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  1. Re:22% of sites were sites that we couldn't find. on Bow Tie Theory: Researchers Map The Web · · Score: 1
    IBM et al probably knows or else they couldn't have calcultated the numbers.

    Is it me, or does anybody have this mental image of a machine trying every single possible URL (and I'm not just talking domain names, or even just index.html files) and filling them. And then going around see how many could be found in a search engine and then seeing how many linked to a search engine.

    My mind boggles how IBM et al managed to find all the 'unlinked' sites to get their figures.

    Unless of cause, they guessed...


    Richy C.
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  2. Bit Of Background info... on Self-Timed ARM Provides Low Power Consumption · · Score: 3
    The A(R)mulet has been in development for a few years now (as readers of Acorn User would be aware).

    Its processor core is based on the ARM9 series, but since it is asynchronous (ie it hasn't got 'clock cycles' like normal synchronous processors) it should go very very fast (simple processes will rush through without being delayed by slight harder/longer processes).

    While I haven't had a chance to get my hands on one of these yet, the spec's I've seen (I can't remember if they are public or not) look good and the chips should be compatible with current ARM chips - as used in my RISC PC (BTW a RISC PC is used to run the 'Who Wants to Be A Millionare' shows!).

    It is difficult to place an exact Mhz rating on these chips due to the way they work, but the current version (AMULET3i) runs at roughly 120Mhz - but they have started from the basics, without using much 'proven technology', so expect development to last a few more years - but the 120Mhz version should be out next month/late this month.


    Richy C.
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  3. Apt advert... on Microsoft Asks Slashdot To Remove Readers' Posts · · Score: 1
    While reading this article (and posting this comment), the advert at the top of the /. page is:

    'Redmond, Washington'
    "Good evening, Mr.Gates,","I'll be your server today"

    for Penguin Computing.

    How the hell did Slashdot get such appropriate advertising - especially where the penguin squashes down on the Redmond campus. :)


    Richy C.
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  4. Re:Brick and Mortar on Napster Bans Metallica Fans · · Score: 1

    And don't forget the Best Buy Inc would have already paid Metallica's label for the CD.

    Therefore if the CDs get stolen, only Best Buy Inc loose out - not Metallica.


    Richy C.
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  5. Re:Cure For Email viruses on Arrest In The ILOVEYOU Case · · Score: 1
    Mail servers would download this list daily
    Except 'ILOVEYOU' did 90% of its damage in the first 18hours....

    and cleaned of old viruses weekly
    Just don't say 'how old' the viruses have to be before they get taken off the list, you know somebody will be waiting to be putting in a virus that has been around since year X...
    Richy C.
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  6. Re:Hrrrm, A sex change since earlier today? on Arrest In The ILOVEYOU Case · · Score: 1
    Try this URL instead of the NewsNow re-direct.

    Actually, they'll have difficulty releasing him - he was never arrested. He was only asked to answer a few questions - mainly because the Phillipino laws don't cover virus writing.


    Richy C.
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  7. Re:I got it..... on I Love You "Virus" Hates Everyone · · Score: 1

    I haven't received a copy and I didn't receive a copy of Melissia et al either. Does that mean that nobody has me in their address book?

    I didn't think I was that much disliked, but then again it may be because the people I correspond with on a regular basis actually have a clue.

    Personally, I think ISPs need to educate their customers more. When they sign up, ISPs should send information about 'Making Money Fast Schemes', 'Hoax Emails', and 'Opening Attachments' as a minimum.

    Saying all that, I happly use a RISC OS machine (when I need Windoze - like to open an Excel spreadsheet - I emulate it in a 'closed off' partion), with Marcel. Okay, Marcel isn't the best mail reader there is, but I don't like HTML mail (it wastes bandwidth) anyway so.. It also doesn't allow auto-running of anything.

