Katz speaking at University of Minnesota
on
Trigger Happy
·
· Score: 3
Jon Katz is giving a talk 3:00 pm Wednesday, October
18th, at the Cowles Auditorium in the Humphrey Center on the University of Minnesota West Bank
Minneapolis Campus. The talk is entitled "
Interactivity: Understanding Cyberspace and Its Impact on Education, Culture, Technology, and the Young." Sounds like pretty typical Katz fare.
What kind of scares me about this is that some
people at the talk may actually get the impression
that Katz is an expert on this stuff. I doubt that I am going
to make it myself, but I thought maybe somebody
might want to meet him in person. Bring
"Katz sux" sign or something;).
What's really amusing is that the ad for this talk says that he is also teaching a 1 credit class entitled "Mary Shelley, Frankenstein, and the Unabomber." That would really be good for a
laugh.
Well, Pioneer 10 isn't really believed to be out
of the Solar System. The Solar System is usually
defined to go out as far as the heliopause -
which is the distance at which the magnetic
field stops and the instellar space takes
over. Right now that distance is believed to be
be betwen 10 and 20 million miles from the Sun
(see this article for details).
Anyway, the entire problem is ciomplicated by the
fact the Sun's magnetic field is carried by the
Solar wind, and there is believed to be an interstellar wind which interacts with the Solar wind. Because of these interactions and the shocks they cause, the heliosphere does not
have a regular shape or size (its not really a sphere and its dimensions change over time
depending on the conditions).
What this site needs to become is sort of like a Weather Underground for auroras.
Well, there already are other similar services. The Alaska page already mentioned is a
good one.
Spaceweather.com is a fairly good site as well. And there are also sites for reporting your own aurora observations. The
Auroral Activity Page is for world wide
aurora observations, while
this page at the University of Minnesota is for the midwest of the
U.S. and Canada.
You don't really believe that pro astronomers are wasting all that 'scope and computer time trying to predict auroras or looking for new comets, do you?
Well, your main point is right, amateurs do
make contributions to science. And astronomers
don't predict aurora. But space physicists do.
We don't use telescopes (except maybe for some
related solar observations), but we use plenty of
computer time, spacecraft, and ground based
observations. Of course predicting aurora isn't
the only point of space physics, but it is one
of the "prettier" parts of it.
Finally, If the SC would bypass the Court of Appeals, then they would open themselves to a huge increase in their caseload and diminish the value and impact of the lower courts.
A huge increase in case load is unlikely since the
law that allows for bypasssing the Court of Appeals only applies to anti-trust cases. Besides
which, the SC can decide on each case if they want
to allow it to bypass the CoA. I agree that
the SC made the right decision (even though I'd
like the case to be over with quickly), but the
reasons that this is the right decision have nothing to do with SC caseload.
Well, I wasn't clear, but I think that the real
problem is that it includes other people's
code (or at least seems to be). Otherwise,
it seems to me that Compaq making you agree
to the click-through license would just be
dual licensing the code (like Qt and the QPL
and GPL). It would be an odd case of dual
licensing, but I think that it might hold
up. But they can't dual license this code,
because its not all theirs. But like you
said - it just seems like a glitch on Compaq's
side.
There is at least some GPL code involved. In
the zipfile take a look at the top of usbdrv/cpqpjb.c:
/*
* Based heavily on code by David Brownell
* Modifications by Compaq Corporate Research
*
*
* This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
* under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the
* Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or (at your
* option) any later version.
snip
So there is a problem, but I don't know that slashdot is the best place to work it out. Compaq
should have at least been contacted first.
That's mostly because the imperial system uses the same unit for mass and weight, a good argument for it's obsolescense.
Well, there are many good reasons to get rid of the imperial system, but this isn't one of them
(I hated it when we had to use them in some
engineering classes - the conversions are such
a mess).
Anyway, the pound can be used for both mass and force in the imperial system, but its really
2 different units. The pound mass (lbm) and pound force (lbf) are two separate units. A pound mass
weighs one pound force on Earth. But, there is
another, better unit of mass in the imperial system - the slug. One slug is the mass that is
accelerated 1 ft/s^2 by one pound or force.
The project was based in Texas because it is flat, there are no earthquakes, etc...
Well, I too wish they wouldn't have killed SSC,
but I think that your kidding yourself if you think that Texas was chosen for purely techical
reasons. I think its pretty well established
that a large part of the reason that Texas was
chosen is that the Speaker of the House was from
Texas (Jim Wright?). And then later when the cuts
needed to be made the Wright was gone due to some
scandal or another. (Forgive me if the facts
aren't exactly right - that the way I recall
it anyway).
