Communication – Page 9

Loud Web pages

Apr 162010

I’m wondering: how many times does it happen every night that someone quietly browsing the Web (perhaps when others in the house are already asleep) is startled by sudden blaring music coming from his computer, curses loudly, and closes the Web browser in a mad panic?

It happens to me from time to time.

I don’t know what the marketing theory is behind these let-us-startle-the-person-who-clicked-on-our-link-with-blaring-audio pages, but if there are any marketing types out there reading this, well, let me assure you: the only possible reaction you get from me is closing the Web page in question in the above-mentioned mad panic, accompanied with rather crude utterances in both English and Hungarian, and an oath never to buy whatever product or service you were advertising, indeed, preferably never to visit your site again.

Symbolics

Computer Algebra, Internet No Responses »

Mar 162010

An interesting anniversary today: 25 years ago, on March 15, 1985, the first ever .com domain name was registered, symbolics.com. The company, in addition to building their own brand of “Lisp Machine” computers, also happened to be selling the commercial version of the MACSYMA computer algebra software. The same software that, in the form of its open-source version, Maxima, continues to evolve thanks to a devoted team of developers… of which I happen to be one.

Alas, Symbolics is no longer, at least not the original company. A privately held company by the same name which obtained much of Symbolics’ assets still sells licenses of the old MACSYMA code.

Why I don’t buy computer games anymore

Computers, Intellectual Property, Internet No Responses »

Mar 142010

Like any good geek, I like computer games. I’m not obsessed by them (the image of Comic Book Guy from The Simpsons serves as a powerful deterrent) but I do enjoy the occasional play. And I certainly have the disposable income to buy a new title when it comes out.

Except that I haven’t bought a new game in years. Ubisoft’s official explanation about their “always on” digital rights management system is a good example why. A company that needs to know every time I am playing, a game that kicks me out of my Internet connection drops momentarily… why would I want to pay good money for that? Come to think of it, why would I even want something like that for free on my computer?

The answer is, I don’t.

I have no statistics to prove it, but I think DRM does far more harm than good. It may (or may not) deter piracy. On the other hand, I bet that the number of customers alienated and put off by DRM far exceeds the number of those who suddenly see the light and, as a result of DRM, start paying for stuff they previously stole. So the net result may very well be a decrease in sales.

Perhaps one of these days, software, especially game software companies will come to their senses again and realize this. Until then, I’ll just enjoy the occasional shootout with some heavily pixelated aliens in Duke Nukem.

Turnips

Internet No Responses »

Feb 272010

According to a Web site found by New Scientist’s Feedback page, turnips are not very interesting, and have in fact been that way for at least fourteen years.

Anonymity on the Internet

Computers, Internet No Responses »

Feb 152010

The Electronic Frontier Foundation has a nifty Web site called panopticlick: it shows you just how unique your browser is. Even browser configurations that I thought were surely non-unique (such as a vanilla Internet Explorer setup on a Windows XP virtual machine or the off-the-shelf Mozilla Firefox that is installed on my Linux server but almost never used) turned out to have unique signatures, for which plugins, most notably Flash, are largely to blame. And you thought the [insert name of favorite most-hated intelligence agency here] needed cookies or some other tricks to track your every move!

Danzon n°2

Internet, Music No Responses »

Feb 052010

What a grand thing, this contraption called the Internet.

I was talking to my wife about the Olympics. (No, we aren’t fans.) I mentioned that in 2016, the games will be held in Rio. They’ll be dangling their breasts, she commented, sarcastically alluding to that Simpsons episode in which the family ends up in Rio. To the music of Villalobos, I added. (We both love the music of Villalobos.)

Then it occurred to me… last week, on my way to Waterloo, I heard a remarkable piece of music listening to the CBC in the car. All I remembered that it was from some Mexican composer. In the pre-Internet, pre-Google, pre-Wikipedia (not to mention pre-Youtube) days, that’d have been the end of the story: I’d not have been able to remember anything else.

But we live in the Internet/Google/Wikipedia/Youtube era. Within two minutes, we were listening to the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra playing Danzon n°2 by Arturo Márquez, as a matter of fact the very same performance I believe that I heard on the CBC:

You gotta love this Internet thing.

