Your post is sadly accurate. This "venture" does nothing except line more pockets already stuffed with cash.
I would think a better allocation of the money and plans would be building a MagLev from certain rural and suburban communities to the not-close-enough-to-drive-to cities to bolster employment, housing and more. As a for instance, in New York, people and politicians (yes I consider them a separate group) often complain about the decline of Upstate New York. Upstate New York has numerous river towns, all arranged in a nice straight line, all with rail beds or rail in place (yes, I know you cant use existing rail for a MagLev - but you can use existing (defunct or not) areas where that rail did or does exist to put a MagLev in, saving LOTS of money in not needing to grade terrain, remove mountains or hills in the way, etc). So... hundreds of small towns, suburbs and rural areas could be connected to areas like Albany, Troy, Plattsburgh, etc... with travel time from the most remote being in the matter of minutes instead of hours by car or regular rail.
What a neat way of building up the area... really short commute to work/the "big" cities, really cheap and affordable housing, lots of land to build more on... which, in the not-too-long run would be what happens as each area becomes more and more self sustaining, both through an influx of new people looking for affordable housing close (time wise at least) to available jobs - and through having financial ties back and forth between the cities and the growing rural and suburban areas (a financial benefit to all involved - and also an incentive for more businesses to move into the cheaper upstate area to help continue that growth).
Nah... that would help too many people - both those who live up there, and those who live in less affordable areas who would consider moving there to have a decent lifestyle, home and job.
Much better to line the pockets of the already insanely rich.
I use Linux at home and I got to agree that he's living in a fantasy land. Linux has less than 1% of the desktop market last I saw. When at least 10% of the desktops sold have Linux on them, Ill start to believe in Microsoft's death. Hell, their nearest competition is Apple at some 7%
And at one time, Netscape had a monopoly on web browsers. Sure, it took all sorts of illegal actions on Microsoft's part to obliterate that monopoly, but 8-9 years ago, if you had said that another browser would start to seriously displace Internet Explorer, you'd be laughed out of the room.
Now Firefox/Mozilla/Netscape are gaining ground monthly - while still battling the "same old" (actions) from Microsoft. At the current rate, Internet Explorer will soon no longer be the browser holding majority marketshare.
What makes you think that Apple (gaining market share almost monthly) or Linux (slowly gaining market share for most of the months over the past 2 years) will not eventually reach the same point?
Here's the beauty of it that most people dont think of. For the most part (for the average user) a web browser is a web browser - if it works (and they all do - to at least the extent that the average user needs), then it doesnt matter too much which they use, so why not use the one that their tech/computer saavy friend/some site advertised to them? And in doing so, nothing has to be changed and nothing else needs to be written for it.
Now, when it comes to computers, Apple is beating the odds in that there are more things available for Windows... but for how much longer? The more market share Apple or Linux or whatever gets, the more stuff that will be written for it. That means less reasons not to switch (added to all of the many reasons cited on/. every day on why people should).
See the difference? Browser share gains are a relatively flat "curve" because of that... but soon, the OS curve will change from somewhat flat gain by non-Windows, to an actual curve (higher number of people switching each month) for whatever OS starts to truly compete with Windows, simply because as the percentage of users grows, the software to run on the OS will increase, fueling an even larger percentage per month to switch.
Other things that will help increase that uptake are things like the growing interest in OpenOffice and the growing defection from IE to Firefox or Safari.
Never tried them... there is a place near me that sells all sorts of meat cooked up however you want (horse, dog, eel, zebra, whatever), but they have always been out of Ewok when I've went...
Thanks for filling in the details/reasons... I would surmise those reasons do indeed play some part in it...
:-)
They want to kill their competetion, the indies, who are increasingly showing the world that the media moguls are no longer needed by anyone.
That statement is mostly accurate. It should read "They want to either kill their competition or be able to make money off their competition in a manner where they control all online distribution rights and profit off the same (ie: SoundXchange and their various other attempts to control all online music distribution)".
Sadly, BitTorrent prevents either scheme... and thus must be done away with.
Ah, I understand now... as for the criminal acts part... IIRC, there are new "Terror" Laws which apply to such things, which do not require someone to press charges - just as no one needs to press charges for murder. The "someone" is the state or federal government - which a similar situation is being implied here since the FBI is investigating it to determine if they should "press charges". At least, that's my take on it.
As for where the guilt lies, it is not necessary to determine that to press civil or criminal charges against a company. Otherwise, there isnt a corporate lawsuit that would get anywhere.
I said history under the current administration supports my opinion.
Specifically, for this part "which is something the current administration will not allow." I refer to the various laws that this administration is considering and trying to push that help no one but the **AA and Media Sentry.
Hope that explains what I mean by what "the current administration" will allow (through inaction, or through passing laws that grant immunity or make such actions on the **AA/MediaSentry's part legal).
Or perhaps, even though it has been discussed ad-infinitum here and elsewhere, please refer me to one criminal proceeding that was seriously brought against the **AA or Media Defender by the government? There have been enough reasons for them. Yet I dont recall any such actions ever taking place. Perhaps I am forgetting a few, in which case I would appreciate enlightenment from you.
The only thing close is a class action lawsuit which was started by a citizen.
As a side note, when since does a company paying off another for their wrongdoing have anything to do with criminal charges? This situation should be a two-fold set of proceedings... the criminal one - and the civil one.
I am not sure what world you live in where you think that you can "pay off" criminal charges and investigations by paying off the ones you have hurt. Hopefully it isnt this one. But you may be right - which just supports my statement even more. Such should not be the case. If a law is broken by an entity, reparation and fines should be determined by a (civil and criminal) court case - not be used to prevent one.
As for the hardest part of this case being where guilt lies... I am not sure in what fashion you mean. A corporate entity is liable for their actions - how they pass that down to the individuals in their company is something unrelated. And of course, higher-ups in their company have already admitted their corporate guilt in a cavalier attitude indicating it is practice - not accident - that caused this - with their only defense being "gee, we just didnt mean for it to be Revision3"
"Our servers did it" definitely induced a head-scratch from me. Why on earth would they have their servers set up to automatically commit serious crimes just because a server was public and then restricted access? That doesn't make sense, even from their twisted viewpoint..
Because they have gotten away with it for near a decade, even though many have pointed out the illegality of it.
