Bruce’s Journal

June 4, 2008

‘One Laptop per Child’ to Switch from Linux to Windows?

As posted to our Ubuntu users Meetup forum, by Jay:

One Laptop Per Child may eventually switch from GNU/Linux to Windows

http://truthhappens.redhatmagazine.com/2008/04/23/sigh/

It seems like locking kids minds into proprietary frames still remains a priority for the educators.

So here is…  My email correspondence with OLPC just now…

____

To: press@racepointgroup.com

Is it true that OLPC will be switching from a Linux OS to a Windows OS?

If so, you guys are pathetic, and I need to know so I can withdrawal all my support for the OLPC project as soon as possible.

Bruce Wagner

____

From: press@racepointgroup.com

This is not true.  OLPC will support both Linux and Windows.  Governments have been asking for both.

____

To: press@racepointgroup.com

That is NOT ok.

See http://linux.meetup.com/392/messages/boards/thread/4635205

And http://truthhappens.redhatmagazine.com/2008/04/23/sigh/

It it self-defeating to go down a proprietary closed corporate path like Windows.   It is also self-defeating to split your resources in half between two separate development paths.   Windows has no future in a program such as OLPC.  Your role is EDUCATION, not backing down to special interests and corporate greed.

Don’t cave in to anyone.   Stick to FREEDOM — open source free software, not corporate interests — if you hope or expect to get any support from the global community.

Bruce Wagner

____

(also posted in the Ubuntu Forums, here: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=818407 )

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Free yourself from the closed proprietary ‘Big Brother’ of Microsoft, Apple, etc. Choose Open Source Free Software.

Are you using Ubuntu Linux on your home computer yet?  Do you use Google?  Did you know that the Google search engine you use every day operates 100% on Linux?  Check out  Windows vs Ubuntu’s Best Applications and  getgnulinux.org and  ubuntu.com and  wubi-installer.org and  Google: Open Source Free Software

~

What’s so dangerous about the Cult of  Scientology?  And why You should Care.  Click here to find out.

~

Also, be sure to check out…

Watch our shows…

And don’t forget to…

__________________
Bruce Wagner
http://brucewagner.com
bruce@brucewagner.com

May 28, 2008

Free Yourself from the Proprietary Corporate Greed of ‘Big Brother’: Microsoft, Apple, etc.

Always choose the superior Open Source Free Software.

Now, there is an equivalent or superior Free Open Source version of all the best software that exists.

Do you use Ubuntu Linux on your PC and laptop yet?

Google does.  Did you know that Google’s search engines are all running 100% on Linux?  Not Windows.  Not Mac.  Only Linux.  Does Google know something you don’t know?

You can even install Ubuntu Linux on a Windows computer without changing a thing — all for free.  It takes about 2.5 minutes, and is as easy as three clicks, using Wubi — the Windows Ubuntu Installer.  Try it here!

Check out each of these links carefully:

A. http://tinyurl.com/552×66 |  B. http://tinyurl.com/67hjz5 |  C. http://getgnulinux.org |  D. http://ubuntu.com |  E. http://wubi-installer.org |  F. http://ubuntuforums.org

(Add the above lines to your email program’s signature too; Help us spread the word!)

______________________

~

Free yourself from the closed proprietary ‘Big Brother’ of Microsoft, Apple, etc. Choose Open Source Free Software.

Are you using Ubuntu Linux on your home computer yet?  Do you use Google?  Did you know that the Google search engine you use every day operates 100% on Linux?  Check out  Windows vs Ubuntu’s Best Applications and  getgnulinux.org and  ubuntu.com and  wubi-installer.org and  Google: Open Source Free Software

~

What’s so dangerous about the Cult of  Scientology?  And why You should Care.  Click here to find out.

~

Also, be sure to check out…

Watch our shows…

And don’t forget to…

__________________
Bruce Wagner
http://brucewagner.com
bruce@brucewagner.com

May 27, 2008

Feel Like a Movie Tonight?

It’s the best way to find an awesome movie to watch…

I’ve always believed in the Viewers’ Ratings of movies on Yahoo Movies.  That’s how I decide if a movie is going to be any good or not.

I don’t even want to know what it’s about.  If the VIEWERS rating is high, it will be great.

Warning:  Totally ignore the CRITICS Rating.  They are almost always Wrong!

Here is…

How to Have an Awesome Movie to Watch Tonight:

  1. THIS is an AWESOME Link:  Go to  Top Rated Movies of All Time (by VIEWERS):     (Bookmark this link!)
  2. Note:  If you have Windows, you must have already installed the utorrent program once.  If you haven’t yet, just go to utorrent.com and click on Download to install it.  It is free, and tiny.  This is a one-time thing.  (Of course, if you have the superior Ubuntu instead of Windows or Mac, you don’t need to install anything.  It’s all built-in.  And if you have a Mac, go here to get a bittorrent client instead.)
  3. Go to mininova.org and enter the name of the movie you want.  Be sure to check that it is in the proper format that your computer or player can play (or burn to DVD, then play).  Click on Download Torrent.  As you download the torrent file, select:  “Open With: uTorrent”
  4. Buy some popcorn and you’re ready!

That’s it!

You’re done.

See also, my Hot List list called…

Must See Movies and Videos

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Free yourself from the closed proprietary ‘Big Brother’ of Microsoft, Apple, etc. Choose Open Source Free Software.

Are you using Ubuntu Linux on your home computer yet?  Do you use Google?  Did you know that the Google search engine you use every day operates 100% on Linux?  Check out  Windows vs Ubuntu’s Best Applications and  getgnulinux.org and  ubuntu.com and  wubi-installer.org and  Google: Open Source Free Software

~

What’s so dangerous about the Cult of  Scientology?  And why You should Care.  Click here to find out.

~

Also, be sure to check out…

Watch our shows…

And don’t forget to…

__________________
Bruce Wagner
http://brucewagner.com
bruce@brucewagner.com

May 22, 2008

Yet Another Reason to NOT buy Vista

…as if we needed one.

Microsoft’s Media Center Does Not Record Television Shows from NBC

Microsoft has come out with an astounding admission, courtesy of Greg Sandoval at CNet News:

“Microsoft included technologies in Windows, based on rules set forth by the (Federal Communications Commission),” a Microsoft spokeswoman wrote in an e-mail to CNET News.com. “As part of these regulations, Windows Media Center fully adheres to the flags used by broadcasters and content owners to determine how their content is distributed and consumed.”

(full story)

~

Free yourself from the closed proprietary ‘Big Brother’ of Microsoft, Apple, etc. Choose Open Source Free Software.

Are you using Ubuntu Linux on your home computer yet?  Do you use Google?  Did you know that the Google search engine you use every day operates 100% on Linux?  Check out  Windows vs Ubuntu’s Best Applications and  getgnulinux.org and  ubuntu.com and  wubi-installer.org and  Google: Open Source Free Software

~

Also, be sure to check out…

Watch our shows…

And don’t forget to…

__________________
Bruce Wagner
http://brucewagner.com
bruce@brucewagner.com

Ubuntu Linux is More Than Twice as Fast as Windows XP — Latest Performance Benchmarks

Ubuntu is 2.3 times Faster than Windows XP, acording to the latest performance benchmarks.

