No problem -- the alien computer was running Windows ET;)
Even though the virus running on an alien computer was far fetched, a (admittedly long shot) explanation could be that the Military Gurus had figured out the Alien's computer technology from the alien fighter they had at Area 51.
Then again, maybe not. The Net was even worse. A virus that ran on an Apple MAC undid the database changes at the California DMV (big mainframe) that screwed up Angela Bennett's (Sandra Bullock) life. Yea, right....
I know we all use RIAA around here when we actually mean the recording companies. The RIAA itself is an organization that represents the Recording Industry both in Congress and to the General Public. One of their original functions (which they still do) was to certify Gold (and later Platinum) records. They are financed by membership dues from the actual recording companies and do not actually sell music themselves. Since the RIAA doesn't actually sell music, they do not have to pay out.
Actually Hollywood has been doing a better job of pricing DVDs than the RIAA has been with music. I have been able to pick up LOTR, Harry Potter, and Monsters Inc. (yes, I have a kid) all for (well) under $20.00 -- and Monsters Inc. was $14.88 (DVD OR VHS Tape) at Wallyworld (Wal*mart). I was also able to get War Games for under $10.00.
New Music CDs are $13 to $15 and old CDs run just as much! No wonder the RIAA's sales are down -- My 11 year old Daughter would rather spend her $15 on a DVD instead of a CD -- she gets more out of the DVD and she had grown bored with Britney and the boy bands. The only way the RIAA is going to get more of her (and her peer's) money is better music and lower prices. DVDs, PS2, and Gameboy Adavance is beating Music out in the battle for the pre-teen dollar.
The original Ham calls for the US were WnXXX - where n = 0 to 9 (depending on your region of the country) and X = A thru Z. The first letter was always W.
Once all of these call signs were used up (1940s, 50s?), the FCC assigned KnXXX using the same number and letter scheme.
By the late 1960's or early '70s, the KnXXX calls were used up, then the went to WAnXXX, then WBnXXX. By the 1980's, the FCC started issuing KAnXXX, KBnXXX, calls. There are other combinations, like WnXX calls, but they were reserved for Hams with Extra class licenses.
This is just a quickie answer -- check out ARRL.ORG for more detailed information.
This may date me a wee bit, but I received my Amateur Radio License back in 1977, when I was 14. I had my novice ticket, so I was limited to CW (Morse Code) over the air. Since CW is a very slow way to communicate, there are many accepted abbreviations and codes. For example: FB OM NO QRM ON UR SIGNAL W9TACO DE WB3IZT Translation : Fine business old man, there is no natural interference on your signal. Your turn, W9TACO (the other person's Ham call), this is WB3IZT (my call).
I would never had dreamed of writing any school work using "code speak" much less expected to get credit for it. "L33T 5P33K" is the same way -- it may be fine on IM or in chatrooms, but it does not belong on school work.
BTW, I know W9TACO is not a valid call sign...if I need to explain it to you, forget it.
Yes, the "Special Edition" versions of each of the films re-released before TPM were about marketing, but they also were updated to be "better" in George's eyes. Some of the changes were IMHO good -- the CGI that made Mos Eisley look bigger and more like a real town in ANH, the "opening up" of the Cloud City set in ESB (I always though the Cloud City was too clostrophobic in the original), but other changes didn't add much or actually took away. Example: Solo stepping on Jabba's tail. All Jabba did was make an "ouch" face. I know Lucas did this because of the film he had on hand, but it just didn't fit! That would be like some lacky stepping on Capone's feet and not even saying "sorry!" I won't even go into "the blaster shot" in the Bar on Mos Eisley. I like Solo the way he was.
Porthos wins his case and becomes a member of the bridge crew, but the end comes when he forgets where he is and goes over next to control console and lifts his leg...
That would be a great change to software copyright. Give software full copyright protection as long as it is supported (supported being defined as helpdesk support and maintenance). That way, MS (or any software maker) would have stand by the software that has been purchased instead of abandoning it like yesterday's newspaper.
