It's not much of a change from now: you don't own your copies of windows
Emphasis added.
Well, I DO own my computer as of right now though. Even if it came with Windows installed I can blow it right the fuck off of there and reuse every piece of my computer as a whole or as spare parts for other computers without needing Windows. Right now, my Windows partition can't take control over my computer and freeze me out or lock it down if I did something "questionable". Sure, it can BSOD any time it likes if I do something unstable *laugh* while digging into memory areas, programs, etc. but it can't decide I'm not trustworthy and that the huge lump of metal and plastic I've paid upwards of $2,000 for is no longer under my control. Under Palladium it could and that is, please let me be quite frank about it, BULLSHIT. I own that hardware, not Microsoft. I worked my ass off for the money to pay for that hardware, not Microsoft. Therefore, if anyone is going to lock up that hardware it damn well better be me. Err, you get what I'm saying:-p.
I'll use 10 year old computers before I'd ever use a Palladium "enhanced" PC. I'll give up my time and whatever else was required to help lead a digital revolution against this utter nonsense. Sure, it souds crazy but a digital revolution might be what it takes for the USA to wake up to the fact the individuals have the rights and should always have - the corporations should not.
It really is past time we "digerati" woke up, started talking to our families, friends, and people we meet on the street in very no-nonsense language and in non-technical terms and explain what is going on in this and other countries and how it affects them with regards to technology and all that touches.
Whew. Sorry for the mini-rant but it really is time we, as a group, did stand up for our rights, those of our loved ones, and yes, even the rights of people we don't give a rat's ass about.
Re:Single Player Graphical MU* ?
on
Infinite Games?
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· Score: 1
Perhaps here is what you are looking for. Cyan is (trying) to create a persistent, everchanging and changable (by the players) world. Based on the Ages of Myst you are an explorer ferreting out the secrets, traps, puzzles, and whatnot of the different Ages. Yes, no battles and bloodshed but beautifully rendered worlds for one (or many) to explore. It looks to be a fresh change in MMORPG.
Is this the beginning of (or maybe the continual evolution towards) Intrusion Countermeasures Electronics - aka ICE as proposed by Gibson and others? Not to mention this idea would fall under a reactive ICE that would sense the attack and not only deny it access to your system but actively seek it out and shut down the attack (what could be called Black ICE). IMHO this is the future arms race.
You know, it does not cost an arm and a leg to consult with a lawyer and say "Am I within my rights to do (insert offending action here), even though this letter wants me to believe I am not?" If your lawyer says "This is legal mumbo-jumbo. You're in the clear." then simply respond with a short, concise, two word e-mail: PROVE IT
Then get as much media attention as possible if they do try and sue you. Hopefully a lawyer from the EFF will take up the case or help out. Use the SLAPP statutes and fair use and anything else that can be brought up against goliath and, oh yeah, get as much media attention as possible showing ANOTHER abuse of the system by a corporate conglomerate. After Enron, WorldCom (I hope I'm remembering that right), Martha Stewart and the rest of the things coming to light about corporations abusing the system to the detriment of the "common man" most people are getting fed up with this shit. Every bit of press you get will be negative against the corp, not positive.
WTF? If you mean business in general not selling things for less than cost then why god, oh why, has Wal-Mart not been shut down? They open up in a small to mid-size town, predatory price everything (below cost), drive the mom-and-pop and local small business OUT of business and then begin to raise prices. Using a "loss leader" to entice people into the store is one thing - loss leading the entire store to monopolize the market is another.
Damn, sorry for the rant. I blame it on my caffeine drip being a little weak.. guess I need more Bawls. All donations gladly accepted:-p
...who to choose. Yes, indeed it is. VOTE THIRD PARTY. Get the career politicians out of office and put in Libertarians (who want LESS government and less taxes, etc.), or Green (who want environmental issues taken more into account, etc.), or Independant, or whoever else there is. Just DON'T vote for the same old bullshit and the "lesser of TWO evils" syndrome. Choose a new voice for the American people because you do have that choice. Third party candidates are showing up on more and more ballots across the country and are doing well considering they aren't spending US$15million dollars for advertising for a job that pays US$150,000 (or whatever) per year. This past Tuesday the Libertarians in Georgia alone drew around 3% of the votes with no statewide campaigning. What could have happened with $1mil in campaing funds? Better yet, what could have happened with a 100% turnout of all people between the ages of 18 and 35 who are registered to vote (and who are more inclined to vote third party)? The young people of America need to step up to the plate NOW, not when they're finished college or have a long-term job and a wife/husband and 2.4 children. NOW.
