Old news, bub. If you look on some of your maps (especially topographic maps), you may see a line that says "Not suitable for red-light viewing." That means you can't use red lights, as they make the red markings go invisible.
One of the things you cover in Army Basic Training is reading maps, and there's always some idiot who leaves the red lens on his flashlight when they cover this fact.
The Drill Seargent usually reminds the idiot of this fact by a 15 minute dose of wall sits...
Huh? There are actually people who still have one?
What's next? DVD players for the Vic-20, Media editors for the Coco and a Web server for the TRS-80 (mod 1, natch!)????
Most Linux fans are not old enough to remember that Intel did not always dominate the PC processor market. In the late seventies, Intel won the chip war with Motorola and Zilog by offering certain features in its 8086 chip that favored MS-DOS over then existing competitive OSes. Subsequently IBM selected the 8088 for the first PC, knocking both Motorola and Zilog out of the emerging PC market.
I thought IBM chose MS-DOS because they refused to deal with the CP/M, and had Bill Gates & CO steal^H^H^H^H^H write their own DOS for IBM.
Running Linux on Power PC will no more make it survive than did MS-DOS on Intel. It is a matter of power vs. price, although more for the price. That's why AMD is kicking Intel with steel-toed boots in the speed category.
The author of this work probably didn't bother to read the contract / EULA / indentured servitude scroll. I'll wager it says that they have every right to make any changes they wish, and since you're only "renting" the service, you're tough outta luck, bub.
Don't you think they got a little heat from the advertisers, since the "skip over rate" is more than they can bear?
Seriously, this guy has three choices:
Do nothing / live with it. Most Americans will probably take this route, like the sloths that we are.
Return it / cancel service. If enough people do this, they may stop their changes. However, only the wacko, disgruntled Ted Kaczynski-types will do this, and no one ever takes those very seriously, unless they get near a post box.
Hack it. This option is most likely illegal under the terms of the DCMA ("Yer Honor, we used encryption-based screws to keep the contents of the case from being hacked and maliciously opened!"). They know you're out there and they're watching what you do, every time junior phones home.
I feel sorry for people like this, but it seems to me to be another example of giving up a little freedom (privacy to have one's viewing habits remain anonymous) for a tiny, tiny bit o' conveninence. Sorry, but my VCR works just fine for now, and at some point when I want this kind of service (mostly for the better picture), I'll build my own.
As technology advances, we leave the would-be-surveillance folks in the dust. The only thing they can do is a few high-profile busts.
I can imagine what would happen if/when I get busted. I may pay a fine. Heck, I could see a few days in jail (doubt it for a non-violent crime, but this is the RIAA we're talking about here). More importantly, I would never, ever, ever buy another CD from that organization again. If it was the RIAA that was behind the persecution, then I'd boycott their member companies. What do they get? One less customer.
How long can record companies last that piss off and alienate their customers? It will be very interesting to see what happens when the contracts of well-known (and lesser well-known) artists come to an end.
That will leave them free to get with a good web host, a couple of programmers and voila - downloadable songs at a reasonable price. Who needs Best Buy/Tower Records/RIAA?
Gaa! Don't say that!!!! Don't you know that you can no longer say I'll blow up my school any more than you can scream Fire in a crowded theater?
Why? Because the Sheeple(TM) of the world think that it is better to limit speech rather than deal with the fact that some people are simply evil and there is no single cause for or solution to the problem.
Someday, once we've restricted all of these nasty things like "freedom" and "knowledge," we'll all be like the "Good Folk" in A Boy and His Dog. Then the world will be a better place. You'll see!
It Sucks
The fundamental problem? The average, non-tech TV viewer hates real technology, and the propeller-heads (like us) hates everything not true to form.
Every time we see the "magic computer search", my wife turns to me and asks, "how come ours doesn't do that?" to which I must reply, "because we don't live in TV land, dear..."
The Fourth Amendment applies only to the government. This is why you do not have the right of privacy from business, until it gets codified by (another) law. So, when your employer puts cameras in the restroom stalls, smile and spread 'em, 'cause you don't have the right to pee in private.
As for Aimster, the RIAA would have to find some way of getting evidence and convincing the government that FOUL DEEDS were occurring.
Here's a scary scenario: the Game Wardens do not need a search warrant to bust down your door and tear your place apart. Suppose RIAA tells their local GW that Joe Hacker has a cougar locked in his room. The GW busts down the door - oops, no cougar, so sorry. What's this? The GW sees Joe is running Aimster on his machine and swapping Metallica's latest? Hmm... All it takes is one phone call and John Law has probable cause.
This has happened before - not with software, but with illegal Drugs.
Why involve the government in this? They already have enough to mess up.
I personally don't buy sutff that uses rebates, unless I don't have a choice (TurboTax... what's the alternative, M$ Money? Hahahaha), and trust that once enough people get fed up with the lack of rebattage, they'll stop falling for it.
On the other hand, I do have little hope since people in general fall for the wild claims that you too can get a good computer for only $400! (after 200 instant rebate, $500 mail-in rebate and $1000 rebate from M$N for signing up for a 5 year, $50/month service...)
