I didn't want to get into a newsreader discussion. However, a couple of
members of the group are criticizing my Subject Headers. Apparently they're
having a problem with some of my Headers' length and Forte Agent.
Why are they using Forte Agent? Please go to the Agent Release Notes page at
https://www.forteinc.com/release. We see the last Release, Agent 8.0, was
released 20-Oct-2014. That's almost five years ago!
My primary newsreader's last release was in Sep 2018. It's been a while, but
at least it's not ancient. They've had seven major and minor releases after
20-Oct-2014 - Forte Agent's last release date.
Five years in today's tech world is an eternity. Why are these guys using
software that's almost five years old? Besides not getting new features,
they may have security issues.
In Sep 2014, one month before Forte Agent's last release, my newsreader came
out with a new version that fixed a "major security hole." The hole made it
"vulnerable to the 'heartbleed' virus and several over viruses." Given the
same time period, if I still used Forte Agent, I'd be concerned. In my
opinion, it appears Forte Agent is no longer being supported.
I use two newsreaders. I've tried downloading a couple of my long-header
posts with no issues. There are viable alternatives to Forte Agent. Think of
it guys. No more counting characters!
I don't want to give my newsreader a plug because it too has issues. For
example, recently I went to NZBKing.com and started downloading a file from
their nzb. I got an error message saying that parts are no longer available.
It looks like I can't get the file. But blocks are actually available in
those parts which, unbeknownst to me, I do download. I have to go to the
folder where the parts are stored to see if there are downloaded blocks.
Then I have to use the pars, and hopefully combine the parts manually. It
doesn't happen often, but this is not a unique situation. I recall not
having this problem with Forte Agent.
Anyway, it's no longer 2014. Welcome to 2019 guys! While thinking about your
newsreader situation, BorkedBorg made a practical suggestion that I think
will help. If I post something you want, get it using the nzb file.
***************************************************************
As far as my giving a description of the type of media a file was ripped
from (VHS, DVD, BluRay, TV, Web), that's probably not going to happen.
Everything I post has already been posted on usenet. (I have not ripped
anything I post.) As a long-time lurker, I don't know where a file
originated, though I can often guess. But I don't think guessing is a good
idea. My nfo file, plus the Sample, should suffice.
Film Fan made a good suggestion: say "appears to be sourced from " e.g. "dvd
or from tv...." Maybe if I posted a TV rip, which is obvious because of the
station's logo, I could include that in the header. I'd be certain where the
file came from. No guessing. But that's probably a moot point. I try not to
get, and probably wouldn't post, TV rips. That's because stations have to
fit movies into time slots. Movies are either edited or time-warped. Often
it's hard to tell if they've messed with a movie.
A bit of a digression. A February 20, 2015 CBS News feature quoted John
Pellicano, CEO of Duplication Services: "We can take a 30 minute 'I Love
Lucy' show and make it 28 minutes without editing out any of the content at
all, Pellicano says. With a 30-second ad for the top cable channels selling
for more than $17,000, adding two minutes of commercials can add another
$68,000 in revenue"
(https://www.cbsnews.com/news/fast-forward-tv-networks-speed-up-shows-to-play-more-ads).
(https://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/cable-tv-stations-speeding-shows-fit-ads-article-1.2122471).
Though I have some, I try to avoid TV rips. Given a choice, I'd probably
look for something else to post.
Anyway, could I tell the difference between a 720p BluRay and a 1080p BluRay
rip? Probably not. So why should I try guessing and say "Appears To Be..."
in a description? If I had 720p BluRay and 1080p BluRay files side-by-side,
I probably could tell the difference. But having just one file, I'd just be
guessing. Same holds true for a 720p BluRay file and a nice DVD file.
Side-by-side, I could probably tell the difference. But with just one file,
I'd be guessing.
Lurker had a constructive suggestion. He uses an XL database. If I were just
starting out, that would be the way to go. With my system, if I feel like
watching an Edmund Gwenn movie (the actor who played Santa Claus in "Miracle
on 34th Street"), for example, by doing a simple filter, not only does a
list of the Edmund Gwenn movies I have come up, but the movies themselves
come up. I'm one click away from watching any of them, whether he has top
billing, or fourth or fifth billing.
A problem with my system, and a reason to use a database, is when I'm not
wanting to watch a movie and just want to look something up. My external
hard drive has to spin, which decreases life expectancy. By using a
database, there is no spin if I have an SSD drive. If not, my C drive has
minimal spin, but everything on it is easily replaceable.
My system is what it is. It's become extensive over time and I like it, so
it's not going to change. I post what I do to preserve what I have that's
already been posted on usenet. Not quite a library concept, but in that
direction. I'm not looking to entertain everyone. If one or two guys get
some enjoyment out of my posts, that's great! Otherwise, my posts will still
be there five, or even yen years from now. Maybe then another one or two
guys will get some enjoyment out of my posts.
|
|