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“We should regard the Internet Archive as one of the most valuable pieces of modern history; instead, many companies and entities make the chances of the Archiv

“We should regard the Internet Archive as one of the most valuable pieces of modern history; instead, many companies and entities make the chances of the Archive to survive, and accumulate what otherwise will be lost, harder and harder. I understand that the Archive headquarters are located in what used to be a church: well, there is no better way to think of it than as a sacred place.” Amen. There is an active effort to create an Internet Archive based in Europe, just… in case.

ttul 2y ago
Well, it did establish a new HQ in Canada… https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/the-internet-archive-opens-headquarters-meeting-space-for-the-tech-world https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/the-internet-archiv... (Edited: apparently just a new HQ and not THE HQ)
- thrance 2y ago
  With this belligerent maniac in the White House who recently doubled-down on his wish to annex Canada [1], I wouldn't feel safe relocating there if the goal is to flee the US. [1] https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-quest-conquer-canada-confusing-everyone-rcna195657 https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-quest-co...
  - decremental 2y ago
    [dead]
- kelseydh 2y ago
  I was looking to a book a wedding in this venue (The Permanent) and the Internet Archive server is prominently visible on the 2nd floor. The server is pretty cool and adds to the aesthetics of the space.
badlibrarian 2y ago
Anyone who takes even an hour to audit anything about the Internet Archive will soon come to a very sad conclusion. The physical assets are stored in the blast radius of an oil refinery. They don't have air conditioning. Take the tour and they tell you the site runs slower on hot days. Great mission, but atrociously managed. Under attack for a number of reasons, mostly absurd. But a few are painfully valid.
- floam 2y ago
  I realized recently, who needs torrents? I can get a good rip of any movie right there.
  - aziaziazi 2y ago
    I understand what you describe is prohibited in many jurisdictions, however I’m curious about the technical aspect : in my experience they host the html but often not the assets, especially big pictures and I guess most movies files are bigger that pictures. Do you use a special trick to host/find them?
    - badlibrarian 2y ago
      No. And every video game every made is available for download as well. If you even have to download it: they pride in making many of them playable in browser with just a click. Copyright issues aside (let's avoid that mess) I was referring to basic technical issues with the site. Design is atrocious, search doesn't work, you can click 50 captures of a site before you find one that actually loads, obvious data corruption, invented their own schema instead of using a standard one and don't enforce it, API is insane and usually broken, uploader doesn't work reliably, don't honor DMCA requests, ask for photo id and passports then leak them ... It's the worst possible implementation of the best possible idea.
      - yuvalr1 2y ago
        And yet, it's the best we currently have. I donate to them. We can come with demands of how it should be managed, but it should not prevent us from helping them.
blmurch 2y ago
Yup! We're here and looking to do good work with Cultural Heritage and Research Organizations in Europe. I'm very happy to be working with the Internet Archive once again after a 20 year long break. https://www.stichtinginternetarchive.nl/ https://www.stichtinginternetarchive.nl/
- stogot 2y ago
  What kind of volunteer help can the community do?
  - blmurch 2y ago
    Great question and thank you for asking it. I don't know at this point as we're still ramping up. At this point, it would be helpful to follow us on bluesky and mastodon and help spread the word about our efforts. Brewster is giving a speech on Tuesday March 18 at the University of Leiden. Not sure if you're in Europe, or in the Netherlands, but we're here.
- kragen 2y ago
  Congratulations!
  - blmurch 2y ago
    Thanks Kragen. Hope you're doing alright.
    - kragen 2y ago
      Not really, but I'm very glad you are.

ttul 2y ago

Well, it did establish a new HQ in Canada… https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/the-internet-archive-opens-headquarters-meeting-space-for-the-tech-world https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/the-internet-archiv... (Edited: apparently just a new HQ and not THE HQ)

thrance 2y ago
With this belligerent maniac in the White House who recently doubled-down on his wish to annex Canada [1], I wouldn't feel safe relocating there if the goal is to flee the US. [1] https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-quest-conquer-canada-confusing-everyone-rcna195657 https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-quest-co...
- decremental 2y ago
  [dead]
kelseydh 2y ago
I was looking to a book a wedding in this venue (The Permanent) and the Internet Archive server is prominently visible on the 2nd floor. The server is pretty cool and adds to the aesthetics of the space.

badlibrarian 2y ago

Anyone who takes even an hour to audit anything about the Internet Archive will soon come to a very sad conclusion. The physical assets are stored in the blast radius of an oil refinery. They don't have air conditioning. Take the tour and they tell you the site runs slower on hot days. Great mission, but atrociously managed. Under attack for a number of reasons, mostly absurd. But a few are painfully valid.

floam 2y ago
I realized recently, who needs torrents? I can get a good rip of any movie right there.
- aziaziazi 2y ago
  I understand what you describe is prohibited in many jurisdictions, however I’m curious about the technical aspect : in my experience they host the html but often not the assets, especially big pictures and I guess most movies files are bigger that pictures. Do you use a special trick to host/find them?
  - badlibrarian 2y ago
    No. And every video game every made is available for download as well. If you even have to download it: they pride in making many of them playable in browser with just a click. Copyright issues aside (let's avoid that mess) I was referring to basic technical issues with the site. Design is atrocious, search doesn't work, you can click 50 captures of a site before you find one that actually loads, obvious data corruption, invented their own schema instead of using a standard one and don't enforce it, API is insane and usually broken, uploader doesn't work reliably, don't honor DMCA requests, ask for photo id and passports then leak them ... It's the worst possible implementation of the best possible idea.
    - yuvalr1 2y ago
      And yet, it's the best we currently have. I donate to them. We can come with demands of how it should be managed, but it should not prevent us from helping them.

blmurch 2y ago

Yup! We're here and looking to do good work with Cultural Heritage and Research Organizations in Europe. I'm very happy to be working with the Internet Archive once again after a 20 year long break. https://www.stichtinginternetarchive.nl/ https://www.stichtinginternetarchive.nl/

stogot 2y ago
What kind of volunteer help can the community do?
- blmurch 2y ago
  Great question and thank you for asking it. I don't know at this point as we're still ramping up. At this point, it would be helpful to follow us on bluesky and mastodon and help spread the word about our efforts. Brewster is giving a speech on Tuesday March 18 at the University of Leiden. Not sure if you're in Europe, or in the Netherlands, but we're here.
kragen 2y ago
Congratulations!
- blmurch 2y ago
  Thanks Kragen. Hope you're doing alright.
  - kragen 2y ago
    Not really, but I'm very glad you are.