All commercial organizations that want to play or stream music that is copyrighted, to a large number of people, must pay a license fee to places like ASCAP. That is what muzak (spell?) in elevators is all about. Businesses pay for that music to be heard. Even stores that sell CDs must pay for the very music that they play in their stores. So in theory, yes a company could certainly purchase CDs and P2P them, but technically they would be required to pay the same fees as if they were putting it out over the loudspeakers.
I don't think it's porn so much, as it is porn targeted to attract kids. I remember when whitehouse.com was truely a parody site only, now it really is just porn.
In the early internet days, (I work in schools) I was in a lab randomly checking for where kids have been. I would open the.Dat file from netscape and search for key words like sex, etc. When I got a hit I would trace it back to the web site. So on this day I got a hit, but when I traced it back it was a site for cheat codes. No big deal I thought. The codes and names of games all looked legit to me. I couldn't figure out why I got a hit. It was a very long page, and finally, at the very bottom, there was very graphic porn add. Of course I clicked it, and it turned into one of those self-replicating pages. They were all extreme hard core stuff. So many pages I finally had to hit the off button. To me, it was clearly targeted to get kids, to get them interested so some perv can get them to do things, and just like the cigarette companies, building future customers. Yeah, I think stuff like that should be against the law. But since I can no longer trust our congress to pass a law that would make sense, they have proven over and over that they are technically illiterate for the most part, I would opt for some other solution - but I don't know what.
Important Notice: The email address for submission of requests to testify that was posted on the Copyright Office website prior to 11:00 a.m., E.S.T. on March 19, 2003, was inaccurate. The correct email address is 1201@loc.gov and NOT 1201@nt3.loc.gov. Any requests that were sent to 1201@nt3.loc.gov were not received, and anyone who sent such a request must resubmit the request to the correct email address: 1201@loc.gov....
If you read through the comments, especially'joint reply comment' 23 , from the RIAA and MPAA and friends, it is not good. Things like
"The justification for allowing someone to break through a protection
today because it may not work tomorrow is unpersuasive."
and
"Finally, Submission 35(1), addressing copy-protected CDs, is out of the scope of this
proceeding because, among other things, it appears that the proposal is directed at copy controls
that inadvertently deny access by virtue of a malfunction, rather than to technical measures that
control access in the ordinary course of their operation. In any event, this submission does not
meet the requisite burden of showing a substantial adverse impact caused by Section 1201(a)(1)."
and
"If that is the case, a fear of malfunction does not convert
a copy control technology into an access control, nor does it provide any legal basis for creating
any exemption to Section 1201(a)(1).9"
and
"Turning to the submissions themselves, we do not believe that any of them carries the
burden required to justify the recognition of any of the classes proposed in this area."
It's basically full of things like this. First the LOC made it almost impossible to meet their requirments, and they only accepted 50 comments. We know there had to be a lot more than that. When they said they wanted facts to back it up they meant it. Now we can see why. Some of these companies are picking apart the original comments piece by piece, and if facts weren't not sufficient, they are trying to get them thrown out. And they haven't even gotten to court yet. I have a bad feeling about this.
Many moons ago I made a 31/2" disk bootable to a stripped down version of Windows 3.1 with a stripped down WordPerfect 5.1, and it even included a HP LaserJet II driver. Only 1 font, no bold or underline. And I managed to leave solitaire on it too. If you went through the resource kit on necessary files, for both 3.1 and WP, you would find that most of them weren't! I used to give them to guys who were going on travel before laptops became commonplace. There is usually a lot of bloat in any OS or software package.
Why the fuck can't you keep an eye on your brat? Why the fuck do they have $70 to go to Funcoland to get a game? Why the fuck don't you tell the morons at Blockbuster not to rent 'M' games to your kid? Why do you have to fuck it up for everyone? You stupid damn whores! Just because you can't parent your kid is no reason to take it out on me.
Take some responsibility for a change.
Wow - hate women do we? Where is the Dad in all this? For as much as we bitch about how stuff like this is the parents responsibility, it's time to get over the fact that most parents are not that responsible when it comes to this kind of stuff. They are spending their time getting their kids off to school, feeding them, paying the bills, etc, etc, etc. How many older Aunts/Uncles/Grandparents do you know who purchase such things for the kids anyway? A lot of adults are very ignorant when it comes to violent electronic games, they simply are not aware.
Parents of 13+ year-olds frequently just drop them off at the mall. Have you ever met a teenager who wants to go shopping with their parents, and be seen with them in public? That is a rare thing indeed. I don't agree with laws being forced in this issue, but I do agree with clear labels and that stores should adopt their own age policies, like Walmart. As usual though, just like ignorant parents/relatives, their are many stores who really don't care what affect they have on kids as long as they get their money. This is a social, community and education problem - and those are usually tougher to solve.
