MLD News June 2011- Goodbye Spinntex- we loved you…

I'm excited to hear about the M55…the DWR on the M50 wasn't very good…

Having had to delete a Facebook account due to security issues, I am very anti-Facebook. We keep being told how risky it is to use these "social" sites. Why can't you post the info on your own website instead?

Mary,

I'm sure he will, but hard to argue with Facebook's web traffic from a business standpoint.

Ryan

That's exactly how I feel. I don't like or trust the security. Last month it was announced that 51% of American's are signed up on Facebook, that's 49% of us that won't see Ron's/MLD's Facebook info.

yea, but by that logic, 51% will, and that's more than would see their website… (sorry, being an engineer there's few things I hate more than bad statistics…)

Actually I'd argue that since the 49% not signed up probably include lots of elderly/really young kids not online at all, the 51% is really even a higher percentage of active online users!

There is nothing in Facebook that says you have to use it like everybody else. You can only comprimise your personal information if you post it. Just use a generic email address and a false name and don't post any personal information on it if you are concerned about security.

Then you can just follow companies on other interests on it.

yea, but by that logic, 51% will, and that's more than would see their website… (sorry, being an engineer there's few things I hate more than bad statistics…)

Also sorry …. but having been long (very long) exposed to the use, misuse and abuse of statistics I can say with high confidence that very very many (most) simple statistics (i.e. xx% of _ …) are bad statistics.

–

:)

"Also sorry …. but having been long (very long) exposed to the use, misuse and abuse of statistics I can say with high confidence that very very many (most) simple statistics (i.e. xx% of _ …) are bad statistics."

"Most statistics and quotes posted on the web are made up."—Abraham Lincoln

"In fact 43.921% of statistics posted on the web are made up." — U.S. Grant

Opps, I used that word FxxxBxxx – From now on I will use the code word "PlaceNook" so the responses will not run 90% comments on visceral feelings about "PlaceNook" and only 10% about the core content of the OP anyway?

But in reply to anyone who does not like "PlaceNook". We only wanted to let some folks know about the opportunity to get more info on our gear and maybe win Free Gear.

As was suggested in an above post, we encourage anyone with security concerns to create a dedicated email account not using your real info for the sole purpose of creating a PlaceNook account based on that email and then do not add any accurate real personal info on PlaceNook then you can safely surf all over PlaceNook for lots of info from many many companies.

The wide range of various tools available at different online social sites can not all be replicated easily at any point source retail site- like our website- it can not be done so any suggestion that it can is a little off the mark tech speaking.

Please God Help Me Now- let's stop talking about PlaceNook in this thread. Thanks. I have to check my PlaceNook account.

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Any old stories about woven silicone coated Spinnaker? Did you know there were three main variations of this fabric sold throughout the cottage world from about 2002- 2006 and then it settled into one weight that almost everyone used? Did you know that Ryan/BPL was one of- if not the- very first to use it or at least popularize it? Any stories from those years of your extreme shelters tales under woven spinnaker- did you worry it would rip apart? -It didn't…. Anyone buying/using it back that far was in unchartered territory!

Hi Ron

Yeah, I got some spinnaker from Dim Poly in about 2002-2003, and made this tent about then. It was the second UL summer tent I made around then. Awful noisy in the wind!

It worked OK though.

Cheers

@GregF,

Oh, great suggestion…. tell everybody to falsify their personal information.

You need to do some research on Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 1001.

Providing false information on website registrations make you subject to fine, imprisonment, or both.

(totally off-topic, sorry MLD… but telling others to violate the law is not what you/greg should be doing)

And, I do agree… offering "free gear" should be done via your website, or done via a special promotion where anybody is able to access said promotion w/o purchase or membership. Just saying.

Than again, it is your business and you can do whatever you bloody well please so long as you are within the letter of the law, eh!! :-D

“Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 1001.” Meh!

Yeah Ron, I want an MLD Weekly Gazette hand delivered to my doorstep with the latest gear updates, new shelter rumors, material changes, give away notices, in-shop mishaps, and cottage industry gossip. I am after all a Luddite.