    Anyway, back to laughing at my co-worker who is MCSE qualified - I'll leave you to guess how much of a panic he's in. Go around telling everybody about it, installing filters in Outlook etc. :)


    Richy C.
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  8. Good in theory on Ensuring Permanence Of Online Scientific Journals · · Score: 1

    It's a good idea, but I can't see how they can 'ensure that there are always at least a minimum number of copies of each article around the world'.
    First of all, according to them, only libraries which subscribe to certain journals will have the articles - therefore if only 5 libraries subscribe only 5 copies will exist.
    Secondly, conversly, what happens if 5,000 libraries subscribe? That'll be a lot of redundent storage - yeah, I know it is sorta what they are aiming for, but I'm guessing that these journals will need a bit of file space per issue.
    Oh, and I just love the bit about 'java/linux based server system which is designed to run on cheap computers at libraries' - most library computers I've seen are still 1986 type modules (no GUI). The 'high-spec' machines in my city library (which has around 6 public 'dumb terminals', 8 staff 'dummies' and 3 public 'PCs') have a per-hour charge for usage.

    Richy C.
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  9. Re:does it matter? on Who Owns Dmoz? · · Score: 1

    > AOL/Time Warner has owned dmoz from the beginning.
    Not quite true, when ODP started (just under 2 years ago) it was totally independent. After around 9 months, it was then sold to Netscape as it fitted in with their 'open software' system. AOL then brought Netscape in July last year.
    For those of you who must know, dmoz stands for directory.mozilla.org - and, yes, you can reach dmoz.org via the full URL of directory.mozilla.org URL.
    ODP is an TLA for 'Open Directory Project'.

    Richy C.
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  10. Re:Great, let's discuss this here! on Who Owns Dmoz? · · Score: 1

    > [Description of what was in all caps?]
    Descriptions of the sites in your category

    > I was an editor long before Netscape or AOL came into the picture.
    Same here - since the Gnuhoo days (but only just - around three days later it changed to NewHoo).

    > Your amended "editors guidlines" were never pointed out clearly, and I did follow the guidelines that I signed up under several years ago.
    The editors guidelines have always existed and have always had a link from the editor dashboard. IIRC details of them were also sent out in the 'welcome email' (I can't confirm that as I haven't got access to my email box). The guidelines have always been 'no' against descriptions and titles in capitals - after all it is common sense.
    'Signed up under several years ago' - ODP isn't even two years old yet BTW...

    > If you want to act like this - fine - bureaucratic arrogance solves zip
    I'm only stating facts that can be confirmed.

    > Unfortunately, the open, cool thing ODP started out to be has become just another arm of a bureacratic hydra
    Yes, it is 'another arm of a bureacratic hydra', but it is still 'cool' - as around 5,000 active editors will confirm. It has changed quite a bit from when it started, I agree, but for the better. Instead of quanity we are now aiming directly for quality - ODP is already bigger than Yahoo! and we want it to be much much better.

    > But, hey, there's a ton of other search engines to choose from.
    True, and quite a number of those are using ODP's content. Google, HotBot (who was using it before the Netscape purchase), Altavista and many more.

    > On a personal note, if you AOL guys
    I don't use AOL at all, I've never even tried a free trial, I don't work for them and if it wasn't for the fact they brought Netscape I still would have nothing to do with them. I have found that they are trying to keep Netscape (and therefore ODP) at an arms length and trying not to effect it at all. Saying that, they have paid for at least 2 server upgrades so... :)

    > ad simply pointed out the fact that I hadn't followed your new "editors guidlines"
    I can't comment on this case specifically as it was too long in the past to look at your editor profile and find out the reason. Profiles are deleted after around 3 months of inactivity.

    > I would have been happy to comply
    The point is that you should have been complying with the current guidelines anyway.

    > (after I check Google and Yahoo! for the latest paramotor info)
    Feel free, editors don't (or shouldn't) care if the data gets used by a million users or none at all. I personally have paid work for a rival directory (UK based), but I still do volunteer work on ODP as I enjoy it, it has a good community and is fun.
    Google is using ODP data now BTW.

    If you want to continue this conservation, please feel free to contact me via private email (either work out my email address from above or use editor feedback ) as I think this is getting very off-topic now.
    Richy C.
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  11. Re:DMOZ changed completely when AOL took over on Who Owns Dmoz? · · Score: 1

    Examining the logs for that category, I noticed an editor 'jamesewing' (which I would guess the above poster was).

    I've been unable to find out why the editor was removed, but last edit by that editor in that category was on the 7/Jun/1999 13:51:57 - three months AFTER the AOL purchase of Netscape (who 'brought' ODP many many months before).

