"this kind of tripe might impress technologically illiterate housewives, but it doesn't belong on a site purportedly aimed at nerds." Slashdot isn't aimed at nerds anymore. As it turns into Slashchan it will get more hits. but lose character. Character doesn't pay the bills.
Enemy politicians can be attacked by other politicians.
Anyone not a scientist can be considered "scientifically illiterate" for the purpose of understanding energy issues. One may be either a scientist or a politician, and having a politician do the job of a scientist is like assigning a salesman to be an engineer.
"Despite what you may have heard, we Americans are not as unsophisticated as you might think. Even those of us that are Conservatives."
Great! Now there are two of us. Judge the rest by Sarah Palin and Al Sharpton.
Re:What masses, specifically, have botnets destroy
on
Botnets As "eWMDs"
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· Score: 1
"And the concept of hundreds of thousands of zombie computers attacking an institution without the proper defenses could be devastating, especially if that institution is critical to the public health/safety."
Which is why C4I and other important systems should simply never be connected to the internet, and anyone who compromises them by doing so punched in the throat for being stupid.
There are lots of reasons to care what happens in Europe, and few to care what happens in Darfur. Not many people want another awkward African intervention with the potential for incidents like that in Mogadishu which inspired "Blackhawk Down". I'll be really blunt. They aren't my people, they are backward and have no value to me, and I don't care what happens to them.I can choose to ignore it with no ill effects. It's pretty damn obvious that millions of other people feel precisely the same way, or there would be pressure to invade the place and enforce a group hug.
The culture in the US that fosters DUIs treats them as a minor social error instead of gross negligence.
Hammer the shit out of DUI offenders on the FIRST offense with mandatory public service (picking up shit on the roads), loss of license, and confiscation of the vehicle if owned by the offenders.
Germany has booze EVERYWHERE. They also have the Polizei and don't play around with drunk drivers.
Not to mention the indefensible batshit insane hours many medical personnel pull.
In the Air Force, it is generally forbidden to work technicians beyond a twelve-hour shift except in contingency (wartime) ops. Performance, even by experienced people working with GOOD checklists turn to shit quickly after 12 hours. That's why the USAF is manned to support 2 x 12 hr shifts in most cases. Crashed aircraft cost missions, money, and lives.
OTOH, one reads of thirty hour shifts in the medical world. Sorry, that's nuts even for people who "feel" acclimated to it. Much like the idiotic use of cursive writing on prescriptions, this is an obsolete practice that needs to change.
There was MASSIVE marijuana smoking during the late 1960s/early 1970s with few problems. It was typical to attend concerts where the smoke was a thick fog and security/cops didn't bother anyone about it.
I did plenty of drugs back then, smoked like a freight train, and was around a large peer group that did likewise. I haven't smoked in many years for legal reasons, but strongly favor legalization. Alcohol is a vastly worse social drug in every way, especially with regard to making users aggressive.
IMO we'd be much better off with weed as an alternative social lubricant.
".........actually, I can't see that happening. Give us some real news please!"
That this IS news speaks volumes about the "lifestyle expectations" some of the Tan Kennedy camp have of their leader. As with most candidates, Obama appears to be more reasonable than some of his fanbase.
"I am Mr. Dramane Yadi, I work in the Accounts/ Operations Department of a Prime banks here in Abidjan Cote D'Ivoire. I actually have an urgent and very confidential business proposal for you. I got your contact from Internet and decided to contact you immediately."
"This is Mr Smith. I would be delighted to do business with you, and you called at the ideal time! I have a choice portfolio of mortgage-backed securities and would like to offer you the opportunity...
Strong enemies can saturate the system by using their nuclear triads (SLBM, land-based ICBM, and aircraft-launched), so it cannot be a viable shield against a strong opponent.
OTOH, the whole spectrum of missle defense tech is worth pursuing because weaker opponents have or will have nukes. We need a defense against both tactical and strategic missiles because they are proliferating and will be in the hands of enemies willing to use them.
