I would say it's set up correctly. Sure VISA makes Billions and merchants eat fraud, but it's really the best point to do it. And, technically, I already do it with Checks (the reason a lot of people don't take them). Some storeowners don't get it and think credit cards are "magic"...they can take all the cards they want and money appears (minus a 5-15% fee) in their bank account. They don't realize they can minimize by: ACTUALLY CHECKING THE SIGNATURE!!!, suggest Debit over Credit (if it's both, their fees are less if it runs as a ATM, and security it better!). But it's the same as anything else in life: If you're uneducated you will always pay more.
Got suckered into a 15 year AARM mortgage with a pre-pay penalty and balloon payment? Education. Paid $30k for a Ford truck (which immediately dropped to a $19k wholesale value) and are upside down in value? Education. If there's one lesson...just one lesson...I could boil my entire MBA, stock market, and general life experience (regarding businees) into:
He who has the most accurate and timely information wins.
Coming back around full circle: This is why merchants should be responsible (and their banks). It forces them (and me!) to educate myself and minimize EVERYONE's risk. A previous owner left draft information for bank auto withdrawal in a binder, on the desk, by the door, for all his customers. Huge fraud potential. Some leave credit card information in the store after the day of sale. Huge fraud potential. I could go on, but I've proven the premise for my conclusion: You have to be active and reduce your costs through fraud prevention. How can I reasonably hold VISA accountable when I'm a merchant stupid enough to charge a card with someone elses name (I've seen guys try to use their wife's card....Dudes do not look like a "Wendy" to me).
On the flip side, I had a merchant pissed because I called in a charge back. Yeah he was pissed, because chargebacks increase fees a bank charge....but I gaurantee you he'll call next time he does an unauthorized pre-pay on my card. I manage a tech support department and we follow the policy I told him he should follow to reduce costs: Always call someone before you charge their card. In my case, he charged a 2nd $700 and then my wife said, "Should there be a 2nd one?" I said, "Nope" (not thinking two steps past why she asked) and so she called the credit card to charge it back. Whole thing could have been avoided.
So there you have it...I've mentioned my perspective from personally being both sides of the "coin" (and being accountable for the $$)....and I'd say the system is set up efficiently, and for the most part, fairly.
Music execs are old enough to remember vynil, 8-track, to cassette migrations. There were no loud, and obnoxious cries about cassettes ruining music sales. I could indefinately copy an LP to cassettes forever...and share them with all my friends. OK, so I couldn't share with millions...but honestly, if millions want it, they're going to find nearby friends with it..and conversely, some of those millions may never have wanted it to begin with (but downloaded it just for giggles).
Fast forward to today: Who really "pays" for music? In my demographic (late 20s- mid 30s), we can afford high end audio gear. You really think I enjoy a track recorded under 192k in sampling? Nope. I, however, WILL download it check it out, and THEN pay for it. I hook my iPod up to my $900 deck, which is then connected to my high end speakers, and think, "Ack, that sounds like ran over dog-poo". Jam over to iTunes, pay for it, and dock to my receiver's iPod cradle. I didn't care for about 30%, but when I want to really zone out to The Crystal Method...I want it to sound really good, and I'll pay to do it.
Of course, I know I'm only a slice of the market, but the lesson can still be applied. (E.g. don't make paying and sharing music between my "appliances" a pain the the @$$
I'm with you. If there was an ability to mod an article, "FlameBait", this would get my vote (and confirmation upon meta-mod). Please, give me a break. I hate M$ just as much as the next *NIX geek, but give me a break. There's two ways to slice and dice this, and they both reek.
Boo Hoo, OS is making $$$: Businesses are making money of open source. OK? So? What'd you think a FOR_PROFIT company would do with it? At least they didn't M$ it: Embrace, make it proprietary, and then lock everyone out of using it. I read/. daily and I guess I missed the thousands posting how they no longer can use a flavor of *nix.
Companies are lying: This is a morally hollow argument. It's like saying, "I won't give to the bum on the street because I bet he makes $150k a year as a 'bum'" Even the lack of evidence of a conspiracy is proof there IS a conspiracy.
I somehow get the vibe that the author is really thinking it's lost it's gleam because OS is:making money, becoming mainstream, and some how no longer just a geek's product of tinkering. All of these are GOOD things to me. Make it mainstream...make money...make it easy....
Yes, it's usually really easy to figure out who is talking. In Saints Row, your name appears as you speak. It fades after you stop. In Rainbow6:Las Vegas, there's a triangle next to your name (if you have a mic) and it brightens when you speak, and then dims when you stop. I've never muted the wrong person and at some point everyone stops speaking except the abuser. Bingo...ya got the person. I mute and then report after the match is over.
He may have booted many people, and not just you for that reason. In R6 a lot of people get booted for really stupid reasons.
That's why my first thought was, "Does this guy play XBOX Live?" (the guy posted). I mute people all the time, and I wait till after the match to rate them "Behavior" -> "Disruptive". Usually, those whom I mute already have a reputation less than the full 5 stars...so obviously others are doing the same.
