I'm getting sick of it too. But not because slashdot is mentioning it. This issue hasn't resolved and they're proving that fact. I'm getting sick of hearing about instances like this because there's basically two types of people in the world: those who are technically savvy, and those who aren't. What's really scary is when those who aren't are pretending to be. Which leads me to your sig... "Almost everyone is an idiot. If you think I'm exaggerating, then you're one of them." I love that;) Now I'm not saying that *you* are one of the tech-naive, the fact that you care and are paying attention shows you aren't... but alot of the folks who make our laws that govern things like the internet and computer industry, well, they just don't "get it". Otherwise they would apply new laws to digital music that would be in effect immidiately instead of using the ones which were probably thought up when the biggest thing they had to be concerned with was 8 tracks and vinyl albums.
Remember that story? For those who don't, basically its the future and the government makes everyone "equal". If you're strong, you are weighed down by weights. If you're attractive, you must ware a hideous mask. I'm not saying MP3s are legal or moral, everything in this instance was done by the book. But the world is changing, and its time to rewrite parts of the book. I think its time for some serious political/legislative reform when it comes to how technology is handled. If the laws that rule the land cannot keep up with the pace of how fast technology is changing, we're going to see more of these situations. Like someone mentioned earlier... if they confiscate everyone's computer who is distributing MP3s, do they have someplace big enough for millions of PCs? Also... is it just me or is everyone out for blood when it comes down to money? The recording industry makes scads of money. If they eliminate all illegal instances of mp3s in the world, they would make even scads more (which is what they really want, you can never have enough money.) But on the other hand, if everyone in the world had strictly illegal mp3s and never bought cds, then there would be no more music industry, and no more commercially available music, right? There has to be some middle ground where a compromise can be attained. As in music would be more (legally) free than it is now, and the industry would give up maybe just a small fraction of that chunk of money that exsist in their pipe dreams. I think we need to let M$ and the RIAA and the MPAA know that the meaning of life isn't really "He who dies with the most money wins."
I know alot about computers, hardware, networking, and such, but I don't exactly work in the field per se. I don't have any certification or any degrees, but I'm sure with enough time and resources (which I'm low on right now) I'll land myself a carreer in the IT field. I think my attitude alot of times is that many of these jobs are overrated (and I could be wrong) but I think that stems from the fact that alot of people in the feild are unwilling to give me the benefit of the doubt (no degree = no knowledge). It could just be the attitude of the folks in the feild in my area, but the people who really respect and are impressed by my abilities are the everyday people who don't know much about computers but really need help. (Semi-pseudo computer literate). So basically, I offer free tech support to friends and family, people at work. I let them know my opinion and the facts and why I believe some things are better than others. I mean, who doesn't do this? Its a sort of charity in itself... if you help people become so computer literate that the machines become second nature to almost everyone as such things as televisions, vcrs, phones and automobiles, the extreme need for things like tech support will wane. So in other words, why pay some guy some ungodly amount of money to help people with their basic issues ("uhh how do I rename an icon on the desktop?") when you can just have a positive influence on everyone you talk to about computers in general. Good computing habits would eliminate alot of the problems we all have today. (I for one, check my email on the server with a little program, and many folks ask me why... well, I have yet to fall victim to stupid macro viruses like melissa, love bug, etc.) Just some thoughts.
I finally rented TPM this weekend. I went out to my local video store, and picked up the tape (note: to rent, not to own). And asked the clerk "Are the DVDs out yet?" He replied with "Not until 2002." I assumed he knew something I didn't. I definitely would want it on DVD before I ever thought of purchasing VHS. (This weekend was some really nice weather, a friend on ICQ summed it up with "So geeks actually do go out into the sun every once in awhile?":)
A few years ago, the company I work for, Philips Broadband Networks, supplied Telstra with a ton of HFC and fiber equipment. Perhaps now their competitors should get on the phone and see what we have to offer in the way of newer products that might give them a better edge.
I think this is a PR move. Gates' way of saying "Hey look what I'm doing in regards to the events of late!". He's the man with his name plastered all over the papers, he's the one everyone hears about. Hmmm... how does someone retire on only $100 billion?... I once got an IS interview because in the application, I put "Besides, I may not have a degree, but neither did Bill Gates."
