I went to Best Buy today to get my iPod back. It had a hard drive issue, so I had them fixed it. We’ll see if they did. I also went to Radio Shack and picked up a DPDT (Double Poll, Double Throw) switch for my speakers. I have on set of speakers above my bed and another by my computer and the switch allows me to easily switch between them.
The first week of college is over, and was pretty impressed. Most of my classes are only 50 minutes long, the exception being EPICS. The only classes that I have a distaste for right now is Calc 1. We have a foreign teacher who is sometimes hard to understand. The class is also unengaging. This weekend, I don’t have anything to do, so I guess I’ll just hang out. Just about everyone else know is heading for college this weekend.
I got this in my inbox the other day:
From: Best Buy Customer Service [customerservice@bestbuy.com]
To: Andrew Ferguson
Re: Your iPod
Dear Mr. Ferguson,
We received your complaint regarding your desire to exchange your 3rd generation iPod for one with twice as much hard-drive space.
We at Best Buy would like to apologize for your troubles with our customer service. We at Best Buy pride ourselves on our outstanding customer service reputation, and were appalled to hear that it had been tarnished. Who were we to contradict the first person with whom you spoke? Obviously, she had much more authority and knowledge than the store manager and customer service specialists at 1-888-BEST-BUY. We have received word from the Colorado State Attorney General’s Office and he agrees that our behavior was reprehensible. In order to compensate you for your time and patience, we wish to offer you a Lifetime Service Plan that will replace your iPod with the newest available models.
Obviously, any service plan ought to replace your iPod with a newer model whenever such is available. We appreciate your commitment in buying a 4-year service package while still ignorant of the new iPod only days away. We apologize that the sales person who sold you your iPod did not inform you that a new generation of iPod is released yearly. We know that all of our customers may not be “tech savvy” and try to compensate for their “lack of knowledge.”
Once again, we offer you our sincerest apologies and remind you that in future letters to multi-national corporations, you ought to use spell check.
Sincerely Sorry,
Messrs Alec Turnbull and Daniel Bushyhead
P.S. All in good fun, live long and prosper.
Well, couldn’t let Alec and Bushyhead have all the fun. So I crafted this email:
From: Guy Witherow [gwith@acis.columbia.edu]
To: Alec William Turnbull
Re:Violation of Columbia University Network and Computing Usage Policies
Alec William Turnbull
During a recent security check of University systems and networks, we discovered that you violated several Columbia University Network and Computing Usage Policies and E-mail Usage Policies by sending a frivolous email to andrew[att]fergcorp[dott]com and forging a from address of “Best Buy Customer Service” <customerservice@bestbuy.com>.
Part 9 of the Network and Computer Usage Policies states: No University system or network may be used for any purpose or in a manner that violates University statutes or regulations or federal, state or local law; and parts 17 and 21 of the Email Policies: No e-mail may be sent or forwarded through a University system or network for purposes that violate University statutes or regulations or for an illegal or criminal purpose; and, Unsolicited e-mail messages to multiple users are prohibited unless explicitly approved by the appropriate University authority. See http://www.columbia.edu/cu/policy/mass-email-procedure.html
All messages must show accurately from where and from whom the message originated, except in the rare, specific cases where anonymous messages are invited.
As you may know, violations of these policies may result in the immediate suspension of computer account and network access pending investigation of circumstances and may lead to eventual revocation. Serious violations of the policy will be referred directly to the appropriate University or outside authorities; unauthorized use of University computing facilities can be a criminal offense. The penalties may be as severe as suspension or dismissal from the University and/or criminal prosecution.
A Judicial Hearing has been set for Monday, August 30 at 4:45pm. Because this is a matter of computing and network abuse, the hearing will take place in the Computer Center located at 3020 Broadway. If you have any questions about the hearing or wish to change your assigned hearing date and/or time, please contact the
-Guy Witherow
AcIS Staff
gwith@acis.columbia.edu
The email actually didn’t go through for some reason, but I showed it to Alec on IM, to which he responded:
(14:49:19) Alec: oh shiiiiitttt
(14:49:22) Alec: hahah
(14:49:35) Ferg: like it?
(14:49:39) Alec: oh man
(14:49:44) Alec: you did your research
(14:49:49) Ferg: yea
(14:49:54) Alec: oh mannnnn
(14:50:12) Alec: scares the crap outta me even knowing you wrote it
Reminds me of the Klingon Proverb, bortaS bIr jablu’DI’, reH QaQqu’ nay’ (Revenge is a dish best served cold).
If you’ve known me for any amount of time, you should probably know that I have big issues with copyright laws, specifically the move towards putting power (and money) in he hands of corporate conglomerates and taking it away from the consumer. For those of you who don’t know the basic reasoning behind copyright laws, here’s the basic rundown:
Copyright laws exists to protect a product from duplication for period of time so that the original creator of such item may profit from its development and recoup costs of development (if any). After the period of time has expired, the product become public domain so that others may produce the product (thus making it cheaper to purchase) and to improve upon said product (thus advancing the product).