When MS drops support for Word 97, Windows 95, DOS, or whatever other package, then that version should be free to copy. We still have many machines where I work that use Win 95/Office 97 (new Machines get Win 2K and Office 2K) and have apps out in the field (point of sale) that use DOS 6.22 and Desqview. We still have to license every PC that is used -- why shouldn't we get support if we are shelling out $$?
Good Post! So far the labels for all intents and purposes have not addressed the online market that is out there. There is no "legitimate" service out there that one can go to and download mainstream RIAA member music without dealing with DRM. If the RIAA could just get off their high horses and offer a convenient non-DRM service at a reasonable price, then p2p trading would not be a major issue.
The RIAA needs to learn to go with the flow instead attempting to fight change with legislation. The labels need become a service -- their job being to seek out good music and bring it to the customer in formats that the customer wants at a fair price. Most people will pay a fair price for good service.
Actually there is at least a grey market for Cigarettes, if not a black market. Here in Kentucky, the Cigarette tax is $0.03 per pack. People come to KY to buy cartons of Ciggys to sell outside the State. The Indian Reservations near Buffalo, New York also have the same situation -- people come in to the Reservation from Pennsylvania, New York, and Ontario to avoid the State Taxes. Not all of these cartons are bought for personal use. There are also internet sales from KY and the Reservation also.
If you're dropping $50-100 for a copy of Linux, you need more help than Tech Support can provide.
That's one of the nice things about Linux. You have the choice of paying $50 - $100 for a Distro (and getting the extras such as Tech Support) or paying $0 and getting your Distro from a friend, via FTP, etc. The best part is, the $0 option will not subject one to the wrath of Bill's Brownshirts (a.k.a. the B.S.A.). Choice is good!
I didn't know MTV still had videos...okay, a wee bit of sarcasm, but I miss the days (1983, 1984) when I was in college and could come home and turn on MTV and watch music videos. After MTV started going away from music videos and into programming, they started VH1, which was originally like MTV was back in the early 80s. Now even VH1 doesn't have videos much of the time. As far as kids -- my daughter (11 yrs old) was into N'Sync, Brittany, etc. for awhile, but now she wants movie DVDs. It is really sad when the DVD is the same or less than the Movie Soundtrack on CD.
Region coding has been accepted by the average Joe (in the U.S.) is because the U.S. is already in region 1, and that is where most movies are released first. In Oz, Europe, and other (non region 1) places, fixing the region code problem is common. The region restriction only bites USians that travel overseas, Anime fans, Dr. Who fans, etc. The average Joe/Jane will only "accept" DRM if it doesn't affect the way he/she wants to use the product. Once Joe/Jane gets pissed off, then things will change, IMHO.
I hear you. The best part of D&D was the getting together, bringing some chips, pop, or beer (no getting drunk) and gaming away. Other than a few figures to mark our party's order, everything else was left to the imagination. Accurate mapping was a must -- an inaccurate map could lead to disaster. It seemed that the best maps and worlds (IMHO) were the ones that the DM created him/her self -- that way no one had the advantage of seeing or playing the Dungeon before.
Now to dig out my books (from 1981) and see which edition I have...
Even the Gasoline and Oil companies "get it" -- that is why they have started to refer to themselves as Energy Companies. Oil and Gasoline is still going to be king for the time being -- but you can bet your bottom dollar (or euro, pound) that the day when another fuel source (such as hydrogen) takes over, the BPs, Shells, and Exxons of the world will be right there.
On the other hand, the RIAA's business plan seems to be to stop progress using an army of lawyers and strong arm tactics -- anything to keep those buggy whips going.
Our business uses the UUNET lines for settling offline retailers to our host (Tandem System). If MCI Worldcom would pull the plug on UUNET, not only would Internet Access be cut off, but businesses like ours would have to scramble to find ways for our customers to connect. We are working on this just in case, but it is complicated by the fact that we deal with many retailer chains in different states.
We will survive the collapse if it occurs -- but it will be a royal pain in the ass.
- will the "protected content" unprotect itself, once copyright expires?
