Anyone who claims that RedHat started the use of/usr/bin/ as a dumping ground can't be taken seriously. Pretty sure slackware and SLS did the same thing. Same goes for Solaris, AIX, AUX, Sun/OS, Irix, and HPUX.
Agreed, but does that make it right?
For the last few years, this is the kind of thing that has really been nagging me. All OSes seem to suffer from the same problem. Why are we so stuck with the mindset that traditions of the past shouldn't be challenged? Can't we, as "brilliant" computer scientist, start solving these problems and move on?
I recently demo'ed a good Linux distro to a friend and it finally dawned on me. When you load KDE, you are literally overwhelmed with options. My friend asked, "What is the difference between tools and utilities?". I didn't know. I tried to show him StarOffice and it took me a few minuets of digging in different menus.
No, I don't use Linux on a daily basis, and no, I'm not the smartest person in the world. But I think I see the problem. Everything seems to be an imitation of something else (with more bells and whistles). Where is the true innovation? Our computers and software are not significantly different than they were 20 years ago.
I keep a magic eight ball at my desk for project estimation.
BOSS: We need an wiz-bang feature added for customer XYZ, pronto! Give me an estimate.
ME: Oh, magic eight ball, can this feature be completed in 6 months?
8-BALL: The future looks cloudy.
ME: Oh, magic eight ball, do we assign more than 5 people to this project?
8-BALL: It seems likely.
ME: Oh, magic eight ball, will I get a bonus if the project is done on time?
8-BALL: No freakin' way.
Has anyone considered a general boycot of XP? I know that most of the die hard/. group only runs Linux, but what about the others?
I've been running dual machines for a while and I can't see why M$ deserves any more of my money. Why should I have to pay more for a stable OS? Why should I pay more for something I already have? (I can download WinAmp and ICQ for free and my digital camera came with it's own software).
This is why I will never buy XP. Unless M$ is willing to innovate, I'll never buy another product from them again.
- The people who make knives / box knives.
- The people who trained the terrorists to fly.
- The people who sold the terrorists the plane tickets.
- The people who made the planes.
- The people who made the plane fuel.
- The people who made the WTC.
So I'm assuming you've checked the source of all the algorithms you use to make sure they're 100% correct?
Honestly, no I wouldn't (because I don't use any encryption).
However, if I were a European business worried about the possibility of losing millions of dollars in trade secrets to US companies because of Echelon, I would gladly pay a few mathematicians to review and test all the source code I use. If my company is willing to do this, then so would others.
Algorithms that are too complicated (i.e. obfuscated) to understand and test might be ignored in favor of ones that are. Code that makes unexplained calls to the socket library gets trashed.
Security through obscurity is foolish as long as Echelon exits.
I think you've missed the point entirely. If I can't see the source, how do I know the algorithms have been implemented correctly? Bugs in software can cause even the most soundproof encryption to be useless. Of course, no one would ever code a back door into their software...
Can MS include Java support in VS.NET? I might be a Java programmer instead of a C++ one today if Sun would've let people choose their IDE instead of taking it away from Microsoft.
Yes they can.
Sun never took Java away from Microsoft. The MS version of Java was IMHO, a non-standard implementation with the sole attempt to wrest control of the language away from Sun and the burgeoning Java community (e.g. JDirect instead of JNI).
Microsoft had the choice to build a version of the JVM that could at least implement the standard and they chose not to... Don't blame Sun for protecting their intrests and the intrests of the Java community from a bastardized MS version of the language.
She lives next door to me in my apartment building. I can hear her tapping away on her typewriter at all hours of the day and night. I think she is recording everything I say. Damn, she's doing it again -- when will the madness end?
Or you could just convince the ignorant masses that there really is a global catastrophe coming and put them on the rockets first... After we've shot them off into space, we have the whole planet to ourselves.
A trick I use keep track of all my passwords is to combine a local and global pass phrase.
My global pass phrase is common to all my passwords. For example: "A big blue monster ate all my cookies" becomes "Abbm8amc". When I log onto a site like slashdot, I create a simple association with the site. For example: "Slashdot is news for nerds" turns into "$dinfn"
If I concatenate this local pass phrase with my global pass phase, I get "$dinfnAbbm8amc".
This is a much easier way to remember multiple passwords so you won't be tempted to use the same one on different sites (not that I don't trust CmdrTaco).
Buy a digital camera and take pictures of things (like people, animals, sporting events, etc.). You would be amazed at how many people take pictures of things and send them around to friends and family.
