"I'm done debating the competency of our current Presidential administration or the legitimacy of the Presidential office. In the face of this perpetually double edged sword, I just want to keep both the terrorists and the government in check" === And more importantly, when one reviews the actions of many governments against people they consider "bad" the difference between the governments actions and terrorists isn't that different.
Will we be any different? I hope so, but I dispair that it will BE so.
The one COMPLETELY BOGUS thought was "the expectation of privacy" one.
So, when we get used to strip searches and cavity searches when we reach the sidewalk, they are legal?
Peering through someones windows on their property should be an intrusion too, if there wasn't some reason to suspect a crime.
Scalia IS a nutcase IMHO, but he at least got the end product right, if not the thought process. I didn't think I'd ever see the day we agreed. (Scalia and I)
Anyway... We're "headed to hell in a handbasket" in this country. I've even got a close friend who I'd consider libertarian in his views, who believes that it basically doesn't matter what we did to the poor sods in Guantanamo (sp) - "we just needed to get those guys."
Sheesh.
I love my county, but I dispair when I see what her government and people will concience.
The last time I used UPS for something important was about 10 years ago. Shipped a monitor back to CTX for repair (warr).
CTX calls, says monitor was broken. I asked them to send it back so I could examine.
It arrived in the same box CTX got it in, but it wasn't the same box I sent it in.
It had been CRUSHED! Massive cracks in the plastic bezels at the corners.
I suspect the UPS guy left it behind his truck and then backed up over it. It tipped up and wedged - crush. About 7 months later, we finally got settlement from UPS for it.
Then a vendor I do business with sent me a set of drives/RAID array card etc for a server via UPS. When the box was dropped off at my house, no signature, on the back porch, half the contents (value $2000+) were missing. The box looked like it had been through the war, and you could easily reach into the box and pull out whatever you wanted without any trouble. (Holes in box, flaps open where the tape had been stripped away etc.)
After some running around to get replacement parts priority overnight, and some hassle with the vendor, things were right.
After all this, I simply don't use UPS anymore if I have a choice. If it's for something someone is sending me and it's important, and I can use anothe method, I do. I'd rather pay for FedEx overnight and know I will get it without hassle, than risk the nightmare of UPS.
How about you secure your network then. Otherwise, expect someone to hack your network all to heck. And BTW, if they actually *tell* you, I'd say "thanks" too!
Adrian was stupid and niave. He did something techincally illegal, but morally it's a much grayer issue.
Bottom line... If you have insecure systems, you're likely to get hacked. If you're lucky you'll find out by the hacker telling you nicely. If you're not, there's always web defacement, "poof" your data's gone etc.
Sure it's a pain in the ass. But what it comes down to, is if you knew your systems were insecure, then it's your own fault for doing nothing. It wouldn't have been fixed in any case. If you didn't know, it wouldn't have likely gotten fixed either.
Either case, it was only a matter of time. The cost and hassle of rebuilding the infrastructure would have been required.
Translation : I have no fucking argument, but i still wanna look like i know everything!
Now, to comment on this...
If you believe that Republicans OR Democrats have the average guys' best interest in heart, you've been smoking something illegal.
BOTH sides of the isle are (generally) most concerned with getting re-elected.
To get elected, requires money. Unless you're in possession of almost unlimited wealth, and don't mind spending it, you're going to need some "donors." (Otherwise known as people who bribe you...)
To keep those donors happy, you're going to have to deliver on something - that something usually provides a decent return on their investment - literally. If you don't produce a good return, your corporate interests are going to find a better investment vehicle (otherwise known as an opponent!)
I have lots of argument. I'm just not going to dress the pig up in pearls to hope he'll look better. If you want to argue/debate, post as a "real" user. Put in some FACTS, and back them up. Then we can actually debate.
If you ACTUALLY want to debate some points, it basically mandatory to be able to return to your comments.
Most, including myself don't have the time or energy to find their AC comments and follow up.
Thus, responding to AC comments is generally like talking to a brick wall, except in most cases the AC is MORE stupid and lifeless.
If AC has a comment that ALONE, has insightful info, then great - but it hardly ever will generate meaningful discussion - which is why I'm generally here. It's not often that enlightenment is reached in a single comment by an AC.
Lastly, it's generally accepted that AC's don't have to stand and be judged by their comments. Thus, they're off the cuff and often less than useful.
Notice, I'm replying to you because you want to have a dialog - there's (right now) 2 other AC posts that are total drivel. Perhaps you view my parent as such, but at least I have the balls to take the loss and drubbing by posting as me.
I've generally given up posting as AC. The only justification I can see for such, is a posting that needs to see the light of day, but for security reasons (i.e. Herr Ashcroft, whacko boss, job security etc) can't be posted as a logged in user. Other than that, about 99.5% of all AC posts are trash. (Statistics never lie! [grin])
Anyhow go read the post I was replying to - they claim to want to debate, but are too weak to actually do so. I was just pointing out their stupidity.
