The Mom test is about values that may (of course, or may not) have changed.
Yeah, opinions change... but, morality has a tendency to move slower. Logically, it makes a better reference for analysis/judgement.
We'll never get rid of porn... so why not accept that, and try to make it a cleaner, safer, and more socially acceptable industry for all involved?
There are a lot of issues that use this same argument (i.e, take out 'porn' put in 'x'), but it requires the assumption that it is morally acceptable to begin with. For many, porn just simply doesn't fit in 'x'. (I realize some may have a hard time understanding that... so, try something like x = incest, x = war or x = polygamy.)
...because I've been thinking about getting one of these, too.
The problems that I see with them is that, from reading up on various web sites, for at least some of them you'll need to carry around a driver disk with you, too.
Not exactly convenient. (Unless you're cool with carting around a 3.5" floppy or cd...)
I'd love to hear from people who have used one of these devices, driver disk-free, successfully.
Me thinks these would make nifty Christmas presents/stocking stuffers.
You're obviously sensitive to what other people will think and how it will affect your career. But, maybe, the best idea is to consider it on a moral basis, for yourself... take everything else out of the equation for a moment.
Take the "Mom test." (Would you be ok with telling your mom what you do? Where you work?)
Well the really awful thing would be the little terribly cute voices squeelling at you, waving their little hands, shouting in their little voices, "Pick Me! Pick Me!"
Or, like the gingerbread man in Shrek, "Eat me!";)
All smartcards I know of need a reader, and the reader usually provides the power to the smartcard for it to do it's thing... why would smartcards benifit from this? Are they going to put LCD displays on smartcards now?
"But with a flexible battery, smart-card makers could soon include a tiny display screen on the card itself that would allow users easy access to that account data."
So, yeah, you're on the right track with that thought.
Another application could be two-way encrypted communication.
It's not ignorance, it's humor. I'm simply expressing my healthy skepticism with exaggerated satire as the vehicle. (I recall a phrase that goes something like 'It's funny. Laugh.') I have no beef with Microsoft -- I would like to work there, someday, actually -- and think they're a very smart, innovative company.
FWIW, I'm glad to hear that your experience with the whole updating process is on the order of single-digit minutes. When I get XP, I hope it works as well for me as it has for you.
And for the rare home users who do make major hardware changes, such as swapping out six pieces of hardware or installing a new motherboard, they simply have to call a toll-free number at Microsoft. The technician there will ask about the hardware changes, and then will reactivate the software over the phone, he says.
This just makes me feel all itchy and paranoid and claustrophobic and...
So, I guess I'm one of those rare people who would dare do such a thing. I can see it now:
MS Tech: Hello, sir. What can I help you with today?
Me: Hi, I just upgraded my machine and I need to reactivate XP.
MS Tech: Okay, sir. *clickety-clack* And why were you upgrading your machine, sir?
Me: Oh, I bought a new motherboard and CPU and a few other things.
MS Tech: *clickety-clack* Mmm, hhmm... and what motherboard?
Me: Uh... do you really need to know that?
MS Tech: Yes.
Me: Hmm... Gigabyte GA-7DXR.
MS Tech: Oh... *clickety-clack*... you really should have gone for the Tyan Thunder K7.
Me: Excuse me?
MS Tech: I'm sorry, sir... *clickety-clack* I'm going to have to get manager approval on this one. Please hold.
Me: But I was already on hold for 20 minutes! I just want to use my machine!
MS Tech: *clickety-clack* Sir, please be patient. Remember, this conversation is being recorded. *clickety-clack*
Me: Oy, vey!
...another 20 minutes later... MS Tech: *clickety-clack* Sir, you'll notice the knock at your door.
The best models I have seen have different groups responsible for the design, the coding, and the hardware.
I agree that this model is probably best. That's pretty much how we're set up at where I work. Well, except we call them different things: (technical) production, (software) engineering, and (web) operations, respectively.
If you set it up this way, you'll also be able to set up some good project "standards and practices." For example, a producer should create some sort of spec that the engineer codes against; the producer and engineer should do a sanity check with the operations person; etc.
Re:Microsoft can't be to happy about this...
on
XBox Netplay Already
·
· Score: 2, Interesting
While it's true that developers can do whatever they want, I doubt Microsoft would let them use the system however they want (after all, do you think Sony would be very happy if someone released a 'game' that let people pirate PS2 games easily?)
But, this isn't really about pirating games, is it?
Anyway, maybe MS will use this, and other types of "hacks," as a sort of pseudo-loss leader?
I can see a scenario like this: MS sells a decently hackable (not just hardware, as we're finding out) system which attracts a significant interest in the above average consumer. (I think we can agree that those people are sometimes the ones that drive new features, technology, etc.) So, then, MS has gotten a good idea of what the above average user wants/needs and can then sell a new version that incorporates "the best" of those.
I'm sure some will dismiss my scenario. (Maybe they'd prefer the word scheme?)
Well, regardless, I think MS is very aware of what's going on and is looking forward to the next xbox.
The XboxGW FAQ is pretty interesting. Specifically:
Q: Do you need help writing code?
A: We could definately use help in the area of porting it to Other
platforms. If you are interested in seeing the requirements for
this, please send an e-mail to info@xboxgw.com, letting us know
which platform you have your expertise in.
ack! Java 1.1.4?! This is completely unacceptable in my mind.
Java 1.2+ has improved greatly over 1.1.x: the collections API, better beans, drag'n'drop, very cool reference objects (e.g., weak references), better general performance, etc.
