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  1. Horrible analogy. on Adrian Lamo Charged With Hacking · · Score: 4, Insightful

    What if I just leave a signed note on the inside of your car that says "follow these three easy steps, and then no one else will be able to break into your car again"? Do you say "hey, thanks, buddy!", or "hey, someone broke into my car!"...

  2. which one? on VMware ESX 2 vs. MS Virtual Server? · · Score: 1

    I'll admit, details are a bit sparse in the documentation; still, it does say that vmnix is the modified linux kernel (2.4.9) that VMware ESX server runs, which sounds pretty telling to me, O uncivil one.

  3. Re:compiling the ESX kernel on VMware ESX 2 vs. MS Virtual Server? · · Score: 1

    it's in the README, which you can get from the link that I gave QuantumG, elsewhere in this thread; I'll quote it in full here:

    Included is the source for the following packages:

    1) vmnix kernel (linux/)
    Modified linux v2.4.9 kernel

    2) VMware ESX Server installer (installer/)
    Modified version of anaconda-7.2

    3) vmklinux
    Based on 2.2 and 2.4 linux kernel code

    4) vmkload_mod
    Based on insmod source from the modutils package

    5) rrdtool-1.0.40 and wu-ftpd-2.6.1 (COSApps)
    Tools included with the VMware ESX Service Console

    6) esxtop
    Based on the source for 'top' from the procps package

    You must be running redhat 7.2, with gcc 2.96 installed to compile
    these packages. See README files located in the subdirectories for
    descriptions and compilation instructions.

    Unless explicitly stated otherwise, all of the files in this package are
    distributed under the GNU General Public License - see the accompanying
    COPYING file for more details.

  4. Hey! on VMware ESX 2 vs. MS Virtual Server? · · Score: 0

    QuantumG, I didn't even realize it was you the first time! Sorry if I messed up your 'facts' there, buddy.

    Anyhow, here's the link; cheers!

  5. Re:ESX does not run under linux on VMware ESX 2 vs. MS Virtual Server? · · Score: -1

    The ESX kernel is actually a modified Linux kernel; 2.4.9, I believe. You can download it yourself and verify this at the vmware website. (they recommend compiling it with gcc 2.9.6)

  6. um. on Code Generation in Action · · Score: 1

    Ruby is certainly a language that is inspiring a lot of admiration these days (in fact, it's hard to get Dave Thomas to stop talking about it :-), but with the majority of the code-generation examples being for Java-related technologies, I wonder why Java was not selected instead.

    Try writing it in Java, and I'll wager that you'll find out why. It'd probably be quicker to write a code generator to write it for you. Use the right tool for the job.
  7. heh. on Universal Music To Cut CD Prices · · Score: 4, Funny
    If they're lowering the price to match the quality of the music they're releasing these days, then I'd say they'll have to knock off a few more dollars. Here's my suggested pricing scheme:

    • Pay me $5 -- I'll watch Britney on MTV with the mute button on.
    • Pay me $20 -- I'll listen to a track from Metallica's new album.
    • Pay me $1,000 -- I'll listen to Justin Ti...ah fuck, no I won't.
  8. wait... on SCO Invoices For Unix Licenses Get Closer · · Score: 1

    You can't fool us.... You're SCO!

  9. yesterday. on Xr Renamed to Cairo · · Score: 1

    Just load it up in XGGI, like so, silly!

  10. a more likely explanation: on Further Selections From the Mixed-Up SCO Files · · Score: 4, Funny

    Caldera bought SCO, remember? That's probably when and why it changed over.

    Why, I remember when Caldera was trying to be a Linux company, and SCO was just a defunct Unix. Now all we have is Caldera/SCO trying hard to be a defunct company!

  11. amen, brotha'. on Windows Is 'Insecure By Design,' Says Washington Post · · Score: 1

    I was trying to explain this to some people the other day as well; Windows is indeed insecure by design. And Microsoft could have fixed things at any time in the past 8 years or so with regard to viruses; it isn't like they haven't known about the problem. If you ask me, it's gross negligence on their part, and they should be liable for damages.

