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Slashback: Dilemma, Privacy, Chess

Slashback tonight with updates on Deep Fritz, the interaction of Microsoft service packs and privacy laws, and the view from the shuttle tank-cam, and a depressing update on the Nissan squatting case. Read on for the details.

Front-row seats. zer0vector writes "The previously mentioned camera that was attached to the external fuel tank on Atlantis gave some great shots of launch this afternoon on NASA TV. During the feed, it looked like the ejection of the solid rocket boosters damaged or obscured the camera, leading to a fuzzy image during the fuel tank separation stage."

SkyNet has not yet achieved consciousness. DrEnter writes "According to this Yahoo article, Vladimir Kramnik has defeated 'Deep Fritz' (apparently the world's most powerful chess computer) to take the lead, 2.5-0.5 (the first game was a draw). You can find out more details at the contest site."

Damned if you do, but also if you don't. cybaea writes "A recent article in InfoWorld argues that the latest Windows 2000 and Windows XP Service Packs may be illegal for health care providers under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. To make matters worse, not installing the Service Packs may also be illegal. Damned if you do, damned if you don't ..."

Dad, please switch to a real operating system. It's still spreading. deego writes " An e-mail-borne computer virus that lets crackers control infected Windoze machines remotely continues to spread and constitutes the most severe attack this year. The worm, known as W32.Bugbear, or I-Worm.Tanatos, infects computers that use Microsoft's Windows operating systems. It was first spotted a week ago and has spread to dozens of countries. Article here."

Please sit down first. calib0r writes "CNN.com is running an article on the most recent events dealing with the nissan.com lawsuit. Salon.com ran an article about this a few months ago. More information can also be found here."

18 of 340 comments (clear)

  1. I have a dilemma by Burritos · · Score: 4, Funny

    How do I get privacy while playing chess on the internet while making sure I don't get the bugbear virus?

    1. Re:I have a dilemma by TotallyUseless · · Score: 4, Funny

      use a camera attached to the shuttle to look down and make sure no one is peeping in the windows of your house!

      --

      Time for some tasty Shiner Bock!
  2. What a deal... by LaDanserie · · Score: 5, Funny

    Kramnik gets $1,000,000 if he wins, $800,000 if he draws, and $600,000 if he loses. I knew I wasn't spending all that time on Yahoo! Chess for nothing...

    1. Re:What a deal... by unicron · · Score: 5, Funny

      The people behind Deep Fritz are paying him to go down in the 4th.

      --
      Finally, math books without any of that base 6 crap in them.
    2. Re:What a deal... by targo · · Score: 5, Funny

      It is actually $1m-$700k-$500k.
      But the interesting fact is that for Fritz these numbers are $500k-$300k-$0(zero).
      I guess that even though computers are getting close to humans when playing chess, humans are still way better negotiators ;)

    3. Re:What a deal... by timeOday · · Score: 5, Funny

      Is that a lot? Tyson got $17 million for losing.

    4. Re:What a deal... by nutshell42 · · Score: 2, Funny
      What do you expect?

      "Ok, Deep Fritz, here's the Deal Mr. Kramnik suggested, what's your opinion?"

      Deep Fritz: "e4 e5 2.Sf3 Sc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Sxd4 Lc5 5.Sxc6 Df6 6.Dd2 dxc6 7.Sc3 Se7 8.Df4 Le6 9.Dxf6 gxf6 10.Sa4 Lb4+ 11.c3 Ld6 12.Le3 b6 13.f4 0-0-0 14.Kf2 c5 15.c4 Sc6 16.Sc3 f5 17.e5 Lf8 18.b3 Sb4 19.a3 Sc2 20.Tc1 Sxe3 21.Kxe3 Lg7 22.Sd5 c6 23.Sf6 Lxf6 24.exf6 The8 25.Kf3 Td2 26.h3 Ld7 27.g3 Te6 28.Tb1 Txf6 29.Le2 Te6 30.The1 Kc7 31.Lf1 b5 32.Tec1 Kb6 33.b4 cxb4 34.axb4 Te4 35.Td1 Txd1 36.Txd1 Le6 37.Ld3 Td4 38.Le2 Txd1 39.c5+ Kb7 40.Lxd1 a5 41.bxa5 Ka6 42.Ke3 Kxa5 43.Kd4 b4 44.g4 fxg4 45.hxg4 b3 46.Kc3 Ka4 47.Kb2 f6 48.Lf3 Kb5 49.g5 f5 50.Kc3 Kxc5 51.Le2 0-1"