And they expect, once again, to get away with it.
And because, this will become even more fuel for them (and the **AA) towards pushing making P2P software entirely illegal, regardless of it's use. Does this last section make sense? No? So what? Do you really think it has to? Look at their other arguments for making P2P illegal - do they make sense? Didnt think so.;-)
And of course, because it will help them push forward the pending legislation that would make their actions (whatever they are) legal - irrespective of current law.
So... I think it makes perfect sense - at least from their twisted viewpoint.
I doubt the FBI is investigating with any true intent of prosecuting. This isnt the first time MediaDefender has been found violating some federal or state law - with no repercussions.
And exactly how much more "investigating" does the FBI need to do when MediaDefender has already admitted their guilt? To file charges... none. To prosecute... maybe more.
They have publicly, irrefutably, admitted their guilt. Go beat someone up, let that person complain about it/you, then go brag about having done it (admitting to doing it) and give a lame reason that (a) doesnt make sense and (b) admits to you having violated other laws - and see how long you are "investigated" before the cops lock you up.
Revision3 (and their ISPs) have all the evidence needed... and MediaDefender has been nice enough to admit to all counts - and some additional ones - which in effect is admission to violating about a dozen federal and state laws.
My prediction: Revision3 will be lucky enough to get civil penalties out of them. The chance of something criminal even getting to court, much less being charged is nil. Too many precedents would be set... if they are charged, then numerous other companies and individuals (including ISPs who host the companies and individuals and thus also suffer damage to their network) could and would sue them for such behavior. If it goes to court, then either MediaDefender wins, setting a dangerous precedent saying "it's ok for them to break numerous laws" or MediaDefender loses (yeah, right) which would destroy their (and the **AA's) business model - which is something the current administration will not allow.
My opinions on the matter, yes... but history supports them (sadly).
There are actually serious laws against this. If you or I did this, we'd spend quite some time in jail, and have to pay quite a large amount in fines. The criminal and civil penalties are not small. Not to mention the probability of losing (the "right" to) Internet access for some period of time (by court order). It's happened before (and been covered here).
But... how much you want to bet that MediaDefender gets off with less than a slap on the wrist?
With luck, at the very least, MediaDefender will lose the civil suit brought against them and pay that way.
the part of the DMCA dealing with takedown notices, requires the copyright owner to make an affirmation under penalty of perjury.
Sadly though, the companies who have already commited such acts (false takedown notices) have not yet (to my knowledge) been charged with perjury, nor have any penalties been levied for time/labor spent or other damages to the parties who were "required" to take down the content.
Perjury is more likely to be a crime than petty copyright infringement, which is far more often treated as a tort.
For now... keep in mind, as many forget here, there is a Criminal Copyright Infringement law -it's just not often used (but has successfully been used recently - either by the MPAA or RIAA - forget which, but you can find it on Groklaw and here).
The next step by the **AA and others, will be to try prosecuting under both angles (civil and criminal)... Winning them penalties and jailing miscreants.
It is silly, and whoever wrote that in the summary doesnt seem to understand the full implications of the DMCA. The DMCA does have a specific method for requesting takedowns.
If someone other than an authorized party makes a takedown request, and it can be proven it caused harm, there are penalties. If a company erroneously removes content based off a false takedown request (party did not own the appropriate rights/copyrights to request the takedown), both can be held liable (regardless of whether the DMCA specifically states the OSP is required to ascertain the validity of the takedown request).
What that translates into is, for a smaller company, you better verify every takedown request you receive, otherwise you may be at the wrong end of a lawsuit you will lose.
What that means for a bigger company is, it's cheaper to take down anything complained about, and deal with the possible (but not often) backlash for removing something on an invalid takedown notice (to avoid potentially larger lawsuits from the copyright owners for not acting expeditiously). If someplace like YouTube checked every takedown notice, they would not complete the takedowns in the required time and be liable - thus it is usually better for them this way, hoping that 95%+ of the takedown requests they receive are valid.
What it also means for a small company is that it is probably best to take down any content reported by a larger entity to avoid an even bigger lawsuit that the small company cant afford - and hope they are all legitimate - or push the content owner to step in against the bigger company.
The DMCA unfortunately has too many holes that money (ie: big business) can exploit simply because it takes too long and costs too much to prove that a takedown notice that was received was invalid - by then the smaller company, who did nothing wrong (and acted in defense of the actual content owner) will be long out of business and bankrupt. Through this method (as already exhibited in previous cases), some larger media companies have tried exerting undue influence on what content is - and is not - on the Internet (regardless of them being authorized to do so).
Called them today... sadly, the trackpoints they use are different (FSRs) - which is also why elronxenu is noticing it reacts slowly. Either way, what they use now is not compatible, and they dont think they have any of the IBM/Lexmark design ones left.
Guess I'll keep looking on eBay for replacements, or keep using my M13 as a Model M.
Here's something I thought funny from their blog page:
A bit of address translation, and weâ(TM)d discovered our nemesis. But instead of some shadowy underground criminal syndicate, the packets were coming from right in our home state of California. In fact, we traced the vast majority of those packets to a public company called Artistdirect (ARTD.OB). Once we were able to get their internet provider on the line, they verified that yes, indeed, that internet address belonged to a subsidiary of Artist Direct, called MediaDefender.
I think they meant...
"But instead, we found a shadowy underground criminal syndicate... MediaDefender"
As a side note, two other reasons that the Model M is supposedly better at preventing finger and wrist strain is:
- IBM spent a long time studying keyboard and key slope (compare the gentle curve of the keys from top edge to bottom edge on a Model M to the flat or reversed slope on most other keyboards).
- The keys provide enough physical feedback that most people can comfortably rest their fingers on them without worrying about accidentally pressing a key from their finger weight (something else planned in the design). That minimizes finger fatigue, helps prevent accidental keystrokes (after typing a while and fingers get tired) and makes it easier on hands, wrists and fingers since they dont have to be moved off the home row to prevent accidental keypresses, and their users dont have to be holding their finger pressure off the keys to prevent accidental key presses.
Another beauty about the design, is for those (unlike the AC I'm replying to - and myself) who like mashing their keys down to the bottom, you still can - and better yet - without damaging or deteriorating the key switches. With a membrane switch, each mash damages the membrane just a tiny bit more.
