I'd like to know the name of the person who made the decision to go with this technology. It would be fun to see how long he/she could stay on the job for this decision:)
Oh yeah, dude. Can I have all these on my car too? I'd like to throw some to those fucking drivers who cut you off on highway, so close that the tail of their car almost touches your car headlight, and without even signalling.
Or does anyone have the recipe for that two-color gum in the movie Mission Impossible? That'll do too.
If a cracker is attacking a system from an airport terminal, using the free wireless LAN, and a script kiddie releases a new virus from there, how can you trace them thru IP? The only thing you know is that it came from a laptop from that airport terminal, and that's it.
Not basing their case on "we didn't violate Russian low" is good move because the US jurisdiction, when applied to foreigners or foreign companies, tends to have the backing of the US government. It becomes political, and the current Moscow government which has been trying to get buddy-buddy with the Bush administration might bend on american government pressure (Not a good thing for any country, but politics is never rational). So the case might just be a lost cause from the beginning.
On the other hand, fighting this case on the basis that DMCA is too broad, too stupid and unconstitutional, can actually rally grass root movement behind them, not just people in Russia. And it's not the case of "US-Russian vs Them-American". It's a case of "We-normal-good-people vs Them-Evil-Corporation-backed-by-stupid-law". Even if they eventually loose the case, it still makes them look good, and generates a lot of good publicicty. Do you think you would hear of that company if not for that case? I didn't, but all I know now is that the company seems to be really cool.
So, are we going to have cybernetic body soon? Electronic implant? A couple of things pop up in my mind, when I read the article:
- Tiny localizers, like those described in The Deepness in the Sky by Vernor Vinge
- Sumerian borgs, like those in Snow Crash, by Neal Stephenson. This is a scary thought, actually.
- An interface to download new knowledge into my brain, like Trinity in The Matrix downloaded the chopper piloting program into her brain. Hey, I'll be the first one to implant this, if it's available.
And I have a second task as well. Slashdot is occasionally criticized for getting a story wrong, even though we diligently correct ourselves when necessary. My theory is that the difference between Slashdot and other media is that they never correct themselves, no matter how inaccurate, so readers are left with a false picture of accuracy....
Alright, finally, Michael got his chance to vent. Feel good, doesn't it?:)
The cells were found in the bone marrow of adults by Catherine Verfaillie at the University of Minnesota. Extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof, and though the team has so far published little, a patent application seen by New Scientist shows the team has carried out extensive experiments.
If you want to do something nice, but want to keep the control over the contents/books while you are still interested/have time/are alive, I suggest the following:
Hold on to the copyright of the contents/book
Publish an electronic copy so that people can download for free
Reserve the right for yourself to publish hard copy (so you can make some money on your work)
So far, this is somewhat like what Bruce Eckel is doing. First, you give something back to the community, but you still can make some money, without having your work stolen.
But, add the following clauses to your copyright:
The contents of the book will go to the public domain whenever you declare so. If you are not interested in maintaining it anymore, or you have made enough money on your work, you can give it to the whole humanity. Someone might pick it up and continue the work.
The contents of the book will go the the public domain whenever you die. This way, if something happens to you, your work is automatically belonged to the whole humanity, and not to a specific entity. So, you are doing good even after death (with a small caveat though, if your book is really good and worth a lot of money, someone might want you dead as soon as possible:)
You reserve the right to change the license/copyright, or have a secondary license (e.g. GPL) to fall back into. In case you can't do while you are conscious or alive, the contents automatically fall back into the secondary license. So, you can even control the license after you are dead, or while you are being vegetable (not that I'm wishing you that, far from it:)
[DISCLAIMER: I own Amazon stock, and I still believe that a company that provides good customer services can't be bad, so I'm holding onto it]
Agreed.
As much as I hate about their one-click patent, Amazon is best place for books and other stuffs. Their recommendation feature is excellent. I found out a lot of authors that I would have known otherwise. And the service is first class. If only other companies would care so much about service quality too....
Sure, Amazon has been losing tons of money, but you have to give credit to the company for very good forcast of their target. They have been very good at being on the mark in the past.
Now, if Jeff Bezos commits to more consistent customer privacy policy, I would be a really happy customer (and shareholder too).
As long as the distribution does not use the file layout of the "original" OpenBSD (the layout is copyrighted by Theo), it should be legal. OpenBSD is just an OS name, like Linux.
These companies are crying babies. Come on, ain't they the proponent of free market? Don't they understand the market supply and demand?
They priced their product out of reach of 99% of the population, and they now complain about people not buying it. People can get creative, if they don't have the means to buy it. One copy of their software costs more than the income of a whole family for more than 80% of the population in China. Imagine you are US consumer, and your whole family earns $60K/year, and a copy (a license for a single user!) of Photoshop costs $80K. And imagine you get a chance to buy it at $100 on the black market. Go figure.
Maybe Adobe should be more creative in pricing too, if they want to get into this kind of market? Otherwise, don't fucking complain, and stick to the US/EU markets.
