Any Tucows/OpenSRS registrar. The only difference between wholesaleurl.com and 13thdomain.com is what they charge, how they bill and their customer service.
All the important stuff gets done through manage.opensrs.net, like Jebus intended.
There is no reason why any vaguely knowledgable person should register their domain through Network Solutions, unless they enjoy pitched battles.
In Exim, I do something similar to this. You can drop the line:
helo_verify = *
In the main configuration section to verify the helo/ehlo domain people are using. I suppose there's also a way to block domains that are correct helos but don't resolve, but I'm not sure how off've the top of my head.
Actually, it's useless to teach them anything specific about an operating system or application. A language is probably the exception.
Simply, if a kid is taught something about Windows 2k now, it will have been replaced by Windows 10k or XXIV or what have you by the time he or she gets out of school in a few years. Instead, it's my opinion that we should be teaching them concepts. How things work. Some specifics, but not a lot. There's no point in a lot of specifics, because they'll be moot by the time they'd actually need to use those skills.
I have a similar situation - pretty close to my USW/Qwest CO, 512k up/down. I've had one outage due to USW/Quest in the 1 year+ that I've had the service. The outage lasted for about a day, as I can recall.
However, a friend of mine went with a Northpoint/CLEC-style DSL provider and they've since gone TU. His DSL has been off for a month while people blame other people. Of course, for the six months he DID have it he didn't pay anything for it.:)
In the end, the biggest things that matter to me are these, in this order: reliability, competition and speed.
The only provider of cable is AT&T. They have no competition and their service agreement shows it. Since they have no competition in the internet-via-cable market, they have no real incentive to be reliable and they have no real incentive to make sure it's as fast as it's marketed to be. All of these have been shown to be true at one time or another.
DSL, on the other hand, is more expensive and is not as fast (on paper). However, if Qwest pisses me off, or if my ISP pisses me off...I can leave and go to some other DSL provider. Thus, theoretically, DSL providers will provide better service while shaking out the crappy providers. So far, it seems to be working.
I've been using a Visor Deluxe from Handspring for about a year now. Up until I got the Geode GPS unit from GeoDiscovery, I usually had about 4MB free (of 8MB total). I've got several books on my Visor, a lot of apps and so on.
I use my Visor as a PDA...And as a much scaled down version of a laptop. It's also my wallet, since I bought a slim leather case which, when the Visor's in it, ends up being a fat wallet.:) The Visor is a little computer that goes everywhere with me and does stuff that I need done when I'm more than about 30 minutes from a computer with internet access.
After I got the Geode GPS unit, I quickly went down to about 2MB free and now I'm down to about 300KB free. It's all in maps.
Personally, I'm looking forward to the Geode (and other devices) supporting MMC cards. However, there are CF card readers (springboard module format) for CF. So it's not like you can't expand from the normal 8MB on a Visor Deluxe to...well, 16, 32, whatever. The Geode has two MMC slots which need some software written for 'em before they'll work. Once that gets written...say hello to 128MB of MMC storage.
If it wasn't for the Geode GPS and the maps I've gotten for it... I'd probably still be around 4-5MB used (outta 8MB).
Yes, I have been following it. The first thing I did was read Tucows' open letter at bsd.tucows.com. The impression I got was that there were *many* people complaining to Tucows. That impression is based off've quotes like this:
"When Tucows periodically gets something "wrong" on the BSD site, we receive a barrage of angry user comments. Paradoxically, when we use this advice to make adjustments we receive an equally prolific battering from other BSD factions indicating that we had it correct to begin with. Any attempt to provide a middle ground only results in hostility from all sides."
To me, it sounds like people jumped down Tucows' throat for publishing incorrect information, instead of just politely pointing it out, thus the link to the Advocacy how-to, which I consider a guideline for the Advocacy for any OS, not just Linux. The Advocacy How-to's information is fairly generic.
Claiming BSD is GPL'd is a pretty blatant mistake to you and me. It should have been to Tucows and their writers/etc, but it wasn't. I don't believe they deserved the flames I'm sure they got, though - and I *know* they got more than the flames from BSD Today or Daemon News.
What I don't know is if people did in fact politely point anything out to Tucows.
If in fact people were pointing out the incorrect information to Tucows and they chose not to fix it... well, that's their deal. They can choose to shut the site down, which is probably best if they don't have any knowledgable people or at least any people who care.