    Amendment: I've just viewed the edit logs of one of the sites, and a few reasons shoot out at me: Descripton was in ALL CAPS (a big no no in the entire internet, not just ODP) and had non-english sites in an 'English only' category (German sites should go in the World/ hierarchy). Same with a Swedish site.

    Basically, this editor got thrown out for not following the editors guidelines.


    Richy C.
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  12. Re:Just watch for mutating licenses on Who Owns Dmoz? · · Score: 1
    Strangley enough, this issue was brought up on the editors forums at Dmoz.Org when Netscape was brought AOL.

    Basically, staff agreed with meta-editors (who are editors who 'edit' editors - ie give them extra editing permissions, recommend them for 'promotion etc), editalls and editors, that if AOL/Netscape/Other were to either try and place adverts on the editing site (dmoz.org - we don't care if our 'downstream users' put adverts on their site or not), or stop issuing RDF dumps or similar then we would take a copy of the most recent RDF dumps that we have (and believe me, many many editors take regular copies for their own usage) and re-start the project somewhere else.

    It's only taken less than 2 years for the ODP to grow to over 1.7million sites and with less than 1% of dead sites listed (they are all checked every couple of months) I personally think they are doing better than Yahoo!.

    Okay, like all things ODP will have people that are 'critical' about what it is, but many many more people like it.


    Richy C.
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  13. Re:Senga search engine can create Dmoz like direct on Who Owns Dmoz? · · Score: 2
    If you want to use the ODP data, it is simplicity in itself.

    The actual content created by ODP editors (of which I am one) is 'open content' and can be downloaded and used by anybody. To my knowledge, over 200 sites are now using the data - Hotbot, Altavista and AOL are just some of the 'bigger names. There is actually nothing stopping Yahoo! or Microsoft using the ODP RDF dumps to put the content on their site as long as they follow the licencing conditions (which are basically just acknowledge the source).

    The Open Directory Project started life just under 2 years ago as a project by a few people (skrenta, tolles and a couple of others) who just got fed up with Yahoo!'s dead links. So they started a 'Yahoo-like' directory (called 'Gnuhoo') and opened it to volunteer editors. The object of the Project was (and still is) to create the 'ultimate web directory' for use by anybody.

    Since it started ODP has been through a number of names changes, from Gnuhoo it was forced to change its name because the people from GNU complained (the editing software isn't open source, only the content is), then it became NewHoo! but when Netscape brought the ODP it thought it best if the name was changed to stop Yahoo! complaining. Then it became 'directory.mozilla.org', but that was a bit of mouthful so it was shortened the the new URL of http://dmoz.org.

    If you would like to use the ODP content on your website, there is a whole range of tools to enable you to use the content on your pages - some of them (like P.O.D.) don't even require you to download the huge RDF dumps.

    I hope all this has been informative to people, but I stil fail to see the relevance to Slashdot.


    Richy C.
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  14. Re:Arrrgh! on Sim Plague · · Score: 1

    (note to moderators: mod the above up please).

    I totally agree, even working in a media organisation I hate the way they've got to put a spin on these things.

    I remember many a year ago when computer viruses first came out, the media made a lot of fuss about them infecting people. Now it's been turned on its head and people and infecting computers (okay, it's sim people but... :) ).

    I'm now seriously considering buying 'Sims', but I just wonder if my PC emulator can cope. Ho hummm.


    Richy C.
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  15. Has does this affect the 'live system'? on Help Beta Test The New Slashdot Server · · Score: 2

    Does any actions on the beta system affect the live system data?

    For example, if I were to try and be a troll (I'm waaay to intelligent to be a real troll :) ) would it knock my karma down.

    Here's looking to the future of Slashdot and more news for nerds!


    Richy C.
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  16. Re:I can't wait. on 3G VAIO Mobile Phones? · · Score: 1
    Same here. I just wonder how long it'll take to be 'converted' for the UK and european bands (we use a different GSM frequency than the US).

    I also wonder which mobile phone companies will support the technology (remembering that they'll be paying big time for the bandwidth - one to and from the phone and then to and from the main telecoms network). Cost is also important.

    I await with baited breath, but this is something I hope will take off.