So much so that it was an option in various machine's BIOS's, and even in some keyboards. I've actually gotten a few Model Ms with the speaker still in them (though I suspect they weren't for PCs).
On a non-Model M setup, a computer/OS based clicky solution can indeed help with typing, especially since it overcomes the lack of accurate feedbacks for when a keypress is actually registered by the computer.
I dunno if they changed their electronics, but I dont see why you couldnt press as many keys as you wanted (if they didnt). I've never had a problem doing so, and I almost exclusively use Model M's.
The older Model M's (the ones made by IBM) also had a very thick metal backplate. The Lexmark and MaxiSwitch ones had a noticeably thinner one.
Someone posted someplace else that the UniComp ones do not have the metal plate at all - though I dont know if that is true. I do know that if it does, it is probably the thinner Lexmark sized one (since that is who they bought the tech from).
The backplate makes a slightly noticeable difference in the feel of using the keyboard.
Also, something in the keyswitches changed marginally over time, resulting in a different feel to them. The original IBMs were more metallic-clicky, and the newer ones had a subtly different feel and sound.
Yours sounds like a rare IBM, or a Lexmark (and if it is an earlier one, might have a thicker plate).
IBM did... though they are extremely hard to find. clickykeyboards used to have a few, but someone(s) seems to have grabbed most of their stock on any Model M or variant keyboard.
I did that to one. the culprit was a loose spring. The air (used compressed air, with keycaps off) dislodged the spring from it's mount. It was a nightmare with the tools I had to get it re-mounted without bending the spring.
As for spraying things on the keycaps, I have never had a problem with that. I spilled coffee in one (a whole sugary cup of Dunkin Donuts coffee), and rinsed it (the keyboard) in the sink, let it dry for two days, and it kept working for years to come. Good thing too - it wasnt mine - it was a client's. That was one of the "newer" Lexmark models with a drainage channel though.
On the older ones without the drainage channel, it is possible too much cleaner/liquid can get under the keyboard plate or between the contact layers beneath the switches and cause problems. The best way to clean them is to remove the keycaps, soak them in hot soapy water, rinse, dry and relace (cleaning the debris on the keycap plate inbetween).
Sometimes, in your scenario, letting the keyboard dry a few days works... other times, rinsing the whole keyboard thoroughly (to remove any cleaner left dried in it) and letting it air dry thoroughly a few days will resolve the problem. Yours definitely seems to be a problem of a conductive liquid getting inbetween the contact plates below the switches - or possibly (but less likely) the liquid coming in contact with the PCB (usually located near the LEDs) and shorting something.
Scissor-switch "laptop" keyboards provide the same three feedback mechanisms, but provide a very different "feel".
No, they dont. They are still membrane switches. The Scissor Switch (keycap holder) has nothing to do with key registration (ie: making a letter appear on the screen), and most are slide switches (ie: one end of the scissor slides in both the keycap and the laptop side) meaning all feedback is provided by the membrane switch - which does not provide any feedback for when a letter actually appears - just for when the dome buckles.
Also, the click is cased by the "scissor switch" "legs" hitting their stops/retainers... not by a letter being actually generated.
The click on a buckling spring switch on the other hand does correspond with a letter being generated on the screen.
While you may prefer your keyboard design over a Model M, your theory on the feedback is incorrect as you can find on various sites that compare the technology. Or, you can take my word for it - I fix these things every day (laptops and such - not Model M's).
As for the previous poster... to each their own. My gripe with his statement is as a generalization, it is not possible to type faster on a membrane switch keyboard (matter of physics/mechanics). He may type faster on one - but that is not relevant to everyone's experience or the fact that there are typists who's typing speed exceeds the speed a membrane switch allows.
There are a few laptop keyboards I do like as much as the Model M - with one exception on most - size. Because of the lower/shorter key travel, they seem to have the same 3 feedback methods as a Model M, which also helps me with typing speed. I guess, in practice, your statement is right - if you add the word seem:
"Scissor-switch "laptop" keyboards seem to provide the same three feedback mechanisms..."
In addition, the smaller key travel does seem to help some people type faster...
Not nitpicking... just pointing out technically your statement is not accurate or even possible. Feel-wise, I'd agree (IF we are talking about the few good laptop keyboards out there, like some Apple ones and Thinkpad ones - and a few other rare ones).
How many people here have in the last couple of years actually tried to type on a Model M?
I will tell you from recent experience that typing on one of these old beasts will slow you down immensly.
In this group-think-world the reponsiveness of the Model M sounds great; but in reality, it fails miserably.
I am curious what recent experience you are refering to?
I've been using computers for 28 years now. I am currently typing on a Model M13 (Model M with trackpoint). I type 40-60wpm on a normal keyboard - or about 80wpm on a Model M/M13. I've tried and used over 100 different keyboards - and still prefer a Model M to all of them. And the beauty is, I only have to buy a Model M once for each machine I own... replace the machine when it dies or is obsoleted... keep the Model M for the next computer. The oldest I use is 22 years old.
Perhaps you didnt give your enough time? The key spacing, key slope and key size is different than most other keyboards. I find it more comfortable (but then again, IBM did spend decades (yes, decades) researching and designing the Model M and it's PC/XT/Selectric predecessors.
Besides that fact, it is impossible to type faster on a membrane keyboard. Why? The simple mechanics of it. The buckling spring switches in an IBM can register more clicks per second than a membrane switch. And last at least 20 million clicks each. And, they dont change feel until total failure... while a membrane switch responds slower with age (ie: cant type as fast without errors, and also might start repeating characters as it starts to fail). Other than mechanical damage (ie: someone screws with one of the springs in the switch, etc), a Model M key will work the same, respond the same, accept keystrokes at the same speed on day one, and 22 years later... straight up to total failure... (ie: it works - or it doesnt). Again, keep in mind the switch failure life is over 20 million presses each. Membrane keyboards are usually rated in the hundreds of thousand to 1 million range. And (unlike the IBM keyswitches in the Model M) membrane keyswitch performance and reliability degrades from day one, each and every key press.
Please, stop the Model M fanboism.
Perhaps you just dont like fanboism - even when (as in this case) it is warranted.
