I always liked Douglas Adams for his warped sense of humour and perspective but have oft wondered what the population at large saw in him. I even once converted part of one his books into a small play for college.
That being said, his appeal seem rather limitied to certain segments of the population such as science and IT types. So, let me ask, why do people like him so much?
Rambus seems to forget their attempt to shanghai the entire memory business through fraud a few years ago. Perhaps they should be reminded that the IT community has not. They should sell their IP and disolve themselves to avoid losing their stockholders any more money.
I have adamantly refused to purchase any system that would use their memory for years, and more to the point have made that decision for others that depend on me making that decision. That's a lot of computers over the years were talking about. I am also far from alone.
Look, most COTS is crap, most homebuilt apps are crap. It's all a matter of finding the right tool to do the job. One isn't neccasarily better than the other. It would be foolish for a financial firm to design their own own in-house word processor for example. However they would almost certainly need their own in-house software to handle a lot of the back of the house.
What I've often seen get ugly though is when people design their own custom software around COTS. If you do something like that and the COTS house says they won't support it you can be at their mercy and they don't have to do a damn thing. I'm on one project now using such a solution and the project has lost millions - and their contractually obligated to fill it out.
The important thing one way or another is to set design limitation early and stick with them. The second important thing is to listen to the people who are going to use the software on a day to day basis when they say that something is a problem or would be useful. Failure to appease the people using the software can often carry more weight than success at appeasing management and their lofty goals.
Lets try this from another viewpoint. Anti-gun people please feel free how to tell me this should be an ok thing to do to your first amendment rights.
"Eurekalert reports that smart printing technology actually works. According to the press release, smart printers demonstrated by the NJIT, can recognise authorised users utilising "sixteen electronic computerized sensors embedded in the printer's grip" and "Under New Jersey law, passed in Dec. 2002, only smart printers can be purchased in the state three years after personalized printers become commercially available. Lautenberg said New Jersey's legislative effort to introduce smart printer technology should be a national model for the country"."
While you are out in public it's pretty hard to expect to have privacy, but there should be some limits. It may be legal to take a picture of a celebrity you run into at a bar, but following them home, to work, and everywhere else for weeks on end would get you convicted of stalking in most places. That is essentially what the police did here.
Some kinds of limits need imposed, just as in most places a cop can't follow you 12 miles to see if you break any traffic laws. The question isn't if it's legal to do to some extent, the question is what is the appropriate extent? What are the limits of public surveilance and privacy?
Also, 'circular' orbits, like the earths or mars or Jupiters, are fairly rare on a random scale of things
Thought here on this, would circular orbit systems become more common with time as worlds collide or spin into space? In other words, whilst eliptical orbits are more common in young systems, would older systems balance themselves into more circular orbits over time?
The number sounds like FUD, once we get past the variants how many truely original viruses are there? I would imagine that very few original viruses have ever been created, the overwhelming majority are nothing more than variations on someone else's work.
Good points, thought about them and had a couple of thoughts.
Their desktop tool records all kinds of past information, their email is intended to be kept for a significant amount of time. It only seems natural to have an im client that could record your conversations and be accessible through gmail. Use gmail to handle the contacts and to search past conversations.
Many people already record their im sessions anyways. When you consider the growth of instant message against email, esp in countries like South Korea where email is something "old people" use, it's the natural growth opportunity. They could make a fortune having real time ads for britney or whatever else.
Besides, who says you can't have unobtusive ads that reflects the topic at hand? It's googles ability to have unobtrusive ads that has much to do with their success as their search engine itself.
I'm still waiting for the Google instant messaging client that will link right Gmail. It strikes me as the one truely obvious thing that Google hasn't done yet.
Well, if you insist on making an ass of yourself.
No, I did not vote for Bush, I actively worked against his election campaign.
Let me ask, how much international food aid do you see that doesnt have "USA" printed on it somewhere? What country do you live in, I'm curious if it's one of the few that hasn't had it's ass bailed out by the US. What nation gives more than any other, I'll give you a hint it's not France.
What nation do you purport as an ideallistic good nation, it won't take long to tear it apart. Unfortunately we have assholes that would rather rake the coals of hatred than try to resolve anything. Can't blame you really, it's much easier to tear something down than build it up.
Fark picked this up and it has already become a blame America flame fest ~ how long until the same here on Slashdot. Come on, surely someone can tell me how this is America's fault?
How is it bad news to have something historical placed directly in a museum where it can be properly preserved? Think of the early Wright Flyers which are only chuncks of the original with best research replacement parts. They have learned from this one, it has done what it was meant to do, be a proof of concept. Now they are doing what they need to do, capitalize on said proof of concept with something more practical.