More to the point, it appears as though it was a wireless network WITHOUT WEP turned on. (not that WEP does anything of much use anyway, but at least that way, you could attempt to show that the network was not intended to be for public use!)
As far as I am concerned, that is a PUBLIC network. It would be like stringing Cat5 to a power/light pole outside my house, and outside my property, and then claiming tresspass should anyone plug into that network connection!
Wireless ethernet doesn't require any "authentication." This sounds like a situation that someone got caught out, and now wants a pound of flesh to make themselves look better.
I'd be likely to counter-sue claiming malicious prosecution.
"You can do it if you'd like, it's well documented."
documented != non-proprietary
Just because I document how it did it doesn't mean that you can do it yourself. (Not to mention that anyone that I've heard about that tries to write a convertor for Word documents that converts complex documents has nothing good to say about the "documentation" - AFAIK it's almost impossible - especially at any reasonable effort level.)
Plus, if I change the standard every five minutes and force it on users, it doesn't really matter if you have access to documentation - it's practical use is nil.
The whole point of this discussion, is that MS frequently breaks things, by using your "progess" theory. Many of us believe, and I think with good reason, that it isn't for progress, it's for profit.
Perhaps you've made lots of money developing for MS - frankly, most of my consulting is on Windows too, but don't be too surprised that when the alienated public gets the opportunity to throw MS's body from the window, they will. They'll gleefully cheer when they crumple lifeless and bloody far below. If you've put all your eggs in one basket, your fortunes won't be much better.
MS is only interested in themselves. They're only marginally interested in the best interests of their customers - IMHO. That behavior doesn't bode well for most businesses. I think the only reason they've survived this long is because of their skill in killing/compromising the competition.
But like Napoleon, Hitler, Stalin etc, you can only bloody the masses for so long. Soon, you're not on the winning side. Be sure that your deeds will be repaid with interest. (I believe that you'll also get to realize the results of those deeds - good or bad - in finality later - but that's another story.)
I give my clients all the information that they want. Sometimes, that means that I loose billable consulting time - because they do it themselves. But it's the "right" thing to do. If my clients want to get rid of me, I give them all the assistance I can, and bid them a cheerful (and also a sometimes sad) farewell.
In the long-run, it's to my benefit. It might not seem like it, but it is. Even if it wasn't, it is the correct moral position - the one that I would like, should I be in their position. As a business owner, my moral obligation for my company and personally, is to also look after the interests of my clients. Perhaps I don't have to, and many of you and those who claim it's business's god given right to milk the customer for profits think I'm nuts for doing so - but I'll continue to do the best I can for BOTH me and the client.
Perhaps you don't feel this obligation. It also seems that you view MS's behavior as perfectly reasonable - but to me, AND many of my clients, that's simply not the case.
We may continue to use MS's products, but only because we have few other reasonable choices - often because of MS's predetory actions. But when reasonable alternatives exist, we jump in.
There's a way to be both profitable and highly moral. IMHO, MS hasn't even tried. It'll cost them - both personally and business-wise.
How about how Word 95 can't open any Word 97 docs. (Before you say, everyone does this... what was the necessity for this. If the upgrade was dramatically diferent, and it wasn't possible to use the same format, I might go easy - in this case, it seems really hard to make that argument.)
How about Access 97 vs 2000...
How about MS SQL Server, and your "special" extensions to SQL.
How about Active X, C#, HTML that only works on IE.
How about Kerberos?
How about breaking the OS/2 3.X compatibility mode every time they did virtually anything to Windows.
How about the totally bogus error messages you got in the beta versions of Windows 3.x when you were using DR Dos?
(Some of these are not propriatary file formats, but clearly demonstrate the capability and willingness to use despicable acts to maintain their power - and keep you by the short hairs.)
MS probably has one of the worst records of ANY company in the history of the computer industry. Locking you into a specific "hamster wheel" is their specialty.
If you like being MS's "hamster" go ahead. Many of the rest of us don't really care for it. For many reasons, money out of our pocket being one of them.
Their business model was as substantial as PowerPoint presentations....
Or is that WorldCom or Anderson, Global Crossing, Merck, Haliburton, [insert lying cheating book-cooking corp of the week^H^H^H^H day name here], or any of those other crooked companies.
It seems as though we get less and less substance in products and companies now. Just give a great powerpoint show, and all the suckers jump in with their cash.
Perhaps the world would be lots better if we outlawed powerpoint software and brain-dead slideshow presentations.
Fact: Most people couldn't examine a graph/chart and determine if the presentation of the data was realistic or doctored. If fact, most couldn't even tell it the graph actually represented the actual data, or even question the lack of raw data the chart proports to represent.
Obviously, even the experts haven't been doing their jobs (financial analyists) and swallowing the powerpoint documents without critial review, as the long string of business failures and sham accounting is showing.
Frankly, I'd be just as happy without powerpoint. I'd still get my points across, and my clients would be able to get REAL facts. Not just those doctored checklists or charts.
