vlogbrothers John Green explains how viacom has broken it’s own rules! EFF linked to it, and they make some amazing points.
EDIT: thanks anne for the correction.
Category: Corporations
AT$T is broken in California!
Apparently, a huge outage is killing iPhone service all over California. My own customers and friends have reported getting a disconnect message when trying to call me. I myself have been unable to make any calls and even txts have been failing and repeating very strangely. I called 611 furiously and after only a few minutes of complaining, they gave me a $150 credit to my account. This doesn’t compair with the aggravation and possible loss of business. (in fact, it took 4 calls to actually communicate with a rep) My only hope is that if their customers effect the bottom line enough, they might just fix the problem.
Feeling Blu.
Just a few days after acquiring my new Blu-ray burner, i’m already transcoding my first HD movie. After an hour to rip, i must wait nearly 3 hours to transcode. i don’t know why i expected it to be more difficult then it was. Perhaps i should wait to see the output before making such a boast. Before you cry DMCA, remember that fair use allows me to make any additional copies of media that are required to play it. How else am i supposed to play Prestige on my iPad in HD? don’t answer that. We’ll let the lawyers fight it out.
May i borrow a cup of wifi?
The internet went out again. it seems that time warner is made of sugar or wicked witches. They melt in the rain. last time we traced the run from pole to modem, but it seems that water continues to find a way in. Luckily i set a little something up with the neighbors. It had to be put in place after the last time when i ran off my iphone using tethering. Believe me, edge at home is ONLY for desperate people. A time warner serviceman made it out this morning to fix it. Knowledgeable workmen AND speedy service, this is a side of time warner i’ve never seen before. I’d still like to see less of these glitches and of course the 8Mbit we’re paying for! Even more then that, i’d like to see a real solution.
Real Solution
What i’d like to see, is a solution to the fundamental internet problem once and for all. What problem? The lack of free and available internet to ANYONE throughout public spaces (and even private ones). That is a stimulus with a real and tangible benefit. Our wireless communications carriers have failed us. We gave them the very air and they repay us with early termination fees and dropped calls.
The powers that be could bring the internet in through the power lines. You can get incredible bandwidth though existing infrastructure and utility poles make great places for hanging access points. Heck, i wouldn’t even mind if they snooped (you know they spy already). In fact people would probably line up to be snooped on free wifi all over town!
once we have a nation wide public wifi network and everything plugged into the wall was also connected to that network, things will really start to get interesting. Imagine a world where our gadgets conspire to improve out daily life? What if you never had to set an alarm clock? Simply plugging it into the wall gets it online and sets the time. Imagine a world where wireless communications doesn’t require faustian contracts with providers full of marketing and empty promises. What if a txt didn’t cost 20¢? What if you could make a call or send a message from your pocket for free? What if this actually happened? These simple ideas will extend the functionality and integrate our devices and networks in ways we cannot even comprehend. I honestly believe that combined with IPv6 and other great implementations, these foundations of technology that will pave the way to the future we’ve seen in science fiction.
Microsoft Takes Down Whistleblower Site!
In a move that shows that some corporations are more powerful then governments, Microsoft had Cryptome shut down. Well, we all get to see there Global Criminal Compliance Handbook after all. With shenanigans like that, it’s probably getting more press then EVER!
read story here: http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2010/02/microsoft-cryptome/
Network Solutions are you just doing favors for microsoft? i’m glad they don’t have any of my domains.
Dead Peasants Policy Holders Outed!
Read all about it and check the list:
http://deadpeasantinsurance.com/which-employers-bought-policies-on-the-lives-of-employees/
(I wouldn’t have a problem if they shared the earnings with the families)
Even Burning Man has fine print!
Did you know that the Burning Man Organization owns the copyright to all pictures taken on the playa? they do. Did you read the fine print when you bought your ticket?
Why would BMO—the organizer of an “an annual experiment in temporary community dedicated to radical self-expression and radical self-reliance”—undermine speech and creativity like this? BMO claims that the terms in the Burning Man ticket agreement are necessary to protect Black Rock City’s unique culture and the privacy of its participants. Furthermore, BMO points out that the limitations are rarely enforced and they only claim copyright if the photos are used in a way BMO doesn’t authorize. By claiming copyright in all photographs taken at the event, BMO can use the streamlined “notice and takedown” process enshrined in the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) to quickly remove unapproved photos from the Internet.
read more from eff here: