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As djlosh at TapTheHive.com points out, Google retains all rights of content usage published through its browser:

11.1 You retain copyright and any other rights you already hold in Content which you submit, post or display on or through, the Services. By submitting, posting or displaying the content you give Google a perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, royalty-free, and non-exclusive license to reproduce, adapt, modify, translate, publish, publicly perform, publicly display and distribute any Content which you submit, post or display on or through, the Services. This license is for the sole purpose of enabling Google to display, distribute and promote the Services and may be revoked for certain Services as defined in the Additional Terms of those Services.

Source: Google Chrome EULA

Update: Apparently their EULA was in beta too and the offending text has been changed!

To monitor the entire feed, simply hit the “Monitor with ZapTXT” in the RSS menu on the top right.

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To just monitor new comments on a specific post, click on the “Monitor comments with ZapTXT” in the post meta date menu on the top right.

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Have fun

All images are copyright © Twitter.com. I list them here for your convenience only!

Twitter 404 File Not Found Error:
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Twitter 403 Permission Denied Error:
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Twitter 500 Server Error:
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Twitter Maintenance Message:
[photopress:maintenance.gif,full,left]

That’s all I’ve found so far. Let me know if you find any more

BTW. I’m a twitterer too now. Why not follow me around a bit?

The future really is bright, if not with a slight orange glow. Want to play the latest game? Watch the latest movie? Listen to the coolest tracks? But are too fat to nip down to the shops? Fear not, just download it straight to your computer and save more than calories! But then there’s the catch…

All but a very few of those brave new online download retailers offer their goods to non-USA citizens. iTunes music store being one thorn in my eye. But there are others. Check out the all new BitTorrent.com site, now with fancy music and video downloads. But it’s for USA folk only

I understand it’s because of rights issues and licensing. To be honest I think it’s because US companies simply don’t care too much for markets outside their homeland. To be fair, there are new download services – like musicload.de in Germany for example – outside the US of A but they only carry crappy old content and it always lacks the original language or quality.

While we are on the topic of downloading legal content (for a change), what’s up with the whole numbers anyway? AACS used stupid software to protect their goods, serves them right. It’s comparable to a careless shop owner who sleeps at his desk only to discover people freeloading on his merchandise, and complaining about it. How do you want to sue over 700,000 16 year old PFY’s across the world?

Until those large corporations realize that they are about 100 years behind the times and that we live in a truly global village, i doubt that people will stop damaging their bottom lines (no pun intended).

When I was little I instinctively knew what I had to do and whether it was right or wrong. Even growing into adulthood I kept this child-like attitude and naiveté, and it was good because although it got me into a lot of trouble it made me go further then I normally would have. Be free to dream and just go on trying to live that dream.

Then something changed. I could bore you with details but the back-story shall be reserved for those who venture into my path

Reading Anmol’s post changed something small and although I could feel the tickles, I didn’t know what would happen. While surfing, looking for certain pictures to entertain a slow weekday evening, I came across something that turned out to be something more than I bargained for.

That’s when I found Toxy (aka Val) a model, artist and entrepreneur from Canada. She’s a character, a “type” of person that interests me because she’s doing something I’m not but aspire to do. She’s living her dreams. She’s re-creating the images in her head with the help of her photographer and videographer friends like Imunme.

The best word I find to describe her art is “noire”. Like film noire or those really dark and artsy horror / splatter films (think Sin City or Dark City, Pi, …). Nothing too abstract but playing on the borderline. Pushing it a little further, sometimes perhaps crossing it. The emotion the light and images produce have touched another trigger in me. Made me remember that I actually love this stuff and aspire to turn those fantastic themes in my head into something I can communicate to others.

Here I am, typing away at 3am on a Friday night after spending the last three hours watching “heroes“! It’s another trigger. Not that I want to be heroic, in fact I hardly know how to spell that. But it’s sci-fi’esque, comic art with a touch of this “noire”. Call me unhappy, frustrated or bitter. But I really think this big camera sitting on my floor should be put to better use than filming ice hockey and motor racing (albeit much enjoyed).

Am I feeling stuck in a (day) job that doesn’t make me go anywhere?
Yes

Am I unhappy being in a place surrounded by people and a culture I cannot relate to?
Yes

Am I sad for having lost¹ someone who I called the love of my life?
You bet

Can you relate to this?

I think it’s time for me to stop playing all those “movies” in my head and get the hell out there and start living my life again! So who wants to come creating with me?

BTW Jens called after a long time again. Another button pressed and in due time… . I wonder what will happen next.

