(I was going to ask how this comment is insightful, or for that matter, balanced? Well-written, sure. Evidence of an educated mind? Certainly. Thankfully, it has plummeted from +5 to a reasonable +1.)
The reason "some of us think it is more important to question the motivations of western authorities" is this: western authorities are large and in charge, and groups such as Al Quaeda are pathetic by comparison. The threat of police state terrorism looms larger--and more plausibly--than any loose affiliation of Muslim extremists. If you don't see this, you have not been paying attention, to current events or to history.
Are we to change our way of life because of a single fat lip? For all the horror of 9/11, there hasn't been an attack on American soil since. And that's not because of a competent administration or the Patriot Act's draconian measures. It is because there are so few competent terrorists. It would be a gross overstatement to label the threat A PHANTOM MENACE, but I don't hear the media bleeting for a police crackdown on fast drivers, even though such drivers kill more Americans every year than terrorists ever have.
Your argument shows contempt for the words of America's founding fathers. You're going to have to flippantly dismiss Mr. Franklin one more time:
Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety
As far as Firefox is concerned, FLASH is to blame. Turn it off. Move along.
If you are hooked on flash media, you should consider getting off the pot. If you find this option untenable, install PrefBar for easy one-click on/off Flash.
you ask about his modem. i ask about your processor. there are only two explanations for proxomitron slowing your surfing: 1) your rig is from the paleolithic era, or 2) you are running too many (poorly written?) filters. you must pick the best and discard the rest.
honestly, i couldn't disagree with your results more. proxomitron shortens load times, eliminates crap, and offers many minor privacy/security improvements. if your cpu is as slow as a bush, then maybe you should give it a pass. otherwise, grab some good config sets (jd's are a nice place to start) and figure out how to use the thing.
i'm no ubergeek, but i don't think you appreciate how entirely massive "enough resources" would be to a properly implemented "freenet."
imagine *every* file being shredded with a ginsu knife, tossed into the ether in a fashion most incomprehensible, and then left to slowly congeal into near-ever-replicating data.
eventually, even twenty leagues of extraordinary gentlemen would be hard-pressed to stop the concept the freenet community and others are promoting.
the real battle will be over the use of advanced-network-encryption and secure-os personal computers. if it were up to america, the spooks might decide this with ease. but supposing the rest of the world disagrees (and self-interest suggests that much of europe, asia, and even america's nearest neighbours would strongly disagree), america's decision would be moot. (not to get off on a tangent, but this might be a good area for a us-china joint initiative. of course, the whole deal could backfire, tipping off the six-packs, joe and jane.)
ultimately, it comes down to whether we will allow technology to make changes that make the changes it's already made to our world seem small.
it's real "where we go from there is a choice i leave to you" type-stuff. so you've got to be patient with the industrialists/artists/programmers who think it's all about them and their needs. this does impact on them, after all. i know i wouldn't like it if i was told my place had been rezoned or expropriated.
a little tea and sympathy for the doomed generation, please.
i watch enough tv and film to know that blow and down are still raging. or is the hollywood elite an "underclass" ???
attention. achtung. arrete.
the riaa has declared war. let's show them why war is hell. it doesn't matter whether you support file-sharing; this lobby group has become a plague to those who support a free society. perhaps it is time to declare the riaa's executives "enemy combatants.
the entertainment lobby is going to do some real damage to our liberties if we don't euthanize it like the sick animal it is. i love music. i love film. but i love liberty more.
this is not about the coming law suits. this is about an industry that is attempting to put itself above the law (what else would you call the proposal to hack suspected infringers computers? or to serve subpoenas without due diligence?).
reporters and analysts are often at a loss to explain the growing global protests (seattle, quebec city, paris and so on). it seems to me that the riaa is a good example of a root cause: corporations dictating government. the DMCA is not sane. well intentioned, perhaps, but a highway to hell, nonetheless.
"Funny black guy" syndrome?!? Is "Java book" code for crackpipe? The black characters were dignified. Only The Merovingian, a rich white male, was truly played for laughs, though perhaps an argument could be made for the asian Keymaker.
"Funny black guy" syndrome? Someone must have sold you a ticket to Daddy Day Care.
I couldn't disagree with you more. The Imax technology is superb (though what we're talking about isn't true Imax, of course). But to the point: the only thing going for DLP is it's seizure-inducing brightness. The image is NOT better. I was very excited about the format, but when I finally saw it I swore I could see pixels. The only way I can explain yr personal anecdote is by figuring that the traditional theatres you went to weren't very good, for one reason or another. The thing about theory is that there are usually good reasons for subscribing to it.
I refused to see Gump, so I can't comment on it, but the other two films on yr list were superb. I still get all overklempt when I hear Sarah sing Randy's "When She Loved Me." And TTT a disappointment? I feel badly for people who feel that way. I really do.
