Based on container size and shape, the likely hood said item would contain liquid of gel is high enough to warrent a frisk of the bag.
Having gone through the airport with some Citricel (no jokes please), and it getting pulled EVERY time (recently because of the no liquids/gel foolishness). Its a container about the size of a thermost. However, if you change the shape.. ie: square. It goes through.. go figure.
Not to call rank here, but currently, I'm elite/platinum on 6 airlines, gold of about 5 others, and silver on 2 more. And I believe in my previous post on this topic, I mentioned that as I spend about 28 days out of 30 on a airplane. and I get about 28 "random" searches.
Oh yes, having a frequent flyer number will most certainly NOT prevent this. (at least in my case).
I have joked many times that there are no frequent flyer terrorists. (show me a bomber with gold status, and I will shut up) But apparently, this little nugget of truth seems to escape the TSA.
Words I have quite often said.. All this activity is to show people that something (anything) is being done, when in fact the actual ability to do something is extremely limited.
Speaking as someone who has been told that, it may not be the attitude of everyone (it most certainly is not), but its the attitude of enough people that you encounter on a day to day basis that it makes it painfully difficult to have a positive opinion of this country. When you are being viewed as a criminal for NO other reason that simply the colour of your skin (not the pattern of your speech, not your clothes, nothing else, but you happen to be darker than those around you) you have a very harsh and jaded view of the treatment you can expect from "officals" when it comes to "random" searches. (considering that I spend about 28 days out of 30 on an airplane, and I get randomly selected 28 times... If my luck were that good, I would be at a casino.
For many guys, it is a matter of sexual harassment lawsuits with misunderstandings.
Much of the groups I have worked with in various industries, the guys tend to stick strictly with the guys to avoid such problems. If we are 20 meters away, and only around women with about 40 other people, a video camera, and two lawyers present, then chances are we MAY not get sued because someone misinterpreted some action or behaviour. And sadly, its only getting worse.
Competant though you may be, and as completely innocient you may be, the reality is, quite a number of people are not, and you never know until you are in the middle of such problems.
I know well of what I speak, having been through two of these, and it was only because exactly what I mentioned (video tape, MANY MANY character witnesess, and two lawyers who were around the are saved my bacon).
Ahhh, but we are not concerned with what they are carrying (too much). Its the residue that will get you flagged. When they perform those lovely little chemical tests before shredding my bag and handing me the resulting peices and a note (sometimes) saying "sorry, just doing my duty" they are checking for reisude left by specific chemicals (explosive and drug) to see if a item has been in contact with or in the presence of such compounds. If they add the two the person above mentioned, it may lead to a drastic increase in the old manual method. (eg: bag shredding, and the "touch your toes tinky winky" exam).
As it is, I already have to arrive 4 hours for my flight.. If it gets any tighter, I will have to skip a day just to get past security.
When you have a system image, you can quickly move that image to another server without rebuilding. Say, Machine 101 blows up, but your image is backed up and its doing whatever.(we don't care). fire up the disks, grab image of the server(s) running on machine 101. build up a new machine, slap the images on there.. presto. backup and running EXACTLY as you were before. (no problems like, well this one was build slightly different than that one).
Most applications/processes are not huge CPU hogs (yes, even in the *shudder* MS world). They are bandwidth and resource hogs (memory and disk space) but the CPU will spike at times but settle down (depending on what you are doing obviously). A full re-index on a 90 GB database, is going to suck up cycles no matter how you cut it.
So most people purchase VM products to make better utilization of the hardware purchase they have. (and in a server farm, its easier to get approval for 10 machines that act like 30 with gobs of memory (don't forget support contracts), than 30 machines with all of the above.
I have from personal experience in the course of my flying have lost close to 10 bags. Each with contents well over 750 dollars (USD). As its lost in transit, quite a lot of insurance will not cover it, and the airlines will only refund up to 250 (rasied from 200). No compensation for the lost of time, effort, and expecially when on a business trip, the damage to the firms name when you have to either show up in a wrinkled suit (8 hours of flying will do that), 2 hours late to find something more appropriate to wear, or jeans and t-shirt.
Granted, its a small percentage of how often I do fly, but considering I drop my items in cargo hold ONLY WHEN I HAVE to, which is about 4% of the time, it makes that 10 times that much greater. I would certianly like to know how they arrived that those stats.
But doesn't this sound very much like the star wars prequels. (The Chancellor was granted emergency powers which were to be relinquished once the war was over). And I think for anyone that could sit through them, you know what happened.
I think people forget the root of the word TERORRIST. they inspire terror.. the ants want action, and the "leaders" (I use it loosely) will do anything to appear to be acting in the "best interests of the people". Just ban the bloody airlines and be done with it.
Speaking as a heavy duty traveler (since 92, I've logged some 4.2 million miles on various carriers)
-- and at least you don't have to pay for headphones anymore.
- Although I've never purchased headphones, I'm pretty sure I saw them being offered for sale within the past few months. They are free on more and more airlines - but I don't believe all airlines give them out for free.
This has gone round robin. When airlines first started to offer entertainment on the airlines. It was free, and there was a rush to provide good quality entertainment. Then they saw it as a way to extract more money, so it became a paid service. Now its basically a tease. Well, you can watch, but to listen, will cost you. (a few airlines actually tried to prevent people from using their own headsets for a while until that the attention of the government)
-- And, if it lowers my fares more, I'm all for cutting the frils.
- I agree. But, do we know that "reduced frills == reduced prices for the consumer", or does "reduced frills == increased profits for the airlines"??
Its been my experience that reduced "frill" has never increased quality in other areas or has decreased the cost of a ticket. The so called "no frills" airlines have never lasted very long (most have been absorbed into other firms or died of "natural causes". The food issue was because the airlines cut costs inititally. As the person mentioned before, airline used to be quite good. Not 4 star quality, but a lot better than your average grab and go. When they chopped it back to the lowest bidder, the quality went down the tubes and so it became something of a joke.
-- Security takes longer. It's always been a joke, it still is, and I suspect that it always will be. Guess what, though? It's standardized now, so you know what to expect,
-How often do you travel? Security is far from 'standardized'. Do you need to take your shoes off, or don't you? Do you need to remove your belt, or don't you? Each airport seems to have its own set of rules. Even within the same security line at the same airport, one person will tell you it's "OK" to leave your shoes on, only to have the next person tell you that you must remove them.