I usually warn them in game. Yes, it has no effect on their behavior but I'll call out, "OK, 2 more times and I'm booting ya off my mic." And then about 5 seconds later (just enough time for them to be stupid twice more)...I'll pause the game to mute them. I guess after about 900-1000 games online (just in Saints Row...about 300 or more additional in GoW and Rainbow6), it's quick and easy for me.
Yahoo, I think, had something in "Chat rooms" that could tell someone they were being ignored. If I remember, when they'd send a message they'd get a "5/12" (just as an example). This meant, of the 12 people in the room, only 5 were "listening" to them.
I hit a wall for quite some time, and if it weren't for the public forum on the developer's website, I may have never finished the game. I had ran into a glitch in the part where you fight through the labs (at the dam) and you hacked the computer, which opened a vault door. With the door open, you could then finish the game by killing the "bad chick" (sorry, forgot her name already). Problem was, I could never seem to hold off all the guys who bum-rushed us in the warehouse, while our trusty side kick hacked the computer. I thought I saw some scaffolding or something that might enable another way to get to her....so I back tracked through the labs to look for a 2nd (3rd to be technically accurate) way into the warehouse, but on the second story. Anyway, it "checkpoint" saved back in the labs. From that point on, I could not "hack computer", so the final fight scene never spawned and I couldn't get to the "bad chick".
I later learned you can "reload scene" in R6:Vegas (rather than "Start at last Checkpoint") and it worked like a champ.
Changing game subjects, I'm contemplating going though Gears of War. I found 27 of 30 COGS, but it's really a pain in the ass to go back through the same game a 2nd and 3rd game for points. Yes, I don't have to do it...but I'm only at ~470 out of 1000 even though I've beaten GoW and R6:Vegas. Some times you have to beat a game 3 times: Single Player (insane level, if not you beat it a 4th (normal) and 5th (realistic) time), Co-Op and Multiplayer (usually ranked).
Yeah, yeah, I'm whining...but I wish we got more for beating it. Some achievements almost seem silly in retrospect.
I'm with you on this. I used an old RedHat 7.3 release and had RT up in a matter of 2 or 3 days. How hard could it really be? I guess if I had 0 (zero) experience with Unix (Solaris in my case) it could be intimidating, but I'm not terribly skilled and got through it. Get RedHat up (easy!), put on Apache with the right modules, compile, add MySQL and you're about done. The configuration was a little awkard within Apache, but that's only because all my previous Apache experience was with very straight forward configurations (e.g. no virtual server names, etc).
I guess my point is, I'm a little skeptical unless the author could be more specific. If RT was too complicated, then he needs to hire some consultants to come in and do a system for him. Now if he couldnt figure out how to manipulate it to his tastes, that's something entirely different.
We've been using RT for about 2.5 years now, using version 3.0.6.
You seem to know a little more about this, and I've got another dumb question... Is LimeWire falling under the same classification? My firm belief is that Cox Communications kicks my connection purposely when I use LimeWire. I can use the computer for weeks if not months, with no issue. If I leave LimeWire running for a period of time, I have to reboot my cable modem every time with few exceptions. I can leave my XBOX360 running for a couple days (yes, yes...I'm a "booster" in Rainbow 6...bite me if you take exception...but I've beaten the game) and it doesn't drop (unless I've also got LimeWire running.
I called Cox tech support and the guy said..I'm not kidding..."You need to buy a new cable modem, 5 years is about the time for Motorola Cable Modems to fail". WTF? Anyone looked at how old those cable boxes are they pass out? I think Prez. Carter was in office when they were new. Anyway...just thought I'd throw this out and see what you thought.
We did originally try an all open source solution within the company. I won't proclaim to be an Exchange guru, but the original guy was pretty good and couldn't get it to work reliably. IMAP and his psuedo-file server applications worked great without using M$, but the calendar was always a no-go.
Yeah, I've had problems like you mention with that combination and Linux (I usually used RedHat). I was lucky in my previous job. We had full Solaris 8 (and later 9) systems and compiling (modperl, apache, MySQL, etc) was always a breeze. I brought up a few servers without problems and recompiled modules later, as I needed them. I took a brief sabbatical (sp?) and then when I got back into it I was hit with the Perl, modPerl, and other gotchas from new flavors of those applications (I think it was around 2000, or 2001 if memory serves right). I almost gave up, but stuck with it. I ended up going with old, stable releases of ModPerl and Apache, and compiling went smoothly with an old RedHat version.
Every couple years I buy an old Sun Ultra system off E-bay with the intent to shake off the rust and get back into network admin'ing, but stupid mistakes limit me and then I lose interest/time (e.g. the last one I bought failed to mention no CDROM, so these Solaris 8 disks are useless...and then I bought a "Sun CDROM drive" off E-bay, only to learn it was an IDE version for a specific Sun model...mine needed a SCSI CDROM drive).
The upside to the tinkering (and failing somewhat)? I did learn how to convert a WiFi AP to a WiFi "bridge", so that I can get a Sun system (with normal internal network card) onto my WiFi system at home (along with my XBOX, which wanted $99 for a WiFi card, but this $39 AirLink works fine as a bridge). Using a FreeWare file server, I see almost the full 10Mbps across the Wifi (G) even though it's hopping 3 times and wireless. (yes, I'm digressing a bit, but hopefully someone is in a similar situation and this is somewhat helpful).