The Cramps kick ass, but I have quibbles:
First, your expenditure list is the industry's creation - the biggest players get cut after cut, right down the stock til it splits. In-house "services" - originally designed to cut costs and grow revenues for artist and label alike - now compete with artists for corporate attention. Fortunes are forged from artists' "dismal failures;" next, the placement of the word "all" in the final sentence...surely, it would be better to say that "not all labels are evil?" I mean really, there's gotta be an "evil" label out there somewhere...Like I said, just quibbles - most of your post is right on. But not the bit about distribution. After digital tv comes on strong, hi-tech media will lockstep along.
Emusic's business model probably won't last; subscriptions will one day stream, and permanent/moveable downloads will be bought with micropayments. But for now, Emusic is the best service going. As a once avid file-trader, I know the beauty of free music. But the massive, lawless acquistion of data is a major (and ironic) contributor to the N.W.O.'s (a catch-all term for transnational, corporate interests) current assault on personal liberties. Ultimately, mainstream file-trading does breed communism, but not in the way its pink advocates would suggest. The endgame is not Marx (ie free music), it is Stalin (SSSCA/CBDTPA).
That said, Emusic is the only "legitimate" service worth mentioning right now. Is it perfect? No, but it is very good and appears very fair. Something near a quarter of million files on serious pipe is nothing to scoff at. Emusic's not the wet-dream of Napster's peak, but it is one beauty of a service.
Finally, your ears are too L33T for me, Backov. I'll be the first to admit that 128kbps isn't hi-fi (I still buy vinyl, and really was the first--only?--kid on the block to buy DVD audio). But last time I checked, very few cars are THX certified. Likewise, most new 'puters scream like jets. Simply put, 128kbps suits the typical listening environment.
And tape? tape??? Sure, good tape exists, but the industry never used it. Compare any tape from a used record shop to even 96kbps encoding, and the mp3 will probably win. 128? no question.
First, let me agree with you: (as you seem to imply) Dan *is* the man, no question.
Now, let me ask how many episodes you've seen. Honestly, there's no shame in shunning TV.
Though the overall quality of "The Simpsons" waxes and wanes faster than a Jupiterian moon, some episodes are beyond reproach. Several of the Halloween specials must rate amongst the greatest of all cartoons; most near every comedic form--high and low--finds home there. Finally, I ask you, is the spoof on Howard Hughes not clever? Call me crazy, but I find the scene in which hallucinations of political germs chant "Freemasons rule the word" as cunning as they come.
The type of condescension your post displays, though always bad form, is often acceptable in light of our culture's sorry state. Yet when the conclusion drawn is mistaken, this kind of elitism is regrettable. After all, what can it spawn but more condescension?
You won't like the price as much when the levy kicks in, I assure you. But the tax is for the best because it should offer legal indemnity for citizens engaged in traditional, fair-use copying. I'm glad Universal's no longer a Canadian company; we won't have to apologize for the coming mess.
The hypothetical numbers this articles uses are priceless examples of industrial chicanery: "Let's say one in 10." No, let's not say one in ten. Let's be realistic instead.
I've never seen videogame content scarier than what's on the airwaves. Good on the Libs for not wasting any more time on a bad idea. But lets get real, folks, the Slashdotters don't want to read about our pathetic local politics.
But for those weirdos who do, the videogame issue is DOA, here. There are only three recent development in BC with international ramifications. Our softwood lumber industry has been bitchslapped with illegal tariffs by crazy foreigners, err, Coalition Partners. In other law-breaking news, the ruling Liberals have illegally refused to acknowledge the official opposition, breaking with centuries of legal precedent. Finally, the Vancouver Police have recently acknowledged that most minor drug offences are no longer enforced.
A number of people have commented on the "Drukqs" cds, so I thought I'd join the fray. My edition comes from a New York internet company, so it may be unusual. But it is definitely American made, not European. Here's the skinny: there does appear to be some form of (very weak/experimental) copy protection on disc 2. None of my many music players (winamp et al.) were able to launch disc 2 from my (audio-enabled) DVD player. They were, however, able to play any cda track individually. My no-audio cdwriter did not experience this problem.
As to the general topic, copy-prevention is yet another reason to actively oppose the music industry. Though two wrongs don't make a right, this initiative makes me want to grab a parrot and put on an eye patch. Mix-cds are the greatest musical advance since the LP and I'll fight to keep pumpin' out my custom cds.
Slashdot Mirror
(I was going to ask how this comment is insightful, or for that matter, balanced? Well-written, sure. Evidence of an educated mind? Certainly. Thankfully, it has plummeted from +5 to a reasonable +1.)
