It would, unquestionably, take a Civil War to get the changes that should be done.
My favorite example is the fact that over HALF of my annual income goes to the government in the form of one tax or another.
I'm not sure I'll be able to retire, and my parents have the same worries. Had we not spent over half of our money supporting the government - that wouldn't be a concern.
My Father, as an example, often pays over 40% income tax alone - called Capital Gains Tax.
Like many Americans, I enjoy the freedom(s) and liberties we have in this country. However, just because we have many freedoms and liberties that others do not -- does not make it acceptable to have even one of those freedoms/liberties taken away.
Were some sort of revolution to take place, I and everyone I know would be right there. In fact, the one person I know who is the most upset with the government today is a former Vietnam veteran - a Marine Sniper. Today he's a very wealthy man - has been a CEO, President, VP, etc - in many companies.
He told me, on a multitude of occassions, that his last wish in life is to be alive for the revolution that 'must' be coming.
I, like many, would much prefer things be resolved peacably. Unfortunetally, those who have 'power' will 'lead' those under them to death before letting go.
A good start would be to make government agencies accountable for their day-to-day operations. Including budgets, business decisions, operations, safety & health regulations - everything. No government agency should operate outside of civil law. Any law that applies to a civil business should apply to any government agency.
Though, I think we all agree (whether we really like it or not) - the Military needs to have it's secrets. How we could leave the Military alone and hold normal government agencies accountable - I'm not sure - as I'm sure many government agencies would simply abuse loopholes by diguising operations as Military related.
*sigh*
I'd love to be around for a revolution - I'd say that for sure. I don't think it will happen in my lifetime. Our "democracy" has become a massive group of small dictatorships... I think we call them States? I suppose the difference is, we 'elect' (or atleast 'think' we do) our dictators.
Yeah, yeah -1 troll/flamebait. I see it coming. But this is the way I feel, and a lot of other people do as well.
Tell me, when was the last time YOU made a difference in America? I don't feel like the people have control anymore. Not at all.
Example: I was just turned down from an IT Manager position - the HR Manager is a family friend. I was informed that I simply didn't have a chance at the job - I don't speak spanish and I'm white. The company is behind on their 'quota' (GOVERNMENT QUOTA) of black manager's.
The person who filled the position is a convicted felon. He was the _only_ African American person who applied for the position. I was told the only requirement he came close to meeting for the position was that he had an AAS degree in CS.
A friend of mine, graduated at the TOP of his class at the Police academy in Miami Florida. He had the second highest score in the physical tests. He was told, CLEARLY, that they could not give him a job a the Sherrif's Dept because he was white and didn't speak spanish.
I'm all for immigration (LEGAL Immigration), and civil rights. But this doesn't even seem like America anymore.
Every country OTHER then the US has prevented SCO from persuing this trash licensing [theft]...
That says something about our government...
I still say Microsoft _MUST_ be leverging agencies to leave this alone and let it play out. There's no other way consumers would be left so unprotected against such a fraudulent licensing scheme.
Reading the same FUD crap over and over through 'normal' media outlets is really getting old.
Though, I must admit, this is probably one of the better FUD articles I've read. Rather, it takes a new approach...
"Hey, normal users don't need to worry - you're safe. It's the big companies that have to worry. Just forget about it, and let SCO do their thing."
I'm not sure -- but it appears to me that the article is somewhat geared towards telling normal Linux users to abandon concern for the SCO situation and let the corporations take it all on alone.
Perhaps a new FUD tactic attempting to break up the community?
Regardless, I have a headache after reading it. 99% of the information in that article I've read 20 times already - with the only exception being the articles strong attempts to alleviate any concerns that normal Linux users may have of being sued.
It'll be funny when someone hacks in and steals a massive list of vulnerabilities.
I wouldn't trust the government to secure anything. It's actually kinda scary to think these people would have a massive collection of vulnerabilities nicely indexed with the targets - ripe and ready for malicious hackers to slurp up.
BTW, to those cooperating CEO's, I got a BARGAIN deal on the Brooklyn Bridge for ya! Gimme a shout!
I've been annoyed by certs for years. I recall my last position, IT Director of a defense contractor.