  12. hrm. on Embarrassing Dispatches From The SCO Front · · Score: 1

    So what is SCO liable for now, is anyone keeping track? I count fraud, quite possibly extortion, and also slander and libel, especially regarding the ridiculous conspiracy theory statements regarding IBM controlling the IT industry's response to this.

    Don't you think that if IBM could have controlled the IT industry's response to *anything*, we'd all be running OS/2 now?

  13. jesus... on Carmack on New id Game, Game Theory · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I miss the days when all software actually came with a book. For those who haven't been using computers for 15+ years, let me give you a little back story.

    In my day, we didn't have the web, or quick installation guides, or any of that. Each and every software package came with a 'manual', which was a book that explained in detail how to use the functions of that software. This is where you get phrases such as 'man pages'--those are online (in the sense that they're on the computer) versions of print documentation, taken from these now defunct 'manuals'.

    Fast forward to today: almost no software packages come with what we'd call a 'manual' 15 years ago. Instead, they're more like pamphlets. The alternative if you want printed documentation is to also go out and buy a $50 book from a publishing house like "The Microsoft Press", or possibly print out a 200 page PDF file (if you even get that).

    Ok, so software generally doesn't come with 200 page printed manuals anymore... Does that mean that it's gotten cheaper? Well, it hasn't gotten any cheaper for me, but maybe it's cheaper for them to produce. I guess I'm just giving them extra money, or if they publish a separate book on their software, paying them twice if I buy that as well.

    So I for one would like to thank the RPGs that still produce actual manuals along with their software for continuing to provide a valuable service to me, the consumer. A service that I still seem to pay for whether or not I get a printed manual. No, I like this much better--I got a pretty, comprehensive manual for every single Ultima game I ever bought, and I got an even bigger manual for NeverWinter Nights! And you know what, the prices haven't changed that much either.

  14. heh. on Gaim Speaks Out on MSN Ban · · Score: 1

    Hey, that's the one I have!

    Yeah, it works great, but they use a weird power cable--it's 9V *AC* current. Mine broke, and I could have wandered all around creation (or looked online) to get a new one, but I needed it right away, so it was easier just to buy a new router.

    After all, I figured, if I had plugged in that 9V DC adapter instead, I probably would have had to buy a new one anyhow...

  15. Don't they have something better to do? on Gaim Speaks Out on MSN Ban · · Score: 4, Informative

    Like maybe looking into securing their own software first?

    Here, let's look through a quick timeline:

    1994: People laugh at the GoodTimes virus, because everyone knows viruses can't spread through email!
    1995: Word macro viruses first created, and now viruses are easier to write than ever before. Meanwhile, Microsoft has plenty of time to figure out how to prevent them, especially since their users hardly ever use macros in the first place, and especially not to, say, destroy the Windows registry or something.
    1996: Macro viruses spread to the extent that Microsoft distributes them as well--unwittingly, we hope.
    1997: Word '97 released; the dawn of VBA viruses.
    1998: With over 1,000 word macro viruses out there, it's worth making virus scanners for them!
    1999: Melissa word macro virus spreads over email and infects Word thanks to Microsoft; as they mention, if you don't use Outlook, you're safe. If you do use Outlook, you might get infected without ever looking at the attachment yourself; previewing it may be enough.
    2000: The love bug virus spreads over email thanks to Microsoft Outlook, and causes an estimated $8.7 billion in damage.
    2001: Code Red spreads, attacking Windows NT and 2K. Sircam emails itself absolutely everywhere, again thanks to Microsoft.
    2002: Klez and Nimda spread.
    2003: You guessed it, even still yet more viruses spreading faster than ever, thanks to Windows, Outlook, Word, blah, blah, blah.

    So what has Microsoft done? Well maybe by securing their MSN network that'll stop e-mail viruses from... ahh, nevermind, they don't give a fuck about their customers. Otherwise, they could have stopped most of this back in 1996 at the latest. And remember, security is top priority over there now. Ha.

    I'm just glad that I don't pay to get infected, like so many of their other customers. Instead, I just have to deal with the spam and network traffic that they're responsible for. But at least the files on my Linux desktop are safe!