I agree 100%. I've gone through the same airport a few times a day, and get different answers within the SAME airport, just different person. Or the two airports in the same region (EWR, JFK, LGA, or SFO and SJO). But what annoys me most often is the foolish redundancy. (Look at the ticket to match the face with the name by the person at the beginning of the line, then another person who does the same thing at the end of the line, then another person who does it at the screening "center", then another person just after the screening center. Which does NOTHING than just makes sure the you are not using another person's ticket (nothing for security, but it keeps the airlines pocket's lined)
The security is purely moronic and designed to make people FEEL safe rather than actually doing anything to KEEP them safe, and its becoming a hassle for business travelers. Give it 4 - 5 years and almost all business travel will be replaced with teleconference. (not because of cost, though there is a factor in that as well) but just the hassle will be so bad, that no one will WANT to go).
This pretty much goes with my long standing opinion that the US is a country of OVER correction.
"One little fly got in.. wait, there must be millions of them, so get the biggest, nastiest, flyswatter you can and flatten all of them.. So what if a few million innocients get killed, at least we got that one fly and it acts as a deterrant to the other million that "MAY" be waiting".
Logical thought never works in the presence of a military mind which says that ANYONE who is not part of our system (eg: the military) is a potential threat and therefore must be watched and controlled. We are all variables sadly, and to many, a variable is something that must be reduced or eliminated before targeting the real problem. It works on paper, but somewhere along the line, its forgotten that these are actually people not just a notion in an equation.
The police are merely an extension of that thought. As much as I hate to quote movies, there does seem to be one eliment of truth in one.. The Usual Suspects. The character says something on the order of: "To the police the truth is never that complicated, if you BELIEVE the guy did it, you will find out he really did" (nothing about the truth, just if you believe). Yes yes, I know, the eternal seekers of truth and justice... Bullshit. Police are humans, and as many have already pointed out, most are jaded from dealing with the sum who should be put away (perminately in some cases). All the more reason to police the police. Oh yes, there are some honest ones who actually use intelligent thought and try to arrive at the truth instead of a quota. (I actually have some as my friends and associates) But that number is small by comparison and they are usually overruled by their colleagues. (Birds of a feather and all that).
A lot of the public just rolls over and says "Oh yeah, just like that" because they want to feel safe, a notion I can sympathize with. And to them, any action is good. They are the ones saying "Well, if you are innocient..." or "Its not as bad as all that..."
As I have said numerious times, the people on slashdot are not the belly rollers, we are the iconiclasts, the rouges, the people who actually engage in intelligent debate (most of the time), who question demand accountability, who require an answer more than "you don't need to know that" so of course a lot of this has us saying WTF?
Power, once granted regardless of the reasons for giving it, tends to require actions to accquire more power (or at the VERY LEAST maintain). There is a reason the consistution gives limited powers to various different groups and require them to reach some level of consesus. Its because it takes into the account the desires of the average human (and yes ladies, I said humans, women are just as guilty as men in this regard, lack of a opportunity to execute does not mean lack of intent or ability.) Its designed under the notion that they can't ALL be nuts. Well guess what, I think we've reached that breaking point. With the lower elected ones looking for the job rather than justice. With the higher level ones doing the same, but with big business and military backing them. With all of them reacting to the unwashed masses just simply wanting something, anything done. Which means right now, they are all nuts. Virtually anyone that raises a dissenting arguement is branded a herotic and a sympathizer (ummm... sounds a little familar, don't you think? Nono.. don't all raise your hands at once). Which leaves the "leaders" mearly reacting, and the rest joining this conga line of stupidity because they love their jobs more than what is (History major's here is your chance, if you get it right, you get a cookie) "right, fair, and just".
...Well that is generally how elections are determined.
My point was slightly different in the fact that his popularity (or lack of) was less about his ability and goals and more about his personality. I would certainly concede popularity if he was preaching a plan that was decidedly unfavourable, or his goals were far out of line with the masses' (scary) desires. But it seems that the overriding comments had nothing to do with that.
Its been my experience that by the time a politician has reached a level of notoriety and money to be able to run for presidential office.. they are so mired in grime, grifts, kickbacks, obligations, etc... that there is simply no chance for a honest one to get elected.
That coupled with the fact that everyone seems to suffer from NIMY (Not In My Backyard) for anything remotely social or beneficial and quite a large number of our population want the best looking or acting person for the job (which says nothing of the most competant or the most intelligent. I mean come on... Al Gore lost an election because he was not popular. (not because he was not intelligent or competant, but because he was "dry as toast" and "dull as a wet sock" (I am quoting actual people here). No one once questioned his ability or drive, it was his personality that people latched on to and bashed.
So personally, its GIGO (Garbage In, Garbage Out)... You will only get competant leaders if you look for ACTUAL Leaders.. not this week/Month/year's flavour of the month with a great dentist (smile) and a sharp speech writer (wit).
I mean come on... people are complaining because little Johnny (or Jane if she is so inclined) went out on the net, found a discussion group (or a download site) that had this mod in it, downloaded it, installed, it and played it.
I have two problems with this being the fault of Rockstar
1: Where the hell did little Johnny (lets assume he is under age 16 which in most states is just old enough to get a work permit) get the cash for this game in the first place. I would assume that he got it from the parents. And where, might I ask were the parents? (old topic: NOT REAL PARENTS. Just reproductive units)
2: As many have already pointed out. No one seems to be complaining about the fundamental content (i.e.: profanity, killing, assault, theft, etc...) in the game, but good lord, pixelated simulacrum of sex gets these nuts bent out of shape? (no jokes about the possible pun there) Give me a break, sex is something most everyone does and quite a few enjoy (hell, if that was not true, little Johnny and/or Jane would not be an issue). But I believe there are a LOT of laws (societal as well as moral) that prohibit murder, theft, etc...
so nutty! I am just going to crawl back into my hole. The world has just gotten more scary and I don't want to come out anymore.
The problem is that "parents" keep pestering the government instead of actually being parents.
