It is a pathfinding/movement algorithm commonly used in the AI of computer games. For example, if a unit on a 2D grid map needs to move from one point to another, the A* algorithm can be used to find a path around any obstacles, etc..
Writing and publishing a new electronic mail transfer protocol sounds good to me, but it won't do anything unless people use it. Just having an RFC you think is better than SMTP is not good enough, if you want it to be used by anyone you've got to have client and server software which uses the new protocol. And even then people will be slow to switch from their usually mail program.
But regardless, I agree with those who say SMTP is not the problem. Maybe the average Joe should learn about PGP, or is that too much to ask?
Thanks for the reply yerricde... I'm downloading The Circle now;)
Re:Grokster not centralized?
on
The Law and P2P
·
· Score: 1
Thanks SporkMan...
The computer with the list is called a hostcache, and you set your client (or it comes preset) with addresses of several of the computers containing lists of IP addresses
ah, sounds similar to the FastTrack protocol (KaZaA/Grokster)'s "Supernodes". But my question is, how do you connect to one of the hostcaches or supernodes in the first place? If the client software comes preset with the address of one, then the network is not highly decentralized (in which case the RIAA has someone to go after). If you have to set the address to a hostcache/supernode yourself, then the network is not anonymous (which is okay for Joe Pirate until the RIAA starts going after individuals).
I realize that the network can run without any hostcache... at least without any of the initial servers (which, I think, is why Judge Wilson said Grokster was not responsible), and in order to be part of the network you simply have to connect to one other computer on the network (connect to one, connect to them all). It's that initial connection that I am having trouble with. Is there some sort of mechanism which allows the unconnected client (or "servant") to send out a "broadcast ping" in order to find any Gnuetella servants on the physical network? If so, then I think I finally understand.
Yes, the exclusive rights to the entirety of any original work should belong to the creator. Fair use is a good idea, but rather vague. I guess the lenght of the sample, and the importance of it in the work which it is a part of (both the original, and the work is it being included in) dictate whether it is Fair Use or not.
or should artists/musicians have the right to manipulate the old into the new?
Yes, but it isn't a God-given right, it should be given by the artist (or whoever they sold the rights to). Artists shouldn't be so stingy with their creations. Maybe exclusive copyrights shouldn't be protected automatically in the US (or internationally), maybe public domain (or some lesser copyright) should be default, and copyright should have to be claimed. Either way it is fortunate that with the Free Software Foundation's GNU General Public License, and, even better for non-software use, the Creative Commons' Licenses (as well as all the other not-as-restrictive-as-copyright and copyleft licenses), more people are realizing that it is OK if other people use their creativity to make even cooler things.
Having said that, if an artist (or copyright owner) doesn't want you to use their creation, then don't. If your project depends on someone else's creativity, it should be scrapped anyway.
Same deal with peer-to-peer and copying copyrighted music against the will of the copyright holder... there is so much music in the world which is not copyrighted, or which the artist would happily give permission for you to use, why bother with the RIAA's offerings? You don't need the music. And if you want it so bad, respect the artists, respect the record label they have chosen to give the rights to their music to, respect the trade association that record label is a part of, and buy a CD.
Grokster not centralized?
on
The Law and P2P
·
· Score: 2, Insightful
When a user boots the software, his computer is directed to sign on to a "root supernode" (a server owned by Sharman), which then directs the user to a "local supernode."
I've never used KaZaA or Grokster, but if the above is true, how is it that "when Grokster and Morpheus users search for and receive digital files, they do so without information being relayed to or by any computer owned or controlled by Grokster or Morpheus." is also true? If Sharman Networks were to shut down their servers, how could Grokster/KaZaA users find each other?
Or is the article saying that the company behind Grokster isn't responsible, Sharman Networks is -- but they are way over in some island and hard for the RIAA and MPAA to find?
If I were the RIAA, I would do what I could to shut down Sharman Networks. Have they tried that yet?
And how does Gnutella work? Can someone explain how a network can be "pure" peer-to-peer and anonymous at the same time (how would you connect to a the network)? The article explains it as: "This initial connection is usually made by linking to a computer on the network that maintains a constantly changing list of IP addresses for certain currently active nodes.". How do you find that computer with the list? Isn't that a central server, the maintainers of which should be targets for the RIAA?
I think, among other things, I would give my 12 year-old self the lyrics to Five Iron Frenzy's "Sucker Punch":
Coke bottle glasses, I'm sitting in the corner with my finger up my nose, And my shoelaces untied again, Another day of school with no friends. A social outcast, Two grades ahead in math, with my highwater pants, Giving meaning to pencil-necked-geek, A dork or so to speak, tongue-in-cheek.
They're all sucker-punching me, Get in line for a wedgie. All I want and all I need, Is someone who believes in me.
A song sung for underdogs, for all the left out. A flag flying for losers, somewhere in the Heavens. The God of ever-lasting comfort, believed in me, Loved me when I was faithless, he still died for me.