Phooey.
What people forget is that a radical message is still a radical message. Just because you have the ability to have millions read your latest crackpot theory doesn't make it any more likely for those masses to believe it than it does in the real world.
Afterall, if you were to believe the blogs, W would have gotten his ass kicked in the 2004 election. Whilst they have established a certain level of power, they are still not news, and the masses know it. And this is coming from someone who'se had stories post in blog type sites that have been reprinted internationally.
This is exactly the kind of semantic pissing contest that turns people off of open source people. Don't give this thing the wings it so richly doesn't deserve.
And here I thought the whole hacker v cracker debacle was silly. Be grateful for what comes and stop looking gift horses in the mouth.
Once you start you can't stop. Seriously, its next to impossible to ever go back to being a "real" employee. I know people from 1 to 25 years experience and not a one of them can get a real job. The only thing anyone can get is a contract. As a result almost all of them have no health insurance, retirement or loyalty.
If you do sign a contract, get it put in your contract that you will become an actual employee after a certain number of days. Otherwise you may find your 90 days becomes 200 (hello target). As a contractor you get to walk on eggshells constantly no matter if your a flunky or project manager. If your a real employee you get wonderful things like benefits. You'll also discover a fair number of programs for laid off people won't help you if were a contractor.
I did see the PDA / Phone combo, but it was around $400 - out of my price range. Unfortunately they had jack squat below that. I finally ended up buying a closeout audiovox model. I would have happily laid out $200 for the right cell phone, more than most of their models, but didn't have the option.
Not so. I have been provided a cell phone on only a handful of contracts over the years. Without question it is an expectation I have seen from almost every contract I have ever done to have my own cell phone. It is considered as much an expected tool of the trade as a laptop or screwdriver. What I have seen far more commonly is to be reimbursed my cell phone bill whilst on contract.
I cant think of a single contract I have been on in the last decade where a personal cell phone was not allowed. Perhaps retail pulls that kind of thing, but I haven't seen it in industry or government yet. The reality of the matter is that many contracts are on short notice and do not last long enough to justify issuing a cell phone. This does not change the fact that a cell phone is still very much needed on these contracts.
I recently had to replace my cell phone with another as the old unit was wearing out. I went into the Verizon store and explained that I needed a phone without a camera.
They looked at me like I was on crack. I was shown the prepaid phones with an insinuation that I must be too cheap to afford the camera phones. I then had to explain that I was already a customer and had no interest in prepaid.
They could not get past this point. After 20 minutes I finally got them to show me the phones they had that met my requirements. Tri-mode and no camera. They had 3 in the entire store left (large store btw) that met these requirements. One of these was a close out model that wasn't being made anymore.
I tried explaining to them that I work in areas that a camera is NOT allowed in. I explained that turning the camera off wasn't going to cut it on a government or banking contract. They just didn't get it.
I have to have a phone for my work. I can't have a camera, and I know I am far from alone.
It's time the environmentalists movement wake up and realize that their real opposition to "nuclear" everything to do with it's military connections. They would rather the planet continue to suffer radiation on a daily level from coal power plants exceeding three mile island than to let the word nuclear lose it's negative connotation.
Without question the green party and it's movement are the largest impediment to nuclear energy out there. It's a power trip really, one that has no scientific weight. Now the good news is that some of the greens are starting to realize that their opposition to nuclear power had everything to do with politics and nothing to do with science, and are starting to renew the calls to look at nuclear power.
From pebble bed techniques to better designs, there is no reason we cant build nuclear power plants that can provide widespread clean energy for the masses. Really, if groups like greenpeace were serious about the environment, they would be spending money on research for safe ways to store and process nuclear waste, not fighting it at every turn.
This will be interesting as we find out just how many comments the database will handle in one day. I think the previous record was around 2000 or so on 9/11. Happy voting to all.
Software RAID, are you f'n nuts?
Seriously, why do you want to do that? Check out ebay, pricewatch or froggle and buy yourself a nice 3ware IDE raid controller. They have Linux support to boot. Dont bother with Promise, their equipment is crap.
Your data, and that of your friends is worth more than the cost of tryig to recover from a software RAID failure. Do it right, get the controller, and let it handled everything for you. Software RAID is a half ass measure that will only cause you heartache.
Re:RFID isn't a problem-free technology for retail
on
A Technical RFID Primer
·
· Score: 3, Insightful
Don't think commies (although they can be blamed for anything:). Think marketing and muggers. As you walk around town you'll get a marketing profile from all the RFID tags delivered to everyplace you go. Problem is, you won't be able to stop this kind of targeted marketing because your clothing will be tagless - and you don't want to cut a hole in your brand new pants. Heck I'm wearing a tagless tshirt like that right now.
