[conspire] Receiving larger files from non-linux users?

Sat Oct 13 10:51:40 PDT 2012

This is new territory for me.  I've been looking into Apache and WebDav[1]
for setting up a site that users can log into for cross-platform file
sharing.  Is it best to use a hosting service such as Anhosting[2], or are
there some obvious caveats that I'm missing so far?  I could use a computer
in my home, but my connection isn't very fast and must support a half dozen
people at all times.

1 -
http://agiletesting.blogspot.com/2007/03/file-sharing-with-apache-and-webdav.html
2 - http://www.anhosting.com/web-hosting-package/

On Thu, Oct 11, 2012 at 12:00 PM, <conspire-request at linuxmafia.com> wrote:

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> Today's Topics:
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>    1. Receiving larger files from non-linux users? (Rick Moen)
>    2. Re: Receiving larger files from non-linux users? (Ruben Safir)
>    3. Re: Receiving larger files from non-linux users? (Rick Moen)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Wed, 10 Oct 2012 12:52:41 -0700
> From: Rick Moen <rick at linuxmafia.com>
> To: conspire at linuxmafia.com
> Subject: [conspire] Receiving larger files from non-linux users?
> Message-ID: <20121010195241.GF7433 at linuxmafia.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-15
>
> I was reminded of James Sundquist's query from Sept. 24
> (http://linuxmafia.com/pipermail/conspire/2012-September/007256.html)
> when I got this 'want to share' Dropbox thing.
>
> Such invitations, albeit always very generously and benevolently
> intended, are one of the current plagues on the Internet.  Where once
> someone like Josh would just put files somewhere in webspace and send
> you the URL, _or_ do the other usual thing and file-attach them to an
> e-mail, now such people blithely expect you to:
>
> 1.  Install with root authority a bunch of proprietary software from
> nobody-in-particular that (at minimum) hooks into your Web browser and
> file-handling software, and
>
> 2.  Agree to a business contract with nobody-in-particular (Dropbox, Inc.)
> whose terms of service specifically say that they'll be spamming you and
> sending information about you to their business partners
> (https://www.dropbox.com/privacy).
>
> And if you point these things out to the generous soul who's just trying
> to help you get files, you seem paranoid and ungrateful -- because
> _they_ don't mind signing up for a commercial-albeit-zero-cash service
> with some Web 2.0 business and installing opaque software they have no
> reason to trust, so why would you?
>
> (Fortunately, I already have those files via file-attachments to
> Josh's e-mails.)
>
>
> ----- Forwarded message from Dropbox <no-reply at dropbox.com> -----
>
> Date: Wed, 10 Oct 2012 16:27:53 +0000
> From: Dropbox <no-reply at dropbox.com>
> To: rick at linuxmafia.com
> Subject: Josh [surname elided] wants to share "Princeton in the Sierra
> 2012" with you
> Reply-To: [address elided]
>
> Josh [address elided] wants to share some files with you using Dropbox.
>
> View the "Princeton in the Sierra 2012" folder here:
> https://www.dropbox.com/el/?r=/link/17.YqVEXxT4Na%3Fk%3D12B2qas0Mfq92gaJxBz5DhnDlVo-UXVz%26eh%3DAABGfFCHjf9B5mj3LNO4NVEhcQB92bVpM6FLgJEqI9gHVQ&b=clk:None:11179105893479034303:740:416&z=AABmQkT_aUITThDma1Ki-kUoetJDLvlTqmLzMQPDNRrWLg
>
> Enjoy!
> - The Dropbox Team
>
> ----- End forwarded message -----
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Wed, 10 Oct 2012 15:56:05 -0400
> From: Ruben Safir <ruben at mrbrklyn.com>
> To: Rick Moen <rick at linuxmafia.com>
> Cc: conspire at linuxmafia.com
> Subject: Re: [conspire] Receiving larger files from non-linux users?
> Message-ID: <20121010195605.GA25578 at www2.mrbrklyn.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
>
> On Wed, Oct 10, 2012 at 12:52:41PM -0700, Rick Moen wrote:
> > I was reminded of James Sundquist's query from Sept. 24
> > (http://linuxmafia.com/pipermail/conspire/2012-September/007256.html)
> > when I got this 'want to share' Dropbox thing.
>
>
> In truth, there has been nothing new since slashdot but more
> obsfucaiton.
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Wed, 10 Oct 2012 13:40:05 -0700
> From: Rick Moen <rick at linuxmafia.com>
> To: conspire at linuxmafia.com
> Subject: Re: [conspire] Receiving larger files from non-linux users?
> Message-ID: <20121010204005.GO8793 at linuxmafia.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-15
>
> Quoting Ruben Safir (ruben at mrbrklyn.com):
>
> > On Wed, Oct 10, 2012 at 12:52:41PM -0700, Rick Moen wrote:
> > > I was reminded of James Sundquist's query from Sept. 24
> > > (http://linuxmafia.com/pipermail/conspire/2012-September/007256.html)
> > > when I got this 'want to share' Dropbox thing.
> >
> >
> > In truth, there has been nothing new since Slashdot but more
> > obsfucation.
>
> See, there I was, about to send a note to Josh saying 'Josh, thanks
> again.  Deirdre and I look forward to seeing you at Fallen Leaf Lake...'
> and go on to tactfully point out the Dropbox approach's baggage (w/link to
> http://linuxmafia.com/pipermail/conspire/2012-October/007290.html) --
> and I realised there's just _no way_ to write that mail without, from
> Josh's perspective (he being a fellow alumnus I haven't yet met),
> seeming like a crank raising problems nobody else sees.
>
> So, I'm going to just not say anything.
>
> It's the same sort of problem as when outfits I know and care about
> (Kepler's bookstore, Recreational Equipment Inc., Princeton Club of
> Northern California, Menlo School, Norwegian Cruise Lines, Common Ground
> Palo Alto) outsource their public communication to one of those firms
> like Constant Contact that 'bug' all URLs in their e-mailed newsletters
> to customers / supporters / alumni (make them uniquely specified with an
> embedded hash that is sent only to you).
>
> You _can_ write to them and say you don't like being spied on, and don't
> appreciate them hiring some bunch of strangers to do so and forge their
> sending domain -- but then you get the either stated or unstated 'Nobody
> else sees a problem with this' treatment, and dismissed.
>
>
>
>
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> End of conspire Digest, Vol 112, Issue 10
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