Ladies and gentlemen, let's just face the facts. The cat's out of the bag and it sure as hell isn't going to go back in any time soon. Wether it's Napster or Gnutella or FTP, people are going to share mp3's. If napster wants to fuck around with licensing or commercials or whatever, someone will come out with something better and people will use it.
I'm sorry, but i honestly see this as the great equalizer. Napster is the tip of the iceburg. Why? Because any regulation of mp3's is pretty damned unenforceable. Sure - put ad's on mp3s. Someone's going to use SoundForge or whatever and get rid of 'em - or make their own rips of tracks like people have already been doing. Sure - make mp3's illegal....then everyone will have to stop using them (just like people don't smoke pot, and minors don't drink? right?!?!) - Ladies and gentlemen: Welcome to the digital era!
RIAA - it was fun while it lasted wasn't it;-)
FluX After 16 years, MTV has finally completed its deevolution into the shiny things network
here in colorado lately, because of these heatwaves, we've been having ozone warnings. Basically, the heat, mixed with other effects have actually pushed the ozone down to ground level (that's 5280 feet for those without altimiters). There have been warnings to stay inside because it's harmful to breathe ozone. Just another frightening trend in the science of the global horking of our mother earth
FluX After 16 years, MTV has finally completed its deevolution into the shiny things network
only someone of your caliber would assume i hadn't read the article. I was just posting my opinion on what i felt was the *ultimate* reason as to why communist China decided not to go with M$ as their supplier.
but then again...you knew that already...because when you read a news article, you read between the lines. You understand that generally what a Chinese official says shouldn't be immediately taken for face value, much like any other official, US. or no.
but like i said...you're a smart one...you knew that...
FluX After 16 years, MTV has finally completed its deevolution into the shiny things network
the slashdot method or: How Bob got his post moderated down  -By FluXraD
Open Curtain
Bob: Funny Post
Dork: That wasn't funny because, technical technical technical, point out technical innacuracy of humorous post. See, now everyon on slashdot knows that i'm at least smarter than you.
Bob: Well, technical technical technical, see how much funnier that is now that you've reread my post
Dork: Technical technical technial, you see, technical technical.
(Brief pause while the audience realizes that what had started as a humorous post by Bob has now been decimated by the technical idiocy and humorousnessness of Dork. They also begin to ask themselves why Bob would defend his post - they are about to get their answer)
Bob: Post that i think is funny, but really isn't anything more than a poor attempt at recovery.
Dork: Flame
Bob: Flame, technical
Enter moderator: Moderator reads 2/3rds of the thread and decides, based on Dork's joke killing posting methods, that Bob is neither funny nor knows as much as Dork would like to pretend. Moderator, with a look of stoned exhasperation moderates Bob's original comment down as [Flamebait] or [Overrated] - Moderator2 enters quickly to follow suit. In an ironic twist, Dork's original post is moderated (Score 4: Informative). Only 10 years later do we discover that Dork is actually a replicant.
Curtain.
FluX After 16 years, MTV has finally completed its deevolution into the shiny things network
and to think that i've been using a computer without an Operating System all these years. I always wondered why i never got past the BIOS prompt. thank you sir!
FluX After 16 years, MTV has finally completed its deevolution into the shiny things network
while i don't have the code in front of me, i have looked at it. ipv6 is REALLY fscking cool.
The designers understood the inherent need for backwards compatibility and so it was there from the start. (you can check one of the older issues of 2600 for the code - as well as everywhere online) - for your comfort. ipv6 is fully backwards compatible with ipv4 - i believe an ipv4 addy would look something like 0:0:0:0:192.168.221.12 - you get the picture. In addition, colons can be substituted in the place of zeroes...something like::192.168.221.12 ( note: this is off the top of my head so don't expect it to be syntactically accurate;-)
There are basically 2 basic things to remember with ipv6. 1) It's hex - so good luck remembering your subnetting tables, etc. hehe 2) The transition from 4 to 6 can be as quick or as gradual as you need. - check your local linux kernel as well...there's already ipv6 code living in it.