My father and I were discussing legal matters (a favourite topic of ours besides tech). And one of things that we came to a conclusion on is most (if not all) problems of this type can be traced to one thing: A fundamental lack of ownership of their actions (i.e.: lack of responsibility).
If these "parents" were actually being PARENTS, much of this stupidity would be gone. But sadly... for every responsible parent (one that actually takes responsibility of their family) there are hundreds that claim everything is the fault of "them" and so they want the government to step in... (i.e.: the government is the parent) and so what happens... we all suffer. The real parents are being regulated and so can no longer be effective parents. The people without children can't do anything without incurring the wrath of some overzealous family Nazi. And children are given mixed messages which just further confuses them at a time that SOOO much is going on which just screws them up even more.
To answer your question (and sum up), the real parents are in jail, the fakes are running the streets, and the kids are casualties in this struggle.
That second point of immigrants not being tagged is simply not true... as my GF and I quite often leave the country with her (she is from Taiwan). And I can certainly tell you, she gets harassed almost as much as I do. The last time we entered the country, they tried to force a RFID sheet for her passport. (I happen to work for a few firms that provide such tech). Tagged? You bet.
And all it takes is to be on someone's list and presto, you are suspect for everything from the bombing in Madrid to last week's football team loosing. (Trust me on this one; I've been detained, harassed, and questioned more times than I really care to count.)
And second (the natural follow up)...
DNA and Thumbprints are not taken from every citizen OFFICALLY.
Do you honestly think that the government will let a little thing like the "law" stop them for something that they REALLY want to do? Please, for years the government deigned the very existence of the NSA (can you say lied?) until far too many people started to squawk and question budgets, etc... Look at the news. More things are popping out not because the government is saying "we want to do this"... it's because a whistleblower has come forth with a conscious and let people (ie: the media) know... And what is the rhetoric we hear when such things come to light? "It's for our protection". I am sure some honest hearted people really think that (and a few of them might even be in positions of power to influence things), but the reality is... MOST people enjoy power, and what scares them is the loss of such power... And what do you think the government is made up of? There is no special tests, no trials, no rituals, nothing that prevents someone from running for (and obtaining) office besides the ability to schmooze and enough money to schmooze the masses).
Remember, in the current political climate, you are dealing with a military mind, and to the military, EVERYONE is a suspect, EVERYONE is a liability unless they are officially part of the military (and even then, constant checks) and anyone that is a suspect needs to be controlled and managed.
So I agree with the person that said, stop trying to put our collective heads in the sand, and enforce some rules on how it can use the information is collecting (and you can be sure it IS collecting it, it may not be doing it officially, but you can bet it is).
As an uncle (two nieces, one nephew) and someone who as gone through some of the assembly line myself (public school, private school (better), home teaching due to illness (Much better), and international student (quality is between public and home teaching). I have to say that you are hitting the nail on its proverbial head. Most (not all) school systems (and subsequently the teachers who are beholden to them) have one goal. Get the maximum number of bodies out the door in as little time as possible. Sadly this means that anyone that disrupts the flow or does not fit the mold is shunned.
To give you a personal example:
During my 2nd grade (In '79 for context) there was a test that was being given. I had completed the test (and turned it in) well ahead of schedule. (A 4 hour test that I completed in 90 minutes). So with ample time on my hands, I decided what I believe any rational person would do; I took out a book and proceeded to read privately. This angered the instructor. As I said, this was quiet reading; the book was readily available (so no rummaging sounds). I believe the book was on programming in JCL. (father gave me a LOT of training at home).. so obviously outside of the school curriculum. Well, one thing lead to another and I was in front of the principle. Thankfully my parents went to bat for me. (I mean seriously, what would they have me do? Fiddle around for 2 1/2 hours?) The point is, I was outside of their expectations and so was "disruptive" because I acted like a reasonable person rather than a "cog". (Thank god, we moved later that year to the UK). But it taught me one very valuable lesson, the american grade school system is not there to teach, it is simply a creche.
The point is, for much of that system, anything and anyone that does not behave in an expected (and therefore predictable and controllable) way is a threat.. and like any organism, threats are to be eliminated as quickly as possible.
As I said, there are some exceptions to this rule, but quite often those exceptions are also perceived as threats to the system and are eliminated.
ex: That wonderful teacher that tried to go outside of the curriculum and bring some practical application to what is being taught. (I have known quite a few of these and they have all ended in private institutions or non-traditional schools.. Teaching the young how to apply knowledge?. How dare you!!)
ex: That educator that encourages discussion and thought rather than the basic "A" or "B" answers. (Ditto.)
ex: That great person who teaches critical analysis and forward thinking. (not looking at what is immediately in front of you, but what is far ahead of you and how to plan for it). (once more)
When the funds allocated to schools are based on the number of people graduating from the school rather than the quality of the students that depart I think it is safe to say that most schools don't want "TEACHERS". (or students for that matter). Both Teachers and Students gum up the works. They want cogs and gears to keep the system running quickly and (in their mind) smoothly.
Jumping back to the present...
My oldest niece takes after me. (She an intellectual rebel and does her own thing) I am quite proud to say she has argued with teachers and won. I've gone to bat for her (her parents are busy and I take a special interest in this because of what I have gone through) One thing that I have tried to teach her, is to understand that the school system is designed to teach two things:
1. The Basics (as they claim), plus morals, values, etc... that have been tacked on due to lazy parents who are not parents.
2. Less obvious, but no less important is sometimes it is wise to play dumb. There is a time for being smart and there is a time for being wise. Sadly, schools don't want wise students, they only want students that can leave the system as quick as possible. It is frustrating, but ultimately it will serve little purpose in
I have to agree.. Sony with the PS3 will have a slight advantage, but as some have already mentioned, the market will split. With the "common masses" taking whatever the local propaganda tells them is best and they need and the "informed" going with the format of their preference (including formats that are linked to the game machines. The problem is that
It's thankfully not like the VHS vs. BetaMax wars.. in some respects its worse.. Worse because these two formats are fundamentally the same (physically), but with different overtones of control. (Not that they can't/don't include them but that the noose will get tighter as the market absorbs yet another format). This is a battle of control (less about the format and more about what the format represents DRM). Because of this, whichever format the "market" chooses... I suspect we are in for a rude awaking.
