Care to elaborate on this? I live in the UK, but I spent 3 months in the USA last year, so I have some perspective on both. The police powers in the USA are quite a bit stronger than those in the UK. I saw a lot more security cameras in the USA than in the UK, but in both cases most were privately owned.
Having spent some time in England, I found quite the opposite (regarding cameras). Perhaps it is a matter of being accustomed to the cameras in one environment and in another environment they stand out. I don't really have a problem with privately owned cameras. It is the right of the owner to monitor their property. There is MUCH less room for abuse in that case. Although I would be pretty pissed if I had a camera pointed at me while I worked.....
Most cameras (after the privately owned ones) in the UK that are quoted in alarmist statistics are speed cameras. One American I talked to expressed an objection to this concept based on the concept that it wasn't sporting to be able to catch people speeding without having to chase them down. This basically means that it's okay to break a law if you can get away with it. Personally, I feel that more uniform enforcement of laws is a good way of getting bad ones overturned. Either a law is just, in which case as many people as possible should be penalised for breaking it, or it is unjust, in which case as many people as possible should be made aware of this fact.
Mostly speed cameras? Hmm, well I can't say I have much problem with those. It is really the idea that I am being watched by "big brother" as if I were a suspected criminal everywhere I go that I have a problem with.
But if you say it isn't a big deal in the UK, I'm inclined to trust you.
I love people who trot that out every time a story like this comes out as if it's a certainty that putting a camera anywhere means the inevitably of the future of 1984 happening.
Baby steps. You don't think dystopian societies develop overnight, do you?:)
In all seriousness, I wonder how you would envision the decline of current first-world democracies. What do you think the ingredients might be and what might be the first steps towards something like "1984?" I don't know about you, but mass surveillance is pretty high on my list. Legislation with names like PATRIOT are also high on that list. As well as new government agencies with names like "Homeland Security." I consider it a red flag any time one uses "Motherland," "Fatherland," or "Homeland" in the title of a government agency.
The kind of slippery slope argument you're using here works both ways. Yes, cameras can be abused. But what if they aren't being abused and never will be?
If they can be abused, they will be. Assume they will be abused and then weigh that against the projected benefit.
Wait... are you basicly saying 'because glitches happen, it is ok for malfunctioning microsoft software to intentionally damager my data'
What I am saying is that without any specific reason to believe that Vista's DRM will have any affect on high end users, anyone who suggests that it will is just spreading FUD. There is no reason to believe that Vista will cause any more "glitches" in professional media output than any other system.
But "glitches" happen everywhere. Why should Vista be any worse? Because you heard that it behaves a certain way with certain *protected* media? Jesus Christ, lay off the crack for a minute and listen to yourself. You are speaking nothing but FUD.
Wow, talk about FUD. I don't think you mentioned a single fact or reality. It was all hypotheticals like "what if..." "even if only 1%..." and "unprotected media *might* be unaffected..."
Here's an idea. Why don't you do some actual research *before* you respond to the guy worried about Vista's DRM. That way you might actually have something constructive to add.
Linux already has tracing technologies and it has multiple excellent file systems, as well as a roadmap for ext4. Maybe ZFS and DTrace will have some small influence on their evolution, but for the most part, Linux will go its own way there.
What Linux already has is mindshare. It is a "good enough" Microsoft alternative that works now. Sure, DTrace is good. Great, even. But most people wouldn't know how to take advantage of it. Most people putting together a mail server or web server simply don't need it. And as for ZFS... well that just seems like overkill for most situations. I'm sure it is awesome if you really need it, but when ext3/ufs are perfectly adequate for 95% of use cases, who cares?
Anyone who thinks OpenSolaris is going to be the next Linux because it has a few cool tools needs to realize that brands don't make it on technical merits alone. It is much more complicated than that.
Personally, I don't know ANYONE who is running OpenSolaris as a production server. To suggest that it will overtake Linux in 2007 is just ridiculous. Maybe it will someday, I can't see that far ahead, but I would bet a lot of money that it won't happen in 2007.
There is a difference between control and data security. Just because the data on my local computer is at higher risk of being lost due to hardware failure doesn't mean that I don't have more *control* over it. They are completely different issues.
Whenever someone mentions targeted advertising I think of Minority Report. *shudder*
I don't normally see sci-fi scenarios literally happening, but this particular one is not too far away at all (the targeted advertisements bit, not the crime prediction bit)
I say block all unsolicited ads indiscriminately. Let's not let the advertisers think they have found some kind of ethical way to invade our heads and manipulate us.
Stories like this are why I don't worry about running out of oil or about global warming. Anytime the system begins to get unbalanced it forces a correction through the free market, and it works even faster and better when the government stays the hell out of things and allows nature to take its course.
Ok, so lets say we don't run out of oil. Not only do we not run out of oil but it remains the most economically viable source of energy for some time to come. At what point does the "free market" then solve global warming? Seems to me that an unregulated free market would just keep on polluting until it is too late (or at least really bad).