Well, yes they offer that option, for a fee of course. I think it's around 10-15 per pc. We can ghost an entire building in a day, so it is no big deal for us. In other words, we have a good working system in place, and don't need that option, and don't want to spend the extra few thousand on it.
There is also the MS option, of using something like SMS or some sort and push installing your apps to each workstation. Of course that is $$ for server package, $$ for the server hardware, $$ for workstation licenses, again - sucks - not gonna happen.
Okay, start taking bets to see if Stanbury and Fishelman will sue Microsoft for their similarly sinister product activation systems.. bet they don't!
I hope someone does - my latest fiasco with this: We have a volume license for XP, and thus should be excluded from activation. But we recently purchased 300 new computers from Dell. The wonderful MS tax kicks in, because you know you can't get a good pc without paying for XP all over again. Of course with this many pcs, I need a ghost image. So I go about my usual routine of setting one up nicely then getting ready for sysprep (don't you just love how sysprep PUTS BACK the MSN and media shortcuts - and those stupid bubble prompts for desk clean up and updates?). After the ghost, the only thing we should have to do is put in the computer name, the answer file takes care of the key codes. But noooooo, a volume license key code is incompatible with preinstalled OS from Dell. But the Dell ones had alredy been activated by them. So that leaves us with A) - put your software on by hand for each PC - sucks - not gonna happen B) reformat the hard drive, re-install the truck load of drivers that XP didn't plug-n-play, then go about putting your apps on, then ghost - sucks again - who wants to take a nifty new computer and then just wipe it out? C) Use the original image, and when the answer file gets stuck at the key code, type in the one on the Dell sticker, then you have to activate it again within 30 days - (we are not even sure if there would be a problem with that, since it was already done) - sucks - tiny numbers out of reach, so it takes almost two ppl to do this. Plus now the number could be tagged to the PC, so you have to keep good inventory of all of this. Nice job again MS - I just love how you are making me work my fanny off. Oh yeah, we went for B - reformat and a big FU.
Several years back, Win 3.11 days, we had gone around a DoD office and upgraded everyone to get email/Internet access for the first time. Mosaic and Eudora, on 386/486 computers. Put in NIC, installed win for workgroups, etc. This project lead, electrical engineering man calls and says he can't get his email or Internet anymore. So I go into his office and look around. I notice a network card on his book shelf. I check the back of the computer, and sure enough, there is no card. I pick it up and ask 'You took it out?'. And he's like, yeah, it was slowing my computer down, I don't want it in there. Well! You can't get online without it! (Keep in mind he was in his office when I installed it, and I explained everything to him on how to use it!) I tried to optimize his PC as best I could, but he had a big budget, so I encouraged him to buy a new computer for himself, which he did.
I think every ISP should offer some type of filtering to their customers, but it should be a business decision to do so on their end, certainly not a law - part of a value added package.
It wants mandatory filtering by internet service providers (ISPs), but with those aged over 18 able to opt out.
But I am not following this statement - how many people do you know under18 who live on their own and can afford monthly internet access? (I read this as basically, everyone gets mandatory filtering, but just about everyone is eligible to opt out - so why bother?)
Try working for a school system. We had a heat pipe burst above a computer lab, drowning the last two rows. There was black soot stuff everywhere. The CPUs had water sitting along the bottom, but it looked like the internals only got spashed. We wiped down the monitors, tipped them upside down to pour out the water into buckets, then let everything sit unplugged with fans running for around 3 days. Every one worked just fine.
Other fun things kids do - stick anything small enough into any visible crack in a case. We are always opening up things to look for missing CDs. Magnets on the monitors are fun. Kids like to draw smiley faces. We are always after the science teachers to keep the magnets away from the little ones.
Anyway I know of plenty of complete bozos out there with M$ Certifications who don't really know anything yet, they've just learned by rote.