To clarify, I think one of the major issues in digital stenography is the ability to "trick" a third-party observer into thinking that is just a plain text message. While it may be mathematically impossible to completely hide data in this way, it goes a long way to breaking snooping/blocking software.
For example, I want to send the DeCSS code to my friend down the street without the RIAA finding out (assuming they can scan my email at will). I take a picture of myself with my digital camera and encode the DeCSS source into the image. I can then email the altered image to him as normal. If I want to be really clever, I can encrypt the DeCSS source before I encode it into the image.
Now to the crux, how is it theoretically possible to determine that the image I sent is carrying a second message? Will every piece of data transmitted across the net be subjected to brute force analysis? I think it unlikely. It is more likely that this scenario will just be made "illegal" by lawmakers.
I think that this was inevitable. The US recording industry has every reason to protect their monopoly over the music media.
Over the past decade, we've seen a major shift in the industry to increase the control over the content and distribution of music to the masses. Independent record labels are almost non-existent and forget about ever hearing inde music on a local radio station (unless you are very lucky). Guess who has been buying all the radio stations? I happen to live in a Clear Channel city, how about you?
Believe or not, these people want to control music from the moment it gets penned down to the moment it enters your ears. You hear what they want you to hear, when they want you to hear it. Bands like Metallica are just puppets for their corporate masters. When they are no longer profitable, they will be cast aside like the rag dolls that they are.
IMHO, the industry doesn't care about piracy and never has. What really keeps the execs awake at night is the threat of losing control over the DISTRIBUTION of their media. They've done their best to isolate themselves from the digital age though unconstitutional legislation, but it's not been enough. This is why they have pulled out all the stops on attacking MP3 and any kind of electronic distribution that they don't already own. Why? Well if they don't control it, they don't get their cut.
So when you buy that CD, most of the money goes right back into feeding the beast that shoves the music back down your throat. Gag.
I am not a huge fan of most of the bill payment systems. Instead, I would prefer to pay most, if not all, of my bills by credit card. Wait! It's not as crazy as it sounds, especially if you are like me and religiously pay off the balance every month. I have a generous grace period, so I don't see any additional fees and, best of all, I get 1% back on all of my purchases. This way my money stays in one place and continues to earn interest. I also get a nice monthly report (bill) that summarizes my spending habits.
In a perfect world, I'd only have to write one check a month. Unfortunately, I have only been able to pay by cable bill (by phone), my phone bill (on the web). My electric company said that they would be accepting payments via the web soon. Now if I can just figure out how to make my rent and car payment by credit card...
I haven't read Usenet on a regular basis in several years. I just got tired of wading through all the noise to get to anything useful. One day I just got tired of updating my killfile... Now, I just go to Deja whenever I'm looking for specific information on a topic.
However, I find the community oriented web sites to be more useful --/. has developed a decent model that makes it relatively easy to find the few gems that are posted. I don't always have the time to read every post. I just think it's a better model than Usenet (even if I have to put up with a few creative trolls). In some ways it reminds me more of the old BBS days.
So, what other sites are out there? I know that I'm a nerd, but there is more to life than geek news and Natalie Portman. Are there any other community oriented web sites like/. that cater to other tastes?
If you were to divide M$ into 2 primary companies (an OS division and an application division), what benefit would the OS maker have by cooperating with only one application company? It would be in their best interest to license their APIs to multiple parties -- every license will result in more money in the corporate coffers.
At that point, it would be advantageous for the application company to deliver their software to multiple platforms (Mac, Linux, etc.). If they could reduce the cost to port, test and maintain parallel versions, it would bring in greater revenues than releasing on just one platform.
If M$ is broken up, you can't assume that they will collude because it would not necessarily be in the best interest of both parties.
In my mind, the best part of the breakup will come down the road when each company can go back to focusing on good technology and loose the marketing driven design crud.
I must admit that I have personally mutilated a few cans of Guiness to see what was inside. A true work of genius. It's almost as good as the real thing. It made me wonder why other beer makers hadn't done something similar and then it dawned on me -- obviously, they had patented the idea. At least it's a little more novel than 1-click shopping. I'm just glad that Amazon.com doesn't make beer. Then no one else would be able to open their beer w/o paying a royalty.
As for the Guiness empire, I've heard that they plan to stop shipping bottles completely and just stick to the nitrogen cans. I think I can live with that.
Slashdot Mirror
John Romero Releases Details on Next Project: "John Romero Presents John Romero's 'John Romero'"
Agreed, but does that make it right?