The only way to keep corporations from destroying the environment is to regulate them. Enforce environmental standards and fine the hell out of corporations when they violate. Sorry, but free markets don't work for everything.
3) I hate to say it, but Windows XP actually runs consistently faster under load on my laptop than Ubuntu. The GUI in particular is more responsive under load than GNOME or KDE.
That's interesting because I've found exactly the opposite. Doing something as simple as unzipping a (large) file in Windows will bring the system to a crawl for me. Windows has always choked under load for me. While I can be compiling something in the background, or example, on Linux and hardly feel it as far as responsiveness goes.
But maybe it is because I don't use KDE or GNOME. I opt for the more lightweight "desktops" like XFCE when I use Linux. Also, it should be noted that I don't use LInux much anymore. I actually prefer using an old G4 tower w/ OS X. It is funny because the PC is like 4x faster.
Look, the reality of milage doesn't change because the EPA changes their testing methodology. Yes, the current EPA numbers are inflated. Sounds like the new ones will be deflated. Regardless, I get a real world 40 MPG out of my Prius
WHich is pretty sad considering you could get that kind of mileage out of conventional automobiles.
nd that's better than the real world high 20's, low 30's I got out of my previous cars with similar performance.
Hmm, similar performance? Maybe that is the difference. Still, that makes hybrids only a incremental improvement. They're often touted as a leap in efficiency.
It is abuse because it causes a lot of problems in the process of getting the job done. Many domains refuse messages over a certain size because of hte problems... which causes more problems.
If it was really easy to use end-to-end encryption, that might be a reasonable expectation. But it's not really easy. The proof is that almost nobody encrypts their emails today,
For fun I opened up 'Help' in Apple Mail and typed in "encrypt" in the search. The first result was detailed instruction on how to generate a certificate and encrypt email. If Apple officially supports it, how hard can it be? I dunno, maybe it only works correctly with other Mail.app users, but it seems pretty straight forward to me.
but if you told them that strangers were reading their emails, they'd be unhappy about it.
But would they be unhappy enough to do something about it? Probably not. People are often "unhappy" about things they hear, but how often do they do anything about it. Encrypting email really isn't that hard, but it is an extra step. It is an extra step that most people don't bother with.
Speaking for myself, I know how to encrypt email. But why should I bother?
To add to your point. Letters in seeled envelopes {sp} are protected postcards are not. If I send a postcard I can't assume that only the addressed recipient will turn it over and read it. But, I can assume the the seeled envelope will arrive seeled.
You cannot make this assumption. I know plenty of people who've recieved letters and packages that were opened sometime during delivery. Presumably they were under surveillance of some sort. It isn't just paranoia. There are reasons why these people might be watched. I don't know if it is legal, but I know it happens.
I think that is the point (although hidden). I'm sure they are all well aware that the system is difficult to program for. They're simply trying to spin it into something positive. But really, it isn't positive at all. I mean, if they had said, "games don't use the full power now, but will gradually take advantage of it in the future so you don't have to buy a new system in 2 years." THAT would have been positive, even if it is untrue or speculative. But admitting that nobody will ever take advantage of the power just makes the whole system seem like a waste.
But wouldn't the the combined total mass of the universe cause an overall curvature? That is assuming that you could find some center of gravity for it all....
Slashdot Mirror
Having spent some time in England, I found quite the opposite (regarding cameras). Perhaps it is a matter of being accustomed to the cameras in one environment and in another environment they stand out. I don't really have a problem with privately owned cameras. It is the right of the owner to monitor their property. There is MUCH less room for abuse in that case. Although I would be pretty pissed if I had a camera pointed at me while I worked.....
Mostly speed cameras? Hmm, well I can't say I have much problem with those. It is really the idea that I am being watched by "big brother" as if I were a suspected criminal everywhere I go that I have a problem with.
But if you say it isn't a big deal in the UK, I'm inclined to trust you.
-matthew
Baby steps. You don't think dystopian societies develop overnight, do you?
In all seriousness, I wonder how you would envision the decline of current first-world democracies. What do you think the ingredients might be and what might be the first steps towards something like "1984?" I don't know about you, but mass surveillance is pretty high on my list. Legislation with names like PATRIOT are also high on that list. As well as new government agencies with names like "Homeland Security." I consider it a red flag any time one uses "Motherland," "Fatherland," or "Homeland" in the title of a government agency.
-matthew
If they can be abused, they will be. Assume they will be abused and then weigh that against the projected benefit.
-matthew
The UK is a great example of what I DON'T want to happen in the US when it comes to surveillance. It is disturbing.
-matthew
There is skepticism... and there is FUD.
-matthew
The FUD is that this has absolutely nothing to do with unprotected, locally produced media.
What I am saying is that without any specific reason to believe that Vista's DRM will have any affect on high end users, anyone who suggests that it will is just spreading FUD. There is no reason to believe that Vista will cause any more "glitches" in professional media output than any other system.
-matthew
But "glitches" happen everywhere. Why should Vista be any worse? Because you heard that it behaves a certain way with certain *protected* media? Jesus Christ, lay off the crack for a minute and listen to yourself. You are speaking nothing but FUD.