Yes, this is a shame I think. And a worse shame is how the corporate side embraced this, because they didn't know any better. Bloated salaries with little knowledge or experience to back it up. It think it's all part of the dot com bust - really - pulling kids out of college because you needed a few web pages? What was the management thinking? My salary is reasonable, not too large, partly because I'm a woman, but partly because I stay in a secure postiion over hopping around for the next get rich scheme. But when people get into this quick CDrom test practice then take and exam and get a job thing, I'm just glad I have my Windows 3.1 certification. I still keep it on my resume. It let's people know that I'm in this for the long haul, and have years behind me. And we didn't have the luxury of purchasing canned test questions back then. When I got certified, there were less than 1000 MS certified of all types combined - in the world, not just the US. I rather like that. But I disagree with the post above that says Linux techs are more valuable because it's harder than Windows. I just think the pay is lower because of the market bloat - there are just too damn many, and like you said, a lot are not qualified for what they do. They are just good at taking tests. And as far as harder goes, I don't think it's ever been exactly easy to seriously admin any type of system (we all know it depends on how far you go with it) but lately, I find the whole Win2K and XP thing no so much hard, but that it's stupid. Half the stuff doesn't make sense to me anymore - the logic is gone. And so for the last year I find myself becoming a MS basher, even though I don't want to be. I mean really, what were they thinking letting a BSOD loose on a home user?
You can apply a sociological solution (suicide counseling) to a technical problem (hard drive crash).
Well actually, yes! I'm sure a lot of here have noticed, that when we get people over their fear of technology, their fear of being stupid or breaking it, it is much easier to train/teach them. I have always said, for all I do in tech, that what I do best is hold hands. Let's think about it - if you are in any type of help/admin/trouble/design - when someone calls you they are already in distress. They may have spent who knows how long, so afraid of looking stupid, trying to fix it themselves, making things worse. I have watched grown men pull their hair out, and have had women hug me and cry on my shoulder (real tears!), because they had worked hard all week and lost it all. Before I can do anything for them, I need to calm them down. Sometimes I make them take a break, not to worry, I'll do the best I can - I sound like a doctor half the time. When I train others, I always pass this on - which to me is a most important step. I make a lot friends too, and good word always makes it to the top.
I know others who take a different, very condensending approach, and they really piss me off. But they become hated by those that dared ask for help. And as arrogant as they are, as they look down at the 'fools who broke something' they don't even realize that they make themselves look bad, like they are the ones who really don't know what they are doing.
but I really doubt this will be very useful in improving many low-income families lives. I mean, sure, having Intenet access is fun and all, but I mostly see it being used for music-sharing, IM, and porn.
What a pathetically closed-minded response. Maybe that's what you use it for, but there are so many, uncountable numbers, that need access for education and research, and they really don't have time for games like you obviously do.
As someone who has worked in public schools for several years now, I can tell you, without a doubt, that it is the poorer kids who stay after school, or show up first thing in the morning, just so they can have access to a computer. The rich kids get to go home and hang out in their cushy bedrooms, waiting for Mom to yell 'Dinner's ready.'
School gets out around 1:30/2:00 for most US secondary schools, but I maintain a policy that as long as kids are willing to stay and work, I will stay and keep the lab open. I am often there until 4:00 or 5:00 each and every day, and these kids are working their butts off, occasionally emailing friends, but they are certainly not wasting their time downloading music or surfing for porn. I find it quite heartbreaking that they have to stay after, day after day, just to type a paper, or finish a presentation, or work on their personal web project, when others have access willy-nilly and get to do what they please.
And what about the elderly? I pity you when you age, because you will really have no clue. They now have access to health information and subscription plans. Are you aware how many low-income elderly (and most of them are) pay close to 1000 per month in prescription just to stay alive? Do you care? How about getting sick, being told you have prostrate cancer? They can now log on and share their fears with dozens of others. Retired military - groups and messages everywhere, a time to reminisce and swap stories.
Don't ever belittle technology, especially here, and say it is just for music and porn, and most especially don't ever say that is all the poor will do with it.
I can't help but notice a few common threads among all of these posts. For one, high school was a horrific, life altering experience for most of us. Kids were cruel and brutal, teachers didn't care, and maybe even joined in themselves. We have all stuck our heads into a computer, because it was easier to figure out compared to people. We could have control over something, in a world where everything seemed out of control.
I also notice that this seems to be true for those over 30ish. The younger ones, claiming to be in college now, seem to say they had little or no problem. Maybe the schools really have improved a little, that would be good. But I also notice, for each of us that went through hell, including me, that we all switched schools to survive. And again, there are success stories - decent jobs, educated people, much more enlightened about the world, sensitive to others, and civic minded. With all of our crutches and scars, it looks like we all came out pretty good after all. You won't be alone forever. Just get out there and smile, and when you take the time to get to know someone, you might find out that the same things happened to her.
That really depends on what school you go to, what type of town/city you live in. Bravo for you that you seem to have been lucky and come from one of the good ones. But don't assume all schools are like the one you went to.
