Re:The secret of ./'s success....
on
Slashdot Turns 5
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· Score: 2
Super Bowl ads are to.com companies as the cover of Sports Illustrated is to atheletes: kiss of death.
The irony is two sites that quite few people were sure would fail: slashdot and f**kedcompany.com are still chugging ahead (actually doing quite well), while 90% of.com sites have disappeared.
Microsoft is listed as a Cumulative Donor of $100,000 to $499,999. Really not a bad investment on Microsoft's part: 1) donate $300,000 and "advise" school that NT and 2000 are not secure. 2) offer new OS at reduced price to school book store. 3) report increase in new OS sales to invest ment community.
Hmmmm... I wonder how many other schools will follow suit?
Argh! Don't say that. I can't imagine having to sit through traffic on the 405 before playing Unreal/Quake/HalfLife. Thank god I have a "killer" boss!
Re:Only 7 ammendments left in the Bill of Rights
on
That Link Is Illegal
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· Score: 2
Abortion protesters have had to deal with this for some time. They are called "buffer zones."
True. However: 1) abortion protesters generally "protest" clinics that are privatly owned and operated; thus are located on private property. In short, protesters would be trespassing if not for "buffer zones."
2) I don't see anyone (in recent times) attempting to physically stop the President of the United States from reaching the podium and giving a speech
You mentioned abortion laws and the second amendment, but the courts have already said the 10th doesn't apply.
Not entirely true. The court has said: state law is displaced only "to the extent that it actually conflicts with federal law." And: "[T]he rule [is] that a federal court should not extend its invalidation of a statute further than necessary to dispose of the case before it." I do believe the Justice Dept has violated the 10th Amendment numerous times, but not just under Ashcroft. Janet Reno violated it every chance she got. So, you're absolutely correct in calling the violation Bi-Partisan.
You can blame Bush for appointing Ashcroft. But who can we blame for Congress? The American people. I couldn't agree with you any more on this one.
clearly states: Providing material support to terrorists
(a) Offense. -
Whoever, within the United States, provides material support or resources or conceals or disguises the nature, location, source, or ownership of material support or resources, knowing or intending that they are to be used in preparation for, or in carrying out, a violation of section 32, 37, 81, 175, 351, 831, 842(m) or (n), 844(f) or (i), 930(c), 956, 1114, 1116, 1203, 1361, 1362, 1363, 1366, 1751, 1992, 2155, 2156, 2280, 2281, 2332, 2332a, 2332b, 2332c, [1] or 2340A of this title or section 46502 of title 49, or in preparation for, or in carrying out, the concealment or an escape from the commission of any such violation, shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both.
(b) Definition. -
In this section, the term ''material support or resources'' means currency or other financial securities, financial services, lodging, training, safehouses, false documentation or identification, communications equipment, facilities, weapons, lethal substances, explosives, personnel, transportation, and other physical assets, except medicine or religious materials.
It seems that UCSD is interpreting "communications equipment" to include web links. UCSD's logic is that someone who visits the Che site will undoubtedly click on the link, thus visiting the "terrorist" site.
This is where UCSD loses its argument: the Che group is not in any way, shape, or form providing any type of "material support or resources" as defined in the federal law.
In short, UCSD is in direct violation of the 1st Amendment and stands to lose a great deal if they pursue this matter.
If I were a member of the Che collective I file a lawsuit in the 9th Circuit. I'm sure the 9th Circuit is chomping at the bit to "clarify" the Patriot Act.
so we need to justify our posture and pricing. I'm guessing that MS is going to justify there pricing and secure their posture by pushing DRM. (Another good DRM site, here)
He acknowledged there was more to Linux than free software--the main benefit of the open-source movement was the community developing software and sharing ideas. "Linux is not about free software, it is about community," Absolutely correct. Those who actually use the product get input into its future. Unlike most commercial software, where users are force fed a marketing department's idea of what is or isn't important.
Ballmer hits on an important issue: the Linux community. Here is a group of people that are as diverse as you can possibly get, yet share a single OS and philosophy. But, Ballmer completely misses the ideal behind community. For nine years, the company has designated users with particular skills--usually seen by how often they intervene helpfully in newsgroups--as "most valued professionals". Currently there are about 1,200 MVPs, half of whom are in the United States.