My own money will be spent once SOME of the dust settles where the lies have been told (not completely, but enough that a good sniff may tell me who's really crapping), victors and victims on both sides, and perhaps my dollar will make some difference then.
As a person who's in the pre/post sales business, I can agree with the line of reasoning you outlined. Lenovo has been good firm with great name recognition in China (Mainland, and islands). And as such, it has certainly garnered a lot of respect. (including my own, as a owner of two Lenovo laptops, one before the buyout and one after the buyout).
The problem I think is less about xenophobia (though granted, with some people/firms, that DEFINATELY the case for them).. but more about getting the same name recognition that IBM has with a virtual unknown to much of the western consumer mindset.
To give you an example (that's very close to home for me). (WARNING: Different industry.. not automotive).
There was a line going around before that Brooks Brothers was going to be purchased by Tomy Hilfiger. (still gives me nightmares). Suffice to say, I was ready to ditch my beloved brand (I love their quality, the style, etc...) and run for the hills screaming "The barbarians are here". I only know TH from what I have seen and suffice to say, what I have seen does not impress me one bit. So they have to wow me.. do something that won't make me pull my hair out.. (and I'm still young, so I have most of it). The best thing they can do is NOT tamper with my brand. (leave it alone)
I suspect for many people, Lenovo's purchase of the Thinkpad line is much the same. You have a brand that you know very little about, but you see other things around it, and so it sours your impression of what MAY be rather than what is. Lenovo's strategy is to update the brand, but leave its quality alone, which is about the safest thing they can do. Time will give them a reputation in the western world.. Good or bad, will be up to them, but so far, from my experiences and those groups/people/firms I know, it should be a very good one.
Because, as you just pointed out... Ford doesn't own the entire market. If you change to Chevy, or GM, or any other vehicle, you loose nothing. (Except for any backlog of parts and knowledge specific to the product that you may have). And that is a cost that you will have to decide is worth it or not.
Ford does not (and can't really) use its leverage to make the auto parts manufactures to produce only parts for them and not anyone else.
Ford can't basically tell you... "Drive us, or you will have to walk".
If company A switches from windows to something else, (assuming they will unhook the leash to do so... stockholm syndrome comes to mind.), depending on their industry, they may not be able to function... this is not entirely due to the classic arguement of "no applications"..
The long and short of it is that Micro$haft is being "singled out" (as you say) because of what they have done in the industry, not their size. You don't cage the gorilla for being 500lbs; but if he smacks everything that comes within 50 feet to death, and prevents any little gorillas from being born... I'm pretty sure you want a wall between him and you.
Sadly they won't.. Granted, the EU has an incentive to punish MS and not let them get away. but the reality is, that they will let MS slip through their fingers. MS will start the rabble complaining about the "stifling of competition" and all of the other rhetoric we've heard about MS being the good guy.. and presto... The Slippery serpent will be free to strangle yet another 20 firms (read: grow) and "innovate" (by absorption).
This is getting old. I wish they would just tell them, "shut up and fork over the cash cookie". But so long as this has the chance of being a public debate, MS will win in the end.. L'sigh.
The secret to their success is a following that is known as "built in obsolecense". Its the reason they can continue to market operating systems and other code. Businesses don't upgrade very quickly because of the hard (licensing, product cost) and soft (training, support, downtime, etc...) cost that is associated with upgrading.. MS knows this.. so they don't want a "perfect" system.. That would make people think twice about upgrading and limit the need.. so you make each one a little better, with the promise that the next one make all their needs true.
I have to agree with your statement.. Sadly, far too many people these days are falling into the "thin-skinned" group. I am sure many of my fellow/.ers fall into the group that were picked on, bullied, teased, etc.., and sadly in 4 countries. (don't ask) (I have my own horror stories, and I am sure many of you have similar experiences).. but I the point is.. Here WE are.. Sans legal action, shotguns, etc... Bullying is a rite of passage. Painful, annoying, etc... but like ALL lessons in life, we learn them best through pain (ever got shocked by electricity?.. I'm sure you have a healthy respect for it now.) And I would think that its also made many of us better people.. to understand how to control ourselves, and gain some insight as to our own selves and those around us. (heck, ever been to the Army?). As someone also pointed out, the only means of ending things is to stand up for yourself.. to take pride in yourself and put the challenge to the bullies (not always in a physical sense)
I know many here are saying.. "yes, but its a WORLD joke. We didn't humiliation on a global scale.". First, its not a world JOKE.. as many of you pointed out.. you found it amusing, but he got GEEK cred on this. I don't think any of us were who have seen it were thinking "look at that ". I am sure most of us were thinking closer to.. "Cool... " (or words to that effect). At worst case, its WORLD exposure.
With this, I have only two questions: 1, Who is to say besides those that commited the action were intentionally causing humiliation? I am sure we have all seen things that (to us) are insanely funny but within the context of the action is sad.. (That cute lady with the stilleto's that slips on the ice and looses all composure, that guy at work who prefaces EVERY statement with "WogaWoga", that kid in school with the Star Wars skit.. oh.. wait...) (something I believe is called "dark humour". If I tell two friends, who tells two friends.. does that mean that I am intentioanlly causing you humiliation?. You may find it so, but like ALL things, its perspective. The only thing we know is what the lawers are saying.. and do you honestly think they will say "Some kids made a poor choice of action when finding something amusing". The case would have been tossed out faster than you could say "Mcdonalds". So you hype it up.
2: Ultimately, what sort of lession do you think this will teach him. I will bet Dollars to Core Memory, that we will have another rabid legalista on our hands. (I'm hurt, I will sue you). Yes, something should have been done. but it would have been far more instructive to teach him how to deal with things in a proper and constructive way rather than go running to the court with a brused ego and hurt feelings yelling "They hurt me".
All of this is to say that, we have just unleashed another beast, which will ultimately do more harm than good. (rattle off your favourite foolish lawsuit)
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Based on container size and shape, the likely hood said item would contain liquid of gel is high enough to warrent a frisk of the bag.
Having gone through the airport with some Citricel (no jokes please), and it getting pulled EVERY time (recently because of the no liquids/gel foolishness). Its a container about the size of a thermost. However, if you change the shape.. ie: square. It goes through.. go figure.
Secure, you bet.
