This poor guy went to jail. This is not funny, I have had Windows do this to me before. I suggest everyone who reads this should go to www.puppylinux.org and and download an open source copy of PUPPY LINUX right now. ( Or UBUNTU if you prefer, Puppy is just my personal choice for simple and quick LIVE CD usage).
Sorry, but it just seems unfair that people don't know that most Linux distributions will read Microsoft files, and can rescue most if not all data on most computers (except in some cases of hardware failure.) But even if your hard drive fails, if you keep backups of important data on a USB drive, you can still operate your computer without the hard drive- IF- you run a Linux LIVE CD in it. Try doing THAT in VISTA!
Windows has a long history of leaving me in the lurch when I need it most, so I learned not to trust it for business that was critical. Most Linux distros come in a Live CD configuration, just D'load it, burn the ISO, and keep it nearby. Someday, you WILL need it.
Poor guy, he sure did...
This is a plug for something I have been following for a few years. The OLPC project is what humans mostly aspire to do, but seldom rise to. That stands for ONE LAPTOP PER CHILD and it might just change this crazy world for the better. And you can help.
I have wanted one of these since I first heard about them and now I can get one, and make sure a kid that needs one gets one as well, and so can you. How about a solar powered readable in daylight 6 hour lightweight laptop? Unbelievable, but true.
They are designed for poor and needful third world country children, but how about your child, or bikers, hikers, greenies, trenders, and more? The New York Times is quite impressed it seems...
With the give one get one program, you can get your hands on one of these cool new designs, and make sure a child who doesn't have your options can get one as well. Starting Nov. 12, 2007 for just $400.00 you can donate one OLPC laptop and get one for yourself in the bargain! (Plus a tax deduction - see their website for details).
I have heard some techies try to tear this design down, don't you listen to them! If you need more than this, cool, but who doesn't need a waterproof solar powered or hand crankable computer? I hate to take my Toshiba or IBM laptop on my bicycle - too heavy, too expensive, can't read it in sunlight, but this one is just what I need. And its green and white. Tres Cool.
Seriously, we have so much in this country, why don't you share a little bit to help a child somewhere that needs a chance to compete in this digital domain world?
Have you ever downloaded a song, or book, or movie that might be copyrighted? That is a crime my friend, and you should stop that immediately. A woman was just sentenced to pay $220,000 dollars for that crime. And by all accounts she quite possibly didn't even do it! Ouch!
By sworn testimony from witnesses for the prosecution, she was a good customer and bought hundreds of CD's and DVDs from the local Best Buy. Think she will ever do THAT again? The RIAA just might have totally alienated and tried to "make an example" of someone who USED to be their loyal customer. Think it couldn't happen to you? Or your kid? Or anybody else you know?
And what of all those iPods you see everywhere today? Are ALL those songs legit? Do they even KNOW?
I don't download copyrighted ANYTHING illegally, and neither should you. That's right, it's JUST TOO SCARY to contemplate the consequences.
But I will ALSO never - EVER - give one more stinkin' dime to any pay for music scheme these MUSIC INDUSTRY greedy punks offer, nope, never again. No music store sales, NO Walmart or Best Buy CD's, not even iTunes. The traditional music business is DEAD to me. Attack your customer base at your own risk, fellas. This Canadian metal music fan expresses it quite nicely!
But wait, there are other options. I WILL be paying $10.00 dollars gladly to RADIOHEAD for their new album, and I am not even a recent Radiohead fan. Haven't listened to them much lately since they don't get much airtime on corporate controlled airwaves anymore. But I always liked their song CREEP, and I LOVE their new business model. "PAY WHAT YOU WANT." You sold me right there guys. I will happily take a chance on these new songs today!
(Really, it's called In Rainbows - go and pre-order it RIGHT NOW, and pay what you want! I will be right here when you get back.)