It seems like the MPAA and RIAA companies are trying eliminate this "problem" through DRM and legislation. The "Sonny Bono" act et al have already eliminated anything from 1923 on going into the public domain for at least 20 years (from 1997). They won't have to worry about it again until 2017 -- then just add another x years. At the rate things are going, my Grandchildren (my daughter is only 11, so they are not even a gleam in anyone's eye yet) will be dead and buried before anything comes out of copyright.
The *AA companies want to have their cake and eat it too -- and DRM is just another tool to get their way. They aren't worried about what happens when a work goes into the public domain since they do not intend for that to ever happen. Scary, ain't it?
Re:A contrarian to this thread...
on
Cyber-Attacks?
·
· Score: 1
I'm not so worried about the "Script Kiddie" type attacks and more worried about insider attacks.
Let me explain -- where I work we have had (and still have) programmers from several different countries including India, Serbia, and Great Britain here on HB1A visas and green cards. It would be real easy for Al Qaeda or any other terrorist organizations to slip in people inside a Company over the years. The sleeper terrorist then learns how the Company's systems work, what the weaknesses are, and what can be done to cause mayhem.
Then when the time comes, activate the sleepers and watch the Country go into a tail-spin...Imagine electronic food stamp benefits at the beginning of the Month, denial of all credit card and ATM transactions, etc. The mess could be eventually cleaned up, but think of the chaos that could be caused!
Terrorists are exactly that -- they want to cause the most amount of fear and confusion for what they do...that's why 9-11 and the suicide bombing in Israel have occurred. They believe in their cause and will do whatever it takes (in their minds) to "win".
No Humor intended. Duke Nukem 3D came out in 1996. Great 3D shoot 'em up, went for the wise ass character and humor versus the more "serious" Quake. Duke Nukem Forever is to be the sequel to Duke Nukem 3D and has been in "the works" and "going to be ready soon" for 5 years now. In the mean time, Quake II and III, Return to Wolfenstein, Half-life, and other first person shooters have been released -- but no Duke (first person).
A new side scroll Duke has just been released, but the Forever is not out yet. With Doom III on the horizon, I would not wait too much longer....
Great idea. It is easy to read what you think you wrote instead of what you actually wrote -- especially if one codes in more than one language (think c versus COBOL).
A good example is
if ( cowboy_neal = survey_answer ) { ...
instead of if ( cowboy_neal == survey_answer ) { ...
A second set of eyes would catch that right away...
Actually cat-5 is nice to have for speed, but 802.11b or a is nice to have if you have a laptop. It may be a wee bit slower, but then you are not tethered to a cord.
The best advice I have heard is to put plastic PVC pipe in the walls from a phone closet (or at least a central point) when your home is built for your phone and cat-5 runs. That way phone, fiber, cable, more cat-5, etc. can be run with a lot less difficulty.
War of the Worlds -- definately should be on the list. The story and special effects still stand up pretty well, even though it was made in the 1950's.
Other Candidates: Colossus: The Forbin Project (Computers running national defense long before War Games) The Time Machine (The original one) 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (The original Disney film) I may be stretching this one, but this is the film that got me interested in Sci-Fi when I was 8 years old -- and the Nautilus was cutting edge Sci-fi when Jules Verne wrote the book back in the 1870s!
Leningrad also appears in Star Trek IV -- when the Alien Probe starts fubaring the Earth, Leningrad is one of the cities that reports losing power -- Leningrad (and the Soviet Union) was in business when STIV was made, but now it's St. Petersburg...of course they could change it back again before Kirk & Co. save the whales....;-)
Where are mod points when you need. them? This is exactly the best way to fight the DMCA (in addition to supporting EFF). I did not know (or really care) about DeCSS until MPAA made a big deal about it. Jack's thugs convinced me to download and keep several copies of the code around. They also convinced me to become more educated about the DMCA and the damage it is causing.
One word of advice, if you write a program that is "subject" to the DMCA, release it under a pseudonym, no matter where you live (the Corporate States of America has decided their laws apply everywhere). Once the software gets out, all the courts in the world can't put the Genie back in the bottle. MPAA may "win" the DeCSS case, put the program is all over the internet. Each DMCA complaint just serves as publicity for the program that it targets. If we cannot win in the courts, then we will have to win in the trenches.