Let them get into this stupid scheme of hardware protection. When every manufacturer got into it, I'll start a company that manufactures old style hardwares, with a label saying that the hardware is not compliant and must not be used for playing the "compliant contents".
The trick is to publish details hardware specs, and make the hardware such that the microcode can be upgraded, and that it is easy to do too.
With all these OSS hackers creating new softwares for my hardwares, the market is all mine.
It's like making guns. The manufacturer doesn't care (or pretends it) how you use the gun. They just label it as a tool. You do whatever you want. My hardware is also a tool, you do whatever you want with it. And obviously, I'll have very good support for OSS hackers too:)
It might seem funny to you, but don't underestimate the lobbyist of the horse and cart industry. They actually ended up winning something.
The vehicle code in California (can't remember the article number on top of my head) states that all vehicles (including motor vehicles, obviously) must carry a bunch of straw in the trunk (for the horse, what do you think?)
I stumbled into this when I moved to California 4 years ago, and had to go to the department of motor vehicle for a written exam. There was a question which asked about this obscure article, and the choices were true or false. I thought someone must be kidding, and obvisouly, I got it wrong.
First, I stopped going to theater coz I'm pissed by MPAA. And I stopped renting movies for the same reason. Then I stop buying music CDs coz I'm pissed by RIAA. And I refuse to buy DVD player because of this stupid zoning scheme and DMCA.
And now TV. Well, not that I watch any TV at all, as I don't even have cable. But still.
Great, everyone just spends more quality time on Slashdot, then. Let it be the geek's new year's resolution.
Oh so, you want to hack kernel? Well, let me tell ya, before you get in this, you need to do the following prelim works:
Divorce if you are married, unless your other half also wants to hack kernel. Even that, make sure you two don't hack the same module.
Say goodbye to your bf/gf, unless your significant other also wants to hack kernel. Even that, make sure you two don't hack the same module.
Get rid of redundant furnitures. You'll have a lot more computers, so you need space.
Get a good air conditioner. Oh yeah, all those computers you have, it's going to be hot.
Get a good and large freezer. Read next items to see why.
Stack up a lot of beer, coke, moutain dew.
Get a good coffee maker, with a big pot, preferably with vacuum insulation.
Stack up a lot of coffee
Stack up a lot of frozen pizzas and frozen food.
Get rid of your lamps. You don't need that. You'll glow anyway.
Get rid of all your light color clothes. Get some black clothes. Any kernel hacker worth two cans of beer will wear black clothes.
Get rid of your razors. Any kernel hacker worth two cans of beer will have beard. Linus is an exception, his skin is too thick, so it doesn't even grow.
Save money on soap and detergent. Any kernel hacker worth two cans of beer is smelly.
Ok, now you can go back to read all these good advices that other/.ers gave.
I think that the biggest reason public transit won't work in the US is that people don't _want_ it to work (and don't want to put money into it, and...); and the biggest reason that people don't want it to work is that they're put off by the current, dysfunctional systems.
Actually, I think it's the lack of proper urban planning that creates such a mess. Americans in NY or Chicago have the same (mostly) mentality and values about cars and public transit as the people in California Bay Area or LA. But somehow, NY and Chicago have managed to have some decent public transit. But Bay Area's public transit is a shame.
Why? Because, the Bay Area is formed of little municipalities that try to cut under each other. There's coordination and cooperation between them. There's no proper urban planning. Each munipality is going its own way, building new residence pocket out of nowhere to get property tax, building huge shopping mall out of nowhere to collect sales tax, building industrial complex and hi-tech parks out of nowhere to get yet more tax revenues,... And what you get is the so-called "urban sprawl". How can you build, or even just imagine, a public transit system in such a chaotic mess?
A good public transit system can only be built in a well planned urban environment.
Slashdot Mirror
Oh yeah, dude. Can I have all these on my car too? I'd like to throw some to those fucking drivers who cut you off on highway, so close that the tail of their car almost touches your car headlight, and without even signalling.
Or does anyone have the recipe for that two-color gum in the movie Mission Impossible? That'll do too.
Not basing their case on "we didn't violate Russian low" is good move because the US jurisdiction, when applied to foreigners or foreign companies, tends to have the backing of the US government. It becomes political, and the current Moscow government which has been trying to get buddy-buddy with the Bush administration might bend on american government pressure (Not a good thing for any country, but politics is never rational). So the case might just be a lost cause from the beginning.
On the other hand, fighting this case on the basis that DMCA is too broad, too stupid and unconstitutional, can actually rally grass root movement behind them, not just people in Russia. And it's not the case of "US-Russian vs Them-American". It's a case of "We-normal-good-people vs Them-Evil-Corporation-backed-by-stupid-law". Even if they eventually loose the case, it still makes them look good, and generates a lot of good publicicty. Do you think you would hear of that company if not for that case? I didn't, but all I know now is that the company seems to be really cool.
That's why you have the expression "from Maine to California". If Maine and California are not included, it's not nationwide.
- Tiny localizers, like those described in The Deepness in the Sky by Vernor Vinge
- Sumerian borgs, like those in Snow Crash, by Neal Stephenson. This is a scary thought, actually.
