Some time ago I worked for a company that was developing a system where one could go to a webpage, find his congress member and the system would fax the message to them (rather than emailing it). Maybe we should create an open source equivaliant. Then we can have our faxes and our laziness too!:)
I didn't say it wasn't important to keep people imprisoned with taxes but some of the tax money could be going to better things if the prisoners at least in part paid for their own upkeep.
I'm sure I'll get flamed for this but what the heck? I've got karma to burn.
I personally see no problem with prisoners being treated this way. They broke the law, why should my taxes have to pay for their upkeep? Sure they are restricted but they probably have a better life in prison than they do out on the street. And it doesn't matter what reasons they were locked up for. If you don't like the "war on drugs" then vote and change the law-- we can't go around breaking laws just because we don't like them. What if a group of people just decided that they would go on a killing spree because they thought the death penelty was an unfair punishment? Do you think we wouldn't give them the death penelty just because they were trying to make a statement???
And as for OSS its very doubtful that your conspirisary theory will come true. Software and drugs have very little to do with each other (regardless of that humorous post I saw yesterday, don't remember where it is now). And much of the government itself relies on OSS and any stupid law that Micro$oft might be able to put in place would most likely get struck down by the Supreme Court. If not our country would grind to a halt and well I'd move to Canada.:)
To stay somewhat on topic of the original article. How is this "Your rights online"? China doesn't guarentee rights to people (but I do hope this changes).
As far as our rights becoming like China's just look at the whole "War on Terror". Ashcroft has been summoned before the senate to answer questions about his proposals that would spy on us. Not everyone has lost their head, checks and balances still seem to be working.
As for your comment about Republican candidates receiving money... don't think for an instance that if their were a Democrat on the hill that anything would be any different. About the only thing different between our two major parties is who they steal from and who they lie to.
I agree. These people are the poorest in the world. They don't have access to this sort of thing... face it Katz, you've been had... guess you'll check your sources next time. (or not)
No no no... Star Wars is in a category of those rare movies that while they don't make you think much they're original. People keep complaining about star wars "being done before". Yeah in the 70s with the first movies, Lucas has a right to build off that, he can't steal his own idea! That said I loved Episode I. It wasn't anything like I expected it to be (which may be everyone's problem). And after seeing these trailers, I know the E II is going to be even better.. can't wait until May!
"The first problem (the one with the theory) is an attempt to homogenize culture. Face it, most people like their culture, no matter what it is. Culture is usually not prescribed by the government, but is certainly influenced by it. On the other hand, cultural homogenization may be inevitable--more influenced by cheap transportation and communication than any political actions."
I completely agree that corporations want to homogenize culture because it helps their profit margin if one corp can sell the same thing to everyone. But it doesn't have to be that way-- as somebody posted earlier look at Japan, they have blended their old culture with a modern one.
Oddly enough I'm not sure if Jon Katz is against this or for this or if he's posting because stories on/. make him feel good. I guess he's for homoginized culture with statements like Primitive cultures like the one running Afghanistan...
Maybe he meant governments... but I don't know I don't think he has much right to call one's culture primitive.
I use Blackbox as well. Why do you need a "desktop environment?" I have a nifty menu to access my apps. I can copy and paste between apps. If I really wanted to I could fix the GTK theme to match my BB theme. My desktop is pretty, clean and fast and no less useful. I know that an "average user" would have problems setting things with text files and things, but why not some tools that edit them for you (as separate apps) rather than this whole "desktop environment" thing. I think this trend is to copy Winblows
You can't blame the goverment for this problem. I'm not going to get into the whole Bush vs. Gore issue, its over and what's done is done and complaining isn't going to change it- That said even if Gore were the president it wouldn't change a thing, people here still wouldn't care. We'd still be buying SUV's, they would still eat tons of fast food and throw the trash in a landfill, people still wouldn't be recycling anything.
