One way round I've thought of is have a minimum of two MySQL DB servers. One being the "Master" and the other the Slave via replication. When backup time comes around, stop the replication, make a backup of the Slave DB then restart the replication (the Slave will then catchup to the Master).
Of course, in a "industrial" setting, you'll have multiple Slave servers to help spread the load and keep everything on RAID systems with extensive MySQL logging as well...
And then bloggers can put the comments section of their sites inside the HTML "no index" markup and hence if they are hit by comment spam, Google and the other search engines ignore that content.
>> What if bathing in magma cured acne? Bathing in red hot liquid magma does cure acne. I have not seen a single person with acne after they have undergone this radical treatment.
I used to work at a Sausage and pre-processed Ham factory. Get up in the morning, have bacon sandwich, get to work and start either packing the sausages, watching the slaughters pigs come and and then be processed by the butchers, have breakfast (sausages, black pudding [made of pigs blood], bacon, eggs), go back to work - maybe cleaning the sheeps intenstines used for the sausage casings, go home, have nice meaty meal.
Nope, didn't make me a veggie nor the many many others working there!
And how long will it be until spammers start using.htaccess files that "if referer=slashdot then redirect to www.poorinnocentvictim.com/homemovie.mpg" (pseudo-code, it's too late to write.htaccess files off the top of my head;) )
My old school library had pressure-sensitive magnetic swip checks. Basically, you walked out towards the door, steped on the pad and then the detectors either side of the pad would check for the books. I'm tall and have quite long legs, so you can guess what I did....
Not the most secure system - but given the fact they had a computer room at the back of the library with a door from the computer room to a classroom - without any detectors in between - it was quite simple to "borrow books on extended loans" anyway. As for the barcoded library tickets. I managed to edit mine (including the barcode check digit[s]) with a black pen and borrow a number of items under someone elses name. I didn't think it would be possible until I tried it myself(!)
I know whenever I've looked at the DNS system, I'm astonished that it works at all. The number of queries that the DNS system takes compared to Paypal must be massive - local computer doesn't have the record, refer to ISP, ISP doesn't have the record refer to root server, root server refers down to TLD domain controller (such as PIR for.org's), domain controller refers down to registrar, registrar refers down to host, host responds with the record - all within fractions of a second and all relying on each other. Now *that's* what I call an amazing system! (forgetting of course, it all sits on top of TCP/IP and _that_ routing!)
Paypal in the UK (at least) is "PayPal (Europe) Ltd. is regulated by the Financial Services Authority in the United Kingdom as an electronic money institution." (FSA). Ok, it's not much, but it's at least SOME protection...
My impression was that only front-end machines were Windows based and the backend big iron was still UNIX/Mainframe orientated (especially for the older/more established banks). This probably explains why one of my banks runs Windows 2000 but for certain transactions they've got to drop down into a DOS driven interface which is slow like anything and can't be accessed "because the main computer is down".
I actually prefer the "mixed environment" idea - IF a customer got access to the frontend machines (which is unlikely-even leaving the terminal for 20 seconds results in staff logging off: although you could probably still attach a data logger to the cables...), they'll still have restricted access to the main systems and would have trouble trying to infect it with a virus or worm or something. Of course, being banks, they probably have good IDS and content filtering systems en route and suspicious transactions are probably also automatically forwarded to a fraud team - along with topend firewalling systems...
Caching graphics, "static pages" (such the "Please wait... logging you in", help pages/documentation) won't be a problem. Account sensitive pages - don't cache, but that's still reducing the load on the "main servers".
Yes, McDonalds is the dominate "restaurant" chain because it serves good, high quality food....Wait. No, it's because 90% of the times it's the cheapest. Bit like: Here's two pens. Pen A costs 50c and will last 2 months. Pen B costs $10 and will last three years. Otherwise identical. Most people will go for pen A "as its the cheapest" and "could buy many pen As for the price of Pen B" (dispite the fact pen B is works out $8 cheaper over the three years compared to multiple pen As)
No, some statistics can be the truth. For example, I bet if I asked poeple "If you believe the moon is made out of cheese or if you were dead", you'll have a very high number of respondents agreeing that, yes, the moon is made out of cheese (especially if you remember that only living humans make good survey subjects).
Yep, they just don't make computers as they used to. I've seen computers ran over by cars still working (only needed a couple of replace plastic case supports replacing), laptops dropped down 12 stories...
IIRC, my sister occasionally has a similar problem. She has two middle names (her first name is extremely unusual as well and needs spelling 99% of the time) and all the names are longer than average: 8+ (7+6) +8= total 32 characters inc spaces. Some systems have a maximum of 25 or 30 characters for the full name. It's quite funny eavesdropping and her companies ask her for her middle name and she reels off two names...
