Slashdot Mirror
Slashback: Agenda, Reproduction, Aesthetics
I can't be dead -- I still have batteries! Bill Kendrick writes: "Just when you thought the first Linux-based PDA was dead and gone, someone announces a compatible version, the STVR3 from Softfield Technologies (who actually did the hardware design for the original AgendaVR3). Only $105 for the 8MB, and $135 for a new 16MB version. Not bad if you want a bash prompt in your pocket, and can't afford the $500 for a Zaurus!"
De gustibus non est disputandum. An Anonymous Coward writes: "Mosfet has posted a reply to Bart Decrem's interview regarding Bart's comments on KDE and its looks. Mosfet explains how KDE has a very elegant system for users and developers using the flexibility of C++ and Qt, which creates a more consistent look and feel. He makes many good points that developers and users often disregard when considering desktop environments and their toolkits. Good read, expecially for those who participate in the 'Desktop Wars.'"
Borrowed at gunpoint, but spent much more freely. blankmange writes: "CNet is carrying a followup to a story that was posted here not too long ago. The State of California apparently ordered too many licenses for Oracle's database software: 'A top official in California Gov. Gray Davis' administration has resigned in a growing controversy over a $95 million software contract with Oracle. Barry Keene, director of the state's Department of General Services, quit after a highly critical state audit said the contract--awarded without competitive bids and for software that is little used--could cost taxpayers $41 million.' Sounds like there may be more resignations and a further investigation."
I wish Gary Trudeau would run a few strips skewering these presumptuous bureaucrat wastrels, prodigal even by the standards of the public trough.
Welcome to my secret underground lair. ceswiedler writes: "Salon is running a story that Sen. Hollings' new Online Personal Privacy Act 'would place a congressional stamp of approval on precisely the kinds of practices that purveyors of spyware are eager to engage in.' The writer is particularly concered with the 'nonsensitive' information clause, which is 'a huge gaping loophole' for companies like KaZaA and Brilliant Digital."
Science greatly ups my odds of reproducing. Transcendent writes: "I just recently read an article at SpaceDaily about how there are three women due to give birth to clones. Italian Professor, Severino Antinori, told reporters that two of the women were from the former Soviet Rebublic, and one from an Islamic country. They're keeping specific details from the public, but it's still a huge shake to an ever-changing legal, scientific, and moral society."
A bedtime story for very, very bad children. tulare writes: "Microsoft is hosting Bill Gates' written testimony online. At 42,000 words, it's not neccessarily light reading, but to their credit, it is nicely indexed. Probably a must-read." Also good for European insomniacs to start boring through.
Lobby your library. Lots of readers inquired where they could find copies of The Computer and the Skateboard . Filmmaker Paul David writes: "DVD copies of this movie will be ready to ship in mid-may. The Cinema Guild website will be e-commerce ready by June 1. If you would like to order a copy before June 1, The Cinema Guild will take your order over the phone: (800) 723-5522 or (212) 685-6242. dvds for home use are $59.95. vhs copies (for home use) are available for $79.95."
Privacy is one of those issues where you should watch what people do, not what they say. Everyone *says* they value their privacy online and off. But almost everyone also gives away their privacy for the smallest benefit - like 5% discounts at your local grocery store, in exchange for them tracking everything you ever buy from them...
I'm convinced that until people actually start acting the way they talk, privacy online and offline will continue to get worse.
**If you value your privacy, don't give it up for small discounts, or extra convenience, or anything!**
Websurfing done right! StumbleUpon
augment your senses: http://sensebridge.net/
It seems that if anyone should get how to deal with people's personal data, it should be someone who cares deeply about protecting the content industry.
/. crowd, I'd imagine) who believe that there isn't anything wrong with trading copyrighted oggs/mp3s but will blast a company for doing something nasty with people's personal data.
Simply put, my private data *is* property in the same way that N'Sync's newest crapfest is property. When I give my information to a company, it is analogous to the record label selling an N'Sync CD. I have given my information to them and they have limited rights as to what they can do with it. If they sell my data to another company, it's piracy in the same manner as if a consumer were to rip a cd and AIM it to his/her friend.
I'm always amazed at the amount of corporate types who will rant about people pirating music/software/other content yet defend a company's right to use my private information however they choose. I'm also surprised by the number of people (much of the
Pick one or the other. I'll take privacy.
"Don't blame me, I voted for Kodos!"
When they make Linux clusters out of cellular phones, that'll worry me. You could destroy a building by programming 15000 portable devices to beep at the same time.
Just remember that the power to do so is insignificant next to the power of the Force.
/^[A-Z0-9._%+-]+@[A-Z0-9.-]+\.[A-Z]{2,4}$/i
Let's say, for instance, that someone wanted to produce an army of blond haired blue eyed men to take over the world... Now, the biggest problem is getting the army built and to do that, children must be born. That could take a long time if you just used the population of one country (ie, the country struggling for dominance). But now let's suppose that you could offer to feed the women of an impoverished country if they agreed to carry a baby for nine months. Poof, population explosion.
Or, let's say that the wealthy would like clones made of themselves and then when the clone reached a certain age, say 25, they would be killed and their bodies harvest for doner organs. By your own admission, these clones are real functioning people, but they could be in a situation where they are raised like cattle rather than like people. Don't believe me? Consider this, money talks, period.
And the possible scenerios go on and on...
Of course, it will probably happen and we can only hope that some kind of equal rights law gets passed someday, but even that probably won't prevent discrimination.
More facts about illegal aliens:
1) The kids are filling schools to the bursting point, requiring more support than their parents indirectly paid taxes begin to cover.
2) Since they avoid the medical system as long as possible, they eventually cram the emergency rooms and increase the system's budget deficits.
3) They artificially drive down the going price for labor in an ever expanding sphere of occupations. I don't see many artichokes in bulk mail shops, fast food joints, non-ag warehouses, or janitorial operations, to name a few. They ARE good workers, and that's just the point. Af_Americans were a pretty good labor value when THEY were bought and sold, too. By your logic, if wholesale chattel slavery keeps the lettuce from rotting, it's a good deal.
4) They take pressure away from the fat cats in Mexico and Central America to do much about their own inequities.
5) Sure, if you ripped every last undocumented worker out of their job tomorrow, it'd screw things up. If I ripped every open border apologist out of their job, it'd screw things up too. When's the last time a labor market changed overnight? Right, never. The economy would adjust, probably for the better.
Take your racial bull-baiting somewhere else. You want a reconquesta? Then give Mexico back to los indios.
Luke, help me take this mask off