The reason the Newton was cancelled was so Apple could focus on getting OS X going. Apple needed OS X to build its future on. Once the OS X transition is over (end of this year, according to Jobs), Apple will be free to expand again.
The Newton is still being used by people, and has a loyal following. Its excellent handwriting recognition lives on in Jaguar's Inkwell. I believe a new Amiga computer should be coming out soon, if it hasn't already. Neither product is really dead; they live on in the hearts of those who love them.
"His return is near..." Godzilla 2000 trailer G Countdown: 20 days (www.godzillaoncube.com)
http://www.comet-track.com/meteor/draconids98/dr ac onids98.html
1998 was also the year of the Leonid storm (with fireballs) and the coming of the King of Terror in "Mothra 3: King Ghidora Attacks".
Movie (December 1998): "The great devil will come from the sky!" Video Subtitle (Summer 1999): "The King of Terror is coming!" Moll, "Mothra 3: King Ghidora Attacks"
> strange, there was one in the UK last week > (several comments link to it so I won't), and > one that landed [bbc.co.uk] in russia > [cosmiverse.com] too. > > No one seems to be linking these in any way, but > they are quite rare events. There's a fair > chance the UK one was also the russian one, but > that's at least 3 fireballs within a week. Is > that a coincidence?
Probably not. The Draconid meteor shower is expected for yesterday and today. The Draconids are known to storm on occasion. Fireballs are kinda rare, but two recent Leonid storms featured fireballs (1998 and 2001). Draco is a very northern constellation, so I would think the northern hemisphere sightings you give could be connected.
Hopefully, it is nothing to worry about. King Ghidora appeared the cover (upper right corner) and the back of the centerfold of Gamepro Magazine, and will be in two games enjoying global release at the end of the month. He's probably just showing off. Enjoy the fireworks and pray he doesn't make an appearance as the King of Terror or Mr. Mass Extinction Event!
"Godzilla's coming" Io, "Godzilla 2000" (US version dialog)
> It's people like you who are destroying this > country. You people feel entitled to everything > that you can never achieve with your godforsaken > attitudes. There were places in the world where > people like you poisoned with your way of > thinking. Your post isn't even funny. Joking about > the confescation of property is an assult on the > principles of this nation.
Oh, for crying out loud, it was a joke! iainl was parodying what they thought Echostar was doing. iainl has a perfect right to do so, under the United States' First Amendment to the Constitution.
> Major corporations made this country Great. > Civilians should not have the same rights as > corporations because they do not contribute as > much to our nation.
So sorry, but we are a nation "of the people, by the people, for the people" according to Abraham Lincoln. The Declaration of Independence states that it is men that are created equal and given rights that can not be taken away, and lists among those "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." No mention of nations for the corporation, or any rights given to the corporations (a very recent concept).
> The only ones who should be allowed to sue (and > reap irreperible damage to a corporation) are > corporations who have as much at stake.
Thankfully, that isn't the case. Sometimes lawsuits are the only way to reign in greedy sharks that are negligent enough to make defective products that kill people. Of course, if corporations were always responsible and fair, there would be no reason to sue them.
> Our Nation is founded upon the concept of a > Constitutional Republic(tm).
Didn't know that was a trademark of some corporation.;)
A constitutional republic simply means that the citizens elect representatives to represent them in Congress. The representatives make the laws (following, in theory, the wishes of those who elected them and not the corporations that bribe them), and the whole process is governed by the Constitution.
> We have class separations that must be enforced.
Only if you are a snooty patuty rich person.
> An average Joe Sixpack, or a mass of them, > should never wield the kind of power deprive > companies of millions.
Yeah, well, a mass of corporations (and their greedy CEOs) should never wield the kind of power to deprive Joe Sixpacks of 7 trillion dollars of retirement money. But they did.
> On the other hand, News Corp. has every Right to > hack their competition because they dominate the > market. People recieve more rights as they > ascend the ladder, and it should be that way or > otherwise we would have a ruling mob.
Please quote the section of the Constitution that says this.
> Those of you who believe in a parity between > Corporate rights and civilian rights are > socialists.
There is no parity. Corporations still do not have all the rights of a citizen, and they never should. I am a citizen of the United States of America. News Corp. is not.
> The fact of the matter is that America is an > aristocracy and that is what makes this nation > Great.
No, what makes this nation great, despite all its warts and mistakes, is the great ideals on which it was founded, and the courage and compassion of its people. Justice makes us great. Liberty makes us great. Life and Happiness make us great.
Greedy sharks, their willful actions and their bribes, are the problem, not the solution.
"The path of peace is yours to discover for eternity." Japanese version of "Mothra" (1961)
> And Windows XP 2003 will not run on anything > else. > If the XBox does not scare you, perhaps you > should consider a future where all PCs are > designed by Redmond.
Close, but you do not go far enough. The only XBox application Microsoft could get developers for was as a game console, but that was never the original intention. Originally XBox was to be the home terminal to.Net, and eventually, Microsoft's OS for the next Millennium (http://research.microsoft.com/research/sn/Millenn ium/mgoals.html especially "What would such a system be like?").
Like online gaming, you would pay Microsoft a monthly fee. You would also pay for use of any extra features in your software, and of course, for access to secure files (music, etc.). The initial hardware cost would be far cheaper than a PC, but the monthy and usage payments would be mostly profit for Microsoft.
Programs and your data would exist across the distributed net. You could run Office.Net, just about any application or game written for.Net and Millenium. Better watch your monthly bill, though, because it is going to be worse than your phone bill, and probably as big a surprise.
> It would be smarter for people to leave the XBox > alone and not contribute to M$'s strategy by > hacking it.
Most definitely. Microsoft could point to Linux users using it as a regular computer and say to its developers: "See, they are using it to run other programs." As long as the XBox is only a game console and a failed one at that, Microsoft's plans for it will fail as well.
Shinoda: "The age of Millennium." Io: "What does that mean?" Shinoda: "A thousand year kingdom. It wants to create a home for itself. There is one flaw in its plan: Godzilla." "Godzilla 2000 Millennium" (Japanese version)
> The Nintendo GameCube is easily the most powerful > gaming console available for homes.
Well, if it isn't now, it should be come October 29th. That's when Godzilla will be lending his sizable nuclear power to the platform.
If you have a GC and don't want to mess with mod chips, you can still pit Microsoft vs. Linux (and destroy a few cities in your spare time). Get "Godzilla Destroy All Monsters Melee".