Anyway the SSC was definitely a great case study in the problems of politics and Big Science.
Well, I guess we have different definitions of
direct. By your definition electrons have never
been directly observed either. Sure, Viking was
a long way and it was '70's tech, but the isotope
ratio match really well.
As for what theories are likely in error, we
recently gotten a lot of new info about Mars
which has put a lot of its geology in question.
We still don't know a lot of really basic things
about Martian (and Venusian) geology, especially
when it comes to formation history and age. And
much of aging is based on cratering history, which
has a lot of assumptions going into it.
Heck, the theories to explain the formation
of planets in the solar system are still really
wobbly. Anyway, I think the fact that these
meteorites are from Mars is on a lot more solid
footing than much of planetary science.
Oh come on, do you really think that people
haven't (and aren't still) going over the
case for these meteorites being from Mars?
Extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof,
and all of that.
Anyway, it seems pretty clear that the
meteorites are from Mars, though it is slightly
less clear for the meteorite which they claimed
might have life (that's a hypothesis that is
far from proven) as this article explains.
Also, here's a really nice bibliography on
Martian Meteorites for those looking for
some light reading.
The geology of asteroid rocks is much different,
than the geology of Mars or the Earth. Originally
it was thought that these Martian meteorites
might be from asteroids or other small bodies,
but that option was eliminated. See the link
I posted elsewhere in this story.
Yes, the chemistry is similar, to what we THINK Mars' chemistry is, based on our very limited (and
no direct) observations
Wrong, the Viking spacecraft made direct observations of the Martian atmosphere, and
its these observations that are the basis of
the claim that these meteorites are Martian
in origin. The proof is really quite convincing.
Take a look at some of the links available
here.
To me it seems pretty clear that the meteorites are Martian, whether we know the
geologic history of Mars that well seems to
be a little bit more in doubt.
Well, I think we have vastly different views about
how to fight for DeCSSi and against MPAA and DMCA. Now I see a little
better where you are coming from, but I still
think that you mistaken ; ).
I think that slashdot has been fairly about
their position on DeCSS has been pretty clear.
They are against what MPAA is trying to do. In fact
they seem pretty proud of being named in the
"other" DeCSS suit. If I had thought I was working against
their wishes, I never would have posted the link.
I think that MPAA would be foolish to go after the likes
of slashdot at this point, and they know it. As long they
can keep the spin on this case that its the nasty hackers
versus the poor film makers they are in good shape. But slashdot is quasi-news
cite with a somewhat more "respectable" (ha) readership,
and slashdot is owned by a fair sized company (not nearly
as big as the companies that own the film studios, but big
enough). If the MPAA went after slashdot, the uproar
from third parties like the New York Times would only
increase. The key to defeating these unjust laws is make
it clear how ludicrous they are, so the PR battle is important.
Anyway, the key to successful disobedience is to make
it widespread. I don't think that simply fighting the
case in court is the way to go. Many people fighting
it on the web will much more effective. Posting
links on my own little site that no one visits
is not effective. The links need to be somewhere
that they get attention.
Wow! You certainly take the MPAA much more seriously than I do.
Anyway, there are enough links to the DeCSS in
previous stories on/. that I don't think that
my silly little post is going to make much difference. Heck,there are some people with links
to DeCSS in their signatures.
As for it being illegal to make the links, at this
point the only ones who are barred from making
links to DeCSS are 2600. Until slashdot has been
sued and lost their own case, the links are legal
here. The lawyers sending out the cease and desist
letters in hopes of intimidating people into removing the links. Few of us have individually
have the resources to defend ourselves from
these attacks, but luckily sites like/. do.
And if enough of use our ability to wage civil
disobedience, hopefully MPAA will either lose
or give up.
I find it very unlikely that the part of
this DeCSS decision outlawing linking will
hold up. It would really cripple the web.
I may disapprove of what you link to, but I'll
defend to the death your right to link to it.
Anyway, if it gets to the point where/. (wants|has) to remove account, they can have it.
It won't be a place I want to hang around. Of
course I don't find that possibility bloody likely.
Because when I have text selected from an xterm where I'm reading news or mail or whatever on a different system, I can just left-click the open button then middle-click the URL into the window and left-click "Open" without having to use the keyboard at all. Three clicks - no waiting.
But it can be even easier than this! Just select the URL in your
xterm, and click with the middle mouse button almost anywhere.