A few resume buffs included:
9 years on the job experience, in senior management. Master's in CS from the U of A, GPA 3.76 (too much beer?) Primary languages: C/C++, VB (ick), Java, Cobol, ASM, Perl (LOVE Perl! *smooch*)... and, of course, every geek knows HTML/DHTML, JavaSCRIPT, Basic (ehhh), and a multitude of worthless languages that you learned because.... shit I have no excuse. Ohh well.
4 total MRP/ERP conversions, blah blah. An impressive resume for the area I lived in, to say the least.
During my interview, they (CEO and COO) asked if I was MCSE certified. I flat out laughed. At the time I thought it would cost me the job. Though, it eventually came out that the CEO was MCSE certified.
To say the CEO was computer illiterate would be the understatement of the year. Yet, this man was MCSE certified -- I'm not specifically sure, even now, why he asked if I was.
Though, I would also like to point out that what we see today as certifications are _NOT_ what certifications were 15 years ago.
Microsoft (or so I primarily attribute) is greatly responsible for the influx of worthless certs in my opinion.
I suspect MS's intention was to flood the job market with "Windows only" workers - who only knew how to resolve the problems with Windows that Microsoft wanted them to. An example, is again, the MCSE - where you learn mostly how to resolve/workaround/[rarely]fix "_KNOWN_" problems with various versions of Windows.
Years and years ago, there were no Computer Science degree's available from any college - you went to tech school and got certified for the various skills that you felt would help advance your career.
An example would be my Father, whom has dozens of certifications related to technology -- all of which were not available at any college during his time. He, instead, obtained a degree in Physics.
On his way to N.A.S.A, the program was cancelled -- and so he sought to continue his way through technology. To do that, he could only get certified.
He then spent the next 30 years of his life working on Mainframes -- technology and information now in short demand - even in the IT field. And when they are available - companies want someone with a degree in CS -- something that was not available in his time. He has been out of work longer then any of you could imagine. 100% of the jobs he has applied for have been filled by H1-B visa workers from India. He started tracking them about 3 years ago - to see who was getting the jobs.
Though, I must admit -- he deserves no pitty. He makes roughly 8 times more then I, simply as an investor. He says he wants to work for the 'sense of accomplishment and comradory' that he once had. Some of the things he had done for IT in general are fascinating to hear about.
His fatal flaw, though, is he just doesn't 'get' personal computing. In his world -- there is no such thing as graphics. Something I can understand, greadly, as I feel that any GUI confuses a simple world. To work through the command line is a beautiful thing. It's a shame so many distort that by using a GUI in situations where it shouldn't.
Okay, just ranting here I suppose.
Regardless, certs now deserve to be recognized as trash. Most of them are. It's a shame, too. I think this was largely inflicted by the influx of morons armed with Microsoft certifications that are as ignorant to the inner-workings of the technology they supported as the users who sought them for advice and service. A far cry from what things were many years ago -- and certainly something that should be exposed for what it truly is.
Even in remote areas I've found that most IT jobs are not even advertised unless the requirements are unbeleivable.
An example of the FEW IT jobs listed via online job-sites and print media:
1) C++ Programmer, 5+ years experience, BS degree in related field (all required - very clearly states do not apply if you don't have atleast the experience stated).
Payscale: $10 an hour! WTF! You can make TWICE that driving a FORKLIFT!
2) System admin, must have 10+ years experience in a 'large scale san architecture,' BS required
Languages required: C, VB, Java, Perl
Payscale: $45k/year + benefits (Not _horrible_ - but for those skills and the level of responsibility - that's pathetic.)
3) Wireless Administrator, BS in related field required, 5+ years wireless administration experience, C/C++, VB
Payscale: 55k + benefits (Again, not horrible but for the experience required that is pathetic pay. As well, this company is the _ONLY_ wireless access provider within almost 400 miles. This job has been open and being ADVERTISED for OVER 7 months now. LoL. I'll bet they've spent 55k advertising it - it's in EVERY Sunday paper through FOUR publications - as well as on careerbuilder.com, hotjobs.com, dice.com, monster.com and probably others.)
