no way to win against us. They must be eliminated at all costs. I will jump through the streets, happy and dancing the day Jack Valenti dies! And, I will be just as happy when the RIAA files for chapter 11 bankruptcy.
http://www.wehavethewayout.com
=
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20:24 - Apr. 2nd., 2002