Friday, August 29, 2003


Bothering me part 2

After rereading that rant/essay/thingy and the last post, this still-unanswered question came to mind: So who's the idiot after all? Me, them, or the both of us? Or maybe even all of us?

And don't worry about trying to make me feel guilty about the whole thing RIAA cuz I'm way ahead of ya...
posted @ 3:18 PM  |   0 comments  |  


Alright, this is bothering me...

Remember my rant/essay/thinking aloud post about MP3's awhile back? Well ever since then I've been on the lookout for articles dealing with the issue (ok so I read other blogs and sometimes do a search but you get the idea) and there's one thing they all have in common that I feel is VERY misleading and actually scares me a bit and it's this:

The RIAA is always claiming that it wants to get the downloaders and make them pay and stuff. I don't disagree with that part, but what gets me is that in nearly all the cases of a downloader getting caught and sued by the RIAA that gets printed in the stuff I've seen, the person being prosecuted was more of an uploader than a downloader.

It's no big secret that they're going after the big fish first, and that it's taken quite some time for internet terms to become more commonplace for the web-challeneged...but for goodness' sakes people! If you're going after a person for being an UPloader, then call them an UPloader! If you're going after a DOWNloader, then call them a DOWNloader. I personally have heard next to nil about "infringers" being called UPloaders. We hear about the P2P programs that allow for the sharing in the first place (they get sued all the time), we hear about the ISPs potentially being forced to give the users up (what about the ones who've stopped and will not do it again cuz they've wised up?), and we hear about the kids and idiots who are ripping everything they can get their hands on and spreading them like wildfire over the internet claiming to be Robin Hood (the robbin' is right).

But since when did uploaders and downloaders become the same? Because they aren't! Could someone PLEASE tell these media guys that!!!

Some "traders" don't technically (npi) "trade". Some download only but don't upload. So where's the trade? Some upload but don't download. So where's the trade? Where's the swapping? Sharing yes, but swapping and trading? No.

I wanna know what the plan of attack is here people. I'm one of the ones who tried it for a bit to see what the fuss was about and I decided to quit. I never uploaded anything nor did I ever allow anyone to download from me. I even bought albums after trying out some of the music (altho that probably doesn't mean much). Are they going after just the uploaders and program makers? They can't go after all 5 million+ of us. Would you rather me delete the stuff from my hard drive? I've got 'em right here and I've also got a button right here. Will that help? Want me to press it? Seriously, do you want me to press this button, cuz I'll do it.

I admit I made a mistake. I admit I shouldn't've have tried it. But I was NEVER an UPloader and I DON'T like being thrown into the same catergory as those who are. If it weren't for the UPloaders, there would be nothing to DOWNload in the first place! I see the RIAA is going after the "downloaders" who are really the big "uploaders" and that's good. But PLEASE GET YOUR TERMS STRAIGHT!!!

Thank you.
posted @ 3:07 PM  |   0 comments  |  

Tuesday, August 26, 2003


THANK YOU TIM!!!

MY THOUGHTS EXACTLY!!!

Rainbows do NOT "belong" to gay people!!! The girl in linked-to article (I won't dignify the original article with a link *here* thankyouverymuch!!!) at Bloggerheads seems to think so. Tim, I've been saying the same thing as you are for years- the Bible got there first. That's the one I use. That's the truth and I'm sticking to it. If y'all don't like it STFU. And if you still don't believe me, read my footer before you start in on me.

Thank you.

This has been the rhblog PSA for today.

And congrats on winning the email battle!
posted @ 8:49 PM  |   0 comments  |  

Friday, August 22, 2003


3-Faced

I had a wild idea today! <"WOW! No shit?! Sheesh ya weirdo..."-ed.>

Mom had to buy a phone that allows for 2 lines ('bout time too) for the office and one of the features that it allows for is 3-way conversation. I remember we had that service for awhile, way back in...11 years ago. WOW! It's been that long has it?! <"yeah you're old" -ed.> Anyway, my wild idea was obviously, who <"it's whoM stupid"-ed.> would I like to call up and then who else to call up and have a nice conference call with?

Gee, I wonder. ;-D

Problem is you gotta call the phone company* and pay for the dern service. But the point is:

Imagine what a 3-way phone conversation between RH, DG, and ObK would be like!!

Or don't if you'd rather not. <"THANK you!"-ed.>

Something tells me -ed. isn't used to the new monitor yet...or just doesn't like widgets. My parents can be so weird sometimes. Now all we need is a Swiss Army widget that unfolds to hold more widgets! <"oh PLEASE! SPARE US!!!"-ed.>

<ties -ed. to the toilet>

* whenever I hear that someone has to call the phone company, I'm reminded of that line in The Day The Earth Stood Still where the woman in the jewlers said that she tried to call someone but the phone didn't work. Then her boss said to call the phone comany, but naturally, the phone doesn't work.
posted @ 10:15 PM  |   0 comments  |  

Thursday, August 21, 2003


The only evil thing about Harry Potter is...