If you support and financially aid the armed combatants, you're a combatant. Be that those who send funds and support to Bin Laden, or those who elect their government and pay their taxes. At the very least, you would have to admit that you're part of the system making the combat possible.
We, during WW2 attacked civilian centers to get at the military machine, and also to drain support for the war effort. What's so different about attacking the WTC? (Not that I condone it...but it is "logical" behavior, provided you want to attack the system that props up the US Gvmt - thereby attacking the system that props up Israel, thereby attacking the system that opresses the Palastinians...)
Unfortunatly, even though I disagree with some of the actions of my Gvmt, I do consider myself an indirect target for those who find our actions wrong. That's always the way it is. We just convienently call it TERRORISM when it happens to us, and call it "PROTECTING OUR INTERESTS" when we do it to others. (Or better yet, claim they were terrorists who acidentally blew themselves up etc...)
Any conflict is about frightning your opposition into submission. Attacking civilians is a tack taken by those who (generally) have less power and might. Just let the US end up in a battle they're in danger of loosing, or are way outmatched, and you'ld see us do the same. We (I'm a US citizen!) have a Gvmt that isn't any morally better than Bin Laden. (perhaps that's too strong - but we certainly don't have the moral highground) Our deeds right now appear to be better, but the motivation behind them isn't much different. It's just that we have the power luxery(sp) to act "better." Trade places with Bin Laden in terms of raw power, and we'd be attacking civillians too, in order to win "for good over evil..."
I suppose that all countries have this blind spot, but I hoped and wish that we were different.
When the Chineese hold someone (their citizen or not) without charge, and use military trials, limit access to counsel, and the media, and public scrutiny, we say it's a sham trial.
When we do it, it's to protect the safety of Americans. By the way, they're both wrong by ANY standard. If we can't live by the rules of, access to counsel, open trials, guilty until proven innocent, the right to confront your accusers, the right not to testify against yourself, the right to a grand-jury, the right to afore mentioned items before taking away our freedom - we ought to just call ourselves a dictatorship, and do away with the facade of justice.
Examine the heart of your country - it's more rotten than you imagine. (I'm not claiming that your heart is rotten, you probably are of high moral standing) It's just that we view our actions in a light that's very favorable to us. If you were an Afgani(sp), you'd see things differently. Like, perhaps Afganistan wouldn't be in such a prediciment(sp) if we hadn't armed lots of whacky groups, just to hassle or defeat the Russians, and then left them to stew in the juices when we were "through" with the Russians.
On a side note, who put Panama/Manuel Noriega, Iran's Shaw (70's & 80's), Iraq/Saddam Hussain, the Sandinistas, Phillipines/Marcos, Afganistan/Freedom Fighters, etc in power and supported them? Who supplied some or all of their military power/hardware? Who trained their goon squads? (Who in many cases, targeted civillians and didn't just kill them, but activly tortured them?) Who knew about and documented their abuses (via the CIA and other agencies) and mostly ignored them because we felt we needed their "support" more than their honor? Could it have been the "honorable" USA?
Look in the mirror...it's us (us citizens) that have allowed our Gvmt to committ such offenses - with our backing (taxes/investment) and votes. When some of that bad-will comes back to roost, it seems wrong to complain that we are somehow different. I don't suggest that you/we should like it, but perhaps we should expect it.
Stand up, and call a spade a spade. If it's wrong to attack innocent people, it's ALWAYS wrong. It's wrong for the US and it's wrong for everyone else too.
If due process is the best judicial system, and the most fair, it should apply to all - citizens, non-citizens, terrorists, and just plain old people, good or bad.
The standard doesn't change based on who you are, or which side you support. Freedom loving US'ians don't get a break from the rules simply because "we're the land of the 'free'." Terrorists don't loose some of their rights to justice and due process simply because they're terrorists! (Mind you that they haven't even been convicted of anything yet - so how do we call them terrorists?!)
Draw up your "standard" and apply it fairly and evenly to all. You'll find that the US isn't nearly the sainted freedom loving country we make ourselves out to be. That said, I'm not sure I know of a better system, than ours. But we can, should, and MUST do better. We must treat others the way we want and expect to be treated.
But water evaporates at 100C - once water is gone, the microwaves don't have any materials that will convert the wave energy to heat - thus foods don't really reach temps much higher than boiling. (This is why Mirowaves don't brown things - without metal foils etc.)
Water Molecules are excited by the microwaves, and are heated.
Oil on the otherhand isn't heated at all.
Here's an exp. for you. A few cc's of oil and a few cc's of water in the microwave. Heat for a bit. See which is hot.
Damn, if you flashed *me*, I'd forget everything too! (I'd probably hurl also, but that's just a side issue! - Unless you're one of those beautiful college girls that needs help with tuition that I keep getting emails about...)
Well at least they had enough sense to abandon the totally moronic system.
Lets see, 12 inches = foot Oh, but 3 feet = yard. Mile, oh, that's 5280 feet, or 1760 yards, or 63360 inches.