Server crash

Computers, Internet No Responses »

Jan 242010

This is becoming almost traditional: just before I embark on a trip, my otherwise ultra-reliable server crashes while performing some routine operation.

Back when dinosaurs still roamed the Earth and the Internet was still an exotic novelty for most people, my wife and I spent an unforgettable few weeks driving around the United States.

My server has been in existence for more than two years by then. No Web site yet… that came later that year. (Actually, I already had a rudimentary version up and running courtesy of my Internet service provider, but I digress.) The server was “connected” to the Internet via dial-up; it dialed regularly (once an hour; my wife and I still remember the little touch-tone “song” that we heard many times a day) to exchange e-mail, and it dialed automatically if I tried to visit a Web site, for instance. Otherwise, the modem line was open for dial-in… and I planned to dial into the server regularly while traveling.

Except that on the morning of our planned departure, the server crashed. Not a minor crash either… its hard drive died. Fortunately, not an instant death, and I was able to obtain a replacement drive and rescue all data.

Though it was still a genuine, no-kidding, bona fide kernel panic, today’s crash was a little less dramatic. I was merely testing streaming video from the server, as I always find it useful to be able to watch an Ottawa newscast in the evening when I am out of town. Instead of streaming the darn video, the video capture driver (which I’ve been using, completely incident free, for many years) crashed, taking the server down. Most unsettling!

Google, not yet evil?

Commerce, Internet, Politics No Responses »

Jan 172010

I wondered recently about Google not (yet) being evil.

If recent news are to be believed, Google decided to play hardball with the Chinese government. Good for them! I hope Google prevails, but even if they don’t, I think they should be applauded for having the guts.

Now here’s the $0.02 question (or, in the case of Google, more likely the multibillion dollar question): how long before Google’s CEO gets fired for failing to maximize shareholder value?

Secret lawmaking leads to totalitarianism

Intellectual Property, Internet 1 Response »

Nov 122009

According to leaks, a secret meeting held in Seoul and led by the ever so vigilant champion of all that’s free, the United States, may lead to the most Draconian restrictions yet on Internet freedom. Under the pretense of fighting counterfeiting, the participants (which include the United States, Canada, and the EU) are really discussing copyright provisions, and are planning to agree on a series of measures that would make a Cuba or North Korea proud. These include giving new powers to border guards, extending controversial protection of copy protection measures, removing privacy protection such as the “safe harbor” status of ISPs, and mandating “three strikes and you’re out” laws.

The fact that such talks are held in near complete secrecy by itself speaks volumes. This is how an East Germany negotiated border control measures with other communist states, not how free states negotiate about the rights of their citizens.

Once I stop fuming, I’ll write a nice, polite e-mail to our esteemed Prime Minister and ask if he and his government are really planning to go completely mad. I’d rather not see another penny in my life as revenue from the software I develop than live in a country which thinks that such totalitarian measures are needed to protect corporate profits from unruly citizens.

Meanwhile, I just had an idea. I think it is time to organize massive civil disobedience campaigns. I doubt it’d be too difficult to convince millions, if need be, to make one illegal copy a day of a song, a video, or software, not for profit, not even for public distribution (I am, after all, respectful of intellectual property), just to make a point and break badly crafted, stupid, hostile laws that should, really, must, be repealed (or, in the case of Canada, not enacted in the first place.)

More Rogers madness

Communication, Local Ottawa No Responses »

Oct 292009

Yesterday, I phoned Rogers, basically because I wanted to give them some more of my money. At the same time, I also wanted to complain; several analog cable channels still have just one side (left or right) of the stereo audio (I first reported this almost a year ago, still unfixed), and I wanted to know why they’re suddenly charging me more, claiming that a bundle discount I used to get “expired”.

To make a long story short, after being interrupted and lectured about matters of life by an impertinent representative (one example: “Why do you want to have the analog service repaired when it will be discontinued in a few months anyhow?”) I asked for his supervisor. Predictably, I was told that the supervisor was not available, but they’d phone me back in 24 hours.