On the one side, we have the one true king: Godzilla 2000, King of Monsters, Champion of the Mac, Open Source, and My Custom OS (Linux, see "Godzilla X Megagiras"). He may hate us humans, but dammit, this is his world and he will not tolerate any rival to his crown!
On the other, we have the challenger: Orga (aka Millenium, aka Microsoft), the All Embracing and Extending, All Assimilating, Controller of All Systems, Evil Alien! He's been asleep for thousands of years, woke up cranky, wants to make a home for himself (and rule it all, natch), and wants Godzilla's body and his crown in the worst way possible!
In the movie ("Godzilla 2000 Millenium") Godzilla won, but in the game, it is up to you.
"Godzilla's coming" Io, "Godzilla 2000" (US version dialog)
> I believe that a vessel in internation waters is > subject to the laws of its flag country -- the > country in which the vessel is registered.
Then these ships must fly a gold sun cross on a field of blue, the flag of that island whose language is song. Its divine Queen has never recognized the property rights, real or "intellectual", of the media sharks before ("Mosura" 1961, "Mosura tai Gojira" 1964, or "Gojira, Ebira, Mosura: Nankai no Dai Ketto" 1966), and I don't see her starting anytime soon.
Seriously, I think it bears pointing out that these ships are pressing VCDs of movies so we are talking MPAA here -- let us get our sharks straight. The market for these unauthorized copies is to people in the region who would never, ever, be able to afford a full price DVD. As with software, cheap versions of the hardware is a seriously major purchase for them (assuming they don't just use a computer at an internet cafe). Just forget about their having anything but pocket change to pay for the software/movies/etc. The street vendors hawking these unauthorized copies sell at what the market would bear. The media sharks do not sell to these people, so there is demand, but not much money, and no legitimate products to fill the demand.
The people out in boats making these VCDs are *not* real pirates. They do not hijack ships, murder, or rape (at least, that we know of). Yes, they are breaking a law, but so is the average American who speeds on the way to work, parks without paying the meter, or lies on income tax forms.
If the media sharks were remotely interested in actually putting an end to this terrible crime, they'd sign these "pirates" on as local distributors for a cut of their profits! The people get their movies at a price they can afford, the newly ordained distributors can conduct their business under more pleasant conditions, and the police can save their efforts for those who continue to prefer breaking the law and, gasp, actual murderers! The sharks save money on enforcement, and make a little money from their new distributors.
But no, that would be common sense. We can't have that!
Bells are ringing: Mothra, Mothra! Every heart is calling: Mothra, Mothra! Come on, Tok Wira, these sharks have gotta pay! New Kirk calling Mothra, we need you today!
> You are the embodiment of the open source > community. A fucking erosion of the software > economy.
True, there are plenty of greedy warez dudes that think Open Source is just another free handout. But Open Source itself is based not on greed, but an economy of generousity. Everyone benefits, even the sharer.
Sun has contributed a lot to the industry over the years. I was using NFS shared partitions back when Windows was still trying to figure out how to task switch. And while Java is not (yet) an open standard, it has employed a lot of programmers, and made a lot of other companies some serious cash. It has even given Microsoft a big headache, which is all to the good.;)
If Sun opens Solaris, good for them. I'm sure people will learn a lot from their code, and the fixes the community makes will benefit Sun in turn (as will the good will generated). If they choose not to, it is their choice to make. At least they will be making their OS more affordable, which will help them compete with Microsoft (giving them more headaches;).
"Lightning shines on wavey beach, and all clouds are made right:
Happiness Appears!" From the song "Infanto no Musume" in the Japanese version of Mothra (1961).
> Can someone tell me or point me towards something > that explains what an SD port is?
An SD port fits an SD card. An SD card is a stamp sized solid state memory card with DRM features. You can read more here:
http://www.sdcard.org/about.htm
The Zaurus does *not* support the DRM features. In a Zaurus, an SD card is the same as a Multi Media Card. You can put anything on a SD card in the Zaurus you want, and do anything you want with it.
"Godzilla's coming" Io, "Godzilla 2000" (US version dialog)
> of this getting passed? How much support does this > bill hold in congress?
I don't think it even matters if it ever gets passed. The real value of this bill is to make Congress stop and think.
The sergeant of the senate recently had to shut down the senate's P2P network because of all the file sharing going on. These congress critters aren't very tech savy, but they apparently share the public's interest in file sharing. Holling's bill would put a stop to that. DRM would keep them and us from even rip/mix/burning our legally bought CDs. I doubt Hollings and his cohorts even realize that - they've been fed a line by the media sharks.
What this bill will do is *education*. It will make them *think* about what they are doing and how it will affect their lives and ours. Hopefully it will keep them from ruining our future by passing the Hollings bill. If it does that, I will be happy.
If by some miracle this bill passes as well, I will be thrilled!
"Mothra, you are Life Eternal! Hear the prayers of your servants.
Come back to us from out of the legend.
Come and save us with your power of Life!" From the US release of "Mothra" May 10, 1962
If you want a really, seriously, thick book on OS X (probably a bit dated post-Jaguar), try "OS X Unleashed". It covers both the Mac and Unix sides. The X Window System is covered, as is setting up a mail or ftp server, programming in Perl, using MySQL, even installing Lynx (if you want a text based browser).
It makes a great reference book, and comes in real handy whenever you need a heavy, if slightly soft, weight around the house.;)
"Godzilla's coming" Io, "Godzilla 2000" (US version dialog) G Countdown: 26 days (www.godzillaoncube.com)
> Microsoft owns nowhere near 51% of Apple's shares. > The shares they bought in 1996 were a) non-voting > and b) maybe a percent, at the very most. Although > I believe the shares have been converted to voting > shares at this point, but still, incredibly far > from being controlling shares.
The shares were dumped on the market back in Fall of 2000, which together with a big loss reported that quarter seriously tanked Apple's stock. While the rest of the industry crowed about Apple's eminent demise, the earnings warnings started rolling in.
The next quarter, Apple had returned to the black. The computer industry was a shattered landscape, where only a single tree still stood proud. It was Apple's turn to laugh.
> Not to say Microsoft still doesn't hold sway > over Apple in some way.
Sorry, the agreement expired in August. Microsoft is just a third party developer and a competitor now. While pundits talk of patching up the marriage, Apple has gone to war!