The title is highly regarded, said Thomas Lee, a Windows 2000 MVP who specializes in directory issues, and has just been appointed as chief technologist at QA Training. "You are recognized by your peers, not by an exam that you can cheat in."
MS believes that they can create their own community, when in fact they will only succeed in alienating more people with their elitist attitude and the MVP award.
I hear a lot of bitching, whining and complaing about the record companies
The problem is not labels, but distributors. There are only 4 major distributors now. Probably thousands of labels, but each (if they want to get their music to the masses) must use a major distributor.
, yet I don't see a bunch of these incredibly wealthy artists (not this one, probably) start their own freaking record company
I can't think of any major artist who DOESN'T have their own label. Beginning with the likes of Frank Sinatra (who was fed up with label control over his music) and his startup label: Reprise to Madonna and Maverick Records or The Beatles and Apple, etc...
Now if you mean, why don't major artists like Michael Jackson take some of his Millions and start a label that is fair to artists (and not racist like Sony as he claims)? I don't know. Maybe they know that the chance of losing all of their investment is probable...
To be honest, most of the rap stars have their own label and distribution network. They really have taken control and are making ENORMOUS amounts of money doing their way.
I still laugh when I read about TLC having a #1 album, selling 10 million units, having the #1 tour of the summer, and being bankrupt. Definitely, should be required reading by ALL up and coming bands.
Out
How can you advocate the armed robbery of everybody in this country because some people are poor? Even the poor people are robbed in your plan. LOL! What plan? What robbery? I never put forth a plan; only what I believed Larry should do with $700 million. Just a suggestion.
Again... reading the same rhetoric over and over convinces me that we will not agree on this issue.
And just a suggestion, but lay off the coffee, 'cause the overly fired up sentiment doesn't make your views any more logical or believable. In fact, I would say you jump to your own conclusions (generally not anywhere near the original point) to satisfy your own need to "go off" on someone who doesn't agree with you.
Go outside. Take a deep breath. Smile. The world is fine for you. Let the rest of us deal with the adult issues.
I know you will respond... you can't resist getting the last word in. (Don't blame yourself; it's just your nature.) So, let me end my post with a simple: Goodbye, good luck, and take care.
Oh, remember to limit the coffee intake. Bad for the heart. And humor and sarcasm are not an excuse to get personal; so try and keep it civil.
now your bashing my abilities to use a foreign language, what's your problem?
You call my wife and I Fascists; basically accussing us of being horrible people and you ask me what my problem is? And you ask my motivation for "correcting" you English?
This is the point I was attempting to make in the original post and I believe I came across too harsh...
I want each of my wife's students to achieve everything and anything they desire. I want them to have as many choices in life as possible. That is one of the reasons I tutor most of them on English. I do "push" them and I am "critical" of their work, because I want them to be better than the other 99.9% of the planet.
With that said: will someone using "l33t" speak in high school today graduate? Probably not. Is that just? Is that right? I believe so. "L33t" speak is not a language, not is it acceptable in todays workplace.
I apologize for correcting your English. But understand that when you label a person a Fascist, there is going to be some lashing out.
Lastly, I take it from your last posting that English is not your primary language. If this is correct, then I commend your command.
And you're correct: "Wrong people do desire strength and power." I'm not one of those people.
that you emphasize with your wife. If you're going to argue, it's better if you use the correct words to deliver your point. It's not emphasize (I did not "STRESS" with my wife), it's empathize (I did "AGREE" with my wife).
1) No information will be provided without appropriate warrants and/or court orders.
Good to see that the 4th Amendment is still valid. However, over the last 34 years the 4th Amendment has been slowly eroded of most of its power. Beginning with Terry v. Ohio, 392 U.S. 1, 20 ('68) the Supreme Court has supported the notion that "even in the law enforcement context, the State may interfere with an individual's Fourth Amendment interests with less than probable cause and without a warrant if the intrusion is only minimal and is justified by law enforcement purposes.