...actually I don't know if you could call it evil or not. Maybe if you're only trying not to goto bed at 3am...

Anyway, the only bad thing about Harry Potter is that it's so damn addictive!!!

I'm almost ashamed at how many times I've reread so many large portions of the books (all 5 of them). Part of this is because I am POSITIVE that I saw a year listed in one of them (1990-something, probably 1994) which means you can figure out the exact dates of events in there. By the year mentioned, the story timeline will never leave the 1990s.

Normally I wouldn't bother with this but you can put the FULL BLAME ON RASSM FOR THIS!!! Being a full-fledged RASSM'er, I have taken upon myself to scan and re-scan the entire series looking for the missing mentioned year and as a result I'm re-reading most of the entire series again.

Worse still, I've taken a psychological interest (psychologically, and it's so bad I'll have to write it up, complete with references and everything) in one of the characters so I've been deconstructing the character and the entire series around this person as if I were talking with Bill or the NRG'ers (especially Pol') about the finer points of Anakin's FttDS or finding the true identity of Sifo-Dyas.

Nightmares I tell ya! First Bill wants to talk about dissecting HP with me and I decline and I end up doing it on my own anyway! THANKS A FRIGGIN LOT RASSM!!!! ;-D

But yes it's my own dang fault I'm hooked on Harry Potter. And no I won't buy a S.P.E.W. badge.

Btw DG, I was about to accidentally back into you and horridly scream in terror when the thread died.

"PS, incidentally, and as a result"- the sigs have been expecting a "Pottersig" of some kind and they know exactly who it would be: Gistsig. Also (as if this "update part weren't enough"): I'm gonna officially (tm) my Major Duh Factor concept. So that's Major Duh Factor(tm) to you!
posted @ 10:22 PM  |   0 comments  |  


Uh-oh. What did she DO?!

Ok, how do I write about this without revealing too much about the parties involved? Hmm... okay. I was having a conversation today (woah, imagine that) with someone I've known for years who happens to be a doctor. They wanted to introduce me to someone they'll be working with (and someone I really should know) who happens to have this SUPER office! I'd been allowed in it several times before but never met the owner (don't ask). There is Star Wars merch ALL OVER THE PLACE!!!! A whole bookcase is devoted to the stuff!!! There are also several VW Beetle models around the desk and a VERY cute Burger King Oddish on top of the monitor!

Needless to say, this is quite an excellent and fun room to be in and we've wondered for years who this wondermous owner is. Today we met her! Immediately this very loud, very excited, and VERY "in the element" conversation started going on in front of in-house witnesses including my doctor pal who introduced us. We were there for several minutes having a great time talking up all things Star Wars that we could think of in such a small space of time (considering how it was the end of the work day and everyone was trying to get home or at least to the bathroom) and needless to say we must've sounded quite the pair of fangirls to the two (excuse me, three) witnesses there. I glanced a look at my doc pal and she was reacting like "What HAVE I DONE?!?!" which doesn't happen all that often, but it was fun as heck to see her do that! :-D

There was also another weirdness to all this. This SWFan is the proud owner of a VERY nicely-colored violet/blue Beetle which we've seen in the parking lot at that place for a few months now. We'd met the driver of the violet/blue Beetle before and she was some sort of hippie student judging by her age and the car's decor. There was a Duke Univ sticker on the car, a Greatful Dead sticker, a fake violet iris in the flower holder inside, and seemed like a very pleasant person. There's just one problem: the description of said Beetle is IDENTICAL to the Fan's Beetle with the exception of the Greatful Dead sticker! Her son however, *did* buy her one (which she declined to put on the car). So this begs the question: what happened to the sticker? (did the both of us imagine it?) who is this girl who was driving it last time? (Ms. Star Wars room doesn't have any idea and she certainly was *not* the woman we saw that time) and what GIVES with this car?!?! Is there an identical Beetle roaming the exact same parking lot or something?!

I understand there's supposed to be a psychologist in said building. Maybe we should all consult? Are we nuts? Are we seeing things? Is there some sort of Beetle warp or something we should know about? HUH?!?!?!

Weird... anyway, it was cool meeting this fellow fan with the fun room and this Beetle mystery now sounds quite intriguing. Even if we imagined the sticker and this is indeed the same Beetle, we still don't know who the young female student? driver was. As if there hasn't been enough car mysteries already this summer... :-D
posted @ 10:12 PM  |   0 comments  |  

Thursday, August 14, 2003


Eyes as big as saucers (aka "Wait until you see the whites of my eyes")

Even if that's not the current size of my eyes, they very soon might be. Dad brought home another widget last night. Technically it's his and I'm just borrowing it. Just had to make that point before I go any further.