So, lets see, 1cm = 10 mm 1m = 100cm = 1000mm 1km = 1000m = 100000cm etc...
Which seems more simple?
(Even more whacky, was the GB monetary system. Pounds, schillings, pence, etc! Sheesh!)
So, the only brain dead country still using a totally limp measurement system, is the good old US of A, who didn't even invent such a stupid system. Perhaps we should also start believeing in a flat earth too! (Gah, as an American, we can be such stupid fools - english measurements, electing GWB and his Jack-booted cronies etc!)
How about when congress criticized the expanded powers that the DOJ wanted for law enforcment (USA Patriot Act) and our good friend Herr Ashcroft said... "To those who pit Americans against immigrants, and citizens against non-citizens, to those who scare peace-loving people with phantoms of lost liberty, my message is this: Your tactics only aid terrorists for they erode our national unity and diminish our resolve. They give ammunition to America's enemies and pause to America's friends. They encourage people of good will to remain silent in the face of evil. Our efforts have been crafted carefully to avoid infringing on constitutional rights while saving American lives. "
Similar statements were made about congressional questions over the missed clues that were found prior to Sep 11, and might have resulted in preventing the tragedy.
So, one of the highest executive branch executives called all of us that question such government tactics, in essence aiders and abettors of terrorism.
That scares me - perhaps you don't think this is significant, but I do!
Part of what makes Watergate different than any political scandal involving the executive branch since, is that it was a direct threat to the electoral process.
The executive branch was using broad government powers (FBI, IRS, Office of the President etc, FCC) to try to taint the electoral system. Blackmail of candidates, intimidation, IRS audits of your enemies, loss of FCC licenses etc to stifle press reporting, kill oposition, etc. (Go read "Personal History" by Katherine Meyer Graham
It gives a real view of the power that the Nixon administration had over many others, and the political life and course.
Reagan may have been a felon, he ignored Congress, and violated the law, but it wasn't really a serious risk to the politial system we have. Same with Clinton - although I don't think his actions were a felony class offense...
Nixon on the other hand used the power of the presidency to attempt to dramatically skew the political system.
These actions are the very actions that our founding fathers were most anxious about, and a significant reason that Watergate was and is coverd with such vigor. It was a serious threat, and had to receive serious through attention. Without the dogged determination and serious risk of the Wash Post, we probably wouldn't have ever known about Watergate like we do today. They were nearly alone in pursuing the story.
Hmmm...a few court cases, as far as I know, generally revolving around defeating circumvention devices.
Fair use, outside of a/the circumvention device isn't addressed in any of the court cases I know.
As far as license agreements...I don't know of many cases where the validity of license agreements have been tested - perhaps you could enlighten us.
Thus, I would counter that the "spirit of the law" in regards to fair use is clear. The effect of the DMCA and License agreements have not really been tested in court, and thus, it's as likely as not that the "right" to backup my software will be upheld by the courts.
And so, because your are the "Gold" standard, we can extrapolate your experiences to the rest of humanity?
I have had CD's fail - I've left them places, I've lost them etc etc etc...
So, one of the first things I do, when I get a new program, is make a copy. 15 years from now, when I need Office 4.3, I'll still have it. It won't be original media, but I'll have it. Same with the Borland Pascal 6 compiler for Dos. Or MS Dos 5 etc.
I own that software, and like bloody hell you'll tell me what I can and can't do with it. This attitude just makes it MORE likely that I'll completely ignore your well-being and ENCOURAGE all my friends to rip your software and NEVER pay you a dime.
So, go ahead, abuse the customer. Perhaps they're sheep and don't care. But take heed, some do, and when you burn your last ounce of goodwill, don't come crying to me.
PS. I thought GWB along with Herr Ashcroft would screw us over, but I never, in my wildest dreams (nightmares) thought it would be this bad. And we all thought that Repubs were supposed to be champions of the Gvmt respecting our civil rights and staying out of our business?! Sheesh!
Slashdot Mirror
"I'm done debating the competency of our current Presidential administration or the legitimacy of the Presidential office. In the face of this perpetually double edged sword, I just want to keep both the terrorists and the government in check"
===
And more importantly, when one reviews the actions of many governments against people they consider "bad" the difference between the governments actions and terrorists isn't that different.
Will we be any different? I hope so, but I dispair that it will BE so.
Cheers,
Greg
The one COMPLETELY BOGUS thought was "the expectation of privacy" one.
So, when we get used to strip searches and cavity searches when we reach the sidewalk, they are legal?
Peering through someones windows on their property should be an intrusion too, if there wasn't some reason to suspect a crime.
Scalia IS a nutcase IMHO, but he at least got the end product right, if not the thought process. I didn't think I'd ever see the day we agreed. (Scalia and I)
Anyway... We're "headed to hell in a handbasket" in this country. I've even got a close friend who I'd consider libertarian in his views, who believes that it basically doesn't matter what we did to the poor sods in Guantanamo (sp) - "we just needed to get those guys."
Sheesh.
I love my county, but I dispair when I see what her government and people will concience.