The reason "some of us think it is more important to question the motivations of western authorities" is this: western authorities are large and in charge, and groups such as Al Quaeda are pathetic by comparison. The threat of police state terrorism looms larger--and more plausibly--than any loose affiliation of Muslim extremists. If you don't see this, you have not been paying attention, to current events or to history.
Are we to change our way of life because of a single fat lip? For all the horror of 9/11, there hasn't been an attack on American soil since. And that's not because of a competent administration or the Patriot Act's draconian measures. It is because there are so few competent terrorists. It would be a gross overstatement to label the threat A PHANTOM MENACE, but I don't hear the media bleeting for a police crackdown on fast drivers, even though such drivers kill more Americans every year than terrorists ever have.
Your argument shows contempt for the words of America's founding fathers. You're going to have to flippantly dismiss Mr. Franklin one more time: Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety
Considering how many people don't RTFA, the post would be more useful if it mentioned the Firefox update.
As far as Firefox is concerned, FLASH is to blame. Turn it off. Move along.
If you are hooked on flash media, you should consider getting off the pot. If you find this option untenable, install PrefBar for easy one-click on/off Flash.
you ask about his modem. i ask about your processor. there are only two explanations for proxomitron slowing your surfing: 1) your rig is from the paleolithic era, or 2) you are running too many (poorly written?) filters. you must pick the best and discard the rest.
honestly, i couldn't disagree with your results more. proxomitron shortens load times, eliminates crap, and offers many minor privacy/security improvements. if your cpu is as slow as a bush, then maybe you should give it a pass. otherwise, grab some good config sets (jd's are a nice place to start) and figure out how to use the thing.
i'm no ubergeek, but i don't think you appreciate how entirely massive "enough resources" would be to a properly implemented "freenet."
imagine *every* file being shredded with a ginsu knife, tossed into the ether in a fashion most incomprehensible, and then left to slowly congeal into near-ever-replicating data.
eventually, even twenty leagues of extraordinary gentlemen would be hard-pressed to stop the concept the freenet community and others are promoting.
the real battle will be over the use of advanced-network-encryption and secure-os personal computers. if it were up to america, the spooks might decide this with ease. but supposing the rest of the world disagrees (and self-interest suggests that much of europe, asia, and even america's nearest neighbours would strongly disagree), america's decision would be moot. (not to get off on a tangent, but this might be a good area for a us-china joint initiative. of course, the whole deal could backfire, tipping off the six-packs, joe and jane.)
ultimately, it comes down to whether we will allow technology to make changes that make the changes it's already made to our world seem small.
it's real "where we go from there is a choice i leave to you" type-stuff. so you've got to be patient with the industrialists/artists/programmers who think it's all about them and their needs. this does impact on them, after all. i know i wouldn't like it if i was told my place had been rezoned or expropriated.
a little tea and sympathy for the doomed generation, please.
(my apologies, reader, my editor is on holiday)
i watch enough tv and film to know that blow and down are still raging. or is the hollywood elite an "underclass" ???
attention. achtung. arrete.
the riaa has declared war. let's show them why war is hell. it doesn't matter whether you support file-sharing; this lobby group has become a plague to those who support a free society. perhaps it is time to declare the riaa's executives "enemy combatants.
the entertainment lobby is going to do some real damage to our liberties if we don't euthanize it like the sick animal it is. i love music. i love film. but i love liberty more.
this is not about the coming law suits. this is about an industry that is attempting to put itself above the law (what else would you call the proposal to hack suspected infringers computers? or to serve subpoenas without due diligence?).
reporters and analysts are often at a loss to explain the growing global protests (seattle, quebec city, paris and so on). it seems to me that the riaa is a good example of a root cause: corporations dictating government. the DMCA is not sane. well intentioned, perhaps, but a highway to hell, nonetheless.
Yr right, here it comes: away with you, begone!
"Funny black guy" syndrome?!? Is "Java book" code for crackpipe? The black characters were dignified. Only The Merovingian, a rich white male, was truly played for laughs, though perhaps an argument could be made for the asian Keymaker.
"Funny black guy" syndrome? Someone must have sold you a ticket to Daddy Day Care.
I couldn't disagree with you more. The Imax technology is superb (though what we're talking about isn't true Imax, of course). But to the point: the only thing going for DLP is it's seizure-inducing brightness. The image is NOT better. I was very excited about the format, but when I finally saw it I swore I could see pixels. The only way I can explain yr personal anecdote is by figuring that the traditional theatres you went to weren't very good, for one reason or another. The thing about theory is that there are usually good reasons for subscribing to it.
I refused to see Gump, so I can't comment on it, but the other two films on yr list were superb. I still get all overklempt when I hear Sarah sing Randy's "When She Loved Me." And TTT a disappointment? I feel badly for people who feel that way. I really do.