All the regulations in the world aren't going to change people's attitudes, people's attitudes will change when American's stop being the greedy jerks that they are (and I'm an american so it isn't flamebait).
I agree with you but more government isn't the problem. Bush wants to drill in Alaska because we demand cheap oil. (and its a better solution that getting it from Sadaam). If Gore had been elected and did everything with the environment that he said he would do... he would be out in 4 years. Not to say that Bush won't be (although with our little war he stands a chance) but Gore wouldn't have stood up and done the stuff he promised, he would give in under the presure - just like everyone else....
The poles are also especially vulnerable because global wind patterns circle around them rather then refreshing the air.
Then how do the pollutants get there? Walk there on their own? I agree that we should take care of the environment but some of this stuff is so concocted it not even funny. As in the idea that our pollutants are the major cause of the ozone depletion. While I think they may have some effect, I believe its more likely to be a naturally occuring cycle.
You show me just one granny that can configure a printer or install a program under Windoze and I'll show you 10,000 that can't. The whole linux vs. windows debate for the "average" user is a mute point. The "average" user can't use either one properly. We need to sell linux to "average" tech support!
Installed flawlessly, nice configurator, it looks nice and best of all IT WORKS. I was skeptical at first but then I got to see the Star Wars trailer. I'm going to shell out the $20 for it. Try it out you might be as surprised as I was.
On a side note they don't disable the demo after 30 days. It looks like its more of an on your honor system. But it does put little messages to buy the software at the beginning of the movies. (At least in quicktime).
Again though, this looks like it was well worth it and the $20 goes to Wine.
Yeah I know at least on the Israeli/Palestinian situation that almost nothing is reported here other than when Israelis get killed. No mention of how they take over palistinian land on whim.... Right now all of the stations here seem to be reporting how all of us American's should go hide in a hole because we're all going to die of anthrax!
My original post was intended to be funny sarcasm as I don't believe there is much true journalism left at least on a national level. The current big boys seem more interested in fear mongering and bias to make more money *sigh*
Fox News isn't even worth mentioning, do people serious watch that?
Sure, you are supposed to watch both Fox with its conservative/republican bias and CNN with its liberal/democrat bias and then take a moderate view between the two to get the true facts:)
Hehe, yeah while the article is true (and surprisingly less anti-linux that I expected it to be when I saw the 'winformant' banner) it had a very subtle FUD tone to it. Sort of frightening:) it was almost like you could feel Bill's evil pulsing through the website.
Re:What's wrong with you people? (MOD PARENT UP)
on
Perl6 for Mortals
·
· Score: 5, Insightful
I agree. And the funny thing is that perl is not at all hard. When I first started serious programming I tried learning C and I dabbled in Java but I just couldn't *get* it. And then I discovered Perl and everything was right with the world.
Don't like the crazy symbols? Don't use them! Other than the $ @ % you can get by without using things like $_. And I'm sure with perl6 you won't have to use $^ if you don't want to. There's more than one way to do it. AND to one guy stated in an earlier comment that he couldn't read his own Perl after just two weeks -- don't whine comment your code.
A lot of people use and love perl, there's no reason to flame it even if you don't
Because Linux is an alternative. I can't afford a copy of Windows nor do I want one and I defenatly can't afford a [insert your favorite game console here] nor do I like consoles that much. I have a bunch of games from my windows days and I'd love to get them to run on linux again. Why should windows be the only multi-purpose operating system?
You think so? I find it much easier to use a gui than a command line when moving/copying/deleting files. That right-click menu comes in handy, I can move entire directories across multiple networked drives in seconds with 3 clicks, while in DOS it would be much more convoluted, and you wouldnt have a recycle bin to hold those "mistakenly deleted" files...
cp -a? Anyone? I'm pretty sure DOS had a way to move or copy entire directories as well. And on Linux I saw a utility that created a "trash can" for the command prompt where stuff would go if you deleted it.