I don't know about you, but I'm pretty anti-marketing myself. The idea of "minority report" style marketing makes me want to puke. The idea that someone not only knows the manufacturer and model of my shirt, but whether or not I'm wearing boxers or briefs gives me the ebee-jeebies. It would also give muggers a priceless resource for picking victims. It wont take very long for public databases of RFID tags to manufactureres to start appearing. A few RFID scanners for the public are also already available.
10 feet is plenty of space on most streets, restaraunts or bars to find out if someone is worth mugging. Even more if people start making out of spec scanners that put out more power to get a stronger (longer range) return signal. Now, all that being said, I'm not oppposed to RFID at all, I think it has excellent potential. The problem is that RFID tags are being expressly designed directly into future products to prevent you from removing a tag without damaging or destroying the product.
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That being said, his appeal seem rather limitied to certain segments of the population such as science and IT types. So, let me ask, why do people like him so much?
I have adamantly refused to purchase any system that would use their memory for years, and more to the point have made that decision for others that depend on me making that decision. That's a lot of computers over the years were talking about. I am also far from alone.
Look, most COTS is crap, most homebuilt apps are crap. It's all a matter of finding the right tool to do the job. One isn't neccasarily better than the other. It would be foolish for a financial firm to design their own own in-house word processor for example. However they would almost certainly need their own in-house software to handle a lot of the back of the house. What I've often seen get ugly though is when people design their own custom software around COTS. If you do something like that and the COTS house says they won't support it you can be at their mercy and they don't have to do a damn thing. I'm on one project now using such a solution and the project has lost millions - and their contractually obligated to fill it out. The important thing one way or another is to set design limitation early and stick with them. The second important thing is to listen to the people who are going to use the software on a day to day basis when they say that something is a problem or would be useful. Failure to appease the people using the software can often carry more weight than success at appeasing management and their lofty goals.
"Eurekalert reports that smart printing technology actually works. According to the press release, smart printers demonstrated by the NJIT, can recognise authorised users utilising "sixteen electronic computerized sensors embedded in the printer's grip" and "Under New Jersey law, passed in Dec. 2002, only smart printers can be purchased in the state three years after personalized printers become commercially available. Lautenberg said New Jersey's legislative effort to introduce smart printer technology should be a national model for the country"."
Some kinds of limits need imposed, just as in most places a cop can't follow you 12 miles to see if you break any traffic laws. The question isn't if it's legal to do to some extent, the question is what is the appropriate extent? What are the limits of public surveilance and privacy?
Any time I see nanotech discussed I always see someone panicing about "grey goo". Could someone please explain to me the whole "grey goo" phobia?
The number sounds like FUD, once we get past the variants how many truely original viruses are there? I would imagine that very few original viruses have ever been created, the overwhelming majority are nothing more than variations on someone else's work.
Their desktop tool records all kinds of past information, their email is intended to be kept for a significant amount of time. It only seems natural to have an im client that could record your conversations and be accessible through gmail. Use gmail to handle the contacts and to search past conversations.
Many people already record their im sessions anyways. When you consider the growth of instant message against email, esp in countries like South Korea where email is something "old people" use, it's the natural growth opportunity. They could make a fortune having real time ads for britney or whatever else.
Besides, who says you can't have unobtusive ads that reflects the topic at hand? It's googles ability to have unobtrusive ads that has much to do with their success as their search engine itself.
I'm still waiting for the Google instant messaging client that will link right Gmail. It strikes me as the one truely obvious thing that Google hasn't done yet.
Well, if you insist on making an ass of yourself. No, I did not vote for Bush, I actively worked against his election campaign. Let me ask, how much international food aid do you see that doesnt have "USA" printed on it somewhere? What country do you live in, I'm curious if it's one of the few that hasn't had it's ass bailed out by the US. What nation gives more than any other, I'll give you a hint it's not France. What nation do you purport as an ideallistic good nation, it won't take long to tear it apart. Unfortunately we have assholes that would rather rake the coals of hatred than try to resolve anything. Can't blame you really, it's much easier to tear something down than build it up.
Fark picked this up and it has already become a blame America flame fest ~ how long until the same here on Slashdot. Come on, surely someone can tell me how this is America's fault?