Well, regardless of whether or not you were trying to be funny, Neverwinter Nights was _never_ intended to be a stand-alone game per se. It was, from the beginning, designed to be a replacement to the traditional pen-and-pencil RPG Advanced Dungeons and Dragons. It was designed to give the players more flexibility in getting together (hey, when was the last time you were able to get 5 or 6 folks together to sit down for 2-6 hours especially when they all work or live 45 minutes or so away?) and the ability to meet new players. Not to mention it was also designed to allow dungeon masters and world builders the chance to show off the big brains, imagination, and creativity they (and, it seems, most of/.) possess (or claim to:-p). They didn't design it for the players to finish.. they designed it for the players to USE as a tool for CREATION and RECREATION (see, can't really have on without the other;-).
What worries me is what might happens years in the future, when TCPA or its moral equivalent is in just about every machine and "trusted" OSes are the exception, not the rule, on mainstream users' PCs (should that ever come to pass). At that point, I'll start getting worried about the possibility that manufacturers might turn off the ability to boot an untrusted OS. (Bold emphasis mine)
Umm, at that point getting worried will do you no good as you have waited beyond the event horizon and are already sucked into the black hole of TCPA and DRM and your untrusted OS will be cut off as surely as you draw breath. The time to worry is NOW, not after the event that precipitates matters into "OH SHIT, I've got to do something before..." and then you realize the "before" has already happened and the shit has hit the fan. Wake up people!! ACT, do not REACT, to what corps and governments are doing and trying to do. If all you do is react you have almost always lost.
Wow! I'd have to say that with that much rage our Anonymous Coward needs some quiet time... and thorazine. Plus the desire to spellcheck. Maybe a punching bag as an outlet.
To put in MTS (my two cents), MegaTokyo is a great webcomic and yes, the plot is taking a little while to unfold but if it didn't you'd all bitch (those who are bitching) about "no character development" or some such shite. Either you like the comic or you don't. End of story. Critique it if you must but get over the "NERD MAD, BASH TOPIC" syndrome.
I think you failed to grasp that the main PC he is talking about is his HOME based PC, not work. I do nothing at work that would endanger my job or my standing. At home, if I want to go look at Toys in Babeland and find a new toy to spice up things with my wife/girlfriend/S.O. then that is MY FUCKING BUSINESS and no one else. My operating system damn sure should not be keeping track of where I shop, how I shop, who I shop for, what I buy, which credit card I use, what time of day I did said shopping, and all the rest that Longhorn is supposedly including to "make things easier." Yeah, this is going to make things easier to take away rights, to invade my privacy, to peer over the shoulder of an honest citizen (and don't give me that shit about "Well, if you're honest you shouldn't mind peering!" because that's a load of crap - NO ONE wants someone else looking over their shoulder to witness everything they think and see and do.) and to force people to conform. Yes, conform, since if you know someone else can see everything you do don't you think all the moderates who MIGHT go pick up a sex toy every now and then since that is their GOD GIVEN RIGHT to do so WITH ANONYMITY would suddenly back off since it is no longer their PRIVATE GOD GIVEN RIGHT? Wake up people, I want complete control over my computer - Linux, Unix, Mac, OR Windows - or as close to complete control as possible so that I can make sure what I do in private, remains private. Unlike some operating systems that are so fucked now that a virus sends out your private data to everyone when that OS isn't really tracking what you do, imagine how much worse it will be when the OS is actively tracking everything you do. Please, pause and imagine this.
I guess adding a mobile camera to this would bring a whole new meaning to the pr0n server... especially if you forget to turn it off and the girlfriend is over for a visit *blink*
I know I'm posting way late and I know there is no hope for modding up but I had to comment on the error in this post, to wit: The _original_ films now only exist as worn VHS tapes. You are most incorrect as they also exist in digital form via LaserDisc and I for one am very happy I have all three in their unedited, unchanged, unaltered format.
