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--Tech & Moderator Notes
Updated Stephens Media Firefox Block List
2010-08-30
Carried over to Monday. AoS.
For Those with Macs and various flavors of Linux and BSD-unix, I have included instructions for those platforms as well. Nothing for Internet Explorer. Sorry.
Righthaven, the Nevada lawsuit mill which is suing Fred, has acquired a "license" from another newspaper holding company, WEHCO in Arkansas, to sue the planet in US Federal court.

Consequently, I have updated the Firefox block list to include every newspaper website associated with WEHCO. The list currently stands at 123 different websites total, many of them sub-domains and alternative sub domains which may get through the Firefox blocking add-on. (Dunno how it works; don't care)

For those who do not know to click on the headline, the file is here.

For those living in a cave the last few weeks, see here.
Posted by:badanov

#30  "For some reason my mind classifies these bottom-feeders in the same category as pedophiles and child-molesters."

Really, JohnQC! That's tactless. You really should apologize.

To the pedophiles and child-molesters.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut   2010-08-30 21:15  

#29  Iblis: If you you are willing, please, re-post your instructions for Windows as you would in a text file and I will add them to the file archives for distribution. If you want actual credit you can email your name to grurkka at g mail dot com

As far as text encoding for Windows, then I will need you to attach a file with the proper text coding for windows in an email to the above address to be distributed in the file archive.

Thank you for your patience.
Posted by: badanov   2010-08-30 20:35  

#28  WTF? Do I suddenly live in Peking?

That's not Mandarin. It's Linux-Geek. Not very polite, either.

badanov:

Problem with the file is not the extraction, unless maybe someone got a bad download? Problem is that the text encoding doesn't work on Windows. Your line feeds are not recognized, which means BlockSite can't import the list.

As for the local loop, this many entries is not a problem on Windows or Mac OS. I know this as my Hosts file is over 400k.

No, I didn't read your Unix instructions. I don't run Unix. Have an Ubuntu box to play with, but that doesn't really count.

There. Now can we be friends?
Posted by: Iblis   2010-08-30 17:44  

#27  Leave off the Block Site Header? Duh. Works now. Thank you.
Posted by: Whiskey Mike   2010-08-30 17:37  

#26  WTF? Do I suddenly live in Peking?
Posted by: Mizzou Mafia   2010-08-30 17:11  

#25  Dunno what is going on. The zip file downloads and unzips using WinZip 9, Windows Explorer, 7-Zip as well as Linux/Fedora's zip program.

To get the file, you must download the file, then extract the files contained inside.

I will get a scannable directory where you can download all the files without using the zip facility, but I will do it later.

Iblis: If you even bothered to look inside the instructions and related files, you would have seen I did the same thing you did, except rather than clutter up the local loop, I chose a null IP octal set.
Posted by: badanov   2010-08-30 17:08  

#24  IE sucks! if you enter all of these into your "disallowed sites" list because you have to do each one individually. Blech. And then when there are updated lists, you have to sift through your list. At least it's in alphabetical order ....

Fixed.
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305   2010-08-30 17:04  

#23  IE sucks if you enter all of these into your "disallowed sites" list because you have to do each one individually. Blech. And then when there are updated lists, you have to sift through your list. At least it's in alphabetical order ....
Posted by: gorb   2010-08-30 13:54  

#22  One advantage of using the Hosts file method is that it doesn't matter which browser you use. It blocks access from all of them.
Posted by: Iblis   2010-08-30 13:35  

#21  Hmmm. I'm having trouble too and I'm usually pretty tech-savvy, with a standard WinXP/Firefox setup.

(Sherry: the Preferences panel is accessed through the "Options" button. Intuitive, huh? ;-)

My problem is, when I click to import the un-zipped text file (URL list) nothing happens. I get jack squat, absolute nada.

