I think McCain is the best Presidential candidate I've seen in my lifetime. He's got my vote in the fall.
I'm very much against not voting for someone due to a single issue, but with McCain I am going to ignore my advice. If nothing else, there is a big reason why you shouldn't vote for him. McCain is adamently opposed to Net Neutrality. His reasoning?
I'm sorry, but I refuse to support someone who is so engrained in thinking about big buisness that they would risk the freedom of the Internet over profits. I'm all for getting the government out of our daily lives, but this is one area where the government needs to step in and slap the telcoms in the face. Hard.
Yes, I understand that they are a buisness. Yes, I understand that it is their goal to make money...and I'm all for that. That is, after all, democracy in action.
Attempting to control the internet in the hopes of increasing profit, however, is inexcusable. The internet wouldn't be where it is today if it weren't open the way that it is, and it will crumble even further into a pile of corporate bullshit moreso than it already has if Net Neutrality is not maintained.
To further your last sentence, I see myself as still being an infant...content to shit where I sleep because I don't know any better.
I've been to other countries and have visited more than half of the states in the USA, but I have lived within 20 miles of where I was born for all of my 23 years. I likely won't really change my ways until I get out of the area... until then I'll just keep sucking the teet.
Look, I have no problem with FOSS software...I think the sense of community that it builds is indicative of where we as a species should be heading towards.
That being said, it's not about morals...it's more of a case of convenience. I hate supporting big companies. But between where I live (Montgomery County, Maryland...in which there is nearly no such thing as a local business when it comes to the big stuff) and my tastes, I don't really have much of an option. I'm happy that you have morals and that you are willing to uphold them, but I'm too lazy for that. I hate the system, and yet I am a picture-perfect example of those born, raised, and living by it. I don't like it, I wish it were different, but they aren't...I'm just sort of floating along with everyone else.
Why do I live that way if I hate it? Because it's easy and it fits into my lifestyle. Horrible? Yes. Am I a bastard for being this way even though I am aware that I am this way? Yes. Am I going to do anything about it? Not at present...although there are plans that involve Colorado and my nearest neighbor being a half mile away. Until then, however, I'll just continue floating along in a nice inflatable raft...I'll jump out when I see a river bank that I can climb up on, but I'm in no rush.
If I go far enough in either direction, I will eventually find land. I'm honestly just too lazy to do that yet.
Stop being absurd? What, not wanting to break the law is absurd?
Yes, because if you really wanted to use IE and the law was the only thing in your way, you would have bought windows by now.
Or having some principals (and actually standing up for them) is absurd? Or not rolling over and getting reamed by faceless corporations is absurd?
Own anything with a big name brand on it? Or do you own a car that you didn't build? Or perhaps the computer you are typing on...you designed and built all the parts? You DO roll over and get reamed by faceless corporations...
If you think this is just about a web browser, then you clearly have no clue.
And if you really believe what you are attempting to convince me of...
Do you normally sunbathe in a place that has a non-obstructed view of you sunbathing? If you do, then you have nothing to complain about. It could be the googlevan, it could be a person walking by...it doesn't matter. The google van is no different than someone with a telescopic lense and an internet connection...if you don't want other people to see what you are doing, just don't do it where other people can see you.
There is no change in behavior that needs to take place...there is no alteration to your life that needs to take place. If you are doing something within public view, you are essentially saying that you don't care who sees you (or how many people see you) doing what you are doing.
If you do care about other people seeing you, whether it's one person or ten thousand people, don't do it where other people can see you. If you don't want someone to see you jerking off, don't do it with your shades pulled wide open. This isn't about personal freedom or privacy; it's about common fucking sense.
Why this always comes up again and again, that it is the same if Google or your neighbours are watching?
If you sunbathe in your neighbourhood there is the chance that 20 people see it, once Google goes around there is the chance that 2000000000 people see it. So the risk of embarrassment increases dramatically, people will stop sunbathing. That is a real effect.
What is so difficult about getting this?blockquote>
If you are doing something that you don't want anyone else to know or see you doing, why are you doing it in public or in a room with the curtains wide open?