""The Amazon site is not being changed in any way whatsoever"
or this
"The Firefox addon only modifies the way the page appears to the user of the browser where that addon is installed"
The two are not mutually exclusive. The site was not defaced or altered, and the viewer can choose to view it with software that changes what was presented on the viewers machine. This isn't much different from using NoScript or Adblock, except that it adds content instead of blocking content.
If someone puts up a sign, I am free to wear a plastic face shield with additional info between my eyes and the sign.
"Taser is not serious enough? Or did you mean lethal?"
Tasers are easy to block or deflect and do nothing against someone with any sort of shield such as a chair. A blanket, rug, mat, sheet or umbrella can stop one. A Taser is also a lesser DETERRENT than a gun. Risking getting zapped is trivial next to risking death.
Note that most defensive use of firearms does not involve actually firing them.
Not all "old people" are "crazy", and many "old" and not so old people have limited ability to use their hands in the specific manner required to fire a weapon. Leaving out the complex mechanics of firing a semi-auto, even pulling the trigger on a double-action revolver could be difficult.
Plenty of old and very old people already own firearms, but so far they aren't going gangsta on us.
It is worth noting that there are no serious methods of self-defense available to the physically disadvantaged other than firearms. If they are alone or with another weakened person, assailants have plenty of time to rob,/beat/snuff them.
"you're not going to stop heroin junkies, you're not going to secure theft sites"
Make heroin maintenance legal and deglamorize smack.
The junkies aren't the problem, the problem is the cost of attempting to stop them by prohibition. Their use isn't a problem, their theft of valuable stuff is a problem.
In fact, ANY drug that makes people more docile and less likely to annoy the rest of us should be tolerated if not encouraged. Lumping of ALL recreational drugs other than alcohol together is silly social policy.
"I mean, we are talking a serious part of the world's population..."
Money spent on MSFT is money lost to China. It makes perfect sense to expand Linux usage and save billions upon billions of dollars that can be spent elsewhere.
"US has now entered 3rd world nation status. Where individuals are so poor that ripping up and selling the vital infrastructure becomes a useful business."
Copper is easy to harvest and pays well when scrapped. Scrapping metal generally has been profitable in recent years, and that has everything to do with developing nations like China BUYING scrap as opposed to any US decline. Aluminum gets less press but also pays well, often ten or twelve bucks per automobile wheel.
Lots of people would like flying cars, but the idea of a flying car is, let's be kind, idiotic. People don't need them, they'd waste energy, be a crash-effects multiplier, etc. Crossing an aircraft with a car is like crossing a fish with a mountain goat. The result wouldn't be good for either job.
If you want to fly, become wealthy and buy a proper flying machine.
In all wars BOREDOM is a factor. Computers are important to morale and communication, because snail mail is painfully slow and government web and email access is often limited.
"I'd also question your choice of laptop. For challenging conditions, with heat, sand, and a lot of bumps, I'd suggest a panasonic toughbook or other ruggedised solution. Unless of course, you're a REM who's several hundred clicks from any forward operating post, and have ready access to 24x7 electricity with no spikes, aircon and constant net access. Apologies if I've called that one wrong, but you're not exactly giving the impression of being at the sharp end of business out there."
Snarky much? It's easy enough to care for electronics in the sandbox. Bags, boxes, scrounged electronic equipment cases,large ammo cans (mmm...gaskety), etc offer plenty of stowage options.
Slashdot Mirror
"this kind of tripe might impress technologically illiterate housewives, but it doesn't belong on a site purportedly aimed at nerds."
Slashdot isn't aimed at nerds anymore. As it turns into Slashchan it will get more hits. but lose character. Character doesn't pay the bills.
Enemy politicians can be attacked by other politicians.
Anyone not a scientist can be considered "scientifically illiterate" for the purpose of understanding energy issues. One may be either a scientist or a politician, and having a politician do the job of a scientist is like assigning a salesman to be an engineer.