2) Before any search for information begins the library has the right to have an attorney examine any/all warrants and/or court orders to determine their validity, jurisdiction, and all other aspects of legal standing.
This is really one of those grey areas of the law. On the one hand, you are absolutely correct: you have every right to have an attorney examine any/all warrants and/or court orders to determine their validity, jurisdiction, and all other aspects of legal standing. And more than likely the FBI won't be serving subpoenas personally.
On the other hand, if they do serve the subpoena personally and you try and stop or hinder in any way a legal search, they'll more than likely arrest you for obstruction of justice.
3) The library, through its attorney has the right to additional judicial ruling on potentially suspect or questionable documentation before any search begins. (Right of appeal)
This will most likely be true in Patriot Act cases. More than likely the FBI will send you a subpoena requesting specific records. I really don't see them knocking on your door personally.
4) The library has the right to have its attorney present at all times when any search activities are carried out.
This is true. Hope you have him/her on speed dial.
You're a facist and so is your wife. Personally I belive types like you are the sole problem on this earth
Facist: a tendency toward or actual exercise of strong autocratic or dictatorial control.
Because my wife does her job and does it well, she is a facist? And how exactly do I fit the "facist" mold?
You said it loud, but you didn't make any sense; so please spare a moment or two and clarify your comments. Also, if you do feel strongly and righteous, why not sign your name, rather than hiding as an Anon Coward?
I understand now. Your complaint is that you oppose human rights, not sailing.
Not sure from where you got that... moving on.
The ironic thing is that people like yourself who think that the rich owe them something, when you suceed, what you create is rampant starvation, civil war, and illiteracy.
I don't believe anyone owes me anything. I do believe that it is important for us to take care of each other. And it saddens me when someone like Larry has so great a potential to do good, yet fails even to recognize the need.
Better to let Larry reinvest the money-- hell that $700Million will do more to fight poverty than the same $700M spent by the feds on schools.
Not sure what industry he is supporting other than a select few that cater specifically to the Cup race. And I'm not sure how that $700 million helps kids in this country learn how to count and read or puts a meal into the stomach of a child in any East African nation or buys medicine to combat any number of diseases in South East Asia, etc...
In the end it is Larry's money and he is free to do with it what he will.
Service Pack 1 for Windows XP itself is not readily accessible to consumers, and thus the mechanism purportedly settling the antitrust case is, by definition, not readily accessible, ProComp wrote in the letter.
Consumers have three choices for obtaining the service pack. The first is to use Windows XP's Automatic Update feature to retrieve and install a 30MB file. ProComp noted that the time for retrieval, as stated by Microsoft, would be 1.25 hours over a standard dial-up connection.
Honestly, if you're still using dial-up, then you should expect longer download times. And Microsoft does offer a CD ROM; granted $9.95 does seem a bit high for S&H.
The third violation, ProComp charges, is that the middleware control is not intuitive and comes with no Help file for understanding how to use it.
As a Technical Writer myself this does bother me, but honestly it isn't something with which I would walk into Federal Court.
The fourth violation alleged by ProComp shifts to Windows 2000, which, with the release of Service Pack 3, was updated with a leaner version of the middleware control.
In the letter, ProComp emphasized that the middleware controls installed with the two service packs are substantially different. The trade group contended that the Windows 2000 version is substantially less intuitive than (the one) in Windows XP.
So, the service packs are different for different Operating Systems? That seems fair. I think between this complaint and number 2, Microsoft is guilty of not putting their creative power behind the middleware control.
In the fifth alleged violation, ProComp said the updated Windows XP's My Music folder called up Internet Explorer for online shopping, even after the group had selected Netscape as the default browser and had hidden access to IE.
Now, I am beginning to understand why ProComp included the previous not-so-important violations: To show a trend. If the above is true it is bad for Microsoft. I'm sure MS will try and explain it away as some kind of oversight or better yet a "feature" of XP to improve the user's experience. Better to just release a quick "fix" and remove this "feature" quickly.
The group's allegation regarding a sixth violation rapped Microsoft for failing to include in the middleware control an option to disable Microsoft's.Net Framework Common Language Runtime, an alternative to Sun's Java Virtual Machine.