What is there to not agree with? It's a web browser.
Look. I can understand wanting to stand up for your beliefs and doing what you think is right, but this is plain stupid. Yes, I said it: it's fucking stupid.
Do you make your own shoes? Or perhaps "grow" your own gas? Did you manufacture all of your own clothing? Did you grow all the fruit and vegetables that you eat, AND pick them yourself? If not, you are saying that you think that child labor, oil companies, and illegal immigrants working are all ok, but no Internet Explorer for you! You couldn't POSSIBLY agree to the terms set forth for using a WEB BROWSER.
Charging more for a suite of software that all does the same thing sounds like a last-gasp attempt to deliver some profits before architectural changes force these companies out of business.
Or you could just use the combination that I have used to keep my PC spyware/virus free and no reboots except upgrades for three or so years, if not more. AVG, Spybot, and ZoneAlarm (firewall only).
All three programs are free, none of them rob you of any real processing power (or I at least haven't noticed any), they all have VERY frequent updates (which, once again, are free), are easy to setup and use, and make a killer one-two-three punch.
While I agree that there is a lot of innacurate information on Wikipedia, if an article cites it's sources and those sources are legit (i.e. not Joe Blow's House o' Info) then where is the problem in using Wikipedia to back up an argument?
Granted that it may take a long time but most people will feel compelled to upgrade eventually IF Vista does not go the way of WinME.
I know that Microsoft put a lot of time and development into Vista, however considering that they are ALREADY publicly speaking about Windows7, I think it just may end up like ME.
So, you're extrapolating what everyone is doing based on what you are doing?
No, I was just giving reasons as to why I haven't been upgrading my computer...based on other people I know, it does apply to many folks...it apparently applies to the two other people that responded to my post as well. Other than gaming, we simply have no reason or need to upgrade our towers...and on the gaming side, consoles are taking care of that now. Granted, graphics and control schemes on PC's are for the most part superior, but the capabilities of consoles have more or less caught up to the capabilities of PCs (insofar as gaming is concerned.)
And they think nothing of using Sears Craftsman hand tools in lieu of tighter tolerance Snap-on hand tools. Go figure.
I'll think something of it when Craftsmen impact 1/2" swivel sockets bust after meeting my Matco MT1769 only once. The SnapOn ones may be $38 each, but they can take one hell of a beating.
The only thing that I find craftsman tools good for are when you have to cut a open-end/box-end wrench in half and then weld it to another one to make one-off tools (such as for reaching the mounting bolts for the rear airbag suspension in an old Caddy...I could pay $100 for the real tool, or $10 for two wrenches that I weld together. Tough choice.)
It's true. It's getting harder and harder to keep folks on the constant upgrade path. I don't know if that's because of changes in the age demographic and levels of disposable income, or what it is...all I know is that I'm MUCH less inclined to drop money every year into my tower than I used to be, even though I can afford it just as easy (if not easier...
And for the time when I built that computer, I would typically have one of the most if not the most powerful computer at any LAN that I went to...some of which had 20 people or more at them.
That used to be more or less top notch...and with the modded bios on the VIVO-enabled x800 I had, it performed exactly like its more expensive counterpart. Compared to new stuff today, yes, it pales in comparison...but it was nearly unbeatable for 6 months after I bought it, and it wasn't until recently that I can't play new games on it (and that's mainly due to the video card's shader support etc...or lack thereof)
No they aren't. It's common knowledge about all the stuff that went on behind closed-doors with our current leaders...repubs aren't better at hiding it, they just don't care that they are doing it. Dems are the ones that try to convince you they aren't lying...Repubs say "hey, here is what I have to say, it's full of shit. You know it, I know it, and we also both know you won't do jack about it."
