Internet cafes have had lousy security for a long time. Especially the ones that can't afford the license fees for a new set of WinXP so carry on using Win98/IE5. The first thing I do is call up the task manager and disable/kill any processes I don't like the look of. If the cafe gives me access to the process manager, then they probably don't have a clue about security.
If possible, try to find a cafe that uses Linux... there are a growing number of them around.
is trying to turn this into a "Linux" versus "SCO" war. The Economist recently had this to add to the "arguments": "SCO [...] and Microsoft [...] have only one thing in common. Both are passionately hated by 'open-source' programmers..." The article goes on to mention the "hatred" of the open source community a couple of more times.
It could be argued that without these emotional tag words there would be no story, but in the case of SCO, the truth would be stranger than any fictions. -|-
All good comments and a lot of valid points... for another site. If you wanted to create a site that is NOT slashdot, then this would be a good starting place. But what you are suggesting is changing slashdot from an unprofessional free for all (with a little moderation) to a smooth professional, well edited, well moderated site. Something to pay for, but something that is not slashdot.
Admirable, but off course. slashdot is what it is, the only issue is how to support what it has become and will evolve to be, not how to change slashdot so that it can be a commercial proposition.
Be what you are guys, and I hope you can pay the rent. jalalski
Egads, you mean terrorists are using email now?
Whats going to happen when they learn how to encrypt the stuff?
Don't you all feel so much safer knowing that the various governments have started tracking emails. At the very least it will weed out the more stupid terrorists who don't know how encrypt their emails.
Just leaving the smart ones, kind of Darwinian selection.
Since the days when man first gathered together in tribes and the biggest became Chief, he has been concerned with the Chief (or the neighbours) looking into his life. So he built walls and fences and claimed the space as his own, private space.
And while the sun shone, and the harvests were good and the children played in the street all was well.
But when the enemies gathered at the gate and fear gripped the citizens hearts, then a great fear arose that there could be enemies in their midst. And the Chief and his people, by dint of their power, would enter and search their people homes in order to safeguard the people, and for fear of losing their power.
So it was then, and so it is today. The space of 'privacy' is much greater and is no longer just fences and walls, but email and conversations, but the same principle applies. The 'enemies at the gate' may be real or percieved, the fear may intensified by the media, the Chiefs may be more concerned with their own well being than that of their citizens, but basically, the same ball game.
The US Constitution is supposed to guarantee its citizens the right to their privacy. One of the worlds great documents, but still just a document. It does not list the rights granted to people by nature, it is more the hopes and aspirations of those building a new society. And now they've gone and the society is becoming old and staid and the Constitution is just a document. And so those dreams fade away. Privacy being one of them....
And thats why I say the right to privacy is an illusion. Just an idea in a document. A great document to base a society on, when times are good and citizens have a song and a great hope in the hearts. But when their courage fails and fear strikes, then like all societies, it will close in on its self and its dreams be considered inappropriate for the great fight ahead.
From here in Europe, we can just hope that the dreams of your founders win out over the fears of your people.
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.sig restricted on need to know basis.
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Germany has had ID cards for decades, and it's accepted as normal by most everyone. Germany has also had some of the worst problems with terrorists of any european nation, and these two things are connected.
In Germany, you can buy an ID very easily, one's identification is all based on one or two pieces of paper (or plastic rather) that are easily forged or stolen.
In the UK, on the other hand, there is no ID card and creating a fake ID is (paradoxically) more difficult. There are no cultural or social reasons to assume that someone is what the piece of paper says they are, and therefore other, less obvious, forms of identification are expected. Letters to your address, bank references, signature of a local professional person and so on.
When Blunkett (in the UK) talks about imposing ID cards, its not because he believes it achieves anything, but because he gets some political mileage out of it.
People here in Germany are amazed when I tell them that in UK to change your name involves nothing more than deciding what name you want to be called. And then telling all your banks etc.... In Germany it is close to impossible to legally change your name.
Sir, a couple points to be made:
You are an AC.
You give no examples of projects that have snubbed such a highly acclaimed programmer.
So, I have to wonder, what is your agenda in asking this question?
Anyway...
Your question is not too clear. Are you asking for Slashdot to create a list of projects that accept submissions?
I agree that most projects in the open source world are stagnant after the first few weeks, but I see it as simply lack of interest tends to kill off the less interesting projects. And the amount of free disk space (such as SourceForge) allows them to stay in existence for a long time.
In most cases, I wouldn't say it was lack of interest in accepting input, its simply a dead project that hasn't keeled over yet.
I really don't understand why the BIG 7 taboo words all deal with sex, and other bodily functions.
Because the two big taboos are sex and death. Some people are uncomfortable with either or both.
Maybe we need to grow up socially, and understand that words are just that: JUST WORDS! (Yes, they carry a conatation behind them, but if you don't like it, stop listening to them.:-)
Whose is this 'we'? Most of the world doesn't have a problem with fucking, shitting and pissing. Its the US that needs to grow up. I lived there for a while and have never met so many anally retentive people in one place.
of working in Germany.
