Rather than humour it is a satirical stab at the meme itself. Consider the irony in using this phrase in reference to "ants" (the original subject of the phrase) when most in most instances of this phrase being used in popular culture the subject is typically replaced with something that has no link or connection to the original.
The meme became irksome because it could be (and was) used in most any circumstance where a new and unconventional technology emerged that was fundamentally different to its already established competitors. Over time it has become less prevalent, and a story about 'ants' as something entirely new is a delightful place to comment on that.
Perhaps I was too subtle, but I rather fancy you're a tad slow off the mark.
I think the biggest barrier to Linux adoption is lack of ubiquitous support from hardware and software manufacturers - it is a chicken and egg problem, quite the blocker.
Another barrier is the fact that everyone uses 'Linux' to describe all Linux distributions. This means that a single word is used lots for a variety of very different UI's. Get a bunch of Linux users in a room and there'd be so much fundamental variation that they'd have to spend some time learning how to use each others systems (if they weren't techies which as desktop Linux users today they probably are). No one seems to address the issue that talking about 'Linux on the Desktop' is so many times less specific than 'Windows on the Desktop' that it doesn't even make sense to talk as though the two phrases are equivalent.
Arguments about the lower chance of installing malware on linux becomes moot when you're using at as an argument for promoting widespread linux use on the desktop - and remember that most malware is injected through flaws in userland apps or in front of the screen.
And you're right that windows has many UI deficiencies (also that maintenance - not policy enforcement - is a PITA), and appears extremely intuitive because we've gotten used to it: but although that means the IT landscape would be better off after a Linux distribution makes headway in the desktop space, it makes Windows' dominance very sticky and difficult to overcome.
I think of it like this: Windows desktop dominance is like being in the bottom of a big hole, and Linux desktop dominance is being at the top. Sure, it's better to be at the top, but that doesn't make climbing any easier.
How efficient is static analysis? perhaps it takes a million processor cycles to check one line of code, and the author takes it for granted that us plebs understand that.
Plenty of nuances in English disappeared with the printing press. If they were important, they wouldn't have.
If writing cursive ceases to be useful enough to bother learning to write it, it will die out and - like Latin - be read but not used. It's not the end of the world.
The next story posted after this discusses a new discovery of a particular genetic switch which can turn blood cells into immune cells, potentially offering a new treatment avenue for cancer sufferers down the line.
If this doesn't make science popular.....well I guess there's always those pretty pictures from Hubble
Would it be less confusing if I just said "handing over money at a shop to buy a piece of software does not signify that you've entered a contract with the owner of that intellectual property, for certainly contracts require all involved parties to agree"?
It seems a little long winded, and I think both wordings convey my point in the same way: that it's a bit rich for rights owners to expect you to notify them if you're selling on a copy of your software. On the other hand if it makes things clearer to the pedants...;)
You don't generally sign a contract before handing over your money at a shop. If you sell a piece of software boxed, shrink-wrapped and for cash I'll do whatever I like with it at home. On the hand if I we agree on terms before money changes hands: fair enough.
I suppose to my mind, a patent troll is a person/company that acquires broad or general patents with the intent to extort money from companies, or who creates patents to sit on them in case they become applicable to something widespread and popular.
Seems to fit the summary nicely.
Slashdot Mirror
Heh, I laughed for a good ten minutes after reading that one. If this is satire, my hat is well and truly off.
That was a level 2 troll you fool! Take your hand from his mouth lest it comes for seconds.
I think you're 83.33% correct.
Can it see back into last night so I can find where I put my keys?
Rather than humour it is a satirical stab at the meme itself. Consider the irony in using this phrase in reference to "ants" (the original subject of the phrase) when most in most instances of this phrase being used in popular culture the subject is typically replaced with something that has no link or connection to the original.
The meme became irksome because it could be (and was) used in most any circumstance where a new and unconventional technology emerged that was fundamentally different to its already established competitors. Over time it has become less prevalent, and a story about 'ants' as something entirely new is a delightful place to comment on that.
Perhaps I was too subtle, but I rather fancy you're a tad slow off the mark.
I for one welcome our new digital insect overlords.
Simple, just use a desktop machine for all your serving needs.
Space: where most stuff is.
I think the biggest barrier to Linux adoption is lack of ubiquitous support from hardware and software manufacturers - it is a chicken and egg problem, quite the blocker.
Another barrier is the fact that everyone uses 'Linux' to describe all Linux distributions. This means that a single word is used lots for a variety of very different UI's. Get a bunch of Linux users in a room and there'd be so much fundamental variation that they'd have to spend some time learning how to use each others systems (if they weren't techies which as desktop Linux users today they probably are). No one seems to address the issue that talking about 'Linux on the Desktop' is so many times less specific than 'Windows on the Desktop' that it doesn't even make sense to talk as though the two phrases are equivalent.
Arguments about the lower chance of installing malware on linux becomes moot when you're using at as an argument for promoting widespread linux use on the desktop - and remember that most malware is injected through flaws in userland apps or in front of the screen.
And you're right that windows has many UI deficiencies (also that maintenance - not policy enforcement - is a PITA), and appears extremely intuitive because we've gotten used to it: but although that means the IT landscape would be better off after a Linux distribution makes headway in the desktop space, it makes Windows' dominance very sticky and difficult to overcome.
I think of it like this: Windows desktop dominance is like being in the bottom of a big hole, and Linux desktop dominance is being at the top. Sure, it's better to be at the top, but that doesn't make climbing any easier.
How efficient is static analysis? perhaps it takes a million processor cycles to check one line of code, and the author takes it for granted that us plebs understand that.
Plenty of nuances in English disappeared with the printing press. If they were important, they wouldn't have.
If writing cursive ceases to be useful enough to bother learning to write it, it will die out and - like Latin - be read but not used. It's not the end of the world.
I disagree that the US considers people gay on the basis of what they do.
Unless they 'do' other guys. Then it's a pretty fair bet.
You should also stand directly behind the car; to simulate the effect of being a pedestrian listening out for electric cars.
But does it run LCARS?
The next story posted after this discusses a new discovery of a particular genetic switch which can turn blood cells into immune cells, potentially offering a new treatment avenue for cancer sufferers down the line.
If this doesn't make science popular.....well I guess there's always those pretty pictures from Hubble
To celebrate the fact that they invented shampoo?
Would it be less confusing if I just said "handing over money at a shop to buy a piece of software does not signify that you've entered a contract with the owner of that intellectual property, for certainly contracts require all involved parties to agree"?
It seems a little long winded, and I think both wordings convey my point in the same way: that it's a bit rich for rights owners to expect you to notify them if you're selling on a copy of your software. On the other hand if it makes things clearer to the pedants... ;)
Do programmers deserve their own holiday ahead of other professions?
Yes.
Should the rest of the world follow suit?
Hell Yes.
You don't generally sign a contract before handing over your money at a shop. If you sell a piece of software boxed, shrink-wrapped and for cash I'll do whatever I like with it at home. On the hand if I we agree on terms before money changes hands: fair enough.
They are not the same thing (as the article makes clear).
This sounds interesting and will definitely take a look - but I doubt I'll be ditching Pylons any time soon.
What's the difference?
Who's white?
I'm an albino, you insensitive clod!
http://www.slashcode.org - OK, you twisted my arm.
I suppose to my mind, a patent troll is a person/company that acquires broad or general patents with the intent to extort money from companies, or who creates patents to sit on them in case they become applicable to something widespread and popular. Seems to fit the summary nicely.
I have a few windows only apps which don't play well with Wine - it is still more convenient to just use Windows in a windowless virtualbox vm