Forget handing your congress-critter new legislation. We don't need it, not to mention there are hundreds of thousands of people who this legislation could not touch anwyay (you do know more people than just Americans use the net, right?).
How about asking your congresswoman one question "Do you want your private life, regardless of the intentions of your actions and regardless of online or offline, intruded upon 24/7?" Guess what? Neither do we. I'm not out setting up ftp sites for w4rez, or downloading every mp3, or anything else illegal but the potential for abuse of such a system FAR outweighs the supposed good it would do. One more thing - it is not Congress' mandate to guarantee the revenue streams of ANY company in America. It is that company's. Welcome to capitalism.
Yeah, I've looked at The Work Alerter as well. One of the reasons I posed this question is the multitude of 286/386/486 machines that I have access to from the upgrades my company has done. Guess I should have mentioned that in my post but it is usually a foregone conclusion that most geeks and even certain businesses have 3 or 30 laying around unused for whatever reason.
Thanks for the input so far from everyone though!:-)
Quoteth the fallen1 "The tighter their grasp becomes, the more power will slip through their fingers."
You, my friend, have watched Star Wars one too many times prepping for the sequels - haven't you? Errr, then again, maybe it was I who did that since I got the reference...:-p
Re:This is what the Radlight guy says...
on
Spyware Fights Back
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· Score: 2, Insightful
Ummm, AdAware only gets rid of software We, the USERS, don't want on our systems to begin with. If we didn't want AdAware there, WE would uninstall it - not you. We are the consumer who you, the software developer, should be trying to please - not piss off. By affecting legitimate software (and yes, spyware is NOT legitimate) you are doing nothing more than making yourself a nuisance.
Errr, we CAN vote out or, if necessary, overthrow the government. We can't do that with Microsoft (though many of us would like to:-p).
Re:Not a Napsterite, but needs to get head checked
on
Sharing Doesn't Hurt
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· Score: 1
Aw, hell, who am I kidding? A CBDTPA type-bill will pass, and free will equal illegal.
Extreme optimism and extreme pessimism in the same post? I better get my head checked, I may have schizophrenia...
Yeah, you do need to get your head checked and dump that negativity at the door. With a defeatist attitude such as yours we'll soon be living in a dictator state instead of a (basically) free USA. If we all just shrugged and said "fuck it, why fight - it'll pass anyway" we would soon have NO rights, not to mention that we, the people, would never have helped to block the CBDTPA this time.
Call me old-fashioned and even a bit naive but if WE don't keep our head in the game and inform those of us less technically inclined or threat/politically aware about these bills then yes, it will pass. If we do inform the public, the chances are good these types of bills will be stopped. An informed public is an empowered public.
It can easily be argued that it is not Congress mandate to guarantee the revenue streams of Hollywood/Disney nor any big business. Nor is it in their best interest to do so. What IS in Congress best interest is to provide an atmosphere where technological innovation thrives and is not derailed by the interest of a narrow group such as Hollywood. If the RIAA and MPAA wish to guarantee their own revenue (which this is really about - they complain this will stop piracy and cut their financial losses) then they are free to denote their time and resources to inventing the technology to do just that. It is at best unfair and at worst severely ill-advised to FORCE the computer/high-tech/digital industries to take on the burden of copyright protection. Is it IBM's fault Disney's movies are copied? No, it is the person who copies the movie illegaly. Is it AMD's fault their processors are on the motherboards of thousands of computers where someone might be downloading an mp3? No, it is not. Should ANY company other than Disney/MGM/Sony/etc. be forced to include digital copyright protection in their equipment (which will cost millions of dollars in R&D and implementation - and said cost will be passed on to consumers who are already struggling with the economy and prices as they are now)? Again, a resounding NO. It falls squarely on the corporations to protect their own revenue streams - and copyrights - not the government of America. The Hollywood/MPAA/RIAA/Disney cabal should go after the groups that are the most pervasive pirates - in Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan and other foreign lands. Compared to what overseas/foreign copyright breakers are making and doing, what is happening in the USA is neglible. This bill, if passed, will do nothing to curtail this nor will it give the corporations who seek it any more reach to react to the piracy and copyright infringement - it will only give them the incentive to squash competition within our borders and to turn back the tide of innovation in the United States at least 5-10 years.