Wonder what the problem is.... ????
Frustrating.
Posted by: Scooter McGruder   2010-08-30 12:31  

#20  Hmmmm. This thing might originate in Nevada but there sure seem to be a lot of Arkansas sites on that list. Hmmmm. You don't think Bubba has anything to do with it, do you? Nah. He wouldn't do that. Would he?
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305   2010-08-30 12:20  

#19  I use IE out of habit, but seeing as how firefox is the way to block those SoB's websites, I'll switch. It's little things like times 100,000 that take a huge chunk out of those who hire Righthaven.
Posted by: Charles   2010-08-30 12:06  

#18  Okay -- found how to it in Chrome -- and that's what I use for Rantburg ---
Posted by: Sherry   2010-08-30 11:30  

#17  And -- the instructions for Firefox above -- don't work for me --- I can't seem to find the Preferences.

Either I'm brain-dead today, or it's just that it's Monday.
Posted by: Sherry   2010-08-30 10:59  

#16  For those of you having trouble with the BlockSite plug-in, you can accomplish the same thing by inserting the list of blocked sites into your Hosts file.

On Windows - go to c:WINDOWSsystem32driversetc hosts. Open the Hosts file with notepad and paste in the entries below. Save the file and reboot.

On the Mac - open a terminal windows and type sudo pico /etc/hosts. Hit return. Paste in the entries below. Save and reboot.

What this does is tell your computer to go navel gazing any time it sees ones of these URLs. This happens quickly so it won't slow down your browsing at all.

BTW - there needs to be a tab character between the 127.0.0.1 and the URL. Don't know whether the tabs will survive this comments box. If not just do a find/replace and put them back in.