Even if Apple should loose Office, Microsoft themselves will give Apple its biggest selling point. When Palladium comes, users will flee to the Apple that has pledged to fight for their fair use rights.
Windows: "Go talk to my friend, an 800 pound monopoly-abusing gorilla!" Mac: "And here's my good buddy, the 66,000 ton Godzilla!" Godzilla: Stomp!;)
> Personally, I'm glad Teledesic failed because it > frightens me to think Bill G could control a large > network.
Actually, Gates running global broadband terrifies me. I had no idea he was involved in something like this.
> It would have only run with Windows.
No, it would have run Windows' successor: Millennium (not to be confused with Windows ME, aka "The Brat"). Millennium was a Microsoft Research project in the late 1990's that ran a distributed network on top of a JVM called "Borg". The Borg has been replaced by Microsoft's.Net CLR (now using Mono to assimilate Linux and Mac), but otherwise the plan (including such technologies as Palladium and Yukon) is still on track. Read about it here:
http://research.microsoft.com/research/sn/Millen ni um/mgoals.html (Especially "What would such a system be like?")
http://research.microsoft.com/research/sn/ (Loo k under "Previous Projects". Mentions the Borg and its friends.)
Millennium and.Net both need global broadband for Microsoft to acheive world domination. Anything that slows broadband down is to the good for now, because it frustrates Microsoft's plans (I do want broadband to succeed, but in a way that benefits the world, not Microsoft).
This is good news. We were getting too close for comfort as it was with XP Service Pack 1. It included the.Net CLR and a EULA change enabling Microsoft to upgrade XP computers at whim (say with a sneak distributed network ala Brillant). The Hollings bill, with its potential to bless and enforce a Microsoft monopoly in the US, is still a danger.
Shinoda: "The age of Millennium." Io: "What does that mean?" Shinoda: "A thousand year kingdom. It wants to create a home for itself. There is one flaw in its plan: Godzilla." "Godzilla 2000 Millennium" (Japanese version)
The true King of the Monsters is coming October 29th!
"His power is unequalled.
His battles are legendary.
His return is near...
Godzilla 2000
If you can't take the heat, RUN!" From the "Godzilla 2000" trailer Tristar tried so hard to hide.
> The last press release from Lindows.com contains > the 'word' AOL 20 times in the first 5 paragraphs, > including the phrase 'AOL computer' and claims of > a partnership with AOL/Netscape. > > Exactly how would that be MSNBC's fault, except > that MSNBC should've contacted AOL for comment?
Any moron can write a press release about anything (one hopes it contains some kernel of truth, but that is not guaranteed). Any moron with $7 (in Missouri) can get a name for their business and write press releases about it. And, according to Lindows, any moron who clicks a button on the web has a "strategic partnership".
It is the job of a reputable news organization to check stories and do real reporting. Blind regurgitation of any old press release is *not* reporting.
"What I'm thinking is different from what you are." Belabera, "Mothra 3" 1998
> Hey, you wanna swim with the sharks, ya gotta > learn a thing or three from them.
A little nurse shark that wants to swim with Great Whites is only going to learn what the inside of a shark's belly is like. Which is to the good, as we don't need anymore Great Whites.
> Considering the track record of the opposition, > I fail to understand all the carping about > Lindows' honesty. This is going to get down and > dirty, as they say, and I wouldn't necessarily > write these guys off yet.
We need alternatives to Microsoft (and the media sharks, which AOL/TW is one), and the alternatives need to not be smaller carbon copies. We need choice, not more of the same greed and callousness. Lindows' sliminess does nothing to improve the quality of options customers have. Worse, it gives Linux a bad rep.
> As for AOL's reaction, I'd be more willing to > believe that they're just scared of Big Bad > Billy than that they're concerned with their > reputation.
No, they are not scared. AOL/TW has happily stood in Microsoft's way a number of time in the past year or so. AOL/TW would be, by far, the larger party in any deal with Lindows. They would want to dictate terms, not have some pipsqueak claim a bunch of rubbish based on clicking a button on their website.
> Make the Dragon of Redmond sweat a little.
Apple and the real corporate partners (can you say IBM) of real Linux are doing their job just fine. They don't need a sleazy two bit rip off butting in.
Windows: "Go talk to my friend, an 800 pound monopoly-abusing gorilla!" Mac: "And here's my good buddy, the 66,000 ton Godzilla!" Godzilla: Stomp!;)
> You can't ignore other people's intellectual > property, damnit. Only pirates would do that kind > of stuff.
Three incidents show the tip of an iceberg:
1) Eisner, Disney's president, showed a pirated Sony movie at a Senate hearing on Hollings' bill.
2) CNN showed a pirated tape of a bin Laden interview after the Afghan TV station that did the interview refused to give the rights to show the interview to CNN.
3) InterTrust is suing Microsoft because DRM in Windows XP,.Net, Office XP, and Windows Media Player infringe on its patents.
Face it, the very people who want to treat customers like criminals and take away our rights are the biggest pirates of all!
Actually, "Mosura no Uta" (Mothra's Song) has a better term for people like these, the words it applied to Nelson and his goons: "tong yu" or "barrel of sharks". Me, I just call 'em "media sharks".
Bells are ringing: Mothra, Mothra! Every heart is calling: Mothra, Mothra! Come on, Tok Wira, these sharks have gotta pay! New Kirk calling Mothra, we need you today!
> So, what was MS doing during that month dedicated > to security?
Trustworthy Computing consists of:
1) DRM (digital rights manglement).
2) Preventing untrustworthy programs from running (like open source).
3) A massive PR campaign coupled with surpressing news of bugs.
The only thing it has to do with security are bugs in #1 & #2 further eroding security, and #3 conning you into thinking they are secure.
"At this moment, it has control of systems all over the world.
And...we can't do a damn thing to stop it." Miyasaka, "Godzilla 2000 Millennium" (Japanese version)
> And all the while, the artist who actually created > the MUSIC that all of you are taking gets NOTHING. > > Does this strike anyone else as wrong?
Yes, it is very wrong that the record labels steal the copyrights from the artists (using a "work for hire" law).
It is very wrong that the artists are so bound by contract that they cannot even use their own voices - they belong to the record labels.
It is very wrong that they are bound for an undetermined amount of time (by the number of albums which may never be produced), during which the label profits. In the end, the artists frequently are in debt.