Too bad Those In Charge are so technoilliterate... If only we could get someone in office who knew what was going on from _our_ standpoint.
Then again, that's like expecting a CIO to know something about 'puters 'n' networks 'n' stuff...
Damn straight. Anyway, before you buy any serious home electronics, at least do some minimal research, for god's sakes.
Go out and get yourself a copy of Home Theater mag and read their reviews. Over a year ago they covered this very same topic, to wit: the DVD spec does not include support for CDR and CDRW. Period.
If you can play 'em on your current box, then the people who made it are generous.
While the music industry...certainly has more things to worry about, like not selling shiny disks full of overproduced pap...
They'd better worry, because CDs are dead.
Think about this:
In five years will anyone sell CDs? Maybe... but the primary revenue from music will begin to shift to a new distribution channel by then. It shouldn't take long for the major labels to figure out how to "Napsterize" their own music. It may take them a little longer to understand that they need to go from artificially propping up the price to seeing at what the market will bear and only selling songs people want to hear.
In ten years will anyone still sell CDs? No Way, except for the way they sell vinyl now for a few freak bands or for the acoustic snobs who want to hear "pure" music.
Why would a music-only store base its business on a model that has, at best, only ten years of life left?
Those stores will see profits fall as the industry cannibalizes itself, until a new distribution method emerges. After that, it is all over but the crying, IMHO.
How many people will die if the rainforest gets mowed to house your future-Big Macs?
Saving your few people to kill billions sounds like the same sort of "revolutionary thinking" that got us in the mess in the first place.
*Pipe Dream* Maybe it would be better if the wealthier nations helped out the poorer ones by trading more with 'em, instead of having them burn down planet-wide essentials.
Most companies are still living in the pre-AT&T deathmarch, corporate downsizing era.
Sorry, but workers rule now. Not only do companies need to pay a fair price, but they need to make their shop stand out from the rest. One does that through perks and the environment.
As a Tech Professional, you better expect me to leave on average of 3.5 years after I get there. You can treat me right, train me, and keep it interesting -- I might stay longer. Heck, I might even improve your business processes and make things efficient in ways you could never dream.
Treat me wrong by giving me boring things to do, tie me to "training contracts," frozen pay (Exxon is big for that -- can you imagine no raise for TWO YEARS??!) or some other serfdom and watch me leave, taking all of my knowledge and experience with me that you forgot to transition. Maybe that newly-graduated college kid you brought in (for cheap) might be able to pick up where I left off, but... that is a might big risk you're taking with your company.
Slashdot Mirror
Going to have to run out and raid the local 'shacks before the colon cats are all gone!!!
One of the things you cover in Army Basic Training is reading maps, and there's always some idiot who leaves the red lens on his flashlight when they cover this fact.
The Drill Seargent usually reminds the idiot of this fact by a 15 minute dose of wall sits...
Once the Z-80 Java runtimes are ready on cassette, we'll let you know...
Huh? There are actually people who still have one? What's next? DVD players for the Vic-20, Media editors for the Coco and a Web server for the TRS-80 (mod 1, natch!)????
Most Linux fans are not old enough to remember that Intel did not always dominate the PC processor market. In the late seventies, Intel won the chip war with Motorola and Zilog by offering certain features in its 8086 chip that favored MS-DOS over then existing competitive OSes. Subsequently IBM selected the 8088 for the first PC, knocking both Motorola and Zilog out of the emerging PC market.
I thought IBM chose MS-DOS because they refused to deal with the CP/M, and had Bill Gates & CO steal^H^H^H^H^H write their own DOS for IBM.
Running Linux on Power PC will no more make it survive than did MS-DOS on Intel. It is a matter of power vs. price, although more for the price. That's why AMD is kicking Intel with steel-toed boots in the speed category.
Don't you mean Torx screws? :)
Don't you think they got a little heat from the advertisers, since the "skip over rate" is more than they can bear?
Seriously, this guy has three choices:
- Do nothing / live with it. Most Americans will probably take this route, like the sloths that we are.
- Return it / cancel service. If enough people do this, they may stop their changes. However, only the wacko, disgruntled Ted Kaczynski-types will do this, and no one ever takes those very seriously, unless they get near a post box.
- Hack it. This option is most likely illegal under the terms of the DCMA ("Yer Honor, we used encryption-based screws to keep the contents of the case from being hacked and maliciously opened!"). They know you're out there and they're watching what you do, every time junior phones home.
I feel sorry for people like this, but it seems to me to be another example of giving up a little freedom (privacy to have one's viewing habits remain anonymous) for a tiny, tiny bit o' conveninence. Sorry, but my VCR works just fine for now, and at some point when I want this kind of service (mostly for the better picture), I'll build my own.The whole thing could be resolved by avoiding the use of both "he" and "she."
Just use "the attacker," or "the malicious coder," or even "the Slashdotter."
No, wait...
