Don't be Stupid. You do that and any positive reaction that we could hope for goes out the window.
Think about it. FCC person finds his net access screwed or his emailbox bombed. What's he going to say? "Gee, a bunch of script kiddies are being dicks. I should rethink that whole long distance announcement".
I hope everybody here who'd taken the time to complain about this here has also taken the time to do so where it counts. If you live in America, let these people know what's up!
But, as I'm sure you've all heard before with things like this, flames don't help causes. They only hurt them. Be polite, explain the situation and your distaste for it. Not knowing all the ramifications of their descision I didn't even ask them to overturn it, merely to reword it in such a way that phone companies are not given the ability to charge for services that they are not rendering.
Umm.. While I may aggree with you that this aint' great, I've got to nitpick here and point out that actualy it was the government's idea. Didn't the Internet start with ARPAnet?
So who's gonna orgainize it? I can host if somebody else wants to set a date. When's the date that this thing is likely to start having an impact. It should be done before then, of course. But then... hasn't it already gone into effect? Either way, we'd need at least a month in which to publiscize and get everything/everyone orgainized. It could be like the refund day on a whole different level. Anyway, I do not have the time to do this all on my own but I'd love to help out. Somebody mail me and/or set up a mailing list (or just keep up this thread) and maybe we can get something rolling.
Need I say? This could blow... a lot. However, there's a couple of things to be considered here: If phone carriers decide to start charging per-minute rates on Internet access, all it would take is one upstart company who decides *not* to do so and they could have customers beating down the door, so maybe it won't fly AND could give new companies a foot in the door. What really sucks here is that fact that, while the data does travel a long distance, IT DOES NOT DO IT VIA THE PHONE COMPANIES EQUIPMENT. The high-capacity data lines that an ISP uses, afaik could be laid by any number of comanies. Aside from that, it eventualy gets to a backbone provider which (again afaik) has nothing to do with the phone company and that's where most of the long distance travel comes in, right? The phone company would be charging for the use of equipment that is not theirs! Unless I'm seriously wrong with my reasoning (please point it out if I am) how could anybody even consider that acceptable?
I'm not an expert on this, but aside from MS suing for copyright violation (which they'd almost certainly have a case for), yeah, I think that would be legal since the microsoft.com issued by Internic is different from the one issued by Alternic.
Kinda like if I have mr_poe@cats.ucsc.edu for an email address and I copyrighted the name, could I sue mr_poe@baltimore.ma.us? Hmmm... =:)
Ok, to preempt the flamers, yes that was a bad example.
You know, some people use computers as tools. You and I use them as a tool, a hobby, life. But many who have far more knowlege than any of us in some other field still have need of a computer if only for word processing, net access, whatever. Most of them haven't the slightest inclination (and why should they?)to deal with setting up PPP in Linux when for them it's worth using Windows to be able to just click on 'make new connection' and be done with it. Just because someone prefers user friendliness to geek-appeal doesn't make them stupid. That's why BeOS would be great for end users (notice that I'm not talking about them adminning a netword or anything). It's stable, fast AND (let's face it) a lot easier to use than *nix.
Good on 'im, but what does this 'chalenge' say about BeOS's claim to be a 'niche' OS and not a competitor? I for one think it would be a waste for them *not* to compete as BeOS is the best client-side OS I've seen. Even with KDE, 'easy' dists, etc. I can't see Linux becoming the standard among those who aren't and have no interest in becoming even a little computer savvy. But with BeOS ont he client side and Linux/*BSD running the servers, for the first time I can see a world w/o Microsoft! And best of all, that world could be made without all this DoJ crap. If BeOS and co. Can just get one foot in the door, then *maybe* the fact that they're superior will give them the sway they need once people see what they are.
I can't believe nobody has mentioned the ultimate (well, one of them) geek movie: SNEAKERS! Come on, people! =:)
And shouldn't Tron count, too? Flynn's a bit old for my conception of a geek but hey, he's a programmer who owns an arcade! How could he not qualify? =:)
The link in the article doesn't seem to work. However, this should take you there. Note that right after the announcement of it's release is an announcement that it's being DISCONTINUED. Prolly Nintendo being understandably upset. Still available for d/l now, though.
March 2-4, iirc. I can't wait. Hey, if anybody reads this and happens to live near Santa Cruz, gimme a call. I need a ride. =:)
Well hey, it's worth a shot, right? Another idea: What about putting together a page where people can arrange carpools/joint transportation for those traveling cross-country (if any) to go with less trouble?
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The FCC people's email addresses were posted earlier. DO IT.
Don't be Stupid. You do that and any positive reaction that we could hope for goes out the window.
Think about it. FCC person finds his net access screwed or his emailbox bombed. What's he going to say? "Gee, a bunch of script kiddies are being dicks. I should rethink that whole long distance announcement".
For the love of whatever you love, don't do this.
