...public terminals are the worst. I would know, I'm a keylogger fiend myself. Although I prefer hardware keyloggers, those are oh so much sneakier and James Bond-ish. Though they have their drawbacks - you need to have physical access to the machine at least twice, and they cost money (around 50 a pop). But the information you can gather with one of those makes them worth a lot more then their weight in gold.
(Oh, but don't worry, I'm actually not malicious, although I easily could be. I just like have fun and wreak havoc, nothing serious like credit card fraud. I don't really consider myself a hacker/cracker or anything, just some punk kid having some fun.)
I'm a college student, paying my way through college with loans. I have no "life savings". Basically the only possessions I have are my clothes, books, DVD's, computer, and....my musical instruments. That's right, I'm a musician. Here's what I'd give them if they sued me, for a settlement:
my acoustic guitar my turntables, mixer, and records my keyboard my drumset my clarinet my bass clarinet my harmonica oh yeah, and the finger
I'd like to see the looks on their faces knowing they just ruined the chances of someone that could potentially become a rock star some day and make them a shitload of money (hey, it could happen!).
....that this doesn't really matter, as long as an attacker has physical access to the machine...because there are those handy little hardware keyloggers. They are quite handy;).
Just a random factoid for DVD burner shoppers, apparently Lite-On and Sony have a partnership of some sort producing drives together, so Lite-On drives are just Sony drives under a different name. I love Lite-On, and hopefully the Lite-Ons will sell for less than the Sony.
This is secondhand info, so I'm not 100 percent sure.
Actually, my friends and I often share CD's with one another with the intention of ripping the songs to our hard drives.....so I'm not contributing NOTHING.....just very little:).
Hi, my name is Nick, and I'm an mp3 addict. I have about 80GB of mp3's (60GB sorted into albums) which I download from usenets, kazaa, or get from friends. I also BUY a few CD's now and then (gasp!). Here are some reasonings for what I do and why I think my behavior is acceptable:
First, I never upload any copyrighted material to any network, and I make sure that my music folders are not shared. This (hopefully) will decrease my chances of getting busted by the RIAA.
Second, I buy CD's from artists that I really like or that are hard to find online. I admit to downloading albums from artists that I like - HOWEVER - I go to their concerts, which is where the ARTIST actually makes some money.
Third, I know every album that I have. It's not an exercise in "rat packing" or whatever, I actually listen to and enjoy everything that I have.
I spend a lot of money on DVD's these days, which cuts down on my budget for CD's. I download movies to check them out, and then buy them if I like them (for better video quality, of course, and the extras - I love commentary tracks, etc.). I'd probably buy more CD's if they had more "special features" like a DVD, interviews with the artist, behind the scenes, etc. (I'm aware some CD's have these, but not really artists that I'm interested in). Heck, lots of the DVD's I buy nowadays are less expensive than CD's! What's up with that? Anyway...
Lastly, I'm a college student, so I don't have that much money to spend on media in the first place.
To sum up, I don't share my files, I buy CD's, I go to concerts, I don't rat-pack, I buy DVD's because they have more entertainment value, and I have a limited budget. So tell me, what exactly am I doing wrong here? I think I pay my dues to the music industry.
But I guess the laws don't really operate on principle, do they? They have to be able to be nondescrimenant (sp.?) and broad.
P.S. Please do not go on a tirade about "stealing" or "copyright infringement" - I know technically what I do is illegal, but in principle, is what I do wrong?
Another possiblity for the increasing copyright registrations is that people will copyright anything these days. My cousin had an internship at the Library of Congress last week and he said that this one guy called in to check and make sure his CD was copyrighted. He was so happy he wanted to hear it over the phone to check it - it turned out to be....this guy...um...imitating barnyard animal sounds. Very strange stuff.
As a side note, the Library of Congress isn't as organized as you'd think when it comes to books and CD's. Apparently only about 1/3 of the copyrighted CD's are entered into their computer system, and the rest are just in huge unorganized stacks in the basement. The same goes for the books.