You're using limited parts of the server. Yes, you're using IMAP, which the author is also capable of doing, but you're NOT using the Calender, which is crucial to not only the author, but a majority of business.
Our company is the same. Our previous IT "guy" was 100% *nix. He used to bring in different flavors of *nix on a CD and say, "Hey, Try these!". I use Windows normally, but he knew I was a system and network admin of Solaris systems running on Sun machines. As hard as he tried, we (like the article's author) just couldn't make it work for the company. I manage about 18 people and I tried making OpenOffice work, but as soon as we tried working with someone's M$ file (from PowerPoint or Word), the document was really screwy. It got to the point that I'd sometimes just export information as an HTML file so that I knew the style, format and look would stay intact (but they couldn't modify it well with Oo). I eventually asked for 18 M$ licenses, and was limited due to fiscal decisions to only 8. The 8 who got full M$ office had no problems, and the rest limped along.
Now, 3 years later, the remaining Linux systems and OpenSource software is on it's way out the door. Exectutives are now balking at limited Calender and some other limitations. You might say, "What has changed?" We're getting executives from other, more technologically advanced companies. So they want the full functionality (which, regretfully, means tons of more meetings....something I didn't miss from my previous, IT-savy company).
Although, it's ironic I got the CEO and other VPs hooked on WebCalendar for scheduling outside of work.
OK, It happened quite a few years ago, around 89-90. It was in Tulsa, Oklahoma and occurred at a residence at about the 27th Street of Mingo/101st (101 East Ave becomes Mingo), which is between 21st Street and 31st Street on the East side of town. Google Link I only really embellished the dog part. They were going to take his dog to the pound, but a neighbor who was next door offered to take care of the pet. Otherwise, they literally left his front door unsecured to anyone/everyone who might have happened by (e.g. said drug dealer who could have been watching the whole thing). The guns themselves were not illegal and there were no drugs. I was purposely vague on the Federal Agency involved because I can't recall if it was the DEA or ATF that conducted the raid.
What else would you like to know? My father, who is a life-time NRA member and still lives in the area, would remember more and I could ask him more specific as well. At the time, I was in my teenager years so I just thought, "Dude that sucks" and didn't really pay much attention. Now that I'm older, own a home, have a family, and am made to feel like an oddball for owning a firearm (I live in California, although being near Camp Pendleton now, gun ownership is more accepted than up in Orange County).....I have a different take on it now.
I think the naysayers are a bit full of themselves until this actually happens to them. There was a car analogy, but how about a direct gun analogy?
- Drug dealer (convicted felon) says you have guns and tips DEA (possibly to lessen a charge against themselves..so they can later make money). - Criminal (Ibid) puts malware out on the internet (possibly just to make money).
- Homeowner leaves for work - Computer owner leaves for work with computer on
- District Attorney has no clue but proceeds with warrant - Ibid
- See the article (RTFA) - Agents surveil the house, wait till you leave, serve a "no-knock" and pull the front door off the house. Dog/cats are taken to the pound, house is ransacked and left in shambles, and your perfectly legal and $4,000 gunsafe is destroyed in the process of getting inside.
-Countless legal battles to A: Figure out what the hell just happened B: Clear yourself of the charges - Ibid
The first one is the article I just read, the second happened to a neighbor two blocks away.
I've had a computer since 1983, using a TRS computer and a Hayes Smartmodem (300 baud, course) and I've got Sun certified in running hundreds of Solaris systems. I went most of those 23 years without a virus-scanner (just being very careful and patching), but still got bit. YouTube bit me. 23 years experience and a protected/patched system was still defeated. Never downloaded a wallpaper or any attachment for that matter. I played with the malware a little before fixing the system, and it was interesting watching the malware disable and render the AV software inept. In one case, it sat there by itself, just feeding, until I wacked it. A few moments later it re-spawned and this time protected itself from whacking. The other mal-ware blocked the port for updating the AV software...seems ironic the virus is smarter (remapped URLs to localhost) than the AV.
Oh well....after reading this it's just one more reason to switch over to the Mac when I have the $$$ (yeah, it's still vulnerable....but a lot less attractive to malware).
So what's my point? Even with all the knowledge and training, you will still get infected. You can scoff at YouTube, or MySpace, but you will eventually get bit. The upside: You'll figure it out quick and patch (hopefully).
I'll likely get modded as flamebait but to be blunt: You're just as naive as those you scorn if you think the average person is capable of stopping it and "got it from downloading screensavers." I don't think there's a single computer I've seen in the last 5 years that wasn't a Windows OS-installed screensaver. Wallpapers? Yeah, I see those on occasion...
Having worked at a B&O Store
on
Plasma or LCD?
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· Score: 1
I worked there just after high school (16 years ago) and we carried very high end home theater products, as well as custom home integration/installation. We carried stuff like Pioneer Elite (for the cheap people LOL) Nakamichi, B&O, Paradigm, Klipsch and a few others. Contrary to what a couple people imply, most people like to get everything from all one brand and/or source. I work now for a manufacturer of structured wiring and it's the same. People will drop a $4k order because you don't carry a $300 camera (which they can easily get from the original source for $200).