I smell a fight here. Microsoft is betting on the.Net technology to carry them well into this decade and into the next. I'm sure MS will fire off a few of their own comments to the court in defense of.Net. Too much money and too much time has gone into this and I don't see Bill backing off.
Honestly, the first 4 "violations" are pretty weak. However, when grouped with the 5th there is evidence of a "trend" on the part of Microsoft to not act in good faith. What will be the outcome? I don't really believe the Justice Department wants to re-open this case, especially with all of the juicy "terrorist" cases just waiting to be tried. And let's be honest, case against Microsoft is not going to get a federal prosecutor TV time, but case against terrorists will get a federal prosecutor a lot of TV face time.
You reminded of something I really should have included in my original post: my wife teaches at a predominately Asian high school. At present more than 50% of the students are "english-as-a-second-language." But they work very hard and I have to admit continually amaze me when I read some of their work. (For those that speak or understand an Asian language, you know that English and most Asian languages are about as different as you can get.)
Some of the "l33t" speak has crept into some of my wife's students' work. And she simply points it out and allows the student to correct it. Once. Everytime following, she marks them down.
But, honestly, it's not that big of a problem. The article makes it sound like schools are being overrun by gangs of "l33t" dudez. But, it's really an isolated problem and maybe affects 1% of 1%.
This is giving the teachers headaches in trying to grade the assignments, much less understand them because of the techno-generation gap
I disagree. My wife has no trouble marking down anyone who uses "U" instead of You or "R" instead of Are. Teachers face no dilemma here; students do.
If you as a student cannot use proper grammar and spelling, then you are transferred to a remedial course. If you are still unable to use proper grammar and spelling, then further testing is completed in order to determine if you have a "learning disability."
If you're lazy and refuse to use anything but your "chat-speak," then you'll fail English and High School... then no more chat room, because the only jobs open to you won't pay enough for you to afford an Internet connection.
Are you referring to the whole "water, water everywhere and not a drop drink" thing? 'Cause they have bottled water lil' Larry could carry on his boat.
And if you consider drowning a risk: about 60 years ago some really nice guy invented life preservers. And I'm sure the Coast Guard would be more than happy to pick up Larry.
Bottom line: I'm being extremely sarcastic, because spending $700 million on a boat race is idiotic and asinine in this day and age of rampant starvation, disease, civil war, genocide, and illiteracy.
Hey, but if it sells a couple more pairs of Sperry Top-Siders and a bottle or two of Zima, then by all means $700 million is justified.
Now, before you flaim me, know:
1) that I do indeed enjoy sport and competition and would have NO PROBLEM WHATSOEVER with the Cup Race, if the amount of money spent on the boats and crews were more realistic: say 5 to 10 million (about what a Nascar or NHRA team spends in 3 years). But we are talking about rich, spoiled children and their need for the biggest toy on the block.
2) I am not bashing sailing. Sailing is wonderful and a great way to spend a couple of days. I live a stones throw from the Pacific and enjoy its beauty everyday.
Make no mistake, as emperor, Palpatine is a dictator--but a relatively benign one, like Pinochet.
Ummm... must I point out the obvious? That Pinochet's regime kidnapped, tortured, raped, and murdered thousands in Chile. I'm really at a loss as to how Jonathan V. Last could have possibly come up with that comment... sarcasm maybe? If so, bad taste.
I can't phantom how Lucas didn't send his Imperial lawyers into action after that comment.
There are many who will take offense at Brin's comments. But as a fan of Sci Fi it is Brin's duty to question Lucas and call him on his mistakes.
If more people step up and speak the truth about how much of a "let down" both of the "new" Star Wars films have been, maybe George will spend a little more time writing the third and less time worrying about the CGI.
Slashdot Mirror
Super Bowl ads are to .com companies as the cover of Sports Illustrated is to atheletes: kiss of death.
.com sites have disappeared.
The irony is two sites that quite few people were sure would fail: slashdot and f**kedcompany.com are still chugging ahead (actually doing quite well), while 90% of
Microsoft is listed as a Cumulative Donor of $100,000 to $499,999. Really not a bad investment on Microsoft's part:
1) donate $300,000 and "advise" school that NT and 2000 are not secure.