If you want to build your own, here's what you can use to get a close approximation to the Telly MC1000:
Cooler Master ATC-620C-BX1 (Black) Desktop Case - 108 Foxconn Allied MicroATX 200W Power Supply - 21 VIA Motherboard and Integrated 1GHz Nehemiah CPU EPIA-M10000 - 178 Western Digital "Special Edition" 80GB Hard drive - 92 Crucial 256MB PC2100 DDR SDRAM - 42 Lite-On 48x24x48x16 DVD-ROM/CD-RW Drive (Black) - 65 I guess you'll have to find a TV Tuner card that's compatible with Linux, and can go in a PCI slot - 100? I can't find that wireless keyboard, I know I've seen it on NewEgg before though, I don't think it's more than 50 Linux - free Freevo or MythTV - free Cables and adapters - 20
Total cost: ~$680
So, if you wanted to save yourself some money, I guess you could do that. Needless to say, you won't get a fancy User's Manual or remote control (unless you manage to get a TV Tuner card with one).
Some notes: You could not use the VIA integrated mobo/proc thing, and use a MicroATX motherboard and an AMD processor, and use an AGP TV Tuner card.
All of the prices (unless I was guessing) came from NewEgg.com.
So the building blocks of the cosmos are not matter or energy, but information.
The universe is information and we are stationary in it, not three-dimensional and not in space or time. We ourselves are information-rich; information enters us, is processed and is then projected outward once more, now in an altered form. Since the universe is actually composed of information, then it can be said that information will save us. This is the saving gnosis which the Gnostics sought.
Did anyone read the recent Scientific American article about the holographic theory of the universe, whereby we're all not actually 3-dimensional, we're like information "painted" on another, 2-dimensional surface or somesuch....it also had something to do with the thermodynamics of black holes. I don't pretend to fully understand it, but it seems to be an actual tie-in the Dick's remark about us being made of information.
I agree. I haven't seen any of his appearances, but I've read about the Internet fundraising thing and I've also thoroughly researched his website. Although I disagree with his opinions on affirmative action, the rest of his views seem pretty good to me. Thank God I just turned 18 and I can finally say NO TO BUSH!
right on. personally, i think the world is going to hell in a handbasket with all these new-fangled gadgets that are totally unnecessary (e.g. cell phones with games, e-mail, internet access....gah) - i want my phone to work when i want it to and sound good. i want to access the internet from home on a normal computer. when i'm outside....i want to enjoy the outside. drive around. without hearing any electronic beeps or fancy displays....god help us all indeed.
I am currently reading Anvil of Stars, which is cool, and the sequel to the amazing Forge of God.
Definitely look at Forge of God - Greg Bear has a way of incorporating a lot of science into his science fiction (although I suppose most of it in this is theoretical physics, expect to brush up on your geology as well), and he makes you think.
Anyway, to pique your interest, here's what's on the back cover:
June 26, 1996: One of Jupiter's moons disapears.
September 28, 1996: A geologist near Death Valley finds a mysterious new cinder cone in a very well-mapped area.
October 1, 1996: The government of Australia announces the discovery of an enormous granite mountain. Like the cinder cone, it wasn't there six months ago...
P.S. Yes, it's set in 1996 - that was the not too distant future when he wrote it, back in '87.
...I remember my teacher saying "Computers do exactly what they're told, not necessarily what you want them to do."
I think the root of the problem is time. Microsoft doesn't have the time to spend going through every possible software scenario and interaction, or every possible hardware configuration. If they did do that, it would probably take a decade to pump out an operating system, and by that time hardware's changed, and it's a neverending cycle.....
We just have to accept the fact that the freedom of using the hardware components we want and the software we want, all made by different people, will result in unexpected errors. I, for one, have come to grips with it.
What is your opinion on the proposed "Super-DMCA" acts being proposed in several states, which would make honeypots illegal?
Here's the article on it that ran in Slashdot awhile ago.
Basically, the law says you can't "assemble, develop, manufacture, possess, deliver, offer to deliver, or advertise" any device or software that conceals "the existence or place of origin or destination of any telecommunications service." - thus making honeypots, even when used to thwart illegal computer activity, are illegal.
