A few weeks ago I came across about 30 old 5 1/4" floppies.
I hooked up an old drive to see what was up and low and behold it worked and on the disks (that could still be read) was vital stats on about 85,000 people - meaning name, SS#, address, health insurance policy numbers, ect. All good, all verified assuming the individual was still alive and hadn't moved.
This was left over from when I worked at an insurance company in 1992: a migration from a THEN ancient mini to a PC based system. There that data was sitting in my basement for 12 years (and I have moved twice since then!)
Being an honest man, out came the scissors... but the ID theft possibilities were really astounding.
How much old data like this is just sitting around on forgotten tapes and disks?
If I were to set up an huge ID theft ring this is the sort of stuff I would look for. Good data, but old. Not in any current database, absolutely no audit trail, individuals have since moved around and changed employers obliterating any or most chance of establishing a pattern to the thefts. Best of all, not only are there no access logs, but the organization wouldn't even miss the old media and if they do someone could just claim that it was thrown out months ago.
Mildly disturbing - but less so than the thought of a dirty bomb I suppose.
It is somewhat ridiculous that they are calling XP SP2 a "service pack."
The magnitude of fixes/mods/changes/additions in SP2 easily warrants a major release.
Microsoft has a history of this. Windows 3.11 (aka Windows for Workgroups) was so different from 3.1 that is should have been called 4.0 (or at the very least 3.2!)
However I write pretty good code (C++), and in a reasonable amount of time.
Plus, I managed a degree in math and a masters in CS.
Where I am above average is in persistance. I simply will not let something go until I understand it - and I mean really understand it.
Sure this means more work for the same GPA, that sort of thing: but it amazes me how I consistantly outperform many - by no means all - people whom I think are more intelligent.... because often times they won't try very hard.
However when it comes to skiing I am a genius. Maybe I should just become a ski bum.
Healthcare: takes care of itself (victims die or heal) the poor: can damn well get jobs roads: ok that is a good point under water research: ever see Sphere????? STD's: keep it in your pants Iraq, Afganistan: puh-leeeze longevity: live clean + excersize and live long drugs: there is always Canada
Preference for a certain toolset is no reason to prefer an OS - since the very tools mentioned all work fine on several operating systems.
There are Windows versions of these exact tools that seem to work as fast or faster as their Unix cousins - Delorie Software has many such ports, and you can get the originals from gnu.org and compile them if that is your thing.
Additionally, the Windows command line shell is much more powerful than people give it credit for.
What the original poster likely meant to say (forgive me original poster for putting words on your fingers) is that there is a Win32 port for most if not all of the tools that you mentioned.
While there are compelling reasons to avoid Windows for some folks you have not pointed out any of them.
20 percent of 36 Billion is still 7.2 billion a year in revenue.
So even if MS lost ALL of their Windows and Office revenue they would still be doing better than most companies.
And they have 50+ billion in CASH.
How long could they continue full operations with NO revenue at all? A decade atleast - assuming Bill doesn't personally pick up the tab himself then we are looking at atleast 15 years. Don't expect to see MS going away anytime soon - if ever.
Geez a true power user would just adapt - like me. I use both every day and can more or less adapt transparently even when running Unix apps on my Windows desktop.
However.... I ALWAYS type "setenv env_var val" instead of "set env_var=val" in the Windows shell - which drives me nutz!!! But that is my one transgression.
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Actually, isn't one of the strengths of Linux is that it ISN'T written in a vacuum?
A few weeks ago I came across about 30 old 5 1/4" floppies.
I hooked up an old drive to see what was up and low and behold it worked and on the disks (that could still be read) was vital stats on about 85,000 people - meaning name, SS#, address, health insurance policy numbers, ect. All good, all verified assuming the individual was still alive and hadn't moved.
This was left over from when I worked at an insurance company in 1992: a migration from a THEN ancient mini to a PC based system. There that data was sitting in my basement for 12 years (and I have moved twice since then!)
Being an honest man, out came the scissors... but the ID theft possibilities were really astounding.
How much old data like this is just sitting around on forgotten tapes and disks?
