Perhaps this is flamebait, but I've been rather disturbed by the growing tide of sentiment I've seen on Slashdot that says "well if it's the law right now then you just better obey it till it changes". This is a distressingly naive view. It bears all the political and philosophical depth of an issue of Martha Stewart Living.
Obey the law until you can change it? Intentionally breaking an immoral law is the first step in changing it. Don't take my word on it, ask Thoreau--ask Ghandi--ask Martin Luther King (or Martin Luther, for that matter). It was only possible to rectify the greatest injustices of this century after someone had the huevos to stand up to them and break an immoral law.
"Oh you're just a Stallman commie" you say? If someone really feels that the breaking of any law is always wrong and not the way to create positive change, how can they stand to live in this country? Doesn't it make them feel like a hypocrite every time they wake up and remember that those patriots didn't ask "pretty pretty please can we throw all that tea in the harbor?"
These are some very good comments. I'm surprised and delighted to see so many slashdotters with knowledgeable and insightful opinions on the stock market.
Just one question: when will all these great comments be 'borrowed' and sold in Katz's new book, 'Voices from the Stock Market'?
A company I worked for once decided to install LittleBrother to track everyone's web usage. Needless to say I didn't like this. The first thing I did was change my netscape startup page to something like 'http://www.company.com/likes/to/spy/on/their/empl oyees.html'.. (this was before they had mentioned it to the employees, I just wanted them to know I had found out their little secret)
Well, after that little bit of rather juvenile defiance, I got down to serious business. Luckily I ran Slackware at work. I created a perl program that would randomly generate 'legal' web requests (about 5-10 an hour, with a break for lunch:) ).. under LittleBrother, this is quite effective, because it creates pretty little bar charts that shows how many 'illegal' requests you have made, in _proportion_ to 'legal' requests, therefore upping your 'legal' requests has a big impact..
I've still got the program, should anyone want a copy..
Oh, and I also started doing all my illicit web browsing through an ssh encrypted session..:)
Of course I'm sure the intreped coders that are writing the various gnutella clients will figure out a way to subvert this. Personally I think it's high time they came up with a way of either gaurding or confusing IP addys, in the name of anonymity.. Perhaps the option to make your machine a proxy, thereby muddling any attempt at tracking IPs?
This bit is interesting: > Me and my roommate (the co-founder of Zeropaid.com) have agreed the attention the Wall of Shame has brought is for the cause," he said.
My roommate? Can you say "little kiddy that wanted to see his name in a wired article?"
In the mean time I think the way to go is civil disobedience. Everyone that runs a guntella client, search for kiddie-porn non-stop! Make their information worthless. I'm going to start just as soon as I get home.
This Stallman guys is off his rocker! What's next, a big building full of books that people can borrow for FREE?!? That would instantly make all publishers go out of business!
And what other crazy ideas does he have? I'm sure that if he had his way, scientists would actually _share_ things they discover with other scientists! Don't you know that that would lead to?!? Lifesaving medical advances and the technology to reach the stars! Do you want to live in a world like that?
Yeah, that's right! You tell them Richard! Anyone who points out the blatant flaws in and misleading advertising surrounding a software product must be a racist!
Yeah you guys, be serious, this guy is on to some good stuff, and you stuffy nonbelieveing types with your darn requirements of proof and peer review are just jealous.
What has your precious peer review and scientific method ever done for mankind? (except for all known scientific discoveries)
Besides, I met Mr. Mills a few years ago, and I could tell he was a genius. He worked with me to develop my trans-hyper-superultraforce sheilding compound ('egg salad' to you laymen) that I can apply to anyone's head to block out the mind rays that are used by the Demons from Witchland.
This is great! I only wish they'd tell us _exactly_ where the bunker is, because you know being MTV, they won't have any guns, and my group most certainly will!
Now if they would only give the exact address, this will be the first place my gang will go to loot all their food, and steal their women for breeding stock!!
This is a great idea, they should force people to use computers to vote!
The last time I voted, I was the only person there under the 3/4 century mark. I could hardly concentrate on scribbling in all the little boxes for the hissing of all the oxygen tanks. It appears old people have little else to do but sit around and vote all day.
Hopefully the computers will help scare some of them off...
I can see it now. Your W95 machine crashes, so like every monday, you have reinstall:
Warning! A secret timebomb written into windows has noticed that this is not the original installation of windows on this machine. According to the extremely small print hidden on the microdot of your Windows liscence, this is considered piracy. Deducting $400 penalty from your MicroSoft Wallet account.
Error! Your Microsoft Wallet account contains only $235. Initiating automated legal action. You should recieve a summons in 5-10 business days.
Destroying this computer via the secret motherboard bios and Intel chip AntiPiracy features.
Warning! This PC does not have the Intel chip AntiPiracy features. This PC appears to have been built from components, rather than purchased from a liscenced OEM dealer. This is considered probable cause in your state, thanks to our legal department, second only in power and trechery to the Scientologists. Sherrif's deputies are on their way to the address listed in your Microsoft Wallet account.
