Note: This column represents the opinions
of the writer and as such, is not purported as fact
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Every now and then, just as you think you're running out of gems to find
on the web, you stumble across a goldmine of really valuable information
being given away for free.
The problem is that these resources are often really well hidden amongst
the web's billions of pages, and even Google sometimes doesn't hold the key
unless you know exactly what to search for.
Over the Easter break I found another of these goldmines that, while probably
of little interest to most readers, will probably get at least a few of you
all excited.
The site I found was
knovel.com and
it contains a veritable wealth of exciting e-books that deal with all
manner of engineering and scientific subjects from semiconductors through
metallurgy to general engineering references.
The Aardvark PC-Based Digital
Entertainment Centre Project
Yes, at last, this feature
has been updated again! (31 Mar 2003)
The cool thing about this site is that if you register, you get 24 hours to
run amok and read all you can from the wide range of excellent texts available.
This becomes particularly exciting when you realise that access to this library
normally costs up to US$6,590 per year.
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Suffice to say that my brain was switched to "learn mode" for most of those
24 hours and I gathered some excellent information that I'd not seen available
for free anywhere else on the Net.
Now while this is just one example, I'm sure there are a myriad of other
knowledge cafeterias offering similar free lunches for those who can find them.
If you've encountered such a site or sites, please share them with the rest
of Aardvark's readers so we can all enjoy them.
On the other hand
But on the other hand, there are some things on the Net that are just getting
dearer and dearer.
Guess who's talking about hiking their prices?
Yes, it's that motley crew of recording company executives out of the
USA who make up the RIAA. These people are easily recognised now by the
bloodied stumps that protrude ever so slightly from their bullet-torn
trouser cuffs and their resulting reliance on wheelchairs to get around.
Having seen that people are flocking to legally download music tracks from the
Net, those smart cookies have determined the following:
- reasonably priced downloads will harm CD sales
- the current download prices must be too low (agrivating 1 above)
- legal downloads are selling like hotcakes
So, in their infinite wisdom, they're getting ready to load up those shootin'
irons and start blasting away at the bloodied stumps that were once their feet.
Yes, they're talking about forcing those sites that offer legal music downloads
to hike their prices from $0.99 a track to somewhere nearer $3 each.
What is it about record company executives that makes them act like a complete
bunch of fools to the extent that they're now getting ready to scuttle the
very model that will be the saviour of their business?
Clearly their brains were in their big toes, because the more they shoot,
the stupider they seem to be getting.
So, if anyone has a good indie music site they'd like to recommend to others,
then please do so in the forums.
Maybe if we all check out a new indie
musician each week, and buy tracks from those we like, the RIAA and their
equivalent in other countries might *finally* get the message.
New Forums!
Yes folks, good news. The grotty ezboard forums have been replaced with
a new phpBBS-based system that won't assault you with a myriad of pop-ups and
other flotsam.
A big thanks to Managed Internet Solutions
for offering to provide this service.
You can access the new forums over at
aardvarkforums.co.nz
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I've published this website for the past nine years as a service to the
local internet and IT industry and during all that time it has been 100%
free to access. It is my intention to ensure that it remains completely
free and free of charge and contains only the most sparse levels of advertising.
Aardvark is not a business, it is a free resource.
If you feel that this is a good thing and/or you hold a "geniune affection"
for yours truly -- then you are welcome to gift me some
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Just click on the button to gift whatever you can afford.
NOTE: PayPal bills in US dollars so don't accidentally gift more than
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