The latest people to not get this message are Senators Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont), sponsors of The Inducing Infringement of Copyrights Act (SB2560). The bill “would hold technology companies liable for encouraging people to infringe copyright.” (wired.com) Among other things, such legislation would put the fear of God in to the minds of many developers of network tools that are designed for multi-user communication. It would also hamper the development of file-sharing programs and programs that including file-sharing features. Not suprisingly, many music labels and Hollywood are in support of this legislation, proving that they too just don’t get it. It also proves that the music and movie industry doesn’t realize that antiquated forms of audio transmission, that is CD’s, just don’t cut it anymore…especially at $15+ a pop. Perhaps even more amazing is the similarity to the “1984 Supreme Court Sony Betamax decision, which found that products capable of substantial non-infringing uses, such as home video recorders, are legal.” (wired.com). The “Sony Betamax doctrine” clearly applies to SB2560.
I think that if a Congressman tries to pass a bill that is in conflict with an outstanding Supreme Court Decision, they should be banned from politics for life and assessed a $5 million dollar fine for the time and money of the American people they have wasted.
The first day of college was all I dreamed it would be, and more. I woke up at 10:15ish, had some breakfast then meandered down to my 11 o’clock class only to find no one there. So I went to the Student Center and transfering my music ratings. I then headed back up to the apartment. A short time later a guy from Comcast came in and installed yet another internet connection. What could be better?
About 800 new students here at Mines climbed up Mount Zion this morning at around 8am. We all met at the IM field, sang our school song, crossed 6th Avenue, and the proceeded up the mountain, repeating our song at various checkpoints. It was incredibly amazing watching 800 students exit the IM field and then walk across 6th, all wearing our new green hard hats.
All along the way, we were pelted by upperclassmen with water ballons and sling shots. We finally got to the top and waited close to an hour while the rest of students made their way up the mountain and then bucket-brigaded water to mix the whitewash with. HDNet, Sky Fox 31, and 9News were on hand to record this momentus occasion with the largest class at CSM hauling 10 pound rocks up the mountain to the “M”, the “largest electronically lit school emblem in the world, measuring 104 feet by 107 feet and boasting more than 500 15-watt lightbulbs.” For some bizzare reason, the have charter buses take us back down the IM fied when we’re done.
Later today we had Convocation, the bookend to Graduation. Convocation is the act “to call together to a meeting.” In essence, it’s just some important people talking while we shake our heads and nod.
School Song:
Oh, I wish I had a barrel of rum and sugar three hundred pounds.
The college bell to mix it in and clapper to stir it ’round.
Like every honest fellow, I take my whiskey clear.
I�m a rambling wreck from Golden Tech, a helluva engineer.
A helluva helluva helluva helluva helluva engineer.
A helluva helluva helluva helluva helluva engineer.
Like every honest fellow, I take my whiskey clear.
I�m a rambling wreck from Golden Tech, a helluva engineer.
Hail, hail the gang�s all here.
What the hell do we care as long as we get ourshare?
M-I-N-E-S!
What the hell do we care now?
Note: This picture is not the class of 2008
Details about my dorm/apartment life will begin trickling in a few days. First off, I have to say that I love it thus far. Second off, I have to say that I just tested my bandwidth and I have over twice the speed of a T1 and easily 10 times faster then my DSL at home. How cool.
Well, after much fanageling, I finally got on a flight to Denver. Originally, I was going to fly standby, but the flights were pretty much booked solid. So I used some airline points and got a ticket…next to a fat lady. For all those who don’t know, seat 7B on a 737-300 is the center seat on the left side of the plane. On United, it also happens to be an Economy Plus seat with 17″ of width. This lady was obviously larger then that. She easily extended at least 4 inches into my space (reducing it down to 13″). Her thigh was at least one and a half times bigger then my head. Furthermore, I couldn’t put my arm rest down which prevented me from reclining my seat. The list does go on and I have to admit that times I just wanted to “fall asleep” and plop my head on to her gushy arm…and then start drooling and refuse to wake up until we landed. To some of you (perhaps persons with a BMI over 30) might find this cruel. And it would be cruel if fat people could not control their weight. Yes, I know that some of it is genetics; but I’m talking about the REALLY large people who obviously eat $25 dollars worth on the dollar menu. A poll on Forbes.com shows that 51% of people polled think that airlines should “charge the obese full price for every seat they take up.” I couldn’t agree more. Southwest airlines has had a policy like that in place for almost 25 years. Anyways, at least I’m in Colorado now, although the weather is sucking pretty bad right now. I move in on Friday. Oh crap…
I’ve spent the last few days watching the 2004 Olympics and I’ve really enjoyed it. I’ve enjoyed it so much that I want to be in the Olympics. But not as a contestant, althought that would be cool. I think it would be awesome to be tech crew at the Olympics. There is so much great technology, it’s absolutly amazing. Sportvision, a company that puts the yellow first down line on the screen in football games, is providing several features including Simulcam technology, “which superimposes the image of one athlete over another to compare the swings of baseball players, the serves of tennis players and the body positioning of divers.” The Olympics are also using Sportvision’s “StroMotion a graphic effect that analyzes rapid movements so that a moving object is perceived as a series of static images.”
Anyway, I have just one more full day left. Then I’m off!
I’m back from Lake Shasta. The trip was awesome. I’ll talk more about that later. In the meantime, my departure time has been moved up Wednesday, so if you want something from me, you better hurry up and ask me.