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Free yourself from the closed proprietary ‘Big Brother’ of Microsoft, Apple, etc. Choose  Open Source Free Software.

Are you using Ubuntu Linux on your home computer yet?  Do you use Google?  Did you know that the Google search engine you use every day operates 100% on Linux?  There’s no Windows or Mac running the Google company or any of its services.  Check out  Windows vs Ubuntu’s Best Applications and  getgnulinux.org and  ubuntu.com and  wubi-installer.org and  Google: Open Source Free Software

~

Also, be sure to check out…

Watch our shows…

And don’t forget to…

__________________
Bruce Wagner
http://brucewagner.com
bruce@brucewagner.com

May 2, 2008

What’s the Difference between Real Life and The Internet?

Filed under: Comedy, Internet Freedom, Life, Technology — Bruce @ 4:28 pm

Dimensions of the One Machine

Today it contains approximately 1.2 billion personal computers,  2.7 billion cell phones, 1.3 billion land phones, 27 million data servers, and 80 million wireless PDAs. The processor chips of all these parts are feeding the computation of the internet/web/telecommunications system.  (the technium)

How did we go from — January 1982, when we created…  The very first version of the Internet was nothing more than an experimental “TCP/IP Test Network”.  (wiki)  Here is the map of of that first original “test network” we now call The Internet…

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And now, our entire lives have transformed…

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Or click here.

And more…

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Or click here.

In many ways our lives seem to have BECOME the internet…   As demonstrated in the following video, which is based on a true story.

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Or click here.

UPDATE: As you can see, YouTube removed this video “due to a copyright claim by Viacom International Inc.”  Viacom is really stupid and short-sighted for doing that.  The viral spreading of that short video clip would only have resulted in MILLIONS more people watching that episode of South Park when it finally does air.  Anyway…

This clip, called “No Internet“, WILL become available again VERY SOON.  You can count on it.  Someone will upload it again.  And as as soon as it is available, you will find it here:

  1. Google Video Search, or
  2. with commercials at the South Park Studios Official Site

~

The Internet has all but completely replaced our old-fashioned customs of social interchange.  With the invention of so-called “Social Networking” sites, we no longer need to go to cocktail parties or singles clubs to meet people.  We are automatically introduced to friends of our real-life friends, as well as being able to browse through virtual catalogs of complete strangers who have things in common with us — or at least appear to be physically attractive to us.

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Or click here.

As The Internet quickly becomes the world’s number one entertainment media network, it was bound to happen.  We have a whole new breed of “stars”.  Video Stars who have become globally famous overnight.  And are forgotten almost as fast — without ever earning a cent from their fame.

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~

Or click here.

However, as the following video humorously illustrates, the number one use of the Internet is…

Well, let me put it this way.

Try doing a Google search for: US Virgin Islands

What do you get?

Results 110 of about 218,000,000 for porn

“Pornographer!   Pornographer!   How can you call me that?!?   I don’t even own a pornograph!”

~

~

Or click here.

In the future…   Imagine what it will be like…  when all these little kids, who wear born and grew up in an Internet world, are the adults designing the future…

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Also, be sure to check out…

Watch our shows…

And don’t forget to…

__________________
Bruce Wagner
http://brucewagner.com
bruce@brucewagner.com

March 23, 2008

Have you ever Read your Windows License Agreement?

Filed under: Internet Freedom, Technology — Bruce @ 9:49 am

Check this out…

A thorough and clear comparison of the GPL and the Microsoft EULA license that governs the use of most Windows XP® versions.

The licence explicitly states that “Microsoft and its affiliates” collect technical information gathered on your computer by the software. They “may use this information solely to improve products or to provide customized services or technologies”.

In order to activate most Microsoft products, as part of the license agreement, your computer connects to the Microsoft servers and sends “technical” information. It can “solely” be used for pretty much anything.

Then…

Liberated by Linux — Windows Vista Dismissed

Cool, hip, people don’t use Windows or Mac any more.  They only use Ubuntu.  And it’s free — in every sense of the word.  ubuntu.com — Bruce

~

If you liked this one, check out Today’s Top Stories — the most popular stories here. They’re listed in the right-hand column, just below the Subscribe buttons.

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Or you can also… continue reading… Related Items on this Topic

__________________
Bruce Wagner
http://brucewagner.com
http://brucewagner.com/blog
bruce@brucewagner.com

Does the term “Community Developed” Scare People?

Filed under: Internet Freedom, Technology — Bruce @ 9:03 am

Here’s my email to the webmaster at ubuntu.com just now:

The very fist line… on the very first page…

When someone has NO IDEA what ubunutu is….  and they click on a link which takes them to ubuntu.com…. and they read,

ABOUT UBUNTU

“Ubuntu is a community developed…..”

I bet they have NO IDEA what the term “community developed” means.   And I bet that that term scares some people.

It almost sounds like the local PTA got together and wrote this thing last weekend.

I think that some other term, like “open source” might be better.   Even if they don’t know what it means, it shouldn’t scare them away.

For example:

“Ubuntu is an open source (free, as in freedom), Linux-based operating system that is perfect for…”

Just my 2 cents.

Happy Easter.

Bruce

~

If you liked this one, check out Today’s Top Stories — the most popular stories here. They’re listed in the right-hand column, just below the Subscribe buttons.

Also be sure to see… Other Topic Categories and Bruce’s Hot List

Or you can also… continue reading… Related Items on this Topic

__________________
Bruce Wagner
http://brucewagner.com
http://brucewagner.com/blog
bruce@brucewagner.com

March 22, 2008

CBC Will Become First North American Broadcaster to Use BitTorrent

Filed under: Internet Freedom, Technology — Bruce @ 1:27 pm

WIRED Magazine — On Monday, the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) will become the first North American broadcaster to distribute television shows free via the BitTorrent protocol.  [full story]

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If you liked this one, check out Today’s Top Stories — the most popular stories here. They’re listed in the right-hand column, just below the Subscribe buttons.

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Or you can also… continue reading… Related Items on this Topic

__________________
Bruce Wagner
http://brucewagner.com
http://brucewagner.com/blog
bruce@brucewagner.com

March 20, 2008

The Pirate Bay to BBC: We Don’t Want To Be Information Slaves

Filed under: Internet Freedom — Bruce @ 7:25 pm

The BBC has published a podcast which takes a look at piracy through the ages, also covering the modern concept of ‘intellectual property’. Of course, no story of piracy would be complete without discussing The Pirate Bay so Peter Sunde also plays a significant part in this 20 minute program.

The podcast starts off with the BBC reporter buying physical bootleg DVDs on the streets of London, but later develops into a discussion with The Pirate Bay’s Peter Sunde.

Click here to listen (yes, for free, and legally):   http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/worldservice/docarchive/docarchive_20080318-1050.mp3

It is provided free of charge, without DRM (digital rights management), and in convenient MP3 format.  The way media should be.