Perhaps you should have just said you type slower on a Model M. Do you think they'd still be sought after (at far more $$$ than today's keyboards) and STILL be winning "Best keyboard ever" reviews years after they stopped being produced in number if others didnt truly think they were the best?
As an occassional gamer, I also like the M13s for certain types of games... makes it easy to use the keys for certain things, and the Trackpoint for joystick like things (with it's force sensing speed/feedback).
The only thing I think I would prefer to that (for gaming) is a touchscreen... you figure that one out...;-)
While the Model M is not immortal, it is as close to immortal as any keyboard or piece of computer equipment ever was.
I have a few old Model M keyboards... still running. I bought my mother a computer 15 years ago or so, and gave her a (used) Model M with it. She has went through numerous computers, and still uses that same Model M (it turned 22 years old this past February). She wont give it away, she wont sell it, she wont part with it for any reason. Her computer dies, she gets a new one, chucks the keyboard that comes with it and plugs in the Model M. Doesn't bat an eye over replacing a computer every few years... doesn't have any intention of ever replacing her Model M and expects it to outlast her next few computers (which it probably will).
Interestingly, as her's is a lot older than the Model M's and M13s I have, the click is very unique in comparison. About as loud, but more metallic/click sounding.
I used to have a few dozen of them (bought a box full of them). I had one "test" keyboard, which we tried killing... we'd walk on it (ok, that's nothing for a Model M... but we had to try), we drove over it with an Isuzu Trooper (well, the guy driving hit the gas and it shot out from under the back wheel across the parking lot... minor scratches on the bottom)... we put it in front of a city bus' rear wheels and watched as the bus edged up on it waiting for a traffic light to change, and then drove off... still worked of course. Finally, we launched it off a 3 story roof... as far outwards as we could throw it (musta went a few hundred feet horizontal, in addition to the three story drop)... picking up the keycaps and such was not fun. Though we did manage to shatter the outer case (and couldnt find a few keycaps), it still worked. We took a small torch to the plastic... weird stuff, that plastic... it's surface bubbled and browned, but we would have had to hold the torch to it for quite a long time to melt through, so we gave up.
A sledge hammer managed to damage the plastic keycap plate enough in a few areas to stop some keys from working... but then again, most people dont run over their keyboards or hit them repeatedly with sledge hammers.
We did have a few in the box we bought that had some issues... most seemed to be screwed up springs from being jammed in with so many others (fallen off keycaps and bent, damaged or missing springs).
This is being typed on my Model M13 - a youngin by Model M standards (10 years old this June). Our other Model M is 16 years old, and our other Model M13s are 12-13 years old (2 beige, one black).
My fave is the Model M13 black or Model M in olive-grey (heh - find one of those... I'm trying ever since I missed out on buying one of 6 that were on sale a few years ago).
My only problem with the M13's is that the Trackpoints seem to "die" on them (they get pegged to a corner or side of the screen... sometimes fixable by re-gluing it to the keycap plate... sometimes not). Still trying to figure out where I can get new Trackpoint sticks to fix two of them...
As a side note, from what I understand, you can still get the UniComps without the Windows key. I prefer the standard Model M/M13 layout (no extra keys).
Funny thing is they sell their Model M clone with an optional "Enhanced" mushy switch option (ie: no clicky mechanical spring). I dont think they understand the meaning of the word enhanced.
I type 12 hours a day, every day... and will not use anything but a Model M/M13 unless absolutely necessary. Once you get used to the click (which does serve a purpose and increases typing speed), you find that you look at the keyboard or screen a lot less when typing, you make less mistakes, and you type faster. I can hit ov
"Cutting to the chase, the very smartest is Firefox on Unknown (which internal evidence suggests is MacOS-Intel), and the dumbest, as of this writing, is IE on WinNT."
Odd, every statistics site I have seen show "Firefox on MacOSX" as "Firefox on MacOSX" - not "Firefox on Unknown" (regardless of whether it is MacOSX-Intel or not).
Now, my eComStation boxes and OS/2 Warp Server boxes sometimes show up as "Firefox on Unknown" (or "Other")- but very rarely. Usually they are identified as "Firefox on OS/2" or "Firefox on BSD" - and occasionally as "Firefox on Windows XP" (as required by certain sites, using the Firefox UA plugin).
Thus, I tend to suspect that "Firefox on Unknown" refers to something far less commonplace than Linux, MacOSX-Intel, or even OS/2.
Either way, what's wrong with Firefox on WinNT? Isn't that better than seeing "Firefox on Vista" - or "__________ on Vista"?;-)
...Somebody at Google is having a good laugh at a Senator who seems to think his word is law.
I agree with your statements 100% - but as they apply to THIS senator. In some cases, I think it a matter of who the senator is in bed with (determining if what he says is - or soon will be - law... and whether they should worry/comply before they have bigger issues... I for one wouldnt want to be a company on the DHS/NSA's "Most hated, lets look for an excuse to shut them down" list... thus "angering" a senator involved with either of those organizations might not be smart). Sad, not everything works the way it should.
Regardless, as long as Google/YouTube have a policy, that the general masses deem sufficiently supportive of privacy and free speech, and they enforce it equally justly in regards to all posts brought to their attention, then I am happy.
They will comply with a lawful order. They will even comply with the law when a notice of violation of that law is delivered to them.
Or fight a notice if they suspect it is not in compliance with the law, as they have done on at least a few occassions in the past - much to their credit.
I agree 100%. After playing with various 3D packages, I've found all of the interfaces are different. And all of them have a "learning curve" of some sort to figure out how to do certain things.
Blender is no different. It's interface is different (like all the rest)... but once learned, is a very pleasant interface to work with. Different isnt always a bad thing.
After slightly under two weeks playing with Blender - and an Enterprise Mesh from "TallGuy", I have rendered these scenes at:
The images are based off various animation sequences I have been playing around with (you can see a frame from the standard "opening credits" orbit scene, a frame from the older/early TOS leaving orbit scene, as well as some new stills from other sequences I am playing with).
My point is, for someone (me) who hasnt played with 3D software in years and just started with Blender under 2 weeks ago, even though I couldnt find (in my memory) a similar 3D interface, I found that Blender's was a comfortable place to work - once I gave it a few days of solid use and effort. If you compare the Enterprise in my renderings to TallGuy's, you will already notice some subtle and not-so-subtle changes - not bad for (at the time) a week in to using Blender and working on a pretty complex mesh...