(The only places you can't click are places where the middle mouse
button already has a different meaning - i.e. text boxes, scroll bars,
etc.)
This is much quicker and easier than waiting for a dialog box to pop
up, and having to click right in it.
Slight editing problem
on
Free For All
·
· Score: 1
Minor unclear point from the review:
Interestingly, among the copious information about the origins and present state of the various BSD projects (Net, Free, Open), Wayner speaks a good deal about the whispered-about (and shouted-about) animosity between OpenBSD project leader
ke openly with Wayner, and the
OpenBSD developers seemingly did not, what ermerges is a slightly more interesting picture than I've seen before about this, and it confirms some positive things I've heard about the whole OpenBSD project.
When the reviewer says OpenBSD developers, I think that he means
developers from the other BSDs.
Slightly more on-topic here than on the Linux
watch story, so has anyone seen
this commercial on TV? Does anyone know if IBM is really planning to play it ever?
The commercial is along the same lines as this
newspaper ad. The Captain from Deep Space 9 is
the narrator. He says,"1991, Helsinki: A 21 year-old student named Linus Torvalds writes a
new computer operating system. He calls it `Linux', then does something
revolutionary -- he gives it away, free, over the Internet. The powers
that be dismiss him as an eccentric -- a freak -- but everywhere coders
and free thinkers embrace Linux, improve, and refine it. Now the forces of openness have a powerful and unexpected new ally."
Has anyone seen this a href="http://www-4.ibm.com/software/is/mp/linux/au dio/ibm_linux-02.avi"
commercial on TV yet? If they put it on TV, it would really prove that
IBM is going to try to push Linux, much more than
this watch does.
Slashdot Mirror
What's really amusing is that the ad for this talk says that he is also teaching a 1 credit class entitled "Mary Shelley, Frankenstein, and the Unabomber." That would really be good for a laugh.
--
Anyway, the entire problem is ciomplicated by the fact the Sun's magnetic field is carried by the Solar wind, and there is believed to be an interstellar wind which interacts with the Solar wind. Because of these interactions and the shocks they cause, the heliosphere does not have a regular shape or size (its not really a sphere and its dimensions change over time depending on the conditions).
--
--
Well, there already are other similar services. The Alaska page already mentioned is a good one. Spaceweather.com is a fairly good site as well. And there are also sites for reporting your own aurora observations. The Auroral Activity Page is for world wide aurora observations, while this page at the University of Minnesota is for the midwest of the U.S. and Canada.
--
--
The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon, paperback, 272 pages, published January, 2000. HTH. HAND.
--
A huge increase in case load is unlikely since the law that allows for bypasssing the Court of Appeals only applies to anti-trust cases. Besides which, the SC can decide on each case if they want to allow it to bypass the CoA. I agree that the SC made the right decision (even though I'd like the case to be over with quickly), but the reasons that this is the right decision have nothing to do with SC caseload.
--
Well, I wasn't clear, but I think that the real problem is that it includes other people's code (or at least seems to be). Otherwise, it seems to me that Compaq making you agree to the click-through license would just be dual licensing the code (like Qt and the QPL and GPL). It would be an odd case of dual licensing, but I think that it might hold up. But they can't dual license this code, because its not all theirs. But like you said - it just seems like a glitch on Compaq's side.
--
There is at least some GPL code involved. In the zipfile take a look at the top of usbdrv/cpqpjb.c:
snipSo there is a problem, but I don't know that slashdot is the best place to work it out. Compaq should have at least been contacted first.
--
Well, there are many good reasons to get rid of the imperial system, but this isn't one of them (I hated it when we had to use them in some engineering classes - the conversions are such a mess).
Anyway, the pound can be used for both mass and force in the imperial system, but its really 2 different units. The pound mass (lbm) and pound force (lbf) are two separate units. A pound mass weighs one pound force on Earth. But, there is another, better unit of mass in the imperial system - the slug. One slug is the mass that is accelerated 1 ft/s^2 by one pound or force.
--
Well, I too wish they wouldn't have killed SSC, but I think that your kidding yourself if you think that Texas was chosen for purely techical reasons. I think its pretty well established that a large part of the reason that Texas was chosen is that the Speaker of the House was from Texas (Jim Wright?). And then later when the cuts needed to be made the Wright was gone due to some scandal or another. (Forgive me if the facts aren't exactly right - that the way I recall it anyway).
Anyway the SSC was definitely a great case study in the problems of politics and Big Science.
--
Well, I guess we have different definitions of direct. By your definition electrons have never been directly observed either. Sure, Viking was a long way and it was '70's tech, but the isotope ratio match really well.