FluX After 16 years, MTV has finally completed its deevolution into the shiny things network
as far as "humanism" as defined in my post - i do want to point out that i didn't mean leaving the human form in-tact. Obviously the "design" is flawed if people need glasses and such, but then again, evolution is an infinite process, so at some point, humans would probably just wean themselves off the eyesight problem.
The "humanism" i'm talking about is something a little bit more philosophical, more on the lines of "what makes a person a person" - what makes a human distinguishable from, say, and intelligent computer. - *that* is what i'm afraid we're going to lose. (read: brave new world). Plus, when you get into it - you open up a pandora's box answers to questions that philosophers have been asking for aeons.
oh well - if you take my view though, nothing really means anything, and all in all humans (and all life on earth for that matter) is nothing more than a blip on the cosmic radar. Who cares if we kill ourselves or make ourselves better - in the end, everything's fucked anyway.
FluX After 16 years, MTV has finally completed its deevolution into the shiny things network
There's been a lot of discussion (and flaming) lately about genetic experimentation
I think the reason many people (including myself) are wary of experimentation like this is the "oh fuck" factor. Genetics is like the nuclear bomb of medicine. There's a line that, at some point, someone's gonna cross and what next?....."OH FUCK!"
The primary reason i advocate caution in this area of research is factors like genetic discrimination, and more philosophically, humanism. Sure - we can all be these 10 foot tall wonder machines with a bunch of genetic manipulation...but with each step anyone takes towards genetic perfection, the lose a piece of themselves. besides, it would be pretty wack it these mice got to a point where they could beat the shit out of the scientists.
FluX After 16 years, MTV has finally completed its deevolution into the shiny things network
is that we should have linus, or more realistically, a third party take charge of the regulations. If your software doesn't run reasonably well on the majority of the default linux installs, then you don't get the seal of approval.
There are, however, two major problems with linux compatibility certifications. 1: Linux is, by it's nature, a completely free and open environment. This means that no two people really have the "same" linux install. Everyone's got their install tailored to their individual needs. this makes it really hard to say "yeah - this product will work for you." There's no way in hell a company can test it's software on thousands of different configurations. It's just not cost effective
2: Linux doesn't really hold the same hand that Windows does. To a company, getting your Windows cert yanked is a MAJOR drawback - they'll spend the bucks to keep that logo - and to support it. Most companies (note: most, not all) don't give a flying fuck what happens with linux because they don't have a major investment. Linux, for companies like Corel, and certainly Adobe is just that "other" release that they're trying to pick up on. They don't really care if some organization or person says that it's not quite good enough. When linux gains signifigantly more market share, that'll change.
I suppose the best thing to do right now would to just have a sort of review repository that rates the software as far as how well it works with any and all types of linux. This wouldn't really be a seal of approval, but it would certainly give software manufacturers and consumers a benchmark at least. Other than that, the best thing to do at this point is to get more people using linux, then the software manufac's will realize that people who use linux actually DO vote with their checkbooks.
FluX After 16 years, MTV has finally completed its deevolution into the shiny things network
someone's gonna have to check out what the boys at Old Man Murray have to say about this.
I have to say that i usually agree with them on their not-so-respectful opinion of Steed. I believe they equated his last article to something along the lines of having your testicles stapled to a belt sander.
Either way - check OMM out for a counter-perspective.
FluX After 16 years, MTV has finally completed its deevolution into the shiny things network
supporting games in linux with WINE is not necessarily a good ideal to shoot for. At it's best, it's crappy windows emulation with worse performance, at it's worst, it's an excuse for game coders to say "bah - they've got wine, why code fo linux now?"
Additionally, there are a lot more games coming out for linux now than ever before - alot of the top games are now available for linux, and although i never really liked diablo, i REALLY want to see a half-life client. - GIMME MY FSCKING COUNTER-STRIKE IN LINUX DAMNIT!!!! Anyway, the place we need to be looking is just all around kick-ass compatibility/ability to use generic windows software. Office would be nice, but we do have several alternatives there. I would personally like to see programs like Mplayer and Acid or ReBirth with better support. I have, though, seen wine go from a puny little program that helped you run windows apps like minesweeper, into a powerful tool that even professional coders (like the folks at Corel) are using. The guys at wine should keep doing what they're doing and we'll see wine go exactly where it needs to go.