I remember seeing a thing on some news show or something....that some police cars were starting to be equipped with these little devices that drop from the bottom of their car, shoot out from under the car, get underneath the perps car, sets off some electrical system that disables the car.
I have no idea if any police forces use this or not, or what it's called, but it was damn cool when I saw it.
This is what's called a straight-line matrix scheme, my friend. It's a scam.
For more info on pyramid or "matrix" schemes, check this out.
There are tons of sites like that out there, offering laptops, x-boxes, plasma TV's, etc. I know it's tempting, but don't send them your money, whatever you do.
Is there anyone out there that this shit is getting way out of hand? I mean, aren't cell phones neat enough in that you can call people frm pretty much anywhere? Who needs video, internet access, or instant messenging? Really? Do you really? I don't even think it's that cool, and I'm definitely one for cutting edge technology. But this is to the point of ludicrosity. Does anyone agree with me? Or am I just weird?
P.S. No, I'm not some old fogey who's not "hip" to the current technology trends, I'm 17. Hmmm I also listen to vinyl a lot. Maybe I'm an old fogey trapped inside a teenager's body.
If the simple stuff sometimes fails, how can this complex system hope to do better?
What? With technology advancing, usually complex systems are better than simple ones based off of centuries-old technology. If I had to choose between something with gears and gunpowder and mechanical stuff and lasers and electronic triggers, I'd choose the latter. I don't understand why everybody is complaining about how this thing can "lock-up" or have some electronic failure all the time, when they haven't even used it yet.
I agree though, this probably isn't ready for prime-time, but I estimate all guns will be like this within a few decades.
Slashdot Mirror
...public terminals are the worst. I would know, I'm a keylogger fiend myself. Although I prefer hardware keyloggers, those are oh so much sneakier and James Bond-ish. Though they have their drawbacks - you need to have physical access to the machine at least twice, and they cost money (around 50 a pop). But the information you can gather with one of those makes them worth a lot more then their weight in gold.
(Oh, but don't worry, I'm actually not malicious, although I easily could be. I just like have fun and wreak havoc, nothing serious like credit card fraud. I don't really consider myself a hacker/cracker or anything, just some punk kid having some fun.)
you see a lot of attempts at DOSing those RIAA/MPAA IP ranges?
I'm a college student, paying my way through college with loans. I have no "life savings". Basically the only possessions I have are my clothes, books, DVD's, computer, and....my musical instruments. That's right, I'm a musician. Here's what I'd give them if they sued me, for a settlement:
my acoustic guitar
my turntables, mixer, and records
my keyboard
my drumset
my clarinet
my bass clarinet
my harmonica
oh yeah, and the finger
I'd like to see the looks on their faces knowing they just ruined the chances of someone that could potentially become a rock star some day and make them a shitload of money (hey, it could happen!).
I guess he is also the first IPv6 user that will be sued by the RIAA.
Until the RIAA realizes all the mp3's being streamed are made by foreign techno artists that they can't pronounce the names of!
..is it possible for them to monitor Usenet traffic?
....that this doesn't really matter, as long as an attacker has physical access to the machine...because there are those handy little hardware keyloggers. They are quite handy ;).
Just a random factoid for DVD burner shoppers, apparently Lite-On and Sony have a partnership of some sort producing drives together, so Lite-On drives are just Sony drives under a different name. I love Lite-On, and hopefully the Lite-Ons will sell for less than the Sony.
This is secondhand info, so I'm not 100 percent sure.
Actually, my friends and I often share CD's with one another with the intention of ripping the songs to our hard drives.....so I'm not contributing NOTHING.....just very little :).
(Prepare for some rambling)
Hi, my name is Nick, and I'm an mp3 addict. I have about 80GB of mp3's (60GB sorted into albums) which I download from usenets, kazaa, or get from friends. I also BUY a few CD's now and then (gasp!). Here are some reasonings for what I do and why I think my behavior is acceptable:
First, I never upload any copyrighted material to any network, and I make sure that my music folders are not shared. This (hopefully) will decrease my chances of getting busted by the RIAA.
Second, I buy CD's from artists that I really like or that are hard to find online. I admit to downloading albums from artists that I like - HOWEVER - I go to their concerts, which is where the ARTIST actually makes some money.