How is it bad news to have something historical placed directly in a museum where it can be properly preserved? Think of the early Wright Flyers which are only chuncks of the original with best research replacement parts. They have learned from this one, it has done what it was meant to do, be a proof of concept. Now they are doing what they need to do, capitalize on said proof of concept with something more practical. Phooey.
Afterall, if you were to believe the blogs, W would have gotten his ass kicked in the 2004 election. Whilst they have established a certain level of power, they are still not news, and the masses know it. And this is coming from someone who'se had stories post in blog type sites that have been reprinted internationally.
You've done work for the EFF and digital rights. What if anything has Hollywood done to let you know the "error" of your ways?
And here I thought the whole hacker v cracker debacle was silly. Be grateful for what comes and stop looking gift horses in the mouth.
Silly people.
If you do sign a contract, get it put in your contract that you will become an actual employee after a certain number of days. Otherwise you may find your 90 days becomes 200 (hello target). As a contractor you get to walk on eggshells constantly no matter if your a flunky or project manager. If your a real employee you get wonderful things like benefits. You'll also discover a fair number of programs for laid off people won't help you if were a contractor.
I did see the PDA / Phone combo, but it was around $400 - out of my price range. Unfortunately they had jack squat below that. I finally ended up buying a closeout audiovox model. I would have happily laid out $200 for the right cell phone, more than most of their models, but didn't have the option.
I cant think of a single contract I have been on in the last decade where a personal cell phone was not allowed. Perhaps retail pulls that kind of thing, but I haven't seen it in industry or government yet. The reality of the matter is that many contracts are on short notice and do not last long enough to justify issuing a cell phone. This does not change the fact that a cell phone is still very much needed on these contracts.
They looked at me like I was on crack. I was shown the prepaid phones with an insinuation that I must be too cheap to afford the camera phones. I then had to explain that I was already a customer and had no interest in prepaid.
They could not get past this point. After 20 minutes I finally got them to show me the phones they had that met my requirements. Tri-mode and no camera. They had 3 in the entire store left (large store btw) that met these requirements. One of these was a close out model that wasn't being made anymore.
I tried explaining to them that I work in areas that a camera is NOT allowed in. I explained that turning the camera off wasn't going to cut it on a government or banking contract. They just didn't get it.
I have to have a phone for my work. I can't have a camera, and I know I am far from alone.
Verizon, Can you hear me now?
Without question the green party and it's movement are the largest impediment to nuclear energy out there. It's a power trip really, one that has no scientific weight. Now the good news is that some of the greens are starting to realize that their opposition to nuclear power had everything to do with politics and nothing to do with science, and are starting to renew the calls to look at nuclear power.
From pebble bed techniques to better designs, there is no reason we cant build nuclear power plants that can provide widespread clean energy for the masses. Really, if groups like greenpeace were serious about the environment, they would be spending money on research for safe ways to store and process nuclear waste, not fighting it at every turn.
This will be interesting as we find out just how many comments the database will handle in one day. I think the previous record was around 2000 or so on 9/11. Happy voting to all.
Software RAID, are you f'n nuts? Seriously, why do you want to do that? Check out ebay, pricewatch or froggle and buy yourself a nice 3ware IDE raid controller. They have Linux support to boot. Dont bother with Promise, their equipment is crap. Your data, and that of your friends is worth more than the cost of tryig to recover from a software RAID failure. Do it right, get the controller, and let it handled everything for you. Software RAID is a half ass measure that will only cause you heartache.
Don't think commies (although they can be blamed for anything:). Think marketing and muggers. As you walk around town you'll get a marketing profile from all the RFID tags delivered to everyplace you go. Problem is, you won't be able to stop this kind of targeted marketing because your clothing will be tagless - and you don't want to cut a hole in your brand new pants. Heck I'm wearing a tagless tshirt like that right now.
I don't know about you, but I'm pretty anti-marketing myself. The idea of "minority report" style marketing makes me want to puke. The idea that someone not only knows the manufacturer and model of my shirt, but whether or not I'm wearing boxers or briefs gives me the ebee-jeebies. It would also give muggers a priceless resource for picking victims. It wont take very long for public databases of RFID tags to manufactureres to start appearing. A few RFID scanners for the public are also already available.
10 feet is plenty of space on most streets, restaraunts or bars to find out if someone is worth mugging. Even more if people start making out of spec scanners that put out more power to get a stronger (longer range) return signal. Now, all that being said, I'm not oppposed to RFID at all, I think it has excellent potential. The problem is that RFID tags are being expressly designed directly into future products to prevent you from removing a tag without damaging or destroying the product.
Perhaps, just perhaps, they will finally learn why every IT person I have ever known has a passionate hatred of the marketing department?