That said i must mention that GUIs are lame. I can't stand windows little "Are you sure?" dialogs everytime I click something. If you want Bill to hold your hand with every click of the mouse that's your choice, me -- I'll stick with my prompt and get my work done in a fraction of the time.
No internet access for a *nix machine to develop a website using technology that runs on a *nix platform??? What are they smoking??? Even with the current state of the economy I think that's one I'd be laughing my head off as I walked out the door. Of course I guess I'm one of the luckier tech people, I still have my job and they don't put stupid restrictions on us (at least not yet).
One striking trend: technology has spawned too much instant and unfiltered media.
No. Humans have spawned too much instant and unfiltered media. I've seen things like "5 ways you can protect yourself from terrorists" on the news. This isn't news its fear mongering and it isn't about informing the public-- its about people (not technology) maximizing eye balls and profit for their own greed. I hope they shall be judged accordingly for using a tragidy to their benefit.
Obligatory Jon Katz flame:
And yet again Jon fails to see the root of the problem instead sensationalizing the idea of technology controling everything the exact same way the big media sensationalizes terrorism.
Everyone talks about this supposed 'war' on the desktop. I don't really believe that a 'war' has started... much less been won or lost.
Sounds like this guy is just upset because some holier-than-thou tech deleted his data and rightfully so. The guy has a bitter taste in his mouth, thus the article
What I'd really like to see is a cheap hardware card that you could throw into that old P 90 you have laying around that would give you remote control capability. With a good sound card = instant stereo mp3 player that you could hook up with your other equipment... just a thought..
I have to disagree with Internet as being number 1 as well as Jon's entire article which is again a pinnicle of poorly researched useless dribble opinions entirely from one point of view... but I digress.
Internet cannot be considered a reliable news source as a whole because there is no barrier to entry. I can go to my personal website and post that Martians blew up the WTC. There's nothing to stop me from doing so.
I agree with your points about the other three but I would put the Internet last, as it is mostly opinionated views of a situation not factual reporting. Television may have a lot of things wrong with it but most things reported on TV news are not "untrue" although they may have a certain amount of slant.
Slashdot Mirror
Some time ago I worked for a company that was developing a system where one could go to a webpage, find his congress member and the system would fax the message to them (rather than emailing it). Maybe we should create an open source equivaliant. Then we can have our faxes and our laziness too! :)
I didn't say it wasn't important to keep people imprisoned with taxes but some of the tax money could be going to better things if the prisoners at least in part paid for their own upkeep.
I'm sure I'll get flamed for this but what the heck? I've got karma to burn.
:)
I personally see no problem with prisoners being treated this way. They broke the law, why should my taxes have to pay for their upkeep? Sure they are restricted but they probably have a better life in prison than they do out on the street. And it doesn't matter what reasons they were locked up for. If you don't like the "war on drugs" then vote and change the law-- we can't go around breaking laws just because we don't like them. What if a group of people just decided that they would go on a killing spree because they thought the death penelty was an unfair punishment? Do you think we wouldn't give them the death penelty just because they were trying to make a statement???
And as for OSS its very doubtful that your conspirisary theory will come true. Software and drugs have very little to do with each other (regardless of that humorous post I saw yesterday, don't remember where it is now). And much of the government itself relies on OSS and any stupid law that Micro$oft might be able to put in place would most likely get struck down by the Supreme Court. If not our country would grind to a halt and well I'd move to Canada.
To stay somewhat on topic of the original article. How is this "Your rights online"? China doesn't guarentee rights to people (but I do hope this changes).
As far as our rights becoming like China's just look at the whole "War on Terror". Ashcroft has been summoned before the senate to answer questions about his proposals that would spy on us. Not everyone has lost their head, checks and balances still seem to be working.
As for your comment about Republican candidates receiving money... don't think for an instance that if their were a Democrat on the hill that anything would be any different. About the only thing different between our two major parties is who they steal from and who they lie to.