~

If you liked this one, check out Today’s Top Stories — the most popular stories here. They’re listed in the right-hand column, just below the Subscribe buttons.

Also be sure to see… Other Topic Categories and Bruce’s Hot List

Or you can also… continue reading… Related Items on this Topic

__________________
Bruce Wagner
http://brucewagner.com
http://brucewagner.com/blog
bruce@brucewagner.com

Nine Inch Nails made $1.6 million from new album offered as a free download on BitTorrent sites

Filed under: Internet Freedom, Technology — Bruce @ 2:29 pm

If you’re in the business of content creation, take note!

So-called “piracy” is your friend…

INDUSTRIAL band Nine Inch Nails has made $US1.6 million ($1.7 million) from an album offered as a free download and deliberately leaked to file-sharing websites.

The band released its sixth studio album, Ghosts I-IV, online on March 2. Fans could download the album for free, an extended version in high-quality for $US5 or order a copy on CD for $US10.

Two “deluxe” versions of the instrumental album featuring a Blu-ray disc and book of photography were available for $US75 and $US300.

Representatives of the band said on Friday that sales of all versions of the album had generated more than $US1.6 million in the first week, The New York Times reported.

In that time almost 800,000 people either bought the album or downloaded it for free.

Singer Trent Reznor said he was amazed at how popular the band’s first instrumental album had been. [story here]

~

If you liked this one, check out Today’s Top Stories — the most popular stories here. They’re listed in the right-hand column, just below the Subscribe buttons.

Also be sure to see… Other Topic Categories and Bruce’s Hot List

Or you can also… continue reading… Related Items on this Topic

__________________
Bruce Wagner
http://brucewagner.com
http://brucewagner.com/blog
bruce@brucewagner.com

February 13, 2008

Companies we Boycott and Why

boycott.gif

Sometimes — against huge multi-national global corporations, and governments, and world banker elites — you may feel powerless. But… We’re NOT powerless. Use you hard earned dollars, as well as your vote, to make the world a better place for us all.

Here it is! The current list of companies’ products and services that… We Boycott !

Click each company’s name to learn more about the reasons why we boycott that company…

Print out the long list of brand names for some of these enormous conglomerates and take that list every time you go to the grocery store.

whatcanido.jpg

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do NOT use… instead try…
.
comcast_logo.jpg Comcast – censoring the internet for political reasons
any other ISP or cable television provider
.do NOT use… instead try…
.
Exxon — ExxonEssoMobil — promoting Iraq war, blamed for 600,000 deaths public transportation — subway, commuter rail, bus
.
do NOT use… instead try…
paypal_boycott.gif paypal_screwpaypal_logo.gif Paypal — (owned by eBay, Skype) Can PayPal hold my money with no explanation? The answer is YES. Can PayPal freeze my account for no reason? The answer is YES. Can PayPal take money out of my account without my knowledge? The answer is YES. And they do it OFTEN!
moneybookers_logo.gif Moneybookers – far better, far easier to set up, and much much cheaper than PayPal. And they don’t censor what items you buy or sell. And they don’t steal your money. And they don’t extort exorbitant fees for doing absolutely nothing. Low transaction fees (as low as 1%, capped at EUR 0.50).
.
do NOT use… instead try…
.
krap.jpg Kraft Foods — Altria Group (Philip Morris, Kraft Foods, Nabisco) (see complete list of brands to boycott: Philip Morris brands, and Kraft Foods brands, and Nabisco brands) — promoting Iraq war, blamed for 600,000 deaths more unprocessed natural foods
.
do NOT use… instead try…
.
microsoft_tentacles.jpg Microsoft — Big Brother’s Computer Company has always used anti-competitive practices, intentional security vulnerabilities, and creating a product that spys on it’s owner, collects all sorts of personal data, and reports it all back to Big Brother. ubuntu-1280x1024_cropped_tight1.png Ubuntu …or… Free Open Source Software
.
do NOT use… instead try…
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Coca-Cola / Coke / Diet Coke — Coca-Cola Company (see complete list of Coke brands to boycott) — promoting Iraq war, blamed for 600,000 deaths more water
mcdonalds_boycott.jpg McDonald’s — promoting Iraq war, blamed for 600,000 deaths energy_kitchen.jpg Energy Kitchen
.
do NOT use… instead try…
.
Amazon any other book retailer …or… The PB Top 100 Books
.
do NOT use…. instead try…
.
Mobil — ExxonEssoMobil — promoting Iraq war, blamed for 600,000 deaths public transportation — subway, commuter rail, bus
.
do NOT use… instead try…
.
ebay_boycott.gif eBay — (owns Paypal, Skype) – Can PayPal hold my money with no explanation? The answer is YES. Can PayPal freeze my account for no reason? The answer is YES. Can PayPal take money out of my account without my knowledge? The answer is YES. And they do it OFTEN! craigslist_2.jpg Craigslist which is FREE, and Other Auction Sites
.
do NOT use… instead try…
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Pepsi — PepsiCo Inc (see complete list of Pepsi brands to boycott) — promoting Iraq war, blamed for 600,000 deaths more water
.
do NOT use… instead try…
.
gmail_boycott.jpg Gmail – Listed as THE worst offender of Privacy Rights,, Google, who owns Gmail, is also accused of working directly with evil communist dictatorships to aid them in their computer technology development. (see videos about this) evolution_screenshots.png Evolution is a free open-source program equivalent to, and compatible with, Microsoft Outlook — but free and open source. It is available for Windows, and is pre-installed by default in Ubuntu. Use Evolution, in conjunction with an email provider (like GoDaddy), instead of using Gmail. That way Google cannot collect personal information about you. Never log in to any Google or Yahoo or MSN web site or account. If you do, they can collect and store all sorts of personal information about you.
.
.
do NOT use… instead try…
.
boycott_google_logo.jpg google_yahoo_msn_boycott.gif Google, Yahoo, and MSN – internet censorship to promote communist dictatorships (see videos about this) scroogle.gif Among the worst offenders of Privacy Rights, these three search engines are now accused of working directly with evil communist dictatorships to aid them in their computer technology development.Scroogle is what is known as a “scraper”. It actually uses Google to perform internet searches for you, but it acts as the middle-man in order to maintain your total anonynimity — so that Google cannot collect personal information about you.Never log in to any Google or Yahoo or MSN web site or account. If you do, they can collect and store all sorts of personal information about you.
.
do NOT use… instead try…
.
.
.
.
do NOT use…
Nabisco — Altria Group (Philip Morris, Kraft Foods, Nabisco) (see complete list of brands to boycott: Philip Morris brands, and Kraft Foods brands, and Nabisco brands) — promoting Iraq war, blamed for 600,000 deaths more unprocessed natural foods
.
do NOT use… instead try…
.
boycott_war_2.gif Boycott War If you want to don’t want corporations or governments to use your money to finance war then don’t let them.You can choose to boycott countries or companies who profit from conflict, conquest, and suffering. If you do so, you certainly won’t be alone. Boycotts against the war are a fast-growing global movement.Learn about boycotting the war profiteers.
.
do NOT use… instead try…
.
Gatorade — PepsiCo Inc (see complete list of Pepsi brands to boycott) — promoting Iraq war, blamed for 600,000 deaths more water
.
do NOT use… instead try…
.
Fanta — Coca-Cola Company — promoting Iraq war, blamed for 600,000 deaths more water
.
do NOT use… instead try…
.
Texaco — ChevronTexaco — promoting Iraq war, blamed for 600,000 deaths public transportation — subway, commuter rail, bus
.
do NOT use… instead try…
.
Marlboro — Altria Group (Philip Morris, Kraft Foods, Nabisco) (see complete list of brands to boycott: Philip Morris brands, and Kraft Foods brands, and Nabisco brands) — promoting Iraq war, blamed for 600,000 deaths more unprocessed natural foods
.
do NOT use… instead try…
.
trendmicro_logo.gif Trend Micro — using patent infringement lawsuits to attack the free open source software movement
ubuntu-690x90.jpg Ubuntu
.
do NOT use… instead try…
.
Esso — ExxonEssoMobil — promoting Iraq war, blamed for 600,000 deaths public transportation — subway, commuter rail, bus
.
do NOT use… instead try…
.
boycott_the_war.gif Phillip Morris — Altria Group (Philip Morris, Kraft Foods, Nabisco) (see complete list of brands to boycott: Philip Morris brands, and Kraft Foods brands, and Nabisco brands) — promoting Iraq war, blamed for 600,000 deaths
.
do NOT use… instead try…
.
Chevron — ChevronTexaco — promoting Iraq war, blamed for 600,000 deaths public transportation — subway, commuter rail, bus
.
do NOT use… instead try…
.
Sprite — Coca-Cola Company (see complete list of Coke brands to boycott) — promoting Iraq war, blamed for 600,000 deaths more water
.
do NOT use… instead try…
.
skype_ebay_merged_logos.jpg Skype — (owned by eBay, Paypal) – Can PayPal hold my money with no explanation? The answer is YES. Can PayPal freeze my account for no reason? The answer is YES. Can PayPal take money out of my account without my knowledge? The answer is YES. And they do it OFTEN! ekiga_icon.png ekiga_dialpad.pngeiga_in_a_call.png Ekiga (in conjunction with a free real telephone number from IPKall )(click images to see a larger view)
.
do NOT use… instead try…
.
sony_boycott.png Sony (see also) – the world’s second-biggest record label has been caught in an abusive and likely illegal copy-restriction practice – making CDs that leave computers vulnerable to security breaches pirate_bay_sharing_is_caring.png Top 100 Movies, TV, Music, Audiobooks, Books, and Other Cool Stuff
.
.
More Companies to Boycott and Why