I used to work for a software company in Germany. One time, just before a fair, their competitors started a rumor that the company was run by CoS. It almost put the company out of business, even tho the rumor had no truth in it. Trying to prove you're not something is not so easy...
how the Draft Cybercrime Treaty would make things like BugTraq illegal, as publishing exploits would be aiding and abetting.
So, why stay in the good 'ol US of A? There are a growing number of reasons for sites to be set up outside of the US, and the government keep providing more.
The power of the Internet is that I can set my site up almost anywhere in the world and it makes no difference, either to me, nor to my users.
So why didn't I even get called for an interview? Could it be because I'm in my 40's, because I expect to be well-paid for what I bring to the table, and don't expect to work 80 hours/week because my employers are too cheap to hire two people to do two peoples' work?
You've hit the nail on the head. And if you want to test your theory out, try leaving your date of birth off of your CV. I removed my date of birth a few months ago, and now, firms want to talk to me!
Of course, it doesn't mean I'm going to work 80hour weeks for peanuts, so I still turn down most of the jobs...
The steering wheel in a car is also not revolutionary, but I wouldn't suggest replacing it just because its NIH (Not Invented Here). Trouble is, some things have no improvement in their current situation. Given a square screen, a keyboard and a mouse, many of the current GUI "innovations" are optimal. jalalski...
Unfortunately, I found Scott's two examples on the rant page quite funny. Every joke has something, or someone to laugh at, even the day's PvP strip is making fun of some big alien guy with the IQ of a doorknob, but he is not clearly human and so, i guess, fair game for a joke. So, will we have a tide of comics that make fun of aliens? I can understand Scott's concern, but the sad truth is, most of our humor is at the expense of someone else, and that is what makes it funny... and it is a narrow line 'tween making fun of a computer users' stupidity and (e.g.) the percieved silliness of blondes. Fact is, we get upset when we feel we are the object of a joke, so the Irish don't like Irish jokes etc. And I guess Scott don't like jokes about clueless newbies cause, er, well...
Slashdot Mirror
I have a laptop with an extra monitor attached and don't have a problem. This looks like a bit of FUD to me.
Internet cafes have had lousy security for a long time. Especially the ones that can't afford the license fees for a new set of WinXP so carry on using Win98/IE5.
The first thing I do is call up the task manager and disable/kill any processes I don't like the look of.
If the cafe gives me access to the process manager, then they probably don't have a clue about security.
If possible, try to find a cafe that uses Linux... there are a growing number of them around.
It's very simple, and the solution is in this phrase:
'How company can make money, if its products are available for free?'
You can't.
Therefore forget about selling products.
Give them away, sell the services.
It's a major change in viewpoint, but it is essential if you want to join the software revolution.
is trying to turn this into a "Linux" versus "SCO" war. The Economist recently had this to add to the "arguments":
"SCO [...] and Microsoft [...] have only one thing in common. Both are passionately hated by 'open-source' programmers..."
The article goes on to mention the "hatred" of the open source community a couple of more times.
It could be argued that without these emotional tag words there would be no story, but in the case of SCO, the truth would be stranger than any fictions.
-|-
All good comments and a lot of valid points... for another site. If you wanted to create a site that is NOT slashdot, then this would be a good starting place.
But what you are suggesting is changing slashdot from an unprofessional free for all (with a little moderation) to a smooth professional, well edited, well moderated site. Something to pay for, but something that is not slashdot.
Admirable, but off course. slashdot is what it is, the only issue is how to support what it has become and will evolve to be, not how to change slashdot so that it can be a commercial proposition.
Be what you are guys, and I hope you can pay the rent.
jalalski
Egads, you mean terrorists are using email now?
Whats going to happen when they learn how to encrypt the stuff?
Don't you all feel so much safer knowing that the various governments have started tracking emails. At the very least it will weed out the more stupid terrorists who don't know how encrypt their emails.
Just leaving the smart ones, kind of Darwinian selection.
OK, carnivore, feeding time: Burger attack.
Since the days when man first gathered together in tribes and the biggest became Chief, he has been concerned with the Chief (or the neighbours) looking into his life. So he built walls and fences and claimed the space as his own, private space.
And while the sun shone, and the harvests were good and the children played in the street all was well.
But when the enemies gathered at the gate and fear gripped the citizens hearts, then a great fear arose that there could be enemies in their midst. And the Chief and his people, by dint of their power, would enter and search their people homes in order to safeguard the people, and for fear of losing their power.
So it was then, and so it is today. The space of 'privacy' is much greater and is no longer just fences and walls, but email and conversations, but the same principle applies. The 'enemies at the gate' may be real or percieved, the fear may intensified by the media, the Chiefs may be more concerned with their own well being than that of their citizens, but basically, the same ball game.