As for what theories are likely in error, we recently gotten a lot of new info about Mars which has put a lot of its geology in question. We still don't know a lot of really basic things about Martian (and Venusian) geology, especially when it comes to formation history and age. And much of aging is based on cratering history, which has a lot of assumptions going into it.
Heck, the theories to explain the formation of planets in the solar system are still really wobbly. Anyway, I think the fact that these meteorites are from Mars is on a lot more solid footing than much of planetary science.
Anyway, it seems pretty clear that the meteorites are from Mars, though it is slightly less clear for the meteorite which they claimed might have life (that's a hypothesis that is far from proven) as this article explains.
Also, here's a really nice bibliography on Martian Meteorites for those looking for some light reading.
The geology of asteroid rocks is much different, than the geology of Mars or the Earth. Originally it was thought that these Martian meteorites might be from asteroids or other small bodies, but that option was eliminated. See the link I posted elsewhere in this story.
Wrong, the Viking spacecraft made direct observations of the Martian atmosphere, and its these observations that are the basis of the claim that these meteorites are Martian in origin. The proof is really quite convincing. Take a look at some of the links available here.
To me it seems pretty clear that the meteorites are Martian, whether we know the geologic history of Mars that well seems to be a little bit more in doubt.
I think that slashdot has been fairly about their position on DeCSS has been pretty clear. They are against what MPAA is trying to do. In fact they seem pretty proud of being named in the "other" DeCSS suit. If I had thought I was working against their wishes, I never would have posted the link.
I think that MPAA would be foolish to go after the likes of slashdot at this point, and they know it. As long they can keep the spin on this case that its the nasty hackers versus the poor film makers they are in good shape. But slashdot is quasi-news cite with a somewhat more "respectable" (ha) readership, and slashdot is owned by a fair sized company (not nearly as big as the companies that own the film studios, but big enough). If the MPAA went after slashdot, the uproar from third parties like the New York Times would only increase. The key to defeating these unjust laws is make it clear how ludicrous they are, so the PR battle is important.
Anyway, the key to successful disobedience is to make it widespread. I don't think that simply fighting the case in court is the way to go. Many people fighting it on the web will much more effective. Posting links on my own little site that no one visits is not effective. The links need to be somewhere that they get attention.
Anyway, there are enough links to the DeCSS in previous stories on /. that I don't think that
my silly little post is going to make much difference. Heck,there are some people with links
to DeCSS in their signatures.
As for it being illegal to make the links, at this point the only ones who are barred from making links to DeCSS are 2600. Until slashdot has been sued and lost their own case, the links are legal here. The lawyers sending out the cease and desist letters in hopes of intimidating people into removing the links. Few of us have individually have the resources to defend ourselves from these attacks, but luckily sites like /. do.
And if enough of use our ability to wage civil
disobedience, hopefully MPAA will either lose
or give up.
I find it very unlikely that the part of this DeCSS decision outlawing linking will hold up. It would really cripple the web.
I may disapprove of what you link to, but I'll defend to the death your right to link to it.
Anyway, if it gets to the point where /. (wants|has) to remove account, they can have it.
It won't be a place I want to hang around. Of
course I don't find that possibility bloody likely.
DeCSS
Your method.
The middle mouse button method.
What could be easier?
But it can be even easier than this! Just select the URL in your xterm, and click with the middle mouse button almost anywhere. (The only places you can't click are places where the middle mouse button already has a different meaning - i.e. text boxes, scroll bars, etc.)
This is much quicker and easier than waiting for a dialog box to pop up, and having to click right in it.
When the reviewer says OpenBSD developers, I think that he means developers from the other BSDs.
It plays fine on xanim
The commercial is along the same lines as this newspaper ad. The Captain from Deep Space 9 is the narrator. He says,"1991, Helsinki: A 21 year-old student named Linus Torvalds writes a new computer operating system. He calls it `Linux', then does something revolutionary -- he gives it away, free, over the Internet. The powers that be dismiss him as an eccentric -- a freak -- but everywhere coders and free thinkers embrace Linux, improve, and refine it. Now the forces of openness have a powerful and unexpected new ally."
Has anyone seen this a href="http://www-4.ibm.com/software/is/mp/linux/au dio/ibm_linux-02.avi"
commercial on TV yet? If they put it on TV, it would really prove that
IBM is going to try to push Linux, much more than
this watch does.
Linux on a IBM mainframe was posted on slashdot a while back. There are also linux ibm s/390 resources here.