Like developers are real engineers anyway. All they do is click, drag and drop code in until they say it's ready. Then the patches come out.
I am a software engineer, and I don't work that way. In fact, I don't know any software engineers that work that way.
My guess is that your opinion is based on a lack of knowledge.
And, for what it's worth... I, and the other software engineers I work with, don't drag-and-drop code. Shit like that never works and you definitely don't learn anything that way. Furthermore, it's not my decision to decide when something's ready... i.e., it's ready when the software meets the functional and design specifications. To that end, I do my best to get things done the right way the first time. In fact, patches and fixes are highly frowned upon (because it takes resources away from new projects -- we move fast).
Slashdot Mirror
You're thinking of a different show on a different network. ;)
Coincidentally, I think most everyone in the Puget Sound (aka, Seattle) area, if not the majority of the state, is offline.
Yeah, I'm impressed with AT&T, too.
Specifically, I recall a post here on slashdot about someone's 2.4ghz phone interfered with their pr0n surfing.
First they make it illegal to pump gas into your own car. Now, this.
What's next? *sigh*
One other thing... wasn't Oregon the state that at some point had all of their DOL/DMV info available on the Internet, free-for-all?
...because I've been thinking about getting one of these, too.
The problems that I see with them is that, from reading up on various web sites, for at least some of them you'll need to carry around a driver disk with you, too.
Not exactly convenient. (Unless you're cool with carting around a 3.5" floppy or cd...)
I'd love to hear from people who have used one of these devices, driver disk-free, successfully.
Me thinks these would make nifty Christmas presents/stocking stuffers.
This is by far the best comment I've seen in a loooooooong time. Bravo!
You're obviously sensitive to what other people will think and how it will affect your career. But, maybe, the best idea is to consider it on a moral basis, for yourself... take everything else out of the equation for a moment.
Take the "Mom test." (Would you be ok with telling your mom what you do? Where you work?)
Another application could be two-way encrypted communication.
It's not ignorance, it's humor. I'm simply expressing my healthy skepticism with exaggerated satire as the vehicle. (I recall a phrase that goes something like 'It's funny. Laugh.') I have no beef with Microsoft -- I would like to work there, someday, actually -- and think they're a very smart, innovative company.
FWIW, I'm glad to hear that your experience with the whole updating process is on the order of single-digit minutes. When I get XP, I hope it works as well for me as it has for you.
So, I guess I'm one of those rare people who would dare do such a thing. I can see it now:
MS Tech: Hello, sir. What can I help you with today?
...another 20 minutes later...
Me: Hi, I just upgraded my machine and I need to reactivate XP.
MS Tech: Okay, sir. *clickety-clack* And why were you upgrading your machine, sir?
Me: Oh, I bought a new motherboard and CPU and a few other things.
MS Tech: *clickety-clack* Mmm, hhmm... and what motherboard?
Me: Uh... do you really need to know that?
MS Tech: Yes.
Me: Hmm... Gigabyte GA-7DXR.
MS Tech: Oh... *clickety-clack*... you really should have gone for the Tyan Thunder K7.
Me: Excuse me?
MS Tech: I'm sorry, sir... *clickety-clack* I'm going to have to get manager approval on this one. Please hold.
Me: But I was already on hold for 20 minutes! I just want to use my machine!
MS Tech: *clickety-clack* Sir, please be patient. Remember, this conversation is being recorded. *clickety-clack* Me: Oy, vey!
MS Tech: *clickety-clack* Sir, you'll notice the knock at your door.
If you set it up this way, you'll also be able to set up some good project "standards and practices." For example, a producer should create some sort of spec that the engineer codes against; the producer and engineer should do a sanity check with the operations person; etc.
Anyway, maybe MS will use this, and other types of "hacks," as a sort of pseudo-loss leader?
I can see a scenario like this: MS sells a decently hackable (not just hardware, as we're finding out) system which attracts a significant interest in the above average consumer. (I think we can agree that those people are sometimes the ones that drive new features, technology, etc.) So, then, MS has gotten a good idea of what the above average user wants/needs and can then sell a new version that incorporates "the best" of those.
I'm sure some will dismiss my scenario. (Maybe they'd prefer the word scheme?)
Well, regardless, I think MS is very aware of what's going on and is looking forward to the next xbox.
Java 1.2+ has improved greatly over 1.1.x: the collections API, better beans, drag'n'drop, very cool reference objects (e.g., weak references), better general performance, etc.
Sun even has a page detailing the differences between 1.1.x and 1.2.
Not only that, but 1.3+ has some nifty things over 1.2.x: timer (task), shutdown hooks, improved networking, etc.
This is nuts. My post was moderated down -1 as overrated and yours has been moderated +1 as informative. WTF?
by the way, not all types of humor translate well into ASCII characters. just a thought.
Uhm, yeah, I guess you can get upset about it.
My guess is that your opinion is based on a lack of knowledge.
And, for what it's worth... I, and the other software engineers I work with, don't drag-and-drop code. Shit like that never works and you definitely don't learn anything that way. Furthermore, it's not my decision to decide when something's ready... i.e., it's ready when the software meets the functional and design specifications. To that end, I do my best to get things done the right way the first time. In fact, patches and fixes are highly frowned upon (because it takes resources away from new projects -- we move fast).
Well, anyway, you can buy it here for $199.
Where I work, that is called bad engineering and will help you lose your job (not keep it).