2) offer new OS at reduced price to school book store.
3) report increase in new OS sales to invest ment community.
Hmmmm... I wonder how many other schools will follow suit?
Oh man... I'm sooooo sorry. Hmmm... all of a sudden my commute isn't so bad.
Ummmm...what?
Argh! Don't say that. I can't imagine having to sit through traffic on the 405 before playing Unreal/Quake/HalfLife. Thank god I have a "killer" boss!
Abortion protesters have had to deal with this for some time. They are called "buffer zones."
True. However:
1) abortion protesters generally "protest" clinics that are privatly owned and operated; thus are located on private property. In short, protesters would be trespassing if not for "buffer zones."
2) I don't see anyone (in recent times) attempting to physically stop the President of the United States from reaching the podium and giving a speech
You mentioned abortion laws and the second amendment, but the courts have already said the 10th doesn't apply.
Not entirely true. The court has said:
state law is displaced only "to the extent that it actually conflicts with federal law."
And:
"[T]he rule [is] that a federal court should not extend its invalidation of a statute further than necessary to dispose of the case before it."
I do believe the Justice Dept has violated the 10th Amendment numerous times, but not just under Ashcroft. Janet Reno violated it every chance she got. So, you're absolutely correct in calling the violation Bi-Partisan.
You can blame Bush for appointing Ashcroft. But who can we blame for Congress? The American people.
I couldn't agree with you any more on this one.
clearly states:
Providing material support to terrorists
(a) Offense. -
Whoever, within the United States, provides material support or resources or conceals or disguises the nature, location, source, or ownership of material support or resources, knowing or intending that they are to be used in preparation for, or in carrying out, a violation of section 32, 37, 81, 175, 351, 831, 842(m) or (n), 844(f) or (i), 930(c), 956, 1114, 1116, 1203, 1361, 1362, 1363, 1366, 1751, 1992, 2155, 2156, 2280, 2281, 2332, 2332a, 2332b, 2332c, [1] or 2340A of this title or section 46502 of title 49, or in preparation for, or in carrying out, the concealment or an escape from the commission of any such violation, shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both.
(b) Definition. -
In this section, the term ''material support or resources'' means currency or other financial securities, financial services, lodging, training, safehouses, false documentation or identification, communications equipment, facilities, weapons, lethal substances, explosives, personnel, transportation, and other physical assets, except medicine or religious materials.
It seems that UCSD is interpreting "communications equipment" to include web links. UCSD's logic is that someone who visits the Che site will undoubtedly click on the link, thus visiting the "terrorist" site.
This is where UCSD loses its argument: the Che group is not in any way, shape, or form providing any type of "material support or resources" as defined in the federal law.
In short, UCSD is in direct violation of the 1st Amendment and stands to lose a great deal if they pursue this matter.
If I were a member of the Che collective I file a lawsuit in the 9th Circuit. I'm sure the 9th Circuit is chomping at the bit to "clarify" the Patriot Act.
Where do I begin?
so we need to justify our posture and pricing.
I'm guessing that MS is going to justify there pricing and secure their posture by pushing DRM. (Another good DRM site, here)
He acknowledged there was more to Linux than free software--the main benefit of the open-source movement was the community developing software and sharing ideas. "Linux is not about free software, it is about community,"
Absolutely correct. Those who actually use the product get input into its future. Unlike most commercial software, where users are force fed a marketing department's idea of what is or isn't important.
Ballmer hits on an important issue: the Linux community. Here is a group of people that are as diverse as you can possibly get, yet share a single OS and philosophy. But, Ballmer completely misses the ideal behind community.
For nine years, the company has designated users with particular skills--usually seen by how often they intervene helpfully in newsgroups--as "most valued professionals". Currently there are about 1,200 MVPs, half of whom are in the United States.
The title is highly regarded, said Thomas Lee, a Windows 2000 MVP who specializes in directory issues, and has just been appointed as chief technologist at QA Training. "You are recognized by your peers, not by an exam that you can cheat in."