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Your post is sadly accurate. This "venture" does nothing except line more pockets already stuffed with cash.
I would think a better allocation of the money and plans would be building a MagLev from certain rural and suburban communities to the not-close-enough-to-drive-to cities to bolster employment, housing and more. As a for instance, in New York, people and politicians (yes I consider them a separate group) often complain about the decline of Upstate New York. Upstate New York has numerous river towns, all arranged in a nice straight line, all with rail beds or rail in place (yes, I know you cant use existing rail for a MagLev - but you can use existing (defunct or not) areas where that rail did or does exist to put a MagLev in, saving LOTS of money in not needing to grade terrain, remove mountains or hills in the way, etc). So... hundreds of small towns, suburbs and rural areas could be connected to areas like Albany, Troy, Plattsburgh, etc... with travel time from the most remote being in the matter of minutes instead of hours by car or regular rail.
What a neat way of building up the area... really short commute to work/the "big" cities, really cheap and affordable housing, lots of land to build more on... which, in the not-too-long run would be what happens as each area becomes more and more self sustaining, both through an influx of new people looking for affordable housing close (time wise at least) to available jobs - and through having financial ties back and forth between the cities and the growing rural and suburban areas (a financial benefit to all involved - and also an incentive for more businesses to move into the cheaper upstate area to help continue that growth).
Nah... that would help too many people - both those who live up there, and those who live in less affordable areas who would consider moving there to have a decent lifestyle, home and job.
Much better to line the pockets of the already insanely rich.
I use Linux at home and I got to agree that he's living in a fantasy land. Linux has less than 1% of the desktop market last I saw. When at least 10% of the desktops sold have Linux on them, Ill start to believe in Microsoft's death. Hell, their nearest competition is Apple at some 7%
And at one time, Netscape had a monopoly on web browsers. Sure, it took all sorts of illegal actions on Microsoft's part to obliterate that monopoly, but 8-9 years ago, if you had said that another browser would start to seriously displace Internet Explorer, you'd be laughed out of the room.
Now Firefox/Mozilla/Netscape are gaining ground monthly - while still battling the "same old" (actions) from Microsoft. At the current rate, Internet Explorer will soon no longer be the browser holding majority marketshare.
What makes you think that Apple (gaining market share almost monthly) or Linux (slowly gaining market share for most of the months over the past 2 years) will not eventually reach the same point?
Here's the beauty of it that most people dont think of. For the most part (for the average user) a web browser is a web browser - if it works (and they all do - to at least the extent that the average user needs), then it doesnt matter too much which they use, so why not use the one that their tech/computer saavy friend/some site advertised to them? And in doing so, nothing has to be changed and nothing else needs to be written for it.
Now, when it comes to computers, Apple is beating the odds in that there are more things available for Windows... but for how much longer? The more market share Apple or Linux or whatever gets, the more stuff that will be written for it. That means less reasons not to switch (added to all of the many reasons cited on /. every day on why people should).
See the difference? Browser share gains are a relatively flat "curve" because of that... but soon, the OS curve will change from somewhat flat gain by non-Windows, to an actual curve (higher number of people switching each month) for whatever OS starts to truly compete with Windows, simply because as the percentage of users grows, the software to run on the OS will increase, fueling an even larger percentage per month to switch.
Other things that will help increase that uptake are things like the growing interest in OpenOffice and the growing defection from IE to Firefox or Safari.
Dont say it wont happen... it already is.
Never tried them... there is a place near me that sells all sorts of meat cooked up however you want (horse, dog, eel, zebra, whatever), but they have always been out of Ewok when I've went...
:-(
Thanks for filling in the details/reasons... I would surmise those reasons do indeed play some part in it...
:-)
They want to kill their competetion, the indies, who are increasingly showing the world that the media moguls are no longer needed by anyone.That statement is mostly accurate. It should read "They want to either kill their competition or be able to make money off their competition in a manner where they control all online distribution rights and profit off the same (ie: SoundXchange and their various other attempts to control all online music distribution)".
Sadly, BitTorrent prevents either scheme... and thus must be done away with.
Other than that, well said!!!
Ah, I understand now... as for the criminal acts part... IIRC, there are new "Terror" Laws which apply to such things, which do not require someone to press charges - just as no one needs to press charges for murder. The "someone" is the state or federal government - which a similar situation is being implied here since the FBI is investigating it to determine if they should "press charges". At least, that's my take on it.
As for where the guilt lies, it is not necessary to determine that to press civil or criminal charges against a company. Otherwise, there isnt a corporate lawsuit that would get anywhere.
I said history under the current administration supports my opinion.
Specifically, for this part "which is something the current administration will not allow." I refer to the various laws that this administration is considering and trying to push that help no one but the **AA and Media Sentry.
Hope that explains what I mean by what "the current administration" will allow (through inaction, or through passing laws that grant immunity or make such actions on the **AA/MediaSentry's part legal).
Or perhaps, even though it has been discussed ad-infinitum here and elsewhere, please refer me to one criminal proceeding that was seriously brought against the **AA or Media Defender by the government? There have been enough reasons for them. Yet I dont recall any such actions ever taking place. Perhaps I am forgetting a few, in which case I would appreciate enlightenment from you.
The only thing close is a class action lawsuit which was started by a citizen.
As a side note, when since does a company paying off another for their wrongdoing have anything to do with criminal charges? This situation should be a two-fold set of proceedings... the criminal one - and the civil one.
I am not sure what world you live in where you think that you can "pay off" criminal charges and investigations by paying off the ones you have hurt. Hopefully it isnt this one. But you may be right - which just supports my statement even more. Such should not be the case. If a law is broken by an entity, reparation and fines should be determined by a (civil and criminal) court case - not be used to prevent one.
As for the hardest part of this case being where guilt lies... I am not sure in what fashion you mean. A corporate entity is liable for their actions - how they pass that down to the individuals in their company is something unrelated. And of course, higher-ups in their company have already admitted their corporate guilt in a cavalier attitude indicating it is practice - not accident - that caused this - with their only defense being "gee, we just didnt mean for it to be Revision3"
Rob
Because they have gotten away with it for near a decade, even though many have pointed out the illegality of it.
And they expect, once again, to get away with it.