/rant
I agree. These people are the poorest in the world. They don't have access to this sort of thing... face it Katz, you've been had... guess you'll check your sources next time. (or not)
:)
Go ahead flame my 50 karma
No no no... Star Wars is in a category of those rare movies that while they don't make you think much they're original. People keep complaining about star wars "being done before". Yeah in the 70s with the first movies, Lucas has a right to build off that, he can't steal his own idea! That said I loved Episode I. It wasn't anything like I expected it to be (which may be everyone's problem). And after seeing these trailers, I know the E II is going to be even better.. can't wait until May!
"The first problem (the one with the theory) is an attempt to homogenize culture. Face it, most people like their culture, no matter what it is. Culture is usually not prescribed by the government, but is certainly influenced by it. On the other hand, cultural homogenization may be inevitable--more influenced by cheap transportation and communication than any political actions."
/. make him feel good. I guess he's for homoginized culture with statements like Primitive cultures like the one running Afghanistan...
I completely agree that corporations want to homogenize culture because it helps their profit margin if one corp can sell the same thing to everyone. But it doesn't have to be that way-- as somebody posted earlier look at Japan, they have blended their old culture with a modern one.
Oddly enough I'm not sure if Jon Katz is against this or for this or if he's posting because stories on
Maybe he meant governments... but I don't know I don't think he has much right to call one's culture primitive.
P.S. I like your sig.
I use Blackbox as well. Why do you need a "desktop environment?" I have a nifty menu to access my apps. I can copy and paste between apps. If I really wanted to I could fix the GTK theme to match my BB theme. My desktop is pretty, clean and fast and no less useful. I know that an "average user" would have problems setting things with text files and things, but why not some tools that edit them for you (as separate apps) rather than this whole "desktop environment" thing. I think this trend is to copy Winblows
I mean there's been a perl mod for ispell for a long time now. How about incorporating it in? That would certainly help both users and administrators.
You can't blame the goverment for this problem. I'm not going to get into the whole Bush vs. Gore issue, its over and what's done is done and complaining isn't going to change it- That said even if Gore were the president it wouldn't change a thing, people here still wouldn't care. We'd still be buying SUV's, they would still eat tons of fast food and throw the trash in a landfill, people still wouldn't be recycling anything.
All the regulations in the world aren't going to change people's attitudes, people's attitudes will change when American's stop being the greedy jerks that they are (and I'm an american so it isn't flamebait).
I agree with you but more government isn't the problem. Bush wants to drill in Alaska because we demand cheap oil. (and its a better solution that getting it from Sadaam). If Gore had been elected and did everything with the environment that he said he would do... he would be out in 4 years. Not to say that Bush won't be (although with our little war he stands a chance) but Gore wouldn't have stood up and done the stuff he promised, he would give in under the presure - just like everyone else....
Okay enough rant.
The poles are also especially vulnerable because global wind patterns circle around them rather then refreshing the air.
Then how do the pollutants get there? Walk there on their own? I agree that we should take care of the environment but some of this stuff is so concocted it not even funny. As in the idea that our pollutants are the major cause of the ozone depletion. While I think they may have some effect, I believe its more likely to be a naturally occuring cycle.
You show me just one granny that can configure a printer or install a program under Windoze and I'll show you 10,000 that can't. The whole linux vs. windows debate for the "average" user is a mute point. The "average" user can't use either one properly. We need to sell linux to "average" tech support!
Installed flawlessly, nice configurator, it looks nice and best of all IT WORKS. I was skeptical at first but then I got to see the Star Wars trailer. I'm going to shell out the $20 for it. Try it out you might be as surprised as I was.
On a side note they don't disable the demo after 30 days. It looks like its more of an on your honor system. But it does put little messages to buy the software at the beginning of the movies. (At least in quicktime).
Again though, this looks like it was well worth it and the $20 goes to Wine.