    Richy C.
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  17. Arthur C. Clarke? on Telescope Cluster For SETI · · Score: 1

    Does this remind anyone else of 'Imperial Earth' by Arthur C. Clarke where there is a wide area radar array searching for signs of extra-terristral intelligence.

    Unfortently, the search was unsuccessfully, only because it was looking in the wrong length of the radio spectrum (IIRC in the thousands of metres range)


    Richy C.
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  18. Bandwidth and platforms... on Miramax To Distribute Films Over Net? · · Score: 2

    Good idea - in theroy

    "A feature length movie will take 8 to 10 hours to download over a 56k dialup connection" - which I'd guess the majority of people will have. What they are forgetting is that 56k is the MAXIMUM throughput and who can sustain a reliable connection for that length of time? I haven't heard of anybody yet!

    "20 minutes to download on a DSL or Cable Modem connection" sounds a lot better - until you realise that this is 'pay-per-view', once you've spent so long downloading it you'll have to pay every single time you want to watch the movie. Something that I don't really see taking off.

    They also speak of "The films will probably be available for viewing for one day, after which their files would become disabled" - does this sound like it will be multi-platform to you? Doesn't to me :(

    Ho hum.
    Richy C.
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  19. Re:It's the best Mp3 car player on Super Tiny Espresso PC · · Score: 1

    (slightly informative, slightly off-topic - hope the moderators have fun :) ).

    I know of an in-car MPEG Player, it's the EMPEG system. IIRC it runs Linux as well.


    Richy C.
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  20. What is/isn't included on Super Tiny Espresso PC · · Score: 1

    No keyboard included I note. Does have a keyboard adaptor however.
    Richy C.
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  21. What has history taught us? on Democratizing Space · · Score: 1

    [joking?]Hmm, Microsofts Terraserver is slow, unresponsive and currently covers very little non-US ground.

    Microsoft last year posted details of a bug where either the earth revolves the wrong way or the software shows it revolving the wrong way. And we are going to trust them to show us satellite images? [/joking?]

    I can't actually see what Microsoft will get out of it - except maybe 'subscription charges' - I didn't see any mention of the images being free, did you?

    And has anyone else noticed how MS have many many fingers in many similar pies ATM... hmm. Are they getting deals sorted incase they are split into 'Baby-Bills' - each 'section' will then have established products covering practically everything!


    Richy C.
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  22. Re:Not a troll... on Area 51 Satellite Images · · Score: 1

    Exactly what I thinking!

    Yes, consipricy theroists (and people who can spell :) ) may make it what they will, but not every site can stand the Slashdot effect. Especially if its running on Microsoft software.

    Has anyone actually considered that Area51 is just a 'front' and all the alien stuff is happening somewhere else. Maybe even somewhere in Redmond.... Hmm. It's a theroy :)


    Richy C.
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  23. Re:New Knowledge Base article on Quickies 2:Electric Bugaloo · · Score: 1

    Let's face it, Microsoft is backwards.
    Richy C.
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  24. Dangerous Open Source Software? on SecurityFocus Responds To ESR Column On OSS Security · · Score: 1

    Now, let us just pause a moment and think here. What is the most popular webserver software - Apache. Is it open source or closed source? Ditto for Perl, sendmail/qmail, Linux/NetBSD, the DNS software etc.

    If system administrators couldn't examine the code would they trust such mission-critical system on this software? They might not look at the code, but at least they've got the oppourtunity if they feel the need. It's all about choice.


    Richy C.
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  25. Interesting points - but for which side? on SecurityFocus Responds To ESR Column On OSS Security · · Score: 1

    This article does make very interesting reading and raises quite a few points. Initall reading would say it was on the 'open-source' side, but it left me with the feeling it was more on the 'closed-source' side.

    Yes, open-source software will have hackers et al examining the code, and not many 'real users' may look at the code, but the article omitted to make the point that when the bugs are found they are very quickly fixed - unlike recent Microsoft bugs where they are still denying that these bugs exists. In open-source software they would have probably been confirmed upteen times and fixed (not just 'worked-around') by several different people.

    It really just depends on your viewpoints I suppose and whose pocket you may or may not be in.

    Richy C.
    Richy C.
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