Back on topic, B&O people were very loyal. The drawbacks, though, are also mentioned which is a lock into their product offering. To be brutal, their core market is probably going to scoff at most common, cutting edge products (how many 60 year olds do you see with iPods? Not many, and I'm in SoCal where it seems everyone bleeds cash and drives a $70k Benz) so they can get away with it more than an entry level, budget consumer manufacturer (Sony, et al). Ulitimately, the shop I worked for that carried B&O dropped the line, but I think it was to concetrate on core products. The owners still backed and believed in B&O, it was just very hard to move.
I agree it's similar to Apple. Most people use a PC, but if they knew better they might realize that Apple is very good. Same with B&O. If I had the money, I'd buy it and use it. However, I now buy from companies that are associated with my company due to employee discounts (such as Bob Carver's Sunfire, Elan Home Systems, etc). I love Apples, but I have 5 PCs (3 are collecting dust in a corner) and 2 Sun Ultra SPARC servers (bought to keep from getting rusty with my UNIX skills, but ended up being abandoned due to missing parts from Ebay bought systems).
Emitters and Receivers for IR
on
Plasma or LCD?
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I'm not sure if this will work with B&O, but it can work for most other applications:
Click "Products" and then choose an emitter and/or receiver. Xantech owns a good deal of the patents and originally developed IR repeaters.
disclaimer: I work for the company that owns Xantech
Now that you mention it....MP3's don't have DRM do they? (have question, half statement...since I'm not sure). I assumed it was an MP3 because it's just about all I have. I have MP3s from music I've ripped and then the Apple conversion (AAC?). I might have accidentally ripped it as a WMA, but I know I didn't download it (LimeWire) because I don't trust anything from a public source that touches a Microsoft application.
If I ripped it, it would be with Media Player. I'll check out CDEX. Unfortunately, between the Gigabeat and XBOX360, I'm sorta locked into Media Player. Now I really have a new respect for the EU and others who have brought Microsoft to task for bundling everything. Bundling is nice, but if anything in the bundle fails...you're screwed. MP used to stream just fine to my XBOX, but now (after updating last week) it doesnt. The PC sees the XBOX, but the PC isn't seen by the XBOX as providing content.
I had a Nano for awhile and it grew legs. I guess someone needed it more than I, but I digress. I started looking for a replacement and had 3 viable options: Zune, Gigabeat and iPOD Video.
I liked the Video, but I really missed having an FM tuner. I tried really hard talking myself into ignoring it, but the others had FM and controls I liked better. When my MP3 player is in my pocket, I hate having to reach in and pull it out to do anything. I usually ride my motorcycle with tunes playing, so I'm not going to have it belted to my arm either. Anyway, again I digress.
I ended up getting the Gigabeat because I noticed it comes with everything you need. Zune makes you pay extra for the cradle, AV cable, etc. Seems silly to charge $250 and then nickle and dime me...although the XBOX360 is the same. The other reason I went away from the Zune was M$ DRM. I've pretty much only used iTunes and love it. I started using Media Player 10 to stream to my XBOX360 and that's when the pain began. I had a MP3 refuse to play because, "this was ripped with a CD and the CD is not available". DUH!!! If I wanted to flip in every CD I bought to play, why would I convert them to MP3?? I might as well go buy a 200 disk changer from Sony or Pioneer.
Anyway, it was Microsoft's DRM that drove me away. The irony is I still have to use Media Player with my Gigabeat but at least M$ didn't get my $$$ to perpetuate their draconian ways.
Isn't this the same company that scoffs at similar situations that result in source code being written, re-written, etc For example, open source which results in Linux? It's a bit of an irony.
Although, they've done this many times before. Take part of something well respected and has community involvement (Java, etc) and then consume their efforts later. I'd be very careful what I share with Microsoft. Not because I don't like them, but because of a very long track record.
Other than that little tidbit, it sounds like a great idea. I try and get my sister companies to help out each other, but everyone is always so focused on their own piece of the pie. Harvard Business Review (December 06) had an interesting write up ( Managing the Right Tension) which talks about the competing priorities of making collaborative efforts that help the community but hurt your individual unit. They use it in the sense of cross-organizational groups, but it's still a concept you could apply to industries. How often do you seen companies move on an opportunity to help the whole industry at their own expense?
"Why mast when you can have sex?" Bwaahahahahahahaha...that's the best laugh I've had in awhile. You did forget one thing, you can't get anything from yourself. Same with GH. No blisters on your fingers from actually playing.
That's why I said..."If"..they govern imports the same way. How does the US Gov ensure a Korean company is properly recycling? We produce our goods over in Hong Kong and ship it stateside cheaper than if we made them here. Our disposal and regulatory compliance is verifyable. Would we make them destroy it where consumed? Meaning, stateside consumption means stateside destruction. Otherwise, once a boat leaves a dock for Korea...you have NO idea what happens or measures to check compliance.
Again, I'm talking strictly logistics which is probably a greater amount of $$ you spend than you think...(meaning the cost passed along to you, the consumer).
