Whenever the subject of open source databases comes up, everyone talks about the usual suspects:
MySQL
Postgresql
Occasionally, Interbase gets a mention.
No-one ever seems to mention SAP DB. I'm no database expert, and I would really like to hear what people think of it. How does it compare to MySQL, Postgresql and Interbase on features?
Forget Katz's review of the this movie, check out Mr. Cranky's instead - and while you're at it, check out his review of Antitrust too... all too accurate.
I've just signed up for Lloyds TSB online banking (in the UK). It works just fine without Javascript, and in Netscape under Linux. It needs cookies, but I was pleasantly surprised.
I'm surprised there was no mention of cyber-guru Kevin Warwick. The man's a genius.
Hehe. Actually Kevin is a buffoon with enough letters after his name to fool clueless media types (and even, shockingly, the Royal Institution) into believing his drivel. The only thing he's a genius at is self-promotion... he's quite well known in the UK tech community now. Visit the site above for an update on his activities.
I'll keep this brief (unlike the rambling article).
The article was not rambling - it was an account of the visit. It set the scene and described the atmosphere. Some of us appreciate such things, rather than just "xxx visited yyy".
However, I must ask what kind of sycophancy inspired this article?
I didn't see any sycophancy, but I did see an honest respect for the man. I'm not suprised you didn't recognise it though... respect is not something I'd expect you to get every often.
and I hate it when people refer to things as brain-damaged, comparing two things that aren't intended to serve the same purpose.
and I hate pedants. Actually, the dos command line was intended to serve the same purpose as a unix shell. It's not just a matter of being simplified, it really was/is stupid, badly designed and poorly implemented... in other words: brain-damaged.
But hey, if you like UNIX, don't let me stop you. I think the power and transparency are nice, the cryptic interface has to go.
Hey, if you stopped ranting for sec you might have understood what I was saying. I *know* there are tasks for which a command line is unsuitable... for a start it's hard to learn... but primitive it ain't. What's primitive is having to click though the same options a hundred times just so I can repeat the same action on, for example, a hundred users. A 'primitve' shell script sorts that out in no time. Conversly I like organising my files using a GUI. No single interface is good for everything.
Primitive is a word thrown around by windows users brainwashed into thinking that newer is *always* better.
Is anyone else sick of Windows people saying "primitive command line"?
Maybe it's because they used to be forced into using the DOS command line - a brain-damaged version of a unix shell.
I recently heard it from a guy who flunked out of a Solaris sysadmin teaching program. Apparently, he couldn't handle having to compile up Apache... following the instructions was too much for him (how he expected to sysadmin without basic computer knowledge, and why he thought he should be paid £30,000+ is another matter).
Why can't these people realise there is more than one way to access a computer - and that a command line is often the best for certain jobs, and a GUI for others?
The NHS is an excellent system, but it needs cash, badly. I'd gladly pay an extra 10% tax on my grossly inflated earnings, if that was what it took. Sadly, now that the age of conviction politics has given way to soundbite politics, that will never happen.
Well said. My father was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer, by his NHS doctor (caught early). He was given all the options, and followed the consultant's recommendation to have it completely removed. He was taken into hospital and treated superbly by the best team of doctors in the country for this condition. His hospital stay was short and pleasant (as pleasant as any hospital stay can be) and he is almost fully recovered.
It's fashionable in the UK to bash the NHS, but it really is excellent in most cases. Yes it has its problems, but I simply cannot imagine the situation if he had to pay for treatment. He could not have afforded it.
And yeah, I know this is off-topic, but I've wanted to get this off my chest for ages.
Slashdot Mirror
Microsoft already has an early form of the Matrix - it's called .Net.
Now it's bought the name to go with it.
A VA Linux stock certificate.
Whenever the subject of open source databases comes up, everyone talks about the usual suspects:
No-one ever seems to mention SAP DB. I'm no database expert, and I would really like to hear what people think of it. How does it compare to MySQL, Postgresql and Interbase on features?
It's a shame that no-one thought of a Katz article as an April fool joke, eg:
Review: Blow
Posted by JonKatz
I liked it.
Interesting that the UK moderation board are getting less and less strict
No kidding. Watch Channel 4 on Saturday night/Sunday morning (the 4 Later segment).
Karaoke fishtank
Pets
Vids
They are all swear-fests (funny though).
Only loosely on-topic here but, on the subject of British TV being shown in the U.S:
Have you seen Spaced? It's a brilliant geek comedy. They have an episode with a wonderful piss-take of Robot Wars and Fight Club called "Robot Club".