Third, I know every album that I have. It's not an exercise in "rat packing" or whatever, I actually listen to and enjoy everything that I have.
I spend a lot of money on DVD's these days, which cuts down on my budget for CD's. I download movies to check them out, and then buy them if I like them (for better video quality, of course, and the extras - I love commentary tracks, etc.). I'd probably buy more CD's if they had more "special features" like a DVD, interviews with the artist, behind the scenes, etc. (I'm aware some CD's have these, but not really artists that I'm interested in). Heck, lots of the DVD's I buy nowadays are less expensive than CD's! What's up with that? Anyway...
Lastly, I'm a college student, so I don't have that much money to spend on media in the first place.
To sum up, I don't share my files, I buy CD's, I go to concerts, I don't rat-pack, I buy DVD's because they have more entertainment value, and I have a limited budget. So tell me, what exactly am I doing wrong here? I think I pay my dues to the music industry.
But I guess the laws don't really operate on principle, do they? They have to be able to be nondescrimenant (sp.?) and broad.
P.S.
Please do not go on a tirade about "stealing" or "copyright infringement" - I know technically what I do is illegal, but in principle, is what I do wrong?
I retract my statement about the upward trend...I didn't fully read the article (slaps forehead). Oh well. It's a humorous anecdote nonetheless.
Another possiblity for the increasing copyright registrations is that people will copyright anything these days. My cousin had an internship at the Library of Congress last week and he said that this one guy called in to check and make sure his CD was copyrighted. He was so happy he wanted to hear it over the phone to check it - it turned out to be....this guy...um...imitating barnyard animal sounds. Very strange stuff.
As a side note, the Library of Congress isn't as organized as you'd think when it comes to books and CD's. Apparently only about 1/3 of the copyrighted CD's are entered into their computer system, and the rest are just in huge unorganized stacks in the basement. The same goes for the books.
If you want to build your own, here's what you can use to get a close approximation to the Telly MC1000:
Cooler Master ATC-620C-BX1 (Black) Desktop Case - 108
Foxconn Allied MicroATX 200W Power Supply - 21
VIA Motherboard and Integrated 1GHz Nehemiah CPU EPIA-M10000 - 178
Western Digital "Special Edition" 80GB Hard drive - 92
Crucial 256MB PC2100 DDR SDRAM - 42
Lite-On 48x24x48x16 DVD-ROM/CD-RW Drive (Black) - 65
I guess you'll have to find a TV Tuner card that's compatible with Linux, and can go in a PCI slot - 100?
I can't find that wireless keyboard, I know I've seen it on NewEgg before though, I don't think it's more than 50
Linux - free
Freevo or MythTV - free
Cables and adapters - 20
Total cost: ~$680
So, if you wanted to save yourself some money, I guess you could do that. Needless to say, you won't get a fancy User's Manual or remote control (unless you manage to get a TV Tuner card with one).
Some notes:
You could not use the VIA integrated mobo/proc thing, and use a MicroATX motherboard and an AMD processor, and use an AGP TV Tuner card.
All of the prices (unless I was guessing) came from NewEgg.com.
So the building blocks of the cosmos are not matter or energy, but information.
The universe is information and we are stationary in it, not three-dimensional and not in space or time. We ourselves are information-rich; information enters us, is processed and is then projected outward once more, now in an altered form. Since the universe is actually composed of information, then it can be said that information will save us. This is the saving gnosis which the Gnostics sought.
Did anyone read the recent Scientific American article about the holographic theory of the universe, whereby we're all not actually 3-dimensional, we're like information "painted" on another, 2-dimensional surface or somesuch....it also had something to do with the thermodynamics of black holes. I don't pretend to fully understand it, but it seems to be an actual tie-in the Dick's remark about us being made of information.