Some schools have a higher average of smart kids, and somehow managed to infuse the philosophy that being smart is a good thing. Other schools completely tank at this, even today.
when a girl from the "C" table who demonstrated she was deliberately faking wrong answers on the tests to lower her grades, lest she end up at the "D" table
This has always been far too common in young girls - it is un-cool to be smart/look smart/act smart. Schools have struggled with this for years, and have improved greatly in some areas like more sports for girls, and special programs to get them involved in technology. Unfortunately a lot of parents still don't get it though, and the trend for the most part continues.
I don't care who likes me and who doesn't.
It seems everybody says that in high school. But as much as the need to talk themselves out of caring what others think, deep down they always do. It's possible your family support was much greater than hers. All too often, the parents again, it is not too important that the girl gets educated properly, hey she's just going to marry someone who is.
If being what they are means being like them, I wanna be as much unlike them as I can be.
Good for you, to think that way in high school. I myself tried, but I think I was 25 before I actually got it.. On a side note, I raised a daughter, and watched her tank through high school, even though I knew better. But I spent a lot of time reminding her of her strengths, and that she would leave all of these so-called friends in the dust. It does help - the family support. She is all A's now, and very career driven. She is indeed, leaving her friends in the dust.
I like to think I did something good.
I'm thinking you did something very good. If only every high school girl - and boy for that matter - could be given that lecture by a peer - there would be a lot less confused teenagers mulling about.
If the mass media has a silly view of programmers, it is too late to change it.
Not so funny really, because it has been going on for far too long. Even recently, on a CSI episode, there were programmers that needed to be interviewed, and they covered the gambit. One was cocky and rich, another shy and nerdy, and of course, the woman is always portrayed with wierd hair, dark lipstick and shadow, and an 'I'm too good for you' attitude. I have been in this business for so long and I have never, ever met a nose-ringed, pink-haired programmer. Just because Amazon hired a few teenagers like that way back when, doesn't mean all tech types fall into that category. Casual clothes, yes. Pointy-haired bosses, yes. Kids, SUVs and running to the gym at lunch time, yes. But the portrayal in the media is just too much. I cringe also, when a programmer or engineer is about to be portrayed, or I see a computer. I think we all like to catch something stupid, or see how realistic they are about things. I've noticed that basic web browsing and chatting/email has improved a lot lately.
Two best movies, Hunt for Red October (no programmers)- very realistic portrayal of the inside of a submarine - not that I've ever been inside, because women aren't allowed you know, but I worked on the guts of them for many years. Another is Apollo - who doesn't love that sceen, where all the engineers were in the room, and the boss comes in with a box and says, 'you have to build something to save their lives, and you have to do it with this.' Then he proceeds to dump all sorts of mundane contents on the table, like pencils and such. Engineering at its finest. I think that's why Junk Yard Wars is so popular. Unfortunatly that scene, was all too realistic also in the fact that there were no women engineers in the room. One of the worst portrayals of an actual computer I think, is that old Sci-Fi flick, Demon Seed, where the computer comes to life and rapes the programmers wife - oh boy, I'm real scared!
The RIAA is still upset that we can back up our CDs,
I rented a DVD movie recently, and noticed in the menu items a thing about registering the CD. So I read it. I noticed a blurb about either calling a number, or just popping the DVD into a computer, would put it on a web site to register. your perks for doing this was extra information about the movie or something, and to qualify you for a replacement CD should it get damaged. I think the RIAA is gearing up toward trying to ban personal backups completely, and use the fact that they will offer replacement CDs as a viable option for consumers. yeah right - try leaving your CDs around some elementary school age kids for a couple of days, and see how long they last!
But they don't have to be, and that is the problem with the DMCA. here is a perfect example of someone taking a product manufactured by someone else and saying "hey wait a minute, I can do this, this and this" -- and make it better. Make it more fun. The DMCA does not allow for this type of play/inquizitiveness (word?), or experimentation. And that is the problem. People do this all the time, with little things, and big things like electronic products. Like speakers. I know there is no programing involved, but in early days, people would say, 'hey, I want better sound', then plug their stereo into their computer. It was many years before you could actually buy surround sound speakers/sub woofers to go along with your computer. The manufacturer can't be expected to think of everything, and just because they planted the seed, does not give them exclusive rights to all the fruit born of that seed.
Your post brings to mind a horrible thought. All of those little black cable boxes out there. In the past the cable companies haven't had a lot of luck prosecuting people caught with them. But under the DMCA, they could get a whole lotta years and fines enough to pay cable bills for the a whole town.
When you use Explorer, which used to mean you would see everything about your computer in one fell swoop, clicking or double-clicking on My Network Places does nothing. You now have to right-click and Explore again if you actually want to get there. It seems it's because some users were getting into Network Neighborhood accidentaly and noticing there were other computers out there, possilby not locked down properly. But really, making someone right-click again, that is not better security, it's reduced functionality.