*heh* I think Robert Novak needs a new fucking hobby. If he wants to add me into the lawsuit, I'll be glad to file a counter-suit for as many millions as my LAWYERS can come up with for intimidation tactics and abridging freedom of speech. By the time we're done, I should be able to pay my lawyers, repay all the poor souls he's shafted with this bullshit, and come close to not having to work real hard for long time. Not to mention if we make it a civil suit and file on behalf of all the defendants in this case. Man, nothing like having the law on your side:-)
Fuck off Novak, you're pond scum for suing these people because you're company had poor customer service and shipping.
Slashdot Mirror
Emphasis added.
Well, I DO own my computer as of right now though. Even if it came with Windows installed I can blow it right the fuck off of there and reuse every piece of my computer as a whole or as spare parts for other computers without needing Windows. Right now, my Windows partition can't take control over my computer and freeze me out or lock it down if I did something "questionable". Sure, it can BSOD any time it likes if I do something unstable *laugh* while digging into memory areas, programs, etc. but it can't decide I'm not trustworthy and that the huge lump of metal and plastic I've paid upwards of $2,000 for is no longer under my control. Under Palladium it could and that is, please let me be quite frank about it, BULLSHIT. I own that hardware, not Microsoft. I worked my ass off for the money to pay for that hardware, not Microsoft. Therefore, if anyone is going to lock up that hardware it damn well better be me. Err, you get what I'm saying :-p.
I'll use 10 year old computers before I'd ever use a Palladium "enhanced" PC. I'll give up my time and whatever else was required to help lead a digital revolution against this utter nonsense. Sure, it souds crazy but a digital revolution might be what it takes for the USA to wake up to the fact the individuals have the rights and should always have - the corporations should not. It really is past time we "digerati" woke up, started talking to our families, friends, and people we meet on the street in very no-nonsense language and in non-technical terms and explain what is going on in this and other countries and how it affects them with regards to technology and all that touches.
Whew. Sorry for the mini-rant but it really is time we, as a group, did stand up for our rights, those of our loved ones, and yes, even the rights of people we don't give a rat's ass about.
Perhaps here is what you are looking for. Cyan is (trying) to create a persistent, everchanging and changable (by the players) world. Based on the Ages of Myst you are an explorer ferreting out the secrets, traps, puzzles, and whatnot of the different Ages. Yes, no battles and bloodshed but beautifully rendered worlds for one (or many) to explore. It looks to be a fresh change in MMORPG.
Why fail closed of course ;-) Then I can create my own "backdoor" into my home by utlizing another "cracking" tool - a hammer on the window pane.
Is this the beginning of (or maybe the continual evolution towards) Intrusion Countermeasures Electronics - aka ICE as proposed by Gibson and others? Not to mention this idea would fall under a reactive ICE that would sense the attack and not only deny it access to your system but actively seek it out and shut down the attack (what could be called Black ICE). IMHO this is the future arms race.
No, it wasn't the way they defeated Zuul nor was it the way they started an unusual business. It was the one line "Ok, so she's a dog."
Then get as much media attention as possible if they do try and sue you. Hopefully a lawyer from the EFF will take up the case or help out. Use the SLAPP statutes and fair use and anything else that can be brought up against goliath and, oh yeah, get as much media attention as possible showing ANOTHER abuse of the system by a corporate conglomerate. After Enron, WorldCom (I hope I'm remembering that right), Martha Stewart and the rest of the things coming to light about corporations abusing the system to the detriment of the "common man" most people are getting fed up with this shit. Every bit of press you get will be negative against the corp, not positive.
Damn, sorry for the rant. I blame it on my caffeine drip being a little weak.. guess I need more Bawls. All donations gladly accepted :-p
...who to choose. Yes, indeed it is. VOTE THIRD PARTY. Get the career politicians out of office and put in Libertarians (who want LESS government and less taxes, etc.), or Green (who want environmental issues taken more into account, etc.), or Independant, or whoever else there is. Just DON'T vote for the same old bullshit and the "lesser of TWO evils" syndrome. Choose a new voice for the American people because you do have that choice. Third party candidates are showing up on more and more ballots across the country and are doing well considering they aren't spending US$15million dollars for advertising for a job that pays US$150,000 (or whatever) per year. This past Tuesday the Libertarians in Georgia alone drew around 3% of the votes with no statewide campaigning. What could have happened with $1mil in campaing funds? Better yet, what could have happened with a 100% turnout of all people between the ages of 18 and 35 who are registered to vote (and who are more inclined to vote third party)? The young people of America need to step up to the plate NOW, not when they're finished college or have a long-term job and a wife/husband and 2.4 children. NOW.