That was more than 24 hours ago. Needless to say, I’m still waiting… and I’m not the only one. I am getting more and more fed up with monopolies.

Activation strikes again

Computers, Intellectual Property, Internet No Responses »

Oct 262009

When will companies finally learn that Activation and copy protection do little to deter real piracy, only punish and alienate legitimate users? Here is something I just came across in a PC World blog:

“Microsoft support reps were still replying to users’ questions about product keys with a canned response citing ‘several reasons why a product key might not be accepted.’

“Essentially, either, ‘You mistyped it. The product key you typed doesn’t match the key assigned to Windows on your computer. Microsoft has identified the product key you entered as counterfeit,’ or ‘the product key has already been used on another computer,’ according to Microsoft.

“One person griped: ‘I Have been on the phone since 4 pm EST and I still don’t have a valid product code. Thank you Microsoft! Thank you for wasting my valuable time! Time is money and this had been a flagrant waste of it,’ wrote thatguy38.”

So all you’re trying to do is install legitimately purchased software, and you end up with a major headache, a useless computer, lots of wasted time, and on top of that you might get accused of theft. Talk about a strong incentive to either use cracked pirate copies or to forego using commercial software altogether, switching to open source instead.

E-commerce was supposed to be easy

Economy, Internet No Responses »

Oct 242009

Recently, I bought a television series on DVD online. One of the DVDs appears unreadable. I noticed some scratches on it, but I also noticed that it happened to carry the HD DVD label. Is it possible that one of the disks in the boxed set was mistakenly an HD DVD? Unfortunately, I don’t have an HD DVD drive in which to test it.

Which reminded me that I’ve actually been meaning to buy an HD DVD drive before they vanish completely, just to be able to read HD DVDs in case I come across any. I looked and found one online that I liked. I tried to buy it… only to be informed repeatedly by Yahoo shopping that “there was a problem saving your information and basket”.

No matter, it can wait… I’ve also been meaning to do another thing this morning, namely to buy a new Microsoft Developer Network subscription. So I went to the MSDN Web site, clicked all the right buttons, logged in with my blasted Microsoft Live ID, and presto… I was told by Microsoft that they “are unable to validate your customer information and proceed with your order at this time”.

Looks like The Powers That Be just don’t want me to spend any money this morning. No matter, I have better things to do with it… and with my time, too.

OK, Firefox, I’m impressed

Film, Internet No Responses »

Oct 222009

I wanted to look up Barry Newman, the star of Vanishing Point, that legendary 1971 road movie. Accidentally, I entered Newman’s name into the URL field in Mozilla Firefox. Rather than telling me that I am full of nonsense or taking me to a search engine, Firefox instantly brought up the Internet Movie Database page on Barry Newman. What can I say… I know how it is done, but that doesn’t mean that I am unimpressed by how well it is done.

Street View and privacy

Computers, Internet, Legal, Society No Responses »

Oct 082009

Google’s Street View has just been introduced in Canada.

Many people consider it a “gross invasion of privacy” that someone can take pictures of their streets and post it on the Internet. “What if they see my car in my driveway?” they scream at the top of their lungs, as if Google broke some long established taboo by photographing a public street.

But wait a minute… are these the same people who readily submit to having their laptops searched, its content, personal and business, examined and scrutinized, just so that customs can catch the occasional pedophile?

For what it’s worth, I couldn’t care less if Google posts photographs of my street or my house. On the other hand, I am so concerned about real invasions of my privacy, I am willing to face the wrath of customs agents by using Bruce Schneier’s method of laptop protection against unwarranted searches.

Curiously, most of the people commenting on Schneier’s article completely misunderstand his point: it’s not that I have anything illicit or shameful on my laptop that I need to hide. That would be easy. It’s that I object to the principle of strangers going through my entire life.

The really scary thing is that so many people, citizens of supposedly free countries, already adopted such a strong police state mentality: rather than looking for a lawful way to maintain their privacy, they are discussing various ways to break the law without getting caught. What I like about Schneier’s method is that it does not involve breaking the law: all my statements to customs agents would be truthful. As they say, no good deed goes unpunished… I’ll likely be harassed more than the smartalec who just creates a hidden partition on his laptop and keeps the visible partition sterile. But, at least I’ll suffer with a clean conscience, whatever good that does.