FluX After 16 years, MTV has finally completed its deevolution into the shiny things network
this could be true....my theory is slightly different. Get this - there aren't as many women in IT because - hold on to your hats! - men and women are "different"
In my own personal experience online and such, the vast majority of the women i've spoken to don't really give a shit about IT. Just about everything i've learned about computers, i've learned on my own. I'm working towards my CCNA, i've got a really great job doing linux system administration, etc. This was all self-taught.
I remember when i first installed a copy of RH5.0 on my box - and i was thinking "what's this crazy as linux shit?" - and from there on out, i was hooked. The last time i checked, however, no retailer was looking at a woman trying to buy a copy of RH or what have you and saying "Ma'am - don't you think you'd enjoy this book by Betty Crocker just a leeeetle bit more?"
Personally, i feel that a larger percentage of women than men just aren't interested in IT. It's one thing to say "ooohhh that computer is cool looking - i wonder how it works," but it's all together different to actually WANT to fuck around with that box all goddamned night, and go to work the next day (in whatever field) with your co-workers thinking you're stoned cause your eyes are so bloodshot. I don't care what you think...that's not a man thing, that's not a woman thing, that's just a geek thing.(notice to anyone flaming me for being a sexist: i didn't say ALL women weren't interested, i'm just willing to bet that not as great a percentage of women are as interested as men, for whatever reason. BUT OH DEAR CHRIST!!! WE DON'T HAVE A 50/50 DIVISION - THAT'S NOT FUCKING PC!!!!!!)
If you want to blame men for this ever so frightening trend, don't. That's just foolish to believe that, simply because there's not a 50/50 split in the gender division of any profession, it's somehow upper-class white male's fault. I *will* agree that there is a problem with the division of CEO's and such in this country, indeed - said white male power structure plays a big part there...but to say that women are being forced out of IT is just bullshit, especially because most "IT" companies are currently going to cemetaries digging up corpses to put in seats, AND paying them $80k a year.
FluX After 16 years, MTV has finally completed its deevolution into the shiny things network
you will NEVER see a sentient computer teacher in public school
oh, you will - you'll just see them teaching AP Comp Sci. Back in high-school we didn't have computers in every classroom. We had two Mac labs, which was fine and dandy - if you had to type up a paper, get this, a typewriter was acceptable. Do high-school kids now days even know what a typewriter is?? I suppose the only thing white-out is used for any more is something to huff when you're not busy.
Go to college - major in smiley science;-)
FluX After 16 years, MTV has finally completed its deevolution into the shiny things network
it's nice to see that some threads don't instantly deterioriate into mindless ramblings, namely this one.
Your comment was well thought out. I do, however, have two addendums to your post:
A) Not all companies are necessarily as "into" M$ Office as many professionals like to pretend. Currently, I'm a Unix Sysad at one of said companies. While Office is used, particularly Excel and Word, I've found that it is fairly easy to get by with StarOffice (Which, IMHO has done a very good job with their latest release). The largest stumbling block I have seen with windows compatibility, etc. is in the area of networking. I start to get annoyed when I have to *think* about samba mounting my home directory on an NT share just to grab a file my boss pushed to the intranet.
B) This should be a simple FYI. I was actually a journalism major in college so i feel i have some degree of expertise in the gramatical nuances of the English language. I would be willing to bet that a good number of people posting on slashdot could pay a little more attention to their grammar, at least if they tried. However the idea behind slashdot is more behind the ideas, if you see what i'm trying to get at.
Nice to see that what appeared to be a troll, or flame, turned into an interesting dialog. (BTW - i *am* aware that I ended the last sentance of the last paragraph in a preposition:P)
FluX After 16 years, MTV has finally completed its deevolution into the shiny things network
I've got two comments for you here. Correct the bullets if you must.
Had you actually bothered to re-read my comment, you would have realized that you horked the grammar correction, rendering the comment partially useless.
The only thing worse than poor grammar is an unsupported opinion. I'm glad that you disagree with my post. It is, however, unfortunate that you are apparently unable to enlighten the slashdot-reading public as to why.
That, dear sir, makes your post a troll.