Spelling mistakes are ugly. The TJCPFE's Muzzles are littered with typos. Why? Why? Why?
"...Sweden rocks..."
ok, it finally happened. i've now heard everything.
The Cramps kick ass, but I have quibbles: First, your expenditure list is the industry's creation - the biggest players get cut after cut, right down the stock til it splits. In-house "services" - originally designed to cut costs and grow revenues for artist and label alike - now compete with artists for corporate attention. Fortunes are forged from artists' "dismal failures;" next, the placement of the word "all" in the final sentence...surely, it would be better to say that "not all labels are evil?" I mean really, there's gotta be an "evil" label out there somewhere...Like I said, just quibbles - most of your post is right on. But not the bit about distribution. After digital tv comes on strong, hi-tech media will lockstep along.
Emusic's business model probably won't last; subscriptions will one day stream, and permanent/moveable downloads will be bought with micropayments. But for now, Emusic is the best service going. As a once avid file-trader, I know the beauty of free music. But the massive, lawless acquistion of data is a major (and ironic) contributor to the N.W.O.'s (a catch-all term for transnational, corporate interests) current assault on personal liberties. Ultimately, mainstream file-trading does breed communism, but not in the way its pink advocates would suggest. The endgame is not Marx (ie free music), it is Stalin (SSSCA/CBDTPA).
That said, Emusic is the only "legitimate" service worth mentioning right now. Is it perfect? No, but it is very good and appears very fair. Something near a quarter of million files on serious pipe is nothing to scoff at. Emusic's not the wet-dream of Napster's peak, but it is one beauty of a service.
Finally, your ears are too L33T for me, Backov. I'll be the first to admit that 128kbps isn't hi-fi (I still buy vinyl, and really was the first--only?--kid on the block to buy DVD audio). But last time I checked, very few cars are THX certified. Likewise, most new 'puters scream like jets. Simply put, 128kbps suits the typical listening environment.
And tape? tape??? Sure, good tape exists, but the industry never used it. Compare any tape from a used record shop to even 96kbps encoding, and the mp3 will probably win. 128? no question.
First, let me agree with you: (as you seem to imply) Dan *is* the man, no question.
Now, let me ask how many episodes you've seen. Honestly, there's no shame in shunning TV.
Though the overall quality of "The Simpsons" waxes and wanes faster than a Jupiterian moon, some episodes are beyond reproach. Several of the Halloween specials must rate amongst the greatest of all cartoons; most near every comedic form--high and low--finds home there. Finally, I ask you, is the spoof on Howard Hughes not clever? Call me crazy, but I find the scene in which hallucinations of political germs chant "Freemasons rule the word" as cunning as they come.
The type of condescension your post displays, though always bad form, is often acceptable in light of our culture's sorry state. Yet when the conclusion drawn is mistaken, this kind of elitism is regrettable. After all, what can it spawn but more condescension?
You won't like the price as much when the levy kicks in, I assure you. But the tax is for the best because it should offer legal indemnity for citizens engaged in traditional, fair-use copying. I'm glad Universal's no longer a Canadian company; we won't have to apologize for the coming mess.
Is it me, or does Yoda say "Begun, this corn war has"? Listen carefully at 2:10.
The hypothetical numbers this articles uses are priceless examples of industrial chicanery: "Let's say one in 10." No, let's not say one in ten. Let's be realistic instead.
I've never seen videogame content scarier than what's on the airwaves. Good on the Libs for not wasting any more time on a bad idea. But lets get real, folks, the Slashdotters don't want to read about our pathetic local politics.
But for those weirdos who do, the videogame issue is DOA, here. There are only three recent development in BC with international ramifications. Our softwood lumber industry has been bitchslapped with illegal tariffs by crazy foreigners, err, Coalition Partners. In other law-breaking news, the ruling Liberals have illegally refused to acknowledge the official opposition, breaking with centuries of legal precedent. Finally, the Vancouver Police have recently acknowledged that most minor drug offences are no longer enforced.
A number of people have commented on the "Drukqs" cds, so I thought I'd join the fray. My edition comes from a New York internet company, so it may be unusual. But it is definitely American made, not European. Here's the skinny: there does appear to be some form of (very weak/experimental) copy protection on disc 2. None of my many music players (winamp et al.) were able to launch disc 2 from my (audio-enabled) DVD player. They were, however, able to play any cda track individually. My no-audio cdwriter did not experience this problem. As to the general topic, copy-prevention is yet another reason to actively oppose the music industry. Though two wrongs don't make a right, this initiative makes me want to grab a parrot and put on an eye patch. Mix-cds are the greatest musical advance since the LP and I'll fight to keep pumpin' out my custom cds.