Slashdot Mirror
All commercial organizations that want to play or stream music that is copyrighted, to a large number of people, must pay a license fee to places like ASCAP. That is what muzak (spell?) in elevators is all about. Businesses pay for that music to be heard. Even stores that sell CDs must pay for the very music that they play in their stores. So in theory, yes a company could certainly purchase CDs and P2P them, but technically they would be required to pay the same fees as if they were putting it out over the loudspeakers.
Even Happy Birthday has copyright.
I don't think it's porn so much, as it is porn targeted to attract kids. I remember when whitehouse.com was truely a parody site only, now it really is just porn.
.Dat file from netscape and search for key words like sex, etc. When I got a hit I would trace it back to the web site. So on this day I got a hit, but when I traced it back it was a site for cheat codes. No big deal I thought. The codes and names of games all looked legit to me. I couldn't figure out why I got a hit. It was a very long page, and finally, at the very bottom, there was very graphic porn add. Of course I clicked it, and it turned into one of those self-replicating pages. They were all extreme hard core stuff. So many pages I finally had to hit the off button. To me, it was clearly targeted to get kids, to get them interested so some perv can get them to do things, and just like the cigarette companies, building future customers. Yeah, I think stuff like that should be against the law. But since I can no longer trust our congress to pass a law that would make sense, they have proven over and over that they are technically illiterate for the most part, I would opt for some other solution - but I don't know what.
In the early internet days, (I work in schools) I was in a lab randomly checking for where kids have been. I would open the
Important Notice: The email address for submission of requests to testify that was posted on the Copyright Office website prior to 11:00 a.m., E.S.T. on March 19, 2003, was inaccurate. The correct email address is 1201@loc.gov and NOT 1201@nt3.loc.gov. Any requests that were sent to 1201@nt3.loc.gov were not received, and anyone who sent such a request must resubmit the request to the correct email address: 1201@loc.gov....
If you read through the comments, especially'joint reply comment' 23 , from the RIAA and MPAA and friends, it is not good. Things like and and and It's basically full of things like this. First the LOC made it almost impossible to meet their requirments, and they only accepted 50 comments. We know there had to be a lot more than that. When they said they wanted facts to back it up they meant it. Now we can see why. Some of these companies are picking apart the original comments piece by piece, and if facts weren't not sufficient, they are trying to get them thrown out. And they haven't even gotten to court yet. I have a bad feeling about this.
(to save time, the bashing begins around page 11)
Many moons ago I made a 31/2" disk bootable to a stripped down version of Windows 3.1 with a stripped down WordPerfect 5.1, and it even included a HP LaserJet II driver. Only 1 font, no bold or underline. And I managed to leave solitaire on it too. If you went through the resource kit on necessary files, for both 3.1 and WP, you would find that most of them weren't! I used to give them to guys who were going on travel before laptops became commonplace. There is usually a lot of bloat in any OS or software package.
Why the fuck can't you keep an eye on your brat? Why the fuck do they have $70 to go to Funcoland to get a game? Why the fuck don't you tell the morons at Blockbuster not to rent 'M' games to your kid? Why do you have to fuck it up for everyone? You stupid damn whores! Just because you can't parent your kid is no reason to take it out on me.
Take some responsibility for a change.
Wow - hate women do we? Where is the Dad in all this? For as much as we bitch about how stuff like this is the parents responsibility, it's time to get over the fact that most parents are not that responsible when it comes to this kind of stuff. They are spending their time getting their kids off to school, feeding them, paying the bills, etc, etc, etc. How many older Aunts/Uncles/Grandparents do you know who purchase such things for the kids anyway? A lot of adults are very ignorant when it comes to violent electronic games, they simply are not aware.
Parents of 13+ year-olds frequently just drop them off at the mall. Have you ever met a teenager who wants to go shopping with their parents, and be seen with them in public? That is a rare thing indeed. I don't agree with laws being forced in this issue, but I do agree with clear labels and that stores should adopt their own age policies, like Walmart. As usual though, just like ignorant parents/relatives, their are many stores who really don't care what affect they have on kids as long as they get their money. This is a social, community and education problem - and those are usually tougher to solve.
And Apple gets two nods. Notice MS doesn't make the cut? (unless they are actually the 'Worm' which also has 2 nods)
Nearly every corporation in the world uses ghost... how could they get away with this?
My thought exactly.
Well, yes they offer that option, for a fee of course. I think it's around 10-15 per pc. We can ghost an entire building in a day, so it is no big deal for us. In other words, we have a good working system in place, and don't need that option, and don't want to spend the extra few thousand on it.