In the end, though, I can only make assumptions about BSD user comments to Tucows based on Tucows' response to the situation. Since Tucows shut their BSD section down, one can assume that the flaming was pretty bad OR that they didn't give a damn. It was probably a bit of both.
Actually, *I* am not a BSD user and I've never complained to Tucows about anything. My post above is attempting to advocate rational emails with logical points to them, rather than scathing comments and flamebait.
I certainly did not tell anyone to "snort condescendingly", far from it. I believe I encouraged people to simply let the company in question know that you're dissatisfied with their product or service in a rational, logical manner.
However, you do have a point. It never hurts to start something by pointing out the stuff that you really like about their product or service.
I will add, though, that if all else fails, I will let that [dis]information stand.
If I wish, I might publish a page or two of my own, telling people what's wrong with the [dis]information in question, but it's not my job to fix all of the ills in the world. I feel that by taking a stand against a situation like this, by not consuming the product or service (and probably encouraging others not to, too) that you put the pressure on the company in question to fix their own problem(s), instead of trying to fix it for them.
Hmmm. Now, incorrect (not necessarily dis) information is obviously not a good thing. I suppose it depends on the severity of the incorrect information.
Since I'm not a BSD user and had never visited Tucows' BSD site until this morning, I can not comment on the accuracy of their information. I've been able to read some cached pages at Google, that's it.
Nonetheless, if Tucows says that BSD is released under the GPL as opposed to the BSD licnese... I'd say that's simply incorrect information. It's easy to correct them with a short email containing links to official BSD sites which state otherwise.
From Tucows' point of view, I think they were just trying to put up some of the BSD's and some generic info about BSD. I get the feeling, though, that the BSD communities came down on them a little too hard. That's my opinion, based on what information I've received.
It's easy to demonstrate your dissatisfaction with a company: write them and tell them why you're unhappy and don't use their services or products until they've corrected the problem to your satisfaction. If they aren't a monopoly, the market will adjust against their favour and the company will be forced to correct the situation or quit.
Basically, it's easy to sum up this situation: you reap what you sow.
I'm not sure what people expect when they go around being insane zealots, getting in someone's face when they mess up one iota, etc...But Tucows shows one example: they stop providing a free service.
I urge people to read or re-read the Linux Advocacy howto here. Perhaps if everyone's a little more cordial and constructive with their critisism we can keep companies interested in providing free services to the BSD/Linux/etc communities.
Like the other posters here, I've read several books on my Visor, including The Hobbit, Robinson Crusoe, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, The Restaurant at the End of the Universe, etc.
I have no problem reading books on my Visor, though I don't necessarily prefer it to the paper versions. It's nice, though, for the odd dull spot, long trip or an unexpected wait. I keep the paper versions at home.
I agree with this premise, that it should be local (city/county), state, regional, then national, then worldwide (domain.com). It makes good sense, because disputes over a name like Pillar.org would be far less likely to occur, because it might be something like pillar.la.ca.us.
And, if we have to have.org,.com,.net, I don't see why one: registrars couldn't ask people to prove they are a non-profit organization, commercial entity (has business license) or a network (ISPs and such). I'd also like another extension or two for people who fit none of those (.per - personal domain?).
However, a domain like bobs-stuff.portland.or.us isn't as easy to remember as bobs-stuff.com and it doesn't look as cool, so I'm not holding my breath.
I started out using the original Palm Pilot Pro (1MB), made before Palm was acquired by 3COM. It was neat to see what could be done with 1MB - if I kept my Palm for just work-related stuff and misc small personal things, it did just fine.
I don't wear my Visor on my belt at all - that would be awkward, I think. Since it's the summer, I wear cargo shorts a lot, and just stuff it in a pocket. Otherwise, it's in my back pack a lot.
The most that I might have on my belt is a knife (I'd like a leatherman!), and I've got a Casio Databank 150 watch for when my Visor doesn't seem to be around but I need to note an appointment, use a calculator, whatever.
You're right, I did overlook that. Thanks for pointing it out.
On a side note, I wonder how many people need the whole wireless clipped web thingy? I might conceivably use it on my bus ride in the morning/evening (45 min. each way), but that's when I usually sleep. The rest of the time, there's a computer within spitting distance (unless I take lunch out, but that's because I want to get away for awhile).
I work at an ISP, so... There's always computers around. I'm sure some people will like the wireless clipped web stuff, but I don't need it - I will be happy to customize my Visor with a GPS and (maybe) someday with something better than the current EyeModule (the pictures are technically pictures, but they are pretty poor).