For the last few years, this is the kind of thing that has really been nagging me. All OSes seem to suffer from the same problem. Why are we so stuck with the mindset that traditions of the past shouldn't be challenged? Can't we, as "brilliant" computer scientist, start solving these problems and move on?
I recently demo'ed a good Linux distro to a friend and it finally dawned on me. When you load KDE, you are literally overwhelmed with options. My friend asked, "What is the difference between tools and utilities?". I didn't know. I tried to show him StarOffice and it took me a few minuets of digging in different menus.
No, I don't use Linux on a daily basis, and no, I'm not the smartest person in the world. But I think I see the problem. Everything seems to be an imitation of something else (with more bells and whistles). Where is the true innovation? Our computers and software are not significantly different than they were 20 years ago.
Why are we still using $PATH?
I keep a magic eight ball at my desk for project estimation.
BOSS: We need an wiz-bang feature added for customer XYZ, pronto! Give me an estimate.
ME: Oh, magic eight ball, can this feature be completed in 6 months?
8-BALL: The future looks cloudy.
ME: Oh, magic eight ball, do we assign more than 5 people to this project?
8-BALL: It seems likely.
ME: Oh, magic eight ball, will I get a bonus if the project is done on time?
8-BALL: No freakin' way.
Has anyone considered a general boycot of XP? I know that most of the die hard /. group only runs Linux, but what about the others?
I've been running dual machines for a while and I can't see why M$ deserves any more of my money. Why should I have to pay more for a stable OS? Why should I pay more for something I already have? (I can download WinAmp and ICQ for free and my digital camera came with it's own software).
This is why I will never buy XP. Unless M$ is willing to innovate, I'll never buy another product from them again.
Let's see, we could also blame:
- The people who make knives / box knives.
- The people who trained the terrorists to fly.
- The people who sold the terrorists the plane tickets.
- The people who made the planes.
- The people who made the plane fuel.
- The people who made the WTC.
Yes this is stupid.
Honestly, no I wouldn't (because I don't use any encryption).
However, if I were a European business worried about the possibility of losing millions of dollars in trade secrets to US companies because of Echelon, I would gladly pay a few mathematicians to review and test all the source code I use. If my company is willing to do this, then so would others.
Algorithms that are too complicated (i.e. obfuscated) to understand and test might be ignored in favor of ones that are. Code that makes unexplained calls to the socket library gets trashed.
Security through obscurity is foolish as long as Echelon exits.
I think you've missed the point entirely. If I can't see the source, how do I know the algorithms have been implemented correctly? Bugs in software can cause even the most soundproof encryption to be useless. Of course, no one would ever code a back door into their software...
Score: -1, Redundant
Yes they can.
Sun never took Java away from Microsoft. The MS version of Java was IMHO, a non-standard implementation with the sole attempt to wrest control of the language away from Sun and the burgeoning Java community (e.g. JDirect instead of JNI).
Microsoft had the choice to build a version of the JVM that could at least implement the standard and they chose not to... Don't blame Sun for protecting their intrests and the intrests of the Java community from a bastardized MS version of the language.
She lives next door to me in my apartment building. I can hear her tapping away on her typewriter at all hours of the day and night. I think she is recording everything I say. Damn, she's doing it again -- when will the madness end?
Oh, you said steganography... Never mind.
The connection was refused when attempting to contact banjo.slashdot.org
It feels so existential.
I would have responded to this article, but I can't type...
I don't see how millions of little Billy Crystals can help make my computer any faster... funnier maybe, but not faster.
I can't wait until Jenny upgrades her site with this new feature!
Or you could just convince the ignorant masses that there really is a global catastrophe coming and put them on the rockets first... After we've shot them off into space, we have the whole planet to ourselves.
Now we just need Buck Rogers to return with that gorgeous sidekick he had...
I never thought Twiggy was all that good looking myself...
A trick I use keep track of all my passwords is to combine a local and global pass phrase.
My global pass phrase is common to all my passwords. For example: "A big blue monster ate all my cookies" becomes "Abbm8amc". When I log onto a site like slashdot, I create a simple association with the site. For example: "Slashdot is news for nerds" turns into "$dinfn"
If I concatenate this local pass phrase with my global pass phase, I get "$dinfnAbbm8amc".
This is a much easier way to remember multiple passwords so you won't be tempted to use the same one on different sites (not that I don't trust CmdrTaco).
BTW, this is NOT my slashdot password.