And because, this will become even more fuel for them (and the **AA) towards pushing making P2P software entirely illegal, regardless of it's use. Does this last section make sense? No? So what? Do you really think it has to? Look at their other arguments for making P2P illegal - do they make sense? Didnt think so. ;-)
And of course, because it will help them push forward the pending legislation that would make their actions (whatever they are) legal - irrespective of current law.
So... I think it makes perfect sense - at least from their twisted viewpoint.
I doubt the FBI is investigating with any true intent of prosecuting. This isnt the first time MediaDefender has been found violating some federal or state law - with no repercussions.
And exactly how much more "investigating" does the FBI need to do when MediaDefender has already admitted their guilt? To file charges... none. To prosecute... maybe more.
They have publicly, irrefutably, admitted their guilt. Go beat someone up, let that person complain about it/you, then go brag about having done it (admitting to doing it) and give a lame reason that (a) doesnt make sense and (b) admits to you having violated other laws - and see how long you are "investigated" before the cops lock you up.
Revision3 (and their ISPs) have all the evidence needed... and MediaDefender has been nice enough to admit to all counts - and some additional ones - which in effect is admission to violating about a dozen federal and state laws.
My prediction: Revision3 will be lucky enough to get civil penalties out of them. The chance of something criminal even getting to court, much less being charged is nil. Too many precedents would be set... if they are charged, then numerous other companies and individuals (including ISPs who host the companies and individuals and thus also suffer damage to their network) could and would sue them for such behavior. If it goes to court, then either MediaDefender wins, setting a dangerous precedent saying "it's ok for them to break numerous laws" or MediaDefender loses (yeah, right) which would destroy their (and the **AA's) business model - which is something the current administration will not allow.
My opinions on the matter, yes... but history supports them (sadly).
There are actually serious laws against this. If you or I did this, we'd spend quite some time in jail, and have to pay quite a large amount in fines. The criminal and civil penalties are not small. Not to mention the probability of losing (the "right" to) Internet access for some period of time (by court order). It's happened before (and been covered here).
But... how much you want to bet that MediaDefender gets off with less than a slap on the wrist?
With luck, at the very least, MediaDefender will lose the civil suit brought against them and pay that way.
Sadly though, the companies who have already commited such acts (false takedown notices) have not yet (to my knowledge) been charged with perjury, nor have any penalties been levied for time/labor spent or other damages to the parties who were "required" to take down the content.
Perjury is more likely to be a crime than petty copyright infringement, which is far more often treated as a tort.For now... keep in mind, as many forget here, there is a Criminal Copyright Infringement law -it's just not often used (but has successfully been used recently - either by the MPAA or RIAA - forget which, but you can find it on Groklaw and here).
The next step by the **AA and others, will be to try prosecuting under both angles (civil and criminal)... Winning them penalties and jailing miscreants.
It is silly, and whoever wrote that in the summary doesnt seem to understand the full implications of the DMCA. The DMCA does have a specific method for requesting takedowns.
If someone other than an authorized party makes a takedown request, and it can be proven it caused harm, there are penalties. If a company erroneously removes content based off a false takedown request (party did not own the appropriate rights/copyrights to request the takedown), both can be held liable (regardless of whether the DMCA specifically states the OSP is required to ascertain the validity of the takedown request).
What that translates into is, for a smaller company, you better verify every takedown request you receive, otherwise you may be at the wrong end of a lawsuit you will lose.
What that means for a bigger company is, it's cheaper to take down anything complained about, and deal with the possible (but not often) backlash for removing something on an invalid takedown notice (to avoid potentially larger lawsuits from the copyright owners for not acting expeditiously). If someplace like YouTube checked every takedown notice, they would not complete the takedowns in the required time and be liable - thus it is usually better for them this way, hoping that 95%+ of the takedown requests they receive are valid.
What it also means for a small company is that it is probably best to take down any content reported by a larger entity to avoid an even bigger lawsuit that the small company cant afford - and hope they are all legitimate - or push the content owner to step in against the bigger company.
The DMCA unfortunately has too many holes that money (ie: big business) can exploit simply because it takes too long and costs too much to prove that a takedown notice that was received was invalid - by then the smaller company, who did nothing wrong (and acted in defense of the actual content owner) will be long out of business and bankrupt. Through this method (as already exhibited in previous cases), some larger media companies have tried exerting undue influence on what content is - and is not - on the Internet (regardless of them being authorized to do so).
Called them today... sadly, the trackpoints they use are different (FSRs) - which is also why elronxenu is noticing it reacts slowly. Either way, what they use now is not compatible, and they dont think they have any of the IBM/Lexmark design ones left.
Guess I'll keep looking on eBay for replacements, or keep using my M13 as a Model M.
Here's something I thought funny from their blog page:
A bit of address translation, and weâ(TM)d discovered our nemesis. But instead of some shadowy underground criminal syndicate, the packets were coming from right in our home state of California. In fact, we traced the vast majority of those packets to a public company called Artistdirect (ARTD.OB). Once we were able to get their internet provider on the line, they verified that yes, indeed, that internet address belonged to a subsidiary of Artist Direct, called MediaDefender.I think they meant...
"But instead, we found a shadowy underground criminal syndicate... MediaDefender"
:-)
This needs to be modded up as +1 Excellent!
As a side note, two other reasons that the Model M is supposedly better at preventing finger and wrist strain is:
- IBM spent a long time studying keyboard and key slope (compare the gentle curve of the keys from top edge to bottom edge on a Model M to the flat or reversed slope on most other keyboards).
- The keys provide enough physical feedback that most people can comfortably rest their fingers on them without worrying about accidentally pressing a key from their finger weight (something else planned in the design). That minimizes finger fatigue, helps prevent accidental keystrokes (after typing a while and fingers get tired) and makes it easier on hands, wrists and fingers since they dont have to be moved off the home row to prevent accidental keypresses, and their users dont have to be holding their finger pressure off the keys to prevent accidental key presses.
Another beauty about the design, is for those (unlike the AC I'm replying to - and myself) who like mashing their keys down to the bottom, you still can - and better yet - without damaging or deteriorating the key switches. With a membrane switch, each mash damages the membrane just a tiny bit more.
So much so that it was an option in various machine's BIOS's, and even in some keyboards. I've actually gotten a few Model Ms with the speaker still in them (though I suspect they weren't for PCs).