Well, regardless of whether or not you were trying to be funny, Neverwinter Nights was _never_ intended to be a stand-alone game per se. It was, from the beginning, designed to be a replacement to the traditional pen-and-pencil RPG Advanced Dungeons and Dragons. It was designed to give the players more flexibility in getting together (hey, when was the last time you were able to get 5 or 6 folks together to sit down for 2-6 hours especially when they all work or live 45 minutes or so away?) and the ability to meet new players. Not to mention it was also designed to allow dungeon masters and world builders the chance to show off the big brains, imagination, and creativity they (and, it seems, most of /.) possess (or claim to :-p). They didn't design it for the players to finish .. they designed it for the players to USE as a tool for CREATION and RECREATION (see, can't really have on without the other ;-).
Man, sometimes you get down on your knees and wish to the virtual gods you had moderation points to kill... even on anonymous cowards. ;-)
is to move the lazy-boy into the computer room. Sheesh, you call yourself a geek... :-p
Yes, yes, what almost all men (and some women to be "PC" about it) aspire to be - a cunning linguist. Sorry but it had to be said... :-p
Umm, at that point getting worried will do you no good as you have waited beyond the event horizon and are already sucked into the black hole of TCPA and DRM and your untrusted OS will be cut off as surely as you draw breath. The time to worry is NOW, not after the event that precipitates matters into "OH SHIT, I've got to do something before ..." and then you realize the "before" has already happened and the shit has hit the fan. Wake up people!! ACT, do not REACT, to what corps and governments are doing and trying to do. If all you do is react you have almost always lost.
To put in MTS (my two cents), MegaTokyo is a great webcomic and yes, the plot is taking a little while to unfold but if it didn't you'd all bitch (those who are bitching) about "no character development" or some such shite. Either you like the comic or you don't. End of story. Critique it if you must but get over the "NERD MAD, BASH TOPIC" syndrome.
My apologies for the rant...
I guess adding a mobile camera to this would bring a whole new meaning to the pr0n server ... especially if you forget to turn it off and the girlfriend is over for a visit *blink*
I know I'm posting way late and I know there is no hope for modding up but I had to comment on the error in this post, to wit: The _original_ films now only exist as worn VHS tapes. You are most incorrect as they also exist in digital form via LaserDisc and I for one am very happy I have all three in their unedited, unchanged, unaltered format.
How about asking your congresswoman one question "Do you want your private life, regardless of the intentions of your actions and regardless of online or offline, intruded upon 24/7?" Guess what? Neither do we. I'm not out setting up ftp sites for w4rez, or downloading every mp3, or anything else illegal but the potential for abuse of such a system FAR outweighs the supposed good it would do. One more thing - it is not Congress' mandate to guarantee the revenue streams of ANY company in America. It is that company's. Welcome to capitalism.
Thanks for the input so far from everyone though! :-)
You, my friend, have watched Star Wars one too many times prepping for the sequels - haven't you? Errr, then again, maybe it was I who did that since I got the reference... :-p
Errr, we CAN vote out or, if necessary, overthrow the government. We can't do that with Microsoft (though many of us would like to :-p).
Extreme optimism and extreme pessimism in the same post? I better get my head checked, I may have schizophrenia...
Yeah, you do need to get your head checked and dump that negativity at the door. With a defeatist attitude such as yours we'll soon be living in a dictator state instead of a (basically) free USA. If we all just shrugged and said "fuck it, why fight - it'll pass anyway" we would soon have NO rights, not to mention that we, the people, would never have helped to block the CBDTPA this time.
Call me old-fashioned and even a bit naive but if WE don't keep our head in the game and inform those of us less technically inclined or threat/politically aware about these bills then yes, it will pass. If we do inform the public, the chances are good these types of bills will be stopped. An informed public is an empowered public.
Fuck off Novak, you're pond scum for suing these people because you're company had poor customer service and shipping.