FluX After 16 years, MTV has finally completed its deevolution into the shiny things network
i think one of the keys in this fight (if you want to call it that) is to get kids using linux. get people familiar. I believe that's one of the big reasons mac's refuse to die - is because all kinds of kids are using 'em. Perhaps we need to have install fests in schools...or at least promote linux classes in addition to all those typing and CS classes that many high-schools already offer.
Does anyone know of a school who's major OS is linux? that really ought to change. These install fests do help, but only to people who probably would have converted sooner or later anyway. Let's get kids interested in linux, show them the games they can play, show the really geek-oriented kids how cool it is to hack source.
It's alot easier to get someone to try linux when they've already had at least some exposure to it. Same with anything.
FluX After 16 years, MTV has finally completed its deevolution into the shiny things network
I just wanted to clarify what First Degree Murder actually is. It is murder with mallace and forethought. If you take a gun to your ex-wife's house with the intent to scare the shit out of her and wind up killing her, this is not first degree muder. Same with the mugging case. - Both of those, however would probably wind up in the second degree category. First Degree murder is reserved for people who kill with intent. They know they want to kill you, because they fucking hate you! and they'll get you if it's the last thing they ever do - sort of thing.
Manslaughter is when someone dies as a direct consequence of your actions, although you had no intent, even at the time, of killing them. i.e. - drunk driving, and the cracking case this discussion is about. Fortunately for the cracker, it would be very easy to put reasonable doubt into the minds of a jury that most likely knows nothing about the logistics of cracking. Or - on the flip side - they could send some @home user to prison because he forgot to edit/etc/inetd.conf before getting on the internet with his freshly installed RedHat 6.0 distro, allowing some dickhead to use his box as one of 20 or so hops before breaking NASA's famously weak security.
But then again, that's life.
FluX After 16 years, MTV has finally completed its deevolution into the shiny things network
I can just see the authorities rounding up linus torvalds as we speak
Officer:"FREEZE! Boy you in a heap of trouble!
Torvalds: "What are you talking about?!?!"
Office: (sternly) "We have evidence that you're a known HACKER!!!!!!!"
Torvalds: "Yes, that's right. I created....aaaaahhhh!"
Linus falls to the ground as several FBI attack dogs wrestle with his legs...He's sent up to San Quentin to spend the rest of his days bartering for pudding. Thanks to the good work of all our law enforcement officials for rounding up all of the sinister and evil HACKERS, lest one of them be allowed to roam free, creating things like Linux and the UBL.
Can someone send AP a copy of the Hacker Jargon File please!?!?!?!?!
FluX After 16 years, MTV has finally completed its deevolution into the shiny things network
i want to thank you very much for taking the time to respond to my comment. it makes me glad to know that someone other than the trolls is reading this comment.
I suppose i was sort of turned off by XFree86 4.0 because i've had so much trouble with it. Much like you base your opinion of any piece of hardware/software on your experience with the product. That is to say my experience with 4.0 hasn't been to good.
Specifically with the 3dfx drivers - i keep getting a few "unresolved function called" type errors. I *do* know that when running xf86config from the CLI to setup 4.0 - there are no 3dfx chips mentioned in the driver list. I was not to pleased about this (being that it was mentioned). When hacking the XF86Config file manually to add the tdfx driver - i still had no luck.
however, this does not deter me from running home and trying out 4.0.1 - and doing a bit more hacking, if necessary. I will dutifully submit a bug report if problems arise. And, most importantly, I want to thank you again for your post, and most of all, your work!
FluX After 16 years, MTV has finally completed its deevolution into the shiny things network
Slashdot Mirror
Ladies and gentlemen, let's just face the facts. The cat's out of the bag and it sure as hell isn't going to go back in any time soon. Wether it's Napster or Gnutella or FTP, people are going to share mp3's. If napster wants to fuck around with licensing or commercials or whatever, someone will come out with something better and people will use it.
;-)
I'm sorry, but i honestly see this as the great equalizer. Napster is the tip of the iceburg. Why? Because any regulation of mp3's is pretty damned unenforceable. Sure - put ad's on mp3s. Someone's going to use SoundForge or whatever and get rid of 'em - or make their own rips of tracks like people have already been doing. Sure - make mp3's illegal....then everyone will have to stop using them (just like people don't smoke pot, and minors don't drink? right?!?!) - Ladies and gentlemen: Welcome to the digital era!
