[@917]
Java Trademark Infringement

I just received the following:

Dear Erik Thauvin:

While reviewing your company's application, we noticed a potential misuse of a Sun trademark. Sun Microsystems has a trademark policy that describes how to make proper use of the trademarks and brands associated with Sun's products and services. The current Sun Trademark and Logo Usage Requirements are available online at http://www.sun.com/policies/trademarks/. If you still have trademark-related questions after reviewing the policy, you may contact Sun's Trademarks and Brands Department at [email protected].

Please incorporate on your Company website http://www.skytouch.com/soft/java/index.htm, 'Java and all Java-based marks' are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United States and other countries.

Your application for renewal will be placed on hold until the Java Legend is incorporated on your Company's website.

If you have any additional questions about the Sun Partner Advantage Program or any of it's offerings, or if you would like assistance, please contact our office at the number or email address below.

Best regards,

David Silver
Sun Partner Advantage Program Contact Center
Phone: 1-800-945-6111
Fax: 1-800-215-702-2501
Email: [email protected]

Here's what I responded:

David:

The site in question has the following statement in all of its sidebars:

"Copyright © 2003 SkyTouch Communications. All rights reserved. All trademarks are the property of their respective holders."

I believe that it is in compliance with Sun's trademark/logo usage requirements.

Sincerely,

Erik C. Thauvin
SkyTouch Communications
Phone: +1 (425) 329-3376

Someone has to be kidding me.

[@938]
I got the following response:

Dear Erik Thauvin:

Thank you for your e-mail. You have indicated in the following statement on your website: Our Java software are freeware. If you use them and enjoy them, donations are a great way of saying thanks. The sentence should read as follows: Our Java-based software are freeware.

Once this has been corrected, we will continue with the processing of your application.

Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

Best regards,

David Silver

Sun Partner Advantage Program Contact Center
Phone: 1-800-945-6111
Fax: 1-215-702-2501
Email: [email protected]

I've made the change, because I've already wasted too much time on this. Un-freaking-believable.

[@074]
Snow!

We have snow!

[@572]
Holiday Cards 2005

We just mailed our custom holiday cards to family and friends.

Click on the card to see the inside.

[@776]
HOTlink

Some teen on myspace.com decided to hotlink a picture from my blog. Apparently she's extremely popular, because I started to noticed a serious increase in my bandwidth usage.

I don't really give a hoot about hotlinking, except when I see my bandwidth jump by 3 folds. Here's what I added to my Apache configuration to block the worst offenders:

<Directory "/path/to/images/blog">


RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{HTTP_REFERER} ^http://([^/]+)myspace\.com/.*$ [NC,OR]
RewriteCond %{HTTP_REFERER} ^http://([^/]+)bobpitch\.com/.*$ [NC,OR]
RewriteCond %{HTTP_REFERER} ^http://([^/]+)shopping-news\.com/.*$ [NC,OR]
RewriteCond %{HTTP_REFERER} ^http://([^/]+)forumfree\.net/.*$ [NC,OR]
RewriteCond %{HTTP_REFERER} ^http://([^/]+)mongsr\.us/.*$ [NC,OR]
RewriteCond %{HTTP_REFERER} ^http://([^/]+)allcumfacials\.com/.*$ [NC]
RewriteRule .*\.(gif|jpg|jpeg|png|bmp|mov|mpg|avi)$ - [NC,F]
</Directory>

I don't really want to block everyone, as it would cause problems with web-based aggregators, like bloglines, etc.

Since there are no reasons to hotlink images from my scrapbook, I also added rules to prevent it altogether:

<Directory "/path/to/scrapbook">


RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{HTTP_REFERER} !^http://([^/]+)thauvin\.net/.*$ [NC]
RewriteCond %{HTTP_REFERER} !^$
RewriteCond %{HTTP_REFERER} !google\. [NC]
RewriteCond %{HTTP_REFERER} !yahoo\. [NC]
RewriteCond %{HTTP_REFERER} !search\?q=cache [NC]
RewriteRule .*\.(gif|jpg|jpeg|png|bmp|mov|mpg|avi)$ - [NC,F]
</Directory>

I still let Google, Yahoo and people using Google's cache through.

[@450]
D-Link DSM-320RD

I succumbed to the pressure and just purchased a D-Link DSM-320RD. We also ordered a Nordic Track C2300 treadmill. I really want to be able to stream video while breaking a sweat in our bedroom. We'll see how it works. If I don't like it, I can always return it.

[@437]
Snocap I found this interesting article on Snocap, Shawn Fanning (of the Napster fame)'s new venture. Conceptually not a bad idea. A registry that can identify songs and impose DRM restrictions as specified by the authors/publishers. I can see how that would be appealing to P2P networks operators, but I fail to see how that would attract the users. Seriously, if I'm going to use my computer/bandwidth to offer songs to be legally distributed on a P2P network. I am the distribution channel. I want a kickback. We all know that'll never happen. What a concept though! Getting paid for legally sharing your music collection… [@395]
My Next Phone?

I'm impatiently waiting for the release of the Nokia N80, now that it has been FCC approved. Of the flocks of phones that have been announced recently, it is undoubtedly the one coming the closest to my dream phone. I don't specifically look forward to shell over $500 for it.

[@683] I'm not sure but it looks like the USB port is located at the top. I also noticed that it is smaller than my 6630, though thicker/heavier. The only thing really missing is a standard headphone jack.

[@976] Looks like I got Darla convinced too.

[@042]

More Rachel's Vids

Looking for music videos on the net is a nightmare. Most places only stream short samples. I guess it makes sense now that music videos are considered an art form. People are more than willing to pay for them. What's next? Downloadable TV ads for $1.99 on iTunes? That being said…

So Good	I Said Never Again
Sweet Dreams My LA Ex	More More More
Funky Dory	Public Service Announcement

[@621]
Come & Get It!

[@407]
Happy Thanksgiving!