The US Constitution is supposed to guarantee its citizens the right to their privacy. One of the worlds great documents, but still just a document. It does not list the rights granted to people by nature, it is more the hopes and aspirations of those building a new society. And now they've gone and the society is becoming old and staid and the Constitution is just a document. And so those dreams fade away. Privacy being one of them....
And thats why I say the right to privacy is an illusion. Just an idea in a document. A great document to base a society on, when times are good and citizens have a song and a great hope in the hearts. But when their courage fails and fear strikes, then like all societies, it will close in on its self and its dreams be considered inappropriate for the great fight ahead.
From here in Europe, we can just hope that the dreams of your founders win out over the fears of your people.
----------------
.sig restricted on need to know basis.
----------------
Germany has had ID cards for decades, and it's accepted as normal by most everyone. Germany has also had some of the worst problems with terrorists of any european nation, and these two things are connected.
In Germany, you can buy an ID very easily, one's identification is all based on one or two pieces of paper (or plastic rather) that are easily forged or stolen.
In the UK, on the other hand, there is no ID card and creating a fake ID is (paradoxically) more difficult. There are no cultural or social reasons to assume that someone is what the piece of paper says they are, and therefore other, less obvious, forms of identification are expected. Letters to your address, bank references, signature of a local professional person and so on.
When Blunkett (in the UK) talks about imposing ID cards, its not because he believes it achieves anything, but because he gets some political mileage out of it.
People here in Germany are amazed when I tell them that in UK to change your name involves nothing more than deciding what name you want to be called. And then telling all your banks etc.... In Germany it is close to impossible to legally change your name.
My 0.2c
Mr Stottle
I don't know who you are, but I would like to thank you for one of the best pieces I have read on the recent 'war situation'.
Again, thank you...
You are an AC.
You give no examples of projects that have snubbed such a highly acclaimed programmer.
So, I have to wonder, what is your agenda in asking this question?
Anyway... Your question is not too clear. Are you asking for Slashdot to create a list of projects that accept submissions?
I agree that most projects in the open source world are stagnant after the first few weeks, but I see it as simply lack of interest tends to kill off the less interesting projects. And the amount of free disk space (such as SourceForge) allows them to stay in existence for a long time.
In most cases, I wouldn't say it was lack of interest in accepting input, its simply a dead project that hasn't keeled over yet.
>>how this whole Internet thing should work.
Somewhat like the US government and its citizens?
jalalski
I mean, I have no say in the matter, I didn't elect them. And yet they will decide on which of my personal details will be made available?
jalalski,
Because the two big taboos are sex and death. Some people are uncomfortable with either or both.
Maybe we need to grow up socially, and understand that words are just that: JUST WORDS! (Yes, they carry a conatation behind them, but if you don't like it, stop listening to them. :-)
Whose is this 'we'? Most of the world doesn't have a problem with fucking, shitting and pissing. Its the US that needs to grow up. I lived there for a while and have never met so many anally retentive people in one place.
If you don't like it, why not change it?
the great jalalski spake thusly...
of working in Germany.
I used to work for a software company in Germany. One time, just before a fair, their competitors started a rumor that the company was run by CoS. It almost put the company out of business, even tho the rumor had no truth in it. Trying to prove you're not something is not so easy...
So, why stay in the good 'ol US of A? There are a growing number of reasons for sites to be set up outside of the US, and the government keep providing more.
The power of the Internet is that I can set my site up almost anywhere in the world and it makes no difference, either to me, nor to my users.
Could it be because I'm in my 40's, because I expect to be well-paid for what I bring to the table, and don't expect to work 80 hours/week because my employers are too cheap to hire two people to do two peoples' work?
You've hit the nail on the head. And if you want to test your theory out, try leaving your date of birth off of your CV. I removed my date of birth a few months ago, and now, firms want to talk to me!
Of course, it doesn't mean I'm going to work 80hour weeks for peanuts, so I still turn down most of the jobs...
Young at heart, jalalski...
Did you know you have foreign readers? ;-}
jalalski across the pond.
that they sequenced. When are they going to do mine? the j
The steering wheel in a car is also not revolutionary, but I wouldn't suggest replacing it just because its NIH (Not Invented Here). Trouble is, some things have no improvement in their current situation. Given a square screen, a keyboard and a mouse, many of the current GUI "innovations" are optimal. jalalski...
Unfortunately, I found Scott's two examples on the rant page quite funny.
Every joke has something, or someone to laugh at, even the day's PvP strip is making fun of some big alien guy with the IQ of a doorknob, but he is not clearly human and so, i guess, fair game for a joke. So, will we have a tide of comics that make fun of aliens?
I can understand Scott's concern, but the sad truth is, most of our humor is at the expense of someone else, and that is what makes it funny... and it is a narrow line 'tween making fun of a computer users' stupidity and (e.g.) the percieved silliness of blondes.
Fact is, we get upset when we feel we are the object of a joke, so the Irish don't like Irish jokes etc. And I guess Scott don't like jokes about clueless newbies cause, er, well...