RIAA - it was fun while it lasted wasn't it
FluX
After 16 years, MTV has finally completed its deevolution into the shiny things network
but remember...the brown cloud only gets bad in the winter. I get a great view of it from littleton. On days like today it's just a beautiful khaki.
FluX
After 16 years, MTV has finally completed its deevolution into the shiny things network
here in colorado lately, because of these heatwaves, we've been having ozone warnings. Basically, the heat, mixed with other effects have actually pushed the ozone down to ground level (that's 5280 feet for those without altimiters). There have been warnings to stay inside because it's harmful to breathe ozone. Just another frightening trend in the science of the global horking of our mother earth
FluX
After 16 years, MTV has finally completed its deevolution into the shiny things network
only someone of your caliber would assume i hadn't read the article. I was just posting my opinion on what i felt was the *ultimate* reason as to why communist China decided not to go with M$ as their supplier.
but then again...you knew that already...because when you read a news article, you read between the lines. You understand that generally what a Chinese official says shouldn't be immediately taken for face value, much like any other official, US. or no.
but like i said...you're a smart one...you knew that...
FluX
After 16 years, MTV has finally completed its deevolution into the shiny things network
the slashdot method
or: How Bob got his post moderated down
 -By FluXraD
Open Curtain
Bob: Funny Post
Dork: That wasn't funny because, technical technical technical, point out technical innacuracy of humorous post. See, now everyon on slashdot knows that i'm at least smarter than you.
Bob: Well, technical technical technical, see how much funnier that is now that you've reread my post
Dork: Technical technical technial, you see, technical technical.
(Brief pause while the audience realizes that what had started as a humorous post by Bob has now been decimated by the technical idiocy and humorousnessness of Dork. They also begin to ask themselves why Bob would defend his post - they are about to get their answer)
Bob: Post that i think is funny, but really isn't anything more than a poor attempt at recovery.
Dork: Flame
Bob: Flame, technical
Enter moderator: Moderator reads 2/3rds of the thread and decides, based on Dork's joke killing posting methods, that Bob is neither funny nor knows as much as Dork would like to pretend. Moderator, with a look of stoned exhasperation moderates Bob's original comment down as [Flamebait] or [Overrated] - Moderator2 enters quickly to follow suit. In an ironic twist, Dork's original post is moderated (Score 4: Informative). Only 10 years later do we discover that Dork is actually a replicant.
Curtain.
FluX
After 16 years, MTV has finally completed its deevolution into the shiny things network
But unfortunately, Linux is not an OS
and to think that i've been using a computer without an Operating System all these years. I always wondered why i never got past the BIOS prompt. thank you sir!
FluX
After 16 years, MTV has finally completed its deevolution into the shiny things network
is the WHY behind linux in china. Basically they decided that they can't have a capitalist OS like M$ Windows being supported by a communist country.
;-)
Still...it *is* a means to an end
FluX
After 16 years, MTV has finally completed its deevolution into the shiny things network
while i don't have the code in front of me, i have looked at it. ipv6 is REALLY fscking cool.
::192.168.221.12 ( note: this is off the top of my head so don't expect it to be syntactically accurate ;-)
The designers understood the inherent need for backwards compatibility and so it was there from the start. (you can check one of the older issues of 2600 for the code - as well as everywhere online) - for your comfort. ipv6 is fully backwards compatible with ipv4 - i believe an ipv4 addy would look something like 0:0:0:0:192.168.221.12 - you get the picture. In addition, colons can be substituted in the place of zeroes...something like
There are basically 2 basic things to remember with ipv6. 1) It's hex - so good luck remembering your subnetting tables, etc. hehe 2) The transition from 4 to 6 can be as quick or as gradual as you need. - check your local linux kernel as well...there's already ipv6 code living in it.
FluX
After 16 years, MTV has finally completed its deevolution into the shiny things network
as far as "humanism" as defined in my post - i do want to point out that i didn't mean leaving the human form in-tact. Obviously the "design" is flawed if people need glasses and such, but then again, evolution is an infinite process, so at some point, humans would probably just wean themselves off the eyesight problem.
