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User: sjames

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  1. Re:The kernel is GPL, you can change it ... on Software Freedom Conservancy Funds GPL Suit Against VMWare · · Score: 1

    If it's a non issue, they should release the modified source and be done with it. They've had 3 years to do so and flatly refuse, so the law suit.

  2. I'm just waiting for the first computer virus that makes the user sick. M.D.s will have to get used to diagnosing patients with a bout of BarfOrama 2.6.

  3. Re:The kernel is GPL, you can change it ... on Software Freedom Conservancy Funds GPL Suit Against VMWare · · Score: 1

    But then they MUST offer the modified source to anyone they distribute a binary to. They also get to field all of the support issues since the kernel maintainers won't touch a bug report if the kernel is tainted by a non-free module (for good reason).

  4. Re:Two things on Facebook Rant Lands US Man In UAE Jail · · Score: 1

    That's more akin to extradition. You broke a N.J. law while in N.J.

  5. Re:When in Rome on Facebook Rant Lands US Man In UAE Jail · · Score: 3, Insightful

    And he spent significant time in foreign jail far from home anyway. Far too much time considering that the charges were obviously inappropriate.

  6. Re:I'm dying of curiousity on Software Freedom Conservancy Funds GPL Suit Against VMWare · · Score: 1

    The diagram was fairly clear that various large parts of the Linux kernel are modified and incorporated into the vmkernel. It doesn't say exactly what parts but at least one of them is the SCSI subsystem.

  7. Re:I'm dying of curiousity on Software Freedom Conservancy Funds GPL Suit Against VMWare · · Score: 1

    The deciding factor is whether or not it is using the defined API. If so, it is mere use and not derivation.

    If the kernel has to be modified to add an API, there would be a clear violation. If the driver is digging underneath the public API, it is on very shaky ground.

    In the case of the Linux kernel, the line has been made very clear for modules. The module declares it's license and the kernel decides based on that what will or will not be linked.

  8. Re:I'm dying of curiousity on Software Freedom Conservancy Funds GPL Suit Against VMWare · · Score: 2

    That may have started it, but keep in mind, talks have been ongoing for several years now. They have had every opportunity to correct the problem. The suit didn't happen until VMware made it clear that they have no intention of remedying the situation.

  9. Re:The poison pin ... on Quebecker Faces Jail For Not Giving Up Phone Password To Canadian Officials · · Score: 1

    Until they put the video cameras in, it works.

    After that, it becomes "I was flustered by their officiousness and implied threats. I must have gotten confused.

  10. Re:Important information for TV producers on A Critical Look At CSI: Cyber · · Score: 1

    True, but it does take longer than 30 seconds to figure out most software that way.

  11. Re:Great, now we can all act... on A Critical Look At CSI: Cyber · · Score: 1

    OTOH, CSI has annoyed prosecutors everywhere by priming jurors to expect actual evidence. That's not a bad thing.

  12. Re:The poison pin ... on Quebecker Faces Jail For Not Giving Up Phone Password To Canadian Officials · · Score: 1

    And you reply that they must have fat fingered it and somehow entered the wipe code rather then the perfectly good pin you told them.

  13. Re:Edible Phones on Quebecker Faces Jail For Not Giving Up Phone Password To Canadian Officials · · Score: 4, Funny

    Surely an invention like this calls for an investment in chocolate coins.

  14. Re:The Left is in charge on French Nuclear Industry In Turmoil As Manufacturer Buckles · · Score: 1

    I've been hearing that since the '80s.

  15. Re:Storage on World's First Lagoon Power Plants Unveiled In UK · · Score: 1

    I guess you don't know how the grid actually works. It does NOT involve running wires directly from the generator to some distant location. Again, I don't know that much about how it's set up in the UK, but physics there is the same as in the US. In the US, electricity is often sold across multiple states (easily far enough to reach another country in Europe). even when it's generated with fossil fuels. Since losing money isn't a popular hobby, I would have to say it makes economic sense.

  16. Two part problem on Why We Should Stop Hiding File-Name Extensions · · Score: 1

    It's a problem in two parts, but what it really comes down to is that when you double click, you don't actually know if data will be viewed or a program will execute. Is it REALLY a surprise to anyone that that's a gamble you will lose sooner or later?

    Fundamentally, having the same action mean more than one thing is asking for trouble. There needs to be one action to open and another to execute.

    Next, the icons themselves should indicate an executable even if it does not end in .EXE. Some sort of emblem should take care of it.

