Which article did you read? I just tried to get to the DOI, BLM and USGS main sites and they are down. The only article I could get to was the one from indianz.com, and AFAICT it didn't say only the accounting systems would be taken down
I just read the article they linked to; it says
A federal judge on Wednesday evening threatened yet again to hold Secretary of Interior Gale Norton in contempt as he ordered her department to "immediately" disconnect from the Internet every single computer, server and system that has access to individual Indian trust data.
If the entire system allows access to individual Indian trust data, then they did the right thing. If the entire system doesn't allow that access, then they just made another boneheaded decision if they brought them all down.
I know I ruined my slashdot credibility by actually READING THE ARTICLE, but this applies only to systems that provide access to the Indian Trust data, and its an emergency order designed to protect the people whose data is stored there. This was a "computer infrastructure so easily penetrable that a court investigator and his team of security experts were able to break in and repeatedly access, modify and even create trust data -- all without raising a response from the government." This involves the finances of over 300,000 people, I don't think the judge was out of bounds in ordering it closed.
KPMG is one of the Big Five accounting firms; just about anyone who would need their services already knows they exist. I think this just makes them look kind of dumb...
First, it's voluntary? I'd like to know how to opt out.
MOVE.
Second, you are paying for their support. When you pay social security, that money goes straight out to the people who are currently collecting.
So what? If I lend you a dollar, then try getting it back a year from now, is it fair for me to insist on receiving the same exact dollar I gave you, down to the serial number? Its a pool, put money in and you're entitled to get money back at a later time.
Another note: It's not just that there are 30+ million of THEM, it's that there are 30+ million of THEM and they VOTE. The AARP is one of the most powerful lobbies out there because their members vote in droves thanks to the invention of the electric golf cart.
The social security laws put into what in effect was a contract. They put in their share, they have every right to expect the government to do their part.
Its a common mistake, especially on slashdot,
but
"democracy" and "republic" are not mutually exclusive designations.
From Merriam-Webster:
Democracy
1 a : government by the people; especially : rule of the majority b : a government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation usually involving periodically held free elections.
Republic
1 a (1) : a government having a chief of state who is not a monarch and who in modern times is usually a president (2) : a political unit (as a nation) having such a form of government.
(1) : a government in which supreme power resides in a body of citizens entitled to vote and is exercised by elected officers and representatives responsible to them and governing according to law
As you can see, the definitions overlap a lot. A democracy simply means government by the people, while a republic sets forth a slightly narrower definition, describing the basic structure the government of a democracy could take, and establishing laws to limit that power. A democracy could theoretically take many forms; every issue being voted on by the electorate, a representational system like the US and most other countries have, even an elected dictator (absolute power for a limited period of time) like the occasionally had in ancient Rome.
Consider an issue like social-security. You are forced to support people you don't even know involutarily. You are their slave. Why? Because there are about 30+ million of them. Hey, they wants it, you got it. They dont say please or thank-you.
First of all, its only voluntary if they won't let you leave. You can leave. Second of all, if you pay social security, you get social security benefits. You're not paying for their support, you're paying for your own.
The thing is that we chose Democracy not because its the most efficient form of government, but because its the most moral. If the vast majority of people want to make idiotic decisions, that's their right.
An ancient city was found, and Schliemann claimed that it was Troy. Its possible; but the evidence is sketchy at best, and its possible that Troy really is mythological and never existed.
Personally I think that if you were to dig under a lot of Turkish cities you'd find ancient ruins. Just like if you look at a lot of islands, you're eventually going to find something that has some of the characteristics of Atlantis. Doesn't mean that it is the actual Atlantis Plato referred to in the Critias.
Speaking AI? Knowledge based systems, machine learning, planning, language processing, and a whole lot more. There will be stuff that you wouldn't dare write in a novel.
Only the AI revolution has been in the works for a couple of decade, and while everything else in computers is ahead of what was predicted, AI is the only thing that's behind.
Hell, I'd prefer if Gore were handling this crisis, instead of someone with no foreign policy understanding who is quite possibly the least inspiring President we've ever had.
It's a pity, too, because the administration can tell the courts whatever they want. In a case challenging the Constitutionality of the Japanese-American interment, the Army just flat-out lied to the Court.
They did that with chess too. Weird how communist countries have been so obsessed with winning on the international stage in contests, as if that proves something.
Slashdot Mirror
Which article did you read? I just tried to get to the DOI, BLM and USGS main sites and they are down. The only article I could get to was the one from indianz.com, and AFAICT it didn't say only the accounting systems would be taken down
I just read the article they linked to; it says
If the entire system allows access to individual Indian trust data, then they did the right thing. If the entire system doesn't allow that access, then they just made another boneheaded decision if they brought them all down.
I know I ruined my slashdot credibility by actually READING THE ARTICLE, but this applies only to systems that provide access to the Indian Trust data, and its an emergency order designed to protect the people whose data is stored there. This was a "computer infrastructure so easily penetrable that a court investigator and his team of security experts were able to break in and repeatedly access, modify and even create trust data -- all without raising a response from the government." This involves the finances of over 300,000 people, I don't think the judge was out of bounds in ordering it closed.