See? The tired old music "pimps" want you to think they own ALL the music. That concept is so WRONG! There are a gazillion unsigned bands, tons of public domain music, new fresh ideas of distribution, and so much more that I am kind of GLAD the misguided greed crazed lawyer run record companies have done this. Sue at your own risk, it just might come back to haunt you. Besides, Radiohead and bands that use the new models of distribution stand to make much more per sale this way, than they ever would of made from the "old style" record companies. Time for a new paradigm of music delivery?
Stop buying tired crap from burnt out music whores like, well, I won't single them out, but they know who they are. Find something new, support local music, look around - it's all over the Internet. But remember, DON'T STEAL copyrighted music. And don't support greed and avarice in it's worst form, either.
This weeks recommendation is Radiohead. Next, I will be making one post a week for the next year of FREE, or NON traditional record company based music that you can download for free or at a reasonable cost, that won't put ONE PENNY in the coffers of the dirty greed mongers who sue their best customers.
(P.S.If everyone, especially anyone that has ever downloaded even ONE SONG for free, donated just ONE DOLLAR to poor Mrs. Thomas, she could pay that judgement, and have money left over to buy Radiohead's new album! I'm game, how about you?)
I have been reading a truly thoughtful rebuttal to the latest media smear campaigns against Linux, and I just have to laugh. What do these big blowhards and naysayers think of the average man? They think we are STUPID and DUMB beyond belief!
The Windows supported media just cant wrap their little punkin' sized heads around the concept that some folks would GLADLY give up some simplicity for more freedom of use. It's the SAME argument every time...""desktop users don't want, need, or KNOW how to do without ADOBE Products, MICROSOFT Products, or APPLE Products, and they couldn't possibly know how to modify or make a computer system usable for their needs without them". Uh, BULLSH*T!
You stupid, stupid men. Your salaries are paid by these companies in advertising revenues so "OF COURSE" you think they rule the computer world. But there is a big and growing cross section of the computer using world that has branched off of your country club mentality of computer usage.
Myself, I have been tinkering with computers since the TI994a, Sinclair Timex, and TRS-80s came out in the late seventies and early eighties. I had the pleasure of using many fine IBM products through the years, as well as Apple IIes and Macintoshes. I have been a happy "desktop compter user" before any of the current crop of GUI enabled machines were even released. I had a copy of Windows 1.0 before most of these "computer writers" were BORN.
And I just like Linux. I know Windows, I make a living supporting people who use Windows, and I have made a nice living for years helping others figure out how to fix their crippled, broken, oudated or plain badly conceived machines. Tech support is what this fuss is all about. Most people have a finite limit to their knowledge of any particular system. MAny millions of dollars have been made by keeping you in the dark, using proprietary OS'es that NEED high priests and mumbo pocus. Linux is different than that, and a response to that broken greedy system.
Linux just happens to be a better support system for most people. You are FREELY given the knowledge to learn ALL parts of the OS. And that's what SCARES the bejesus out of companies like, well, you know. You learn to fix what you need to fix. Most people just haven't tried it yet. Maybe today is the day for you...
When the automobile came in wide usage, there were still MANY horses and carriages on the road. Folks CONSTANTLY complained about the cars scareing the horses. Innovation is like that. The old systems never want to give way to the new, or better, systems. SO WHAT!
In Paris during the 1860's the number one cause of deaths for gentlemen 30 to 40 was boiler explosions,,,between their legs! It was from steam powered automobiles. That didn't stop automobile technological advances, and it didn't even end up that steam was that practical a method of locomotion for automobiles after all! Who knew?
I posit that years from now, most people will be using a Linux or open source type of operating system on their computing device, of whatever type. It will win in the end, and not because I say so, but because it's more flexible. And viruses and worms are slowly crippling the "BIG MEDIA FAVORITE" operating system. If virus "protection" companies had their way, well, we would ALL be using their services ALL DAY LONG. Get smart, and get out of that racket. If you are going to use a computer, you need to get an operating system that is stronger and more clever than that!
Corporate entities have ALWAYS tried to control the common mans work, thinking and leisure. But we just outsmart them, time and time again.
If you want to use Windows, rock on. But if you are ready to get more for your money, and less control from above, try Linux. In fact try ALL the great Linuxes out there. Enjoy your freedom.