I for one welcome our new hair-splitting pedantic overlord! :)
"Despite what you may have heard, we Americans are not as unsophisticated as you might think. Even those of us that are Conservatives."
Great! Now there are two of us.
Judge the rest by Sarah Palin and Al Sharpton.
"And the concept of hundreds of thousands of zombie computers attacking an institution without the proper defenses could be devastating, especially if that institution is critical to the public health/safety."
Which is why C4I and other important systems should simply never be connected to the internet, and anyone who compromises them by doing so punched in the throat for being stupid.
There are lots of reasons to care what happens in Europe, and few to care what happens in Darfur.
Not many people want another awkward African intervention with the potential for incidents like that in Mogadishu which inspired "Blackhawk Down".
I'll be really blunt. They aren't my people, they are backward and have no value to me, and I don't care what happens to them.I can choose to ignore it with no ill effects. It's pretty damn obvious that millions of other people feel precisely the same way, or there would be pressure to invade the place and enforce a group hug.
"Marijuana was much weaker back in the day.."
Cheaper too, which more than made up for it. 1-ounce waterpipe bowls were common (many a school lab lost Pyrex funnels).
How about punishing DUI instead?
The culture in the US that fosters DUIs treats them as a minor social error instead of gross negligence.
Hammer the shit out of DUI offenders on the FIRST offense with mandatory public service (picking up shit on the roads), loss of license, and confiscation of the vehicle if owned by the offenders.
Germany has booze EVERYWHERE. They also have the Polizei and don't play around with drunk drivers.
Not to mention the indefensible batshit insane hours many medical personnel pull.
In the Air Force, it is generally forbidden to work technicians beyond a twelve-hour shift except in contingency (wartime) ops. Performance, even by experienced people working with GOOD checklists turn to shit quickly after 12 hours. That's why the USAF is manned to support 2 x 12 hr shifts in most cases. Crashed aircraft cost missions, money, and lives.
OTOH, one reads of thirty hour shifts in the medical world. Sorry, that's nuts even for people who "feel" acclimated to it. Much like the idiotic use of cursive writing on prescriptions, this is an obsolete practice that needs to change.
There was MASSIVE marijuana smoking during the late 1960s/early 1970s with few problems. It was typical to attend concerts where the smoke was a thick fog and security/cops didn't bother anyone about it.
I did plenty of drugs back then, smoked like a freight train, and was around a large peer group that did likewise. I haven't smoked in many years for legal reasons, but strongly favor legalization. Alcohol is a vastly worse social drug in every way, especially with regard to making users aggressive.
IMO we'd be much better off with weed as an alternative social lubricant.
".........actually, I can't see that happening. Give us some real news please!"
That this IS news speaks volumes about the "lifestyle expectations" some of the Tan Kennedy camp have of their leader. As with most candidates, Obama appears to be more reasonable than some of his fanbase.
"I gotta hand it to him; if that dead uncle can be a collaborator when he is dead, he must really be committed to his nutty cause."
He found out the "forty virgins" were male Slashdotters, and opted for a different eternal martyrdom instead.
"I am Mr. Dramane Yadi, I work in the Accounts/ Operations Department of a Prime banks here in Abidjan Cote D'Ivoire. I actually have an urgent and very confidential business proposal for you. I got your contact from Internet and decided to contact you immediately."
"This is Mr Smith. I would be delighted to do business with you, and you called at the ideal time!
I have a choice portfolio of mortgage-backed securities and would like to offer you the opportunity...
*CLICK**DIALTONE*
Strong enemies can saturate the system by using their nuclear triads (SLBM, land-based ICBM, and aircraft-launched), so it cannot be a viable shield against a strong opponent.
OTOH, the whole spectrum of missle defense tech is worth pursuing because weaker opponents have or will have nukes. We need a defense against both tactical and strategic missiles because they are proliferating and will be in the hands of enemies willing to use them.