The first rule of Robot Club is: You don't talk about Robot Club!
If the Slashdot editors really wanted to play April Fool, they should post bullshit stories all day... and give everyone 50 mod points.
The resulting chaos would definitely be memorable.
Adrian Braybrook (sp?)
Andrew Braybrook - and he wrote a fantastic diary while creating Paradroid, for a magazine called Zzap 64!
I loved every minute of it. I was surprised to find just how many other people remember it fondly too. You can read it here.
And what're his pings going to look like from almost 49 million miles away?
Probably a lot like any AOL user.
An interplanetary internet...
I can finally finger Uranus!
Don't mod me down, I've waited years to make that joke.
Forget Katz's review of the this movie, check out Mr. Cranky's instead - and while you're at it, check out his review of Antitrust too... all too accurate.
What the fuck makes you think I care whether you find it funny or not?
Jeez. What a tool.
I've just signed up for Lloyds TSB online banking (in the UK). It works just fine without Javascript, and in Netscape under Linux. It needs cookies, but I was pleasantly surprised.
I'm surprised there was no mention of cyber-guru Kevin Warwick. The man's a genius.
Hehe. Actually Kevin is a buffoon with enough letters after his name to fool clueless media types (and even, shockingly, the Royal Institution) into believing his drivel. The only thing he's a genius at is self-promotion ... he's quite well known in the UK tech community now. Visit the site above for an update on his activities.
Oh baby ... oh baby ... OH BABY show me those sweeeet MIPS honey.
Offtopic?
Morons
I propose a challenge.
Slashdost posts two stories:
We'll see which one gets breaks the 500 comment barrier first!
Heh. I had exactly the same response to his comment! It creeps me out every time I hear someone mention focus at work.
If you haven't read A Deepness In The Sky get it now.
The article was not rambling - it was an account of the visit. It set the scene and described the atmosphere. Some of us appreciate such things, rather than just "xxx visited yyy".
I didn't see any sycophancy, but I did see an honest respect for the man. I'm not suprised you didn't recognise it though... respect is not something I'd expect you to get every often.
just because you dont like or agree with it, doesn't make it crap.
100% correct. The fact that it doesn't work very well, and never did is what makes it crap
and I hate it when people refer to things as brain-damaged, comparing two things that aren't intended to serve the same purpose.
and I hate pedants. Actually, the dos command line was intended to serve the same purpose as a unix shell. It's not just a matter of being simplified, it really was/is stupid, badly designed and poorly implemented ... in other words: brain-damaged.
But hey, if you like UNIX, don't let me stop you. I think the power and transparency are nice, the cryptic interface has to go.
Hey, if you stopped ranting for sec you might have understood what I was saying. I *know* there are tasks for which a command line is unsuitable ... for a start it's hard to learn ... but primitive it ain't. What's primitive is having to click though the same options a hundred times just so I can repeat the same action on, for example, a hundred users. A 'primitve' shell script sorts that out in no time. Conversly I like organising my files using a GUI. No single interface is good for everything.
Primitive is a word thrown around by windows users brainwashed into thinking that newer is *always* better.
Is anyone else sick of Windows people saying "primitive command line"?
Maybe it's because they used to be forced into using the DOS command line - a brain-damaged version of a unix shell.
I recently heard it from a guy who flunked out of a Solaris sysadmin teaching program. Apparently, he couldn't handle having to compile up Apache ... following the instructions was too much for him (how he expected to sysadmin without basic computer knowledge, and why he thought he should be paid £30,000+ is another matter).
Why can't these people realise there is more than one way to access a computer - and that a command line is often the best for certain jobs, and a GUI for others?
The NHS is an excellent system, but it needs cash, badly. I'd gladly pay an extra 10% tax on my grossly inflated earnings, if that was what it took. Sadly, now that the age of conviction politics has given way to soundbite politics, that will never happen.
Well said. My father was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer, by his NHS doctor (caught early). He was given all the options, and followed the consultant's recommendation to have it completely removed. He was taken into hospital and treated superbly by the best team of doctors in the country for this condition. His hospital stay was short and pleasant (as pleasant as any hospital stay can be) and he is almost fully recovered.
It's fashionable in the UK to bash the NHS, but it really is excellent in most cases. Yes it has its problems, but I simply cannot imagine the situation if he had to pay for treatment. He could not have afforded it.
And yeah, I know this is off-topic, but I've wanted to get this off my chest for ages.
Metallica Remains Silent
Phew. Thank you Napster!