Except that I don't want or need a modem with my Visor.:)
If I don't happen to be in front of a computer, I've got my visor with me and I can wait to send that email or whatnot. My job/responsibilites/life don't require that much connectivity.
Thus, the Visor does fit my needs more appropriately. When and if I want to have a modem, I can get one. I don't have to be saddled with it all the time, same with any module with the Visor.
My problem with 3Com's Palm products is simple: they are really expensive for what they do.
I've been using the 'deluxe' aka 8MB version of Handspring's Visor now for about three months, and it has been great. It does what I want, since it runs the PalmOS it has plenty of apps available for it, etc. And I do happen to like the springboard module idea - I think of it as a way to customize my handheld (I want to turn it into a GPS unit). My Visor cost $250, direct from the retailer. A GPS unit would run about $150-$-200. Modems for the Visor run $120-$150.
The new Palm VIIx is probably nice (I'm still looking at the stats and I'm not too impressed), but I want to know what makes it cost $150 more.
...and the truth is, AC's have increasingly made Slashdot's Threads a laughingstock on the Web. I know some of you like to think you're laughing at me and people like me, but many of you would be mortified to know how many people come onto Slashdot to laugh at the nightmare that is Threads.
I don't know about everyone else, but I *do* happen to know that several of my friends (who are otherwise intelligent codies) check out the lowest rated and AC threads first, because they are usually so funny (to them). To be honest, they also claim that +5's tend to be essentially "mainstream" or "regurgitated" ideas.
To me, that means that they've given up on using the threads/comments as a meaningful place to see what other think about the topic in question.
Whether people are starting to give up because AC's or because +4-5's tend to be mainstream isn't the problem, IMO. It's that they are giving up and, from what I see, so are others.
This isn't an epidemic, yet, but I encourage people to think before they slop some words onto Slashdot. Does it really need to be said?
I agree that sort of thing is going to happen - there are some people who simply dislike being told what to do, by anyone. These same sort of people believe (wrongly or rightly) that we should have freedom of choice.
I personally agree with this view. I think I can make my own decisions. However, there are plenty of stupid people running around who can NOT or do not want to think for themselves and use some "common" sense.
I suppose we could give them the opportunity to try to think for themselves, but I suspect they wouldn't. Sure, we shouldn't cater to this minority, but they're more vocal than us "smart" people, so they get their way.
Slashdot Mirror
Any Tucows/OpenSRS registrar. The only difference between wholesaleurl.com and 13thdomain.com is what they charge, how they bill and their customer service.
All the important stuff gets done through manage.opensrs.net, like Jebus intended.
There is no reason why any vaguely knowledgable person should register their domain through Network Solutions, unless they enjoy pitched battles.
In Exim, I do something similar to this. You can drop the line:
helo_verify = *
In the main configuration section to verify the helo/ehlo domain people are using. I suppose there's also a way to block domains that are correct helos but don't resolve, but I'm not sure how off've the top of my head.
Actually, it's useless to teach them anything specific about an operating system or application. A language is probably the exception.
Simply, if a kid is taught something about Windows 2k now, it will have been replaced by Windows 10k or XXIV or what have you by the time he or she gets out of school in a few years. Instead, it's my opinion that we should be teaching them concepts. How things work. Some specifics, but not a lot. There's no point in a lot of specifics, because they'll be moot by the time they'd actually need to use those skills.
I have a similar situation - pretty close to my USW/Qwest CO, 512k up/down. I've had one outage due to USW/Quest in the 1 year+ that I've had the service. The outage lasted for about a day, as I can recall.
However, a friend of mine went with a Northpoint/CLEC-style DSL provider and they've since gone TU. His DSL has been off for a month while people blame other people. Of course, for the six months he DID have it he didn't pay anything for it. :)
In the end, the biggest things that matter to me are these, in this order: reliability, competition and speed.
The only provider of cable is AT&T. They have no competition and their service agreement shows it. Since they have no competition in the internet-via-cable market, they have no real incentive to be reliable and they have no real incentive to make sure it's as fast as it's marketed to be. All of these have been shown to be true at one time or another.
DSL, on the other hand, is more expensive and is not as fast (on paper). However, if Qwest pisses me off, or if my ISP pisses me off ...I can leave and go to some other DSL provider. Thus, theoretically, DSL providers will provide better service while shaking out the crappy providers. So far, it seems to be working.