I can imagine what would happen if/when I get busted. I may pay a fine. Heck, I could see a few days in jail (doubt it for a non-violent crime, but this is the RIAA we're talking about here). More importantly, I would never, ever, ever buy another CD from that organization again. If it was the RIAA that was behind the persecution, then I'd boycott their member companies. What do they get? One less customer.
How long can record companies last that piss off and alienate their customers? It will be very interesting to see what happens when the contracts of well-known (and lesser well-known) artists come to an end.
That will leave them free to get with a good web host, a couple of programmers and voila - downloadable songs at a reasonable price. Who needs Best Buy/Tower Records/RIAA?
They can run, but they'll only die tired.
Why? Because the Sheeple(TM) of the world think that it is better to limit speech rather than deal with the fact that some people are simply evil and there is no single cause for or solution to the problem.
Someday, once we've restricted all of these nasty things like "freedom" and "knowledge," we'll all be like the "Good Folk" in A Boy and His Dog. Then the world will be a better place. You'll see!
So, does this mean that I'll need a copy of Censorware for my Truck, since it is technically a computer (has a CPU and some ROM)?
It Sucks
The fundamental problem? The average, non-tech TV viewer hates real technology, and the propeller-heads (like us) hates everything not true to form.
Every time we see the "magic computer search", my wife turns to me and asks, "how come ours doesn't do that?" to which I must reply, "because we don't live in TV land, dear..."
The Fourth Amendment applies only to the government. This is why you do not have the right of privacy from business, until it gets codified by (another) law. So, when your employer puts cameras in the restroom stalls, smile and spread 'em, 'cause you don't have the right to pee in private.
As for Aimster, the RIAA would have to find some way of getting evidence and convincing the government that FOUL DEEDS were occurring.
Here's a scary scenario: the Game Wardens do not need a search warrant to bust down your door and tear your place apart. Suppose RIAA tells their local GW that Joe Hacker has a cougar locked in his room. The GW busts down the door - oops, no cougar, so sorry. What's this? The GW sees Joe is running Aimster on his machine and swapping Metallica's latest? Hmm... All it takes is one phone call and John Law has probable cause.
This has happened before - not with software, but with illegal Drugs.
That's one way. Another is to ZIP your MP3s individually, then rename the *.zip to *.mp3 so Napster sees it.
How could the "encryptor" figure out how to crypt a zip? It couldn't.
Damn you!
I personally don't buy sutff that uses rebates, unless I don't have a choice (TurboTax... what's the alternative, M$ Money? Hahahaha), and trust that once enough people get fed up with the lack of rebattage, they'll stop falling for it.
On the other hand, I do have little hope since people in general fall for the wild claims that you too can get a good computer for only $400! (after 200 instant rebate, $500 mail-in rebate and $1000 rebate from M$N for signing up for a 5 year, $50/month service...)
Too bad Those In Charge are so technoilliterate... If only we could get someone in office who knew what was going on from _our_ standpoint. Then again, that's like expecting a CIO to know something about 'puters 'n' networks 'n' stuff...
Just make sure you "encrypt" it, so that you can sue them under the terms of the DMCA.
Go out and get yourself a copy of Home Theater mag and read their reviews. Over a year ago they covered this very same topic, to wit:
the DVD spec does not include support for CDR and CDRW. Period.
If you can play 'em on your current box, then the people who made it are generous.
They'd better worry, because CDs are dead.
Think about this:
- In five years will anyone sell CDs?
- In ten years will anyone still sell CDs?
Why would a music-only store base its business on a model that has, at best, only ten years of life left?Maybe... but the primary revenue from music will begin to shift to a new distribution channel by then. It shouldn't take long for the major labels to figure out how to "Napsterize" their own music. It may take them a little longer to understand that they need to go from artificially propping up the price to seeing at what the market will bear and only selling songs people want to hear.
No Way, except for the way they sell vinyl now for a few freak bands or for the acoustic snobs who want to hear "pure" music.
Those stores will see profits fall as the industry cannibalizes itself, until a new distribution method emerges. After that, it is all over but the crying, IMHO.
How many people will die if the rainforest gets mowed to house your future-Big Macs?
Saving your few people to kill billions sounds like the same sort of "revolutionary thinking" that got us in the mess in the first place.
*Pipe Dream* Maybe it would be better if the wealthier nations helped out the poorer ones by trading more with 'em, instead of having them burn down planet-wide essentials.
Duh!
Most companies are still living in the pre-AT&T deathmarch, corporate downsizing era.
Sorry, but workers rule now. Not only do companies need to pay a fair price, but they need to make their shop stand out from the rest. One does that through perks and the environment.
As a Tech Professional, you better expect me to leave on average of 3.5 years after I get there. You can treat me right, train me, and keep it interesting -- I might stay longer. Heck, I might even improve your business processes and make things efficient in ways you could never dream.
Treat me wrong by giving me boring things to do, tie me to "training contracts," frozen pay (Exxon is big for that -- can you imagine no raise for TWO YEARS??!) or some other serfdom and watch me leave, taking all of my knowledge and experience with me that you forgot to transition. Maybe that newly-graduated college kid you brought in (for cheap) might be able to pick up where I left off, but... that is a might big risk you're taking with your company.