There is also the MS option, of using something like SMS or some sort and push installing your apps to each workstation. Of course that is $$ for server package, $$ for the server hardware, $$ for workstation licenses, again - sucks - not gonna happen.
Okay, start taking bets to see if Stanbury and Fishelman will sue Microsoft for their similarly sinister product activation systems.. bet they don't!
I hope someone does - my latest fiasco with this: We have a volume license for XP, and thus should be excluded from activation. But we recently purchased 300 new computers from Dell. The wonderful MS tax kicks in, because you know you can't get a good pc without paying for XP all over again. Of course with this many pcs, I need a ghost image. So I go about my usual routine of setting one up nicely then getting ready for sysprep (don't you just love how sysprep PUTS BACK the MSN and media shortcuts - and those stupid bubble prompts for desk clean up and updates?). After the ghost, the only thing we should have to do is put in the computer name, the answer file takes care of the key codes. But noooooo, a volume license key code is incompatible with preinstalled OS from Dell. But the Dell ones had alredy been activated by them. So that leaves us with
A) - put your software on by hand for each PC - sucks - not gonna happen
B) reformat the hard drive, re-install the truck load of drivers that XP didn't plug-n-play, then go about putting your apps on, then ghost - sucks again - who wants to take a nifty new computer and then just wipe it out?
C) Use the original image, and when the answer file gets stuck at the key code, type in the one on the Dell sticker, then you have to activate it again within 30 days - (we are not even sure if there would be a problem with that, since it was already done) - sucks - tiny numbers out of reach, so it takes almost two ppl to do this. Plus now the number could be tagged to the PC, so you have to keep good inventory of all of this. Nice job again MS - I just love how you are making me work my fanny off. Oh yeah, we went for B - reformat and a big FU.
Several years back, Win 3.11 days, we had gone around a DoD office and upgraded everyone to get email/Internet access for the first time. Mosaic and Eudora, on 386/486 computers. Put in NIC, installed win for workgroups, etc. This project lead, electrical engineering man calls and says he can't get his email or Internet anymore. So I go into his office and look around. I notice a network card on his book shelf. I check the back of the computer, and sure enough, there is no card. I pick it up and ask 'You took it out?'. And he's like, yeah, it was slowing my computer down, I don't want it in there. Well! You can't get online without it! (Keep in mind he was in his office when I installed it, and I explained everything to him on how to use it!) I tried to optimize his PC as best I could, but he had a big budget, so I encouraged him to buy a new computer for himself, which he did.
I think that's for the 1st mr bush. Article dated 2000 says Henry B.Gonzalez died. Henry B.Gonzalez died.
I agree though, they all scare me and I am just stunned by some of their decisions. And I think -- We're paying them for that?
I think every ISP should offer some type of filtering to their customers, but it should be a business decision to do so on their end, certainly not a law - part of a value added package.
It wants mandatory filtering by internet service providers (ISPs), but with those aged over 18 able to opt out.
But I am not following this statement - how many people do you know under18 who live on their own and can afford monthly internet access? (I read this as basically, everyone gets mandatory filtering, but just about everyone is eligible to opt out - so why bother?)
Try working for a school system. We had a heat pipe burst above a computer lab, drowning the last two rows. There was black soot stuff everywhere. The CPUs had water sitting along the bottom, but it looked like the internals only got spashed. We wiped down the monitors, tipped them upside down to pour out the water into buckets, then let everything sit unplugged with fans running for around 3 days. Every one worked just fine.
Other fun things kids do - stick anything small enough into any visible crack in a case. We are always opening up things to look for missing CDs. Magnets on the monitors are fun. Kids like to draw smiley faces. We are always after the science teachers to keep the magnets away from the little ones.
Anyway I know of plenty of complete bozos out there with M$ Certifications who don't really know anything yet, they've just learned by rote.
Yes, this is a shame I think. And a worse shame is how the corporate side embraced this, because they didn't know any better. Bloated salaries with little knowledge or experience to back it up. It think it's all part of the dot com bust - really - pulling kids out of college because you needed a few web pages? What was the management thinking? My salary is reasonable, not too large, partly because I'm a woman, but partly because I stay in a secure postiion over hopping around for the next get rich scheme. But when people get into this quick CDrom test practice then take and exam and get a job thing, I'm just glad I have my Windows 3.1 certification. I still keep it on my resume. It let's people know that I'm in this for the long haul, and have years behind me. And we didn't have the luxury of purchasing canned test questions back then. When I got certified, there were less than 1000 MS certified of all types combined - in the world, not just the US. I rather like that.