On a non-Model M setup, a computer/OS based clicky solution can indeed help with typing, especially since it overcomes the lack of accurate feedbacks for when a keypress is actually registered by the computer.
I dunno if they changed their electronics, but I dont see why you couldnt press as many keys as you wanted (if they didnt). I've never had a problem doing so, and I almost exclusively use Model M's.
The older Model M's (the ones made by IBM) also had a very thick metal backplate. The Lexmark and MaxiSwitch ones had a noticeably thinner one.
Someone posted someplace else that the UniComp ones do not have the metal plate at all - though I dont know if that is true. I do know that if it does, it is probably the thinner Lexmark sized one (since that is who they bought the tech from).
The backplate makes a slightly noticeable difference in the feel of using the keyboard.
Also, something in the keyswitches changed marginally over time, resulting in a different feel to them. The original IBMs were more metallic-clicky, and the newer ones had a subtly different feel and sound.
Yours sounds like a rare IBM, or a Lexmark (and if it is an earlier one, might have a thicker plate).
IBM did... though they are extremely hard to find. clickykeyboards used to have a few, but someone(s) seems to have grabbed most of their stock on any Model M or variant keyboard.
I did that to one. the culprit was a loose spring. The air (used compressed air, with keycaps off) dislodged the spring from it's mount. It was a nightmare with the tools I had to get it re-mounted without bending the spring.
As for spraying things on the keycaps, I have never had a problem with that. I spilled coffee in one (a whole sugary cup of Dunkin Donuts coffee), and rinsed it (the keyboard) in the sink, let it dry for two days, and it kept working for years to come. Good thing too - it wasnt mine - it was a client's. That was one of the "newer" Lexmark models with a drainage channel though.
On the older ones without the drainage channel, it is possible too much cleaner/liquid can get under the keyboard plate or between the contact layers beneath the switches and cause problems. The best way to clean them is to remove the keycaps, soak them in hot soapy water, rinse, dry and relace (cleaning the debris on the keycap plate inbetween).
Sometimes, in your scenario, letting the keyboard dry a few days works... other times, rinsing the whole keyboard thoroughly (to remove any cleaner left dried in it) and letting it air dry thoroughly a few days will resolve the problem. Yours definitely seems to be a problem of a conductive liquid getting inbetween the contact plates below the switches - or possibly (but less likely) the liquid coming in contact with the PCB (usually located near the LEDs) and shorting something.
No, they dont. They are still membrane switches. The Scissor Switch (keycap holder) has nothing to do with key registration (ie: making a letter appear on the screen), and most are slide switches (ie: one end of the scissor slides in both the keycap and the laptop side) meaning all feedback is provided by the membrane switch - which does not provide any feedback for when a letter actually appears - just for when the dome buckles.
Also, the click is cased by the "scissor switch" "legs" hitting their stops/retainers... not by a letter being actually generated.
The click on a buckling spring switch on the other hand does correspond with a letter being generated on the screen.
While you may prefer your keyboard design over a Model M, your theory on the feedback is incorrect as you can find on various sites that compare the technology. Or, you can take my word for it - I fix these things every day (laptops and such - not Model M's).
As for the previous poster... to each their own. My gripe with his statement is as a generalization, it is not possible to type faster on a membrane switch keyboard (matter of physics/mechanics). He may type faster on one - but that is not relevant to everyone's experience or the fact that there are typists who's typing speed exceeds the speed a membrane switch allows.
There are a few laptop keyboards I do like as much as the Model M - with one exception on most - size. Because of the lower/shorter key travel, they seem to have the same 3 feedback methods as a Model M, which also helps me with typing speed. I guess, in practice, your statement is right - if you add the word seem:
"Scissor-switch "laptop" keyboards seem to provide the same three feedback mechanisms..."
In addition, the smaller key travel does seem to help some people type faster...
Not nitpicking... just pointing out technically your statement is not accurate or even possible. Feel-wise, I'd agree (IF we are talking about the few good laptop keyboards out there, like some Apple ones and Thinkpad ones - and a few other rare ones).
Robert
How many people here have in the last couple of years actually tried to type on a Model M?
I will tell you from recent experience that typing on one of these old beasts will slow you down immensly.
In this group-think-world the reponsiveness of the Model M sounds great; but in reality, it fails miserably.
I am curious what recent experience you are refering to?
I've been using computers for 28 years now. I am currently typing on a Model M13 (Model M with trackpoint). I type 40-60wpm on a normal keyboard - or about 80wpm on a Model M/M13. I've tried and used over 100 different keyboards - and still prefer a Model M to all of them. And the beauty is, I only have to buy a Model M once for each machine I own... replace the machine when it dies or is obsoleted... keep the Model M for the next computer. The oldest I use is 22 years old.
Perhaps you didnt give your enough time? The key spacing, key slope and key size is different than most other keyboards. I find it more comfortable (but then again, IBM did spend decades (yes, decades) researching and designing the Model M and it's PC/XT/Selectric predecessors.
Besides that fact, it is impossible to type faster on a membrane keyboard. Why? The simple mechanics of it. The buckling spring switches in an IBM can register more clicks per second than a membrane switch. And last at least 20 million clicks each. And, they dont change feel until total failure... while a membrane switch responds slower with age (ie: cant type as fast without errors, and also might start repeating characters as it starts to fail). Other than mechanical damage (ie: someone screws with one of the springs in the switch, etc), a Model M key will work the same, respond the same, accept keystrokes at the same speed on day one, and 22 years later... straight up to total failure... (ie: it works - or it doesnt). Again, keep in mind the switch failure life is over 20 million presses each. Membrane keyboards are usually rated in the hundreds of thousand to 1 million range. And (unlike the IBM keyswitches in the Model M) membrane keyswitch performance and reliability degrades from day one, each and every key press.
Please, stop the Model M fanboism.
Perhaps you just dont like fanboism - even when (as in this case) it is warranted.
Perhaps you should have just said you type slower on a Model M. Do you think they'd still be sought after (at far more $$$ than today's keyboards) and STILL be winning "Best keyboard ever" reviews years after they stopped being produced in number if others didnt truly think they were the best?
As an occassional gamer, I also like the M13s for certain types of games... makes it easy to use the keys for certain things, and the Trackpoint for joystick like things (with it's force sensing speed/feedback).