1 – No, she’s not dead! We just mutually agreed that long distance doesn’t work for us…
Photo copyrighted by Imunme / Toxy

First, find a niche that you want to exploit like online TV, css web design or equipment news. Then get a free website from sites like WordPress.com or Blogger.com and start filling it with content.

Hunt around the bloggosphere to find sites offering the content you need and hopefully won’t notice you are stealing theirs and passing it off as your own. Just grab either the posts feed or why not just grap the entire category? Then tell your RSS parser (WordPress already has the ability to import syndicate build-in) to take the feed and display its content on your website.

Add a little style and play around with the feed data. For example, you may want to remove the original author and originating website. Also be sure to remove any backlinks to their site otherwise they will get a trackback and be alerted to your actions. Or leave them, so you can tell them you just liked their site and wanted to provide free advertising to them.

Now to the really interesting part of getting something for nothing. Sign up with textbased ad sites like Google Adsense and surround your content with ads. Add a few digg.com or other social networking buttons, submit and wait for people to visit your site and click those banners!

And you are done

A not so nice example can be found at joostvideos.blogspot.com where you can find a multitude of other peoples content (especially videos) like my post on the free joost invites I gave away last week. Enjoy and remember to send me a cheque for my share of your advertising profits.

1. Top 10 Lists

   Let’s face it, the only reason for putting up Top 10 lists is to drive quick traffic to your blog. Why? Because you are lazy and cannot concentrate for more than a short sound bite. In fact, i shall make this into a podcast for the activity handicapped

2. Cool Pictures / Videos

   “Oh no! Seen this thing? It’s sooo fracking cool. Digg me now.” C’on peeps. Enough already. There’s a gazillion things out there and if even the most basic deformation of a potato or Dorito crisp send shivers of excitement down your spine, you should have yourself locked in a nice comfy room with no windows and lot’s of cushions. Stepping outside your door might kill you with excitement. Be forewarned.

3. Social Networking Sites

   Whether it’s plain-old I’mSpaced or Ringed-in, what’s the point of a thousand sites trying to network everyone? The features are the same: spam farms for 10 year olds. IMHO they should all be bought by Google today and made into something useful. Everyone could have a proper website and .. oh wait!

4. PFYs discovering life outside their 10sqft dorm room

   As shocking as it may be to under-educated poor North American teenagers, but there’s a whole planet out there (/me points to behind west and east coasts)! America is not representative of people on this world, neither do they horde all the gold or have discovered law making. Here’s a shocker for you:

   North America was re-populated a few hundred years ago by outcasts adventurers from Europe (just off the east coast) and enterprising young men and women from the far east (that’s actually just west off LA). As a bonus I throw in the fact that they weren’t even the first people to live on the great plains – there were people there before them. They were called native North Americans.

5. USA World Domination

   Kinda goes with the previous rant entry. What’s up with people always trying to conquer the world? Can’t we just learn from all the failed attempts before and abandon the idea altogether? Who is next? I ponder Antartica hasn’t had a go yet.. .

6. Political Commentary

   I love the fact that the Internet is so free anyone can say anything these days! Meaningful or otherwise (the latter mostly), everyone feels they should have a go at politics. Just a shame nobody votes anymore.. .

7. Death, Destruction and Hype

   That one is actually quite disgusting. Whenever people die, get maimed or manage their 10th head-shot in a row there’s the obligatory media hype. Big, bold headlines, supported by a strap line so OTT everyone is scared instantly into voting to give up their freedom to secure it. Makes no sense. People see reports of mass murder in a far flung place, send aid Dollars and vote on new legislation making sure that those poor people will still have something to suffer from in case of the next L!VE Aid concert.

8. How to design a website

   I think everyone knows how to do a website today. Or let me put this in another way, they should. The web has been here for a long time now and all the website designing tools make it virtually impossible for people to venture off the path of good taste. Whenever you give people advice, they listen, nod a lot and then go off to do the exact opposite anyway. If someone tells me they’ve designed their own site I always ask two things:

   a) How long did it take you, and
   b) Was it any fun

   Because if it took them less than a couple of hours, chances are they have no idea why they are having a site anyway. Also, if it was fun it sure as heck couldn’t have been done professionally, right?

9. Rapid (Rabbit) Web2.0 Trashlications

   “Uhh, look it goes zoom zoom!” Yeah, but no – why? Visual interface effects are there for one reason, and one reason only: to aid the user.

   Everyone seems to be able to get their next killer app out of the door before even the basic concept is finalised. Let alone planned out and thought through. Yes, I agree that it is great to put ideas into working prototypes – but please not forget all those failed and over-venture-capitalised enterprises of the late 90′s. There’s a reason why so few are still around: they actually sat down and thought about whether that half-arsed idea they had last night down the pub would actually work.

