...radio free beowulf
michael jardeen...musings about news and life
i dream...of something better | i care...too much it seems
Oceans Edge

daily link image Sunday, January 20, 2002

401 reasons to love Enron
Employees of the energy trader are furious at the loss of their life savings, but the debacle could finally be the catalyst for long-needed retirement fund reform. [Salon.com]

...the irony would be if something good came out of this...not like most, where the rich get richer and buy themselves out of trouble...mj
10:42:43 PM    


Luxo Redux - MAB3D.com
...this is great...my 9 year old son came by, saw the movie. started laughing and recognized that it was based on the "Toy Story thing with the lamp"...it's great to be a parent...mj

5:49:42 PM    

Mr. Gates, here's a better idea
...Yes, security's important, as it should have been all along. But should it be Redmond's all-consuming passion right now? As a former Microsoft employee, I've got a better idea: Focus on usability. Producing user-friendly products. [JD's Blog]

...JD and I will have to disagree. Usability is a dead horse for MS and one that will do nothing for them in the short run of making more money, or securing their market share. BG is all about money and market share. Usability is a touchy-feely thing that; while being extremely important, will not create the kind of short term benefits that the "security crusade" will produce.

MS is getting killed in the court of public opinion. The business community is glancing towards Unix and Linux for better security. It's a PR mess of the worst kind and the type of thing that will set BG off. In his world the usability thing has been beaten to death and if you look at the move from DOS to XP, and ISA to USB, this has seen huge improvements. Improvements in this are will be not leap forward until there is a pressing need. On the other hand we seems to be moving in a rapid retreat on the security front. It's like the old joke about the tank with one gear for forward and three for reverse.

MS is all about protecting revenue sources and expanding markets. A "War for Security" is great PR and has the potential to transform MS just like the famous Pearl Harbor Day Internet speech of so many years ago. Gates has declared war, and much like the "war on terrorism," the results will be judged for years to come...mj
4:57:34 PM    


Andersen Says Enron Failed on Business Merits
The head of accounting giant Arthur Andersen, under fire as auditor of bankrupted Enron Corp., sought on Sunday to cast the company's spectacular collapse as the consequence of a failed business model rather than a result of illegal practices. [Reuters]

...ah, the joy of spin and corporate crack. See the silly man in the suit lie through his teeth...mj
2:21:51 PM    


Open Letter to the Music Industry
I own over 300 CDs, 300 tapes, and over 800 LPs. I will NEVER buy any copy protected CDs. In seeking to protect your revenue stream you have assaulted your customers basic, legally protected 'Fair Use' rights. You have attacked the symptoms, just to avoid dealing with the root cause...your industry is based on lies and an economic structure that has gotten out of hand.

This has never been about protecting copyright. It has always been about money, the money you steal from copyright holders to protect your companies financial racket. In 1984 when CDs were young, we were all told that the reason you were charging $4-$8 more for CDs than LPs was because they were so new, and that prices would come down when CDs became more common. Well, it never happened, because you got attached to the teat. You got fat and happy, and figured that the stupid cows you call consumers, could never do anyting about it.

Guess what, the consumer has woken up. The lies have come back to haunt you. In order to attack the file sharing problem you have decided to attack all of your customers. You have decided to make our lives difficult for the privilege of owning your product. I pump out my music in MP3 format. I have ripped all of the music in my house and plan on streaming my collection through my stereo system. If I want, I will burn CDs and use them in my portable CD player. I will migrate my LPs to digital, since many will never get there at your hands.

I bought the product, and I WILL use it as I see fit. I don't need new music. I have over 16 days of MP3 music. I can survive and never spend another dime with the Music Industry...can you?

Michael Jardeen
11:07:18 AM    


Surprise Settlement Evenly Splits Microsoft
In a surprise settlement today with nine U.S. states, Microsoft agreed to be split into two independent companies -- one that will continue to make Microsoft operating systems, browsers, and server software, and another, potentially larger company that will make patches for Microsoft operating systems, browsers, and server software. [SatireWire]

...need a laugh to start off Sunday?...mj
9:19:02 AM    


If you should die
before me, ask if you
could bring a friend.
-- Stone Temple Pilots
1:05:40 AM    

susurration: Dictionary.com Word of the Day. susurration
1:01:43 AM    

Capitalist pigs
The sordid tales of Enron plutocrats looting the company of its treasure as their employees and shareholders faced ruin are enough to turn you into a class warrior. [Salon.com]

...great commentary on what is going down in this case. These people need to suffer, or the fallout could get even worse. This is too public, too big a rip off...then again we said the same thing about the S&L scandal...mj
12:22:06 AM    


It was good
Babylon 5: The Legend of the Rangers It wasn't great, but it was good. It was like an old friend wrapping itself around me. I think it deserves a chance to be a regular series. It did have the most unique attack system ever
[update 1-24] The attack system seems to be the most hated part of the whole show. No one I have talked to liked it...in fact they all hated it. I could live with it until the kicking part started ...mj

12:03:07 AM    

January 2002
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
    1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
27 28 29 30 31    
Dec   Feb


radio beowulf
jardeen.com
my world
my art
my quotes
macandy
macslug
beowulf design
email me

categories
rant, rattle & roll
mac, x and me
one OS to rule them all!

themes
beowulf themes

blogrolling
paul andrews
scripting news
adam curry
doc searls
phil wolff
chris pirillo
wil wheaton
u2 log

misc links
macintouch
macsurfer
macfixit
digital blasphemy
ars technica

Hail to the Liar

cool links
belle and blade
quarlo -- photos ny city
sftv schedule
'24' episode guide
ellis island
eef
anti-dmca
Sincere Choice
jakob nielsen
michael moore

Subscribe to "...radio free beowulf" in Radio UserLand.Click to see the XML version of this web page.
Click here to visit the Radio UserLand website.
Stop Policeware!

Screw the Music Industry - they have screwed you for years!

© Copyright 2003, Michael Jardeen.
Last update: 10/9/03; 5:35:02 PM.