MS believes that they can create their own community, when in fact they will only succeed in alienating more people with their elitist attitude and the MVP award.
Warning: I'm rambling this morning:
I hear a lot of bitching, whining and complaing about the record companies
The problem is not labels, but distributors. There are only 4 major distributors now. Probably thousands of labels, but each (if they want to get their music to the masses) must use a major distributor.
, yet I don't see a bunch of these incredibly wealthy artists (not this one, probably) start their own freaking record company
I can't think of any major artist who DOESN'T have their own label. Beginning with the likes of Frank Sinatra (who was fed up with label control over his music) and his startup label: Reprise to Madonna and Maverick Records or The Beatles and Apple, etc...
Now if you mean, why don't major artists like Michael Jackson take some of his Millions and start a label that is fair to artists (and not racist like Sony as he claims)? I don't know. Maybe they know that the chance of losing all of their investment is probable...
To be honest, most of the rap stars have their own label and distribution network. They really have taken control and are making ENORMOUS amounts of money doing their way.
I still laugh when I read about TLC having a #1 album, selling 10 million units, having the #1 tour of the summer, and being bankrupt. Definitely, should be required reading by ALL up and coming bands.
Out
How can you advocate the armed robbery of everybody in this country because some people are poor? Even the poor people are robbed in your plan.
LOL! What plan? What robbery? I never put forth a plan; only what I believed Larry should do with $700 million. Just a suggestion.
Again... reading the same rhetoric over and over convinces me that we will not agree on this issue.
And just a suggestion, but lay off the coffee, 'cause the overly fired up sentiment doesn't make your views any more logical or believable. In fact, I would say you jump to your own conclusions (generally not anywhere near the original point) to satisfy your own need to "go off" on someone who doesn't agree with you.
Go outside. Take a deep breath. Smile. The world is fine for you. Let the rest of us deal with the adult issues.
I know you will respond... you can't resist getting the last word in. (Don't blame yourself; it's just your nature.) So, let me end my post with a simple: Goodbye, good luck, and take care.
Oh, remember to limit the coffee intake. Bad for the heart. And humor and sarcasm are not an excuse to get personal; so try and keep it civil.
now your bashing my abilities to use a foreign language, what's your problem?
You call my wife and I Fascists; basically accussing us of being horrible people and you ask me what my problem is? And you ask my motivation for "correcting" you English?
This is the point I was attempting to make in the original post and I believe I came across too harsh...
I want each of my wife's students to achieve everything and anything they desire. I want them to have as many choices in life as possible. That is one of the reasons I tutor most of them on English. I do "push" them and I am "critical" of their work, because I want them to be better than the other 99.9% of the planet.
With that said: will someone using "l33t" speak in high school today graduate? Probably not. Is that just? Is that right? I believe so. "L33t" speak is not a language, not is it acceptable in todays workplace.
I apologize for correcting your English. But understand that when you label a person a Fascist, there is going to be some lashing out.
Lastly, I take it from your last posting that English is not your primary language. If this is correct, then I commend your command.
And you're correct: "Wrong people do desire strength and power." I'm not one of those people.
I can tell from your blind rhetoric that we will not agree on this issue.
Take care.
facistic
That's not a word. Please try again.
that you emphasize with your wife.
If you're going to argue, it's better if you use the correct words to deliver your point. It's not emphasize (I did not "STRESS" with my wife), it's empathize (I did "AGREE" with my wife).
No, I do not feel strong.
Sorry to hear that.
1) No information will be provided without appropriate warrants and/or court orders.
Good to see that the 4th Amendment is still valid. However, over the last 34 years the 4th Amendment has been slowly eroded of most of its power. Beginning with Terry v. Ohio, 392 U.S. 1, 20 ('68) the Supreme Court has supported the notion that "even in the law enforcement context, the State may interfere with an individual's Fourth Amendment interests with less than probable cause and without a warrant if the intrusion is only minimal and is justified by law enforcement purposes.
2) Before any search for information begins the library has the right to have an attorney examine any/all warrants and/or court orders to determine their validity, jurisdiction, and all other aspects of legal standing.