10. Plagiarism 2.0 – Content-theft driven websites via RSS

    RSS feeds are a wicked tool. No, really RSS feeds are a thing of evil. Everytime someone sits down and writes / designs / creates something and publishes it through an XML data exchange file, ten scammers get made. Now it’s real easy to create wholesome portal websites with someone else’s content. Just register a domain and parse what ever feeds apply, slap some ads on it and bang: a free golden goose! Time to buckle down those feeds.. .

If you’ve read thus far and have no idea how you got here, I suggest PANIC! So digg me while you do.. .

“So long and thanks for all the fish.“

Alexander Stigse from Denmark has made it happen and almost entirely by accident whilst creating an advanced version control system and demo app to show it off. When he got in touch with Allan Odgaard – the creator of TextMate – he found more synergy than he could have imagined.

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Funnily enough they both studied at the same Uni and Allan’s parents have a summer house in the same village Alex lives! How’s that for a small World? Anyway, on with my impressions and a big “thank you” to Alex and Allan.

Although I have come not to expect too much of any Windows softwareware, I was extremely delighted to see how well Alexander’s version called “e” works. Starting with a small download, a very fast install and automatic fetching, installation and configuration of add-ons (like cygwin).

For me TextMate is life-blood, my craft now depends on it and seeing the same look-and-feel translated to something as gruesome as the Windows GUI I cannot help but being impressed.

The most important part right after the interface design (usability) is that Allan agreed to let Alex use the wonderful bundles that help making TextMate such a breeze to use. Although there is still some way to go (e is still in beta) it’s a usable replacement even now.

Don’t be scared or put off by the fact that it’s beta, it’s actually working nicely. Also, get a personal license key now! It will help support the development and you are actually getting quite a lot thrown in if you do it now rather than later. I suggest you read Alex’s post on licensing and what’s on offer for more details.

And now, go download the beta and find out why I’m actually happy using a text editor on Windows for once

If you want to participate in the project, or just want to know how you can make a difference I suggest you head over to energyrace.com and subscribe to their RSS feed.

People from outside the USA are encouraged to get in touch and let him know you care.

Jay also blogs about using “compact fluorescent bulbs” (CFL) and their great energy (money) saving potential. To which I can proudly attest! I’m using CFL exclusively in my flat and compared to my previous electricity bills I’ve already made the money back I “invested” in them. At IKEA over here they are actually quite cheap.. oh and they last for donkeys.

@Jay = How about an “Invite Friends” referral button or code to include on my blog? Using the ?referrer=user for now but not sure whether that actually adds people referred to you to my profile. Also, I think you trackbacks aren’t working

BTW. Referrals as in concerned people, not money! This is not about affiliation folks – just plain caring *g

Since there are only three invites available, I won’t make it too easy for you to get them. The first three correct answers to the following question can have them (post a comment)! Good luck.

The question is:

What does Axel Segebrecht do, that involves video?

Fire away, I’m looking forward to your answers.

What is Joost?

Joost is a new way of watching TV on the internet. With Joost, you get all the things you love about TV, including a high-quality full-screen picture, hundreds of full-length shows and easy channel-flipping.

Update: Thanks to everyone for participating. All the invites are with their new owners. Stay tuned for more invites coming soon.

Since you found your way to this post and read thus far, I would love to hear from you in the guestbook.

The big players believe in set-top boxes and video stores online. There are already a lot out there and so far my experience with them has been a bit of a let down. Think of an online video store where you can rent movies and series (i.e. Discovery Channel) at extraordinary prices. I bet it won’t be long before they ask us to coffer up for “Pimp My Ride”! Some of the online retailers work with Windows Media Center but the experience is cumbersome and it’s too expensive to use for more than perhaps the odd movie on the weekend.

So what does the other side look like?

Joost has a sleek interface which takes a little getting used too but it’s remarkably fast! Video quality is also very good considering it starts almost quicker than a YouTube clip but can be viewed in full screen on your TV. The only two things missing are remote control support (so it can be a true TV / cable box replacement) and content I want to watch.

The latter is quite an important point since no matter how good the technical side, without content I want to watch it’s no use to me. So who is going to provide it? Joost is looking to sign up more TV content from people like Endemol (Big Brother, game shows, reality TV..) and you. You read that right, you. If you happen to sit on a bunch of broadcast quality goods and need an audience, get in touch with them.

However, unless I can watch my favorite shows – like Lost, 24, BSG, Scrubs.. – I’m not going to be using it much. What’s the best solution for people like me then? Simple, if you are outside the USA or UK stick to RSS feeds for your Torrents. It’s not the preferred way, and I would be more than happy to either endure some Ads or even pay for a season ticket, but until there’s something useful out there that’s the only way.

