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User: BorgAssimilator

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  1. Re:Few things on Hosting a Highly Inflammatory Document? · · Score: 1

    But your (possible) name and location are already on teh intertubes relating to a about-to-be-released inflammatory document.

    While that's true, it still doesn't link the person to the document, so they're sill ok.

    Actually, let me rephrase that: They _should_ be ok. There is no direct evidence that connects the two, just circumstantial evidence. However, even though I don't think that would be enough to prove anything, you never know with this government... (oh, and IANAL)

  2. Re:Slashdot achievements on Slashdot Launches User Achievements · · Score: 1

    I'm really confused.... Yes.

  3. Re:Fuck IE on Microsoft.com Makes IE8 Incompatibility List · · Score: 1

    Playing devil's advocate here for a second:

    What do you mean by "simple little html table"? I just tried making a really simple table and it looked pretty much the same... the default font was slightly different but that's to be expected, and doesn't prove incompatibility by itself.

    Note: Sorry for responding to a flame, but I didn't have any mod points :-(

  4. Re:I've noticed... on Don't Like EULAs? Get Your Cat To Agree To Them · · Score: 1

    This is true. But just because you look at a EULA doesn't mean you agree to it. So like you start the installer, and while you're waiting for it to do all the crap it does when it's starting, you get a drink. Then it automatically shows the EULA. Your cat then proceeds to walk over the keyboard and accepts it, getting you to the screen that asks you where you want to install the program. You then come back and continue the installation. Oh, and to make it a bit more believable, you _can_ do everything with a keyboard, and the space bar (which is the key that would check the checkbox) _is_ fairly big.

    But yes, I agree we're dealing with obscurity that probably wouldn't work anyhow...

  5. I've noticed... on Don't Like EULAs? Get Your Cat To Agree To Them · · Score: 1

    ...the argument which is stated in above comments frequently, is that since the device was created to allow the cat to accept the EULA, that it's giving the cat permission to act in your behalf (or however you want to state "allowing it to be tracked back to you").

    This may be true. However, what if the cat just randomly walks across your keyboard and hits the correct button without any direct help? It seems to me that the above situation would discount that argument (even though I'm sure lawyers could find something else, obviously).

  6. Re:Many stations switchin anyway... on US Digital TV Switchover Delayed Until June · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Um... the TV stations should be able to do whatever the hell they want. If they screw up, they'll pay for it by people not watching them which could lead them going out of business, but that doesn't mean that people have a right to tell the company what to do directly.

  7. Re:Many stations switchin anyway... on US Digital TV Switchover Delayed Until June · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I applaud those stations. The confusion coming from the government is _not_ being fair to the television stations.

  8. Re:Nonsense on Why Windows Must (and Will) Go Open Source · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I tend to agree. Granted, they're going to have to change something or they'll _eventually_ fall behind. It'll take a while though... They may even need to reduce the cost of the OS at some point. However, that being said, I don't think they'll ever _need_ to open source any of it to stay in business.

    Disclaimer: I'm not a business expert and the above statement could just be coming out of my ass.

  9. Magic: The Gathering on Why Do We Name Servers the Way We Do? · · Score: 1

    So it may not be the most intuitive thing, but I name my computers after Magic cards:

    [rabid] wombat: workstation
    sustainer of the realm: router ('sotr' for short)
    thalid: old workstation
    dreamcache: fileserver
    glory: server
    stormscape [familiar]: laptop

    I like to attach the actual cards to the machines after I name them. It's fun.

    My roommate uses names from The Silmarillion.

  10. Vague on South Carolina Seeking To Outlaw Profanity · · Score: 2, Interesting

    According to the bill it would become a felony (punishable by a fine up to $5000 or up to 5 years in prison) to "publish orally or in writing, exhibit, or otherwise make available material containing words, language, or actions of a profane, vulgar, lewd, lascivious, or indecent nature"

    Isn't that a little vague? Now, I don't really know that much about laws, but I did hear once that there's some kind of law in effect that keeps a bill from being passed unless it is specific enough. If a law like that exists, I wouldn't think this bill would meet that requirement.

    Either way though, this certainly seems to violate that first amendment thing...

  11. Re:Kinda makes me wonder on Congressman Wants Health Warnings On Video Games · · Score: 1

    Kinda makes me wonder how bullshit the warnings on cigarettes are.

    But at least those warnings have scientific proof behind them, even if they did get there by some corrupt political agenda. There's no scientific basis behind this at all.

  12. Re:...What? on What Restrictions Should Student Laptops Have? · · Score: 1

    I like the idea. Locking them down during just school hours then "releasing" them would be a nice system. There are definitely some good methods (like the one you mentioned) that implement a system that has a good balance between the restrictions needed by the school and the freedom needed by the students, which is really the main challenge here.