Yeah I know at least on the Israeli/Palestinian situation that almost nothing is reported here other than when Israelis get killed. No mention of how they take over palistinian land on whim.... Right now all of the stations here seem to be reporting how all of us American's should go hide in a hole because we're all going to die of anthrax!
My original post was intended to be funny sarcasm as I don't believe there is much true journalism left at least on a national level. The current big boys seem more interested in fear mongering and bias to make more money *sigh*
Sure, you are supposed to watch both Fox with its conservative/republican bias and CNN with its liberal/democrat bias and then take a moderate view between the two to get the true facts :)
Hehe, yeah while the article is true (and surprisingly less anti-linux that I expected it to be when I saw the 'winformant' banner) it had a very subtle FUD tone to it. Sort of frightening :) it was almost like you could feel Bill's evil pulsing through the website.
I agree. And the funny thing is that perl is not at all hard. When I first started serious programming I tried learning C and I dabbled in Java but I just couldn't *get* it. And then I discovered Perl and everything was right with the world.
Don't like the crazy symbols? Don't use them! Other than the $ @ % you can get by without using things like $_. And I'm sure with perl6 you won't have to use $^ if you don't want to. There's more than one way to do it. AND to one guy stated in an earlier comment that he couldn't read his own Perl after just two weeks -- don't whine comment your code.
A lot of people use and love perl, there's no reason to flame it even if you don't
Because Linux is an alternative. I can't afford a copy of Windows nor do I want one and I defenatly can't afford a [insert your favorite game console here] nor do I like consoles that much. I have a bunch of games from my windows days and I'd love to get them to run on linux again. Why should windows be the only multi-purpose operating system?
cp -a? Anyone? I'm pretty sure DOS had a way to move or copy entire directories as well. And on Linux I saw a utility that created a "trash can" for the command prompt where stuff would go if you deleted it.
That said i must mention that GUIs are lame. I can't stand windows little "Are you sure?" dialogs everytime I click something. If you want Bill to hold your hand with every click of the mouse that's your choice, me -- I'll stick with my prompt and get my work done in a fraction of the time.
No internet access for a *nix machine to develop a website using technology that runs on a *nix platform??? What are they smoking??? Even with the current state of the economy I think that's one I'd be laughing my head off as I walked out the door. Of course I guess I'm one of the luckier tech people, I still have my job and they don't put stupid restrictions on us (at least not yet).
Like the posts above: To be able to change the colors of the screen of death! :)
One striking trend: technology has spawned too much instant and unfiltered media.
No. Humans have spawned too much instant and unfiltered media. I've seen things like "5 ways you can protect yourself from terrorists" on the news. This isn't news its fear mongering and it isn't about informing the public-- its about people (not technology) maximizing eye balls and profit for their own greed. I hope they shall be judged accordingly for using a tragidy to their benefit.
Obligatory Jon Katz flame:
And yet again Jon fails to see the root of the problem instead sensationalizing the idea of technology controling everything the exact same way the big media sensationalizes terrorism.
Sounds like this guy is just upset because some holier-than-thou tech deleted his data and rightfully so. The guy has a bitter taste in his mouth, thus the article
Anyone guy that wouldn't say Troi is either celebate or dead! :)
What I'd really like to see is a cheap hardware card that you could throw into that old P 90 you have laying around that would give you remote control capability. With a good sound card = instant stereo mp3 player that you could hook up with your other equipment ... just a thought..
I have to disagree with Internet as being number 1 as well as Jon's entire article which is again a pinnicle of poorly researched useless dribble opinions entirely from one point of view... but I digress.
Internet cannot be considered a reliable news source as a whole because there is no barrier to entry. I can go to my personal website and post that Martians blew up the WTC. There's nothing to stop me from doing so.
I agree with your points about the other three but I would put the Internet last, as it is mostly opinionated views of a situation not factual reporting. Television may have a lot of things wrong with it but most things reported on TV news are not "untrue" although they may have a certain amount of slant.