Or is it? Thank god for iTunes and their season tickets! Oh wait, that’s for folks in the USA only (again)

So what are you gonna do?

Just fill in a quick profile about yourself and the website will calculate estimate your emissions. The profile is quick and simple yet is currently only really useful for USA citizens. I’ve emailed them to make the point that this is a global problem and they are disabling the rest of the World from participating. Anyways, back to changing the planet on a different front. After choosing my habitat type (i.e. apartment/flat), household members and car make and model it’s time to save the planet.

The “make changes” part of their site is quite nice and provides you with tips on how to lower emissions based on your profile choices. For example, I drive a car and the website encourages me to keep the air conditioner / climate control of when I don’t need it, make sure my tires are inflated to the right level or leave the car at home for a few times a week. By accepting the tips the website starts calculating your savings and displays them in your “impact tree”.

It’s good to see EngeryRace.com’s use of the viral nature of the Internet by encouraging users to invite their friends and make changes together (i.e. car pooling like Ralf and I do every morning). Actually when was the last time you left your car at home and cycled to the shops or work?

You will see how much trouble you are causing in your “impact tree” and can display your savings through a banner on your website or blog, which encouraged me to join up because I want to beat Scott Jehl who designed the site. Especially because he’s American and we Europeans are so much kinder to our environment

Here’s how much I reduced my emissions by, and I didn’t even do half of what I could!

So, what are you doing to stop killing our future?

Edit (13/4/07-1): Jay emailed me back and pointed out that it’s a mammoth task finding all the relevant background data on consumption, etc. If you have this data or a link to a resource please help out and email it to Jay at energyrace dot com.

Edit: (13/4/07-2): Jay posted a response on his blog saying he thinks the US is far behind other countries in Europe, and that opening EnergyRace.com up to include people outside the US would be a big burden. I would agree but with enough involvement from the “community” I don’t think it’s an unsurmountable task

Also, Andre posted a quick note on his as well. His site is about similar topics of interest than mine (videos, viral marketing, social networking, etc). So have a look

Some of my favorite quotes:

“You will need: a big heavy rock, something with a bit of a swing to it… perhaps Mars”

Top #3

“Building a Dyson sphere ain’t gonna cut it here. (Note: Actually, it would. But if you have the technology to build a Dyson sphere, why are you reading this?)”

Top #4

“Number of times the Earth has been destroyed: 0
Number of plans currently in progress with the final aim of bringing about the Earth’s destruction: 0″

From the Intro

And finally…

“If total human genocide is your ultimate goal, you are reading the wrong document.”

From the Intro

Some quotes from the folks who dugg it:

#13 countdown in hatch goes to zero

by tatltat

No Vogons? Buried as inaccurate

by ICSU

What’re we gonna do tomorrow night, Brain?

by gage006

…although this has been posted on slashdot and digg quite a few times, it’s still got the potential to lighten up my Saturday night. Sad I know. I’ll have a pint of lager and a packet of crisps now – ta.

Simple: Close the doors! brighterComputing.com is now by invite only and services are only available to those who demand simply the best and know they will pay for it. This way both sides are happy. The customer can rely on me as a service provider and I can concentrate on serving them without distraction.

The invite only idea isn’t new but I strongly believe that if you want to make something special, it can only be available to a selected few. Although most people want “special” things they are usually just made to feel like it is, without actually getting it. So they usually don’t pay much for it either (i.e. budget airlines). Those that get the real deal, don’t ask how, why or how much – they just put their demands on the table and expect it to get done. Somehow that sounds like a much better thing to do to me, than trying to fake happiness to my customers and give them barely anything for their 99cents. I’d rather not serve them, than serve them badly.

Please feel free to comment or email me if you want real “happiness”. Otherwise, take the blue pill and never mind the rabbit hole

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To cut a long and interesting story short, people will be able to enjoy high quality TV content on their computers using established P2P technologies (like those of Kazaa, Limewire, etc and Skype) where users interconnect to share data quickly. Joost, as the project is now officially known, has already got backing from two major TV players in Endemol (producers of “Who wants to be a millionaire”, “Big Brother” and most of the shows on TV these days) as well as Warner Music.

I suggest you read more about it on their blog or on The Register. Also, why not give it a whirl to see it for yourself and register as a beta-tester? If you are a content producer it might be a good idea to talk to them now while they are still in beta and are looking for fresh new content too! Enjoy… .

Links:
- Joost Blog
- The Register article on Joost
- DV Guru post on Joost

Direct Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDnIajyXDLs