Sunday, 12 February 2006

Mini Milestone - 1000th post I just noticed a little milestone was passed - my 1000th post I started this particular little blog in May 23, 2003 Quick summary of posts over the years:   Year   Posts   2003 338   2004 416   2005 211   2006 38 I need to write a tool to extract my comments and trackback totals so that I can work out my C.I.! 5:03:56 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • Random

Class Action Settlement/Software Update Notice Got this email overnight. The class action suit against SONYBMG and their ROOTKIT spreads far and wide, and even to my inbox . More info at EFF ----- Original Message ----- From: <class.settlement@sonybmg.com> To: Frank Arrigo Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2006 12:36 PM Subject: Class Action Settlement/Software Update Notice ***IMPORTANT LEGAL NOTICE/SOFTWARE UPDATE NOTICE***PLEASE READ*** (Please do not respond to this email.  Responses will not be read.) If You Bought, Received or Used a SONY BMG Music Entertainment CD Containing Either XCP or Media Max Content Protection Software, Your Rights May Be Affected By a Class Action Settlement, And You Should Download Updates For That Software. What is this about? A settlement has been proposed in a lawsuit brought against SONY BMG Music Entertainment, Inc., SunnComm International Inc., and First 4 Internet, Ltd. ("Defendants").  The lawsuit, In re SONY BMG CD Technologies Litigation, Case No. 1:05-cv-09575-NRB, is pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and relates to XCP and MediaMax content protection software installed on certain SONY BMG music CDs. The Settlement resolves claims that the Defendants manufactured and sold CDs containing XCP and MediaMax software without adequately disclosing the limitations the software imposes on the use of the CDs and the security vulnerabilities it creates.  The Defendants have denied that they did anything wrong. Who Is Included, And What Does The Settlement Provide? The settlement provides relief for persons who bought, received or used SONY BMG CDs with either XCP or MediaMax software.  Under the settlement, any person in possession of an XCP CD can exchange it for a replacement CD, an MP3 download of the same album, and either (a) cash payment of $7.50 and one (1) free album download from a list of 200 albums, or (b) three (3) free album downloads from that list. Purchasers of CDs containing MediaMax 5.0 software will receive a free MP3 download of the same album and one (1) additional free album download.  Purchasers of CDs containing MediaMax 3.0 software will receive a free MP3 download of the same album. The settlement also requires the Defendants to stop manufacturing SONY BMG CDs with XCP or MediaMax 3.0 and 5.0 software and, until 2008: (1) make available updates to fix all known security vulnerabilities caused by XCP and MediaMax software; (2) provide software programs to uninstall XCP and MediaMax software safely; (3) fix any future security vulnerabilities discovered in MediaMax and any other content protection software placed on SONY BMG CDs; (4) provide independent verification that personal information about users of SONY BMG CDs has not and will not be collected through XCP or MediaMax; (5) waive certain provisions of the end user license agreements for XCP and MediaMax software; and (6) ensure that any other content protection software will be clearly disclosed, independently tested and readily uninstalled. At 9:15a.m. on May 22, 2006, the Court will hold a hearing at the United States District Court, Daniel Patrick Moynihan United States Courthouse, 500 Pearl Street, Courtroom 21A, New York, New York 10007-1312, to decide whether to approve the settlement and the class attorneys' fees and costs. How Do I Participate In The Settlement? If you bought or received a SONY BMG Music CD containing XCP or MediaMax software and want to receive the relief you may be eligible for under the settlement, you must submit an online claim form at www.sonybmgcdtechsettlement.com, or mail a claim form to: SONY BMG CD Technologies Settlement P.O. Box 1804, Faribault, MN 55021-1804 All claim forms must be submitted by December 31, 2006. What Are My Other Options? If you bought, received or used a SONY BMG Music CD containing XCP or MediaMax software, and you do not want to be legally bound by the settlement or receive a replacement CD, cash, free downloads or other relief, you must exclude yourself by May 1, 2006.  If you do not exclude yourself, certain of your claims against the Defendants that were or could have been asserted in the lawsuit will be released, meaning you may not be able to sue the Defendants for those claims. To view the detailed legal Notice of Proposed Class Action Settlement, Motion for Attorneys' Fees and Settlement Fairness Hearing and to download the software updates, visit www.sonybmgcdtechsettlement.com. You may obtain further information by contacting the claims administrator at the address above or by calling toll free 1-800-242-7610. 4:00:13 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • Random

