Thursday, August 9, 2001

GodGames RIP -- 11:30 pm CST, Update by A.T. Hun

Gamespot has an article on GodGames CEO Mike Wilson regarding the demise of what was supposed to be the ultimate publisher for independant developers. Hmm so let's see: ION Storm, now GodGames. Not a brilliant track record there. At least Wilson has proven he can burn through venture capital. Thanks Blue.

Beware DHMO! -- 4:25 pm CST, Update by J.t.Qbe

Great--yet another environmental poison which is out to get you. You simply can't avoid this one either--it's everywhere. You're already a goner. The name: dihydrogen monoxide. Read about it at DHMO.org. At very least, read Dihydrogen Monoxide - The Truth. You have been warned.

A.T. Hun comments: And to think I spilled some of this crap on myself today!

AT&T@Home Blocks Port 80 -- 4:16 pm CST, Update by A.T. Hun

In response to the Code Red worm(s), AT&T broadband/Excite@home is blocking port 80. Port 80 is the port that webservers run on and thus also the one that Code Red has been using to spread. Verizon is apparently doing the same for their DSL customers. As annoying as it may be, I think this is the only way to stop it since far too many cable/DSL folks running IIS either don't know or don't care to patch their servers. I thought that most broadband EULAs specifically forbid running servers anyway. Thanks Slashdot.

J.t.Qbe comments: I wonder when the filtering is supposed to begin--from the blinking of my cable modem's data light, it hasn't begun yet! I was reading my AT&T Subscriber Agreement last night and didn't find any "no server" clause. I thought I'd read somewhere that home users weren't allowed to run servers (maybe I saw it on the @Home website), but according to the page you linked and the SA, it must be allowed, at least for web servers.

Linux Today AstroTurfing Follow-Up -- 4:08 pm CST, Update by A.T. Hun

Linux Today editor Michael Hall added some more comments to the apology offered by Kevin Reichard for "astroturfing" (story). The most interesting bit is that Reichard is being reassigned within internet.com and will no longer be working with any of their Linux sites. Hopefully Linux Today can recover from this. The reassignment is the first and most important step in that direction.

QuakeCon Coverage -- 10:35 am CST, Update by A.T. Hun

QuakeCon has just begun and you can catch all the news on QuakeCon Radio (WinAmp, XMMS, etc. required). id's game announcements are scheduled for tomorrow afternoon, so we'll finally be able to see what they have up their sleeves.

Code Red Nails Microsoft -- 10:16 am CST, Update by A.T. Hun

Microsoft has confirmed that their Hotmail servers were hit by Code Red. I think I speak for everyone in the whole world when I say HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Doesn't it say something when the company that makes the software doesn't patch their own servers running that software? Should anybody trust .NET to keep our data safe and secure? Hello?!? MS proves time and time again that they are utterly incapable of keeping servers running and secure for relatively mundane things like Hotmail and instant messaging. How will they possibly do it right with .NET? The answer: they won't and it will be .NET users who take it in the shorts. Thanks Slashdot.

J.t.Qbe comments: And let's not miss the irony here: just a short while ago Microsoft made a big deal about the fact that it had (allegedly) migrated all of Hotmail to Win2K, from its previous FreeBSD-based servers--where Code Red wouldn't have touched it at all! I'm with you, A.T.: HAHAHAHAHA!

Wednesday, August 8, 2001

Top Games of All Time? -- 9:21 pm CST, Update by J.t.Qbe

Gamespy has published its own list of the top 50 games of all time. Interesting reading: they've placed more focus on modern games than is typical of these lists, and have left out a few games/series which ALWAYS make these lists, such as Starflight, Might & Magic, and others. They've gotten comments from some well-known game designers, though, which make it interesting.

What do you say, Haus staff? I've been in computer gaming for 20 years now, and I know that a few of you have been too. Should we come up with our own picks for the best games of all time?

New Mozilla Build Fix -- 9:11 pm CST, Update by A.T. Hun

Yesterday's Mozilla build fixed the bug that caused :hover not to work with Javascript. So the link hover stuff on our news and finger trackers work right in Mozilla! Yeah, I know it's a small thing, but it's annoyed me every since The Master added the Javascript to keep the tracker width manageable.

Of course, as soon as I type that, the build GPFs when I try to view our page on the United Devices website. Might want to hold off for a while then :)

Linux Today Editor Admits AstroTurfing -- 4:40 pm CST, Update by A.T. Hun

Kevin Reichard, executive editor for Linux Today, posted an apology for his practice of "astroturfing". Astroturfing was first coined when Microsoft allegedly instructed employees to write letters to the editors of various publications defending the company without stating that they were employees. It is a fake grassroots campaign, thus, astroturfing. In this case, Reichard posted on Linux Today's news talkbacks anonymously and with pseudonyms speaking against Linux Today in an attempt to make competing sites look bad. I suppose then it's actually reverse astroturfing. No matter.

I had heard rumors of this for some time, but I wanted to have facts before I posted. I am of the opinion (n.b. this is my opinion, not necessarily that of the rest of The Haus' staff) that Reichard should resign or be forced to resign for this. It completely destroys his credibility and makes his objectivity extremely suspect. The apology makes it seem like he has no concept of the damage he has done. It doesn't even sound like he doesn't even think an apology is necessary. Someone who is either so cavalier or so clueless needs to be shown the door if Linux Today hopes to clear up their tarnished image.

Of course, I'm sure that more than a few people will remind me that "journalistic integrity" is an oxymoron.

Summer Heat and Code Red 2: Electric Boogaloo -- 2:48 pm CST, Update by J.t.Qbe

In case you haven't noticed, it's HOT HOT HOT out there! I'm having a Faygo Redpop (it's a Michigan thing) and watching the cable modem and router lights flashing away like crazy--thank YOU Code Red. In Dennis Powell's latest article he talks about his own experiences with a cable modem and Code Red, and a cable company which lies to him (the good stuff's at the end--here, for the impatient). Hmmm, maybe I'll give old AT&T a call myself and see what they say about the blinking lights.

A.T. Hun comments: I'd be interested to hear their response, bet it would be vague :) The local megamart just got the full range of Faygo products in by the pallet, so I can start indoctrinating these 'sconsin folks about the wonder and glory that is redpop. They have Vernor's too, another Michigan classic.

The Master comments: Excellent link, Qbe. Strikes right to the heart on my feelings about both Microsoft and cable/telephone companies. They don't care, because everyone needs them and 1 or 2 people who go the other way don't even show up in the GP chart at the end of the month.

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