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If you have any ideas for items that should be included on my list of Companies we Boycott, or comments about any on this list, please email me. Thanks.

att00006.jpeg

.
TOP 6 Bush Donors
.1. Altria (ex-Philip Morris, Kraft Food)
2. Exxon-Mobil (Esso)
3. Chevron-Texaco
4. PepsiCo
5. Coca Cola
6. McDonalds.
Oct. 04; Source: opensecrets.org
911.jpg

~

What’s so dangerous about the Cult of  Scientology?  And why You should Care.  Click here to find out.

~

Free yourself from the closed proprietary ‘Big Brother’ corporate greed of Microsoft, Apple, etc. Choose  Open Source Free Software.

Are you using Ubuntu Linux on your home computer yet?  Do you use Google?  Did you know that the Google search engine you use every day operates 100% on Linux?  There’s no Windows or Mac running the Google company or any of its services.  Check out  Windows vs Ubuntu’s Best Applications and  getgnulinux.org and  ubuntu.com and  wubi-installer.org and  Google: Open Source Free Software

~

Also, be sure to check out…

Watch our shows…

And don’t forget to…

__________________
Bruce Wagner
http://brucewagner.com
bruce@brucewagner.com

February 12, 2008

Comcast Admits to Censoring the Internet

Filed under: Internet Freedom, Life, One World Government, Technology — Bruce @ 11:50 am

comcast_logo.jpg

Stories of Comcast Censoring Political Content and other Internet Data are Flourishing

See:

The Solution:

  1. Let the FCC Know you are Opposed
  2. Email the link for this page to all your friends… and most important of all…
  3. Boycott Comcast

~

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__________________
Bruce Wagner
http://brucewagner.com
http://brucewagner.com/blog
bruce@brucewagner.com
646-275-2195

February 9, 2008

TorrentFreedom.com Offers 100% Anonymous and Unrestricted Internet and BitTorrent

Filed under: Internet Freedom — Bruce @ 9:35 am

torrentfreedom.jpg

With a militant style more associated with the crew of The Pirate Bay, TorrentFreedom promises to put the user back in control, by offering a new BitTorrent-optimized, zero-logging, 100% anonymous VPN service, guaranteed to punch a hole through throttling ISPs.

In other words, total internet anonymity — for everything you do on the internet — every program, every web site, every communication of every type. If it connects via the internet, TorrentFreedom makes it anonymous. In fact, the other party won’t even know what country you are in… unless you tell them.

continue reading… from torrentfreak

More on this:

TorrentFreak

The best place on the Internet for the latest in torrenting news.

The Pirate Bay

Here’s a kickass torrent tracker that’s not afraid to wear their flag with pride.

I Wouldn’t Steal

Home of an excellent video to counter the harsh and even obscene anti-piracy shorts you see in theaters and commercial DVD movies.

Steal This Film

Steal this film.

~

If you liked this one, check out Today’s Top Stories — the most popular stories here. They’re listed in the right-hand column, just below the Subscribe buttons.

Also be sure to see… Other Topic Categories and Bruce’s Hot List

Or you can also… continue reading… Related Items on this Topic

__________________
Bruce Wagner
http://brucewagner.com
http://brucewagner.com/blog
bruce@brucewagner.com
646-275-2195

Hip European Politicians say, “Filesharing is Not Theft”

Filed under: Internet Freedom — Bruce @ 9:07 am

bittorrent_visualized.jpg

The Pirate Bay and Filesharers Backed by Swedish Politicians

In recent years, the Swedish Green Party, which holds 19 seats in parliament, has taken a clear stance on filesharing. Following the raid on The Pirate Bay in 2006, the party board released a memo entitled “Free the files!” in which they suggested to fully legalize non-commercial filesharing.

When asked about the purpose of the memo in 2006, party spokesperson Peter Eriksson said: “Our aim is to make laws in line with the new technologies. The other option is to pretend that you can go on like you always have, although it’s practically impossible. Reality has changed.”

One of the driving forces behind the recent “I Wouldn’t Steal” campaign from the European Green parties was the Swedish politician Carl Schlyter, and his initiative seems to have spurred others in the party to join the debate. Earlier this week, an editorial was published in two local Swedish newspapers. It was titled “Filesharing is not theft” and was written by Akko Karlsson, member of the Swedish Green Party’s executive board.