I hope everybody here who'd taken the time to complain about this here has also taken the time to do so where it counts. If you live in America, let these people know what's up!
But, as I'm sure you've all heard before with things like this, flames don't help causes. They only hurt them. Be polite, explain the situation and your distaste for it. Not knowing all the ramifications of their descision I didn't even ask them to overturn it, merely to reword it in such a way that phone companies are not given the ability to charge for services that they are not rendering.
Mail them. Now.
Screw the government. It wasn't their idea.
Umm.. While I may aggree with you that this aint' great, I've got to nitpick here and point out that actualy it was the government's idea. Didn't the Internet start with ARPAnet?
So who's gonna orgainize it? I can host if somebody else wants to set a date. When's the date that this thing is likely to start having an impact. It should be done before then, of course. But then... hasn't it already gone into effect? Either way, we'd need at least a month in which to publiscize and get everything/everyone orgainized.
It could be like the refund day on a whole different level.
Anyway, I do not have the time to do this all on my own but I'd love to help out. Somebody mail me and/or set up a mailing list (or just keep up this thread) and maybe we can get something rolling.
Need I say? This could blow... a lot. However, there's a couple of things to be considered here: If phone carriers decide to start charging per-minute rates on Internet access, all it would take is one upstart company who decides *not* to do so and they could have customers beating down the door, so maybe it won't fly AND could give new companies a foot in the door.
What really sucks here is that fact that, while the data does travel a long distance, IT DOES NOT DO IT VIA THE PHONE COMPANIES EQUIPMENT. The high-capacity data lines that an ISP uses, afaik could be laid by any number of comanies. Aside from that, it eventualy gets to a backbone provider which (again afaik) has nothing to do with the phone company and that's where most of the long distance travel comes in, right?
The phone company would be charging for the use of equipment that is not theirs! Unless I'm seriously wrong with my reasoning (please point it out if I am) how could anybody even consider that acceptable?
I'm not an expert on this, but aside from MS suing for copyright violation (which they'd almost certainly have a case for), yeah, I think that would be legal since the microsoft.com issued by Internic is different from the one issued by Alternic.
Kinda like if I have mr_poe@cats.ucsc.edu for an email address and I copyrighted the name, could I sue mr_poe@baltimore.ma.us? Hmmm... =:)
Ok, to preempt the flamers, yes that was a bad example.
I'm far from being a h4x0rzzz, but man, pages like that really make me want to do something bad to their owners.
I mean... AOL Instant Messenger 'hacking'?? Yeesh. That's just immensely pathetic.
Oh please, there's got to be a better use for this than staring at Jeri Ryan's breasts.
You know, some people use computers as tools. You and I use them as a tool, a hobby, life. But many who have far more knowlege than any of us in some other field still have need of a computer if only for word processing, net access, whatever. Most of them haven't the slightest inclination (and why should they?)to deal with setting up PPP in Linux when for them it's worth using Windows to be able to just click on 'make new connection' and be done with it. Just because someone prefers user friendliness to geek-appeal doesn't make them stupid. That's why BeOS would be great for end users (notice that I'm not talking about them adminning a netword or anything). It's stable, fast AND (let's face it) a lot easier to use than *nix.
Good on 'im, but what does this 'chalenge' say about BeOS's claim to be a 'niche' OS and not a competitor? I for one think it would be a waste for them *not* to compete as BeOS is the best client-side OS I've seen. Even with KDE, 'easy' dists, etc. I can't see Linux becoming the standard among those who aren't and have no interest in becoming even a little computer savvy. But with BeOS ont he client side and Linux/*BSD running the servers, for the first time I can see a world w/o Microsoft! And best of all, that world could be made without all this DoJ crap. If BeOS and co. Can just get one foot in the door, then *maybe* the fact that they're superior will give them the sway they need once people see what they are.
Anyway, maybe I'm just being naiive.
I can't believe nobody has mentioned the ultimate (well, one of them) geek movie: SNEAKERS! Come on, people! =:)
And shouldn't Tron count, too? Flynn's a bit old for my conception of a geek but hey, he's a programmer who owns an arcade! How could he not qualify? =:)
The link in the article doesn't seem to work. However, this should take you there. Note that right after the announcement of it's release is an announcement that it's being DISCONTINUED. Prolly Nintendo being understandably upset. Still available for d/l now, though.
Has it been slashdotted into oblivion already?
I would just like to take this opportunity to point out that I live exactly 45 second's walk from a Dr. Who pinball machine. Awwww-yeah. =:)
March 2-4, iirc.
I can't wait. Hey, if anybody reads this and happens to live near Santa Cruz, gimme a call. I need a ride. =:)
Well hey, it's worth a shot, right?
Another idea: What about putting together a page where people can arrange carpools/joint transportation for those traveling cross-country (if any) to go with less trouble?
Umm.. isn't kernel size kind of variable?