- An interface to download new knowledge into my brain, like Trinity in The Matrix downloaded the chopper piloting program into her brain. Hey, I'll be the first one to implant this, if it's available.
And I have a second task as well. Slashdot is occasionally criticized for getting a story wrong, even though we diligently correct ourselves when necessary. My theory is that the difference between Slashdot and other media is that they never correct themselves, no matter how inaccurate, so readers are left with a false picture of accuracy....
Alright, finally, Michael got his chance to vent. Feel good, doesn't it?
Hey, you've got extra need for stem cells, come on here, we make a deal. If you buy 2 pounds, you get the third pound half price. Good deal, eh?
From the article:
The cells were found in the bone marrow of adults by Catherine Verfaillie at the University of Minnesota. Extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof, and though the team has so far published little, a patent application seen by New Scientist shows the team has carried out extensive experiments.
Tough luck. It is already being patented.
So far, this is somewhat like what Bruce Eckel is doing. First, you give something back to the community, but you still can make some money, without having your work stolen.
But, add the following clauses to your copyright:
Just my $0.02.
[DISCLAIMER: I own Amazon stock, and I still believe that a company that provides good customer services can't be bad, so I'm holding onto it]
Agreed.
As much as I hate about their one-click patent, Amazon is best place for books and other stuffs. Their recommendation feature is excellent. I found out a lot of authors that I would have known otherwise. And the service is first class. If only other companies would care so much about service quality too....
Sure, Amazon has been losing tons of money, but you have to give credit to the company for very good forcast of their target. They have been very good at being on the mark in the past.
Now, if Jeff Bezos commits to more consistent customer privacy policy, I would be a really happy customer (and shareholder too).
As long as the distribution does not use the file layout of the "original" OpenBSD (the layout is copyrighted by Theo), it should be legal. OpenBSD is just an OS name, like Linux.
These companies are crying babies. Come on, ain't they the proponent of free market? Don't they understand the market supply and demand?
They priced their product out of reach of 99% of the population, and they now complain about people not buying it. People can get creative, if they don't have the means to buy it. One copy of their software costs more than the income of a whole family for more than 80% of the population in China. Imagine you are US consumer, and your whole family earns $60K/year, and a copy (a license for a single user!) of Photoshop costs $80K. And imagine you get a chance to buy it at $100 on the black market. Go figure.
Maybe Adobe should be more creative in pricing too, if they want to get into this kind of market? Otherwise, don't fucking complain, and stick to the US/EU markets.
Let them get into this stupid scheme of hardware protection. When every manufacturer got into it, I'll start a company that manufactures old style hardwares, with a label saying that the hardware is not compliant and must not be used for playing the "compliant contents".
:)
The trick is to publish details hardware specs, and make the hardware such that the microcode can be upgraded, and that it is easy to do too.
With all these OSS hackers creating new softwares for my hardwares, the market is all mine.
It's like making guns. The manufacturer doesn't care (or pretends it) how you use the gun. They just label it as a tool. You do whatever you want. My hardware is also a tool, you do whatever you want with it. And obviously, I'll have very good support for OSS hackers too
The vehicle code in California (can't remember the article number on top of my head) states that all vehicles (including motor vehicles, obviously) must carry a bunch of straw in the trunk (for the horse, what do you think?)
I stumbled into this when I moved to California 4 years ago, and had to go to the department of motor vehicle for a written exam. There was a question which asked about this obscure article, and the choices were true or false. I thought someone must be kidding, and obvisouly, I got it wrong.
First, I stopped going to theater coz I'm pissed by MPAA. And I stopped renting movies for the same reason. Then I stop buying music CDs coz I'm pissed by RIAA. And I refuse to buy DVD player because of this stupid zoning scheme and DMCA.
And now TV. Well, not that I watch any TV at all, as I don't even have cable. But still.
Great, everyone just spends more quality time on Slashdot, then. Let it be the geek's new year's resolution.
Ok, now you can go back to read all these good advices that other
Right, I want technical details on how to do it too.
Look at this CPU, the physical dimension and the heat it generates, are just perfect for making my omelette in the morning.
I think that the biggest reason public transit won't work in the US is that people don't _want_ it to work (and don't want to put money into it, and...); and the biggest reason that people don't want it to work is that they're put off by the current, dysfunctional systems.
... And what you get is the so-called "urban sprawl". How can you build, or even just imagine, a public transit system in such a chaotic mess?
Actually, I think it's the lack of proper urban planning that creates such a mess. Americans in NY or Chicago have the same (mostly) mentality and values about cars and public transit as the people in California Bay Area or LA. But somehow, NY and Chicago have managed to have some decent public transit. But Bay Area's public transit is a shame.
Why? Because, the Bay Area is formed of little municipalities that try to cut under each other. There's coordination and cooperation between them. There's no proper urban planning. Each munipality is going its own way, building new residence pocket out of nowhere to get property tax, building huge shopping mall out of nowhere to collect sales tax, building industrial complex and hi-tech parks out of nowhere to get yet more tax revenues,
A good public transit system can only be built in a well planned urban environment.