  16. ah, the old bait-and-switch. on Online Games - Get Hooked For Free · · Score: 1

    The first hit's free, kid.

  17. Re:Support techs are like any specialists on Techs Discover End Users Aren't So Bright · · Score: 1
    Trust me, neurosurgeons would complain to hell and back if they were asked to instruct the patient on how to do the surgery themselves over the phone [...] I've been there myself
    Was the operation a success?
  18. heh. on Reviving A Dead Hard Drive The Hard Way · · Score: 2, Funny

    I had to do something similar with some wet floppy disks back in the day. (backups, I hear you say? Those *were* my backups!)

  19. bah. on Windows 95 in 4.47MB · · Score: 3, Funny

    I'm both saddened and relieved to hear this. I never managed to get a stripped-down version of win95 onto a floppy. However, I did manage to get win31 on a single 1.44mb floppy, back in the day; (using a self-extracting rar archive that uncompressed to a RAM drive, of course) I even had sound support, via the PC Speaker Driver for win31, so it could go 'tada' on boot-up! ;)

  20. I think The Constitution said it best: on Cyber Sleuths vs. Secret Networks · · Score: 2, Informative

    Article I, Section 8. The Congress shall have power [...] To promote the progress of science and useful arts, by securing for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their respective writings and discoveries
    Also, here's some discussion on the issue.
  21. Never got Quicktime and most other video formats.. on The Failures Of Desktop Linux · · Score: 1

    mplayer--learn it, live it, love it.

    As for other browsers, if you don't like Mozilla, then try Konqueror or something.

    Personally, I use Linux because Windows isn't ready for the power user yet. It still tries to bug the hell out of me every chance it gets, and I'm not going to waste my time playing its stupid whack-a-registry-setting game.

  22. hrm. on Another Beer Please · · Score: 5, Funny

    What's so interesting about a wireless beer glass--aren't they *all* wireless? Was there a failed wired beer glass prototype that /. didn't report on? ...as for signalling the waiter when you need a refill, it's already the waiter's job to look at the glass and ask the customer if he wants another. If the beer glass replaced this function, then I'd have to start tipping the glass instead of the waiter... and there's no way I'm going to tip my precious glass of beer!

  23. I'll believe it when I see it, Bruce. on The Open Group's New Open Source Strategy · · Score: 1

    I think The Open Group should choose a name that reflects their long history with the Unix (not to be confused with UNIX--the registered trademark of The Open Group and you'd be stupid to use it in a sentence without their permission) community. For example:

    "The Please-Pay-Us-Money-To-Call-That-UNIX Group"
    "The We'll-Sue-Your-Sorry-Open-Source-Ass Group"
    "The Everything-Is-Open-Except-For-Our-Trademarks Group"
    "The Please-Buy-Closed-Source-Motif Group"
    "The Never-Has-Been-Never-Will-Be Open Group"

    Failing that, perhaps a more modern name that reflects their traditional outlook would be more appropriate:

    "The goatse.cx Group"
    "The Open-As-In-Gaping-Asshole Group"

    * all copyrights, trademarks, service marks, patents, or other IP including but not limited to
    Motif, UNIX, and The Open Group are probably property of The Open Group; any others mentioned are property of their respective owners.

  24. Re:Not necessarily. on Cringely Proposes a Music Sharing Alternative · · Score: 1

    Yes, First Sale generally just applies to physical items, although if you could guarantee that only one copy was extant, then First Sale might apply online as well. Without it, we couldn't legally have libraries or used bookstores (although there are special exceptions for libraries in the copyright code as well, much of which doesn't apply online).