But I disagree with the post above that says Linux techs are more valuable because it's harder than Windows. I just think the pay is lower because of the market bloat - there are just too damn many, and like you said, a lot are not qualified for what they do. They are just good at taking tests. And as far as harder goes, I don't think it's ever been exactly easy to seriously admin any type of system (we all know it depends on how far you go with it) but lately, I find the whole Win2K and XP thing no so much hard, but that it's stupid. Half the stuff doesn't make sense to me anymore - the logic is gone. And so for the last year I find myself becoming a MS basher, even though I don't want to be. I mean really, what were they thinking letting a BSOD loose on a home user?
You can apply a sociological solution (suicide counseling) to a technical problem (hard drive crash).
Well actually, yes! I'm sure a lot of here have noticed, that when we get people over their fear of technology, their fear of being stupid or breaking it, it is much easier to train/teach them. I have always said, for all I do in tech, that what I do best is hold hands. Let's think about it - if you are in any type of help/admin/trouble/design - when someone calls you they are already in distress. They may have spent who knows how long, so afraid of looking stupid, trying to fix it themselves, making things worse. I have watched grown men pull their hair out, and have had women hug me and cry on my shoulder (real tears!), because they had worked hard all week and lost it all. Before I can do anything for them, I need to calm them down. Sometimes I make them take a break, not to worry, I'll do the best I can - I sound like a doctor half the time. When I train others, I always pass this on - which to me is a most important step. I make a lot friends too, and good word always makes it to the top.
I know others who take a different, very condensending approach, and they really piss me off. But they become hated by those that dared ask for help. And as arrogant as they are, as they look down at the 'fools who broke something' they don't even realize that they make themselves look bad, like they are the ones who really don't know what they are doing.
but I really doubt this will be very useful in improving many low-income families lives. I mean, sure, having Intenet access is fun and all, but I mostly see it being used for music-sharing, IM, and porn.
What a pathetically closed-minded response. Maybe that's what you use it for, but there are so many, uncountable numbers, that need access for education and research, and they really don't have time for games like you obviously do.
As someone who has worked in public schools for several years now, I can tell you, without a doubt, that it is the poorer kids who stay after school, or show up first thing in the morning, just so they can have access to a computer. The rich kids get to go home and hang out in their cushy bedrooms, waiting for Mom to yell 'Dinner's ready.'
School gets out around 1:30/2:00 for most US secondary schools, but I maintain a policy that as long as kids are willing to stay and work, I will stay and keep the lab open. I am often there until 4:00 or 5:00 each and every day, and these kids are working their butts off, occasionally emailing friends, but they are certainly not wasting their time downloading music or surfing for porn. I find it quite heartbreaking that they have to stay after, day after day, just to type a paper, or finish a presentation, or work on their personal web project, when others have access willy-nilly and get to do what they please.
And what about the elderly? I pity you when you age, because you will really have no clue. They now have access to health information and subscription plans. Are you aware how many low-income elderly (and most of them are) pay close to 1000 per month in prescription just to stay alive? Do you care? How about getting sick, being told you have prostrate cancer? They can now log on and share their fears with dozens of others. Retired military - groups and messages everywhere, a time to reminisce and swap stories.
Don't ever belittle technology, especially here, and say it is just for music and porn, and most especially don't ever say that is all the poor will do with it.
I can't help but notice a few common threads among all of these posts. For one, high school was a horrific, life altering experience for most of us. Kids were cruel and brutal, teachers didn't care, and maybe even joined in themselves. We have all stuck our heads into a computer, because it was easier to figure out compared to people. We could have control over something, in a world where everything seemed out of control.
I also notice that this seems to be true for those over 30ish. The younger ones, claiming to be in college now, seem to say they had little or no problem. Maybe the schools really have improved a little, that would be good. But I also notice, for each of us that went through hell, including me, that we all switched schools to survive. And again, there are success stories - decent jobs, educated people, much more enlightened about the world, sensitive to others, and civic minded. With all of our crutches and scars, it looks like we all came out pretty good after all. You won't be alone forever. Just get out there and smile, and when you take the time to get to know someone, you might find out that the same things happened to her.
Being smart doesn't make you unpopular in school.
That really depends on what school you go to, what type of town/city you live in. Bravo for you that you seem to have been lucky and come from one of the good ones. But don't assume all schools are like the one you went to.
Some schools have a higher average of smart kids, and somehow managed to infuse the philosophy that being smart is a good thing. Other schools completely tank at this, even today.
when a girl from the "C" table who demonstrated she was deliberately faking wrong answers on the tests to lower her grades, lest she end up at the "D" table
This has always been far too common in young girls - it is un-cool to be smart/look smart/act smart. Schools have struggled with this for years, and have improved greatly in some areas like more sports for girls, and special programs to get them involved in technology. Unfortunately a lot of parents still don't get it though, and the trend for the most part continues.