""The Amazon site is not being changed in any way whatsoever"
or this
"The Firefox addon only modifies the way the page appears to the user of the browser where that addon is installed"
The two are not mutually exclusive.
The site was not defaced or altered, and the viewer can choose to view it with software that changes what was presented on the viewers machine. This isn't much different from using NoScript or Adblock, except that it adds content instead of blocking content.
If someone puts up a sign, I am free to wear a plastic face shield with additional info between my eyes and the sign.
"If you like leather and ball gags, try IE."
They added a newsreader?
"There are more, but this is a family friendly site"
At last, a use for the old cookie cutters I found under the sink.
"Taser is not serious enough? Or did you mean lethal?"
Tasers are easy to block or deflect and do nothing against someone with any sort of shield such as a chair. A blanket, rug, mat, sheet or umbrella can stop one. A Taser is also a lesser DETERRENT than a gun. Risking getting zapped is trivial next to risking death.
Note that most defensive use of firearms does not involve actually firing them.
http://www.pulpless.com/gunclock/kleck2.html
http://www.nraila.org/ArmedCitizen/
"Only the ISPs are against voluntary filtering at the ISP level."
Interesting asserted conclusion, which implies that the entire public want a completely filtered internet experienced determined by their ISP.
"Big government buying crazy old people handguns"
Not all "old people" are "crazy", and many "old" and not so old people have limited ability to use their hands in the specific manner required to fire a weapon. Leaving out the complex mechanics of firing a semi-auto, even pulling the trigger on a double-action revolver could be difficult.
Plenty of old and very old people already own firearms, but so far they aren't going gangsta on us.
It is worth noting that there are no serious methods of self-defense available to the physically disadvantaged other than firearms. If they are alone or with another weakened person, assailants have plenty of time to rob,/beat/snuff them.
"you're not going to stop heroin junkies, you're not going to secure theft sites"
Make heroin maintenance legal and deglamorize smack.
The junkies aren't the problem, the problem is the cost of attempting to stop them by prohibition. Their use isn't a problem, their theft of valuable stuff is a problem.
In fact, ANY drug that makes people more docile and less likely to annoy the rest of us should be tolerated if not encouraged. Lumping of ALL recreational drugs other than alcohol together is silly social policy.
http://www.jointogether.org/news/headlines/inthenews/2008/swiss-voters-approve-heroin.html
"I mean, we are talking a serious part of the world's population ..."
Money spent on MSFT is money lost to China. It makes perfect sense to expand Linux usage and save billions upon billions of dollars that can be spent elsewhere.
"US has now entered 3rd world nation status. Where individuals are so poor that ripping up and selling the vital infrastructure becomes a useful business."
Copper is easy to harvest and pays well when scrapped. Scrapping metal generally has been profitable in recent years, and that has everything to do with developing nations like China BUYING scrap as opposed to any US decline.
Aluminum gets less press but also pays well, often ten or twelve bucks per automobile wheel.
Lots of people would like flying cars, but the idea of a flying car is, let's be kind, idiotic. People don't need them, they'd waste energy, be a crash-effects multiplier, etc. Crossing an aircraft with a car is like crossing a fish with a mountain goat. The result wouldn't be good for either job.
If you want to fly, become wealthy and buy a proper flying machine.
In all wars BOREDOM is a factor.
Computers are important to morale and communication, because snail mail is painfully slow and government web and email access is often limited.
"I'd also question your choice of laptop. For challenging conditions, with heat, sand, and a lot of bumps, I'd suggest a panasonic toughbook or other ruggedised solution. Unless of course, you're a REM who's several hundred clicks from any forward operating post, and have ready access to 24x7 electricity with no spikes, aircon and constant net access. Apologies if I've called that one wrong, but you're not exactly giving the impression of being at the sharp end of business out there."
Snarky much? It's easy enough to care for electronics in the sandbox. Bags, boxes, scrounged electronic equipment cases,large ammo cans (mmm...gaskety), etc offer plenty of stowage options.