Talking Boony : VB Series Final 2 : Australia v Sri Lanka What a surprise. Australia lost the first final to Sri Lanka. The Aussies now have to win both finals, otherwise it will be their first VB series loss in 13 years. Boony is anticipating a good game too. time (aest) Talking Boony Said... 1:30pm grab a VB the crickets about to start 3:00pm nice shot 4:00pm when's the dtinks break 4:20pm i feel like some watermelon 4:45pm i'll drink to that 5:00pm we're going to the pub 5:10pm oh that's a good pill a very good pill 5:15pm got any nachos. i love nachos 6:15pm hey give me a vb, the crickets about to start 6:55pm looked out from here ump 6:55pm shot 7:25pm oh it's a good pill, it's a good pill 9:15pm anyone seen me thongs Tag : talking boony 3:47:34 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • Geek • TV

SMH: Hit shows plundered I read this SMH article today, entitled " Hit shows plundered". It starts with how Australia is the world's second biggest market for pirated TV shows after Britain. Hmmm, I remember reading simlar stories 12 months ago, like UK, Australia top TV piracy list and Impatient TV viewers turn to BitTorrent The article also has some comments from Mark Pesce, who had the Piracy is Good speech from last year. What I find amusing is the networks execs living in denial Seven director of corporate development Simon Francis said he was not concerned. "The vast majority watch television . . . the ratings for the shows show no erosion - you look at the figures for Lost and Desperate Housewives, there is no audience loss," he said. and But Ten's David Mott isn't convinced that pirate TV viewers create buzz for shows. "We don't condone piracy and we support the US networks' efforts to prevent it," he said. Wake up and smell the coffee. Bits are moving freely and people are watching downloaded TV Shows. There are sites like Kangaroo TV springing up with how to instructions for the everyman. It's happening and will accelerate in the coming months.  The networks in the US are starting to adapt (CBS Cuts Out Download Middleman), and even the UK, with the Channel 4 Geek Sitcom  "The IT Crowd", which offers the epsiode online. 1:36:36 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • Geek • TV

More on Camelot Moira was reading the latest North Shore Times and found an article about Camelot, the house we went to look at last week. PAKASTANI-born Nausheen Qureshi  had little trouble adapting to the Australian way of life when she migrated here as a young bride 22 years ago. ``We went to Canberra, which is remarkably similar to Islamabad,'' Nausheen said. She said the architects of modern Islamabad had drawn heavily on the design principles used by Walter Burley Griffin in Canberra. ``So it all felt quite familiar . . . I had no trouble settling down.'' Six years ago, Nausheen and husband Zia  bought a large character house in Pymble. The luxury four-bedroom home has many unusual features including a turret room, banquet dining room, home gym, inground pool and fish pond with footbridge. ``We get lots of family visitors, so the house is absolutely perfect from that point of view,'' Nausheen said. ``It's so spacious that it can easily cope with the extra numbers.'' The house is always filled with the friends of Nausheen and Zia's two children  Usman, 18, and Amna, 17. ``This house seems to attract young people  they'll watch a movie in the home theatre or swim in the pool, which is gas-heated and warm all year round,'' Nausheen said. The property at 96 Livingstone Ave will be auctioned on March 1 through Century 21 Cordeau Marshall's Paula Hellstern on 0418 415 033. So now we know more about the family selling the house. So, the owner is CEO of a local company. The photo on the website has the dude standing in the living room at his house. He was the charman of the Australian Chapter for the  International Association of Outsourcing Professionals, as well as an Honorary Investment Counsellor for the Government of Pakistan (#21),  A dude with the same name was also involved in some dodgy money deals resulting in missing millions. I don't know if it's all related but it makes for some interesting reading. All from going to visit an open house 1:08:35 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • Random

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