Now for some background on this widget: my computer monitor has not changed. Yes I used another one *very briefly* but I came right back to my original one that I got with my first computer way back in 1997. I've had the tower for the comp get knocked around before (on my v2.0 of my original computer- the one on which I got online) and thus caused the screen to go an ugly shade of mustard. Nice on it's own...sometimes in certain situations...but for a computer screen?! <pause for various implied noises> Needless to say that when I was able to buy my very own new computer just a few months ago (comp #2 v1.0 and yes it's 100% mine but it's worth is like nil by now of course), I thought that the days of the mustard screen was over cuz after all, this is a new video card and it's not likely to be as loose as the other one. Right?

I wasn't sure if it was the card cuz this *did* start with the tower getting turned away just slightly (which is how mustard screen happens) but the problem was that unlike comp#1 v2.0, the mustard didn't go away. When it did, things didn't go back to normal. You see, my monitor had been dying slowly for quite some time, and to those who *really* know me know of my eye troubles. I'd been adjusting and readjusting stuff on my monitor exponentially for about a year or so and even wearing sunglasses in front of it on occaision (and still having to tinker with stuff!) and was quickly getting sick of it. My eyes were dying along with my monitor it seemed. In fact, one of the top reasons I haven't been using my new comp as often or as much as my old one is partly because of my sick and dying monitor playing hell with my battered eyes. Needless to say I've needed a new monitor for quite some time and the return of the mustard screen was the last straw.

So why the last straw all of a sudden? Because for absolutely no reason, the monitor (even when the tower was placed back in it's proper place and stuff checked) decided it liked the mustard SO much that it wanted to basically strobe it to me every chance it got. Then it decided it wanted to be both grey and still retain a mustard hue. Then it changed it's mind again and started strobing mustard, then it went back to normal, then it strobed, then it went mustardish grey, then it...etc etc etc. My monitor was dying and it was taking my eyes with it. I went offline and off computer for days at a time due to this (yes this is a near travesty for me, but my stomach and human barometer capabilities more than made up for the boredom :-P ) but my eyes had HAD it.

So after over a year of very justified begging, Dad brought home a widget. It's large, it's flat, and the resolution is 1280x1024. My eyes are now happy but they're popping out of their sockets right about now. Everything's so small and out of proportion. My blog looks different, Blogger's home looks different, I have a whole lot of empty space in my emailer and newsreaders...I have WAY too much room! If this were my bedroom, there'd be even less floor than there is right now by now. I tried putting it back at my preferred 800x600 but it looks even worse. Looks like I'm living large and seeing small.

But at least my tired eyes aren't seeing mustard on a dying monitor. Old monitor gets surgery and a transfer back to the old comp#1 v2.0 at it's far less-used "home" and this big Frank's 2000" tv of a screen stays put. Hey, can you see me?! <waves> Man this thing's like a window lemme tell ya... Anyway, prices went down so Dad's happy, mustard's gone so I'm happy, Mom's happy for the both of us, and the sigs and Pokémon and blugs and others are running around loose right now on those RC hot rods from Sith War 8.1x and screaming "SPAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACE!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Think I'll join in on the fun...as soon as I can get my eyes back in their sockets. <gets strainer and replaces eyes with a sucking and squishy sound>
posted @ 8:39 PM  |   0 comments  |  


Broadway's dark tonight...

Another blackout in NYC. I'm sure you're sick of hearing it but yes the streets as shown on the news were indeed crowded like hell such of which hasn't been since 9/11. What gets me is that while the newscasters are making this comparison so often, they less often (but I have to give them credit for saying it anyway for obvious reasons) say that it is not terrorism. Ok, so it's not terrorism- we get that. But to those who are so busy gaping at the mass sea of humanity that looks rather like slow ants, they hear the words "9/11" and "terrorism". At least, I hope that's *not* what they heard and how they heard it.

If you're gonna compare a non-terrorist thing to something that *was* a terrorist thing, you need to make the distinction MUCH more often. I heard "9/11" MUCH more often than "this is not an act of terrorism". Need I say more?
posted @ 8:16 PM  |   0 comments  |  

Wednesday, August 13, 2003


Artie is depressed

I don't usually pick up on the various newstories I see linked to on other blogs, but Artie got upset over this one. Click and you'll see why.

So he caught one THIS BIG and then lied about it. So what else is new? What's new is, he was raised for the sole (npi) purpose of causing the fakery. Then they killed him. Sad sad sad... Artie doesn't like that kind of thing. Found via Dave Barry's blog
posted @ 7:17 PM  |   0 comments  |