In the editorial, Akko argued that…

“Filesharing can’t be compared to theft, as theft is when someone takes away the possibility for another person to use something, whereas filesharing only creates a new copy without erasing the original.”

continue reading… from torrentfreak

More on this:

TorrentFreak

The best place on the Internet for the latest in torrenting news.

The Pirate Bay

Here’s a kickass torrent tracker that’s not afraid to wear their flag with pride.

I Wouldn’t Steal

Home of an excellent video to counter the harsh and even obscene anti-piracy shorts you see in theaters and commercial DVD movies.

Steal This Film

Steal this film.

~

If you liked this one, check out Today’s Top Stories — the most popular stories here. They’re listed in the right-hand column, just below the Subscribe buttons.

Also be sure to see… Other Topic Categories and Bruce’s Hot List

Or you can also… continue reading… Related Items on this Topic

__________________
Bruce Wagner
http://brucewagner.com
http://brucewagner.com/blog
bruce@brucewagner.com
646-275-2195

February 8, 2008

Must See Movies and Videos

movies_3.jpg

Cozy up with a Cuddle Buddy and a Bowl of Popcorn… These Movies You Must Not Miss!

These are movies you can watch online that I consider “Must See” for everyone…

Just click any of the “watch now” links below to begin watching the movie, or click on any of the “download free” links below to download the movie to your computer:

NOTE: Check the listed running time of each video. If it’s less than one hour, it’s probably only a preview trailer, or not a complete copy.

ALSO: To download movies and such, if you are on Windows, you’ll need to download and install uTorrent. first. If you’re on Ubuntu or Mac, you’ll need to install Transmission.

See also: How to Download Everything you Want for Free

And also see my article called…

Feel Like a Great Movie Tonight?

Let us know what you think of them in the Comments section of this item…

If any of them really strike a cord with you, please be sure to email the link to them (or the link to this page) to everyone you know. That’s the best way to spread the word, by far.

Also, if you find any of the links above are broken or incorrect, please email me. Thanks!

While You’re At It

Be sure to check out these two awesome pages:

The Top 100 Page of movies, videos, audiobooks, music, etc. on the entire internet to Download Free, and…

The Most Popular Movies on the entire internet you can Watch Online Now from Google Video

Notes:

Remember, if you download an ISO file you will need to use a free program like IMGBurn to burn a CD or DVD from it. But you will end up with an exact copy — including the full menus, extra bonus features, etc — of the original… not just the movie.

If you download an AVI file, be sure to check whether it is in English, or in Spanish — whichever you prefer. Also, you might need to get the “Divx” plug-in in order to watch it. You can download it free at Divx.com

If you download an audiobook it will probably be in MP3 format, for convenient listening on your computer… Or on your iPod.

If you download a ZIP file, it’s easy to un-zip it once the download is complete. In Windows, just right-click on the ZIP file and click “Extract All…”

If you have any problems, or questions, following these instructions, please email me to let me know.

~

What’s so dangerous about the Cult of  Scientology?  And why You should Care.  Click here to find out.

~

Free yourself from the closed proprietary ‘Big Brother’ corporate greed of Microsoft, Apple, etc. Choose  Open Source Free Software.

Are you using Ubuntu Linux on your home computer yet?  Do you use Google?  Did you know that the Google search engine you use every day operates 100% on Linux?  There’s no Windows or Mac running the Google company or any of its services.  Check out  Windows vs Ubuntu’s Best Applications and  getgnulinux.org and  ubuntu.com and  wubi-installer.org and  Google: Open Source Free Software

~

Also, be sure to check out…

Watch our shows…

And don’t forget to…

__________________
Bruce Wagner
http://brucewagner.com
bruce@brucewagner.com

February 2, 2008

Google’s New Internet Television Network

Filed under: Internet Freedom, Life, One World Government, Technology — Bruce @ 2:01 pm

google_logo_video.jpg

This really is the new Media

And the bastion of what’s left of Free Speech, and real democracy… As I always say, Thank God for the Internet! Often, it’s the only place you’ll hear the real truth about what’s going on in the world.

Everyone knows that Google ranks the most important web sites on the entire internet. But did you know that Google also ranks the most important movies, documentaries, and other videos on the internet…?

This is the page I currently have set, within my browser, as my Start Page (my Home Page): http://video.google.com

It’s So Cool

That page shows you THE most popular videos, and full-length movies, and video documentaries… on the entire internet.

If you click the “Most Viewed” button… Then click on “Browse by Month“, you’ll see what’s hottest on the entire internet now.

It is very telling of what’s going on in the REAL world — the internet world of free speech. As opposed to the war-time propaganda machine of the 5 guys who control 100% of the Media in the USA — including ALL of the mainstream local and national, newspapers, radio stations, television stations, radio networks, television networks, etc. (see media consolidation)

You will Notice, that…

  • 5 of the top 5 videos
  • 8 of the top 10 videos ~and~
  • 13 of the top 20 videos

…on the entire internet

…are documentaries about many of the topics and issues I talk about most… here on my blog.

movies_3.jpg

Be sure to watch theses videos especially:

  • Zeitgeist
  • America: Freedom to Fascism
  • Loose Change
  • End Game
  • Panorama
  • Money as Debt
  • Who Killed the Electric Car
  • The Money Masters
  • Rockefeller Admitted Elite Goal Of Microchipped Population
  • OUTFOXED : Rupert Murdoch’s War on Journalism
  • FIAT EMPIRE – Why the Federal Reserve Violates the U.S. Constitution
  • Benjamin Fulford interviews David Rockefeller about Illuminati
  • The Century of the Self
  • The Secret

Let us know what you think of them in the comments section of this item…

If any of them really strike a cord with you, please be sure to email the link to them (or the link to this blog item) to everyone you know. That’s the best way to spread the word, by far.

~

If you liked this one, check out Today’s Top Stories — the most popular stories here. They’re listed in the right-hand column, just below the Subscribe buttons.

Also be sure to see… Other Topic Categories and Bruce’s Hot List

Or you can also… continue reading… Related Items on this Topic

__________________
Bruce Wagner
http://brucewagner.com
http://brucewagner.com/blog
bruce@brucewagner.com
646-275-2195

January 23, 2008

How To Not Get Sued for File Sharing

Filed under: Consumer Issues, Internet Freedom — Bruce @ 9:54 pm

bittorrent_visualized.jpg

The recent article, How To Not Get Sued for File Sharing from the Electronic Freedom Foundation, makes me think…

First, I highly recommend you read it. Follow the link above and study it. Meanwhile…

Remember the old days…. when your friend wanted to borrow that book on your bookshelf. And you loaned it to her. And you didn’t go to jail for it? And neither did she. Even if she forgot to ever return it to you…?

In most countries, file sharing is legal.

It’s the USA that allows these corporations to get away with imposing their profit-driven scare tactic campaigns against the public.

They lie. They propagandize. They coerce. They exaggerate. They manipulate. They bribe all the politicians they need. They terrorize the public. All to protect their precious profits. link

And somewhere I read that your chances of getting prosecuted for file sharing in America are LESS than getting struck by lightening — twice.

Pssssssst…… But don’t tell anybody.

