they should filter their email better and stop having their children sign up for the sex mailing list in the first place.
This is not how spam works. You're operating from the assumption that only people who ask for spam get it. The best spam filter in the world, based on solid research, still needs to be retrained fairly often because of the spammers ability to circumvent spam filters.
Spam is not free speech - its harassment hiding behind free speech and its costing everyone plenty of real dollars. Legistlation is required because its apparent only the threat of jail time will incite these miscreants to play nice. Civil suites are nice, but it alows the spammer to continue for years while the case is resolved.
take care of spam yourself with a good filter, deal with it the same as you do your mail box with postal mail
Let me send you a bill for the productivity my company has lost today dealing with spam clogging up mail servers, mail boxes, and eating up bandwidth. It is not the same thing a postal mail. If spammers had to spend 14 cents per message, would they send out 120 million a day to unverified addresses?
Good points, all. But this is directly on point with what I was saying about 'lazy writing.' If the aliens really did have some other purpose for being on Earth, then please say so. What the writers did say was that the aliens needed water and food. And they go to so much trouble sneaking around wearing rubber human suits, and secretly pumping the water off the planet (which, btw, water is easily made by combining hyrodgen and oxygen under pressure, both elements plentilly available everywhere, and so pumping it is more work than just making it), and secretly kidnapping everyone and storing them in their ships.
If we were being kept as farm animals, it would seem to me to make more sense to harvest us covertly. After all, with the exception of most politicians humnans are a sentient race and can figure out they're being eaten, while turkeys can't.
The end all is that the writers have to put in some kind of plot device to indicate iminent danger to the human race. And its all pretty shallow. They have to instill a mystery and a cover up, and a rebel force to fight against it, etc. They really need better motivation for all this to work well. Otherwise, is just another waste of celluloid.
It's been tried many times, but the only two I can think of right now that have got it right are
The Twilight Zone and Predator.
lol. Well, they don't exist. Most likely if they did, it would be on a certificate basis, so one couldn't just implement a dead zone, or be a walking one. lol - that's a great idea for a sketch. The idea is that the device would have to 'agree' to the command and voluntarily stop transmitting, although it would still passively receive to monitor when the dead zone was gone.
I still like this idea - but it'll prob take the IATA to get it implemented.
Lordy, just when I didn't think television couldn't get any worse...
Okay, V was an 'okay' show - just okay. I have a fundamental problem with their story premise that I just can't muster enough suspension of disbelief to swallow.
They come to Earth for two reasons:
Water
Food
So they're saying this alien race can build these huge inter-stellar vehicles but we can't figure out how to generate water and farm food animals? That somehow its easier to mind f*** an entire planet and dress up like humans than just flat out invade? What kind of lazy writing is that?
Kinda reminds me of the pong gag on the Simpson's halloween special a few years back. "All species who have mastered inter-galactic travel raise their tentacles."
if the point is to not have these transmissions, why would a device dedicated to making these same transmissions be a suggested solution?
Well, the ap on the plane would be very low power and designed such as not to intefere with the aircraft operations. Its a suggested solution becuase this would preclude anyone from having to remember/refusing to turn off their devices. They just wouldn't work in the 'forbidden zone'.
As I recall, we couldn't get much momentum on the idea. Mainly because it wasn't a revenue point - which contrary to popular belief is what drives these types of projects. Anyhow, the ap would only need power from the aircraft to function. And since they airframe-strip planes every so often (can't recall the number of flight hours), its a simple matter to install them. And yes, the protocols would have to be augmented to either adopt the function, or a new protocol would have to be defined. I lobbied for the latter, since it would be easier for existing products to support 'friendly wireless protocol a', than having to upgrade to 802.11b.1, or whatever. Also, you avoid problems with IEEE, ISO, etc. having to augment their protocols.
It's been a few years, and I'm not up on all the specs anymore, so please bear with me...
When I was working on wireless tech, and had to sit on industry consortium meetings on various initiatives for this type of stuff. One idea that was being passed around was to have an access point on the aircraft that would broadcast a 'forbidden' command to all the wireless devices which would tell them to play nice. iow - the plane would be a 'forbidden zone' where the device would know that it was not allowed to broadcast certain signals. IR would be okay, but bluetooth, 802.11[abg], cell phones, etc. would be right out. This could also be used in signal sensitive places like hospitals, etc.