Junior High schooler With pencils in my pockets, and my Trapper Keeper busted, Spilling papers and books on the floor, Not wanting seventh grade anymore. Another class-clown, Acting like a goof to be accepted by my peers, Giving meaning to pencil-necked-geek, a dork or so to speak, tongue in cheek.
They're all sucker-punching me, Get in line for a wedgie. All I want and all I need, Is someone who believes in me.
A song sung for underdogs, for all the left out. A flag flying for losers, somewhere in the Heavens. The God of ever-lasting comfort, believed in me, Loved me when I was faithless, he still died for--
A song sung for underdogs, for all the left out. A flag flying for losers, somewhere in the Heavens. The God of ever-lasting comfort, believed in me, Loved me when I was faithless, he still died for me.
We are aware that there seems to be some trouble with our voting system. All data is still intact however, the system may report that you have voted for games that you have yet to cast a vote on. We will try to fix this issue as soon as possible. In the meantime, please continue downloading and playing the entries. (Keep a notepad handy to record your scores.)
If you actually try some of the games, you'd see that a number of them couldn't have been put together in 48 hours.
This is true. And some uDG entries obviously were put together in around 48 hours (or they could have been:-). Lots of variety there.
Ludum Dare is cool, but I've been too cowardly to enter a 48 hour contest so far (and I'm afraid of Windows), but I bet I'll do it sometime. I love the themes for the contests, "construction/destruction" and "sheep" hehe. There was talk of no prizes for uDG too, and just going with good ol' respect (or a T-shirt), but as soon as sponsors started jumping on...
Well at first the iDevGames staff decided not to require localization in any particular language (though English was strongly recommended, while Spanish, German, Japanese, etc were encouraged). Polish was thrown in later for bonus points.
No, it is not Polish the people or language, nor is it polish as in shoes (not really, anyway). It is the subjective view as to how finished a product is. of course. silly.
Yes... well remember that most of the games were written in under 3 months... after the design and programming there isn't much time for the programmer to find and contract an artist (or a musician). And artists aren't free.
But that way the lone-wolf-programmers-that-can-draw-and-sing get rewarded (although there aren't many of them out there).
Slashdot Mirror
I go to that site :)
> Their character is rarely that of a saint.
Maybe not, but I've seen spam from monks selling laser toner.
Seriously, someone should tell the monks that spamming is not good.
And it wouldn't even have to be as low as 100... 1,000 or 10,000 would seriously cut down spam without affecting innocent users.
ha. What's the use of a law if all it does is describe what everybody is doing anyway?
Writing and publishing a new electronic mail transfer protocol sounds good to me, but it won't do anything unless people use it. Just having an RFC you think is better than SMTP is not good enough, if you want it to be used by anyone you've got to have client and server software which uses the new protocol. And even then people will be slow to switch from their usually mail program.
But regardless, I agree with those who say SMTP is not the problem. Maybe the average Joe should learn about PGP, or is that too much to ask?
> But it aint going to happen
http://commoncontent.org/
Or, for a more accurate and complete list, try the RIAA's Web site: http://www.riaa.com/about/members/default.asp
Ah, but they got Capone for tax evasion. At least he isn't sending spam anymore, regardless of what he is charged with.
Thanks for the reply yerricde... I'm downloading The Circle now ;)
Thanks SporkMan...
The computer with the list is called a hostcache, and you set your client (or it comes preset) with addresses of several of the computers containing lists of IP addresses
ah, sounds similar to the FastTrack protocol (KaZaA/Grokster)'s "Supernodes". But my question is, how do you connect to one of the hostcaches or supernodes in the first place? If the client software comes preset with the address of one, then the network is not highly decentralized (in which case the RIAA has someone to go after). If you have to set the address to a hostcache/supernode yourself, then the network is not anonymous (which is okay for Joe Pirate until the RIAA starts going after individuals).
I realize that the network can run without any hostcache... at least without any of the initial servers (which, I think, is why Judge Wilson said Grokster was not responsible), and in order to be part of the network you simply have to connect to one other computer on the network (connect to one, connect to them all). It's that initial connection that I am having trouble with. Is there some sort of mechanism which allows the unconnected client (or "servant") to send out a "broadcast ping" in order to find any Gnuetella servants on the physical network? If so, then I think I finally understand.
Should samples be protected by copyright,
Yes, the exclusive rights to the entirety of any original work should belong to the creator. Fair use is a good idea, but rather vague. I guess the lenght of the sample, and the importance of it in the work which it is a part of (both the original, and the work is it being included in) dictate whether it is Fair Use or not.
or should artists/musicians have the right to manipulate the old into the new?
Yes, but it isn't a God-given right, it should be given by the artist (or whoever they sold the rights to). Artists shouldn't be so stingy with their creations. Maybe exclusive copyrights shouldn't be protected automatically in the US (or internationally), maybe public domain (or some lesser copyright) should be default, and copyright should have to be claimed. Either way it is fortunate that with the Free Software Foundation's GNU General Public License, and, even better for non-software use, the Creative Commons' Licenses (as well as all the other not-as-restrictive-as-copyright and copyleft licenses), more people are realizing that it is OK if other people use their creativity to make even cooler things.