I've been using a Visor Deluxe from Handspring for about a year now. Up until I got the Geode GPS unit from GeoDiscovery, I usually had about 4MB free (of 8MB total). I've got several books on my Visor, a lot of apps and so on.
I use my Visor as a PDA ...And as a much scaled down version of a laptop. It's also my wallet, since I bought a slim leather case which, when the Visor's in it, ends up being a fat wallet. :) The Visor is a little computer that goes everywhere with me and does stuff that I need done when I'm more than about 30 minutes from a computer with internet access.
After I got the Geode GPS unit, I quickly went down to about 2MB free and now I'm down to about 300KB free. It's all in maps.
Personally, I'm looking forward to the Geode (and other devices) supporting MMC cards. However, there are CF card readers (springboard module format) for CF. So it's not like you can't expand from the normal 8MB on a Visor Deluxe to ...well, 16, 32, whatever. The Geode has two MMC slots which need some software written for 'em before they'll work. Once that gets written ...say hello to 128MB of MMC storage.
If it wasn't for the Geode GPS and the maps I've gotten for it... I'd probably still be around 4-5MB used (outta 8MB).
Yes, I have been following it. The first thing I did was read Tucows' open letter at bsd.tucows.com. The impression I got was that there were *many* people complaining to Tucows. That impression is based off've quotes like this:
"When Tucows periodically gets something "wrong" on the BSD site, we receive a barrage of angry user comments. Paradoxically, when we use this advice to make adjustments we receive an equally prolific battering from other BSD factions indicating that we had it correct to begin with. Any attempt to provide a middle ground only results in hostility from all sides."
To me, it sounds like people jumped down Tucows' throat for publishing incorrect information, instead of just politely pointing it out, thus the link to the Advocacy how-to, which I consider a guideline for the Advocacy for any OS, not just Linux. The Advocacy How-to's information is fairly generic.
Claiming BSD is GPL'd is a pretty blatant mistake to you and me. It should have been to Tucows and their writers/etc, but it wasn't. I don't believe they deserved the flames I'm sure they got, though - and I *know* they got more than the flames from BSD Today or Daemon News.
What I don't know is if people did in fact politely point anything out to Tucows.
If in fact people were pointing out the incorrect information to Tucows and they chose not to fix it... well, that's their deal. They can choose to shut the site down, which is probably best if they don't have any knowledgable people or at least any people who care.
In the end, though, I can only make assumptions about BSD user comments to Tucows based on Tucows' response to the situation. Since Tucows shut their BSD section down, one can assume that the flaming was pretty bad OR that they didn't give a damn. It was probably a bit of both.
Actually, *I* am not a BSD user and I've never complained to Tucows about anything. My post above is attempting to advocate rational emails with logical points to them, rather than scathing comments and flamebait.
I certainly did not tell anyone to "snort condescendingly", far from it. I believe I encouraged people to simply let the company in question know that you're dissatisfied with their product or service in a rational, logical manner.
However, you do have a point. It never hurts to start something by pointing out the stuff that you really like about their product or service.
I will add, though, that if all else fails, I will let that [dis]information stand.
If I wish, I might publish a page or two of my own, telling people what's wrong with the [dis]information in question, but it's not my job to fix all of the ills in the world. I feel that by taking a stand against a situation like this, by not consuming the product or service (and probably encouraging others not to, too) that you put the pressure on the company in question to fix their own problem(s), instead of trying to fix it for them.
Hmmm. Now, incorrect (not necessarily dis) information is obviously not a good thing. I suppose it depends on the severity of the incorrect information.
Since I'm not a BSD user and had never visited Tucows' BSD site until this morning, I can not comment on the accuracy of their information. I've been able to read some cached pages at Google, that's it.
Nonetheless, if Tucows says that BSD is released under the GPL as opposed to the BSD licnese... I'd say that's simply incorrect information. It's easy to correct them with a short email containing links to official BSD sites which state otherwise.
From Tucows' point of view, I think they were just trying to put up some of the BSD's and some generic info about BSD. I get the feeling, though, that the BSD communities came down on them a little too hard. That's my opinion, based on what information I've received.
It's easy to demonstrate your dissatisfaction with a company: write them and tell them why you're unhappy and don't use their services or products until they've corrected the problem to your satisfaction. If they aren't a monopoly, the market will adjust against their favour and the company will be forced to correct the situation or quit.