The real thieves here are the labels that steal from the artists, and P2P companies that steal from charities. The kiddies that trade files are in gross violation of copyright law, but they probably wouldn't be buying many CDs anyway.
> If you want to use P2P, go ahead, but don't be > surprised that the system breaks down if no one > is paid by anyone.
The system as it stands is in desparate need of breaking down. The five major labels that have a strangle hold on the music industry need to be replaced - with small businesses that serve the artists. Then the artists can hold their own copyrights, make the profits they deserve, and the customer can have fair prices at last.
"They bind our hearts: 'Let's sell them again and again!'
Our plan understands the sea; we can wait for her coming." From the song "Infanto no Musume" in the Japanese version of "Mothra" (1961).
What they describe is physically impossible. To move data from Point A to Point B, there has to be some sort of "wired or wireless" connection. Even if the data is somehow being stored in the mouse itself and transferred that way, that's still a connection between the two machines...not a direct one, but a connection nontheless.
The computers will not be connected to each other, but they will be connected to the Millenium network running the Millenium OS. The actual file is out there in lala land, where ever Millenium decides to store it (in this case, on the hard drive of the competitor's receptionist). The file system is based on SQL Server, so it is easy to retrieve the file from its physical location (assuming they've fixed the bugs by then and the file hasn't gone the way of our nuclear materials).
Millenium is a very useful, and very essential (in Microsoft's view) component of the office (and world) of the future. It would easily facilitate the access of a file from home, office, plane, train, etc. (again assuming the file doesn't get lost). It would also allow you to email a small portion of the spreadsheet and have the recipient view the whole thing (because the real file is anywhere in the world - and just as easy to access as any of your files).
To learn more about the exciting future Millenium promises (for Microsoft anyway), check out its Microsoft Research page. (Especially "What would such a system be like?")
Shinoda: "The age of Millenium."
Io: "What does that mean?"
Shinoda: "A thousand year kingdom. It wants to create a home for itself. There is one flaw in its plan: Godzilla." Godzilla 2000 Millennium (Japanese version)
> that MS also had an itching to get Nintendo > itself...
They already tried. Back in 1999, Microsoft tried to buy Sega. Then they tried to buy Nintendo. Nintendo politely told them they'd think about it.
In December 1999, an old friend returned to Japan and put his very large foot down on the deal. Seeing his most excellent wisdom, Nintendo sent Microsoft their refusal the very next month.
Who is the old friend that saved Nintendo from the jaws of Microsoft? Well, here is a poster for the game he did (with a certain large bug goddess) for Nintendo's SuperFamicon:
http://www.godzillatoy.com/posters/mothfam.jpg Shinoda: "The age of Millenium." Io: "What does that mean?" Shinoda: "A thousand year kingdom. It wants to create a home for itself. There is one flaw in its plan: Godzilla." "Godzilla 2000 Millennium", December 1999, (Japanese version)
> Isn't this what Apple did with Shake, Rayz, > Cubase, Spruce Tech, etc...?
When Steve Jobs was asked what he was going to do with the results of his shopping spree, he said "Democratize them". Just what part of making media creation tools cheaper and easier to use do you have a problem with?
> Howcome when Apple does it it's a good thing and > when MS does it it's a bad thing...?
MS has a monopoly, Apple doesn't. Legally, that is like comparing Apples to rotten oranges. There are different rules.
Also, Apple is fighting for the consumer against the DRM insanity that Microsoft champions.
And finally, many of the companies that Apple has bought get a nice home, the ability to maintain their own identities, and to continue to serve their customers.
On the other hand, when Microsoft bought Bungie and I went to their site to get help on the OS X version of Oni, I was literally told to get my help from a brick wall, which they helpfully provided a picture of! Grrrr!
Windows: "Go talk to my friend, an 800 pound monopoly-abusing gorilla!" Mac: "And here's my good buddy, the 66,000 ton Godzilla!" Godzilla: Stomp!;)
> The GC has really delivered this year with games > like Soccer Slam, Eternal Darkness, Resident Evil, > Super Mario Sunshine, Super Monkey Ball 2, Animal > Crossing and Star Fox Adventures with more on the > way.
Not to mention a rare treat for this side of the Pacific: Godzilla Destroy All Monsters Melee, featuring the one true king of the monsters, Toho's Godzilla!
Last week, Sony Music (why them and not Sony Tristar, I'll never know) rereleased four classic Godzilla movies, and the movie "Rodan", long out of print. All five DVDs have a non-playable demo of the game, and man is it awesome! Think Twisted Metal, only with giant monsters. It is a little cartoonish compared to the movies, being a video game, but the monsters are accurate, and the fighting is incredible. Toho could take notes!
A snippet or two of the "Godzilla 2000" trailer can be heard on the demo. I would guess this means Tristar was involved in making it. I'm hoping this bodes well for the American release of "Godzilla, Mothra, King Ghidora: Giant Monsters All Out Attack".
I've seen a release date of October 29th for the game, although the demo says Holiday 2002. This is the game I bought my GameCube for, and I can't wait.
"His power is unequalled.
His battles are legendary.
His return is near...
Godzilla 2000
If you can't take the heat, RUN!" From the "Godzilla 2000" trailer Tristar tried so hard to hide.
Slashdot Mirror
The reason the Newton was cancelled was so Apple could focus on getting OS X going. Apple needed OS X to build its future on. Once the OS X transition is over (end of this year, according to Jobs), Apple will be free to expand again.
The Newton is still being used by people, and has a loyal following. Its excellent handwriting recognition lives on in Jaguar's Inkwell. I believe a new Amiga computer should be coming out soon, if it hasn't already. Neither product is really dead; they live on in the hearts of those who love them.
"His return is near..." Godzilla 2000 trailer
G Countdown: 20 days (www.godzillaoncube.com)
Here is a picture of a 1998 Draconid fireball:
r ac onids98.html
http://www.comet-track.com/meteor/draconids98/d
1998 was also the year of the Leonid storm (with fireballs) and the coming of the King of Terror in "Mothra 3: King Ghidora Attacks".
Movie (December 1998): "The great devil will come from the sky!"
Video Subtitle (Summer 1999): "The King of Terror is coming!"
Moll, "Mothra 3: King Ghidora Attacks"
G Countdown: 20 days (www.godzillaoncube.com)
nicklott wrote:
> strange, there was one in the UK last week
> (several comments link to it so I won't), and
> one that landed [bbc.co.uk] in russia
> [cosmiverse.com] too.