Where? I'm only free to move to another similar country!
Well, that's not the US's problem, its yours. This country can set its own policy, their only obligation is not to force you to stay.
KPMG is one of the Big Five accounting firms; just about anyone who would need their services already knows they exist. I think this just makes them look kind of dumb...
First, it's voluntary? I'd like to know how to opt out.
MOVE.
Second, you are paying for their support. When you pay social security, that money goes straight out to the people who are currently collecting.
So what? If I lend you a dollar, then try getting it back a year from now, is it fair for me to insist on receiving the same exact dollar I gave you, down to the serial number? Its a pool, put money in and you're entitled to get money back at a later time.
Another note: It's not just that there are 30+ million of THEM, it's that there are 30+ million of THEM and they VOTE. The AARP is one of the most powerful lobbies out there because their members vote in droves thanks to the invention of the electric golf cart.
The social security laws put into what in effect was a contract. They put in their share, they have every right to expect the government to do their part.
Not quite.
Its a common mistake, especially on slashdot, but "democracy" and "republic" are not mutually exclusive designations.
From Merriam-Webster:
Democracy
1 a : government by the people; especially : rule of the majority b : a government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation usually involving periodically held free elections.
Republic
1 a (1) : a government having a chief of state who is not a monarch and who in modern times is usually a president (2) : a political unit (as a nation) having such a form of government. (1) : a government in which supreme power resides in a body of citizens entitled to vote and is exercised by elected officers and representatives responsible to them and governing according to law
As you can see, the definitions overlap a lot. A democracy simply means government by the people, while a republic sets forth a slightly narrower definition, describing the basic structure the government of a democracy could take, and establishing laws to limit that power. A democracy could theoretically take many forms; every issue being voted on by the electorate, a representational system like the US and most other countries have, even an elected dictator (absolute power for a limited period of time) like the occasionally had in ancient Rome.
Consider an issue like social-security. You are forced to support people you don't even know involutarily. You are their slave. Why? Because there are about 30+ million of them. Hey, they wants it, you got it. They dont say please or thank-you.
First of all, its only voluntary if they won't let you leave. You can leave. Second of all, if you pay social security, you get social security benefits. You're not paying for their support, you're paying for your own.
The thing is that we chose Democracy not because its the most efficient form of government, but because its the most moral. If the vast majority of people want to make idiotic decisions, that's their right.
Couldn't find a more reputable source?
No no no. To quote William Blake, "The path of excess leads to the palace of wisdom".
You could upgrade the imac's monitor the same as any other computer; buy a new monitor and plug it in.
I've heard a lot of stuff about linux, but this is a new one; Linux has a VAST amount of games?
Troy has been found.
An ancient city was found, and Schliemann claimed that it was Troy. Its possible; but the evidence is sketchy at best, and its possible that Troy really is mythological and never existed.
Personally I think that if you were to dig under a lot of Turkish cities you'd find ancient ruins. Just like if you look at a lot of islands, you're eventually going to find something that has some of the characteristics of Atlantis. Doesn't mean that it is the actual Atlantis Plato referred to in the Critias.
But smart people sometimes have to get past their egos and realise they don't know everything.
Worthy advice, that the collected members of slashdot need.
Speaking AI? Knowledge based systems, machine learning, planning, language processing, and a whole lot more. There will be stuff that you wouldn't dare write in a novel.
Only the AI revolution has been in the works for a couple of decade, and while everything else in computers is ahead of what was predicted, AI is the only thing that's behind.
It's also quite likely that Atlantis doesn't exist.
Why, just yesterday I was prevented from.... wait... I wasn't prevented from doing anything yesterday. Neither were any of you.
So the loss of civil rights is only a negative thing if it happens to you personally? Real nice.
And maybe yesterday it wasn't me or you, but tomorrow it might be.
I know, but that's the sad part; GW is even less inspiring than Gore...
Sure wouldn't want Al Gore handling this crisis
Hell, I'd prefer if Gore were handling this crisis, instead of someone with no foreign policy understanding who is quite possibly the least inspiring President we've ever had.
DrugeReport? I assume you mean DrudgeReport, in which case I understand why you didn't list "accuracy" among your reasons for revisiting.
Yeah, Bush has done a bang-up job so far, getting rid of all those pesky civil rights that get in the way of security.
Why are you so small-minded and petty that you cry troll at the slightest provocation?
They tend to do that when you make points that they can't refute logically.
It's a pity, too, because the administration can tell the courts whatever they want. In a case challenging the Constitutionality of the Japanese-American interment, the Army just flat-out lied to the Court.
I've always had a sneaking suspicion that this is what Sony tried with the PS2. If so, it's kind of funny how it backfired on them...
They did that with chess too. Weird how communist countries have been so obsessed with winning on the international stage in contests, as if that proves something.