-matthew
Wow, talk about FUD. I don't think you mentioned a single fact or reality. It was all hypotheticals like "what if..." "even if only 1%..." and "unprotected media *might* be unaffected..."
Here's an idea. Why don't you do some actual research *before* you respond to the guy worried about Vista's DRM. That way you might actually have something constructive to add.
-matthew
Oh, hey, wow. One contrary example. Did I say that nobody is using OpenSolaris in production?
-matthew
What Linux already has is mindshare. It is a "good enough" Microsoft alternative that works now. Sure, DTrace is good. Great, even. But most people wouldn't know how to take advantage of it. Most people putting together a mail server or web server simply don't need it. And as for ZFS... well that just seems like overkill for most situations. I'm sure it is awesome if you really need it, but when ext3/ufs are perfectly adequate for 95% of use cases, who cares?
Anyone who thinks OpenSolaris is going to be the next Linux because it has a few cool tools needs to realize that brands don't make it on technical merits alone. It is much more complicated than that.
Personally, I don't know ANYONE who is running OpenSolaris as a production server. To suggest that it will overtake Linux in 2007 is just ridiculous. Maybe it will someday, I can't see that far ahead, but I would bet a lot of money that it won't happen in 2007.
-matthew
It isn't Outlook that needs to be beat, it is Exchange. The client is the easy part (relatively speaking).
-matthew
There is a difference between control and data security. Just because the data on my local computer is at higher risk of being lost due to hardware failure doesn't mean that I don't have more *control* over it. They are completely different issues.
-matthew
Whenever someone mentions targeted advertising I think of Minority Report. *shudder*
I don't normally see sci-fi scenarios literally happening, but this particular one is not too far away at all (the targeted advertisements bit, not the crime prediction bit)
I say block all unsolicited ads indiscriminately. Let's not let the advertisers think they have found some kind of ethical way to invade our heads and manipulate us.
-matthew
I couple reasons i can think of off hand why it less than ideal:
i a/mtop.html
1) Continues trend of pouring CO2 into the atmosphere
2) Have you ever *seen* a strip mining operation? http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/razingappalach
I don't want that shit happening where I live. All the logging is bad enough.
-matthew
Ok, so lets say we don't run out of oil. Not only do we not run out of oil but it remains the most economically viable source of energy for some time to come. At what point does the "free market" then solve global warming? Seems to me that an unregulated free market would just keep on polluting until it is too late (or at least really bad).
The only way to keep corporations from destroying the environment is to regulate them. Enforce environmental standards and fine the hell out of corporations when they violate. Sorry, but free markets don't work for everything.
-matthew
That's interesting because I've found exactly the opposite. Doing something as simple as unzipping a (large) file in Windows will bring the system to a crawl for me. Windows has always choked under load for me. While I can be compiling something in the background, or example, on Linux and hardly feel it as far as responsiveness goes.
But maybe it is because I don't use KDE or GNOME. I opt for the more lightweight "desktops" like XFCE when I use Linux. Also, it should be noted that I don't use LInux much anymore. I actually prefer using an old G4 tower w/ OS X. It is funny because the PC is like 4x faster.
-matthew
WHich is pretty sad considering you could get that kind of mileage out of conventional automobiles.
Hmm, similar performance? Maybe that is the difference. Still, that makes hybrids only a incremental improvement. They're often touted as a leap in efficiency.
-matthew
It is abuse because it causes a lot of problems in the process of getting the job done. Many domains refuse messages over a certain size because of hte problems... which causes more problems.
-matthew
It is a shame that people have to resort of abusing email to store/share files.
-matthew
For fun I opened up 'Help' in Apple Mail and typed in "encrypt" in the search. The first result was detailed instruction on how to generate a certificate and encrypt email. If Apple officially supports it, how hard can it be? I dunno, maybe it only works correctly with other Mail.app users, but it seems pretty straight forward to me.
But would they be unhappy enough to do something about it? Probably not. People are often "unhappy" about things they hear, but how often do they do anything about it. Encrypting email really isn't that hard, but it is an extra step. It is an extra step that most people don't bother with.
Speaking for myself, I know how to encrypt email. But why should I bother?
-matthew
You cannot make this assumption. I know plenty of people who've recieved letters and packages that were opened sometime during delivery. Presumably they were under surveillance of some sort. It isn't just paranoia. There are reasons why these people might be watched. I don't know if it is legal, but I know it happens.
-matthew
I think that is the point (although hidden). I'm sure they are all well aware that the system is difficult to program for. They're simply trying to spin it into something positive. But really, it isn't positive at all. I mean, if they had said, "games don't use the full power now, but will gradually take advantage of it in the future so you don't have to buy a new system in 2 years." THAT would have been positive, even if it is untrue or speculative. But admitting that nobody will ever take advantage of the power just makes the whole system seem like a waste.
-matthew
But wouldn't the the combined total mass of the universe cause an overall curvature? That is assuming that you could find some center of gravity for it all....
And then they shoot you in the foot after you buy the vest.