Slashdot Mirror
No problem -- the alien computer was running Windows ET ;)
Even though the virus running on an alien computer was far fetched, a (admittedly long shot) explanation could be that the Military Gurus had figured out the Alien's computer technology from the alien fighter they had at Area 51.
Then again, maybe not. The Net was even worse. A virus that ran on an Apple MAC undid the database changes at the California DMV (big mainframe) that screwed up Angela Bennett's (Sandra Bullock) life. Yea, right....
I know we all use RIAA around here when we actually mean the recording companies. The RIAA itself is an organization that represents the Recording Industry both in Congress and to the General Public. One of their original functions (which they still do) was to certify Gold (and later Platinum) records. They are financed by membership dues from the actual recording companies and do not actually sell music themselves. Since the RIAA doesn't actually sell music, they do not have to pay out.
Actually Hollywood has been doing a better job of pricing DVDs than the RIAA has been with music. I have been able to pick up LOTR, Harry Potter, and Monsters Inc. (yes, I have a kid) all for (well) under $20.00 -- and Monsters Inc. was $14.88 (DVD OR VHS Tape) at Wallyworld (Wal*mart). I was also able to get War Games for under $10.00.
New Music CDs are $13 to $15 and old CDs run just as much! No wonder the RIAA's sales are down -- My 11 year old Daughter would rather spend her $15 on a DVD instead of a CD -- she gets more out of the DVD and she had grown bored with Britney and the boy bands. The only way the RIAA is going to get more of her (and her peer's) money is better music and lower prices. DVDs, PS2, and Gameboy Adavance is beating Music out in the battle for the pre-teen dollar.
The original Ham calls for the US were WnXXX - where n = 0 to 9 (depending on your region of the country) and X = A thru Z. The first letter was always W.
Once all of these call signs were used up (1940s, 50s?), the FCC assigned KnXXX using the same number and letter scheme.
By the late 1960's or early '70s, the KnXXX calls were used up, then the went to WAnXXX, then WBnXXX. By the 1980's, the FCC started issuing KAnXXX, KBnXXX, calls. There are other combinations, like WnXX calls, but they were reserved for Hams with Extra class licenses.
This is just a quickie answer -- check out ARRL.ORG for more detailed information.
This may date me a wee bit, but I received my Amateur Radio License back in 1977, when I was 14. I had my novice ticket, so I was limited to CW (Morse Code) over the air. Since CW is a very slow way to communicate, there are many accepted abbreviations and codes. For example: FB OM NO QRM ON UR SIGNAL W9TACO DE WB3IZT Translation : Fine business old man, there is no natural interference on your signal. Your turn, W9TACO (the other person's Ham call), this is WB3IZT (my call).
I would never had dreamed of writing any school work using "code speak" much less expected to get credit for it. "L33T 5P33K" is the same way -- it may be fine on IM or in chatrooms, but it does not belong on school work.
BTW, I know W9TACO is not a valid call sign...if I need to explain it to you, forget it.
Yes, the "Special Edition" versions of each of the films re-released before TPM were about marketing, but they also were updated to be "better" in George's eyes. Some of the changes were IMHO good -- the CGI that made Mos Eisley look bigger and more like a real town in ANH, the "opening up" of the Cloud City set in ESB (I always though the Cloud City was too clostrophobic in the original), but other changes didn't add much or actually took away. Example: Solo stepping on Jabba's tail. All Jabba did was make an "ouch" face. I know Lucas did this because of the film he had on hand, but it just didn't fit! That would be like some lacky stepping on Capone's feet and not even saying "sorry!" I won't even go into "the blaster shot" in the Bar on Mos Eisley. I like Solo the way he was.
Porthos wins his case and becomes a member of the bridge crew, but the end comes when he forgets where he is and goes over next to control console and lifts his leg...
That would be a great change to software copyright. Give software full copyright protection as long as it is supported (supported being defined as helpdesk support and maintenance). That way, MS (or any software maker) would have stand by the software that has been purchased instead of abandoning it like yesterday's newspaper.