But DO tell everybody to boycott Comcast for censoring and altering the internet data of their customers. For more info, Google: comcast censoring

See Also: How to Download Everything you Want for Free

More on this:

TorrentFreak

The best place on the Internet for the latest in torrenting news.

The Pirate Bay

Here’s a kickass torrent tracker that’s not afraid to wear their flag with pride.

I Wouldn’t Steal

Home of an excellent video to counter the harsh and even obscene anti-piracy shorts you see in theaters and commercial DVD movies.

Steal This Film

Steal this film.

~

If you liked this one, check out Today’s Top Stories — the most popular stories here. They’re listed in the right-hand column, just below the Subscribe buttons.

Also be sure to see… Other Topic Categories and Bruce’s Hot List

Or you can also… continue reading… Related Items on this Topic

__________________
Bruce Wagner
http://brucewagner.com
http://brucewagner.com/blog
bruce@brucewagner.com
646-275-2195

December 18, 2007

A few really cool things you can’t live without…

Filed under: Internet Freedom, Technology — Bruce @ 7:38 pm

the future of computers – spreading like wildfire ubuntu.com
the free (far better) microsoft office replacement openoffice.org
the free movies, music, audiobooks superstore brucewagner.com/free
the hottest new movies for free 1 mininova.org/search/FxM/seeds
the hottest new movies for free 2 mininova.org/cat-list/4/seeds
the hottest new audiobooks for free mininova.org/sub/51/seeds
some of the kicks I’m currently on del.icio.us/brucewagner/kicks

And check out our websites too…

the show brucewagner.com
the blog brucewagner.com/blog
the daily show bruceanded.com
instant message me brucewagner.com/im
ed’s show (in spanish) edwardgel.com
ed’s blog (in spanish) edwardgel.com/blog

~

Continue reading… Related Items on this Topic …Or see… Other Topic Categories

__________________
Bruce Wagner
http://brucewagner.com
http://brucewagner.com/blog
bruce@brucewagner.com
646-275-2195

If you create or download torrent files…

Filed under: Internet Freedom — Bruce @ 7:24 pm

…please listen up!

There is NO REASON to upload a torrent containing .uif files, or .daa files.

There is ABSOLUTELY NO REASON not to simply upload things as .jpg files, or .mp3 files, or .avi files, or .iso files.

There’s no reason even to upload things in .rar or .zip compressed files. What the heck do we need .bin and .cue files for!? Just give us the .iso file. I don’t even like those stupid demonoid .txt files!

MY POLICY IS:

IF IT’S NOT IN A NORMAL SIMPLE STANDARD FILE FORMAT, I ASSUME IT CONTAINS A VIRUS OR TROJAN… OR THAT IT IS A PLOY TO GET ME TO DOWNLOAD SOME OTHER NEEDLESS SOFTWARE WHICH WILL CONTAIN A VIRUS OR TROJAN.

JUST SAY “NO” TO THESE IDIOTIC FILE FORMATS!

DO NOT SEED THEM! DO NOT DOWNLOAD THEM!

Thanks for listening.

: )

More on this:

TorrentFreak

The best place on the Internet for the latest in torrenting news.

The Pirate Bay

Here’s a kickass torrent tracker that’s not afraid to wear their flag with pride.

I Wouldn’t Steal

Home of an excellent video to counter the harsh and even obscene anti-piracy shorts you see in theaters and commercial DVD movies.

Steal This Film

Steal this film.

~

If you liked this one, check out Today’s Top Stories — the most popular stories here. They’re listed in the right-hand column, just below the Subscribe buttons.

Also be sure to see… Other Topic Categories and Bruce’s Hot List

Or you can also… continue reading… Related Items on this Topic

__________________
Bruce Wagner
http://brucewagner.com
http://brucewagner.com/blog
bruce@brucewagner.com
646-275-2195

September 17, 2007

Is it Wrong to Expect Tech Support for a “Free” Product?

Filed under: Internet Freedom — Bruce @ 1:16 pm

There has been a lot of misunderstanding about my position on the lack of Tech Support for the uTorrent product, by the publisher, BitTorrent, Inc.

The basic arguments that have been put forth, seem to fall into one of two lines of reasoning…

either…

(1) “How dare you have the nerve to ask for Support of a product you didn’t pay a cent for!?”

or…

(2) “How dare you complain about the support offered by a Community of Volunteers… when they’re doing the best they can!?”

~

My answer:

No, you misunderstand.

I do not DEMAND customer support from the Open Source Community. In fact, there is an enormous amount a free support available in the Open Source Community.

However, uTorrent is NOT an open source community product. Last I heard, uTorrent was a PRIVATE CORPORATE FOR-PROFIT VENTURE.

Any product promoted by a private for-profit corporate venture SHOULD offer decent (or at the very least, minimal) customer support.

In the case of uTorrent, it is sold (for free, for the moment) to the public by a private for-profit corporation. It also appears to not offer any public support options whatsoever.

The “Official” Community, consisting of the “official support forum”, is being run by at least one or two children (presumably volunteers) who are on some sort of a power trip, and are somewhere between, shall we say, “not friendly” (at the very least), to “downright hostile” (at worst), to new users. BitTorrent, Inc. should be ashamed of their decision to turn over their “official” corporate uTorrent product support forum to ANYONE who is hostile to new users — much less, to children!

New Users are NOT morons. They are simply new users of a product. They are to be treated with respect, and to be honored, in fact, if you want your product’s usage to continue to grow faster.

If your company hopes to make a future PROFIT based on your product becoming widely used… if not, the “defacto standard”… Then, you’d better offer some sort of support.

It does not matter if you’re charging $0.01, or $1000, or $0.00, for that product.

Your success will be limited…. without any form of support.

At the moment, users are on their own…. And they are getting support from other, independent, forums and communities… only.

A prime example of what I’m talking about is the company called, Feedburner.

Feedburner offered the best product in its class. Totally for free. They also offered world-class, awesome, extremely friendly, effective, and fast… customer support. You could send them an email, or call them on the phone, or post in their support forum — and no matter how you contacted them, you’d get an EXCELLENT helpful knowledgeable PERSONAL reply from a smart staffer, usually WITHIN AN HOUR!

Feedburner was recently purchased by Google. You’ve heard of Google? :) God only knows how many billions they paid for it.

THAT is success. Need I say more?

Once again, Feedburner is a totally free product.

Published by a totally FOR-PROFIT CORPORTATION.

And that company has been STAGGERINGLY profitable…. for the founders.

uTorrent (BitTorrent, Inc.) sure could learn a lesson from the Feedburner people…

Update (20 Sept 2007): See the latest Comments on my article, BitTorrent / uTorrent Support Forums, …for a PERFECT EXAMPLE…. as to why for-profit companies SHOULD NOT piss off their users by offering little or no support for their product.

Or, worse yet, let their “official support forum” be run by children who do nothing but scorn new users for being “stupid”…

uTorrent (BitTorrent, Inc), apparently just lost another user due to this issue…

The issue I’m talking about…

Not good.

