Alternate.org

Called Rendezvous, the service enabled listeners and their friends to access one another’s music and listen to it ? but not download it ? from any computers. Hackers, however, had figured out how to download the music as well, creating programs with names like iLeach and iSlurp. So on Tuesday Apple sent out an update for its iTunes software, disabling Rendezvous and limiting music access to a user’s local network at home or at work.

Yes, New York Times, Rendezvous’ only function was iTunes music sharing across the internet. Gah. Rendezvous sharing is actually STILL enabled, but TCP/IP sharing is not. I hate tech writers. And John Gruber agrees with me: “They’re all a bunch of Jerk-offs.”

What the Bush tax cut could have bought.

I fucking love Republicans. They’re so, so awesome. And completely unpredictable about how they really care about this country!

I give up. Tai knows everything. All shall bow down in his exalted presence. He gave me the crucial advice that allowed me to install Linux on an otherwise uncooperative Compaq Presario 5441.

Need linux help? Hire him.

From our namespace cousins at Alternet.org: The Matrix’s Neo is the Hero of My Generation.

There are some fundamnetal flaws in it, and some glazing over of deeper issues, but he does say one thing in particular that feels familiar:

That may be the big joke behind the Matrix. Even those who are trying to step out of the system step back into it when they buy the ticket. The movie has become another a product for sale. But to me, Neo can’t be co-opted.

My generation has been through this in the past. We’ve seen culture and ideas we identify with sold back to us, like graffiti, hip-hop or skateboarding. Big-time industries only see the surface, and not the deeper reasons why they resonate with us. Corporations see the Matrix as cool martial arts, leather trench coats and shades – but we see an idea that finally defines that feeling that this society is fake. Even if the movie comes from Hollywood.

Thoughts? Is Neo someone with a vision, the inspiration from him taken directly from Shepard Fairey or Shawn Wolfe; he sees through the bullshit? Or is it really about kicking ass while wearing trenchcoats and sunglasses in the dark?

So … iTunes 4 lets you listen to your friends music as long as they have a real IP and iTunes music sharing enabled. This is done via a protocol called daap. iTunes and daap of course, DO NOT allow you to copy the music you are listenging to, ONLY stream it.



Today, I stumbled upon the new version of iLeech, this handy little Application simply copies those files as you stream them with out the need for a stream ripper or archiver… meaning its the original quality, NOT the streamed quality.

You can use Google.com to find websites that list daap servers that are available and online.

Gotta love the ‘net.

SCO claims its intellectual property has been illegally included in all distributions of the Linux operating system.

Similar to analogous efforts underway in the music industry, we are prepared to take all actions necessary to stop the ongoing violation of our intellectual property or other rights,” SCO’s letter read in part. “… SCO’s actions may prove unpopular with those who wish to advance or otherwise benefit from Linux as a free software system for use in enterprise applications.

What the..? Who the..? How the…? Am I missing something here?

No one is going to be interested in this, I bet, but John over at Daring Fireball ruminates on one of Safari’s implementation of tabs’s only faults:no AppleScript support. This might be too geeky even for Alternate, but I thought it was interesting, only because I’m trying to write an AppleScript Studio app that allows me to post to Alternate via my desktop, and having access to Safari’s tabs is a major part of it. I’ve considered switching to MovableType in order to use the myriad of XML-RPC apps that support it, but I’d really rather have all of Alternate be hand-rolled. Call it a pride thing.

Isn’t it weird when the song you’re listening to just matches your mood perfectly? I just wish right now it wasn’t a Deathcab for Cutie song.

Shouldn’t someone tell the RIAA that two wrongs do not make a right? Oh, and also that if they actually do this, the backlash will be like nothing they’ve ever seen or can imagine?