Basically, it's easy to sum up this situation: you reap what you sow.
I'm not sure what people expect when they go around being insane zealots, getting in someone's face when they mess up one iota, etc ...But Tucows shows one example: they stop providing a free service.
I urge people to read or re-read the Linux Advocacy howto here. Perhaps if everyone's a little more cordial and constructive with their critisism we can keep companies interested in providing free services to the BSD/Linux/etc communities.
Like the other posters here, I've read several books on my Visor, including The Hobbit, Robinson Crusoe, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, The Restaurant at the End of the Universe, etc.
I have no problem reading books on my Visor, though I don't necessarily prefer it to the paper versions. It's nice, though, for the odd dull spot, long trip or an unexpected wait. I keep the paper versions at home.
I agree with this premise, that it should be local (city/county), state, regional, then national, then worldwide (domain.com). It makes good sense, because disputes over a name like Pillar.org would be far less likely to occur, because it might be something like pillar.la.ca.us.
And, if we have to have .org, .com, .net, I don't see why one: registrars couldn't ask people to prove they are a non-profit organization, commercial entity (has business license) or a network (ISPs and such). I'd also like another extension or two for people who fit none of those (.per - personal domain?).
However, a domain like bobs-stuff.portland.or.us isn't as easy to remember as bobs-stuff.com and it doesn't look as cool, so I'm not holding my breath.
I don't wear my Visor on my belt at all - that would be awkward, I think. Since it's the summer, I wear cargo shorts a lot, and just stuff it in a pocket. Otherwise, it's in my back pack a lot.
The most that I might have on my belt is a knife (I'd like a leatherman!), and I've got a Casio Databank 150 watch for when my Visor doesn't seem to be around but I need to note an appointment, use a calculator, whatever.
You're right, I did overlook that. Thanks for pointing it out.
On a side note, I wonder how many people need the whole wireless clipped web thingy? I might conceivably use it on my bus ride in the morning/evening (45 min. each way), but that's when I usually sleep. The rest of the time, there's a computer within spitting distance (unless I take lunch out, but that's because I want to get away for awhile).
I work at an ISP, so... There's always computers around. I'm sure some people will like the wireless clipped web stuff, but I don't need it - I will be happy to customize my Visor with a GPS and (maybe) someday with something better than the current EyeModule (the pictures are technically pictures, but they are pretty poor).
If I don't happen to be in front of a computer, I've got my visor with me and I can wait to send that email or whatnot. My job/responsibilites/life don't require that much connectivity.
Thus, the Visor does fit my needs more appropriately. When and if I want to have a modem, I can get one. I don't have to be saddled with it all the time, same with any module with the Visor.
I've been using the 'deluxe' aka 8MB version of Handspring's Visor now for about three months, and it has been great. It does what I want, since it runs the PalmOS it has plenty of apps available for it, etc. And I do happen to like the springboard module idea - I think of it as a way to customize my handheld (I want to turn it into a GPS unit). My Visor cost $250, direct from the retailer. A GPS unit would run about $150-$-200. Modems for the Visor run $120-$150.
The new Palm VIIx is probably nice (I'm still looking at the stats and I'm not too impressed), but I want to know what makes it cost $150 more.
I don't know about everyone else, but I *do* happen to know that several of my friends (who are otherwise intelligent codies) check out the lowest rated and AC threads first, because they are usually so funny (to them). To be honest, they also claim that +5's tend to be essentially "mainstream" or "regurgitated" ideas.
To me, that means that they've given up on using the threads/comments as a meaningful place to see what other think about the topic in question.
Whether people are starting to give up because AC's or because +4-5's tend to be mainstream isn't the problem, IMO. It's that they are giving up and, from what I see, so are others.
This isn't an epidemic, yet, but I encourage people to think before they slop some words onto Slashdot. Does it really need to be said?
Dammit, I need to fix my sig.
I agree that sort of thing is going to happen - there are some people who simply dislike being told what to do, by anyone. These same sort of people believe (wrongly or rightly) that we should have freedom of choice.
I personally agree with this view. I think I can make my own decisions. However, there are plenty of stupid people running around who can NOT or do not want to think for themselves and use some "common" sense.
I suppose we could give them the opportunity to try to think for themselves, but I suspect they wouldn't. Sure, we shouldn't cater to this minority, but they're more vocal than us "smart" people, so they get their way.
Exocet