Alert! The microphone on this system heard you chuckle at the Scientology joke above. The Church of Scientology has been alerted and should be starting legal proceedings in 8-10 business days.
In the future, you can check your PC for priacy violations with MS Piracy Check, for only $699 at your local software store. It allows for automated hardware and software piracy checking, as well as on-line plea bargaining.
Some time after I got my mag-striped texas ID, the darndest thing happened. A very powerful magnet shomehow came in contact with the strip repeatedly. I hope these microchips are stronger. Especially because when I microwave a burrito, I sometimes drop my ID in there by accident.
Ok, this is not a new design. It's old hat. The first one I can think of by name is the anniversary mac. And I've been seeing PCs like this in the stores for years. Then why, I asked myself, would this constitute a news story?
Simple. It's not a news story, it's an advertisement for Gateway.
Excuse me while I try and brush the bitter taste out of my mouth.
Linux hard to install? Try RedHat hard to install
on
Time Review of Linux
·
· Score: 1
If anyone's sole experience of installing linux comes from installing RedHat, they are woefully unqualified to comment on whatever problems one may or may not experience when installing linux.
Try installing at least two other distributions, and then your opinion on the topic might be marginally more relevant than that of my cat.
And while we're at it, reporters should have to be liscensed as well. What if some crazy freelance reporter decides to say something bad about the state or government?
I read the WSJ article, and it was clear to me that the study seemed to have suffered a little bit in the translation (having been dumbed down).
So, I decided to go directly to D H Brown's website and hear it from the horse's mouth. However, they want you to pay the meager sum of $995 (that's nine hundred) for the privledge of reading it.
Sorry, but any 'study' that is done clearly for profit is by definition unscientific and almost certainly biased. And it is no surprise that the 'study' seems to come out wholly in favor of companies who practice the same insane pricing schemes.
Woe is me! Pokey is the only comic that made me laugh so hard I cleared a bowel obstruction! Someone must take up the fight! Where shall we get our vital supplies of Artic Circle Candy?!? Damn Italians!
Shame they didn't have those T-Shirts in medium, I woulda bought one.
Slashdot Mirror
Perhaps this is flamebait, but I've been rather disturbed by the growing tide of sentiment I've seen on Slashdot that says "well if it's the law right now then you just better obey it till it changes". This is a distressingly naive view. It bears all the political and philosophical depth of an issue of Martha Stewart Living.
Obey the law until you can change it? Intentionally breaking an immoral law is the first step in changing it. Don't take my word on it, ask Thoreau--ask Ghandi--ask Martin Luther King (or Martin Luther, for that matter). It was only possible to rectify the greatest injustices of this century after someone had the huevos to stand up to them and break an immoral law.
"Oh you're just a Stallman commie" you say? If someone really feels that the breaking of any law is always wrong and not the way to create positive change, how can they stand to live in this country? Doesn't it make them feel like a hypocrite every time they wake up and remember that those patriots didn't ask "pretty pretty please can we throw all that tea in the harbor?"
These are some very good comments. I'm surprised and delighted to see so many slashdotters with knowledgeable and insightful opinions on the stock market.
Just one question: when will all these great comments be 'borrowed' and sold in Katz's new book, 'Voices from the Stock Market'?
A company I worked for once decided to install LittleBrother to track everyone's web usage. Needless to say I didn't like this. The first thing I did was change my netscape startup page to something like 'http://www.company.com/likes/to/spy/on/their/empl oyees.html'..
:) ).. under LittleBrother, this is quite effective, because it creates pretty little bar charts that shows how many 'illegal' requests you have made, in _proportion_ to 'legal' requests, therefore upping your 'legal' requests has a big impact..
:)
(this was before they had mentioned it to the employees, I just wanted them to know I had found out their little secret)
Well, after that little bit of rather juvenile defiance, I got down to serious business. Luckily I ran Slackware at work. I created a perl program that would randomly generate 'legal' web requests (about 5-10 an hour, with a break for lunch
I've still got the program, should anyone want a copy..
Oh, and I also started doing all my illicit web browsing through an ssh encrypted session..
Of course I'm sure the intreped coders that are writing the various gnutella clients will figure out a way to subvert this. Personally I think it's high time they came up with a way of either gaurding or confusing IP addys, in the name of anonymity.. Perhaps the option to make your machine a proxy, thereby muddling any attempt at tracking IPs?
This bit is interesting:
> Me and my roommate (the co-founder of Zeropaid.com) have agreed the attention the Wall of Shame has brought is for the cause," he said.
My roommate? Can you say "little kiddy that wanted to see his name in a wired article?"
In the mean time I think the way to go is civil disobedience. Everyone that runs a guntella client, search for kiddie-porn non-stop! Make their information worthless. I'm going to start just as soon as I get home.
I am Spartacus! No, I am Spartacus!
This Stallman guys is off his rocker! What's next, a big building full of books that people can borrow for FREE?!? That would instantly make all publishers go out of business!