  17. Re:Storage on World's First Lagoon Power Plants Unveiled In UK · · Score: 1

    How does this excess electricity get to non-local consumers? There is significant line loss over long distances and the grid has to have the capacity to carry it.

    Given that the grid exists and power is sold on it now, it stands to reason that it can be done in an economically sound manner. Otherwise it wouldn't exist.

  18. Re:Secure is now illegal on Police Could Charge Data Center Operators In the Largest Child Porn Bust Ever · · Score: 1

    While there may be information in this instance we don't have access to, on it's face there is no reason whatsoever to believe the datacenter knew what the customer was storing. They generally don't unless it is specifically pointed out.

    Too many of these investigations are way too close to the old witch trial where they toss you in the river and if you drown you're innocent (but dead) and if you float you're a witch so they burn you. It's about as logical as seeing if they weigh the same as a duck.

  19. Re:Morale of the Story on How a Kickstarter Project Can Massively Exceed Its Funding Goals and Still Fail · · Score: 1

    Those things always have fuzzy lines. Most likely the standard would be if a reasonable person might expect the expenditure to further the goal (answer, yes). Buying a Ferrari for the CEO certainly is not but hiring a software developer for a product that needs software clearly is a reasonable step.

    If it gives you some idea how liberally the courts interpret those things, look at the various boards paying huge salaries and 'performance' bonuses to CEOs during bad years that don't get buried in shareholder suits.

    But not to stray too far from the point, that language and other notices in the FAQs that they are not a store tend to show that their intent is not to be a mail (or web) order business. In fact they specifically state that they are not.

  20. Re:Parody on Gritty 'Power Rangers' Short Is Not Fair Use · · Score: 1

    By the same token, all it takes is one person seeing or just hearing about it going on a nostalgia trip and buying the set for their own kids to watch for it to benefit.

  21. Re:Parody on Gritty 'Power Rangers' Short Is Not Fair Use · · Score: 2

    copyrighting fucking chords progressions and beats

    We're close. George Harrison was sued for 3 notes. What's worse, the case dragged on so many years and with ownership passed around so many times that by the time a verdict was reached, Harrison was both parties. Too bizarre to make it up!

  22. Re:Interesting idea, nasty downsides on New Seagate Shingled Hard Drive Teardown · · Score: 1

    You can do 3 drives /mirror to considerably reduce your risk. Even when you pull a drive for the vault, you still have a mirrored volume.

  23. Re:Storage on World's First Lagoon Power Plants Unveiled In UK · · Score: 1

    Why 6 times a day? Why would an industrial user care how many times a day as long as the duty cycle is adequate? Given the equal spacing of events, many of the low points in production would be in the middle of the night when demand is low.

    If you'll note the terms I listed for residential a/c, that's potentially more than 6 a day.

    In addition, when supply is high and local demand is low, they could always sell the excess.

  24. Re:Morale of the Story on How a Kickstarter Project Can Massively Exceed Its Funding Goals and Still Fail · · Score: 1

    You just proved you're one of those people who didn't read. I quote (same page, a couple graphs down from yours):

    If a creator is unable to complete their project and fulfill rewards, they’ve failed to live up to the basic obligations of this agreement. To right this, they must make every reasonable effort to find another way of bringing the project to the best possible conclusion for backers. A creator in this position has only remedied the situation and met their obligations to backers if:

    • they post an update that explains what work has been done, how funds were used, and what prevents them from finishing the project as planned;
    • they work diligently and in good faith to bring the project to the best possible conclusion in a timeframe that’s communicated to backers; they’re able to demonstrate that they’ve used funds appropriately and made every reasonable effort to complete the project as promised;
    • they’ve been honest, and have made no material misrepresentations in their communication to backers; and
    • they offer to return any remaining funds to backers who have not received their reward (in proportion to the amounts pledged), or else explain how those funds will be used to complete the project in some alternate form.

    That's it for the remedies, make best effort, look for alternatives, say what went wrong and how the money was spent, and offer to return whatever is left. They've done all of that.

  25. Re:Storage on World's First Lagoon Power Plants Unveiled In UK · · Score: 1

    I don't know about the UK, but in the US MANY manufacturers make such arrangements with their power provider, including interruptable service that can go down at will.

    They typically connect the interruptable feed to large freezers that can coast for days on thermal mass without harm. It is usually done to shave the peaks.

    It's not that uncommon in datacenters. In that case, there are contractual limits on how often it can go down and how long at a time.

    It's also fairly common for residential customers to agree to an interrupter on their A/C in exchange for a modest bit significant discount. Last time I saw an agreement for that, power could be cut for up to 30 minutes at a time with not less than 30 minutes power on following.