Cheers,
Greg
Oh, I'll go you one better.
The last time I used UPS for something important was about 10 years ago. Shipped a monitor back to CTX for repair (warr).
CTX calls, says monitor was broken. I asked them to send it back so I could examine.
It arrived in the same box CTX got it in, but it wasn't the same box I sent it in.
It had been CRUSHED! Massive cracks in the plastic bezels at the corners.
I suspect the UPS guy left it behind his truck and then backed up over it. It tipped up and wedged - crush. About 7 months later, we finally got settlement from UPS for it.
Then a vendor I do business with sent me a set of drives/RAID array card etc for a server via UPS. When the box was dropped off at my house, no signature, on the back porch, half the contents (value $2000+) were missing. The box looked like it had been through the war, and you could easily reach into the box and pull out whatever you wanted without any trouble. (Holes in box, flaps open where the tape had been stripped away etc.)
After some running around to get replacement parts priority overnight, and some hassle with the vendor, things were right.
After all this, I simply don't use UPS anymore if I have a choice. If it's for something someone is sending me and it's important, and I can use anothe method, I do. I'd rather pay for FedEx overnight and know I will get it without hassle, than risk the nightmare of UPS.
Cheers,
Greg
How about you secure your network then. Otherwise, expect someone to hack your network all to heck. And BTW, if they actually *tell* you, I'd say "thanks" too!
Adrian was stupid and niave. He did something techincally illegal, but morally it's a much grayer issue.
Bottom line... If you have insecure systems, you're likely to get hacked. If you're lucky you'll find out by the hacker telling you nicely. If you're not, there's always web defacement, "poof" your data's gone etc.
Sure it's a pain in the ass. But what it comes down to, is if you knew your systems were insecure, then it's your own fault for doing nothing. It wouldn't have been fixed in any case. If you didn't know, it wouldn't have likely gotten fixed either.
Either case, it was only a matter of time. The cost and hassle of rebuilding the infrastructure would have been required.
28S? Heck, I had a 41. Now that was a calculator!
Translation : I have no fucking argument, but i still wanna look like i know everything!
Now, to comment on this...
If you believe that Republicans OR Democrats have the average guys' best interest in heart, you've been smoking something illegal.
BOTH sides of the isle are (generally) most concerned with getting re-elected.
To get elected, requires money. Unless you're in possession of almost unlimited wealth, and don't mind spending it, you're going to need some "donors." (Otherwise known as people who bribe you...)
To keep those donors happy, you're going to have to deliver on something - that something usually provides a decent return on their investment - literally. If you don't produce a good return, your corporate interests are going to find a better investment vehicle (otherwise known as an opponent!)
I have lots of argument. I'm just not going to dress the pig up in pearls to hope he'll look better. If you want to argue/debate, post as a "real" user. Put in some FACTS, and back them up. Then we can actually debate.
Cheers!
If you ACTUALLY want to debate some points, it basically mandatory to be able to return to your comments.
Most, including myself don't have the time or energy to find their AC comments and follow up.
Thus, responding to AC comments is generally like talking to a brick wall, except in most cases the AC is MORE stupid and lifeless.
If AC has a comment that ALONE, has insightful info, then great - but it hardly ever will generate meaningful discussion - which is why I'm generally here. It's not often that enlightenment is reached in a single comment by an AC.
Lastly, it's generally accepted that AC's don't have to stand and be judged by their comments. Thus, they're off the cuff and often less than useful.
Notice, I'm replying to you because you want to have a dialog - there's (right now) 2 other AC posts that are total drivel. Perhaps you view my parent as such, but at least I have the balls to take the loss and drubbing by posting as me.
I've generally given up posting as AC. The only justification I can see for such, is a posting that needs to see the light of day, but for security reasons (i.e. Herr Ashcroft, whacko boss, job security etc) can't be posted as a logged in user. Other than that, about 99.5% of all AC posts are trash. (Statistics never lie! [grin])
Anyhow go read the post I was replying to - they claim to want to debate, but are too weak to actually do so. I was just pointing out their stupidity.
Cheers!
Oh, that's to go along with all the FOR PROFIT organizations, called Corporations?
Yeah, the course is Intoduction to Greed 101 , along with Advanced Averace 401.
Cheers!
Hey AC, have the balls to actually post using even your pseudo account, and I'll go ahead and feed them to you for dinner.
Till you actually can prove you have balls and post non AC though...I won't be holding my breath.
Cheers!
Even at $1000 per hour, I could fix it for less than $5.
It should take about 5 seconds to walk over and pull the power plug for the WAP.
Vulnerability fixed.
For an extra $3.33, I would be glad to turn around and tell the man in charge that he is fired for being such a stupid ass.
There, for less than $7.00 we've solved the security problem (symptom), and also fixed the root problem - a clueless dolt.
Cheers!
More to the point, it appears as though it was a wireless network WITHOUT WEP turned on. (not that WEP does anything of much use anyway, but at least that way, you could attempt to show that the network was not intended to be for public use!)