I agree. I haven't seen any of his appearances, but I've read about the Internet fundraising thing and I've also thoroughly researched his website. Although I disagree with his opinions on affirmative action, the rest of his views seem pretty good to me. Thank God I just turned 18 and I can finally say NO TO BUSH!
right on. personally, i think the world is going to hell in a handbasket with all these new-fangled gadgets that are totally unnecessary (e.g. cell phones with games, e-mail, internet access....gah) - i want my phone to work when i want it to and sound good. i want to access the internet from home on a normal computer. when i'm outside....i want to enjoy the outside. drive around. without hearing any electronic beeps or fancy displays....god help us all indeed.
p.s.
no, i'm not some old guy - i'm 18.
I am currently reading Anvil of Stars, which is cool, and the sequel to the amazing Forge of God.
Definitely look at Forge of God - Greg Bear has a way of incorporating a lot of science into his science fiction (although I suppose most of it in this is theoretical physics, expect to brush up on your geology as well), and he makes you think.
Anyway, to pique your interest, here's what's on the back cover:
June 26, 1996:
One of Jupiter's moons disapears.
September 28, 1996:
A geologist near Death Valley finds a mysterious new cinder cone in a very well-mapped area.
October 1, 1996:
The government of Australia announces the discovery of an enormous granite mountain. Like the cinder cone, it wasn't there six months ago...
P.S.
Yes, it's set in 1996 - that was the not too distant future when he wrote it, back in '87.
No, they should call it PS22K3!
...I remember my teacher saying "Computers do exactly what they're told, not necessarily what you want them to do."
I think the root of the problem is time. Microsoft doesn't have the time to spend going through every possible software scenario and interaction, or every possible hardware configuration. If they did do that, it would probably take a decade to pump out an operating system, and by that time hardware's changed, and it's a neverending cycle.....
We just have to accept the fact that the freedom of using the hardware components we want and the software we want, all made by different people, will result in unexpected errors. I, for one, have come to grips with it.
Because software is a fuckload easier to fix - free downloadable patches, etc.
With hardware like a proccessor, you'd most likely have to actually replace the part that's broken.
I agree that software companies should be held to a higher standard, but they can get away with it because the bugs are easier to fix.
What is your opinion on the proposed "Super-DMCA" acts being proposed in several states, which would make honeypots illegal?
Here's the article on it that ran in Slashdot awhile ago.
Basically, the law says you can't "assemble, develop, manufacture, possess, deliver, offer to deliver, or advertise" any device or software that conceals "the existence or place of origin or destination of any telecommunications service." - thus making honeypots, even when used to thwart illegal computer activity, are illegal.
I remember seeing a thing on some news show or something....that some police cars were starting to be equipped with these little devices that drop from the bottom of their car, shoot out from under the car, get underneath the perps car, sets off some electrical system that disables the car.
I have no idea if any police forces use this or not, or what it's called, but it was damn cool when I saw it.
Does anybody know what I'm talking about?
This is what's called a straight-line matrix scheme, my friend. It's a scam.
For more info on pyramid or "matrix" schemes, check this out.
There are tons of sites like that out there, offering laptops, x-boxes, plasma TV's, etc. I know it's tempting, but don't send them your money, whatever you do.
um yeah.....i remember seeing it when i went to the cathedral.....years and years ago (well, at least 7 or 8 years ago).
this isn't news.
Is there anyone out there that this shit is getting way out of hand? I mean, aren't cell phones neat enough in that you can call people frm pretty much anywhere? Who needs video, internet access, or instant messenging? Really? Do you really? I don't even think it's that cool, and I'm definitely one for cutting edge technology. But this is to the point of ludicrosity. Does anyone agree with me? Or am I just weird?
P.S.
No, I'm not some old fogey who's not "hip" to the current technology trends, I'm 17. Hmmm I also listen to vinyl a lot. Maybe I'm an old fogey trapped inside a teenager's body.
If the simple stuff sometimes fails, how can this complex system hope to do better?
What? With technology advancing, usually complex systems are better than simple ones based off of centuries-old technology. If I had to choose between something with gears and gunpowder and mechanical stuff and lasers and electronic triggers, I'd choose the latter. I don't understand why everybody is complaining about how this thing can "lock-up" or have some electronic failure all the time, when they haven't even used it yet.
I agree though, this probably isn't ready for prime-time, but I estimate all guns will be like this within a few decades.