-------------

127.0.0.1 abuse.townnews.com
127.0.0.1 advocate-news.townnews.com
127.0.0.1 arkansasonline.com
127.0.0.1 bastrop.townnews.com
127.0.0.1 beloitdailynews.townnews.com
127.0.0.1 brookfield.townnews.com
127.0.0.1 bugs.townnews.com
127.0.0.1 bvwv.nwaonline.com
127.0.0.1 californiademocrat.com
127.0.0.1 cars4.timesfreepress.com
127.0.0.1 cars.timesfreepress.com
127.0.0.1 chattanooganow.com
127.0.0.1 chatterchattanooga.com
127.0.0.1 community2.timesfreepress.com
127.0.0.1 community.timesfreepress.com
127.0.0.1 decatur.nwaonline.com
127.0.0.1 docs.townnews.com
127.0.0.1 donrey.koz.com
127.0.0.1 entertainment.townnews.com
127.0.0.1 financial.townnews.com
127.0.0.1 fultonsun.com
127.0.0.1 fyi.timesfreepress.com
127.0.0.1 gentry.nwaonline.com
127.0.0.1 gravette.nwaonline.com
127.0.0.1 highline.townnews.com
127.0.0.1 hjnews.townnews.com
127.0.0.1 hl.nwaonline.com
127.0.0.1 homes4.timesfreepress.com
127.0.0.1 homes.timesfreepress.com
127.0.0.1 hotsr.com
127.0.0.1 m.arkansasonline.com
127.0.0.1 mdcp.nwaonline.com
127.0.0.1 mendocinobeacon.townnews.com
127.0.0.1 misregional.townnews.com
127.0.0.1 nearnews.townnews.com
127.0.0.1 new.newstribune.townnews.com
127.0.0.1 newstribune.com
127.0.0.1 newstribune.townnews.com
127.0.0.1 northgeorgia.timesfreepress.com
127.0.0.1 noticiaslibres.com
127.0.0.1 pl.nwaonline.com
127.0.0.1 secure.townnews.com
127.0.0.1 sync.arkansasonline.com
127.0.0.1 texarkanagazette.com
127.0.0.1 tfponline.com
127.0.0.1 timesfreepress.com
127.0.0.1 timesfreepress.net
127.0.0.1 timesfreepress.org
127.0.0.1 timesonline.townnews.com
127.0.0.1 times-standard.townnews.com
127.0.0.1 tnebc.nwaonline.com
127.0.0.1 townnews.com
127.0.0.1 townnews-design.com
127.0.0.1 townnews-staging.com
127.0.0.1 ukiahdailyjournal.townnews.com
127.0.0.1 verical.com
127.0.0.1 wcel.nwaonline.com
127.0.0.1 wheels.townnews365.com
127.0.0.1 wrvn.nwaonline.com
127.0.0.1 www.1st100.com
127.0.0.1 www2.noticiaslibres.com
127.0.0.1 www.arkansasnews.com
127.0.0.1 www.arkansasonline.com
127.0.0.1 www.autosarkansas.com
127.0.0.1 www.ballardnewstribune.com
127.0.0.1 www.bannernews.net
127.0.0.1 www.boonevilledemocrat.com
127.0.0.1 www.californiademocrat.com
127.0.0.1 www.camdenarknews.com
127.0.0.1 www.CasinoGaming.com
127.0.0.1 www.charlestonexpress.com
127.0.0.1 www.chattanooganow.com
127.0.0.1 www.columbiadailyherald.com
127.0.0.1 www.courier-tribune.com
127.0.0.1 www.eldoradonews.com
127.0.0.1 www.eltiempolibre.com
127.0.0.1 www.elynews.com
127.0.0.1 www.examiner-enterprise.com
127.0.0.1 www.FOIArkansas.com
127.0.0.1 www.FortSmith.com
127.0.0.1 www.fultonsun.com
127.0.0.1 www.greenwooddemocrat.com
127.0.0.1 www.Hawaii.com
127.0.0.1 www.herald-democrat.com
127.0.0.1 www.hilohawaiitribune.com
127.0.0.1 www.hotsr.com
127.0.0.1 www.LA.com
127.0.0.1 www.lasvegascitylife.com
127.0.0.1 www.LasVegas.com
127.0.0.1 www.LasVegasNewsPapers.com
127.0.0.1 www.lvrj.com
127.0.0.1 www.newstribune.townnews.com
127.0.0.1 www.noticiaslibres.com
127.0.0.1 www.nwaonline.com
127.0.0.1 www.nwaonline.net
127.0.0.1 www.NWAOnline.net
127.0.0.1 www.paris-express.com
127.0.0.1 www.pbcommercial.com
127.0.0.1 www.PineBluff.com
127.0.0.1 www.pressargus.com
127.0.0.1 www.reviewjournal.com
127.0.0.1 www.snhomes.com
127.0.0.1 www.southernnevadahomeandgarden.com
127.0.0.1 www.stephensdc.com
127.0.0.1 www.stephensmedia.com
127.0.0.1 www.swtimes.com
127.0.0.1 www.texarkanagazette.com
127.0.0.1 www.texomalink.com
127.0.0.1 www.tfponline.com
127.0.0.1 www.thedailyworld.com
127.0.0.1 www.thevidette.com
127.0.0.1 www.timesfreepress.com
127.0.0.1 www.timesfreepress.org
127.0.0.1 www.townnews365.com
127.0.0.1 www.townnews.com
127.0.0.1 www.Van-Buren.com
127.0.0.1 www.vanburencountydem.com
127.0.0.1 www.viewnews.com
127.0.0.1 www.westhawaiitoday.com
127.0.0.1 www.wholehogsports.com
Posted by: Iblis   2010-08-30 10:58  

#15  Make sure you remove "[BlockSite]" from the list or it will block everything. Only the sites are needed.
Posted by: newc   2010-08-30 10:53  

#14  I did this when the first list came out in Chrome -- now I forget how I did that!

Any help?
Posted by: Sherry   2010-08-30 10:46  

#13  For some reason my mind classifies these bottom-feeders in the same category as pedophiles and child-molesters.
Posted by: JohnQC   2010-08-30 10:13  

#12  Seems to be a white list issue.
Posted by: Whiskey Mike   2010-08-30 05:16  

#11  I am having a problem. Same one I had when this solution first was proposed.