Most US companies have production overseas. Overall,the usage of energy is dramatically lower than it's ever been. The Chinese consumption of energy you're thinking of is from more than just the consumer electronics manufacturing industry. We design in the US many of the factories they build over there.
Yep, you're looking at it from my perspective. I'm a tech support and warranty/repair manager for a large manufacturer of consumer and commercial electronic products. This will be a huge pain in the butt. When we manufacture stuff, we already meet a slew of regulations and other legal hurdles. The warranty itself is an issue. Got a marketing genius who likes to write "Lifetime Warranty"...boy will that haunt you forever. Guy gets hit by lightning, or hooks his DC power supply backwards? You're on the hook everytime...even if you say "Limited"...you'll still have people argue for hours.
Now...add to it regulations. There's already RoHS (reduction of hazardous substances) and other european initiatives. We do already scrap our own materials by sending to a recycler, but it's really more of a volume issue. It's a huge logistical nightmare to plan for handling how all that product will come in. Anyone who has managed a warehouse with thousands of products moving a day/week will grimace at the implications of this legislation (assuming the manufacturer is resposible for disposal). The "hazardous" issue is really moot as no one is really nasty with their products and disposal get's cheaper as volume goes up...no matter WHAT it is. To be honest, I think this will mostly increase the gap between prices for imports and domestic companies. If they don't govern foreign businesses the same way, the DAEWOO unit will be much cheaper than the Domestic brand (which might even be made on the same assembly line in S. Korea) because the domestic has to now cost the product with end-of-life disposal in mind.
Maybe I look at it differently or I don't understand the Apple DRM. iTunes allows me to buy a musical work by an artist. Although I am forced to use their format (GM sold with a GM tranny), I can still legally burn it to a CD and play it in my car (engine now has a bellhousing adapter to allow the Ford tranny on my Pontiac 400). At this point, I'm not sure what's legally permissable in terms of ripping the CD into an MP3 and putting it on my Sony MP3 player....but our discussion hasn't really gone that far.
Apple doesn't have a monopoly on the supply of music, and there's no DRM that would allow it. Yes, Microsoft tries this, but we're not talking about Windows. If you mean the MAC, I can't really comment. I don't follow MACs.
Tools can always be misused. The DMCA is just an attempt to keep people from infinitely ripping perfect digitial copies of an original work. I think Apple has been very reasonable in how they manage their product and "Music Store". If I couldn't burn music I bought from iTunes.com onto a CD (directly from my iTunes software) then I would just visit my local music store, or use someone elses service. And conversely, if I was FORCED to only play iTunes purchased music on my iPod, I would still be just using my old Sony MP3 (or my new LG VX9600 phone with MP3 player).
It seems you've taken the concept of copyright out of context. It is supposed to encourage creativity by LOCKING up rights to just copy a product. We (my company) isn't going to spend thousands of dollars to make something if another company can just reverse engineer and release the same product at a fraction of the cost (since they only had to reverse engineer an existing product).
I am on the fence on this one. Yes, on the one hand you want stuff to work with everyone else, but to me it's also same as getting pissed at GM because a Ford transmission doesn't hook up to it.
I'd say mad props using SUDO at home. I'd have to say the people who are against it really don't admin that many boxes or have that many users. Security is best in layers and a breach is "not IF, it's WHEN and HOW BAD".
Got Root Kit?
Home use of SUDO is a bit extreme, but I'd stil say it's useful because it keeps you disciplined and sharp (because you know how to apply it at work, or wherever else it can come in handy). Hence, I'd support it. Me? I'm lazy. Ive got my Sun servers at home (Solaris in a few flavors) not allowing root to login remotely, and then I su. I figure if someone can get past my security, I'm 0wn3d and have fun...
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Got suckered into a 15 year AARM mortgage with a pre-pay penalty and balloon payment? Education. Paid $30k for a Ford truck (which immediately dropped to a $19k wholesale value) and are upside down in value? Education. If there's one lesson...just one lesson...I could boil my entire MBA, stock market, and general life experience (regarding businees) into:
He who has the most accurate and timely information wins.
Coming back around full circle: This is why merchants should be responsible (and their banks). It forces them (and me!) to educate myself and minimize EVERYONE's risk. A previous owner left draft information for bank auto withdrawal in a binder, on the desk, by the door, for all his customers. Huge fraud potential. Some leave credit card information in the store after the day of sale. Huge fraud potential. I could go on, but I've proven the premise for my conclusion: You have to be active and reduce your costs through fraud prevention. How can I reasonably hold VISA accountable when I'm a merchant stupid enough to charge a card with someone elses name (I've seen guys try to use their wife's card....Dudes do not look like a "Wendy" to me).
On the flip side, I had a merchant pissed because I called in a charge back. Yeah he was pissed, because chargebacks increase fees a bank charge....but I gaurantee you he'll call next time he does an unauthorized pre-pay on my card. I manage a tech support department and we follow the policy I told him he should follow to reduce costs: Always call someone before you charge their card. In my case, he charged a 2nd $700 and then my wife said, "Should there be a 2nd one?" I said, "Nope" (not thinking two steps past why she asked) and so she called the credit card to charge it back. Whole thing could have been avoided.