Those are just about the only jobs posted within 100 miles of where I live... There have, however, been two oddball positions advertised just recently, both by FedEx;
1) Computer Operator - basically just requires some past experience in IT and a HSD. Payscale: $45k / year + benefits
Very competative salary for the position in this area.
2) IT Director - BS +2 years management experience required, a few other little 'prefered' notes - etc...
Payscale - "up to" $135k/year + benefits "DOE"
An extremely competative wage for this area. Most executive officers in this area would envy that salary. The downfall, however, to this position -- is that it's located 60 miles in the middle of FREAKING NOWHERE! Literally 'in the mountains.' You would either drive 2 and 1/2 hours to get to work each day, from the 'closest [town],' or live deep in the mountains.
IMO, a great plus. But a major turnoff to many geeks.
All in all, as many here have already stated - it generally seems IT jobs are a behind the scenes deal. They are all being taken up by insiders, whether it be within the company or a friend of someone who works there.
Networking seems to be the way to discover these positions. Being that I just relocated to the area I am at, this is impossible for me -- as I simply do not know anyone here.
What I ended up doing was making a rolodex of HR managers to contact on a weekly basis - and scheduled out contact times to continue contact with a list of local companies until a position comes open. I have found this to be an extremely successfull method.
Relying strictly on traditional publications, staffing firms, and online job-sites -- in my experience -- will not produce results. The jobs that make it that far through the vicious IT cycle are trash jobs that no one wanted.
This, of course, is merely my opinion -- and is obviously reflective only of the area I live in.
Okay, for starters - bnetd said they would implement the cd-key check system Blizzard uses on battle.net. Blizzard in fact agreed to it at one point, then retracted and filed suit.
The CD-Key check on battle.net is NOT Blizzard's primary form of anti-piracy. Hell, it's not even a good one. CD-Key gen's are available for every Blizzard title. EVERY title. (Well, all those that require a key anyway.)
All can be found with little effort, navigating the right hack sites. In fact, many people trade them off for items in games.
Another problem with calling Blizzard's CD-Key check their main anti-piracy protection is the fact that SP, LAN, and TCP/IP play do _NOT_ have any sort of CD-Key authentication.
In fact, the MAIN anti-piracy measure Blizzard has taken is unquestionably the initial CD-Key check required during the installation of the product.
The battle.net CD-Key check feature merely ensures more then one person isn't using the same key on the same service at the same time. Hardly a main piracy protection scheme. Though, it's a good and valuable one.
However, if it were so important that a product like bnetd would harm their business - it would suffice to say they would not have allowed TCP/IP, LAN, and SP without the same CD-Key check.
Now, take notice to what you are saying. According to you, a company [such as Blizzard], could effectively hold a monopoly over a service by merely adding a copyright protection feature to their own proprietary service - such as a CD-Key check.
The way they do it is simple. Make product, product can use online service. Make online service do a CD-Key check that ONLY producer can do.
But, interesting tidbit - did you know premium artists like Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears get less then $1 per album sold.
I not only think ripping off music is wrong, but I think the artists aren't properly compensated.
Seriously, how much of that $15+ that you spend on a CD is for the physical media, ink, or advertising used to get word on the album out. Imagine what lesser artist's get. Like a penny an album? More, I'm sure - but it does make you wonder.
I was watching an E! 'thing' the other day on Britney Spears - which stated she had earned roughly $18M from her album sales. Lots of money, yes. But c'mon - we're talking about BRITNEY SPEARS here. And that's from well over 20 million total album sales. So she earns the music industry a few billion and they give her a few million.
Ehh, not that anyone cares. To me it's like donating money to a charity only to discover 95% of the money donated goes to pay fat executives.
The RIAA doesn't give a crap about the artists, all they care about is fattening their own pockets.
In their minds, the artist making more money is simply an 'unfortunate side-effect.'
So many people seem to think there is nothing important to be had in this case; I think they are wrong. Dead wrong.
Blizzard envoked the DMCA against bnetd, claiming bnetd (primarily) circumvented their copyright protection efforts because it bypasses the cd-key check given when logging into the battle.net service.