(As a side note, I still use uTorrent — IN SPITE OF THEIR TOTAL LACK OF SUPPORT AND IRRESPONSIBLE SUPPORT FORUM — simply because I think it’s the best program…. so far… for now…)

~

Do you agree? Do you have a different opinion? Tell us yours in the Comments here…

June 26, 2007

Download Everything at Barnes & Noble for Free?

Filed under: Internet Freedom — Bruce @ 11:10 pm

Could you please give me your opinion about this video?

Go to http://brucewagner.com/free and go down to the “quick video tutorial” and click the play button…………..and tell me your honest opinion…..?

If you like it…. Please feel free to forward the link to all of your friends….

: )

Thanks!

More on this:

TorrentFreak

The best place on the Internet for the latest in torrenting news.

The Pirate Bay

Here’s a kickass torrent tracker that’s not afraid to wear their flag with pride.

I Wouldn’t Steal

Home of an excellent video to counter the harsh and even obscene anti-piracy shorts you see in theaters and commercial DVD movies.

Steal This Film

Steal this film.

~

If you liked this one, check out Today’s Top Stories — the most popular stories here. They’re listed in the right-hand column, just below the Subscribe buttons.

Also be sure to see… Other Topic Categories and Bruce’s Hot List

Or you can also… continue reading… Related Items on this Topic

__________________
Bruce Wagner
http://brucewagner.com
http://brucewagner.com/blog
bruce@brucewagner.com
646-275-2195

March 16, 2007

BitTorrent / uTorrent Support Forums

Filed under: Internet Freedom, Technology — Bruce @ 3:51 pm

bittorrent_visualized.jpg

On the official uTorrent site, there are attached forums… for which the premise is supposed to be… support of the uTorrent user community.

However, as it turns out, the good folks over at BitTorrent, Inc. (bittorrent.com), who recently BOUGHT uTorrent (utorrent.com)… apparently are not paying attention…

Because the official uTorrent Support Forums are being run by a few kids who are on some sort of a power trip – real “legends in their own minds”. They “lock” and “trash” every topic posted by new users for a multitude of stupid reasons — reasons such as:

(1) if that question has EVER been asked before
(2) if that question has EVER been answered before
(3) if that question is just not “smart” enough
(4) if the person asking the question is “obviously new to bittorrent”

etc., etc., etc…

They make it very clear that they are NOT there to assist new users in any way… But that they are they only there to assist themselves… in their own little fiefdom… and to learn – themselves – by being exposed to real experts.

New users are NOT permitted to ask questions there… And, further…

OTHER users are not even permitted to Answer the questions of new users…

In fact, I myself, was BANNED from that forum simply for helping a new user… by answering his questions… Can you believe that!?

I don’t know how large of a company BitTorrent, Inc. is… But it amazes me that a company like that is letting a couple of mean-spirited young kids on a power trip ruin their entire official “User Support Forums”, and ruin the user experience of their own product…

SO…. until BitTorrent, Inc. wakes up to what’s going on over there… on there own web site…

I’ll be providing uTorrent Support Forums… right here…

Where…

(1) HELPING NEW USERS is our first priority! ~and~

(2) There’s no such thing as a stupid question!

Please come, ask your questions, and answer a few too… at:

http://brucewagner.wordpress.com/2007/03/16/bittorrent-utorrent-support-forums/

Leave your support questions (and answers) in the COMMENTS section below…

UPDATE: Now that I have scrapped Windows and Mac, and instead only use Ubuntu… BitTorrent is built-in to the operating system. This is so so slick. No need to install a program like uTorrent any more — because Ubuntu comes with BitTorrent clients, Transmission and Deluge, built-in. (see Windows vs. Ubuntu’s Best Applications)

ubuntu_logo.jpg

More on this:

TorrentFreak

The best place on the Internet for the latest in torrenting news.

The Pirate Bay

Here’s a kickass torrent tracker that’s not afraid to wear their flag with pride.

I Wouldn’t Steal

Home of an excellent video to counter the harsh and even obscene anti-piracy shorts you see in theaters and commercial DVD movies.

Steal This Film

Steal this film.

~

What’s so dangerous about the Cult of  Scientology?  And why You should Care.  Click here to find out.

~

Free yourself from the closed proprietary ‘Big Brother’ corporate greed of Microsoft, Apple, etc. Choose  Open Source Free Software.

Are you using Ubuntu Linux on your home computer yet?  Do you use Google?  Did you know that the Google search engine you use every day operates 100% on Linux?  There’s no Windows or Mac running the Google company or any of its services.  Check out  Windows vs Ubuntu’s Best Applications and  getgnulinux.org and  ubuntu.com and  wubi-installer.org and  Google: Open Source Free Software

~

Also, be sure to check out…

Watch our shows…

And don’t forget to…

__________________
Bruce Wagner
http://brucewagner.com
bruce@brucewagner.com

March 6, 2007

Is Microsoft Guilty if Ransom Note is in Word?

Filed under: Consumer Issues, Internet Freedom, Technology — Bruce @ 12:54 pm

A great editorial from Sunbelt Software…

Should Technology Makers Be Responsible for How You Use Their Products?

It’s becoming increasingly popular to extend legal responsibility for illegal behavior way beyond the person who actually commits the crime. Bartenders are sued or even charged criminally if a person who buys alcohol from them drives drunk. Gun owners are blamed if criminals steal their weapons and commit murder or robbery. Parents are fined if their teenage children skip school, even if the parent has delivered the child to the schoolhouse door. Vehicle owners get tickets if their cars run red lights – even if they weren’t driving.

(more…)

February 17, 2007

Downloading Oprah and The Secret, plus Eckert Tolle’s A New Earth, and Marianne Williamson

Filed under: Health, Internet Freedom, Life, Love, Money — Bruce @ 11:59 am

the-secret_seal_on_dark.jpg

I have been getting a lot of requests for information about how to download a copy of the various Oprah shows about The Secret: Law of Attraction.

Oprah has now done TWO shows about The Secret, in only two weeks!

oprah_winfrey.jpgrhonda_byrne_300x3730.jpg

Of course, she has also done two Oprah After the Show’s, on The Secret, on the Oxygen network…

UPDATE (May 4, 2008):  Oprah has a special Download Page for Oprah and author Eckhart Tolle teaching an exclusive online webcast class about his best-selling book A New Earth, click here.

UPDATE (Feb 8, 2008): By now, Oprah has now done MANY more shows about The Secret — including a new one yesterday. On that show, she also discussed another of my favorites: A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle. This book is available as an audiobook you can download for free, as well as many of his other works. And another of Oprah’s (any my) favorite authors and friends, is Marianne Williamson. Many of Marianne’s works are also available to download free.

~

To Download The Secret — and the Oprah Shows about The Secret

Follow these simple steps:

(more…)

February 13, 2007

How to Download Everything you Want for Free

Filed under: Internet Freedom, Technology — Bruce @ 1:33 pm

free.gif

I’ve created a new guide to the coolest new (FREE) technology, called BitTorrent.

It allows you to download (FOR FREE) tons and tons of media….