>
> No one seems to be linking these in any way, but
> they are quite rare events. There's a fair
> chance the UK one was also the russian one, but
> that's at least 3 fireballs within a week. Is
> that a coincidence?
Probably not. The Draconid meteor shower is expected for yesterday and today. The Draconids are known to storm on occasion. Fireballs are kinda rare, but two recent Leonid storms featured fireballs (1998 and 2001). Draco is a very northern constellation, so I would think the northern hemisphere sightings you give could be connected.
Hopefully, it is nothing to worry about. King Ghidora appeared the cover (upper right corner) and the back of the centerfold of Gamepro Magazine, and will be in two games enjoying global release at the end of the month. He's probably just showing off. Enjoy the fireworks and pray he doesn't make an appearance as the King of Terror or Mr. Mass Extinction Event!
"Godzilla's coming"
Io, "Godzilla 2000" (US version dialog)
G Countdown: 20 days (www.godzillaoncube.com)
Ann Coulter writes:
;)
> It's people like you who are destroying this
> country. You people feel entitled to everything
> that you can never achieve with your godforsaken
> attitudes. There were places in the world where
> people like you poisoned with your way of
> thinking. Your post isn't even funny. Joking about
> the confescation of property is an assult on the
> principles of this nation.
Oh, for crying out loud, it was a joke! iainl was parodying what they thought Echostar was doing. iainl has a perfect right to do so, under the United States' First Amendment to the Constitution.
> Major corporations made this country Great.
> Civilians should not have the same rights as
> corporations because they do not contribute as
> much to our nation.
So sorry, but we are a nation "of the people, by the people, for the people" according to Abraham Lincoln. The Declaration of Independence states that it is men that are created equal and given rights that can not be taken away, and lists among those "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." No mention of nations for the corporation, or any rights given to the corporations (a very recent concept).
> The only ones who should be allowed to sue (and
> reap irreperible damage to a corporation) are
> corporations who have as much at stake.
Thankfully, that isn't the case. Sometimes lawsuits are the only way to reign in greedy sharks that are negligent enough to make defective products that kill people. Of course, if corporations were always responsible and fair, there would be no reason to sue them.
> Our Nation is founded upon the concept of a
> Constitutional Republic(tm).
Didn't know that was a trademark of some corporation.
A constitutional republic simply means that the citizens elect representatives to represent them in Congress. The representatives make the laws (following, in theory, the wishes of those who elected them and not the corporations that bribe them), and the whole process is governed by the Constitution.
> We have class separations that must be enforced.
Only if you are a snooty patuty rich person.
> An average Joe Sixpack, or a mass of them,
> should never wield the kind of power deprive
> companies of millions.
Yeah, well, a mass of corporations (and their greedy CEOs) should never wield the kind of power to deprive Joe Sixpacks of 7 trillion dollars of retirement money. But they did.
> On the other hand, News Corp. has every Right to
> hack their competition because they dominate the
> market. People recieve more rights as they
> ascend the ladder, and it should be that way or
> otherwise we would have a ruling mob.
Please quote the section of the Constitution that says this.
> Those of you who believe in a parity between
> Corporate rights and civilian rights are
> socialists.
There is no parity. Corporations still do not have all the rights of a citizen, and they never should. I am a citizen of the United States of America. News Corp. is not.
> The fact of the matter is that America is an
> aristocracy and that is what makes this nation
> Great.
No, what makes this nation great, despite all its warts and mistakes, is the great ideals on which it was founded, and the courage and compassion of its people. Justice makes us great. Liberty makes us great. Life and Happiness make us great.
Greedy sharks, their willful actions and their bribes, are the problem, not the solution.
"The path of peace is yours to discover for eternity."
Japanese version of "Mothra" (1961)
ites wrote:
.Net, and eventually, Microsoft's OS for the next Millennium (http://research.microsoft.com/research/sn/Millenn ium/mgoals.html especially "What would such a system be like?").
.Net and Millenium. Better watch your monthly bill, though, because it is going to be worse than your phone bill, and probably as big a surprise.
> And Windows XP 2003 will not run on anything
> else.
> If the XBox does not scare you, perhaps you
> should consider a future where all PCs are
> designed by Redmond.
Close, but you do not go far enough. The only XBox application Microsoft could get developers for was as a game console, but that was never the original intention. Originally XBox was to be the home terminal to
Like online gaming, you would pay Microsoft a monthly fee. You would also pay for use of any extra features in your software, and of course, for access to secure files (music, etc.). The initial hardware cost would be far cheaper than a PC, but the monthy and usage payments would be mostly profit for Microsoft.
Programs and your data would exist across the distributed net. You could run Office.Net, just about any application or game written for
> It would be smarter for people to leave the XBox
> alone and not contribute to M$'s strategy by
> hacking it.
Most definitely. Microsoft could point to Linux users using it as a regular computer and say to its developers: "See, they are using it to run other programs." As long as the XBox is only a game console and a failed one at that, Microsoft's plans for it will fail as well.
Shinoda: "The age of Millennium."
Io: "What does that mean?"
Shinoda: "A thousand year kingdom. It wants to create a home for itself. There is one flaw in its plan: Godzilla."
"Godzilla 2000 Millennium" (Japanese version)
G Countdown: 21 days (www.godzillaoncube.com)
An AC wrote:
> The Nintendo GameCube is easily the most powerful
> gaming console available for homes.
Well, if it isn't now, it should be come October 29th. That's when Godzilla will be lending his sizable nuclear power to the platform.
If you have a GC and don't want to mess with mod chips, you can still pit Microsoft vs. Linux (and destroy a few cities in your spare time). Get "Godzilla Destroy All Monsters Melee".
On the one side, we have the one true king:
Godzilla 2000, King of Monsters, Champion of the Mac, Open Source, and My Custom OS (Linux, see "Godzilla X Megagiras"). He may hate us humans, but dammit, this is his world and he will not tolerate any rival to his crown!
On the other, we have the challenger:
Orga (aka Millenium, aka Microsoft), the All Embracing and Extending, All Assimilating, Controller of All Systems, Evil Alien! He's been asleep for thousands of years, woke up cranky, wants to make a home for himself (and rule it all, natch), and wants Godzilla's body and his crown in the worst way possible!
In the movie ("Godzilla 2000 Millenium") Godzilla won, but in the game, it is up to you.