My Thoughts on the merger
on
AOL Nation
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· Score: 1
I emailed this to a bunch of close friends, just wanted to share it here... "As of this week, individuals, people who believe in free and diverse speech, those who believe in the free distribution of information and unrestricted navigation of the Net, have a new and potentially much more menacing opponent than Microsoft ever was." This describes me to a T... Everything I've appreciated in the Internet for the past 7 years and perhaps in computers for the last 12 years, could be in jeopardy. Is this a reactionary statement? Possibly... but AOL has a way of taking something perfectly normal and grinding down the technical qualities until it's nothing but a dumbed-down advertisement that you have to click every five minutes so they can make money. I'm for human enlightenment and education, not in exploiting what people may not know or may not see. For those of you who don't know, I subscribe to Time Warner's internet service, RoadRunner. If I find my service changed in anyway, content *or* delivery (aka proprietary systems, degredation of bandwidth/efficiency), I will immediately discontinue my service with them. And I urge anyone else to do the same. And I will let RoadRunner know of my intentions. To think, locally, I was influencing people to use the RoadRunner service as an alternative to some nightmare like AOL... It's a sad, sad world. Also, if anyone wants to know particulars... I am already setting myself up with a contingency plan... (Local DSL service, possibly free). Get in touch if yer interested.;) >From my personal standpoint, I work for a broadband company. We manufacture hardware for cable networks. Will we sell out into the Time Warner/AOL web of doom? Or will we join the resistance and pour some R&D into things like DSL and offer some competition? On a lighter note, I heard on the radio, the deal is not yet sealed, pending votes from the Time Warner shareholders... (also, someone informed me it was only a merger, not a buyout... yet, AOL shareholders hold 55% of the stock? Hmmm...) Can anyone let me know the specifics on those last facts? I will probably email this letter out to a few friends as well as post it on slashdot....
Sometimes I can't read UF because its so darn funny, I can't stop laughing. I think the whole issue is about open mindedness. If I poke fun at someone about learning about computers, it's not vindictive, it's good clean fun. Utlimately, I will usually bend over backwards to help anyone I can... And I openly invite anyone to poke fun at things I find tough to do. Hell, I can't swim very good. (And I'm 24). Once, at a pool party at a friend of my wife's place, I was swimming in the pool with many other people. My wife's friend's daughter (she was probably all but 7 or 8) asked me why I was doing the doggie paddle, and I smiled and replied "Because I can't swim. I'm just faking it.";)
Slashdot Mirror
I'm getting sick of it too. But not because slashdot is mentioning it. This issue hasn't resolved and they're proving that fact. I'm getting sick of hearing about instances like this because there's basically two types of people in the world: those who are technically savvy, and those who aren't. What's really scary is when those who aren't are pretending to be. Which leads me to your sig... "Almost everyone is an idiot. If you think I'm exaggerating, then you're one of them." I love that ;) Now I'm not saying that *you* are one of the tech-naive, the fact that you care and are paying attention shows you aren't... but alot of the folks who make our laws that govern things like the internet and computer industry, well, they just don't "get it". Otherwise they would apply new laws to digital music that would be in effect immidiately instead of using the ones which were probably thought up when the biggest thing they had to be concerned with was 8 tracks and vinyl albums.
Remember that story? For those who don't, basically its the future and the government makes everyone "equal". If you're strong, you are weighed down by weights. If you're attractive, you must ware a hideous mask. I'm not saying MP3s are legal or moral, everything in this instance was done by the book. But the world is changing, and its time to rewrite parts of the book. I think its time for some serious political/legislative reform when it comes to how technology is handled. If the laws that rule the land cannot keep up with the pace of how fast technology is changing, we're going to see more of these situations. Like someone mentioned earlier... if they confiscate everyone's computer who is distributing MP3s, do they have someplace big enough for millions of PCs? Also... is it just me or is everyone out for blood when it comes down to money? The recording industry makes scads of money. If they eliminate all illegal instances of mp3s in the world, they would make even scads more (which is what they really want, you can never have enough money.) But on the other hand, if everyone in the world had strictly illegal mp3s and never bought cds, then there would be no more music industry, and no more commercially available music, right? There has to be some middle ground where a compromise can be attained. As in music would be more (legally) free than it is now, and the industry would give up maybe just a small fraction of that chunk of money that exsist in their pipe dreams. I think we need to let M$ and the RIAA and the MPAA know that the meaning of life isn't really "He who dies with the most money wins."