Everything is available — ALL movies, music, tv shows, books, videos, audiobooks, etc.

Of course, do not download anything that is protected by copyright….

But there is TONS and TONS of stuff that is not copyright protected… and put out there with the request, “Please download this and share it with all your friends!”

OUR OWN SHOWS are only one example of this — totally FREE and LEGAL content…

bittorrent_logo_168x168.jpg

Check out this guide I wrote, called, “How to Download Everything you Want for Free — a beginners guide to downloading the movies, tv, music, books, and audiobooks you want”

It is here, “How to Download Everything you Want for Free”….. http://brucewagner.com/free

And please spread the word — forward this message on to all your friends…

bittorrent-torrents-by-category.jpg

UPDATE: Now that I have scrapped Windows and Mac, and instead only use Ubuntu… BitTorrent is built-in to the operating system. This is so so slick. No need to install a program like uTorrent any more — because Ubuntu comes with BitTorrent clients, Transmission and Deluge, built-in. (see Windows vs. Ubuntu’s Best Applications)

See Also: How to Not Get Sued for File Sharing

And here is an email response I got today…

Bruce,

I forwarded your email to a friend of mine and this is what he had to say about it.

BitTorrent, the software Bruce is touting, is one of many Peer-To-Peer (P2P) file sharing applications available in the murky world of cyberspace. Once you have downloaded and installed a P2P client, if you are connected to the Internet you can launch the utility and are then logged into a central indexing server. This central server indexes all users who are currently online and connected to the server. This server does not necessarily host any files for downloading. The P2P client will contain an area where you can search for a specific file. The utility queries the index server to find other connected users with the file you are looking for. When a match is found the central server will tell you where to find the requested file. You can then choose a result from the search query and your utility will then attempt to establish a connection with the computer hosting the file you have requested. If a successful connection is made, you will begin downloading the file. Once the file download is complete the connection will be broken.

The technology was devised initially to share (illegally) music files but many providers have long since gone belly-up due to copyright infringement problems and increased cyber enforcement and fines. I’m leery of installing P2P software on my system mainly from a security standpoint. This stems primarily from the architecture itself. Most blocking and routing is handled by a specific server within a network, but the P2P architecture has no single fixed server responsible for routing and/or security. Thus, I’m not willing to install the client program and don’t wish to be tied into a peer-to-peer network.

I know that most people say P2P programs are free and legal, but it’s always with the caveat (as in Bruce’s email) ‘do not download copyright material’. While this is all fine and dandy, that is really what people are searching for and hence the popularity of these programs. My advice is to steer clear but advice like anything else is only worth what you paid for it which in this case is nothing… :-)

Some good comments.

Here is my reply…..

BitTorrent is only a technology… just like Email…… or Skype….

It’s only illegal if you use if for illegal purposes.

If you transmit illegal files via email or skype…. It’s EXACTLY the same thing…

(1) BitTorrent technology is new, and does NOT have a central indexing server. (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bittorrent )

bittorrent.gif

(2) The BitTorrent technology did NOT originate with illegal file sharing, nor music sharing. He may be referring to Napster, Kazaa, eDonkey, eMule, etc.

BitTorrent was NOT created for illegal file sharing… (in spite of the fact that many people DO use it for that today…) Read some of the writings of Bram Cohen, the creator of BitTorrent.

(3) On November 23, 2005, the movie industry and BitTorrent Inc., whose CEO is the creator of BitTorrent, Bram Cohen, signed a deal to work together. They are licensing this distribution method for the LEGAL distribution of movies, music, etc.

(4) This statement: “Most blocking and routing is handled by a specific server within a network, but the P2P architecture has no single fixed server responsible for routing and/or security. Thus, I’m not willing to install the client program and don’t wish to be tied into a peer-to-peer network.”

….is simply not accurate. Actually, on your home computer… blocking, routing, and security is handled by your router. If you have a software firewall, that does security blocking too (which is redundant and not needed).

No software, or website, or anything you use online… has a “single fixed server responsible for routing and/or security”. Only YOUR ROUTER is responsible for routing and/or security (and, if you have one, your software firewall does some unnecessary security too).

(5) The sentiment, I “don’t wish to be tied into a peer-to-peer network.” …..is a misunderstanding of terms.

Bittorrent, and peer-to-peer file sharing too, and skype too, and Yahoo Instant Messaging, and email…. and anything else that is sending stuff from one computer to another…. is NOT a “peer-to-peer network”.

A “peer-to-peer network” is entirely a different thing.

Bottom Line: Use it. Just don’t download anything copyright protected. Simple.

Soon, EVERYTHING important will be distributed and broadcast via bittorrent. Mark my words!

bittorrent.jpg

Also….


BitTorrent, the software Bruce is touting, is one of many Peer-To-Peer (P2P) file sharing applications available in the murky world of cyberspace.


Bittorrent is a protocol — not an application. The Bittorrent protocol is used by dozens of programs.

The program I recommend is called, uTorrent (see utorrent.com).

Once you have downloaded and installed a P2P client, if you are connected to the Internet you can launch the utility and are then logged into a central indexing server… etc…

What he is describing…. is how Kazaa, and all the other first-generation P2P file sharing protocols, work.

This is NOT how Bittorrent works.

Bittorrent does NOT have any central server. There is NO list, anywhere, of all users currently online. There is NO list, anywhere, of all content available.

A much better example of how bittorrent works is: Like doing a Send File from within Yahoo Messenger, or Skype, or AOL IM, or MSN Messenger, etc. It’s a file transfer from one computer to another.

There is a “traffic cop” which tells your software who to connect to… But there is NO CENTRAL SERVER. In fact, there are thousands of “traffic cops”… (called trackers)… and you can even host your own.

By using uTorrent, or any Bittorrent program, YOU ARE NOT GIVING ANYONE ACCESS TO YOUR COMPUTER. You are NOT creating a “network” with any other computers — no more than if you sent an email to 20 people. And they all replied to each other.

In fact, NO OTHER USER can even change the CONTENTS of the file(s) you are downloading! ….only the originator.

But, this is why I recommend that you DO NOT download PROGRAMS or SOFTWARE. They can contain viruses.

On the other hand….. Downloading public domain pictures, videos, music, audio, books, audiobooks, etc… are completely safe (virus free).

It’s the SAME as opening email attachments…

NEVER download a program (an executable file of any type — like .exe .com .scr ….etc.) — even from someone you TRUST! (They probably don’t even KNOW that they are infected!)

Stick to free public domain movies, videos, music, tv shows, books, and audiobooks (with SAFE exentions like .jpg .gif .png .tif .txt. pdf .avi .wmv .iso .dvr-ms …etc.)

Many of the biggest television networks — like, is it NBC? — are actively putting their content on Bittorrent.

BECAUSE THEY WANT YOU TO DOWNLOAD AND WATCH THEIR CONTENT (including the commercials ;) )

Basically, Bittorrent is a lot like YouTube….. only MUCH MUCH better… Enjoy!

And, PLEASE…. people… Correct me if I am wrong!

bittorrent_searches_by_country.gif

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