The "humanism" i'm talking about is something a little bit more philosophical, more on the lines of "what makes a person a person" - what makes a human distinguishable from, say, and intelligent computer. - *that* is what i'm afraid we're going to lose. (read: brave new world). Plus, when you get into it - you open up a pandora's box answers to questions that philosophers have been asking for aeons.
oh well - if you take my view though, nothing really means anything, and all in all humans (and all life on earth for that matter) is nothing more than a blip on the cosmic radar. Who cares if we kill ourselves or make ourselves better - in the end, everything's fucked anyway.
FluX
After 16 years, MTV has finally completed its deevolution into the shiny things network
There's been a lot of discussion (and flaming) lately about genetic experimentation
I think the reason many people (including myself) are wary of experimentation like this is the "oh fuck" factor. Genetics is like the nuclear bomb of medicine. There's a line that, at some point, someone's gonna cross and what next?....."OH FUCK!"
The primary reason i advocate caution in this area of research is factors like genetic discrimination, and more philosophically, humanism. Sure - we can all be these 10 foot tall wonder machines with a bunch of genetic manipulation...but with each step anyone takes towards genetic perfection, the lose a piece of themselves. besides, it would be pretty wack it these mice got to a point where they could beat the shit out of the scientists.
FluX
After 16 years, MTV has finally completed its deevolution into the shiny things network
is that we should have linus, or more realistically, a third party take charge of the regulations. If your software doesn't run reasonably well on the majority of the default linux installs, then you don't get the seal of approval.
There are, however, two major problems with linux compatibility certifications. 1: Linux is, by it's nature, a completely free and open environment. This means that no two people really have the "same" linux install. Everyone's got their install tailored to their individual needs. this makes it really hard to say "yeah - this product will work for you." There's no way in hell a company can test it's software on thousands of different configurations. It's just not cost effective
2: Linux doesn't really hold the same hand that Windows does. To a company, getting your Windows cert yanked is a MAJOR drawback - they'll spend the bucks to keep that logo - and to support it. Most companies (note: most, not all) don't give a flying fuck what happens with linux because they don't have a major investment. Linux, for companies like Corel, and certainly Adobe is just that "other" release that they're trying to pick up on. They don't really care if some organization or person says that it's not quite good enough. When linux gains signifigantly more market share, that'll change.
I suppose the best thing to do right now would to just have a sort of review repository that rates the software as far as how well it works with any and all types of linux. This wouldn't really be a seal of approval, but it would certainly give software manufacturers and consumers a benchmark at least. Other than that, the best thing to do at this point is to get more people using linux, then the software manufac's will realize that people who use linux actually DO vote with their checkbooks.
FluX
After 16 years, MTV has finally completed its deevolution into the shiny things network
someone's gonna have to check out what the boys at Old Man Murray have to say about this.
I have to say that i usually agree with them on their not-so-respectful opinion of Steed. I believe they equated his last article to something along the lines of having your testicles stapled to a belt sander.
Either way - check OMM out for a counter-perspective.
FluX
After 16 years, MTV has finally completed its deevolution into the shiny things network
ok. the deal is this:
if this actually works when i get home. i am going to build a shrine dedicated to you, the guys at EHL and the WINE development crew.
This was *THE* reason i didn't just fucking trash my whole windows partition!
FluX
After 16 years, MTV has finally completed its deevolution into the shiny things network
supporting games in linux with WINE is not necessarily a good ideal to shoot for. At it's best, it's crappy windows emulation with worse performance, at it's worst, it's an excuse for game coders to say "bah - they've got wine, why code fo linux now?"
Additionally, there are a lot more games coming out for linux now than ever before - alot of the top games are now available for linux, and although i never really liked diablo, i REALLY want to see a half-life client. - GIMME MY FSCKING COUNTER-STRIKE IN LINUX DAMNIT!!!! Anyway, the place we need to be looking is just all around kick-ass compatibility/ability to use generic windows software. Office would be nice, but we do have several alternatives there. I would personally like to see programs like Mplayer and Acid or ReBirth with better support. I have, though, seen wine go from a puny little program that helped you run windows apps like minesweeper, into a powerful tool that even professional coders (like the folks at Corel) are using. The guys at wine should keep doing what they're doing and we'll see wine go exactly where it needs to go.