I know alot about computers, hardware, networking, and such, but I don't exactly work in the field per se. I don't have any certification or any degrees, but I'm sure with enough time and resources (which I'm low on right now) I'll land myself a carreer in the IT field. I think my attitude alot of times is that many of these jobs are overrated (and I could be wrong) but I think that stems from the fact that alot of people in the feild are unwilling to give me the benefit of the doubt (no degree = no knowledge). It could just be the attitude of the folks in the feild in my area, but the people who really respect and are impressed by my abilities are the everyday people who don't know much about computers but really need help. (Semi-pseudo computer literate). So basically, I offer free tech support to friends and family, people at work. I let them know my opinion and the facts and why I believe some things are better than others. I mean, who doesn't do this? Its a sort of charity in itself... if you help people become so computer literate that the machines become second nature to almost everyone as such things as televisions, vcrs, phones and automobiles, the extreme need for things like tech support will wane. So in other words, why pay some guy some ungodly amount of money to help people with their basic issues ("uhh how do I rename an icon on the desktop?") when you can just have a positive influence on everyone you talk to about computers in general. Good computing habits would eliminate alot of the problems we all have today. (I for one, check my email on the server with a little program, and many folks ask me why... well, I have yet to fall victim to stupid macro viruses like melissa, love bug, etc.) Just some thoughts.
I finally rented TPM this weekend. I went out to my local video store, and picked up the tape (note: to rent, not to own). And asked the clerk "Are the DVDs out yet?" He replied with "Not until 2002." I assumed he knew something I didn't. I definitely would want it on DVD before I ever thought of purchasing VHS. (This weekend was some really nice weather, a friend on ICQ summed it up with "So geeks actually do go out into the sun every once in awhile?" :)
A few years ago, the company I work for, Philips Broadband Networks, supplied Telstra with a ton of HFC and fiber equipment. Perhaps now their competitors should get on the phone and see what we have to offer in the way of newer products that might give them a better edge.
I think this is a PR move. Gates' way of saying "Hey look what I'm doing in regards to the events of late!". He's the man with his name plastered all over the papers, he's the one everyone hears about. Hmmm... how does someone retire on only $100 billion? ... I once got an IS interview because in the application, I put "Besides, I may not have a degree, but neither did Bill Gates."
I emailed this to a bunch of close friends, just wanted to share it here... "As of this week, individuals, people who believe in free and diverse speech, those who believe in the free distribution of information and unrestricted navigation of the Net, have a new and potentially much more menacing opponent than Microsoft ever was." This describes me to a T... Everything I've appreciated in the Internet for the past 7 years and perhaps in computers for the last 12 years, could be in jeopardy. Is this a reactionary statement? Possibly... but AOL has a way of taking something perfectly normal and grinding down the technical qualities until it's nothing but a dumbed-down advertisement that you have to click every five minutes so they can make money. I'm for human enlightenment and education, not in exploiting what people may not know or may not see. For those of you who don't know, I subscribe to Time Warner's internet service, RoadRunner. If I find my service changed in anyway, content *or* delivery (aka proprietary systems, degredation of bandwidth/efficiency), I will immediately discontinue my service with them. And I urge anyone else to do the same. And I will let RoadRunner know of my intentions. To think, locally, I was influencing people to use the RoadRunner service as an alternative to some nightmare like AOL... It's a sad, sad world. Also, if anyone wants to know particulars... I am already setting myself up with a contingency plan... (Local DSL service, possibly free). Get in touch if yer interested. ;) >From my personal standpoint, I work for a broadband company. We manufacture hardware for cable networks. Will we sell out into the Time Warner/AOL web of doom? Or will we join the resistance and pour some R&D into things like DSL and offer some competition? On a lighter note, I heard on the radio, the deal is not yet sealed, pending votes from the Time Warner shareholders... (also, someone informed me it was only a merger, not a buyout... yet, AOL shareholders hold 55% of the stock? Hmmm...) Can anyone let me know the specifics on those last facts? I will probably email this letter out to a few friends as well as post it on slashdot....
Sometimes I can't read UF because its so darn funny, I can't stop laughing. I think the whole issue is about open mindedness. If I poke fun at someone about learning about computers, it's not vindictive, it's good clean fun. Utlimately, I will usually bend over backwards to help anyone I can... And I openly invite anyone to poke fun at things I find tough to do. Hell, I can't swim very good. (And I'm 24). Once, at a pool party at a friend of my wife's place, I was swimming in the pool with many other people. My wife's friend's daughter (she was probably all but 7 or 8) asked me why I was doing the doggie paddle, and I smiled and replied "Because I can't swim. I'm just faking it." ;)