As far as I am concerned, that is a PUBLIC network. It would be like stringing Cat5 to a power/light pole outside my house, and outside my property, and then claiming tresspass should anyone plug into that network connection!
Wireless ethernet doesn't require any "authentication." This sounds like a situation that someone got caught out, and now wants a pound of flesh to make themselves look better.
I'd be likely to counter-sue claiming malicious prosecution.
Cheers!
? "confidential/proprietary"
documented != non-proprietary
"You can do it if you'd like, it's well documented."
documented != non-proprietary
Just because I document how it did it doesn't mean that you can do it yourself. (Not to mention that anyone that I've heard about that tries to write a convertor for Word documents that converts complex documents has nothing good to say about the "documentation" - AFAIK it's almost impossible - especially at any reasonable effort level.)
Plus, if I change the standard every five minutes and force it on users, it doesn't really matter if you have access to documentation - it's practical use is nil.
The whole point of this discussion, is that MS frequently breaks things, by using your "progess" theory. Many of us believe, and I think with good reason, that it isn't for progress, it's for profit.
Perhaps you've made lots of money developing for MS - frankly, most of my consulting is on Windows too, but don't be too surprised that when the alienated public gets the opportunity to throw MS's body from the window, they will. They'll gleefully cheer when they crumple lifeless and bloody far below. If you've put all your eggs in one basket, your fortunes won't be much better.
MS is only interested in themselves. They're only marginally interested in the best interests of their customers - IMHO. That behavior doesn't bode well for most businesses. I think the only reason they've survived this long is because of their skill in killing/compromising the competition.
But like Napoleon, Hitler, Stalin etc, you can only bloody the masses for so long. Soon, you're not on the winning side. Be sure that your deeds will be repaid with interest. (I believe that you'll also get to realize the results of those deeds - good or bad - in finality later - but that's another story.)
I give my clients all the information that they want. Sometimes, that means that I loose billable consulting time - because they do it themselves. But it's the "right" thing to do. If my clients want to get rid of me, I give them all the assistance I can, and bid them a cheerful (and also a sometimes sad) farewell.
In the long-run, it's to my benefit. It might not seem like it, but it is. Even if it wasn't, it is the correct moral position - the one that I would like, should I be in their position. As a business owner, my moral obligation for my company and personally, is to also look after the interests of my clients. Perhaps I don't have to, and many of you and those who claim it's business's god given right to milk the customer for profits think I'm nuts for doing so - but I'll continue to do the best I can for BOTH me and the client.
Perhaps you don't feel this obligation. It also seems that you view MS's behavior as perfectly reasonable - but to me, AND many of my clients, that's simply not the case.
We may continue to use MS's products, but only because we have few other reasonable choices - often because of MS's predetory actions. But when reasonable alternatives exist, we jump in.
There's a way to be both profitable and highly moral. IMHO, MS hasn't even tried. It'll cost them - both personally and business-wise.
Cheers!
How about MS Word, Access, Excel and Powerpoint?
How about how Word 95 can't open any Word 97 docs. (Before you say, everyone does this... what was the necessity for this. If the upgrade was dramatically diferent, and it wasn't possible to use the same format, I might go easy - in this case, it seems really hard to make that argument.)
How about Access 97 vs 2000...
How about MS SQL Server, and your "special" extensions to SQL.
How about Active X, C#, HTML that only works on IE.
How about Kerberos?
How about breaking the OS/2 3.X compatibility mode every time they did virtually anything to Windows.
How about the totally bogus error messages you got in the beta versions of Windows 3.x when you were using DR Dos?
(Some of these are not propriatary file formats, but clearly demonstrate the capability and willingness to use despicable acts to maintain their power - and keep you by the short hairs.)
MS probably has one of the worst records of ANY company in the history of the computer industry. Locking you into a specific "hamster wheel" is their specialty.
If you like being MS's "hamster" go ahead. Many of the rest of us don't really care for it. For many reasons, money out of our pocket being one of them.
Cheers!
It sure appears to me that he is going to test...just not till he's ready, and is fairly sure it (testing) won't destroy all his equip.
Seems reasonable to me...
Cheers!
Hey did you work for Enron?
Their business model was as substantial as PowerPoint presentations....
Or is that WorldCom or Anderson, Global Crossing, Merck, Haliburton, [insert lying cheating book-cooking corp of the week^H^H^H^H day name here], or any of those other crooked companies.
It seems as though we get less and less substance in products and companies now. Just give a great powerpoint show, and all the suckers jump in with their cash.
Perhaps the world would be lots better if we outlawed powerpoint software and brain-dead slideshow presentations.
Fact: Most people couldn't examine a graph/chart and determine if the presentation of the data was realistic or doctored. If fact, most couldn't even tell it the graph actually represented the actual data, or even question the lack of raw data the chart proports to represent.
Obviously, even the experts haven't been doing their jobs (financial analyists) and swallowing the powerpoint documents without critial review, as the long string of business failures and sham accounting is showing.