FluX
After 16 years, MTV has finally completed its deevolution into the shiny things network
this could be true....my theory is slightly different. Get this - there aren't as many women in IT because - hold on to your hats! - men and women are "different"
In my own personal experience online and such, the vast majority of the women i've spoken to don't really give a shit about IT. Just about everything i've learned about computers, i've learned on my own. I'm working towards my CCNA, i've got a really great job doing linux system administration, etc. This was all self-taught.
I remember when i first installed a copy of RH5.0 on my box - and i was thinking "what's this crazy as linux shit?" - and from there on out, i was hooked. The last time i checked, however, no retailer was looking at a woman trying to buy a copy of RH or what have you and saying "Ma'am - don't you think you'd enjoy this book by Betty Crocker just a leeeetle bit more?"
Personally, i feel that a larger percentage of women than men just aren't interested in IT. It's one thing to say "ooohhh that computer is cool looking - i wonder how it works," but it's all together different to actually WANT to fuck around with that box all goddamned night, and go to work the next day (in whatever field) with your co-workers thinking you're stoned cause your eyes are so bloodshot. I don't care what you think...that's not a man thing, that's not a woman thing, that's just a geek thing.(notice to anyone flaming me for being a sexist: i didn't say ALL women weren't interested, i'm just willing to bet that not as great a percentage of women are as interested as men, for whatever reason. BUT OH DEAR CHRIST!!! WE DON'T HAVE A 50/50 DIVISION - THAT'S NOT FUCKING PC!!!!!!)
If you want to blame men for this ever so frightening trend, don't. That's just foolish to believe that, simply because there's not a 50/50 split in the gender division of any profession, it's somehow upper-class white male's fault. I *will* agree that there is a problem with the division of CEO's and such in this country, indeed - said white male power structure plays a big part there...but to say that women are being forced out of IT is just bullshit, especially because most "IT" companies are currently going to cemetaries digging up corpses to put in seats, AND paying them $80k a year.
FluX
After 16 years, MTV has finally completed its deevolution into the shiny things network
you will NEVER see a sentient computer teacher in public school
;-)
oh, you will - you'll just see them teaching AP Comp Sci. Back in high-school we didn't have computers in every classroom. We had two Mac labs, which was fine and dandy - if you had to type up a paper, get this, a typewriter was acceptable. Do high-school kids now days even know what a typewriter is?? I suppose the only thing white-out is used for any more is something to huff when you're not busy.
Go to college - major in smiley science
FluX
After 16 years, MTV has finally completed its deevolution into the shiny things network
it's nice to see that some threads don't instantly deterioriate into mindless ramblings, namely this one.
:P)
Your comment was well thought out. I do, however, have two addendums to your post:
A) Not all companies are necessarily as "into" M$ Office as many professionals like to pretend. Currently, I'm a Unix Sysad at one of said companies. While Office is used, particularly Excel and Word, I've found that it is fairly easy to get by with StarOffice (Which, IMHO has done a very good job with their latest release). The largest stumbling block I have seen with windows compatibility, etc. is in the area of networking. I start to get annoyed when I have to *think* about samba mounting my home directory on an NT share just to grab a file my boss pushed to the intranet.
B) This should be a simple FYI. I was actually a journalism major in college so i feel i have some degree of expertise in the gramatical nuances of the English language. I would be willing to bet that a good number of people posting on slashdot could pay a little more attention to their grammar, at least if they tried. However the idea behind slashdot is more behind the ideas, if you see what i'm trying to get at.
Nice to see that what appeared to be a troll, or flame, turned into an interesting dialog. (BTW - i *am* aware that I ended the last sentance of the last paragraph in a preposition
FluX
After 16 years, MTV has finally completed its deevolution into the shiny things network
I've got two comments for you here. Correct the bullets if you must.
That, dear sir, makes your post a troll.
FluX
After 16 years, MTV has finally completed its deevolution into the shiny things network
true: but that's RAPIDLY changing.