"Godzilla's coming"
Io, "Godzilla 2000" (US version dialog)
G Countdown: 22 days (www.godzillaoncube.com)
An AC wrote:
> I believe that a vessel in internation waters is
> subject to the laws of its flag country -- the
> country in which the vessel is registered.
Then these ships must fly a gold sun cross on a field of blue, the flag of that island whose language is song. Its divine Queen has never recognized the property rights, real or "intellectual", of the media sharks before ("Mosura" 1961, "Mosura tai Gojira" 1964, or "Gojira, Ebira, Mosura: Nankai no Dai Ketto" 1966), and I don't see her starting anytime soon.
Seriously, I think it bears pointing out that these ships are pressing VCDs of movies so we are talking MPAA here -- let us get our sharks straight. The market for these unauthorized copies is to people in the region who would never, ever, be able to afford a full price DVD. As with software, cheap versions of the hardware is a seriously major purchase for them (assuming they don't just use a computer at an internet cafe). Just forget about their having anything but pocket change to pay for the software/movies/etc. The street vendors hawking these unauthorized copies sell at what the market would bear. The media sharks do not sell to these people, so there is demand, but not much money, and no legitimate products to fill the demand.
The people out in boats making these VCDs are *not* real pirates. They do not hijack ships, murder, or rape (at least, that we know of). Yes, they are breaking a law, but so is the average American who speeds on the way to work, parks without paying the meter, or lies on income tax forms.
If the media sharks were remotely interested in actually putting an end to this terrible crime, they'd sign these "pirates" on as local distributors for a cut of their profits! The people get their movies at a price they can afford, the newly ordained distributors can conduct their business under more pleasant conditions, and the police can save their efforts for those who continue to prefer breaking the law and, gasp, actual murderers! The sharks save money on enforcement, and make a little money from their new distributors.
But no, that would be common sense. We can't have that!
Bells are ringing: Mothra, Mothra! Every heart is calling: Mothra, Mothra!
Come on, Tok Wira, these sharks have gotta pay! New Kirk calling Mothra, we need you today!
G Countdown: 23 days (www.godzillaoncube.com)
An AC wrote:
;)
;).
> You are the embodiment of the open source
> community. A fucking erosion of the software
> economy.
True, there are plenty of greedy warez dudes that think Open Source is just another free handout. But Open Source itself is based not on greed, but an economy of generousity. Everyone benefits, even the sharer.
Sun has contributed a lot to the industry over the years. I was using NFS shared partitions back when Windows was still trying to figure out how to task switch. And while Java is not (yet) an open standard, it has employed a lot of programmers, and made a lot of other companies some serious cash. It has even given Microsoft a big headache, which is all to the good.
If Sun opens Solaris, good for them. I'm sure people will learn a lot from their code, and the fixes the community makes will benefit Sun in turn (as will the good will generated). If they choose not to, it is their choice to make. At least they will be making their OS more affordable, which will help them compete with Microsoft (giving them more headaches
"Lightning shines on wavey beach, and all clouds are made right:
Happiness Appears!"
From the song "Infanto no Musume" in the Japanese version of Mothra (1961).
G Countdown: 25 days (www.godzillaoncube.com)
Oscar26 wrote:
> Can someone tell me or point me towards something
> that explains what an SD port is?
An SD port fits an SD card. An SD card is a stamp sized solid state memory card with DRM features. You can read more here:
http://www.sdcard.org/about.htm
The Zaurus does *not* support the DRM features. In a Zaurus, an SD card is the same as a Multi Media Card. You can put anything on a SD card in the Zaurus you want, and do anything you want with it.
"Godzilla's coming"
Io, "Godzilla 2000" (US version dialog)
G Countdown: 26 days (www.godzillaoncube.com)
An AC wrote:
> of this getting passed? How much support does this
> bill hold in congress?
I don't think it even matters if it ever gets passed. The real value of this bill is to make Congress stop and think.
The sergeant of the senate recently had to shut down the senate's P2P network because of all the file sharing going on. These congress critters aren't very tech savy, but they apparently share the public's interest in file sharing. Holling's bill would put a stop to that. DRM would keep them and us from even rip/mix/burning our legally bought CDs. I doubt Hollings and his cohorts even realize that - they've been fed a line by the media sharks.
What this bill will do is *education*. It will make them *think* about what they are doing and how it will affect their lives and ours. Hopefully it will keep them from ruining our future by passing the Hollings bill. If it does that, I will be happy.
If by some miracle this bill passes as well, I will be thrilled!
"Mothra, you are Life Eternal! Hear the prayers of your servants.
Come back to us from out of the legend.
Come and save us with your power of Life!"
From the US release of "Mothra" May 10, 1962
G Countdown: 26 days (www.godzillaoncube.com)
If you want a really, seriously, thick book on OS X (probably a bit dated post-Jaguar), try "OS X Unleashed". It covers both the Mac and Unix sides. The X Window System is covered, as is setting up a mail or ftp server, programming in Perl, using MySQL, even installing Lynx (if you want a text based browser).
;)
It makes a great reference book, and comes in real handy whenever you need a heavy, if slightly soft, weight around the house.
"Godzilla's coming"
Io, "Godzilla 2000" (US version dialog)
G Countdown: 26 days (www.godzillaoncube.com)
skwirl42 wrote:
;)
> Microsoft owns nowhere near 51% of Apple's shares.
> The shares they bought in 1996 were a) non-voting
> and b) maybe a percent, at the very most. Although
> I believe the shares have been converted to voting
> shares at this point, but still, incredibly far
> from being controlling shares.
The shares were dumped on the market back in Fall of 2000, which together with a big loss reported that quarter seriously tanked Apple's stock. While the rest of the industry crowed about Apple's eminent demise, the earnings warnings started rolling in.
The next quarter, Apple had returned to the black. The computer industry was a shattered landscape, where only a single tree still stood proud. It was Apple's turn to laugh.
> Not to say Microsoft still doesn't hold sway
> over Apple in some way.
Sorry, the agreement expired in August. Microsoft is just a third party developer and a competitor now. While pundits talk of patching up the marriage, Apple has gone to war!
Even if Apple should loose Office, Microsoft themselves will give Apple its biggest selling point. When Palladium comes, users will flee to the Apple that has pledged to fight for their fair use rights.
Windows: "Go talk to my friend, an 800 pound monopoly-abusing gorilla!"