So there you have it...I've mentioned my perspective from personally being both sides of the "coin" (and being accountable for the $$)....and I'd say the system is set up efficiently, and for the most part, fairly.
Fast forward to today: Who really "pays" for music? In my demographic (late 20s- mid 30s), we can afford high end audio gear. You really think I enjoy a track recorded under 192k in sampling? Nope. I, however, WILL download it check it out, and THEN pay for it. I hook my iPod up to my $900 deck, which is then connected to my high end speakers, and think, "Ack, that sounds like ran over dog-poo". Jam over to iTunes, pay for it, and dock to my receiver's iPod cradle. I didn't care for about 30%, but when I want to really zone out to The Crystal Method...I want it to sound really good, and I'll pay to do it.
Of course, I know I'm only a slice of the market, but the lesson can still be applied. (E.g. don't make paying and sharing music between my "appliances" a pain the the @$$
Boo Hoo, OS is making $$$: Businesses are making money of open source. OK? So? What'd you think a FOR_PROFIT company would do with it? At least they didn't M$ it: Embrace, make it proprietary, and then lock everyone out of using it. I read /. daily and I guess I missed the thousands posting how they no longer can use a flavor of *nix.
Companies are lying: This is a morally hollow argument. It's like saying, "I won't give to the bum on the street because I bet he makes $150k a year as a 'bum'" Even the lack of evidence of a conspiracy is proof there IS a conspiracy.
I somehow get the vibe that the author is really thinking it's lost it's gleam because OS is:making money, becoming mainstream, and some how no longer just a geek's product of tinkering. All of these are GOOD things to me. Make it mainstream...make money...make it easy....
These are just my ramblings.
He may have booted many people, and not just you for that reason. In R6 a lot of people get booted for really stupid reasons.
I usually warn them in game. Yes, it has no effect on their behavior but I'll call out, "OK, 2 more times and I'm booting ya off my mic." And then about 5 seconds later (just enough time for them to be stupid twice more)...I'll pause the game to mute them. I guess after about 900-1000 games online (just in Saints Row...about 300 or more additional in GoW and Rainbow6), it's quick and easy for me.
Yahoo, I think, had something in "Chat rooms" that could tell someone they were being ignored. If I remember, when they'd send a message they'd get a "5/12" (just as an example). This meant, of the 12 people in the room, only 5 were "listening" to them.
I later learned you can "reload scene" in R6:Vegas (rather than "Start at last Checkpoint") and it worked like a champ.
Changing game subjects, I'm contemplating going though Gears of War. I found 27 of 30 COGS, but it's really a pain in the ass to go back through the same game a 2nd and 3rd game for points. Yes, I don't have to do it...but I'm only at ~470 out of 1000 even though I've beaten GoW and R6:Vegas. Some times you have to beat a game 3 times: Single Player (insane level, if not you beat it a 4th (normal) and 5th (realistic) time), Co-Op and Multiplayer (usually ranked).
Yeah, yeah, I'm whining...but I wish we got more for beating it. Some achievements almost seem silly in retrospect.
I guess my point is, I'm a little skeptical unless the author could be more specific. If RT was too complicated, then he needs to hire some consultants to come in and do a system for him. Now if he couldnt figure out how to manipulate it to his tastes, that's something entirely different.
We've been using RT for about 2.5 years now, using version 3.0.6.
Didn't think of updating the cable modem. I'll check into it. Thanks! Your explanation or idea makes more sense than the tech support's.
I called Cox tech support and the guy said..I'm not kidding..."You need to buy a new cable modem, 5 years is about the time for Motorola Cable Modems to fail". WTF? Anyone looked at how old those cable boxes are they pass out? I think Prez. Carter was in office when they were new. Anyway...just thought I'd throw this out and see what you thought.
Yeah, I've had problems like you mention with that combination and Linux (I usually used RedHat). I was lucky in my previous job. We had full Solaris 8 (and later 9) systems and compiling (modperl, apache, MySQL, etc) was always a breeze. I brought up a few servers without problems and recompiled modules later, as I needed them. I took a brief sabbatical (sp?) and then when I got back into it I was hit with the Perl, modPerl, and other gotchas from new flavors of those applications (I think it was around 2000, or 2001 if memory serves right). I almost gave up, but stuck with it. I ended up going with old, stable releases of ModPerl and Apache, and compiling went smoothly with an old RedHat version.
Every couple years I buy an old Sun Ultra system off E-bay with the intent to shake off the rust and get back into network admin'ing, but stupid mistakes limit me and then I lose interest/time (e.g. the last one I bought failed to mention no CDROM, so these Solaris 8 disks are useless...and then I bought a "Sun CDROM drive" off E-bay, only to learn it was an IDE version for a specific Sun model...mine needed a SCSI CDROM drive).
The upside to the tinkering (and failing somewhat)? I did learn how to convert a WiFi AP to a WiFi "bridge", so that I can get a Sun system (with normal internal network card) onto my WiFi system at home (along with my XBOX, which wanted $99 for a WiFi card, but this $39 AirLink works fine as a bridge). Using a FreeWare file server, I see almost the full 10Mbps across the Wifi (G) even though it's hopping 3 times and wireless. (yes, I'm digressing a bit, but hopefully someone is in a similar situation and this is somewhat helpful).