I know - I thought my old Acorn RISC PC was easy to take apart (remove cables, slide catches at back, lift off top, slide catches at front to release sides of case and there you go), but on my Dell it's just a case of lay on side, push release button and open case (no need to even remove cables). Want to put in a new HD? No need for a screw driver, just finger tighten HD to nice green slider caddy bars, slide HD in, attach cables and there you go.
Yep - sounds a good idea to me - so does a central database of people. Your future partner/employer/employee would be able to look up your backround./devils advocate)
If you think about it, VINs are actually quite "unique" in the way they work - I can't think of a single other system in large scale active use which allows you to track a _single_ unit (rules at barcodes) across international borders. VINs are good, but people aren't cars;)
I guess in case of security cameras - most places will archive their footage for between 7-30 days, banks may do it for 3-6months, but I doubt any where would archive all daily footage for a year+ "just in case".
I know a family member occasionally gets paid to sleep on the job. Basically, where she works they need to have a suitable Qualified Member Of Staff "on site" all the time - but it doesn't matter if they are awake or asleep: just as long as they are there in case "something happens". If there is enough "junior staff" there to keep things just ticking over, she can catch a few hours sleep (which, if you've already done a 12/14 hour shift and got another one in 12 hours time - you'll need it!)
Yep, I know my previous employer lost a stack of money trying to use SAP and we ended up writing our internal internal system from scratch - as well as saving several millions, it actually did what we needed it to do (instead of having to totally changing the company working processes) plus it was completed within a year (SAP was being tried for 2 years+ and still didn't work as expected/promised!)
I wonder if it could be cheaper to "outsource" it to SouthParkStudios and get them to do it in Myra etc. IIRC the hardest part the animators on SP have is trying to get it looking like "paper cutouts".
Re:Call me Marvin, but...
on
H2G2 Film Website
·
· Score: 2, Informative
I agree - Marvin IS meant to be tall. IIRC, in one of the many "about:H2G2" books I have at one point Douglas wanted, for the TV series, a 6ft+ man in a gold leotard(!). But Marvin being less then 5ft? Nah - the whole point of Marvin was that he was, in every way, "bigger and better" than everyone else but that he had to live his live in resentment and as a slave to the crew of the HoG.
Slashdot Mirror
One way round I've thought of is have a minimum of two MySQL DB servers. One being the "Master" and the other the Slave via replication. When backup time comes around, stop the replication, make a backup of the Slave DB then restart the replication (the Slave will then catchup to the Master).
Of course, in a "industrial" setting, you'll have multiple Slave servers to help spread the load and keep everything on RAID systems with extensive MySQL logging as well...
>> What if bathing in magma cured acne? Bathing in red hot liquid magma does cure acne. I have not seen a single person with acne after they have undergone this radical treatment.
I used to work at a Sausage and pre-processed Ham factory. Get up in the morning, have bacon sandwich, get to work and start either packing the sausages, watching the slaughters pigs come and and then be processed by the butchers, have breakfast (sausages, black pudding [made of pigs blood], bacon, eggs), go back to work - maybe cleaning the sheeps intenstines used for the sausage casings, go home, have nice meaty meal.
Nope, didn't make me a veggie nor the many many others working there!
And how long will it be until spammers start using .htaccess files that "if referer=slashdot then redirect to www.poorinnocentvictim.com/homemovie.mpg" (pseudo-code, it's too late to write .htaccess files off the top of my head ;) )
My old school library had pressure-sensitive magnetic swip checks. Basically, you walked out towards the door, steped on the pad and then the detectors either side of the pad would check for the books. I'm tall and have quite long legs, so you can guess what I did....
Not the most secure system - but given the fact they had a computer room at the back of the library with a door from the computer room to a classroom - without any detectors in between - it was quite simple to "borrow books on extended loans" anyway. As for the barcoded library tickets. I managed to edit mine (including the barcode check digit[s]) with a black pen and borrow a number of items under someone elses name. I didn't think it would be possible until I tried it myself(!)
I know whenever I've looked at the DNS system, I'm astonished that it works at all. The number of queries that the DNS system takes compared to Paypal must be massive - local computer doesn't have the record, refer to ISP, ISP doesn't have the record refer to root server, root server refers down to TLD domain controller (such as PIR for .org's), domain controller refers down to registrar, registrar refers down to host, host responds with the record - all within fractions of a second and all relying on each other. Now *that's* what I call an amazing system! (forgetting of course, it all sits on top of TCP/IP and _that_ routing!)