Frankly, I'd be just as happy without powerpoint. I'd still get my points across, and my clients would be able to get REAL facts. Not just those doctored checklists or charts.
Cheers!
Who are NON-COMBATATANTS?
If you support and financially aid the armed combatants, you're a combatant. Be that those who send funds and support to Bin Laden, or those who elect their government and pay their taxes. At the very least, you would have to admit that you're part of the system making the combat possible.
We, during WW2 attacked civilian centers to get at the military machine, and also to drain support for the war effort. What's so different about attacking the WTC? (Not that I condone it...but it is "logical" behavior, provided you want to attack the system that props up the US Gvmt - thereby attacking the system that props up Israel, thereby attacking the system that opresses the Palastinians...)
Unfortunatly, even though I disagree with some of the actions of my Gvmt, I do consider myself an indirect target for those who find our actions wrong. That's always the way it is. We just convienently call it TERRORISM when it happens to us, and call it "PROTECTING OUR INTERESTS" when we do it to others. (Or better yet, claim they were terrorists who acidentally blew themselves up etc...)
Any conflict is about frightning your opposition into submission. Attacking civilians is a tack taken by those who (generally) have less power and might. Just let the US end up in a battle they're in danger of loosing, or are way outmatched, and you'ld see us do the same. We (I'm a US citizen!) have a Gvmt that isn't any morally better than Bin Laden. (perhaps that's too strong - but we certainly don't have the moral highground) Our deeds right now appear to be better, but the motivation behind them isn't much different. It's just that we have the power luxery(sp) to act "better." Trade places with Bin Laden in terms of raw power, and we'd be attacking civillians too, in order to win "for good over evil..."
I suppose that all countries have this blind spot, but I hoped and wish that we were different.
When the Chineese hold someone (their citizen or not) without charge, and use military trials, limit access to counsel, and the media, and public scrutiny, we say it's a sham trial.
When we do it, it's to protect the safety of Americans. By the way, they're both wrong by ANY standard. If we can't live by the rules of, access to counsel, open trials, guilty until proven innocent, the right to confront your accusers, the right not to testify against yourself, the right to a grand-jury, the right to afore mentioned items before taking away our freedom - we ought to just call ourselves a dictatorship, and do away with the facade of justice.
Examine the heart of your country - it's more rotten than you imagine. (I'm not claiming that your heart is rotten, you probably are of high moral standing) It's just that we view our actions in a light that's very favorable to us. If you were an Afgani(sp), you'd see things differently. Like, perhaps Afganistan wouldn't be in such a prediciment(sp) if we hadn't armed lots of whacky groups, just to hassle or defeat the Russians, and then left them to stew in the juices when we were "through" with the Russians.
On a side note, who put Panama/Manuel Noriega, Iran's Shaw (70's & 80's), Iraq/Saddam Hussain, the Sandinistas, Phillipines/Marcos, Afganistan/Freedom Fighters, etc in power and supported them? Who supplied some or all of their military power/hardware? Who trained their goon squads? (Who in many cases, targeted civillians and didn't just kill them, but activly tortured them?) Who knew about and documented their abuses (via the CIA and other agencies) and mostly ignored them because we felt we needed their "support" more than their honor? Could it have been the "honorable" USA?
Look in the mirror...it's us (us citizens) that have allowed our Gvmt to committ such offenses - with our backing (taxes/investment) and votes. When some of that bad-will comes back to roost, it seems wrong to complain that we are somehow different. I don't suggest that you/we should like it, but perhaps we should expect it.
Stand up, and call a spade a spade. If it's wrong to attack innocent people, it's ALWAYS wrong. It's wrong for the US and it's wrong for everyone else too.
If due process is the best judicial system, and the most fair, it should apply to all - citizens, non-citizens, terrorists, and just plain old people, good or bad.
The standard doesn't change based on who you are, or which side you support. Freedom loving US'ians don't get a break from the rules simply because "we're the land of the 'free'." Terrorists don't loose some of their rights to justice and due process simply because they're terrorists! (Mind you that they haven't even been convicted of anything yet - so how do we call them terrorists?!)
Draw up your "standard" and apply it fairly and evenly to all. You'll find that the US isn't nearly the sainted freedom loving country we make ourselves out to be. That said, I'm not sure I know of a better system, than ours. But we can, should, and MUST do better. We must treat others the way we want and expect to be treated.
Cheers!
Cheeze contains water!
Pizza contains water.
But water evaporates at 100C - once water is gone, the microwaves don't have any materials that will convert the wave energy to heat - thus foods don't really reach temps much higher than boiling. (This is why Mirowaves don't brown things - without metal foils etc.)
Water Molecules are excited by the microwaves, and are heated.
Oil on the otherhand isn't heated at all.
Here's an exp. for you. A few cc's of oil and a few cc's of water in the microwave. Heat for a bit. See which is hot.
It won't be the oil.
Cheers!