This is obviously an abusive use of the DMCA as that 'special' cd-key check only takes place on battle.net. It doesn't happen on single player, LAN, or TCP/IP games.
Sure, right now there are larger - more important cases to be fought. But, this case also has it's place of importance.
Blizzard is clearly abusing the DMCA [Yeah, yeah - atleast ACT suprised, k?) - and if they are allowed to abuse the DMCA this way and win their case - their case will become a reference in other similar cases.
As lame as this may sound, this is something gaming companies could use as a leash to control mods that they do/don't want to allow to continue developement.
Or, say, someday MS decides that each time you log onto their xBox Live gaming service it checks some sort of key. This would prevent anyone from offering competing services to the xBox Live. Even if they are just doing it for fun, or as an OSS project.
Regardless, the point is that the results of this case could potentially have FAR-reaching implications for potential OSS projects.
Nevermind the fact that the entire lawsuit is bogus. Though, with the exception of the trademark/copyright claim for the use of the 'bnet' name. (Battle.net is, in fact, collectively known to the majority of users as b.net - and is most commonly referred to as such.)
Good thing I live in Arkansas, these morons can't make it to the dentist - let alone calculate any taxes I would owe them.
Yet another example of how frightening an educated government can be. They'll stoop to any level to make sure they squeeze every penny out of you they think they can. Amazing, they do this all from laws that are unconstitutional.
This is exactly why we need to preserve our right to keep and bear arms. Because, at some point enough people are going to get fed up with this sh!t and revolt.
I only hope I'm alive to see that day. I've had enough of over 40% of my income going to the government.
"County officials have not yet determined if they will tell the families involved about the incident.
It's pathetic that they even question whether or not to inform the parents. That's like publicly saying; "Hey, we know we screwed up BIG, we know the media knows, but we're not quite sure if we're going to try and cover our own asses yet or not."
Knowingly endangering a child in any form is a felony. This is simply more proof that allowing the government to act with relative impunity results in criminal acts against citizens. The county is responisble for the leaked information and should be responsible for securing the daily activities of those children, to ensure the leaked data does not allow any harm to come to them.
When I was seven years old, my day-care center had 'accidently' released confidential information about myself and several other children in their care. The day-care center cared for somewhere around 70 children. The leaked information was found in the posession of a convicted child molestor. By the next day, the day-care center was shutdown and the city had filed criminal charges against it's owner and two employees at the facility.
Why is it that when the government does it, everything is not only OK -- but they're not even sure they should bother wasting their time to inform the parents/guardians that their children have been placed at risk.
This bogus trash needs to stop, the government has to be responsible for it's actions. They violate laws on a regular basis as a part of their daily operations. Enron is almost perfect compared to our own government.
If there are, I've got them all... I have 14 xbox games... I don't play the damn thing AT ALL. In fact, I've played it a grand total of 7 times. All seven times were when my brother was visiting.
Even if the games were cross-compatable - I wouldn't want to play them on an Xbox2 because the vast majority of them had major features cut to ship the game faster.
More simply put, even the good Xbox games suck compared to their PS2 cousins. Why on Earth would I want to take that crap to a new console? Or hell, even buy the Xbox2 at all for that matter.
Slashdot Mirror
It would, unquestionably, take a Civil War to get the changes that should be done.
My favorite example is the fact that over HALF of my annual income goes to the government in the form of one tax or another.
I'm not sure I'll be able to retire, and my parents have the same worries. Had we not spent over half of our money supporting the government - that wouldn't be a concern.
My Father, as an example, often pays over 40% income tax alone - called Capital Gains Tax.
Like many Americans, I enjoy the freedom(s) and liberties we have in this country. However, just because we have many freedoms and liberties that others do not -- does not make it acceptable to have even one of those freedoms/liberties taken away.
Were some sort of revolution to take place, I and everyone I know would be right there. In fact, the one person I know who is the most upset with the government today is a former Vietnam veteran - a Marine Sniper. Today he's a very wealthy man - has been a CEO, President, VP, etc - in many companies.
He told me, on a multitude of occassions, that his last wish in life is to be alive for the revolution that 'must' be coming.