This is really one of those grey areas of the law. On the one hand, you are absolutely correct: you have every right to have an attorney examine any/all warrants and/or court orders to determine their validity, jurisdiction, and all other aspects of legal standing. And more than likely the FBI won't be serving subpoenas personally.
On the other hand, if they do serve the subpoena personally and you try and stop or hinder in any way a legal search, they'll more than likely arrest you for obstruction of justice.
3) The library, through its attorney has the right to additional judicial ruling on potentially suspect or questionable documentation before any search begins. (Right of appeal)
This will most likely be true in Patriot Act cases. More than likely the FBI will send you a subpoena requesting specific records. I really don't see them knocking on your door personally.
4) The library has the right to have its attorney present at all times when any search activities are carried out.
This is true. Hope you have him/her on speed dial.
You're a facist and so is your wife. Personally I belive types like you are the sole problem on this earth
Facist: a tendency toward or actual exercise of strong autocratic or dictatorial control.
Because my wife does her job and does it well, she is a facist? And how exactly do I fit the "facist" mold?
You said it loud, but you didn't make any sense; so please spare a moment or two and clarify your comments. Also, if you do feel strongly and righteous, why not sign your name, rather than hiding as an Anon Coward?
I understand now. Your complaint is that you oppose human rights, not sailing.
Not sure from where you got that... moving on.
The ironic thing is that people like yourself who think that the rich owe them something, when you suceed, what you create is rampant starvation, civil war, and illiteracy.
I don't believe anyone owes me anything. I do believe that it is important for us to take care of each other. And it saddens me when someone like Larry has so great a potential to do good, yet fails even to recognize the need.
Better to let Larry reinvest the money-- hell that $700Million will do more to fight poverty than the same $700M spent by the feds on schools.
Not sure what industry he is supporting other than a select few that cater specifically to the Cup race. And I'm not sure how that $700 million helps kids in this country learn how to count and read or puts a meal into the stomach of a child in any East African nation or buys medicine to combat any number of diseases in South East Asia, etc...
In the end it is Larry's money and he is free to do with it what he will.
Service Pack 1 for Windows XP itself is not readily accessible to consumers, and thus the mechanism purportedly settling the antitrust case is, by definition, not readily accessible, ProComp wrote in the letter.
.Net Framework Common Language Runtime, an alternative to Sun's Java Virtual
.Net technology to carry them well into this decade and into the next. I'm sure MS will fire off a few of their own comments to the court in defense of .Net. Too much money and too much time has gone into this and I don't see Bill backing off.
Consumers have three choices for obtaining the service pack. The first is to use Windows XP's Automatic Update feature to retrieve and install a 30MB file. ProComp noted that the time for retrieval, as stated by Microsoft, would be 1.25 hours over a standard dial-up connection.
Honestly, if you're still using dial-up, then you should expect longer download times. And Microsoft does offer a CD ROM; granted $9.95 does seem a bit high for S&H.
The third violation, ProComp charges, is that the middleware control is not intuitive and comes with no Help file for understanding how to use it.
As a Technical Writer myself this does bother me, but honestly it isn't something with which I would walk into Federal Court.
The fourth violation alleged by ProComp shifts to Windows 2000, which, with the release of Service Pack 3, was updated with a leaner version of the middleware control.
In the letter, ProComp emphasized that the middleware controls installed with the two service packs are substantially different. The trade group contended that the Windows 2000 version is substantially less intuitive than (the one) in Windows XP.
So, the service packs are different for different Operating Systems? That seems fair. I think between this complaint and number 2, Microsoft is guilty of not putting their creative power behind the middleware control.
In the fifth alleged violation, ProComp said the updated Windows XP's My Music folder called up Internet Explorer for online shopping, even after the group had selected Netscape as the default browser and had hidden access to IE.
Now, I am beginning to understand why ProComp included the previous not-so-important violations: To show a trend. If the above is true it is bad for Microsoft. I'm sure MS will try and explain it away as some kind of oversight or better yet a "feature" of XP to improve the user's experience. Better to just release a quick "fix" and remove this "feature" quickly.