Our company is the same. Our previous IT "guy" was 100% *nix. He used to bring in different flavors of *nix on a CD and say, "Hey, Try these!". I use Windows normally, but he knew I was a system and network admin of Solaris systems running on Sun machines. As hard as he tried, we (like the article's author) just couldn't make it work for the company. I manage about 18 people and I tried making OpenOffice work, but as soon as we tried working with someone's M$ file (from PowerPoint or Word), the document was really screwy. It got to the point that I'd sometimes just export information as an HTML file so that I knew the style, format and look would stay intact (but they couldn't modify it well with Oo). I eventually asked for 18 M$ licenses, and was limited due to fiscal decisions to only 8. The 8 who got full M$ office had no problems, and the rest limped along.
Now, 3 years later, the remaining Linux systems and OpenSource software is on it's way out the door. Exectutives are now balking at limited Calender and some other limitations. You might say, "What has changed?" We're getting executives from other, more technologically advanced companies. So they want the full functionality (which, regretfully, means tons of more meetings....something I didn't miss from my previous, IT-savy company).
Although, it's ironic I got the CEO and other VPs hooked on WebCalendar for scheduling outside of work.
Google Link take two. Sorry, I previewed but missed my failure to put the link in.
What else would you like to know? My father, who is a life-time NRA member and still lives in the area, would remember more and I could ask him more specific as well. At the time, I was in my teenager years so I just thought, "Dude that sucks" and didn't really pay much attention. Now that I'm older, own a home, have a family, and am made to feel like an oddball for owning a firearm (I live in California, although being near Camp Pendleton now, gun ownership is more accepted than up in Orange County).....I have a different take on it now.
- Drug dealer (convicted felon) says you have guns and tips DEA (possibly to lessen a charge against themselves..so they can later make money).
- Criminal (Ibid) puts malware out on the internet (possibly just to make money).
- Homeowner leaves for work
- Computer owner leaves for work with computer on
- District Attorney has no clue but proceeds with warrant
- Ibid
- See the article (RTFA)
- Agents surveil the house, wait till you leave, serve a "no-knock" and pull the front door off the house. Dog/cats are taken to the pound, house is ransacked and left in shambles, and your perfectly legal and $4,000 gunsafe is destroyed in the process of getting inside.
-Countless legal battles to
A: Figure out what the hell just happened
B: Clear yourself of the charges
- Ibid
The first one is the article I just read, the second happened to a neighbor two blocks away.
I've had a computer since 1983, using a TRS computer and a Hayes Smartmodem (300 baud, course) and I've got Sun certified in running hundreds of Solaris systems. I went most of those 23 years without a virus-scanner (just being very careful and patching), but still got bit. YouTube bit me. 23 years experience and a protected/patched system was still defeated. Never downloaded a wallpaper or any attachment for that matter. I played with the malware a little before fixing the system, and it was interesting watching the malware disable and render the AV software inept. In one case, it sat there by itself, just feeding, until I wacked it. A few moments later it re-spawned and this time protected itself from whacking. The other mal-ware blocked the port for updating the AV software...seems ironic the virus is smarter (remapped URLs to localhost) than the AV.
Oh well....after reading this it's just one more reason to switch over to the Mac when I have the $$$ (yeah, it's still vulnerable....but a lot less attractive to malware).
So what's my point? Even with all the knowledge and training, you will still get infected. You can scoff at YouTube, or MySpace, but you will eventually get bit. The upside: You'll figure it out quick and patch (hopefully).
I'll likely get modded as flamebait but to be blunt: You're just as naive as those you scorn if you think the average person is capable of stopping it and "got it from downloading screensavers." I don't think there's a single computer I've seen in the last 5 years that wasn't a Windows OS-installed screensaver. Wallpapers? Yeah, I see those on occasion...
Back on topic, B&O people were very loyal. The drawbacks, though, are also mentioned which is a lock into their product offering. To be brutal, their core market is probably going to scoff at most common, cutting edge products (how many 60 year olds do you see with iPods? Not many, and I'm in SoCal where it seems everyone bleeds cash and drives a $70k Benz) so they can get away with it more than an entry level, budget consumer manufacturer (Sony, et al). Ulitimately, the shop I worked for that carried B&O dropped the line, but I think it was to concetrate on core products. The owners still backed and believed in B&O, it was just very hard to move.
I agree it's similar to Apple. Most people use a PC, but if they knew better they might realize that Apple is very good. Same with B&O. If I had the money, I'd buy it and use it. However, I now buy from companies that are associated with my company due to employee discounts (such as Bob Carver's Sunfire, Elan Home Systems, etc). I love Apples, but I have 5 PCs (3 are collecting dust in a corner) and 2 Sun Ultra SPARC servers (bought to keep from getting rusty with my UNIX skills, but ended up being abandoned due to missing parts from Ebay bought systems).