I, like many, would much prefer things be resolved peacably. Unfortunetally, those who have 'power' will 'lead' those under them to death before letting go.
A good start would be to make government agencies accountable for their day-to-day operations. Including budgets, business decisions, operations, safety & health regulations - everything. No government agency should operate outside of civil law. Any law that applies to a civil business should apply to any government agency.
Though, I think we all agree (whether we really like it or not) - the Military needs to have it's secrets. How we could leave the Military alone and hold normal government agencies accountable - I'm not sure - as I'm sure many government agencies would simply abuse loopholes by diguising operations as Military related.
*sigh*
I'd love to be around for a revolution - I'd say that for sure. I don't think it will happen in my lifetime. Our "democracy" has become a massive group of small dictatorships... I think we call them States? I suppose the difference is, we 'elect' (or atleast 'think' we do) our dictators.
Yeah, yeah -1 troll/flamebait. I see it coming.
But this is the way I feel, and a lot of other people do as well.
Tell me, when was the last time YOU made a difference in America? I don't feel like the people have control anymore. Not at all.
Example: I was just turned down from an IT Manager position - the HR Manager is a family friend. I was informed that I simply didn't have a chance at the job - I don't speak spanish and I'm white. The company is behind on their 'quota' (GOVERNMENT QUOTA) of black manager's.
The person who filled the position is a convicted felon. He was the _only_ African American person who applied for the position. I was told the only requirement he came close to meeting for the position was that he had an AAS degree in CS.
A friend of mine, graduated at the TOP of his class at the Police academy in Miami Florida. He had the second highest score in the physical tests. He was told, CLEARLY, that they could not give him a job a the Sherrif's Dept because he was white and didn't speak spanish.
I'm all for immigration (LEGAL Immigration), and civil rights. But this doesn't even seem like America anymore.
We'll break out the beer and guns then talk about overthrowing the government!!!
Woohoo!!!
Shit, living in Arkansas is starting to get to me.
Every country OTHER then the US has prevented SCO from persuing this trash licensing [theft]...
That says something about our government...
I still say Microsoft _MUST_ be leverging agencies to leave this alone and let it play out. There's no other way consumers would be left so unprotected against such a fraudulent licensing scheme.
Reading the same FUD crap over and over through 'normal' media outlets is really getting old.
Though, I must admit, this is probably one of the better FUD articles I've read. Rather, it takes a new approach...
"Hey, normal users don't need to worry - you're safe. It's the big companies that have to worry. Just forget about it, and let SCO do their thing."
I'm not sure -- but it appears to me that the article is somewhat geared towards telling normal Linux users to abandon concern for the SCO situation and let the corporations take it all on alone.
Perhaps a new FUD tactic attempting to break up the community?
Regardless, I have a headache after reading it. 99% of the information in that article I've read 20 times already - with the only exception being the articles strong attempts to alleviate any concerns that normal Linux users may have of being sued.
It'll be funny when someone hacks in and steals a massive list of vulnerabilities.
I wouldn't trust the government to secure anything. It's actually kinda scary to think these people would have a massive collection of vulnerabilities nicely indexed with the targets - ripe and ready for malicious hackers to slurp up.
BTW, to those cooperating CEO's, I got a BARGAIN deal on the Brooklyn Bridge for ya! Gimme a shout!
You fools!
The new EU version of the DMCA harmfull????
Surely you are jesting, Sir!
Lets see, that's no more Dr. Pepper, no more Coffee, no more pizza, no more beer[!!!!!!!!!!!!!]...
My God, this is the spawn of Satan!!!!!!!!!
It must burn!!!!!
I've been annoyed by certs for years. I recall my last position, IT Director of a defense contractor.
.... shit I have no excuse. Ohh well.
A few resume buffs included:
9 years on the job experience, in senior management.
Master's in CS from the U of A, GPA 3.76 (too much beer?)
Primary languages: C/C++, VB (ick), Java, Cobol, ASM, Perl (LOVE Perl! *smooch*)... and, of course, every geek knows HTML/DHTML, JavaSCRIPT, Basic (ehhh), and a multitude of worthless languages that you learned because
4 total MRP/ERP conversions, blah blah. An impressive resume for the area I lived in, to say the least.