You actually believe that?
Not to call rank here, but currently, I'm elite/platinum on 6 airlines, gold of about 5 others, and silver on 2 more. And I believe in my previous post on this topic, I mentioned that as I spend about 28 days out of 30 on a airplane. and I get about 28 "random" searches.
Oh yes, having a frequent flyer number will most certainly NOT prevent this. (at least in my case).
I have joked many times that there are no frequent flyer terrorists. (show me a bomber with gold status, and I will shut up) But apparently, this little nugget of truth seems to escape the TSA.
Bingo..
*Clap* *Clap*.
Words I have quite often said.. All this activity is to show people that something (anything) is being done, when in fact the actual ability to do something is extremely limited.
Speaking as someone who has been told that, it may not be the attitude of everyone (it most certainly is not), but its the attitude of enough people that you encounter on a day to day basis that it makes it painfully difficult to have a positive opinion of this country. When you are being viewed as a criminal for NO other reason that simply the colour of your skin (not the pattern of your speech, not your clothes, nothing else, but you happen to be darker than those around you) you have a very harsh and jaded view of the treatment you can expect from "officals" when it comes to "random" searches. (considering that I spend about 28 days out of 30 on an airplane, and I get randomly selected 28 times... If my luck were that good, I would be at a casino.
As much as I hate to say this,
For many guys, it is a matter of sexual harassment lawsuits with misunderstandings.
Much of the groups I have worked with in various industries, the guys tend to stick strictly with the guys to avoid such problems. If we are 20 meters away, and only around women with about 40 other people, a video camera, and two lawyers present, then chances are we MAY not get sued because someone misinterpreted some action or behaviour. And sadly, its only getting worse.
Competant though you may be, and as completely innocient you may be, the reality is, quite a number of people are not, and you never know until you are in the middle of such problems.
I know well of what I speak, having been through two of these, and it was only because exactly what I mentioned (video tape, MANY MANY character witnesess, and two lawyers who were around the are saved my bacon).
Ahhh, but we are not concerned with what they are carrying (too much). Its the residue that will get you flagged. When they perform those lovely little chemical tests before shredding my bag and handing me the resulting peices and a note (sometimes) saying "sorry, just doing my duty" they are checking for reisude left by specific chemicals (explosive and drug) to see if a item has been in contact with or in the presence of such compounds. If they add the two the person above mentioned, it may lead to a drastic increase in the old manual method. (eg: bag shredding, and the "touch your toes tinky winky" exam).
As it is, I already have to arrive 4 hours for my flight.. If it gets any tighter, I will have to skip a day just to get past security.
One other advantage, one I sell my customers..
When you have a system image, you can quickly move that image to another server without rebuilding. Say, Machine 101 blows up, but your image is backed up and its doing whatever.(we don't care). fire up the disks, grab image of the server(s) running on machine 101. build up a new machine, slap the images on there.. presto. backup and running EXACTLY as you were before. (no problems like, well this one was build slightly different than that one).
Most applications/processes are not huge CPU hogs (yes, even in the *shudder* MS world). They are bandwidth and resource hogs (memory and disk space) but the CPU will spike at times but settle down (depending on what you are doing obviously). A full re-index on a 90 GB database, is going to suck up cycles no matter how you cut it.
So most people purchase VM products to make better utilization of the hardware purchase they have. (and in a server farm, its easier to get approval for 10 machines that act like 30 with gobs of memory (don't forget support contracts), than 30 machines with all of the above.
Based on what is reported.
I have from personal experience in the course of my flying have lost close to 10 bags. Each with contents well over 750 dollars (USD). As its lost in transit, quite a lot of insurance will not cover it, and the airlines will only refund up to 250 (rasied from 200). No compensation for the lost of time, effort, and expecially when on a business trip, the damage to the firms name when you have to either show up in a wrinkled suit (8 hours of flying will do that), 2 hours late to find something more appropriate to wear, or jeans and t-shirt.
Granted, its a small percentage of how often I do fly, but considering I drop my items in cargo hold ONLY WHEN I HAVE to, which is about 4% of the time, it makes that 10 times that much greater. I would certianly like to know how they arrived that those stats.
Not to sound geekish..
But doesn't this sound very much like the star wars prequels. (The Chancellor was granted emergency powers which were to be relinquished once the war was over). And I think for anyone that could sit through them, you know what happened.
I'm just saying...
I pretty much said the same thing here: http://globalhopping.blogspot.com/2006/08/fools-ho w-dare-they.html
I think people forget the root of the word TERORRIST. they inspire terror.. the ants want action, and the "leaders" (I use it loosely) will do anything to appear to be acting in the "best interests of the people". Just ban the bloody airlines and be done with it.
Speaking as a heavy duty traveler (since 92, I've logged some 4.2 million miles on various carriers)
-- and at least you don't have to pay for headphones anymore.
- Although I've never purchased headphones, I'm pretty sure I saw them being offered for sale within the past few months. They are free on more and more airlines - but I don't believe all airlines give them out for free.
This has gone round robin. When airlines first started to offer entertainment on the airlines. It was free, and there was a rush to provide good quality entertainment. Then they saw it as a way to extract more money, so it became a paid service. Now its basically a tease. Well, you can watch, but to listen, will cost you. (a few airlines actually tried to prevent people from using their own headsets for a while until that the attention of the government)
-- And, if it lowers my fares more, I'm all for cutting the frils.
- I agree. But, do we know that "reduced frills == reduced prices for the consumer", or does "reduced frills == increased profits for the airlines"??
Its been my experience that reduced "frill" has never increased quality in other areas or has decreased the cost of a ticket. The so called "no frills" airlines have never lasted very long (most have been absorbed into other firms or died of "natural causes". The food issue was because the airlines cut costs inititally. As the person mentioned before, airline used to be quite good. Not 4 star quality, but a lot better than your average grab and go. When they chopped it back to the lowest bidder, the quality went down the tubes and so it became something of a joke.
-- Security takes longer. It's always been a joke, it still is, and I suspect that it always will be. Guess what, though? It's standardized now, so you know what to expect,
-How often do you travel? Security is far from 'standardized'. Do you need to take your shoes off, or don't you? Do you need to remove your belt, or don't you? Each airport seems to have its own set of rules. Even within the same security line at the same airport, one person will tell you it's "OK" to leave your shoes on, only to have the next person tell you that you must remove them.
