The best computer chair I've ever used, and the one I'm currently sitting on, is a hulking La-Z-Boy recliner. It's got a swivel base so I'm not locked in, and a "magic ottoman" so I can put my feet up. Space constraints would make it difficult for some to intall, I guess, but if you have the space, it's the most comfortable chair you'll ever compute from. Combined with a Weber Knapp Co. movable keyboard rack bolted to the underside of my desk, it's computing heaven.
Next time they send one, they should just let it trail a long copper wire linking it back to earth. Better yet, they could use a CAT-5 cable and set it up as the first extra-terrestrial web server.
Re:Stop resisting. Turn it around. Mawasite ageyoo
on
Profiling A Nation
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· Score: 1
As I said, smacking an errant child is not the correct way to handle the situation. The word smack implies a careless, angry attack. This has nothing to do with the question of correct behavior modification patterns for children, but with the question of motive. If a child is whining, you don't haul off and smack him one in anger without thinking. By the same token, you don't monitor corporate officers to gain retribution for the immoral data-harvesting their companies engage in. A corporation doesn't operate like a person; a corporation doesn't have morals. Anything they think they can get away with, they will. Laws are needed to stop them from doing these things. I agree that to get these laws passed, information needs to be gathered on how companies are abusing our information. But that's a far cry from turning the tables on the corporate executives, and even farther from hoping some kind of grass roots campaign is going to make them change their ways.
Re:Stop resisting. Turn it around. Mawasite ageyoo
on
Profiling A Nation
·
· Score: 1
Your idea is interesting, and not without merit, but probably would not be effective. Like smacking an errant child, this is not the correct way to handle the problem. Keeping tabs on companies is a good start, but how many people are really going to pay attention to which companies are stealing our data and which ones aren't? And suppose it turns out all computer manufacturers abuse your data, do you stop buying computers? The only lasting and effective solution to the privacy problem is to get laws passed making buying habits, demographic information, etc. the exclusive property of the person generating the information.
Just out of curiosity, has anyone been able to run Linux on a PC emulation program on a Mac, for instance Connectix Virtual PC? I tried it, failed, and gave up, and I'm curious to know if anyone else has had better luck. Would this even be possible?
Computers are a very difficult subject for the media to portray. A glitzy, hollywood approach with flashing screens and 3D GUIs will make those familiar with computers laugh with contempt, while a realistic view will alienate the rest, leaving them bored and perhaps confused. Since both groups will at least understand (if not appreciate) an oversimplified portrayal, that's what invariably is used. Also, a realistic view of computers might greatly impact the usefulness of hacking as a plot device. It's not programmers, after all, who write the scripts.
Slashdot Mirror
Is anyone else upset by the association of adopting linux with encouraging hackers? Do hackers not use other operating systems?
The best computer chair I've ever used, and the one I'm currently sitting on, is a hulking La-Z-Boy recliner. It's got a swivel base so I'm not locked in, and a "magic ottoman" so I can put my feet up. Space constraints would make it difficult for some to intall, I guess, but if you have the space, it's the most comfortable chair you'll ever compute from. Combined with a Weber Knapp Co. movable keyboard rack bolted to the underside of my desk, it's computing heaven.
Strange to see a link to a fear-mongering article on Slashdot so soon after the anti-fear-mongering Y2K pledge.
Next time they send one, they should just let it trail a long copper wire linking it back to earth. Better yet, they could use a CAT-5 cable and set it up as the first extra-terrestrial web server.
As I said, smacking an errant child is not the correct way to handle the situation. The word smack implies a careless, angry attack. This has nothing to do with the question of correct behavior modification patterns for children, but with the question of motive. If a child is whining, you don't haul off and smack him one in anger without thinking. By the same token, you don't monitor corporate officers to gain retribution for the immoral data-harvesting their companies engage in. A corporation doesn't operate like a person; a corporation doesn't have morals. Anything they think they can get away with, they will. Laws are needed to stop them from doing these things. I agree that to get these laws passed, information needs to be gathered on how companies are abusing our information. But that's a far cry from turning the tables on the corporate executives, and even farther from hoping some kind of grass roots campaign is going to make them change their ways.
Your idea is interesting, and not without merit, but probably would not be effective. Like smacking an errant child, this is not the correct way to handle the problem. Keeping tabs on companies is a good start, but how many people are really going to pay attention to which companies are stealing our data and which ones aren't? And suppose it turns out all computer manufacturers abuse your data, do you stop buying computers? The only lasting and effective solution to the privacy problem is to get laws passed making buying habits, demographic information, etc. the exclusive property of the person generating the information.
Just out of curiosity, has anyone been able to run Linux on a PC emulation program on a Mac, for instance Connectix Virtual PC? I tried it, failed, and gave up, and I'm curious to know if anyone else has had better luck. Would this even be possible?
Computers are a very difficult subject for the media to portray. A glitzy, hollywood approach with flashing screens and 3D GUIs will make those familiar with computers laugh with contempt, while a realistic view will alienate the rest, leaving them bored and perhaps confused. Since both groups will at least understand (if not appreciate) an oversimplified portrayal, that's what invariably is used. Also, a realistic view of computers might greatly impact the usefulness of hacking as a plot device. It's not programmers, after all, who write the scripts.