During my interview, they (CEO and COO) asked if I was MCSE certified. I flat out laughed. At the time I thought it would cost me the job. Though, it eventually came out that the CEO was MCSE certified.
To say the CEO was computer illiterate would be the understatement of the year. Yet, this man was MCSE certified -- I'm not specifically sure, even now, why he asked if I was.
Though, I would also like to point out that what we see today as certifications are _NOT_ what certifications were 15 years ago.
Microsoft (or so I primarily attribute) is greatly responsible for the influx of worthless certs in my opinion.
I suspect MS's intention was to flood the job market with "Windows only" workers - who only knew how to resolve the problems with Windows that Microsoft wanted them to. An example, is again, the MCSE - where you learn mostly how to resolve/workaround/[rarely]fix "_KNOWN_" problems with various versions of Windows.
Years and years ago, there were no Computer Science degree's available from any college - you went to tech school and got certified for the various skills that you felt would help advance your career.
An example would be my Father, whom has dozens of certifications related to technology -- all of which were not available at any college during his time. He, instead, obtained a degree in Physics.
On his way to N.A.S.A, the program was cancelled -- and so he sought to continue his way through technology. To do that, he could only get certified.
He then spent the next 30 years of his life working on Mainframes -- technology and information now in short demand - even in the IT field. And when they are available - companies want someone with a degree in CS -- something that was not available in his time. He has been out of work longer then any of you could imagine. 100% of the jobs he has applied for have been filled by H1-B visa workers from India. He started tracking them about 3 years ago - to see who was getting the jobs.
Though, I must admit -- he deserves no pitty. He makes roughly 8 times more then I, simply as an investor. He says he wants to work for the 'sense of accomplishment and comradory' that he once had. Some of the things he had done for IT in general are fascinating to hear about.
His fatal flaw, though, is he just doesn't 'get' personal computing. In his world -- there is no such thing as graphics. Something I can understand, greadly, as I feel that any GUI confuses a simple world. To work through the command line is a beautiful thing. It's a shame so many distort that by using a GUI in situations where it shouldn't.
Okay, just ranting here I suppose.
Regardless, certs now deserve to be recognized as trash. Most of them are. It's a shame, too. I think this was largely inflicted by the influx of morons armed with Microsoft certifications that are as ignorant to the inner-workings of the technology they supported as the users who sought them for advice and service. A far cry from what things were many years ago -- and certainly something that should be exposed for what it truly is.
Even in remote areas I've found that most IT jobs are not even advertised unless the requirements are unbeleivable.
An example of the FEW IT jobs listed via online job-sites and print media:
1) C++ Programmer, 5+ years experience, BS degree in related field (all required - very clearly states do not apply if you don't have atleast the experience stated).
Payscale: $10 an hour! WTF! You can make TWICE that driving a FORKLIFT!
2) System admin, must have 10+ years experience in a 'large scale san architecture,' BS required
Languages required: C, VB, Java, Perl
Payscale: $45k/year + benefits
(Not _horrible_ - but for those skills and the level of responsibility - that's pathetic.)
3) Wireless Administrator, BS in related field required, 5+ years wireless administration experience, C/C++, VB
Payscale: 55k + benefits (Again, not horrible but for the experience required that is pathetic pay. As well, this company is the _ONLY_ wireless access provider within almost 400 miles. This job has been open and being ADVERTISED for OVER 7 months now. LoL. I'll bet they've spent 55k advertising it - it's in EVERY Sunday paper through FOUR publications - as well as on careerbuilder.com, hotjobs.com, dice.com, monster.com and probably others.)
Those are just about the only jobs posted within 100 miles of where I live... There have, however, been two oddball positions advertised just recently, both by FedEx;
1) Computer Operator - basically just requires some past experience in IT and a HSD.
Payscale: $45k / year + benefits
Very competative salary for the position in this area.
2) IT Director - BS +2 years management experience required, a few other little 'prefered' notes - etc...