Mac: "And here's my good buddy, the 66,000 ton Godzilla!"
Godzilla: Stomp!
G Countdown: 26 days (www.godzillaoncube.com)
Locutus wrote:
.Net CLR (now using Mono to assimilate Linux and Mac), but otherwise the plan (including such technologies as Palladium and Yukon) is still on track. Read about it here:
n ni um/mgoals.html
o k under "Previous Projects". Mentions the Borg and its friends.)
.Net both need global broadband for Microsoft to acheive world domination. Anything that slows broadband down is to the good for now, because it frustrates Microsoft's plans (I do want broadband to succeed, but in a way that benefits the world, not Microsoft).
.Net CLR and a EULA change enabling Microsoft to upgrade XP computers at whim (say with a sneak distributed network ala Brillant). The Hollings bill, with its potential to bless and enforce a Microsoft monopoly in the US, is still a danger.
> Personally, I'm glad Teledesic failed because it
> frightens me to think Bill G could control a large
> network.
Actually, Gates running global broadband terrifies me. I had no idea he was involved in something like this.
> It would have only run with Windows.
No, it would have run Windows' successor: Millennium (not to be confused with Windows ME, aka "The Brat"). Millennium was a Microsoft Research project in the late 1990's that ran a distributed network on top of a JVM called "Borg". The Borg has been replaced by Microsoft's
http://research.microsoft.com/research/sn/Mille
(Especially "What would such a system be like?")
http://research.microsoft.com/research/sn/
(Lo
Millennium and
This is good news. We were getting too close for comfort as it was with XP Service Pack 1. It included the
Shinoda: "The age of Millennium."
Io: "What does that mean?"
Shinoda: "A thousand year kingdom. It wants to create a home for itself. There is one flaw in its plan: Godzilla."
"Godzilla 2000 Millennium" (Japanese version)
G Countdown: 27 days
Please leave the stomping to the professionals:
www.godzillaoncube.com
The true King of the Monsters is coming October 29th!
"His power is unequalled.
His battles are legendary.
His return is near...
Godzilla 2000
If you can't take the heat, RUN!"
From the "Godzilla 2000" trailer Tristar tried so hard to hide.
PainKilleR-CE wrote:
> The last press release from Lindows.com contains
> the 'word' AOL 20 times in the first 5 paragraphs,
> including the phrase 'AOL computer' and claims of
> a partnership with AOL/Netscape.
>
> Exactly how would that be MSNBC's fault, except
> that MSNBC should've contacted AOL for comment?
Any moron can write a press release about anything (one hopes it contains some kernel of truth, but that is not guaranteed). Any moron with $7 (in Missouri) can get a name for their business and write press releases about it. And, according to Lindows, any moron who clicks a button on the web has a "strategic partnership".
It is the job of a reputable news organization to check stories and do real reporting. Blind regurgitation of any old press release is *not* reporting.
"What I'm thinking is different from what you are."
Belabera, "Mothra 3" 1998
Steve Franklin wrote:
;)
> Hey, you wanna swim with the sharks, ya gotta
> learn a thing or three from them.
A little nurse shark that wants to swim with Great Whites is only going to learn what the inside of a shark's belly is like. Which is to the good, as we don't need anymore Great Whites.
> Considering the track record of the opposition,
> I fail to understand all the carping about
> Lindows' honesty. This is going to get down and
> dirty, as they say, and I wouldn't necessarily
> write these guys off yet.
We need alternatives to Microsoft (and the media sharks, which AOL/TW is one), and the alternatives need to not be smaller carbon copies. We need choice, not more of the same greed and callousness. Lindows' sliminess does nothing to improve the quality of options customers have. Worse, it gives Linux a bad rep.
> As for AOL's reaction, I'd be more willing to
> believe that they're just scared of Big Bad
> Billy than that they're concerned with their
> reputation.
No, they are not scared. AOL/TW has happily stood in Microsoft's way a number of time in the past year or so. AOL/TW would be, by far, the larger party in any deal with Lindows. They would want to dictate terms, not have some pipsqueak claim a bunch of rubbish based on clicking a button on their website.
> Make the Dragon of Redmond sweat a little.
Apple and the real corporate partners (can you say IBM) of real Linux are doing their job just fine. They don't need a sleazy two bit rip off butting in.
Windows: "Go talk to my friend, an 800 pound monopoly-abusing gorilla!"
Mac: "And here's my good buddy, the 66,000 ton Godzilla!"
Godzilla: Stomp!
An AC wrote:
.Net, Office XP, and Windows Media Player infringe on its patents.
> You can't ignore other people's intellectual
> property, damnit. Only pirates would do that kind
> of stuff.
Three incidents show the tip of an iceberg:
1) Eisner, Disney's president, showed a pirated Sony movie at a Senate hearing on Hollings' bill.
2) CNN showed a pirated tape of a bin Laden interview after the Afghan TV station that did the interview refused to give the rights to show the interview to CNN.
3) InterTrust is suing Microsoft because DRM in Windows XP,
Face it, the very people who want to treat customers like criminals and take away our rights are the biggest pirates of all!
Actually, "Mosura no Uta" (Mothra's Song) has a better term for people like these, the words it applied to Nelson and his goons: "tong yu" or "barrel of sharks". Me, I just call 'em "media sharks".
Bells are ringing: Mothra, Mothra! Every heart is calling: Mothra, Mothra!
Come on, Tok Wira, these sharks have gotta pay! New Kirk calling Mothra, we need you today!
gizmo_mathboy wrote:
> So, what was MS doing during that month dedicated
> to security?
Trustworthy Computing consists of:
1) DRM (digital rights manglement).
2) Preventing untrustworthy programs from running (like open source).
3) A massive PR campaign coupled with surpressing news of bugs.
The only thing it has to do with security are bugs in #1 & #2 further eroding security, and #3 conning you into thinking they are secure.
"At this moment, it has control of systems all over the world.
And...we can't do a damn thing to stop it."
Miyasaka, "Godzilla 2000 Millennium" (Japanese version)
An AC wrote:
;)
> It is official; Netcraft confirms: *BSD is dy[chomp!]
[Munch! Slurp!] Help! [Crunch! Slurp! Burp!]
Sorry, folks, it looks like the famous "*BSD is Dying" troll is dead. Eaten by a Jaguar.
Move along, nothing to see here. He's a really neat eater. Please continue enjoying your BSD based OS.