  13. And even if the kids don't mind... on What Restrictions Should Student Laptops Have? · · Score: 4, Interesting

    (I apologize for responding to my own comment, but this whole monitoring thing really gets to me.)

    I can see how you'd want to make sure to block bad content for the kids, especially to maybe protect you from lawsuits of some kind (IANAL), but you can have filters and whatnot set up without this remote monitoring stuff.

    But lets say that the kids didn't mind people seeing what they did on these machines; how do you think the parents would feel about someone being able to spy on their kid that extensively? I really don't see that going over well at all...

  14. Re:...What? on What Restrictions Should Student Laptops Have? · · Score: 1

    I'm sure there were reasons. Hopefully more than just the "because they're pretty" reasons.

    And I doubt the students would have the know how to hack mac either. Then again, is there something keeping them from re-formatting the machines other than manually checking to see if an administrator can still log into it? I guess you could have something to verify some sort of signed installation, or maybe you could just secure the hard drive (like make it so they can't physically remove it) and not let them boot from any cd or flash drive... but it just seems like a lot of work with really no result... Plus, it's a really stupid idea if you let the kids purchase them after use...

  15. No offense... on What Restrictions Should Student Laptops Have? · · Score: 5, Insightful

    We also have the ability to monitor any machine remotely, lock the machine down at certain hours, prevent the installation of any software by the user, and prevent the use of iChat.

    No offense or anything, but I wouldn't touch one of those with a 10 foot pole with those restrictions, especially with the "monitor any machine remotely" part.

  16. Re:Ouch, my eyes! on Christmas Tree Made From 70 SCSI Hard Drives · · Score: 1

    Same thing?

  17. Re:They'll do it because they think they can on Why a Music Tax Is a Bad Idea · · Score: 1

    It's an easy way to get money:
    Tag the students that haven't agreed on said music tax and sue them. Chances are they've "stolen" at least a small amount of music right? Besides, even if they haven't, they'll most likely settle because of those really high court fees.

  18. Re:If it's true I bet I can guess who it is... on Apple Believes Someone Is Behind Psystar · · Score: 1

    It's an interesting idea, but the problem is that most people just don't care. The people that the commercial would be geared towards are the same people that have opinions which wouldn't be changed by it.

    Also, it's assuming that there won't ever be a clone that will match the power of Apple branded hardware. It might not happen, but you never know.

  19. Re:What a reception on Look What's Cooking At Microsoft Labs · · Score: 1

    How DARE you post a comment here on /. that suggests Microsoft creates something that actually works! Don't you know that they're a large corporate entity and because of such they can't ever do anything good?

  20. Re:Where is the tag.... on Apple's New MacBooks Have Built-In Copy Protection · · Score: 1

    It's implied. Everyone here on /. has heard way too many explanations on why DRM sucks, and it's accepted as the majority view here. Why keep preaching to the choir? It's a waste of resources.

  21. Re:Headed in the wrong direction on "Minority Report"-Like Control For PC · · Score: 1

    Actually, that is something to consider. In Star Trek everyone is constantly pushing on flat interfaces everywhere. I would think that I'd get pretty bored with that fairly quickly. Tom Paris did, which led him to creating basic button, switch, and lever controls for the Delta Flyer.

  22. Re:hmm.. on "Minority Report"-Like Control For PC · · Score: 1

    Track eye movements. A wink is a click. A two-eyed wink could be back, or escape. Such a system could work with goggles or sci-fi contact lenses.

    Yeah, but think of all the random muscle spasms that would come out of that. It would get really annoying really quickly...

  23. Re:1000 years of darkness coming to an end? on Google Sheds Light On 'Dark Web' With PDF Search · · Score: 2, Informative

    Well yes, but it doesn't mean that no one will want to try and find it.

    Just look at /b/...

  24. Skype? on Good Open Source, Multi-Platform, Secure IM Client? · · Score: 0, Redundant

    I've heard good and bad things about Skype. They say that they have encryption, but other "security experts" have said that it's not secure enough for businesses (however, I have no sources to that effect). I use it on occasion to talk to fellow employees, and I like the features it brings (such as the video conferencing capabilities), even if the interface is ugly.

    Then again, skype is more voip than instant messaging, so it may not be what you're looking for. Still, I'd consider it (despite its problems)

  25. Re:Interview with David Tennant on David Tennant Stands Down From "Doctor Who" · · Score: 1

    All of the things he wrote were the same if you stop and think about it. Always some massive problem with no way of fixing it, then one little thing happens and all the enemies go bye-bye.

    Also, the "fat babbies" episode (S04E01)? wtf? Did that even have a plot?