I've read through the article (yes, all of it), and I've not been left with any impression or opinion, I'm no better informed than I was, and I can't help but feel that it was a waste of my time.
Just what are these Jon Katz articles supposed to be about?
I was going to ask that. All I've ever seen is websites and the odd TV coverage, from conspiracy-nut types. I've never seen any reasonable, rationally presented evidence about it.
At time, the claims made about Echelon's capabilities defy belief - can we really be expected to believe that, for example, they've have automatic monitoring of calls since the mid-70s, or anything similar?
From what I understand, you can't make genetic alterations to animals, people, etc once they're developed (those mice were born with the altered genes), ruling out the possibility of tampering with people who want to change some genetic aspect of themselves. However, there's always talk of using genetic modifications because someone decides that they'd like to be taller, or have green eyes, or something.
Is this right, or am I holding the end of the stick that has "this is the wrong end" written on it?
Because, simply, RiscOS isn't up to the task of being a modern operating system any more. Don't get me wrong, I used to use it all the time, and I love its look, feel and the way the whole system worked, but it's in need of serious work.
No pre-emptive multitasking - multitasking is co-operative. That is, the OS (actually, the window/desktop manager) gives control to each task, which has to return it to the OS when it's done what it wants to do. Most of the time it works quite well, but if something hangs, there's a good chance that it's reboot time. And running daemons becomes rather tricky (the HTTPD will stop serving pages if something pops up an error screen, for example).
Little support for modern PC hardware - PCI? Maybe. USB? No chance. And, unless they've done something about it, it won't work with your graphics card, sound card, ethernet card, etc...
Little software/support/development - I fear the Acorn is going the way of the Amiga. It's pretty much acknowledged to be dead, but there's still a small but loyal fan base, there's still software being developed (and sold) for it, and they're still developing the OS. But, realistically, it'll never make a big comeback.
I just think it's funny, more than anything else, that a silly throwaway comment has attracted such a large amount of moderation and comments about the moderation.
I have heard of high school students that can get people to sign petitions to ban dihydrogen oxide because it has poisonous chemicals in it as well as flammable ones.
It's also used in the production of chemical and biological weapons, and in nuclear reactors.
Did you read the article? It's not America, it's Britain. And it's the CAA (the UK's version of the FAA). They couldn't care less about mobile phones interfering with the base stations - that's the Radiocommunications Agency's problem...
I don't know if it's true of GSM phones, but I heard that with the old ETACS system (in the UK), if you 'moved' from one cell to another which were about 500 miles or more apart, then the network would assume that your phone was being cloned, and disable it.
why the heck were older planes *not* build with Faraday cages and shielded wires?
Well, in 1989 (equipment built before then has the problems, according to the article), a 'mobile' was about the size of a housebrick, was incredibly expensive to operate and didn't roam awfully well - so taking it abroad, or operating it on a plane, was something that was never envisaged.
It's easy to ask such questions with hindsight, but what would you have said in the mid-80s if someone had told you that mobiles in 2000 would be smaller than a cigarette packet, and would work practically anywhere in the world?
the grid has remained in the hands of the utilities. is this this case in the UK?
No - the power grid belongs to National Grid. Power generation is done by National Power and Powergen, and maybe others, who sell the power to National Grid. Delivery to the customer is typically handled by the local electricity company, though the customer may actually pay a different electricity company (or other companies who sell electricity, such as British Gas).
A similar system is in place for the gas supply. The infrastructure is owned by Transco (formerly part of British Gas), but the gas is sold by various companies, including British Gas, and electricity companies.
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Yeah, but there's no way you could kick it...
Like you could...
Yeah, but they're not reading this crap...
Do you see anyone else here?
Think yer 'ard enough, do yer?
Met me, that is. You couldn't kick my arse if you tried...
Fine thanks, Phil.
What happens when someone runs into a wall or lamp post at 25MPH? Or worse, hits another pedestrian?
I've read through the article (yes, all of it), and I've not been left with any impression or opinion, I'm no better informed than I was, and I can't help but feel that it was a waste of my time.
Just what are these Jon Katz articles supposed to be about?
I was going to ask that. All I've ever seen is websites and the odd TV coverage, from conspiracy-nut types. I've never seen any reasonable, rationally presented evidence about it.
At time, the claims made about Echelon's capabilities defy belief - can we really be expected to believe that, for example, they've have automatic monitoring of calls since the mid-70s, or anything similar?
From what I understand, you can't make genetic alterations to animals, people, etc once they're developed (those mice were born with the altered genes), ruling out the possibility of tampering with people who want to change some genetic aspect of themselves. However, there's always talk of using genetic modifications because someone decides that they'd like to be taller, or have green eyes, or something.
Is this right, or am I holding the end of the stick that has "this is the wrong end" written on it?
I thought elephants were grey already...
I think I'm going to go and fire up ArcEm...
I just think it's funny, more than anything else, that a silly throwaway comment has attracted such a large amount of moderation and comments about the moderation.
I'll even admit that it was a bad pun.
I could understand 'Offtopic', but 'Flamebait'? Oh, well...
Cool. Everybody vote for my bill to make IT industry workers exempt from income tax.
It's also used in the production of chemical and biological weapons, and in nuclear reactors.
www.dhmo.org has more about it.
When Mozilla reaches M25, will it slow down to an absolute crawl, stop altogether when overloaded, and crash lots?
What's to stop someone buying the licence (which is presumably some kind of program or file), and Gnutella-ing that too...?
Is this any Linux, or just i386 Linux?
This seems to be a common problem with binary software releases - many people seem to forget that there is life outside of Intel chips.
Did you read the article? It's not America, it's Britain. And it's the CAA (the UK's version of the FAA). They couldn't care less about mobile phones interfering with the base stations - that's the Radiocommunications Agency's problem...
I don't know if it's true of GSM phones, but I heard that with the old ETACS system (in the UK), if you 'moved' from one cell to another which were about 500 miles or more apart, then the network would assume that your phone was being cloned, and disable it.
No, it was a study done by the British CAA, so it should be 'aeroplanes'...
Well, in 1989 (equipment built before then has the problems, according to the article), a 'mobile' was about the size of a housebrick, was incredibly expensive to operate and didn't roam awfully well - so taking it abroad, or operating it on a plane, was something that was never envisaged.
It's easy to ask such questions with hindsight, but what would you have said in the mid-80s if someone had told you that mobiles in 2000 would be smaller than a cigarette packet, and would work practically anywhere in the world?
No - the power grid belongs to National Grid. Power generation is done by National Power and Powergen, and maybe others, who sell the power to National Grid. Delivery to the customer is typically handled by the local electricity company, though the customer may actually pay a different electricity company (or other companies who sell electricity, such as British Gas).
A similar system is in place for the gas supply. The infrastructure is owned by Transco (formerly part of British Gas), but the gas is sold by various companies, including British Gas, and electricity companies.