tregoweth - Slashdot User

Google 'Toilet ISP' Gag Not Without Precedent 110

Posted by Zonk on Monday April 02, 2007 @12:27AM from the oh-the-halcyon-dot-com-days dept.

1sockchuck writes "Yesterday, Google's annual April Fools' joke featured Google TiSP, a free home wireless broadband service that connected via a 'commode-based router' and runs fiber cabling through the sewer system. This is actually not without precedent. Back in the dot-com boom, delivering broadband through sewers was the focus of CityNet Telecom, which raised $375 million in funding from major VC and private equity firms in 2000 and 2001. The company used remote-controlled robots to lay fiber through sewer lines and actually created sewer-based networks in Albuquerque and Indianapolis before merging with Universal Access in 2003."

Architect Claims to Solve Pyramid Secret 209

Posted by Zonk on Sunday April 01, 2007 @10:49PM from the that's-one-way-to-do-it dept.

Alreadybutnotyet writes "A French architect claimed Friday to have uncovered the mystery about how Egypt's Great Pyramid of Khufu was built — with use of a spiral ramp to hoist huge stone blocks into place. The construction of the Great Pyramid 4,500 years ago by Khufu, a ruler also known as Cheops, has long befuddled scientists as to how its 3 million stone blocks weighing 2.5 tons each were lifted into place. 'The most widespread theory had been that an outer ramp had been used by the Egyptians, who left few traces to help archeologists and other scientists decode the secret to the construction. Houdin said he had taken into account the copper and stone tools available at the time, the granite and limestone blocks, the location of the pyramid and the strength and knowledge of the workers.'"

Can Outing an Anonymous Blogger be Justified? 197

Posted by CowboyNeal on Saturday March 10, 2007 @11:57AM from the scruples-be-damned dept.

netbuzz writes "Absolutely, depending on the circumstances, yet a Florida newspaper's attempt to unmask 'a political group hiding behind the name of a fictitious person' has sparked outrage in some circles. Part of the reason for that outrage is that the paper posted to its Web site a surveillance video of the blogger visiting its advertising department, a tactic the editor says he now regrets. What's really at issue here is the right to publish anonymously vs. the right to remain anonymous. The former exists, the latter does not."

iTunes Staffers Becomes Music's New Gatekeepers 79

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on Saturday March 10, 2007 @04:29AM from the are-you-the-keymaster dept.

WSJdpatton writes to mention The Wall Street Journal has a look at how Apple is shaking up the world of music retailing. "Apple -- now one of the largest sellers of music in the U.S. -- offers home-page placement in exchange for things such as exclusive access to new songs, special discount pricing or additional material such as interviews with stars. Most other big retailers, digital and physical, also seek exclusive offerings, but Apple is especially aggressive and has outsize clout when it comes to the slightly out-of-mainstream music it often emphasizes."

Comment Fearsome legalese (Score 1) 581

by tregoweth on Sunday June 27, 2004 @01:52PM (#9544274) Attached to: Beastie Boys Respond to DRM Claims

If you decide to buy the actual CD, read the legalese on the back:

This product is provided AS IS without any express or implied warranties. Although this product is intented to play on most CD players and operate on most personal computers running Windows 95 (or higher) or Macintosh OS systems 7.5.5 (or higher) that have CD ROM drives and Quicktime software version 5.0 or higher (not included) Capitol Records is not liable if it does not or if it damages any CD players, computers, peripherals or data. Capitol Records will have no liability for consequential, punitive, or other damages or to refund the purchase price for this product. Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitation or exclusion may not apply to you. If any part of this Disclaimer and Limitation is unenforceable, all other parts will remain enforceable. Visit capitolrecords.com to download the latest version of Quicktime software for your computer. 'Enhanced CD' is a certification mark of the RIAA.

Almost makes me want to distribute illegal copies purely out of spite. (Note to RIAA: Almost!)

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