The only thing I think I would prefer to that (for gaming) is a touchscreen... you figure that one out... ;-)
While the Model M is not immortal, it is as close to immortal as any keyboard or piece of computer equipment ever was.
I have a few old Model M keyboards... still running. I bought my mother a computer 15 years ago or so, and gave her a (used) Model M with it. She has went through numerous computers, and still uses that same Model M (it turned 22 years old this past February). She wont give it away, she wont sell it, she wont part with it for any reason. Her computer dies, she gets a new one, chucks the keyboard that comes with it and plugs in the Model M. Doesn't bat an eye over replacing a computer every few years... doesn't have any intention of ever replacing her Model M and expects it to outlast her next few computers (which it probably will).
Interestingly, as her's is a lot older than the Model M's and M13s I have, the click is very unique in comparison. About as loud, but more metallic/click sounding.
I used to have a few dozen of them (bought a box full of them). I had one "test" keyboard, which we tried killing... we'd walk on it (ok, that's nothing for a Model M... but we had to try), we drove over it with an Isuzu Trooper (well, the guy driving hit the gas and it shot out from under the back wheel across the parking lot... minor scratches on the bottom)... we put it in front of a city bus' rear wheels and watched as the bus edged up on it waiting for a traffic light to change, and then drove off... still worked of course. Finally, we launched it off a 3 story roof... as far outwards as we could throw it (musta went a few hundred feet horizontal, in addition to the three story drop)... picking up the keycaps and such was not fun. Though we did manage to shatter the outer case (and couldnt find a few keycaps), it still worked. We took a small torch to the plastic... weird stuff, that plastic... it's surface bubbled and browned, but we would have had to hold the torch to it for quite a long time to melt through, so we gave up.
A sledge hammer managed to damage the plastic keycap plate enough in a few areas to stop some keys from working... but then again, most people dont run over their keyboards or hit them repeatedly with sledge hammers.
We did have a few in the box we bought that had some issues... most seemed to be screwed up springs from being jammed in with so many others (fallen off keycaps and bent, damaged or missing springs).
This is being typed on my Model M13 - a youngin by Model M standards (10 years old this June). Our other Model M is 16 years old, and our other Model M13s are 12-13 years old (2 beige, one black).
My fave is the Model M13 black or Model M in olive-grey (heh - find one of those... I'm trying ever since I missed out on buying one of 6 that were on sale a few years ago).
My only problem with the M13's is that the Trackpoints seem to "die" on them (they get pegged to a corner or side of the screen... sometimes fixable by re-gluing it to the keycap plate... sometimes not). Still trying to figure out where I can get new Trackpoint sticks to fix two of them...
As a side note, from what I understand, you can still get the UniComps without the Windows key. I prefer the standard Model M/M13 layout (no extra keys).
The standard 101 key Model M clones are at:
(white) http://pckeyboards.stores.yahoo.net/cus101usenon.html
They dont seem to have the black ones for sale in 101 key layout anymore...
Funny thing is they sell their Model M clone with an optional "Enhanced" mushy switch option (ie: no clicky mechanical spring). I dont think they understand the meaning of the word enhanced.
I type 12 hours a day, every day... and will not use anything but a Model M/M13 unless absolutely necessary. Once you get used to the click (which does serve a purpose and increases typing speed), you find that you look at the keyboard or screen a lot less when typing, you make less mistakes, and you type faster. I can hit ov
Odd, every statistics site I have seen show "Firefox on MacOSX" as "Firefox on MacOSX" - not "Firefox on Unknown" (regardless of whether it is MacOSX-Intel or not).
Now, my eComStation boxes and OS/2 Warp Server boxes sometimes show up as "Firefox on Unknown" (or "Other")- but very rarely. Usually they are identified as "Firefox on OS/2" or "Firefox on BSD" - and occasionally as "Firefox on Windows XP" (as required by certain sites, using the Firefox UA plugin).
Thus, I tend to suspect that "Firefox on Unknown" refers to something far less commonplace than Linux, MacOSX-Intel, or even OS/2.
Either way, what's wrong with Firefox on WinNT? Isn't that better than seeing "Firefox on Vista" - or "__________ on Vista"? ;-)
...Somebody at Google is having a good laugh at a Senator who seems to think his word is law.I agree with your statements 100% - but as they apply to THIS senator. In some cases, I think it a matter of who the senator is in bed with (determining if what he says is - or soon will be - law... and whether they should worry/comply before they have bigger issues... I for one wouldnt want to be a company on the DHS/NSA's "Most hated, lets look for an excuse to shut them down" list... thus "angering" a senator involved with either of those organizations might not be smart). Sad, not everything works the way it should.
Regardless, as long as Google/YouTube have a policy, that the general masses deem sufficiently supportive of privacy and free speech, and they enforce it equally justly in regards to all posts brought to their attention, then I am happy.
They will comply with a lawful order. They will even comply with the law when a notice of violation of that law is delivered to them.Or fight a notice if they suspect it is not in compliance with the law, as they have done on at least a few occassions in the past - much to their credit.
I agree 100%. After playing with various 3D packages, I've found all of the interfaces are different. And all of them have a "learning curve" of some sort to figure out how to do certain things.
Blender is no different. It's interface is different (like all the rest)... but once learned, is a very pleasant interface to work with. Different isnt always a bad thing.
After slightly under two weeks playing with Blender - and an Enterprise Mesh from "TallGuy", I have rendered these scenes at:
http://www.startrekphase2media.com/The_Enterprise.html
The images are based off various animation sequences I have been playing around with (you can see a frame from the standard "opening credits" orbit scene, a frame from the older/early TOS leaving orbit scene, as well as some new stills from other sequences I am playing with).
My point is, for someone (me) who hasnt played with 3D software in years and just started with Blender under 2 weeks ago, even though I couldnt find (in my memory) a similar 3D interface, I found that Blender's was a comfortable place to work - once I gave it a few days of solid use and effort. If you compare the Enterprise in my renderings to TallGuy's, you will already notice some subtle and not-so-subtle changes - not bad for (at the time) a week in to using Blender and working on a pretty complex mesh...
(As a side note, you can find TallGuy's BlogSpot here: http://tallguyproductions.blogspot.com/)