I agree 100%. I've gone through the same airport a few times a day, and get different answers within the SAME airport, just different person. Or the two airports in the same region (EWR, JFK, LGA, or SFO and SJO). But what annoys me most often is the foolish redundancy. (Look at the ticket to match the face with the name by the person at the beginning of the line, then another person who does the same thing at the end of the line, then another person who does it at the screening "center", then another person just after the screening center. Which does NOTHING than just makes sure the you are not using another person's ticket (nothing for security, but it keeps the airlines pocket's lined)
The security is purely moronic and designed to make people FEEL safe rather than actually doing anything to KEEP them safe, and its becoming a hassle for business travelers. Give it 4 - 5 years and almost all business travel will be replaced with teleconference. (not because of cost, though there is a factor in that as well) but just the hassle will be so bad, that no one will WANT to go).
This pretty much goes with my long standing opinion that the US is a country of OVER correction.
"One little fly got in.. wait, there must be millions of them, so get the biggest, nastiest, flyswatter you can and flatten all of them.. So what if a few million innocients get killed, at least we got that one fly and it acts as a deterrant to the other million that "MAY" be waiting".
Logical thought never works in the presence of a military mind which says that ANYONE who is not part of our system (eg: the military) is a potential threat and therefore must be watched and controlled. We are all variables sadly, and to many, a variable is something that must be reduced or eliminated before targeting the real problem. It works on paper, but somewhere along the line, its forgotten that these are actually people not just a notion in an equation.
The police are merely an extension of that thought. As much as I hate to quote movies, there does seem to be one eliment of truth in one.. The Usual Suspects. The character says something on the order of: "To the police the truth is never that complicated, if you BELIEVE the guy did it, you will find out he really did" (nothing about the truth, just if you believe). Yes yes, I know, the eternal seekers of truth and justice... Bullshit. Police are humans, and as many have already pointed out, most are jaded from dealing with the sum who should be put away (perminately in some cases). All the more reason to police the police. Oh yes, there are some honest ones who actually use intelligent thought and try to arrive at the truth instead of a quota. (I actually have some as my friends and associates) But that number is small by comparison and they are usually overruled by their colleagues. (Birds of a feather and all that).
A lot of the public just rolls over and says "Oh yeah, just like that" because they want to feel safe, a notion I can sympathize with. And to them, any action is good. They are the ones saying "Well, if you are innocient..." or "Its not as bad as all that..."
As I have said numerious times, the people on slashdot are not the belly rollers, we are the iconiclasts, the rouges, the people who actually engage in intelligent debate (most of the time), who question demand accountability, who require an answer more than "you don't need to know that" so of course a lot of this has us saying WTF?
Power, once granted regardless of the reasons for giving it, tends to require actions to accquire more power (or at the VERY LEAST maintain). There is a reason the consistution gives limited powers to various different groups and require them to reach some level of consesus. Its because it takes into the account the desires of the average human (and yes ladies, I said humans, women are just as guilty as men in this regard, lack of a opportunity to execute does not mean lack of intent or ability.) Its designed under the notion that they can't ALL be nuts. Well guess what, I think we've reached that breaking point. With the lower elected ones looking for the job rather than justice. With the higher level ones doing the same, but with big business and military backing them. With all of them reacting to the unwashed masses just simply wanting something, anything done. Which means right now, they are all nuts. Virtually anyone that raises a dissenting arguement is branded a herotic and a sympathizer (ummm... sounds a little familar, don't you think? Nono.. don't all raise your hands at once). Which leaves the "leaders" mearly reacting, and the rest joining this conga line of stupidity because they love their jobs more than what is (History major's here is your chance, if you get it right, you get a cookie) "right, fair, and just".
...Well that is generally how elections are determined.
My point was slightly different in the fact that his popularity (or lack of) was less about his ability and goals and more about his personality. I would certainly concede popularity if he was preaching a plan that was decidedly unfavourable, or his goals were far out of line with the masses' (scary) desires. But it seems that the overriding comments had nothing to do with that.
Its been my experience that by the time a politician has reached a level of notoriety and money to be able to run for presidential office.. they are so mired in grime, grifts, kickbacks, obligations, etc... that there is simply no chance for a honest one to get elected.
That coupled with the fact that everyone seems to suffer from NIMY (Not In My Backyard) for anything remotely social or beneficial and quite a large number of our population want the best looking or acting person for the job (which says nothing of the most competant or the most intelligent. I mean come on... Al Gore lost an election because he was not popular. (not because he was not intelligent or competant, but because he was "dry as toast" and "dull as a wet sock" (I am quoting actual people here). No one once questioned his ability or drive, it was his personality that people latched on to and bashed.
So personally, its GIGO (Garbage In, Garbage Out)... You will only get competant leaders if you look for ACTUAL Leaders.. not this week/Month/year's flavour of the month with a great dentist (smile) and a sharp speech writer (wit).
Sadly, so VERY true!
I mean come on... people are complaining because little Johnny (or Jane if she is so inclined) went out on the net, found a discussion group (or a download site) that had this mod in it, downloaded it, installed, it and played it.
I have two problems with this being the fault of Rockstar
1: Where the hell did little Johnny (lets assume he is under age 16 which in most states is just old enough to get a work permit) get the cash for this game in the first place. I would assume that he got it from the parents. And where, might I ask were the parents? (old topic: NOT REAL PARENTS. Just reproductive units)
2: As many have already pointed out. No one seems to be complaining about the fundamental content (i.e.: profanity, killing, assault, theft, etc...) in the game, but good lord, pixelated simulacrum of sex gets these nuts bent out of shape? (no jokes about the possible pun there) Give me a break, sex is something most everyone does and quite a few enjoy (hell, if that was not true, little Johnny and/or Jane would not be an issue). But I believe there are a LOT of laws (societal as well as moral) that prohibit murder, theft, etc...
so nutty!
I am just going to crawl back into my hole. The world has just gotten more scary and I don't want to come out anymore.
The problem is that "parents" keep pestering the government instead of actually being parents.