Payscale - "up to" $135k/year + benefits "DOE"
An extremely competative wage for this area. Most executive officers in this area would envy that salary. The downfall, however, to this position -- is that it's located 60 miles in the middle of FREAKING NOWHERE! Literally 'in the mountains.' You would either drive 2 and 1/2 hours to get to work each day, from the 'closest [town],' or live deep in the mountains.
IMO, a great plus. But a major turnoff to many geeks.
All in all, as many here have already stated - it generally seems IT jobs are a behind the scenes deal. They are all being taken up by insiders, whether it be within the company or a friend of someone who works there.
Networking seems to be the way to discover these positions. Being that I just relocated to the area I am at, this is impossible for me -- as I simply do not know anyone here.
What I ended up doing was making a rolodex of HR managers to contact on a weekly basis - and scheduled out contact times to continue contact with a list of local companies until a position comes open. I have found this to be an extremely successfull method.
Relying strictly on traditional publications, staffing firms, and online job-sites -- in my experience -- will not produce results. The jobs that make it that far through the vicious IT cycle are trash jobs that no one wanted.
This, of course, is merely my opinion -- and is obviously reflective only of the area I live in.
*looks at spam count for yesterday* "23,916"
*Looks at spam count for last year, same date* "14,525"
Wow, that CAN-SPAM act sure as hell is workin'.
"how it feels in the hand, for long periods of time."
Okay, for starters - bnetd said they would implement the cd-key check system Blizzard uses on battle.net. Blizzard in fact agreed to it at one point, then retracted and filed suit.
The CD-Key check on battle.net is NOT Blizzard's primary form of anti-piracy. Hell, it's not even a good one. CD-Key gen's are available for every Blizzard title. EVERY title. (Well, all those that require a key anyway.)
All can be found with little effort, navigating the right hack sites. In fact, many people trade them off for items in games.
Another problem with calling Blizzard's CD-Key check their main anti-piracy protection is the fact that SP, LAN, and TCP/IP play do _NOT_ have any sort of CD-Key authentication.
In fact, the MAIN anti-piracy measure Blizzard has taken is unquestionably the initial CD-Key check required during the installation of the product.
The battle.net CD-Key check feature merely ensures more then one person isn't using the same key on the same service at the same time. Hardly a main piracy protection scheme. Though, it's a good and valuable one.
However, if it were so important that a product like bnetd would harm their business - it would suffice to say they would not have allowed TCP/IP, LAN, and SP without the same CD-Key check.
Now, take notice to what you are saying. According to you, a company [such as Blizzard], could effectively hold a monopoly over a service by merely adding a copyright protection feature to their own proprietary service - such as a CD-Key check.
The way they do it is simple. Make product, product can use online service. Make online service do a CD-Key check that ONLY producer can do.
BANG, no one can offer a competing service.
"because artists don't deserve to be paid"
Heh, I agree with your outlook on it.
But, interesting tidbit - did you know premium artists like Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears get less then $1 per album sold.
I not only think ripping off music is wrong, but I think the artists aren't properly compensated.
Seriously, how much of that $15+ that you spend on a CD is for the physical media, ink, or advertising used to get word on the album out. Imagine what lesser artist's get. Like a penny an album? More, I'm sure - but it does make you wonder.
I was watching an E! 'thing' the other day on Britney Spears - which stated she had earned roughly $18M from her album sales. Lots of money, yes. But c'mon - we're talking about BRITNEY SPEARS here. And that's from well over 20 million total album sales. So she earns the music industry a few billion and they give her a few million.
Ehh, not that anyone cares. To me it's like donating money to a charity only to discover 95% of the money donated goes to pay fat executives.
The RIAA doesn't give a crap about the artists, all they care about is fattening their own pockets.
In their minds, the artist making more money is simply an 'unfortunate side-effect.'
So many people seem to think there is nothing important to be had in this case; I think they are wrong. Dead wrong.
Blizzard envoked the DMCA against bnetd, claiming bnetd (primarily) circumvented their copyright protection efforts because it bypasses the cd-key check given when logging into the battle.net service.
This is obviously an abusive use of the DMCA as that 'special' cd-key check only takes place on battle.net. It doesn't happen on single player, LAN, or TCP/IP games.