This guy
knows what it’s really about.

I'm pretty sure 18 U.S.C. § 1001 just refers to false statements made to federal officials.

@JohnA

I am in Canada so I am not familiar with that law but when I get some time I will definately check out that law. Just to be clear what you are suggesting is that anyone on this website who didn't their full first and last names is subject to fine and/or imprisonment.

If this is true it seems like a ridiculously opressive law that essentially eliminates privacy on the Web. In Canada as far as I am aware there is no requirement to provide real names or personal information when filling out web site forms. There are financial fraud laws that for things like online banking but certainly not for something as generic as facebook.

Sorry to derail the thread. (I was just trying to be helpful)

Not to get technical about this… far from what BPL is about… but when a website requires you to enter your "real name" such as what FB does (ToS: Section 4.a) and you fail to do so you have committed a federal offense (it is considered an 'electronic fraud') and therefore it becomes pursuant to Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 1001. I only know this because I own several large social community websites and it we have to use it on an all to regular basis to file federal claims we are required by law to file. Sucks. Lots of paperwork, and man-hours that could be invested in other things.

Anyway, back to MLD goodies… :)

Got an ETA on more eVENT coming in Ron, so we can start buying some eVENT bivys??

They're right, above. This was how they nailed the online bully/stalker Mom whose harassment caused a teenager to commit suicide.

Doubt that is true about Facebook. Ridiculous. As long as you use it lawfully (not impersonating a police officer for example). Exchanging money from a fictional FB page could not really happen unless you commit the crime of opening false bank accounts in the same name.

All FB has to say about birth dates is "Facebook requires all users to provide their real date of birth to encourage authenticity and provide only age-appropriate access to content." They cannot require me to do anything really. The purpose is to not have inappropriate content sent to minors.

The whole FB security is a real sore spot for alot of people because of their repeated shady practices.

Sorry, but I just don't get the whole hatred of Facebook that many have here on BPL. You only put what you want on there. If you have nothing to fear then why fear FB? Seriously!

Nearly everyone I know uses FB – in a sane and controlled manner. Photos of family say. Updates to see if anyone is free to hike. Photos of dinner. Boring run of the mill daily stuff. Yeah, wow. Oooooooh! So scary!

If one has a business they are not smart if they refuse to use FB. What I have found is how free followers will approach a business on FB. There isn't the shyness – if they have a question they can post. They can post photos of my cozies, recipes and more in action. I love the interaction! I run 3 FB fanpages for my websites and I love it.

I might add I keep my personal page locked down and ooh, I have around 100 "friends" – all people I know well or are family. The key is to use every bit of privacy that is added – just check your settings.

And people use non-real names on FB all the time. Sometimes FB punishes them by making the name stick…lol. See Failbook for examples.

Im just a regular looney..:) Isn't all the security issues, and so on, about people not taking reasonable precausions? Not to mention having a little common sense?

Seriously, guys?

Ron just posted to give us good news – that he's being progressive and moving with technology as it develops. There's nothing to get your guy-lines in a knot over here.

Stick with the theme of this website and you'll all be a lot happier… LIGHTEN UP! :D

DM

Interestingly, Gossamer Gear, after sending back a batch or two of Spinntex EXP (same supplier as MLD), has been able to get satisfactory Spinntex. How long that situation will last is, of course, another question. However, cuben fiber will definitely not be an adequate substitute until its price drops considerably.

I really resent some posters here condemning me because I expressed concerns about privacy and security. The problems with the "social" site in question have been well documented in reputable sources. It may be coincidence that one of my credit cards was hacked a week after I signed up for that particular site, receiving charges from California, Great Britain and (really strange) a parking facility in Ottawa, but the bank issuing the credit card didn't think it was coincidence! The tracking back to your computer is done not through your name but through the server(s) you use, recorded automatically when you sign up and/or post. I don't think it's smart for a business to expect everyone to go to a separate third party site to receive announcements when it has its own web site. There's nothing wrong with advertising on the "social site," but please don't insist that everyone go there to find out what your firm is doing.