The group's allegation regarding a sixth violation rapped Microsoft for failing to include in the middleware control an option to disable Microsoft's
Machine.
I smell a fight here. Microsoft is betting on the
Honestly, the first 4 "violations" are pretty weak. However, when grouped with the 5th there is evidence of a "trend" on the part of Microsoft to not act in good faith.
What will be the outcome? I don't really believe the Justice Department wants to re-open this case, especially with all of the juicy "terrorist" cases just waiting to be tried. And let's be honest, case against Microsoft is not going to get a federal prosecutor TV time, but case against terrorists will get a federal prosecutor a lot of TV face time.
You reminded of something I really should have included in my original post: my wife teaches at a predominately Asian high school. At present more than 50% of the students are "english-as-a-second-language." But they work very hard and I have to admit continually amaze me when I read some of their work. (For those that speak or understand an Asian language, you know that English and most Asian languages are about as different as you can get.)
Some of the "l33t" speak has crept into some of my wife's students' work. And she simply points it out and allows the student to correct it. Once. Everytime following, she marks them down.
But, honestly, it's not that big of a problem. The article makes it sound like schools are being overrun by gangs of "l33t" dudez. But, it's really an isolated problem and maybe affects 1% of 1%.
This is giving the teachers headaches in trying to grade the assignments, much less understand them because of the techno-generation gap
I disagree. My wife has no trouble marking down anyone who uses "U" instead of You or "R" instead of Are. Teachers face no dilemma here; students do.
If you as a student cannot use proper grammar and spelling, then you are transferred to a remedial course. If you are still unable to use proper grammar and spelling, then further testing is completed in order to determine if you have a "learning disability."
If you're lazy and refuse to use anything but your "chat-speak," then you'll fail English and High School... then no more chat room, because the only jobs open to you won't pay enough for you to afford an Internet connection.
This works for copyrighting a literary work such as a poem or essay, but not for patenting an idea.
Sorry, you're wrong. It would never (and never has) stand the test of the law.
inherent risks in sailing
Are you referring to the whole "water, water everywhere and not a drop drink" thing? 'Cause they have bottled water lil' Larry could carry on his boat.
And if you consider drowning a risk: about 60 years ago some really nice guy invented life preservers. And I'm sure the Coast Guard would be more than happy to pick up Larry.
Bottom line: I'm being extremely sarcastic, because spending $700 million on a boat race is idiotic and asinine in this day and age of rampant starvation, disease, civil war, genocide, and illiteracy.
Hey, but if it sells a couple more pairs of Sperry Top-Siders and a bottle or two of Zima, then by all means $700 million is justified.
Now, before you flaim me, know:
1) that I do indeed enjoy sport and competition and would have NO PROBLEM WHATSOEVER with the Cup Race, if the amount of money spent on the boats and crews were more realistic: say 5 to 10 million (about what a Nascar or NHRA team spends in 3 years). But we are talking about rich, spoiled children and their need for the biggest toy on the block.
2) I am not bashing sailing. Sailing is wonderful and a great way to spend a couple of days. I live a stones throw from the Pacific and enjoy its beauty everyday.
Make no mistake, as emperor, Palpatine is a dictator--but a relatively benign one, like Pinochet.
Ummm... must I point out the obvious? That Pinochet's regime kidnapped, tortured, raped, and murdered thousands in Chile. I'm really at a loss as to how Jonathan V. Last could have possibly come up with that comment... sarcasm maybe? If so, bad taste.
I can't phantom how Lucas didn't send his Imperial lawyers into action after that comment.
There are many who will take offense at Brin's comments. But as a fan of Sci Fi it is Brin's duty to question Lucas and call him on his mistakes.
If more people step up and speak the truth about how much of a "let down" both of the "new" Star Wars films have been, maybe George will spend a little more time writing the third and less time worrying about the CGI.
Next movie will surely have a Chicano low rider caricature help Obi-Wan
make his escape with the twins.
Anyone know if Cheech and Chong are free?
It is not a sport for the idle wealthy, weak, easily scared or technically
ignorant.
Isn't Larry Ellison doing it????