I don't care who likes me and who doesn't.
It seems everybody says that in high school. But as much as the need to talk themselves out of caring what others think, deep down they always do. It's possible your family support was much greater than hers. All too often, the parents again, it is not too important that the girl gets educated properly, hey she's just going to marry someone who is.
If being what they are means being like them, I wanna be as much unlike them as I can be.
Good for you, to think that way in high school. I myself tried, but I think I was 25 before I actually got it.. On a side note, I raised a daughter, and watched her tank through high school, even though I knew better. But I spent a lot of time reminding her of her strengths, and that she would leave all of these so-called friends in the dust. It does help - the family support. She is all A's now, and very career driven. She is indeed, leaving her friends in the dust.
I like to think I did something good.
I'm thinking you did something very good. If only every high school girl - and boy for that matter - could be given that lecture by a peer - there would be a lot less confused teenagers mulling about.
If the mass media has a silly view of programmers, it is too late to change it.
Not so funny really, because it has been going on for far too long. Even recently, on a CSI episode, there were programmers that needed to be interviewed, and they covered the gambit. One was cocky and rich, another shy and nerdy, and of course, the woman is always portrayed with wierd hair, dark lipstick and shadow, and an 'I'm too good for you' attitude. I have been in this business for so long and I have never, ever met a nose-ringed, pink-haired programmer. Just because Amazon hired a few teenagers like that way back when, doesn't mean all tech types fall into that category. Casual clothes, yes. Pointy-haired bosses, yes. Kids, SUVs and running to the gym at lunch time, yes. But the portrayal in the media is just too much. I cringe also, when a programmer or engineer is about to be portrayed, or I see a computer. I think we all like to catch something stupid, or see how realistic they are about things. I've noticed that basic web browsing and chatting/email has improved a lot lately.
Two best movies, Hunt for Red October (no programmers)- very realistic portrayal of the inside of a submarine - not that I've ever been inside, because women aren't allowed you know, but I worked on the guts of them for many years. Another is Apollo - who doesn't love that sceen, where all the engineers were in the room, and the boss comes in with a box and says, 'you have to build something to save their lives, and you have to do it with this.' Then he proceeds to dump all sorts of mundane contents on the table, like pencils and such. Engineering at its finest. I think that's why Junk Yard Wars is so popular. Unfortunatly that scene, was all too realistic also in the fact that there were no women engineers in the room. One of the worst portrayals of an actual computer I think, is that old Sci-Fi flick, Demon Seed, where the computer comes to life and rapes the programmers wife - oh boy, I'm real scared!
The RIAA is still upset that we can back up our CDs,
I rented a DVD movie recently, and noticed in the menu items a thing about registering the CD. So I read it. I noticed a blurb about either calling a number, or just popping the DVD into a computer, would put it on a web site to register. your perks for doing this was extra information about the movie or something, and to qualify you for a replacement CD should it get damaged. I think the RIAA is gearing up toward trying to ban personal backups completely, and use the fact that they will offer replacement CDs as a viable option for consumers. yeah right - try leaving your CDs around some elementary school age kids for a couple of days, and see how long they last!
I don't know, Philips might be okay with this
But they don't have to be, and that is the problem with the DMCA. here is a perfect example of someone taking a product manufactured by someone else and saying "hey wait a minute, I can do this, this and this" -- and make it better. Make it more fun. The DMCA does not allow for this type of play/inquizitiveness (word?), or experimentation. And that is the problem. People do this all the time, with little things, and big things like electronic products. Like speakers. I know there is no programing involved, but in early days, people would say, 'hey, I want better sound', then plug their stereo into their computer. It was many years before you could actually buy surround sound speakers/sub woofers to go along with your computer. The manufacturer can't be expected to think of everything, and just because they planted the seed, does not give them exclusive rights to all the fruit born of that seed.
Your post brings to mind a horrible thought. All of those little black cable boxes out there. In the past the cable companies haven't had a lot of luck prosecuting people caught with them. But under the DMCA, they could get a whole lotta years and fines enough to pay cable bills for the a whole town.
which they quietly published in two position papers
Exactly. Where are their comments as requested by the US Copyright office, which were due Dec 2002?
When you use Explorer, which used to mean you would see everything about your computer in one fell swoop, clicking or double-clicking on My Network Places does nothing. You now have to right-click and Explore again if you actually want to get there. It seems it's because some users were getting into Network Neighborhood accidentaly and noticing there were other computers out there, possilby not locked down properly. But really, making someone right-click again, that is not better security, it's reduced functionality.