Sure, right now there are larger - more important cases to be fought. But, this case also has it's place of importance.
Blizzard is clearly abusing the DMCA [Yeah, yeah - atleast ACT suprised, k?) - and if they are allowed to abuse the DMCA this way and win their case - their case will become a reference in other similar cases.
As lame as this may sound, this is something gaming companies could use as a leash to control mods that they do/don't want to allow to continue developement.
Or, say, someday MS decides that each time you log onto their xBox Live gaming service it checks some sort of key. This would prevent anyone from offering competing services to the xBox Live. Even if they are just doing it for fun, or as an OSS project.
Regardless, the point is that the results of this case could potentially have FAR-reaching implications for potential OSS projects.
Nevermind the fact that the entire lawsuit is bogus. Though, with the exception of the trademark/copyright claim for the use of the 'bnet' name. (Battle.net is, in fact, collectively known to the majority of users as b.net - and is most commonly referred to as such.)
Good thing I live in Arkansas, these morons can't make it to the dentist - let alone calculate any taxes I would owe them.
Yet another example of how frightening an educated government can be. They'll stoop to any level to make sure they squeeze every penny out of you they think they can. Amazing, they do this all from laws that are unconstitutional.
This is exactly why we need to preserve our right to keep and bear arms. Because, at some point enough people are going to get fed up with this sh!t and revolt.
I only hope I'm alive to see that day. I've had enough of over 40% of my income going to the government.
Any /.er's got a mirror up for the Linux version?
I'd say it would be nice if they'd release the source so people could mod it...
But, that'll happen about the same time MS donates to Linux developement. LMAO
Sucks to see code go to waste, ohh wait....
Forgot, it's MS code.
Molecularize your favorite beer without leaving your computer!
Woohoo!
If you don't want people to see it, don't put it on the internet.
One would be led to think this would be a evident to anyone intelligent enough to tie their shoes.
But hey, this is scary stuff! People are stupid, so let's shut down google - the hackers tool for identity theft and terrorism!
I wonder how many poor Asian people turned caucasian while reading that article. O_O
It's pathetic that they even question whether or not to inform the parents. That's like publicly saying; "Hey, we know we screwed up BIG, we know the media knows, but we're not quite sure if we're going to try and cover our own asses yet or not."
Knowingly endangering a child in any form is a felony. This is simply more proof that allowing the government to act with relative impunity results in criminal acts against citizens. The county is responisble for the leaked information and should be responsible for securing the daily activities of those children, to ensure the leaked data does not allow any harm to come to them.
When I was seven years old, my day-care center had 'accidently' released confidential information about myself and several other children in their care. The day-care center cared for somewhere around 70 children. The leaked information was found in the posession of a convicted child molestor. By the next day, the day-care center was shutdown and the city had filed criminal charges against it's owner and two employees at the facility.
Why is it that when the government does it, everything is not only OK -- but they're not even sure they should bother wasting their time to inform the parents/guardians that their children have been placed at risk.
This bogus trash needs to stop, the government has to be responsible for it's actions. They violate laws on a regular basis as a part of their daily operations. Enron is almost perfect compared to our own government.
That's pitiful.
Tell that to my back!
Military Intelligence, is that another one of those stupid reality shows?
Wouldn't that have a SLIGHT confict of interest?
I mean, seriously, a former lawyer for the biggest monopoly in the world - heading BA's anti-trust dept.? That's insanity.
Hey, while we're at it - let's put Micheal Jackson as the head of the Child Protection Agency... WTF.
$345 a week and all I have to do is send out three resumes during that week.
That Master's degree sure is serving me well now!
Like there are any good xbox games anyway...
If there are, I've got them all... I have 14 xbox games... I don't play the damn thing AT ALL. In fact, I've played it a grand total of 7 times. All seven times were when my brother was visiting.
Even if the games were cross-compatable - I wouldn't want to play them on an Xbox2 because the vast majority of them had major features cut to ship the game faster.
More simply put, even the good Xbox games suck compared to their PS2 cousins. Why on Earth would I want to take that crap to a new console? Or hell, even buy the Xbox2 at all for that matter.