My computer used to be considered near the top of the pile...2.2 GHz Athlon64 overclocked to 2.7, 2 gigs of Corsair XMS DDR-400, a bios-modded x800, Dell 2005FPW (1680X1050)...even though for games coming out now, it's largely unusable (mainly due to the video card), it runs things like Battlefield 2 and World of Warcraft flawlessly. Seeing as most of my gaming has been done on consoles the past few years, I haven't had a need to upgrade my computer. Spore is actually what is going to cause me to take the dive and do it...but prior to that, I have no reason to.
My system can still browse the net with tons of tabs open, winamp playing, word open, and a few of other things. It's definitely no slouch, and (once again) were it not for spore I still wouldn't plan on doing anything to it.
The advances in speed were much greater in the late '90s/early 00's than they are now...granted, a top notch computer equal in monetary value of my computer when it was new are much faster than what I am using, what I am using is still a fairly decent machine...excellent, if you consider I don't play games on it that are more than two years young.
It's true. It's getting harder and harder to keep folks on the constant upgrade path. I don't know if that's because of changes in the age demographic and levels of disposable income, or what it is...all I know is that I'm MUCH less inclined to drop money every year into my tower than I used to be, even though I can afford it just as easy (if not easier...I'm not living at home like I was 4 years ago, but I'm working full time which I wasn't 4 years ago either. I turn 24 in April, for reference)
First rule of security in my book: Someone who wants something bad enough, they will be able to circumvent nearly anything in order to get it. So its a matter of how badly they want it. Since its money in question, I'd say that a variety of organizations and people want it pretty bad.
This reminds me of a quote (the source eludes me at the moment):
"If it can be engineered by one human, it can be reverse-engineered by another human."
Would so many in the US be so hot to leave Iraq if there were not so many American casualties? I personally doubt it.
I agree with this, for the most part. The only reservation that I have with it is that when you compare wars in the middle east (includes the Iraq/Afghanistan wars and Desert Storm) to wars in America's past history, hardly anyone has been killed (again, comparitively). Granted, there have been many MANY casualties on the American side, but not really all that many KIAs.
They have been at all points in history...but every time they succeed, we just come up with something that is harder to get rid of.
I like to think that the Internet and the various services that exist out there now are impossible to get rid of, considering how much the primary governments around the world rely on it. The only way to stop the widespread issues of software and media piracy as they exist on the tubes today would be to wipe out the internet completely.
Considering other technologies that exist nowadays that would allow pirates to continue their digital sharing, I think doing this would cause more harm than good.
This is related to something I was thinking about last night, actually...what with all the suicide bombings going on, and the number of casualties that "the terrorists" must have sustained at this point...won't they eventually start running low on personnel?
I was talking more along the lines of how throughout history, every time some new way of communication allows us (meaning anyone not in power) to communicate amongst each other more efficiently, it is seen as the downfall of civilization.
Hell, even the printing press was initially thought of as a horrible thing for humanity. Where would we be had our leaders been successful in stopping it's spread?
Slashdot Mirror
I'm very much against not voting for someone due to a single issue, but with McCain I am going to ignore my advice. If nothing else, there is a big reason why you shouldn't vote for him. McCain is adamently opposed to Net Neutrality. His reasoning?
"When you control the pipe you should be able to get profit from your investment" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_positions_of_John_McCain#Network_neutrality"
I'm sorry, but I refuse to support someone who is so engrained in thinking about big buisness that they would risk the freedom of the Internet over profits. I'm all for getting the government out of our daily lives, but this is one area where the government needs to step in and slap the telcoms in the face. Hard.
Yes, I understand that they are a buisness. Yes, I understand that it is their goal to make money...and I'm all for that. That is, after all, democracy in action.
Attempting to control the internet in the hopes of increasing profit, however, is inexcusable. The internet wouldn't be where it is today if it weren't open the way that it is, and it will crumble even further into a pile of corporate bullshit moreso than it already has if Net Neutrality is not maintained.
To further your last sentence, I see myself as still being an infant...content to shit where I sleep because I don't know any better.
I've been to other countries and have visited more than half of the states in the USA, but I have lived within 20 miles of where I was born for all of my 23 years. I likely won't really change my ways until I get out of the area... until then I'll just keep sucking the teet.