Hey, Kitty. What say you and I go poke around the Microsoft campus and see if we can't scare up a nice juicy Longhorn for desert?
[Slurp!]
Good Kitty!
(No actual humans were harmed in the posting of this message.)
mithras wrote:
> And all the while, the artist who actually created
> the MUSIC that all of you are taking gets NOTHING.
>
> Does this strike anyone else as wrong?
Yes, it is very wrong that the record labels steal the copyrights from the artists (using a "work for hire" law).
It is very wrong that the artists are so bound by contract that they cannot even use their own voices - they belong to the record labels.
It is very wrong that they are bound for an undetermined amount of time (by the number of albums which may never be produced), during which the label profits. In the end, the artists frequently are in debt.
The real thieves here are the labels that steal from the artists, and P2P companies that steal from charities. The kiddies that trade files are in gross violation of copyright law, but they probably wouldn't be buying many CDs anyway.
> If you want to use P2P, go ahead, but don't be
> surprised that the system breaks down if no one
> is paid by anyone.
The system as it stands is in desparate need of breaking down. The five major labels that have a strangle hold on the music industry need to be replaced - with small businesses that serve the artists. Then the artists can hold their own copyrights, make the profits they deserve, and the customer can have fair prices at last.
"They bind our hearts: 'Let's sell them again and again!'
Our plan understands the sea; we can wait for her coming."
From the song "Infanto no Musume" in the Japanese version of "Mothra" (1961).
DennyK wrote:
The computers will not be connected to each other, but they will be connected to the Millenium network running the Millenium OS. The actual file is out there in lala land, where ever Millenium decides to store it (in this case, on the hard drive of the competitor's receptionist). The file system is based on SQL Server, so it is easy to retrieve the file from its physical location (assuming they've fixed the bugs by then and the file hasn't gone the way of our nuclear materials).
Millenium is a very useful, and very essential (in Microsoft's view) component of the office (and world) of the future. It would easily facilitate the access of a file from home, office, plane, train, etc. (again assuming the file doesn't get lost). It would also allow you to email a small portion of the spreadsheet and have the recipient view the whole thing (because the real file is anywhere in the world - and just as easy to access as any of your files).
To learn more about the exciting future Millenium promises (for Microsoft anyway), check out its Microsoft Research page. (Especially "What would such a system be like?")
Shinoda: "The age of Millenium."
Io: "What does that mean?"
Shinoda: "A thousand year kingdom. It wants to create a home for itself. There is one flaw in its plan: Godzilla."
Godzilla 2000 Millennium (Japanese version)
PierceLabs wrote:
;)
> it simply defies logic as to why the stock holders
> haven't started asking questions.
It defies logic as to why the stock holders haven't all set sell off points.
Low stock prices (half of what they were) and no dividends equals a pretty poor investment to my way of thinking.
(Note: This is my personal opinion, not investment advice. I am not whatever it takes to officially tell people what to buy.)
Windows: "Go talk to my friend, an 800 pound monopoly-abusing gorilla!"
Mac: "And here's my good buddy, the 66,000 ton Godzilla!"
Godzilla: Stomp!
An AC wrote:
> that MS also had an itching to get Nintendo
> itself...
They already tried. Back in 1999, Microsoft tried to buy Sega. Then they tried to buy Nintendo. Nintendo politely told them they'd think about it.
In December 1999, an old friend returned to Japan and put his very large foot down on the deal. Seeing his most excellent wisdom, Nintendo sent Microsoft their refusal the very next month.
Who is the old friend that saved Nintendo from the jaws of Microsoft? Well, here is a poster for the game he did (with a certain large bug goddess) for Nintendo's SuperFamicon:
http://www.godzillatoy.com/posters/mothfam.jpg
Shinoda: "The age of Millenium."
Io: "What does that mean?"
Shinoda: "A thousand year kingdom. It wants to create a home for itself. There is one flaw in its plan: Godzilla."
"Godzilla 2000 Millennium", December 1999, (Japanese version)
An AC wrote:
;)
> Isn't this what Apple did with Shake, Rayz,
> Cubase, Spruce Tech, etc...?
When Steve Jobs was asked what he was going to do with the results of his shopping spree, he said "Democratize them". Just what part of making media creation tools cheaper and easier to use do you have a problem with?
> Howcome when Apple does it it's a good thing and
> when MS does it it's a bad thing...?
MS has a monopoly, Apple doesn't. Legally, that is like comparing Apples to rotten oranges. There are different rules.
Also, Apple is fighting for the consumer against the DRM insanity that Microsoft champions.
And finally, many of the companies that Apple has bought get a nice home, the ability to maintain their own identities, and to continue to serve their customers.
On the other hand, when Microsoft bought Bungie and I went to their site to get help on the OS X version of Oni, I was literally told to get my help from a brick wall, which they helpfully provided a picture of! Grrrr!
Windows: "Go talk to my friend, an 800 pound monopoly-abusing gorilla!"
Mac: "And here's my good buddy, the 66,000 ton Godzilla!"
Godzilla: Stomp!
DoomPlague wrote:
> The GC has really delivered this year with games
> like Soccer Slam, Eternal Darkness, Resident Evil,
> Super Mario Sunshine, Super Monkey Ball 2, Animal
> Crossing and Star Fox Adventures with more on the
> way.
Not to mention a rare treat for this side of the Pacific: Godzilla Destroy All Monsters Melee, featuring the one true king of the monsters, Toho's Godzilla!
Last week, Sony Music (why them and not Sony Tristar, I'll never know) rereleased four classic Godzilla movies, and the movie "Rodan", long out of print. All five DVDs have a non-playable demo of the game, and man is it awesome! Think Twisted Metal, only with giant monsters. It is a little cartoonish compared to the movies, being a video game, but the monsters are accurate, and the fighting is incredible. Toho could take notes!
A snippet or two of the "Godzilla 2000" trailer can be heard on the demo. I would guess this means Tristar was involved in making it. I'm hoping this bodes well for the American release of "Godzilla, Mothra, King Ghidora: Giant Monsters All Out Attack".
I've seen a release date of October 29th for the game, although the demo says Holiday 2002. This is the game I bought my GameCube for, and I can't wait.
"His power is unequalled.
His battles are legendary.
His return is near...
Godzilla 2000
If you can't take the heat, RUN!"
From the "Godzilla 2000" trailer Tristar tried so hard to hide.