My father and I were discussing legal matters (a favourite topic of ours besides tech). And one of things that we came to a conclusion on is most (if not all) problems of this type can be traced to one thing: A fundamental lack of ownership of their actions (i.e.: lack of responsibility).
If these "parents" were actually being PARENTS, much of this stupidity would be gone. But sadly... for every responsible parent (one that actually takes responsibility of their family) there are hundreds that claim everything is the fault of "them" and so they want the government to step in... (i.e.: the government is the parent) and so what happens... we all suffer. The real parents are being regulated and so can no longer be effective parents. The people without children can't do anything without incurring the wrath of some overzealous family Nazi. And children are given mixed messages which just further confuses them at a time that SOOO much is going on which just screws them up even more.
To answer your question (and sum up), the real parents are in jail, the fakes are running the streets, and the kids are casualties in this struggle.
First...
That second point of immigrants not being tagged is simply not true... as my GF and I quite often leave the country with her (she is from Taiwan). And I can certainly tell you, she gets harassed almost as much as I do. The last time we entered the country, they tried to force a RFID sheet for her passport. (I happen to work for a few firms that provide such tech). Tagged? You bet.
And all it takes is to be on someone's list and presto, you are suspect for everything from the bombing in Madrid to last week's football team loosing. (Trust me on this one; I've been detained, harassed, and questioned more times than I really care to count.)
And second (the natural follow up)...
DNA and Thumbprints are not taken from every citizen OFFICALLY.
Do you honestly think that the government will let a little thing like the "law" stop them for something that they REALLY want to do? Please, for years the government deigned the very existence of the NSA (can you say lied?) until far too many people started to squawk and question budgets, etc... Look at the news. More things are popping out not because the government is saying "we want to do this"... it's because a whistleblower has come forth with a conscious and let people (ie: the media) know... And what is the rhetoric we hear when such things come to light? "It's for our protection". I am sure some honest hearted people really think that (and a few of them might even be in positions of power to influence things), but the reality is... MOST people enjoy power, and what scares them is the loss of such power... And what do you think the government is made up of? There is no special tests, no trials, no rituals, nothing that prevents someone from running for (and obtaining) office besides the ability to schmooze and enough money to schmooze the masses).
Remember, in the current political climate, you are dealing with a military mind, and to the military, EVERYONE is a suspect, EVERYONE is a liability unless they are officially part of the military (and even then, constant checks) and anyone that is a suspect needs to be controlled and managed.
So I agree with the person that said, stop trying to put our collective heads in the sand, and enforce some rules on how it can use the information is collecting (and you can be sure it IS collecting it, it may not be doing it officially, but you can bet it is).
And now *breathing out*.
I will go...
Quite well stated...
As an uncle (two nieces, one nephew) and someone who as gone through some of the assembly line myself (public school, private school (better), home teaching due to illness (Much better), and international student (quality is between public and home teaching). I have to say that you are hitting the nail on its proverbial head. Most (not all) school systems (and subsequently the teachers who are beholden to them) have one goal. Get the maximum number of bodies out the door in as little time as possible. Sadly this means that anyone that disrupts the flow or does not fit the mold is shunned.
To give you a personal example:
During my 2nd grade (In '79 for context) there was a test that was being given. I had completed the test (and turned it in) well ahead of schedule. (A 4 hour test that I completed in 90 minutes). So with ample time on my hands, I decided what I believe any rational person would do; I took out a book and proceeded to read privately. This angered the instructor. As I said, this was quiet reading; the book was readily available (so no rummaging sounds). I believe the book was on programming in JCL. (father gave me a LOT of training at home).. so obviously outside of the school curriculum. Well, one thing lead to another and I was in front of the principle. Thankfully my parents went to bat for me. (I mean seriously, what would they have me do? Fiddle around for 2 1/2 hours?) The point is, I was outside of their expectations and so was "disruptive" because I acted like a reasonable person rather than a "cog". (Thank god, we moved later that year to the UK). But it taught me one very valuable lesson, the american grade school system is not there to teach, it is simply a creche.
The point is, for much of that system, anything and anyone that does not behave in an expected (and therefore predictable and controllable) way is a threat.. and like any organism, threats are to be eliminated as quickly as possible.
As I said, there are some exceptions to this rule, but quite often those exceptions are also perceived as threats to the system and are eliminated.
ex: That wonderful teacher that tried to go outside of the curriculum and bring some practical application to what is being taught. (I have known quite a few of these and they have all ended in private institutions or non-traditional schools.. Teaching the young how to apply knowledge?. How dare you!!)
ex: That educator that encourages discussion and thought rather than the basic "A" or "B" answers. (Ditto.)
ex: That great person who teaches critical analysis and forward thinking. (not looking at what is immediately in front of you, but what is far ahead of you and how to plan for it). (once more)
When the funds allocated to schools are based on the number of people graduating from the school rather than the quality of the students that depart I think it is safe to say that most schools don't want "TEACHERS". (or students for that matter). Both Teachers and Students gum up the works. They want cogs and gears to keep the system running quickly and (in their mind) smoothly.
Jumping back to the present...
My oldest niece takes after me. (She an intellectual rebel and does her own thing) I am quite proud to say she has argued with teachers and won. I've gone to bat for her (her parents are busy and I take a special interest in this because of what I have gone through) One thing that I have tried to teach her, is to understand that the school system is designed to teach two things:
1. The Basics (as they claim), plus morals, values, etc... that have been tacked on due to lazy parents who are not parents.
2. Less obvious, but no less important is sometimes it is wise to play dumb. There is a time for being smart and there is a time for being wise. Sadly, schools don't want wise students, they only want students that can leave the system as quick as possible. It is frustrating, but ultimately it will serve little purpose in
I have to agree.. Sony with the PS3 will have a slight advantage, but as some have already mentioned, the market will split. With the "common masses" taking whatever the local propaganda tells them is best and they need and the "informed" going with the format of their preference (including formats that are linked to the game machines. The problem is that
It's thankfully not like the VHS vs. BetaMax wars.. in some respects its worse.. Worse because these two formats are fundamentally the same (physically), but with different overtones of control. (Not that they can't/don't include them but that the noose will get tighter as the market absorbs yet another format). This is a battle of control (less about the format and more about what the format represents DRM). Because of this, whichever format the "market" chooses... I suspect we are in for a rude awaking.