Then I suppose I'm a stupid asshole.
Look, I have no problem with FOSS software...I think the sense of community that it builds is indicative of where we as a species should be heading towards.
That being said, it's not about morals...it's more of a case of convenience. I hate supporting big companies. But between where I live (Montgomery County, Maryland...in which there is nearly no such thing as a local business when it comes to the big stuff) and my tastes, I don't really have much of an option. I'm happy that you have morals and that you are willing to uphold them, but I'm too lazy for that. I hate the system, and yet I am a picture-perfect example of those born, raised, and living by it. I don't like it, I wish it were different, but they aren't...I'm just sort of floating along with everyone else.
Why do I live that way if I hate it? Because it's easy and it fits into my lifestyle. Horrible? Yes. Am I a bastard for being this way even though I am aware that I am this way? Yes. Am I going to do anything about it? Not at present...although there are plans that involve Colorado and my nearest neighbor being a half mile away. Until then, however, I'll just continue floating along in a nice inflatable raft...I'll jump out when I see a river bank that I can climb up on, but I'm in no rush.
If I go far enough in either direction, I will eventually find land. I'm honestly just too lazy to do that yet.
Yes, because if you really wanted to use IE and the law was the only thing in your way, you would have bought windows by now.
Own anything with a big name brand on it? Or do you own a car that you didn't build? Or perhaps the computer you are typing on...you designed and built all the parts? You DO roll over and get reamed by faceless corporations...
And if you really believe what you are attempting to convince me of...
Do you normally sunbathe in a place that has a non-obstructed view of you sunbathing? If you do, then you have nothing to complain about. It could be the googlevan, it could be a person walking by...it doesn't matter. The google van is no different than someone with a telescopic lense and an internet connection...if you don't want other people to see what you are doing, just don't do it where other people can see you.
There is no change in behavior that needs to take place...there is no alteration to your life that needs to take place. If you are doing something within public view, you are essentially saying that you don't care who sees you (or how many people see you) doing what you are doing.
If you do care about other people seeing you, whether it's one person or ten thousand people, don't do it where other people can see you. If you don't want someone to see you jerking off, don't do it with your shades pulled wide open. This isn't about personal freedom or privacy; it's about common fucking sense.
fixed
What is there to not agree with? It's a web browser.
Look. I can understand wanting to stand up for your beliefs and doing what you think is right, but this is plain stupid. Yes, I said it: it's fucking stupid.
Do you make your own shoes? Or perhaps "grow" your own gas? Did you manufacture all of your own clothing? Did you grow all the fruit and vegetables that you eat, AND pick them yourself? If not, you are saying that you think that child labor, oil companies, and illegal immigrants working are all ok, but no Internet Explorer for you! You couldn't POSSIBLY agree to the terms set forth for using a WEB BROWSER.
Seriously. Stop being absurd.
Or you could just use the combination that I have used to keep my PC spyware/virus free and no reboots except upgrades for three or so years, if not more. AVG, Spybot, and ZoneAlarm (firewall only).
All three programs are free, none of them rob you of any real processing power (or I at least haven't noticed any), they all have VERY frequent updates (which, once again, are free), are easy to setup and use, and make a killer one-two-three punch.
While I agree that there is a lot of innacurate information on Wikipedia, if an article cites it's sources and those sources are legit (i.e. not Joe Blow's House o' Info) then where is the problem in using Wikipedia to back up an argument?
I know that Microsoft put a lot of time and development into Vista, however considering that they are ALREADY publicly speaking about Windows7, I think it just may end up like ME.
No, I was just giving reasons as to why I haven't been upgrading my computer...based on other people I know, it does apply to many folks...it apparently applies to the two other people that responded to my post as well. Other than gaming, we simply have no reason or need to upgrade our towers...and on the gaming side, consoles are taking care of that now. Granted, graphics and control schemes on PC's are for the most part superior, but the capabilities of consoles have more or less caught up to the capabilities of PCs (insofar as gaming is concerned.)