When MS drops support for Word 97, Windows 95, DOS, or whatever other package, then that version should be free to copy. We still have many machines where I work that use Win 95/Office 97 (new Machines get Win 2K and Office 2K) and have apps out in the field (point of sale) that use DOS 6.22 and Desqview. We still have to license every PC that is used -- why shouldn't we get support if we are shelling out $$?
Good Post! So far the labels for all intents and purposes have not addressed the online market that is out there. There is no "legitimate" service out there that one can go to and download mainstream RIAA member music without dealing with DRM. If the RIAA could just get off their high horses and offer a convenient non-DRM service at a reasonable price, then p2p trading would not be a major issue.
The RIAA needs to learn to go with the flow instead attempting to fight change with legislation. The labels need become a service -- their job being to seek out good music and bring it to the customer in formats that the customer wants at a fair price. Most people will pay a fair price for good service.
Actually there is at least a grey market for Cigarettes, if not a black market. Here in Kentucky, the Cigarette tax is $0.03 per pack. People come to KY to buy cartons of Ciggys to sell outside the State. The Indian Reservations near Buffalo, New York also have the same situation -- people come in to the Reservation from Pennsylvania, New York, and Ontario to avoid the State Taxes. Not all of these cartons are bought for personal use. There are also internet sales from KY and the Reservation also.
If you're dropping $50-100 for a copy of Linux, you need more help than Tech Support can provide.
That's one of the nice things about Linux. You have the choice of paying $50 - $100 for a Distro (and getting the extras such as Tech Support) or paying $0 and getting your Distro from a friend, via FTP, etc. The best part is, the $0 option will not subject one to the wrath of Bill's Brownshirts (a.k.a. the B.S.A.). Choice is good!
I didn't know MTV still had videos...okay, a wee bit of sarcasm, but I miss the days (1983, 1984) when I was in college and could come home and turn on MTV and watch music videos. After MTV started going away from music videos and into programming, they started VH1, which was originally like MTV was back in the early 80s. Now even VH1 doesn't have videos much of the time. As far as kids -- my daughter (11 yrs old) was into N'Sync, Brittany, etc. for awhile, but now she wants movie DVDs. It is really sad when the DVD is the same or less than the Movie Soundtrack on CD.
Region coding has been accepted by the average Joe (in the U.S.) is because the U.S. is already in region 1, and that is where most movies are released first. In Oz, Europe, and other (non region 1) places, fixing the region code problem is common. The region restriction only bites USians that travel overseas, Anime fans, Dr. Who fans, etc. The average Joe/Jane will only "accept" DRM if it doesn't affect the way he/she wants to use the product. Once Joe/Jane gets pissed off, then things will change, IMHO.
I hear you. The best part of D&D was the getting together, bringing some chips, pop, or beer (no getting drunk) and gaming away. Other than a few figures to mark our party's order, everything else was left to the imagination. Accurate mapping was a must -- an inaccurate map could lead to disaster. It seemed that the best maps and worlds (IMHO) were the ones that the DM created him/her self -- that way no one had the advantage of seeing or playing the Dungeon before.
Now to dig out my books (from 1981) and see which edition I have...
Even the Gasoline and Oil companies "get it" -- that is why they have started to refer to themselves as Energy Companies. Oil and Gasoline is still going to be king for the time being -- but you can bet your bottom dollar (or euro, pound) that the day when another fuel source (such as hydrogen) takes over, the BPs, Shells, and Exxons of the world will be right there.
On the other hand, the RIAA's business plan seems to be to stop progress using an army of lawyers and strong arm tactics -- anything to keep those buggy whips going.
Our business uses the UUNET lines for settling offline retailers to our host (Tandem System). If MCI Worldcom would pull the plug on UUNET, not only would Internet Access be cut off, but businesses like ours would have to scramble to find ways for our customers to connect. We are working on this just in case, but it is complicated by the fact that we deal with many retailer chains in different states.
We will survive the collapse if it occurs -- but it will be a royal pain in the ass.
- will the "protected content" unprotect itself, once copyright expires?
It seems like the MPAA and RIAA companies are trying eliminate this "problem" through DRM and legislation. The "Sonny Bono" act et al have already eliminated anything from 1923 on going into the public domain for at least 20 years (from 1997). They won't have to worry about it again until 2017 -- then just add another x years. At the rate things are going, my Grandchildren (my daughter is only 11, so they are not even a gleam in anyone's eye yet) will be dead and buried before anything comes out of copyright.