Damn, if you flashed *me*, I'd forget everything too! (I'd probably hurl also, but that's just a side issue! - Unless you're one of those beautiful college girls that needs help with tuition that I keep getting emails about...)
Cheers!
Sheesh, you're thick in the head...
Like 1mm, 2mm, 3mm, 4mm is too difficult to grasp?
Is that 4mm is twice as large as 2mm and four times as large as 1mm too much to handle?
Oh, yeah, I just love, hmmm, lets see, 1/4 is ahhh.... yeah, 4/32'ds.
Anyway, stick with your english system, you'll probably only impact Mars a few more times before you decide to switch!
Sheesh...
Well at least they had enough sense to abandon the totally moronic system.
Lets see,
12 inches = foot
Oh, but 3 feet = yard.
Mile, oh, that's 5280 feet, or 1760 yards, or 63360 inches.
So, lets see,
1cm = 10 mm
1m = 100cm = 1000mm
1km = 1000m = 100000cm etc...
Which seems more simple?
(Even more whacky, was the GB monetary system. Pounds, schillings, pence, etc! Sheesh!)
So, the only brain dead country still using a totally limp measurement system, is the good old US of A, who didn't even invent such a stupid system. Perhaps we should also start believeing in a flat earth too! (Gah, as an American, we can be such stupid fools - english measurements, electing GWB and his Jack-booted cronies etc!)
How about when congress criticized the expanded powers that the DOJ wanted for law enforcment (USA Patriot Act) and our good friend Herr Ashcroft said...
"To those who pit Americans against immigrants, and citizens against non-citizens, to those who scare peace-loving people with phantoms of lost liberty, my message is this: Your tactics only aid terrorists for they erode our national unity and diminish our resolve. They give ammunition to America's enemies and pause to America's friends. They encourage people of good will to remain silent in the face of evil. Our efforts have been crafted carefully to avoid infringing on constitutional rights while saving American lives. "
Similar statements were made about congressional questions over the missed clues that were found prior to Sep 11, and might have resulted in preventing the tragedy.
So, one of the highest executive branch executives called all of us that question such government tactics, in essence aiders and abettors of terrorism.
That scares me - perhaps you don't think this is significant, but I do!
Cheers!
Part of what makes Watergate different than any political scandal involving the executive branch since, is that it was a direct threat to the electoral process.
0 37 5701044-0
The executive branch was using broad government powers (FBI, IRS, Office of the President etc, FCC) to try to taint the electoral system. Blackmail of candidates, intimidation, IRS audits of your enemies, loss of FCC licenses etc to stifle press reporting, kill oposition, etc. (Go read "Personal History" by Katherine Meyer Graham
http://www.powells.com/cgi-bin/biblio?inkey=62-
It gives a real view of the power that the Nixon administration had over many others, and the political life and course.
Reagan may have been a felon, he ignored Congress, and violated the law, but it wasn't really a serious risk to the politial system we have. Same with Clinton - although I don't think his actions were a felony class offense...
Nixon on the other hand used the power of the presidency to attempt to dramatically skew the political system.
These actions are the very actions that our founding fathers were most anxious about, and a significant reason that Watergate was and is coverd with such vigor. It was a serious threat, and had to receive serious through attention. Without the dogged determination and serious risk of the Wash Post, we probably wouldn't have ever known about Watergate like we do today. They were nearly alone in pursuing the story.
Cheers!
"Consistantly upheld the DMCA"
Hmmm...a few court cases, as far as I know, generally revolving around defeating circumvention devices.
Fair use, outside of a/the circumvention device isn't addressed in any of the court cases I know.
As far as license agreements...I don't know of many cases where the validity of license agreements have been tested - perhaps you could enlighten us.
Thus, I would counter that the "spirit of the law" in regards to fair use is clear. The effect of the DMCA and License agreements have not really been tested in court, and thus, it's as likely as not that the "right" to backup my software will be upheld by the courts.
And so, because your are the "Gold" standard, we can extrapolate your experiences to the rest of humanity?
I have had CD's fail - I've left them places, I've lost them etc etc etc...
So, one of the first things I do, when I get a new program, is make a copy. 15 years from now, when I need Office 4.3, I'll still have it. It won't be original media, but I'll have it. Same with the Borland Pascal 6 compiler for Dos. Or MS Dos 5 etc.
I own that software, and like bloody hell you'll tell me what I can and can't do with it. This attitude just makes it MORE likely that I'll completely ignore your well-being and ENCOURAGE all my friends to rip your software and NEVER pay you a dime.
So, go ahead, abuse the customer. Perhaps they're sheep and don't care. But take heed, some do, and when you burn your last ounce of goodwill, don't come crying to me.
Cheers!
Wow, you think enough like me that it's scarey!
Cheers, and thanks for the thoughts.
PS. I thought GWB along with Herr Ashcroft would screw us over, but I never, in my wildest dreams (nightmares) thought it would be this bad. And we all thought that Repubs were supposed to be champions of the Gvmt respecting our civil rights and staying out of our business?! Sheesh!
Thanks man!
Cheers!