Multiple-choice scam?

Internet No Responses »

Oct 042009

I’ve received the most curious scam e-mail the other day. The message body was a brief one-liner: “Open the attachment and I will be glad to hear from you soon.” Not exactly the best way to start a scam, since in this day and age, most people know (you’d hope) not to open attachments coming from strangers.

I opened the attachment anyway. Well, I’m allowed to. Dare I say, I’m qualified to. I opened it because it was just an ordinary plain text file and I was curious. And yes, I had ways of knowing that it was safe even before I opened it.

Here is what the attachment contained, in its entirety:

Dearest 

With Due Respect and Humanity, I was compelled to write to you under a
humanitarian ground. My name is MRS. JULIE BRYANT; I was married to late
Dr. ADEL BRYANT, a contractor and diamond dealer for Thirty-two years
before he died in the year 2005. He died after a brief illness that
lasted only four days. Since after his death, I decided not to marry
again. When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of $3.8
Million in a Bank in Spain and the money is still there. 

Recently, My Doctor told me about my condition due to my cancer problem
and having known my condition. I have decided to handle over this money
to a honest and god fearing Individual, group organization that will
utilize this fund for the services of mankind, helping the motherless
homes, orphans, widows, as desired by my late husband when he was alive.
I want you to always remember me in your daily prayers because of my
upcoming Cancer Surgery, although I am not afraid of death hence I know
where I am going. 

With God all things are possible. As soon as I receive your reply, I
shall give you other information’s on how you can receive this money
from the bank. I will be glad to hear from you soon. 

Yours faithfully
MRS. JULIE BRYANT
Reply me at mrsjuliebryant@btinternet.com

Rosemaira Romero

TICKET No: 20511465463-7644
REF No: 5687SPL876
BATCH No: SPYU6868

You have just been awarded the sum of 950,000,00 Euros Only  which was
won by your E-MAIL Address in our EUROMILLIONES de la Primitiva Lottery
Promotions here in spain madrid. Do get back to this office with your
requirement via

(Lottery Trusi Agent)
Name: Eduardo Daniel
Email address: eduardo.daniel@btinternet.com
Email: mr.eduardodaniel@gmx.com 

Names :............
Address :................
Country :................
Phone No :..............
Occupation :..............
Age :.....................
Sex :.................

Mrs. Anita Perez ,
(Lottery coordinator

Angel Sharon

angelsharon@rediffmail.com

Dearest 

With Due Respect and Humanity, I was compelled to write to you under a
humanitarian ground. My name is Mrs Angel Sharon; I was married to late
Dr. ADEL BRYANT, a contractor and diamond dealer for Thirty-two years
before he died in the year 2005. He died after a brief illness that
lasted only four days. Since after his death, I decided not to marry
again. When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of $3.8
Million in a Bank in Spain and the money is still there. 

Recently, My Doctor told me about my condition due to my cancer problem
and having known my condition. I have decided to handle over this money
to a honest and god fearing Individual, group organization that will
utilize this fund for the services of mankind, helping the motherless
homes, orphans, widows, as desired by my late husband when he was alive.
I want you to always remember me in your daily prayers because of my
upcoming Cancer Surgery, although I am not afraid of death hence I know
where I am going. 

With God all things are possible. As soon as I receive your reply, I
shall give you other information’s on how you can receive this money
from the bank. I will be glad to hear from you soon. 

Yours faithfully
Mrs Angel Sharon
Reply me at angel.sharon@btinternet.com

Yes, that’s three scams in one e-mail. Or rather, two scams, but one repeated with two different names. The e-mail purportedly came from a “Mrs Angel Sharon” so presumably, the last of the three was the scam that they intended to send. (Note though that in this last variant, they changed the name of the widow but neglected to change the name of the husband to match). So what am I supposed to do now? Reply to all three, in the hope that I get twice the $3.8 million inheritance in addition to the €950,000 lottery win? Or perhaps I’m better off spending my limited amount of time answering some of the other e-mails I got, like the notification from a Peter Olu telling me that the government of Nigeria is ready to send me my contract payment of $4.5 million, the note from a Dr. Robert F. Johnson letting me know about a consignment briefcase of $2.5 million, the e-mail from Sgt. Tom Kennedy in Iraq who wants to give me $8 million out of $20 million that he’s trying to smuggle out of the country, or the notification from no less a personage than Robert Muller from the FBI, letting me know about the $10 million I am about to receive from Nigeria?