The *AA companies want to have their cake and eat it too -- and DRM is just another tool to get their way. They aren't worried about what happens when a work goes into the public domain since they do not intend for that to ever happen. Scary, ain't it?
I'm not so worried about the "Script Kiddie" type attacks and more worried about insider attacks.
Let me explain -- where I work we have had (and still have) programmers from several different countries including India, Serbia, and Great Britain here on HB1A visas and green cards. It would be real easy for Al Qaeda or any other terrorist organizations to slip in people inside a Company over the years. The sleeper terrorist then learns how the Company's systems work, what the weaknesses are, and what can be done to cause mayhem.
Then when the time comes, activate the sleepers and watch the Country go into a tail-spin...Imagine electronic food stamp benefits at the beginning of the Month, denial of all credit card and ATM transactions, etc. The mess could be eventually cleaned up, but think of the chaos that could be caused!
Terrorists are exactly that -- they want to cause the most amount of fear and confusion for what they do...that's why 9-11 and the suicide bombing in Israel have occurred. They believe in their cause and will do whatever it takes (in their minds) to "win".
No Humor intended. Duke Nukem 3D came out in 1996. Great 3D shoot 'em up, went for the wise ass character and humor versus the more "serious" Quake. Duke Nukem Forever is to be the sequel to Duke Nukem 3D and has been in "the works" and "going to be ready soon" for 5 years now. In the mean time, Quake II and III, Return to Wolfenstein, Half-life, and other first person shooters have been released -- but no Duke (first person).
A new side scroll Duke has just been released, but the Forever is not out yet. With Doom III on the horizon, I would not wait too much longer....
Good point...I didn't think of that. I'm not ready to build yet, but toxic fumes do not sound like fun. Time to look at other options...
Great idea. It is easy to read what you think you wrote instead of what you actually wrote -- especially if one codes in more than one language (think c versus COBOL).
A good example is
if ( cowboy_neal = survey_answer )
{
...
instead of
if ( cowboy_neal == survey_answer )
{
...
A second set of eyes would catch that right away...
I prefer wireless -- but not paperless ;)
Actually cat-5 is nice to have for speed, but 802.11b or a is nice to have if you have a laptop. It may be a wee bit slower, but then you are not tethered to a cord.
The best advice I have heard is to put plastic PVC pipe in the walls from a phone closet (or at least a central point) when your home is built for your phone and cat-5 runs. That way phone, fiber, cable, more cat-5, etc. can be run with a lot less difficulty.
War of the Worlds -- definately should be on the list. The story and special effects still stand up pretty well, even though it was made in the 1950's.
Other Candidates :
Colossus: The Forbin Project (Computers running national defense long before War Games)
The Time Machine (The original one)
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (The original Disney film) I may be stretching this one, but this is the film that got me interested in Sci-Fi when I was 8 years old -- and the Nautilus was cutting edge Sci-fi when Jules Verne wrote the book back in the 1870s!
Leningrad also appears in Star Trek IV -- when the Alien Probe starts fubaring the Earth, Leningrad is one of the cities that reports losing power -- Leningrad (and the Soviet Union) was in business when STIV was made, but now it's St. Petersburg...of course they could change it back again before Kirk & Co. save the whales....;-)
Where are mod points when you need. them? This is exactly the best way to fight the DMCA (in addition to supporting EFF). I did not know (or really care) about DeCSS until MPAA made a big deal about it. Jack's thugs convinced me to download and keep several copies of the code around. They also convinced me to become more educated about the DMCA and the damage it is causing.
One word of advice, if you write a program that is "subject" to the DMCA, release it under a pseudonym, no matter where you live (the Corporate States of America has decided their laws apply everywhere). Once the software gets out, all the courts in the world can't put the Genie back in the bottle. MPAA may "win" the DeCSS case, put the program is all over the internet. Each DMCA complaint just serves as publicity for the program that it targets. If we cannot win in the courts, then we will have to win in the trenches.