If I were to set up an huge ID theft ring this is the sort of stuff I would look for. Good data, but old. Not in any current database, absolutely no audit trail, individuals have since moved around and changed employers obliterating any or most chance of establishing a pattern to the thefts. Best of all, not only are there no access logs, but the organization wouldn't even miss the old media and if they do someone could just claim that it was thrown out months ago.
Mildly disturbing - but less so than the thought of a dirty bomb I suppose.
"Smathered" is now an official net-term. I will begin using it as soon as context allows.
I know with cable the signal is broadcast with comsiderably less strength upstream. Don't know if this makes a difference in badwidth.
>> Whats the US going to do? shoot them down? I don't think so...
Wanna bet?
It is somewhat ridiculous that they are calling XP SP2 a "service pack."
The magnitude of fixes/mods/changes/additions in SP2 easily warrants a major release.
Microsoft has a history of this. Windows 3.11 (aka Windows for Workgroups) was so different from 3.1 that is should have been called 4.0 (or at the very least 3.2!)
Can you say .NET......? :-)
Multiple capacitors....
go invent your own network.
far from it. In fact I think I am below average.
However I write pretty good code (C++), and in a reasonable amount of time.
Plus, I managed a degree in math and a masters in CS.
Where I am above average is in persistance. I simply will not let something go until I understand it - and I mean really understand it.
Sure this means more work for the same GPA, that sort of thing: but it amazes me how I consistantly outperform many - by no means all - people whom I think are more intelligent.... because often times they won't try very hard.
However when it comes to skiing I am a genius. Maybe I should just become a ski bum.
Didn't the PC Jr have a 186?
I could be wrong, but I seem to recall this to be the case.
Healthcare: takes care of itself (victims die or heal)
the poor: can damn well get jobs
roads: ok that is a good point
under water research: ever see Sphere?????
STD's: keep it in your pants
Iraq, Afganistan: puh-leeeze
longevity: live clean + excersize and live long
drugs: there is always Canada
you get to use local time! :P
Don't kwow about Europe, but MacD's USA is a big customer of Micros - they make POS terminals and the "backstore/office" hardware to support it.
I interviewed there once - they seemed to have SCO Unix and NT based systems.... atleast in the dept that I interviewed in.
Preference for a certain toolset is no reason to prefer an OS - since the very tools mentioned all work fine on several operating systems.
There are Windows versions of these exact tools that seem to work as fast or faster as their Unix cousins - Delorie Software has many such ports, and you can get the originals from gnu.org and compile them if that is your thing.
Additionally, the Windows command line shell is much more powerful than people give it credit for.
Are you seriously comparing Notepad to sh?
What the original poster likely meant to say (forgive me original poster for putting words on your fingers) is that there is a Win32 port for most if not all of the tools that you mentioned.
While there are compelling reasons to avoid Windows for some folks you have not pointed out any of them.
1) why do you care about the Netsky emails (they don't effect you personally but I guess you could inadvertantly forward them)
2) how do you know they are infected?
Hmm?? ;-)
Yeah right, FUD bitch.
Nukes designed with slide rules can blast any country on the planet back to the Primordial Soup.
So what's the big deal if indeed this is the case?
sometimes I travel, sometimes I work late.
In short - just like my dad did (he was in Public Relations).
What's the problem?
Not that I wouldn't have also...
20 percent of 36 Billion is still 7.2 billion a year in revenue.
So even if MS lost ALL of their Windows and Office revenue they would still be doing better than most companies.
And they have 50+ billion in CASH.
How long could they continue full operations with NO revenue at all? A decade atleast - assuming Bill doesn't personally pick up the tab himself then we are looking at atleast 15 years. Don't expect to see MS going away anytime soon - if ever.
that doesn't require an entire topic on Slashdot.
Geez a true power user would just adapt - like me. I use both every day and can more or less adapt transparently even when running Unix apps on my Windows desktop.
However.... I ALWAYS type "setenv env_var val" instead of "set env_var=val" in the Windows shell - which drives me nutz!!! But that is my one transgression.
If it is unsigned you will be liable for any unathorized purchases made with it.
So sign it and then write Check ID or whatever over the sig.