Do people still fall for these dumb scams? They must, otherwise they’d no longer be in circulation. And sometimes I am inclined to think that those who are greedy or stupid enough to become victims of these scamsters deserve what they get. Now, is there a way to tell scamsters that an e-mail address that has been in circulation for over 15 years does not belong to a likely victim? Guess not…

Rich man

Internet No Responses »

Sep 292009

In a single morning, I became over 30 million US dollars richer. At least that’s what my e-mails say:

I’ve been offered a 40% commission just for providing my bank account details that would allow an official to transfer $20 million out of South Africa.
I have supposedly received a $650,500 humanitarian grant from the United Nations, by random draw.
A diplomat presently at Heathrow Airport contacted me concerning my $7.5 million inheritance.
I also have a $15.5 million inheritance waiting for me in Nigeria.
Still in Nigeria, it seems that they failed to pay me another $2.5 million, due under some contract.

The total comes to $34,150,500, and all I need to do is answer these e-mails with the requested details.

Needless to say, I won’t.

SPF

Computers, Internet No Responses »

Sep 092009

Finally, an idea I’ve had years ago seems to have occurred to others, too… namely, cutting down on spam e-mail by verifying that the originating server is a valid server for the sender’s domain. The mechanism developed for this purpose is called SPF, or Sender Policy Framework. I just set up my domains with SPF records… let’s see what happens! Of course SPF is not going to do the trick until a number of major providers begin to adopt it, but the fact that gmail has done so is quite encouraging.

Russian hackers?

Internet, Politics No Responses »

Aug 082009

Concerning the recent massive DDoS attack on Twitter, Facebook, and other sites, one sentence in particular caught my attention as I was reading news reports: “A source close to Facebook further told IDG News Service on Friday that the attack was aimed at a specific user based in Georgia.”

Is this true? And does this mean that Russian hackers (with possible support from Russia’s government) are behind this? And, if such attacks on the global IT infrastructure become more frequent, what can the world do? Firewall Russia off the Internet? It may be feasible to do so technologically, but it also amounts to a kind of a “nuclear option”. However, as the Internet is becoming ever more vital, if there are “rogue nations” that refuse to police online criminals within their borders (or perhaps even actively support them) the “nuclear option” may very well be the only practical alternative.

A message from Rogers

Internet No Responses »

Jul 212009

In addition to my primary Internet connection, I also use a cable modem for backup, and also for large downloads. Earlier month, I downloaded a fair amount of data. Today, when I visited Wikipedia (using the Rogers connection), I was confronted with a rather strange message:

Rogers warning

I suppose I should appreciate the warning. I feel a little more ambiguous about the method in which it was delivered: my Web page request was intercepted by a transparent proxy, which then wrapped the page in question inside a frame. Apart from potentially breaking the page (indeed, as a result all links that I clicked on in this page afterward appeared with the Wikipedia URL showing on top) it also raises a whole host of privacy and other issues.

Now in my case, it’s a matter of seconds to switch back to my primary connection, which is straight to a backbone provider (MCI), with no ISP acting as an intermediary. But others may not enjoy the same luxury.

Massive ArXiv failure?

Astronomy, Internet, Physics No Responses »

Jul 082009

The premier Internet physics and astronomy preprint archive, ArXiv, seems to be having some serious problems tonight. I used the catchup interface to check for new papers, only to find messages like this:

Problem displaying entry for arXiv:0907.1079

Apparently all new papers are unavailable, and many older papers, too… I checked briefly and found papers dating back to last October that appear to have vanished. Including some half a dozen or so papers of my own.

I sure hope they keep backups!

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