When I enable BlockSite, and import the list from Iblis, I am unable to reload this or any other page because something on the website references one of the blocked web sites. Might even be this list. Only if i disable the add-on can i move away.
Posted by: Whiskey Mike   2010-08-30 05:13  

#10  One to add to the list that I ran across:

http://www.stephensmediagroup.com
Posted by: gorb   2010-08-30 01:51  

#9  The file linked two is not just the list. It is in fact four files:

Stevens Media Block list Packing List

1) instructions-firefox.txt
2) stevensmedia.txt
3) This packing list
4) License

Unpack the file, then you can start to import the stevensmedia.txt list. If you try to import the whole file, yes, it will fail.

I just realized what the problem was.
Posted by: badanov   2010-08-29 22:48  

#8  Install the Firefox Blocksite addon

Edit / Preferences / Main / Manage Add-ons

Blocksite / Preferences / Import

Import the file Iblis gave you.
Posted by: KBK   2010-08-29 22:37  

#7  Dunno that much about Mac,but if it is structured like BSD Unix, you can paste that list onto a hosts.deny list ( minus the http:// prefix ) and it should prevent you from loading anything, pings, http, anything network based from those hosts. BUT the hostname must be exact and if it is on a shared server, then all those websites are blocked as well.

After you do that you must restart network services on your Mac. Don't remember how to do that.
Posted by: badanov   2010-08-29 21:55  

#6  Okay, great. What do I do with the txt file? I don't see a way to point Safari to that file so as to say, "don't go to these websites."
Posted by: Steve White   2010-08-29 21:41  

#5  SW:

Copy and paste the text below into a .txt file. Should work.