Having said that, if an artist (or copyright owner) doesn't want you to use their creation, then don't. If your project depends on someone else's creativity, it should be scrapped anyway.
Same deal with peer-to-peer and copying copyrighted music against the will of the copyright holder... there is so much music in the world which is not copyrighted, or which the artist would happily give permission for you to use, why bother with the RIAA's offerings? You don't need the music. And if you want it so bad, respect the artists, respect the record label they have chosen to give the rights to their music to, respect the trade association that record label is a part of, and buy a CD.
When a user boots the software, his computer is directed to sign on to a "root supernode" (a server owned by Sharman), which then directs the user to a "local supernode."
I've never used KaZaA or Grokster, but if the above is true, how is it that "when Grokster and Morpheus users search for and receive digital files, they do so without information being relayed to or by any computer owned or controlled by Grokster or Morpheus." is also true? If Sharman Networks were to shut down their servers, how could Grokster/KaZaA users find each other?
Or is the article saying that the company behind Grokster isn't responsible, Sharman Networks is -- but they are way over in some island and hard for the RIAA and MPAA to find?
If I were the RIAA, I would do what I could to shut down Sharman Networks. Have they tried that yet?
And how does Gnutella work? Can someone explain how a network can be "pure" peer-to-peer and anonymous at the same time (how would you connect to a the network)? The article explains it as: "This initial connection is usually made by linking to a computer on the network that maintains a constantly changing list of IP addresses for certain currently active nodes.". How do you find that computer with the list? Isn't that a central server, the maintainers of which should be targets for the RIAA?
I know. I always get a funny feeling when my geek culture collides with pop culture. It weirds me.
Wait! Hold on, back up. HTML is XML
No, XHTML is XML. HTML is an application of SGML.
http://www.w3.org/MarkUp/
Yes:
Green Machine
Coldstone Game Engine
Or, if you are a programmer, check out these libraries:
Cocoa Sprite Kit (Cocoa, Obj-C, C++)
Sprite World (Carbon and Classic, C, C++, Pascal)
Sprite Animation Toolkit (Classic and Carbon, Pascal, C++)
Opensource:
;)
http://www.jabber.org
Jabber is not "Opensource". It is an open standard, with both Open Source and porprietary client and server software in existance.
Just to be clear
We've been following this one for awhile, I'm really curious to see what something like this can do.
I'm really curious also, though I do have an idea as to what it might be used for: making music. or something like that.
I think, among other things, I would give my 12 year-old self the lyrics to Five Iron Frenzy's "Sucker Punch":
Coke bottle glasses,
I'm sitting in the corner with my finger up my nose,
And my shoelaces untied again,
Another day of school with no friends.
A social outcast,
Two grades ahead in math, with my highwater pants,
Giving meaning to pencil-necked-geek,
A dork or so to speak, tongue-in-cheek.
They're all sucker-punching me,
Get in line for a wedgie.
All I want and all I need,
Is someone who believes in me.
A song sung for underdogs, for all the left out.
A flag flying for losers, somewhere in the Heavens.
The God of ever-lasting comfort, believed in me,
Loved me when I was faithless, he still died for me.
Junior High schooler
With pencils in my pockets, and my Trapper Keeper busted,
Spilling papers and books on the floor,
Not wanting seventh grade anymore.
Another class-clown,
Acting like a goof to be accepted by my peers,
Giving meaning to pencil-necked-geek,
a dork or so to speak, tongue in cheek.
They're all sucker-punching me,
Get in line for a wedgie.
All I want and all I need,
Is someone who believes in me.
A song sung for underdogs, for all the left out.
A flag flying for losers, somewhere in the Heavens.
The God of ever-lasting comfort, believed in me,
Loved me when I was faithless, he still died for--
A song sung for underdogs, for all the left out.
A flag flying for losers, somewhere in the Heavens.
The God of ever-lasting comfort, believed in me,
Loved me when I was faithless, he still died for me.
(posted without permission)
Should you Fear Google?
I'm not sure, but you can find Gear through Froogle.
If you actually try some of the games, you'd see that a number of them couldn't have been put together in 48 hours.
:-). Lots of variety there.
This is true. And some uDG entries obviously were put together in around 48 hours (or they could have been
Ludum Dare is cool, but I've been too cowardly to enter a 48 hour contest so far (and I'm afraid of Windows), but I bet I'll do it sometime. I love the themes for the contests, "construction/destruction" and "sheep" hehe. There was talk of no prizes for uDG too, and just going with good ol' respect (or a T-shirt), but as soon as sponsors started jumping on...
Well at first the iDevGames staff decided not to require localization in any particular language (though English was strongly recommended, while Spanish, German, Japanese, etc were encouraged). Polish was thrown in later for bonus points.
No, it is not Polish the people or language, nor is it polish as in shoes (not really, anyway). It is the subjective view as to how finished a product is. of course. silly.
Yes... well remember that most of the games were written in under 3 months... after the design and programming there isn't much time for the programmer to find and contract an artist (or a musician). And artists aren't free.
But that way the lone-wolf-programmers-that-can-draw-and-sing get rewarded (although there aren't many of them out there).