Buy a digital camera and take pictures of things (like people, animals, sporting events, etc.). You would be amazed at how many people take pictures of things and send them around to friends and family.
To clarify, I think one of the major issues in digital stenography is the ability to "trick" a third-party observer into thinking that is just a plain text message. While it may be mathematically impossible to completely hide data in this way, it goes a long way to breaking snooping/blocking software.
For example, I want to send the DeCSS code to my friend down the street without the RIAA finding out (assuming they can scan my email at will). I take a picture of myself with my digital camera and encode the DeCSS source into the image. I can then email the altered image to him as normal. If I want to be really clever, I can encrypt the DeCSS source before I encode it into the image.
Now to the crux, how is it theoretically possible to determine that the image I sent is carrying a second message? Will every piece of data transmitted across the net be subjected to brute force analysis? I think it unlikely. It is more likely that this scenario will just be made "illegal" by lawmakers.
I think that this was inevitable. The US recording industry has every reason to protect their monopoly over the music media.
Over the past decade, we've seen a major shift in the industry to increase the control over the content and distribution of music to the masses. Independent record labels are almost non-existent and forget about ever hearing inde music on a local radio station (unless you are very lucky). Guess who has been buying all the radio stations? I happen to live in a Clear Channel city, how about you?
Believe or not, these people want to control music from the moment it gets penned down to the moment it enters your ears. You hear what they want you to hear, when they want you to hear it. Bands like Metallica are just puppets for their corporate masters. When they are no longer profitable, they will be cast aside like the rag dolls that they are.
IMHO, the industry doesn't care about piracy and never has. What really keeps the execs awake at night is the threat of losing control over the DISTRIBUTION of their media. They've done their best to isolate themselves from the digital age though unconstitutional legislation, but it's not been enough. This is why they have pulled out all the stops on attacking MP3 and any kind of electronic distribution that they don't already own. Why? Well if they don't control it, they don't get their cut.
So when you buy that CD, most of the money goes right back into feeding the beast that shoves the music back down your throat. Gag.
I am not a huge fan of most of the bill payment systems. Instead, I would prefer to pay most, if not all, of my bills by credit card. Wait! It's not as crazy as it sounds, especially if you are like me and religiously pay off the balance every month. I have a generous grace period, so I don't see any additional fees and, best of all, I get 1% back on all of my purchases. This way my money stays in one place and continues to earn interest. I also get a nice monthly report (bill) that summarizes my spending habits.
In a perfect world, I'd only have to write one check a month. Unfortunately, I have only been able to pay by cable bill (by phone), my phone bill (on the web). My electric company said that they would be accepting payments via the web soon. Now if I can just figure out how to make my rent and car payment by credit card...
I haven't read Usenet on a regular basis in several years. I just got tired of wading through all the noise to get to anything useful. One day I just got tired of updating my killfile... Now, I just go to Deja whenever I'm looking for specific information on a topic.
/. has developed a decent model that makes it relatively easy to find the few gems that are posted. I don't always have the time to read every post. I just think it's a better model than Usenet (even if I have to put up with a few creative trolls). In some ways it reminds me more of the old BBS days.
/. that cater to other tastes?
However, I find the community oriented web sites to be more useful --
So, what other sites are out there? I know that I'm a nerd, but there is more to life than geek news and Natalie Portman. Are there any other community oriented web sites like
If you were to divide M$ into 2 primary companies (an OS division and an application division), what benefit would the OS maker have by cooperating with only one application company? It would be in their best interest to license their APIs to multiple parties -- every license will result in more money in the corporate coffers.
At that point, it would be advantageous for the application company to deliver their software to multiple platforms (Mac, Linux, etc.). If they could reduce the cost to port, test and maintain parallel versions, it would bring in greater revenues than releasing on just one platform.
If M$ is broken up, you can't assume that they will collude because it would not necessarily be in the best interest of both parties.
In my mind, the best part of the breakup will come down the road when each company can go back to focusing on good technology and loose the marketing driven design crud.
I must admit that I have personally mutilated a few cans of Guiness to see what was inside. A true work of genius. It's almost as good as the real thing. It made me wonder why other beer makers hadn't done something similar and then it dawned on me -- obviously, they had patented the idea. At least it's a little more novel than 1-click shopping. I'm just glad that Amazon.com doesn't make beer. Then no one else would be able to open their beer w/o paying a royalty.
As for the Guiness empire, I've heard that they plan to stop shipping bottles completely and just stick to the nitrogen cans. I think I can live with that.