[BlockSite]
http://abuse.townnews.com
http://advocate-news.townnews.com
http://arkansasonline.com
http://bastrop.townnews.com
http://beloitdailynews.townnews.com
http://brookfield.townnews.com
http://bugs.townnews.com
http://bvwv.nwaonline.com
http://californiademocrat.com/
http://cars4.timesfreepress.com
http://cars.timesfreepress.com
http://chattanooganow.com
http://chatterchattanooga.com
http://community2.timesfreepress.com
http://community.timesfreepress.com
http://decatur.nwaonline.com
http://docs.townnews.com
http://donrey.koz.com/
http://entertainment.townnews.com
http://financial.townnews.com
http://fultonsun.com/
http://fyi.timesfreepress.com
http://gentry.nwaonline.com
http://gravette.nwaonline.com
http://highline.townnews.com
http://hjnews.townnews.com
http://hl.nwaonline.com
http://homes4.timesfreepress.com
http://homes.timesfreepress.com
http://hotsr.com
http://m.arkansasonline.com
http://mdcp.nwaonline.com
http://mendocinobeacon.townnews.com
http://misregional.townnews.com
http://nearnews.townnews.com
http://new.newstribune.townnews.com
http://newstribune.com
http://newstribune.townnews.com
http://northgeorgia.timesfreepress.com
http://noticiaslibres.com
http://pl.nwaonline.com
https://secure.townnews.com/
http://sync.arkansasonline.com
http://texarkanagazette.com
http://tfponline.com
http://timesfreepress.com
http://timesfreepress.net
http://timesfreepress.org
http://timesonline.townnews.com
http://times-standard.townnews.com
http://tnebc.nwaonline.com
http://townnews.com
http://townnews-design.com
http://townnews-staging.com
http://ukiahdailyjournal.townnews.com
http://verical.com
http://wcel.nwaonline.com
http://wheels.townnews365.com
http://wrvn.nwaonline.com
http://www.1st100.com/
http://www2.noticiaslibres.com
http://www.arkansasnews.com/
http://www.arkansasonline.com
http://www.autosarkansas.com
http://www.ballardnewstribune.com
http://www.bannernews.net
http://www.boonevilledemocrat.com/
http://www.californiademocrat.com/
http://www.camdenarknews.com
http://www.CasinoGaming.com/
http://www.charlestonexpress.com/
http://www.chattanooganow.com
http://www.columbiadailyherald.com/
http://www.courier-tribune.com/
http://www.eldoradonews.com
http://www.eltiempolibre.com/
http://www.elynews.com/
http://www.examiner-enterprise.com/
http://www.FOIArkansas.com/
http://www.FortSmith.com/
http://www.fultonsun.com/
http://www.greenwooddemocrat.com/
http://www.Hawaii.com/
http://www.herald-democrat.com/
http://www.hilohawaiitribune.com/
http://www.hotsr.com
http://www.LA.com/
http://www.lasvegascitylife.com/
http://www.LasVegas.com/
http://www.LasVegasNewsPapers.com/
http://www.lvrj.com/
http://www.newstribune.townnews.com
http://www.noticiaslibres.com
http://www.nwaonline.com
http://www.nwaonline.net/
http://www.NWAOnline.net/
http://www.paris-express.com/
http://www.pbcommercial.com/
http://www.PineBluff.com/
http://www.pressargus.com/
http://www.reviewjournal.com/
http://www.snhomes.com/
http://www.southernnevadahomeandgarden.com/
http://www.stephensdc.com/
http://www.stephensmedia.com/
http://www.stephensmedia.com/gamingwire/
http://www.swtimes.com/
http://www.texarkanagazette.com
http://www.texomalink.com/
http://www.tfponline.com
http://www.thedailyworld.com/
http://www.thevidette.com/
http://www.timesfreepress.com
http://www.timesfreepress.org
http://www.townnews365.com
http://www.townnews.com
http://www.Van-Buren.com/
http://www.vanburencountydem.com/
http://www.viewnews.com/
http://www.westhawaiitoday.com/
http://www.wholehogsports.com
Posted by: Iblis   2010-08-29 21:07  

#4  There's Pith Helmet but it's $10 a copy and it is interactive; you can't go off a list.
Posted by: badanov   2010-08-29 18:14  

#3  Any instructions for Safari/Mac?
Posted by: Steve White   2010-08-29 17:34  

#2  Couple of random thoughts:

- Couldn't import the list. Had to first open it in Word, then save as text with line feeds. That worked.

- Jurisdiction in Nevada probably isn't an insurmountable obstacle for Righthaven.

- Copyright infringement doesn't require any intent. If you copied, you infringe. Period. Willfulness come into play when you start talking damages.

- Statutory damages are only available for copyrights which have been recorded with the Copyright Office. They also have to record in order to file a lawsuit, but if there was nothing recorded when the alleged infringement first took place there might be an argument that statutory damages are not available. That would be huge. Without statutory damages these lawsuits all go away.

- Until another motive can be proven, let's assume this is just about money. The key to making these suits go away will be for lots of people to fight back. Then it simply costs Righthaven too much to do this. Ideally there would be some do it yourself defendant's kit available for download. Would be especially interesting if a large number of these defendants had no assets to collect against.

- If they file, get a fight, decide there is no money available and then withdraw the suits a few times there may be a basis for a countersuit and sanctions. If they don't withdraw, then we know it really isn't about the money, which is even more disturbing.

- Wondering aloud if this won't push blogs into becoming boiler room affairs. Set them up anonymously, maybe even with foreign hosts. First sign of trouble just take it down and disappear, only to resurface a few days later somewhere else. Maybe even throw in a quickie foreign corporation to further insulate from liability. Not foolproof, but that's not the point. The point would be to raise costs for the trolls.
Posted by: Iblis   2010-08-29 13:21  

#1  just Awesome!
Posted by: newc   2010-08-29 13:20  

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