Q3A, Terminus, Quake, Quake2, UT, Myth2 just to name a few names - and it's only gonna get better with new features coming out like DRI and such.
Linux has a very bright future in the gaming industry - maybe not as bright as windows, but very strong.
FluX
After 16 years, MTV has finally completed its deevolution into the shiny things network
i think one of the keys in this fight (if you want to call it that) is to get kids using linux. get people familiar. I believe that's one of the big reasons mac's refuse to die - is because all kinds of kids are using 'em. Perhaps we need to have install fests in schools...or at least promote linux classes in addition to all those typing and CS classes that many high-schools already offer.
Does anyone know of a school who's major OS is linux? that really ought to change. These install fests do help, but only to people who probably would have converted sooner or later anyway. Let's get kids interested in linux, show them the games they can play, show the really geek-oriented kids how cool it is to hack source.
It's alot easier to get someone to try linux when they've already had at least some exposure to it. Same with anything.
FluX
After 16 years, MTV has finally completed its deevolution into the shiny things network
that's a pretty good viewpoint. - remind me to meta-moderate this comment up when i get some mod points.
FluX
After 16 years, MTV has finally completed its deevolution into the shiny things network
I just wanted to clarify what First Degree Murder actually is. It is murder with mallace and forethought. If you take a gun to your ex-wife's house with the intent to scare the shit out of her and wind up killing her, this is not first degree muder. Same with the mugging case. - Both of those, however would probably wind up in the second degree category. First Degree murder is reserved for people who kill with intent. They know they want to kill you, because they fucking hate you! and they'll get you if it's the last thing they ever do - sort of thing.
/etc/inetd.conf before getting on the internet with his freshly installed RedHat 6.0 distro, allowing some dickhead to use his box as one of 20 or so hops before breaking NASA's famously weak security.
Manslaughter is when someone dies as a direct consequence of your actions, although you had no intent, even at the time, of killing them. i.e. - drunk driving, and the cracking case this discussion is about. Fortunately for the cracker, it would be very easy to put reasonable doubt into the minds of a jury that most likely knows nothing about the logistics of cracking. Or - on the flip side - they could send some @home user to prison because he forgot to edit
But then again, that's life.
FluX
After 16 years, MTV has finally completed its deevolution into the shiny things network
I can just see the authorities rounding up linus torvalds as we speak
Officer:"FREEZE! Boy you in a heap of trouble!
Torvalds: "What are you talking about?!?!"
Office: (sternly) "We have evidence that you're a known HACKER!!!!!!!"
Torvalds: "Yes, that's right. I created....aaaaahhhh!"
Linus falls to the ground as several FBI attack dogs wrestle with his legs...He's sent up to San Quentin to spend the rest of his days bartering for pudding. Thanks to the good work of all our law enforcement officials for rounding up all of the sinister and evil HACKERS, lest one of them be allowed to roam free, creating things like Linux and the UBL.
Can someone send AP a copy of the Hacker Jargon File please!?!?!?!?!
FluX
After 16 years, MTV has finally completed its deevolution into the shiny things network
i want to thank you very much for taking the time to respond to my comment. it makes me glad to know that someone other than the trolls is reading this comment.
I suppose i was sort of turned off by XFree86 4.0 because i've had so much trouble with it. Much like you base your opinion of any piece of hardware/software on your experience with the product. That is to say my experience with 4.0 hasn't been to good.
Specifically with the 3dfx drivers - i keep getting a few "unresolved function called" type errors. I *do* know that when running xf86config from the CLI to setup 4.0 - there are no 3dfx chips mentioned in the driver list. I was not to pleased about this (being that it was mentioned). When hacking the XF86Config file manually to add the tdfx driver - i still had no luck.
however, this does not deter me from running home and trying out 4.0.1 - and doing a bit more hacking, if necessary. I will dutifully submit a bug report if problems arise. And, most importantly, I want to thank you again for your post, and most of all, your work!
FluX
After 16 years, MTV has finally completed its deevolution into the shiny things network
hrm. my 4.0 crashes every time with an undefined function call.
FluX
After 16 years, MTV has finally completed its deevolution into the shiny things network