My own money will be spent once SOME of the dust settles where the lies have been told (not completely, but enough that a good sniff may tell me who's really crapping), victors and victims on both sides, and perhaps my dollar will make some difference then.
You are correct sir..
As a person who's in the pre/post sales business, I can agree with the line of reasoning you outlined. Lenovo has been good firm with great name recognition in China (Mainland, and islands). And as such, it has certainly garnered a lot of respect. (including my own, as a owner of two Lenovo laptops, one before the buyout and one after the buyout).
The problem I think is less about xenophobia (though granted, with some people/firms, that DEFINATELY the case for them).. but more about getting the same name recognition that IBM has with a virtual unknown to much of the western consumer mindset.
To give you an example (that's very close to home for me). (WARNING: Different industry.. not automotive).
There was a line going around before that Brooks Brothers was going to be purchased by Tomy Hilfiger. (still gives me nightmares). Suffice to say, I was ready to ditch my beloved brand (I love their quality, the style, etc...) and run for the hills screaming "The barbarians are here". I only know TH from what I have seen and suffice to say, what I have seen does not impress me one bit. So they have to wow me.. do something that won't make me pull my hair out.. (and I'm still young, so I have most of it). The best thing they can do is NOT tamper with my brand. (leave it alone)
I suspect for many people, Lenovo's purchase of the Thinkpad line is much the same. You have a brand that you know very little about, but you see other things around it, and so it sours your impression of what MAY be rather than what is. Lenovo's strategy is to update the brand, but leave its quality alone, which is about the safest thing they can do. Time will give them a reputation in the western world.. Good or bad, will be up to them, but so far, from my experiences and those groups/people/firms I know, it should be a very good one.
Just my 3.5 cents
Because, as you just pointed out... Ford doesn't own the entire market. If you change to Chevy, or GM, or any other vehicle, you loose nothing. (Except for any backlog of parts and knowledge specific to the product that you may have). And that is a cost that you will have to decide is worth it or not.
Ford does not (and can't really) use its leverage to make the auto parts manufactures to produce only parts for them and not anyone else.
Ford can't basically tell you... "Drive us, or you will have to walk".
If company A switches from windows to something else, (assuming they will unhook the leash to do so... stockholm syndrome comes to mind.), depending on their industry, they may not be able to function... this is not entirely due to the classic arguement of "no applications"..
The long and short of it is that Micro$haft is being "singled out" (as you say) because of what they have done in the industry, not their size. You don't cage the gorilla for being 500lbs; but if he smacks everything that comes within 50 feet to death, and prevents any little gorillas from being born... I'm pretty sure you want a wall between him and you.
Sadly they won't.. Granted, the EU has an incentive to punish MS and not let them get away. but the reality is, that they will let MS slip through their fingers. MS will start the rabble complaining about the "stifling of competition" and all of the other rhetoric we've heard about MS being the good guy.. and presto... The Slippery serpent will be free to strangle yet another 20 firms (read: grow) and "innovate" (by absorption).
This is getting old. I wish they would just tell them, "shut up and fork over the cash cookie".
But so long as this has the chance of being a public debate, MS will win in the end..
L'sigh.
That is correct.
The secret to their success is a following that is known as "built in obsolecense". Its the reason they can continue to market operating systems and other code. Businesses don't upgrade very quickly because of the hard (licensing, product cost) and soft (training, support, downtime, etc...) cost that is associated with upgrading.. MS knows this.. so they don't want a "perfect" system.. That would make people think twice about upgrading and limit the need.. so you make each one a little better, with the promise that the next one make all their needs true.
So they want credit on the adoption of a standard that people have been demanding for ages?.. That is hilarious.
Dell could not be any more in bed with Microsoft and Intel that if Microsoft and Intel OWNED them..
Oh, wait.... Umm.. never mind.
I have to agree with your statement.. Sadly, far too many people these days are falling into the "thin-skinned" group. I am sure many of my fellow /.ers fall into the group that were picked on, bullied, teased, etc.., and sadly in 4 countries. (don't ask) (I have my own horror stories, and I am sure many of you have similar experiences).. but I the point is.. Here WE are.. Sans legal action, shotguns, etc... Bullying is a rite of passage. Painful, annoying, etc... but like ALL lessons in life, we learn them best through pain (ever got shocked by electricity?.. I'm sure you have a healthy respect for it now.) And I would think that its also made many of us better people.. to understand how to control ourselves, and gain some insight as to our own selves and those around us. (heck, ever been to the Army?). As someone also pointed out, the only means of ending things is to stand up for yourself.. to take pride in yourself and put the challenge to the bullies (not always in a physical sense)
I know many here are saying.. "yes, but its a WORLD joke. We didn't humiliation on a global scale.".
First, its not a world JOKE.. as many of you pointed out.. you found it amusing, but he got GEEK cred on this. I don't think any of us were who have seen it were thinking "look at that ". I am sure most of us were thinking closer to.. "Cool... " (or words to that effect). At worst case, its WORLD exposure.
With this, I have only two questions: 1, Who is to say besides those that commited the action were intentionally causing humiliation? I am sure we have all seen things that (to us) are insanely funny but within the context of the action is sad.. (That cute lady with the stilleto's that slips on the ice and looses all composure, that guy at work who prefaces EVERY statement with "WogaWoga", that kid in school with the Star Wars skit.. oh.. wait...) (something I believe is called "dark humour". If I tell two friends, who tells two friends.. does that mean that I am intentioanlly causing you humiliation?. You may find it so, but like ALL things, its perspective. The only thing we know is what the lawers are saying.. and do you honestly think they will say "Some kids made a poor choice of action when finding something amusing". The case would have been tossed out faster than you could say "Mcdonalds". So you hype it up.
2: Ultimately, what sort of lession do you think this will teach him. I will bet Dollars to Core Memory, that we will have another rabid legalista on our hands. (I'm hurt, I will sue you). Yes, something should have been done. but it would have been far more instructive to teach him how to deal with things in a proper and constructive way rather than go running to the court with a brused ego and hurt feelings yelling "They hurt me".
All of this is to say that, we have just unleashed another beast, which will ultimately do more harm than good. (rattle off your favourite foolish lawsuit)