Paypal in the UK (at least) is "PayPal (Europe) Ltd. is regulated by the Financial Services Authority in the United Kingdom as an electronic money institution." (FSA). Ok, it's not much, but it's at least SOME protection...
My impression was that only front-end machines were Windows based and the backend big iron was still UNIX/Mainframe orientated (especially for the older/more established banks). This probably explains why one of my banks runs Windows 2000 but for certain transactions they've got to drop down into a DOS driven interface which is slow like anything and can't be accessed "because the main computer is down".
I actually prefer the "mixed environment" idea - IF a customer got access to the frontend machines (which is unlikely-even leaving the terminal for 20 seconds results in staff logging off: although you could probably still attach a data logger to the cables...), they'll still have restricted access to the main systems and would have trouble trying to infect it with a virus or worm or something. Of course, being banks, they probably have good IDS and content filtering systems en route and suspicious transactions are probably also automatically forwarded to a fraud team - along with topend firewalling systems...
Caching graphics, "static pages" (such the "Please wait... logging you in", help pages/documentation) won't be a problem. Account sensitive pages - don't cache, but that's still reducing the load on the "main servers".
Yes, McDonalds is the dominate "restaurant" chain because it serves good, high quality food....Wait. No, it's because 90% of the times it's the cheapest. Bit like: Here's two pens. Pen A costs 50c and will last 2 months. Pen B costs $10 and will last three years. Otherwise identical. Most people will go for pen A "as its the cheapest" and "could buy many pen As for the price of Pen B" (dispite the fact pen B is works out $8 cheaper over the three years compared to multiple pen As)
No, some statistics can be the truth. For example, I bet if I asked poeple "If you believe the moon is made out of cheese or if you were dead", you'll have a very high number of respondents agreeing that, yes, the moon is made out of cheese (especially if you remember that only living humans make good survey subjects).
Yep, they just don't make computers as they used to. I've seen computers ran over by cars still working (only needed a couple of replace plastic case supports replacing), laptops dropped down 12 stories ...
IIRC, my sister occasionally has a similar problem. She has two middle names (her first name is extremely unusual as well and needs spelling 99% of the time) and all the names are longer than average: 8+ (7+6) +8= total 32 characters inc spaces. Some systems have a maximum of 25 or 30 characters for the full name. It's quite funny eavesdropping and her companies ask her for her middle name and she reels off two names...
I know - I thought my old Acorn RISC PC was easy to take apart (remove cables, slide catches at back, lift off top, slide catches at front to release sides of case and there you go), but on my Dell it's just a case of lay on side, push release button and open case (no need to even remove cables). Want to put in a new HD? No need for a screw driver, just finger tighten HD to nice green slider caddy bars, slide HD in, attach cables and there you go.
But, basically, at the end of the day - we do need to achieve synergy to ensure that long term goals are made.
Yep - sounds a good idea to me - so does a central database of people. Your future partner/employer/employee would be able to look up your backround.
If you think about it, VINs are actually quite "unique" in the way they work - I can't think of a single other system in large scale active use which allows you to track a _single_ unit (rules at barcodes) across international borders. VINs are good, but people aren't cars
I guess in case of security cameras - most places will archive their footage for between 7-30 days, banks may do it for 3-6months, but I doubt any where would archive all daily footage for a year+ "just in case".
Dunno - but there's one way of finding out :)
WindowsUpdate?
I know a family member occasionally gets paid to sleep on the job. Basically, where she works they need to have a suitable Qualified Member Of Staff "on site" all the time - but it doesn't matter if they are awake or asleep: just as long as they are there in case "something happens". If there is enough "junior staff" there to keep things just ticking over, she can catch a few hours sleep (which, if you've already done a 12/14 hour shift and got another one in 12 hours time - you'll need it!)
Yep, I know my previous employer lost a stack of money trying to use SAP and we ended up writing our internal internal system from scratch - as well as saving several millions, it actually did what we needed it to do (instead of having to totally changing the company working processes) plus it was completed within a year (SAP was being tried for 2 years+ and still didn't work as expected/promised!)
I wonder if it could be cheaper to "outsource" it to SouthParkStudios and get them to do it in Myra etc. IIRC the hardest part the animators on SP have is trying to get it looking like "paper cutouts".
I agree - Marvin IS meant to be tall. IIRC, in one of the many "about:H2G2" books I have at one point Douglas wanted, for the TV series, a 6ft+ man in a gold leotard(!). But Marvin being less then 5ft? Nah - the whole point of Marvin was that he was, in every way, "bigger and better" than everyone else but that he had to live his live in resentment and as a slave to the crew of the HoG.