    As for making copies, that generally falls under the transmission of a copyrighted work, which you probably wouldn't be able to do for profit, but might be able to do otherwise. As I said, I was hoping that Cringely had come up with something better than just First Sale; I'm somewhat disappointed about that. But if there is a loophole, then Title 17, Ch. 1 would be the place to start looking for it.

    re: browser caching--you misunderstand; since I was not sold this copyrighted material, I don't even have the right to First Sale, so this material is essentially still under the control of the copyright owner. If I have their permission, then I don't have to worry. But if I don't, then technically this could be copyright infringement; I know that it is or was considered copyright infringement in some countries, and in general this is a legal gray area, based on whether or not browser caching consists of "making a copy" (technically it probably does, but then, copying the image into RAM or VRAM, into a frame buffer, or displaying it on the screen all probably count as well). This is just another example of how the law can be slow to catch up to technological innovation.

  25. Here are the first few stories on Flash Mobs: Peaceable Assembly for Spontaneous Fun · · Score: 2, Informative

    cheesebikini?

    July 24, 2003
    Flash Mob in Central Park

    Fred Hoysted was first to chime in with a report and a photo from the Fifth New York Flash Mob. SatansLaundromat.com was quick on Fred's heels with a report and a nice group of photos, including a larger version of the cropped shot to the right.

    They seem to have carried out a fantastic, bizarre idea: make a bunch of increasingly surreal "nature sounds" in Central Park.

    Did anyone make an audio recording? Please let me know if you did.

    Filed under flash mobs at 05:12 PM | Comments (5) | TrackBack (2) | Permalink


    Europe's First Flash Mob

    A flash mob went down today in Rome, as an estimated 100 to 300 people flooded a books and music megastore. They asked employees for nonexistent books. They broke into a round of spontaneous applause. Then they dispersed.

    Here's coverage in Italian from the newspaper la Repubblica, and here's a clumsy English translation. The photo, courtesy of la Repubblica, shows mobbers evacuating the megastore.

    In the comments attached to this posting, you'll find a report from our Senior Rome Correspondent "JJFlash."

    If you have more photos, please send them (or links to them) to photos[at]cheesebikini.com. More to come.

    Filed under flash mobs at 03:28 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack (0) | Permalink


    July 23, 2003
    Flash Mob News from Minnesota, Texas, Austria

    Minneapolis organizers put together an event (or rather, a series of events staged in different locations) at a huge shopping mall. Participant turnout was estimated at 50, but perhaps reduced secrecy about the next Minneapolis event will spur a larger crowd?

    New flash mobs are brewing in Vienna, Austria and in Dallas. (Here's an English version of the Austrian flash mob page, as automatically translated by babelfish.altavista.com.

    Flash mobs are a widespread phenomenon now with lots of people around the world taking part, so from now on when I mention flash mobs I'm going to focus on the most compelling flash mob coverage and opinion. For more exhaustive listings of the numerous local flash mob announcements, groups, sites and press coverage, check out flashmob.info, where anyone can sign up for an account and submit mob news or a link to a new mob group, or mob(b)log, whose creator "Alex" is doing a good job of listing media coverage but strangely fails to provide any way to reach him or to comment on his postings. In the meantime, Rob Zazueta is designing a site to make it easier for people to organize what he calls "flocks;" it's not done yet but you can keep track of it at flocksmart.com. Thanks for the resources, people!

    (By the way; have you seen The Word Spy's entry for the term "flash mob?")

    Filed under flash mobs at 05:18 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack (0) | Permalink


    July 19, 2003
    The First Italian Flash Mob

    Londoners have been talking about organizing a flash mob for weeks and weeks. Now, with minimal talk, it seems the Romans will beat the Brits to the punch and create Europe's first flash mob.

    Our Senior Rome Correspondent "J. Jack Flash" reports that a flash mob has been planned in Rome next Thursday, July 24. Here's the invitation: in Italian and in English.

    In other news: Flash mobs are arising in Boston and in Phoenix, Arizona.

    Filed under flash mobs at 10:15 AM | Comments (21) | TrackBack (0) | Permalink


    July 18, 2003
    Invitation: Manhattan Flash Mob #5

    Below is the invitation to the fifth New York flash mob as it was e-mailed to me. It's scheduled to take place next Thursday evening, July 24th.

    (If you're wondering what a flash mob is, see this entry for an explanation.)

    more...

    Filed under flash mobs at 12:14 PM | Comments (5) | TrackBack (1) | Permalink