Xantech
Click "Products" and then choose an emitter and/or receiver. Xantech owns a good deal of the patents and originally developed IR repeaters. disclaimer: I work for the company that owns Xantech
If I ripped it, it would be with Media Player. I'll check out CDEX. Unfortunately, between the Gigabeat and XBOX360, I'm sorta locked into Media Player. Now I really have a new respect for the EU and others who have brought Microsoft to task for bundling everything. Bundling is nice, but if anything in the bundle fails...you're screwed. MP used to stream just fine to my XBOX, but now (after updating last week) it doesnt. The PC sees the XBOX, but the PC isn't seen by the XBOX as providing content.
I liked the Video, but I really missed having an FM tuner. I tried really hard talking myself into ignoring it, but the others had FM and controls I liked better. When my MP3 player is in my pocket, I hate having to reach in and pull it out to do anything. I usually ride my motorcycle with tunes playing, so I'm not going to have it belted to my arm either. Anyway, again I digress.
I ended up getting the Gigabeat because I noticed it comes with everything you need. Zune makes you pay extra for the cradle, AV cable, etc. Seems silly to charge $250 and then nickle and dime me...although the XBOX360 is the same. The other reason I went away from the Zune was M$ DRM. I've pretty much only used iTunes and love it. I started using Media Player 10 to stream to my XBOX360 and that's when the pain began. I had a MP3 refuse to play because, "this was ripped with a CD and the CD is not available". DUH!!! If I wanted to flip in every CD I bought to play, why would I convert them to MP3?? I might as well go buy a 200 disk changer from Sony or Pioneer.
Anyway, it was Microsoft's DRM that drove me away. The irony is I still have to use Media Player with my Gigabeat but at least M$ didn't get my $$$ to perpetuate their draconian ways.
Although, they've done this many times before. Take part of something well respected and has community involvement (Java, etc) and then consume their efforts later. I'd be very careful what I share with Microsoft. Not because I don't like them, but because of a very long track record.
Other than that little tidbit, it sounds like a great idea. I try and get my sister companies to help out each other, but everyone is always so focused on their own piece of the pie. Harvard Business Review (December 06) had an interesting write up ( Managing the Right Tension) which talks about the competing priorities of making collaborative efforts that help the community but hurt your individual unit. They use it in the sense of cross-organizational groups, but it's still a concept you could apply to industries. How often do you seen companies move on an opportunity to help the whole industry at their own expense?
"Why mast when you can have sex?" Bwaahahahahahahaha...that's the best laugh I've had in awhile. You did forget one thing, you can't get anything from yourself. Same with GH. No blisters on your fingers from actually playing.
Again, I'm talking strictly logistics which is probably a greater amount of $$ you spend than you think...(meaning the cost passed along to you, the consumer).
Most US companies have production overseas. Overall,the usage of energy is dramatically lower than it's ever been. The Chinese consumption of energy you're thinking of is from more than just the consumer electronics manufacturing industry. We design in the US many of the factories they build over there.
Now...add to it regulations. There's already RoHS (reduction of hazardous substances) and other european initiatives. We do already scrap our own materials by sending to a recycler, but it's really more of a volume issue. It's a huge logistical nightmare to plan for handling how all that product will come in. Anyone who has managed a warehouse with thousands of products moving a day/week will grimace at the implications of this legislation (assuming the manufacturer is resposible for disposal). The "hazardous" issue is really moot as no one is really nasty with their products and disposal get's cheaper as volume goes up...no matter WHAT it is. To be honest, I think this will mostly increase the gap between prices for imports and domestic companies. If they don't govern foreign businesses the same way, the DAEWOO unit will be much cheaper than the Domestic brand (which might even be made on the same assembly line in S. Korea) because the domestic has to now cost the product with end-of-life disposal in mind.
Apple doesn't have a monopoly on the supply of music, and there's no DRM that would allow it. Yes, Microsoft tries this, but we're not talking about Windows. If you mean the MAC, I can't really comment. I don't follow MACs.
Tools can always be misused. The DMCA is just an attempt to keep people from infinitely ripping perfect digitial copies of an original work. I think Apple has been very reasonable in how they manage their product and "Music Store". If I couldn't burn music I bought from iTunes.com onto a CD (directly from my iTunes software) then I would just visit my local music store, or use someone elses service. And conversely, if I was FORCED to only play iTunes purchased music on my iPod, I would still be just using my old Sony MP3 (or my new LG VX9600 phone with MP3 player).
I am on the fence on this one. Yes, on the one hand you want stuff to work with everyone else, but to me it's also same as getting pissed at GM because a Ford transmission doesn't hook up to it.
I'd say mad props using SUDO at home. I'd have to say the people who are against it really don't admin that many boxes or have that many users. Security is best in layers and a breach is "not IF, it's WHEN and HOW BAD". Got Root Kit? Home use of SUDO is a bit extreme, but I'd stil say it's useful because it keeps you disciplined and sharp (because you know how to apply it at work, or wherever else it can come in handy). Hence, I'd support it. Me? I'm lazy. Ive got my Sun servers at home (Solaris in a few flavors) not allowing root to login remotely, and then I su. I figure if someone can get past my security, I'm 0wn3d and have fun...