      --
      Don't think of it as a flame---it's more like an argument that does 3d6 fire damage
  3. Re:Chess by Zeinfeld · · Score: 5, Funny
    It's laughable to say that Deep Fritz is the strongest computer programme - Deep Blue (that defeated Kasparov) evaluated 200 million positions per second compared to Deep Fritz's 3-4 million. Deep Blue was running on an IBM-made supercomputer. Fritz isn't.

    Deep Blue has been broken up and sold off in bits. It was not so much a computer as a temporary assembly of parts. So Deep Fritz would be the strongest living chess computer. After all we don't expect Kasparov to beat dead grandmasters.

    I think that it is time to introduce weight categories like they have in boxing. So neither competitor would be allowed to weigh more than 1000 pounds. Otherwise the game is a bit like watching an industrial robot beat the crap out of Mike Tyson, OK so it might be fun to watch but it is not real sport.

    --
    Looking for an Information Security student project suggestion?
    Try http://dotcrimeManifesto.com/
  4. Bugbear by Henry+V+.009 · · Score: 5, Funny

    There is no way to save users from themselves. If a sizable part of the population need to use computers, there will always be a significant number of those who do stupid things from them. These problems will continue no matter how secure Windows becomes. These problems will occur on any software platform that is simple enough for the general population to use.

    Actually, with a certain class of user, Windows' automatic updates make Windows more secure than Linux. Amoung windows users, that class is rather large. We may see less of the Code Red Viruses, but the Shoot Yourself in the Foot Viruses will continue.

    Linux does have one advantage though. It is intensely hard to install programs for Linux. It is so complicated that it is very hard to automate. And as long as users have to install viruses by hand, and download the correct libraries to get them to run, you can be sure that Linux users won't have to worry much about a Linux virus spreading like wildfire across the net.

  5. Crap... by Myuu · · Score: 3, Funny

    "During the feed, it looked like the ejection of the solid rocket boosters damaged or obscured the camera, leading to a fuzzy image during the fuel tank separation stage."

    Bring on anti-NASA the conspiracy theories...

    --

    forget it.
  6. The most worrying thing... by SmileyBen · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...the scariest part has to be that they let a Windows operating system anywhere near brain surgery....

    1. Re:The most worrying thing... by unicron · · Score: 5, Funny

      Would you prefer Linux? Immensely stable but they keep having to re-administer the anasthesia because you keep waking up while your neurosurgeon reads the FAQ?

      --
      Finally, math books without any of that base 6 crap in them.
  7. Re:Nissan.... by chriso11 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Maybe the U.S. Constitution should be changed to something like:
    "We, the Corporations of the United States (and other countries), in order to have a more perfect customer base, establish commerce, insure domestic profits, provide for our CEOs, promote the use of tax shelters, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

    --
    No, I don't trust in god. He'll have to pay up front, like everybody else.
  8. Re:Bugbear by ajakk · · Score: 3, Funny

    And then for 99% of a REAL operating systems programs...

    Double click.
    Yes.
    Next.
    Next.
    Next.

    wait...

    Next.
    Finnish.


    So after clicking "Next" we turn into Linus? GREAT!

  9. Re:camera by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    I'd rather they buy one for $750 000 than buy one from those annoying assholes at x10.

  10. the human formerly known as nissan by reconn · · Score: 2, Funny

    Well, at least his first name isn't already taken or anything.

    I wish there was a band called Uzi Nissan. I'd totally be into them.

    --
    Everything that was once directly lived has receded into a representation. -debord
  11. Re:Chess by FyRE666 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Otherwise the game is a bit like watching an industrial robot beat the crap out of Mike Tyson, OK so it might be fun to watch but it is not real sport.

    I think you'll find the robot's name was Lennox Lewis...

  12. Re:camera by ethereal · · Score: 2, Funny

    Wait, I thought NASA was supposed to spy on hot chicks with that camera? Don't they read label directions?

    --

    Your right to not believe: Americans United for Separation of Church and