The only thing that I find craftsman tools good for are when you have to cut a open-end/box-end wrench in half and then weld it to another one to make one-off tools (such as for reaching the mounting bolts for the rear airbag suspension in an old Caddy...I could pay $100 for the real tool, or $10 for two wrenches that I weld together. Tough choice.)
That's my point.
Looks like you forgot to check the anonymous box there, bud...oops.
I know it wasn't from Sherlock Holmes, but your quote provides the same basic idea.
Why were you modded down? Must be that time of the month, I suppose...
And for the time when I built that computer, I would typically have one of the most if not the most powerful computer at any LAN that I went to...some of which had 20 people or more at them.
That used to be more or less top notch...and with the modded bios on the VIVO-enabled x800 I had, it performed exactly like its more expensive counterpart. Compared to new stuff today, yes, it pales in comparison...but it was nearly unbeatable for 6 months after I bought it, and it wasn't until recently that I can't play new games on it (and that's mainly due to the video card's shader support etc...or lack thereof)
Shitty beef...shitty chicken...
No they aren't. It's common knowledge about all the stuff that went on behind closed-doors with our current leaders...repubs aren't better at hiding it, they just don't care that they are doing it. Dems are the ones that try to convince you they aren't lying...Repubs say "hey, here is what I have to say, it's full of shit. You know it, I know it, and we also both know you won't do jack about it."
There is definitely a difference.
My computer used to be considered near the top of the pile...2.2 GHz Athlon64 overclocked to 2.7, 2 gigs of Corsair XMS DDR-400, a bios-modded x800, Dell 2005FPW (1680X1050)...even though for games coming out now, it's largely unusable (mainly due to the video card), it runs things like Battlefield 2 and World of Warcraft flawlessly. Seeing as most of my gaming has been done on consoles the past few years, I haven't had a need to upgrade my computer. Spore is actually what is going to cause me to take the dive and do it...but prior to that, I have no reason to.
My system can still browse the net with tons of tabs open, winamp playing, word open, and a few of other things. It's definitely no slouch, and (once again) were it not for spore I still wouldn't plan on doing anything to it.
The advances in speed were much greater in the late '90s/early 00's than they are now...granted, a top notch computer equal in monetary value of my computer when it was new are much faster than what I am using, what I am using is still a fairly decent machine...excellent, if you consider I don't play games on it that are more than two years young.
It's true. It's getting harder and harder to keep folks on the constant upgrade path. I don't know if that's because of changes in the age demographic and levels of disposable income, or what it is...all I know is that I'm MUCH less inclined to drop money every year into my tower than I used to be, even though I can afford it just as easy (if not easier...I'm not living at home like I was 4 years ago, but I'm working full time which I wasn't 4 years ago either. I turn 24 in April, for reference)
This reminds me of a quote (the source eludes me at the moment):
"If it can be engineered by one human, it can be reverse-engineered by another human."
I agree with this, for the most part. The only reservation that I have with it is that when you compare wars in the middle east (includes the Iraq/Afghanistan wars and Desert Storm) to wars in America's past history, hardly anyone has been killed (again, comparitively). Granted, there have been many MANY casualties on the American side, but not really all that many KIAs.
They have been at all points in history...but every time they succeed, we just come up with something that is harder to get rid of.
I like to think that the Internet and the various services that exist out there now are impossible to get rid of, considering how much the primary governments around the world rely on it. The only way to stop the widespread issues of software and media piracy as they exist on the tubes today would be to wipe out the internet completely.
Considering other technologies that exist nowadays that would allow pirates to continue their digital sharing, I think doing this would cause more harm than good.
This is related to something I was thinking about last night, actually...what with all the suicide bombings going on, and the number of casualties that "the terrorists" must have sustained at this point...won't they eventually start running low on personnel?
I was talking more along the lines of how throughout history, every time some new way of communication allows us (meaning anyone not in power) to communicate amongst each other more efficiently, it is seen as the downfall of civilization.
Hell, even the printing press was initially thought of as a horrible thing for humanity. Where would we be had our leaders been successful in stopping it's spread?