And what other crazy ideas does he have? I'm sure that if he had his way, scientists would actually _share_ things they discover with other scientists! Don't you know that that would lead to?!? Lifesaving medical advances and the technology to reach the stars! Do you want to live in a world like that?
You've got a really good point here. I'd tell you why, but I'd be afraid Jon Katz would sell my comments in his next book..
Go ahead, Quote me.. in fact, someone already has:
http://www.raven-games.com/linuxheretic/
It may make me fear for your sanity, but it won't make me whine like a little girl.
Yeah, that's right! You tell them Richard! Anyone who points out the blatant flaws in and misleading advertising surrounding a software product must be a racist!
Dunno about anyone else, but I'd sure like to hear what Stallman has to say about this whole debacle!
Yeah you guys, be serious, this guy is on to some good stuff, and you stuffy nonbelieveing types with your darn requirements of proof and peer review are just jealous.
What has your precious peer review and scientific method ever done for mankind? (except for all known scientific discoveries)
Besides, I met Mr. Mills a few years ago, and I could tell he was a genius. He worked with me to develop my trans-hyper-superultraforce sheilding compound ('egg salad' to you laymen) that I can apply to anyone's head to block out the mind rays that are used by the Demons from Witchland.
> I'm not going to say this guy is a fraud
I am.
FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD.
This is great! I only wish they'd tell us _exactly_ where the bunker is, because you know being MTV, they won't have any guns, and my group most certainly will!
Now if they would only give the exact address, this will be the first place my gang will go to loot all their food, and steal their women for breeding stock!!
We use lethal injection in Texas, not the chair.
Any Legal Eagles out there have any idea if legal actions have in the past been able to get pee out of a swimming pool?
This is a great idea, they should force people
to use computers to vote!
The last time I voted, I was the only person there under the 3/4 century mark. I could hardly concentrate on scribbling in all the little boxes for the hissing of all the oxygen tanks. It appears old people have little else to do but sit around and vote all day.
Hopefully the computers will help scare some of them off...
I can see it now. Your W95 machine crashes, so like every monday, you have reinstall:
Warning! A secret timebomb written into windows has noticed that this is not the original installation of windows on this machine. According to the extremely small print hidden on the microdot of your Windows liscence, this is considered piracy. Deducting $400 penalty from your MicroSoft Wallet account.
Error! Your Microsoft Wallet account contains only $235. Initiating automated legal action. You should recieve a summons in 5-10 business days.
Destroying this computer via the secret motherboard bios and Intel chip AntiPiracy features.
Warning! This PC does not have the Intel chip AntiPiracy features. This PC appears to have been built from components, rather than purchased from a liscenced OEM dealer. This is considered probable cause in your state, thanks to our legal department, second only in power and trechery to the Scientologists. Sherrif's deputies are on their way to the address listed in your Microsoft Wallet account.
Alert! The microphone on this system heard you chuckle at the Scientology joke above. The Church of Scientology has been alerted and should be starting legal proceedings in 8-10 business days.
In the future, you can check your PC for priacy violations with MS Piracy Check, for only $699 at your local software store. It allows for automated hardware and software piracy checking, as well as on-line plea bargaining.
Some time after I got my mag-striped texas ID, the darndest thing happened. A very powerful magnet shomehow came in contact with the strip repeatedly. I hope these microchips are stronger. Especially because when I microwave a burrito, I sometimes drop my ID in there by accident.
Ok, this is not a new design. It's old hat. The first one I can think of by name is the anniversary mac. And I've been seeing PCs like this in the stores for years. Then why, I asked myself, would this constitute a news story?
Simple. It's not a news story, it's an advertisement for Gateway.
Excuse me while I try and brush the bitter taste out of my mouth.
If anyone's sole experience of installing linux comes from installing RedHat, they are woefully unqualified to comment on whatever problems one may or may not experience when installing linux.
Try installing at least two other distributions, and then your opinion on the topic might be marginally more relevant than that of my cat.
Houston at number 26? My apartment complex wires Ethernet right into the units. Show me another city that has that!
And while we're at it, reporters should have to be liscensed as well. What if some crazy freelance reporter decides to say something bad about the state or government?
We can only hope that this amazing new device will allow the powerful and rich to have even more control over the individual!
All hail the captains of industry!
Wealth makes right!
I read the WSJ article, and it was clear to me that the study seemed to have suffered a little bit in the translation (having been dumbed down).
So, I decided to go directly to D H Brown's website and hear it from the horse's mouth. However, they want you to pay the meager sum of $995 (that's nine hundred) for the privledge of reading it.
Sorry, but any 'study' that is done clearly for profit is by definition unscientific and almost certainly biased. And it is no surprise that the 'study' seems to come out wholly in favor of companies who practice the same insane pricing schemes.
Finally, a place with enough room for my army of cybernetic monkey warriors!
Woe is me! Pokey is the only comic that made me laugh so hard I cleared a bowel obstruction!
Someone must take up the fight! Where shall we get our vital supplies of Artic Circle Candy?!?
Damn Italians!
Shame they didn't have those T-Shirts in medium, I woulda bought one.