Well, its no wonder that I couldn't find anything on it. Many thanks to all those who kindly responded. I also appreciate everyone's mercy for my getting the reference wrong. I hang my head in shame.
I remember reading a couple of months back that some researcher requested someo f Tolkein's papers from the Oxford archives, and found within it a line-by-line translation of Gilgamesh, in Tolkein's own hand, with his comments. The article said that the translation was to be published this summer. I can find no reference to this on the web, however.
if they let you publish information "obtained from other sources" you can basically publish the relevant code.
Good point - but what I don't understand is why they don't put a limit on the Linux side of things? Such as - keep this secret until a judge says this is over, owtte.
I think SCO is as evil as the next guy
So, how evil is the next guy;-)
Re:Not the usual anti-patent rant
on
Steal This Idea
·
· Score: 4, Interesting
There was a time in the early 90's when every corporation went pantent crazy. I worked at the time for [a company that is now HP], and we had to go to Patent School where we were 'taught' how to fill out log books, get them reviewwed and signed, etc. all in the effort to protect the Company's IP. Now, we all kept notebooks like all good scientists, but this was more of a process to make sure that the evidence was there as to exactly when and what was 'invented'.
This behavior was justified by the need to have a sufficient patent portfolio when bartering with other technology companies. Rather than battle out an infringement claim in court, companies would just trade patent rights, like high-tech marbles in the schoolyard.
So I and my team went to work and developed some pretty nifty stuff . I got four software patents out of the deal. Not because I particularly felt the work was patent worthy, but because I got a grand for each one, and a pretty cool plaque in a Handsome Plastic Frame.
Every one of those patents are bogus. I borrowed all the technology - regular expressions, IP-IP protocols, and just plain-ol-object embedding. When I would tell this to the patent lawyers, they said the patent was viable because of the context it was presented in. That is, if the base idea for the patent itself is obvious, it can be argued that its application is not. Ergo, cha-ching!
The way I see it, if I'm paying for the programming information so I can use the TiVo, and TiVo collects my viewing statistics for sale (which in the aggregate I also pay for), then I'm due a payback (reimbursement?).
IOW - I'm paying TiVo for the privalege of giving them valuable market information that they sell for almost pure profit.
If so its a poor strategy, SCO will be forced to specify the exact code chunks in dispute during discovery.>
SCO has to know this going in - that's why they're delaying. They know that once discovery begins, everything will see that there is nothing to it.
I think this shows that what they're after is a huge FUD to damage Linux, while attempting to force IBM into either paying them off to avoid the hassle of the suit and perceived bad PR.
If their intentions were to just get their due, to recover IP and lost royalties, these things are usually done outside of the press. When your position is weak, you have to solidfy public opinion before disclosure to poison the well.
"If trade secrets are the issue, it wouldn't be hard for the Linux community to recode the offending software."
This is precicely why SCO does not divulge exactly what's in question: it would be too easy for IBM et al to say "Oh. So sorry. Many regretti." and recode it, thus deflating any hope they have for the Home Run.
All SCO can be after is money - QED.
The First (Degreed) Nanotechnologists
on
Nanotechnology
·
· Score: 1
I've only known one persnally. I worked with him at the consulting division of [an airline] where he contracted. He was a Liberatarian and one of the strangest people I have ever known.
Anyhow, he was very proud of the fact that he had convinced the University of Hawaii to allow him to design a degree plan so he could actually get a degree in nanotech (this was in late 80's.) They did, and he did, and he was convinced that he was the first person ever to obtain the credential. So he had this business card (calling card actually) on which he proudly displayed "The first degreed nanotechnologist."
To which I would reply, "So all the other nanotechnologists don't have a degree?"
Good points all. However, I wouldn't thik a fine would be an 'automatic' thing. An investigation would have to ensue. And if no link could be shown between the company and a spammer, then its better to err on the side of justice.
Which was the three-headed fire-breathing dragon thing that is almost-but-not-quite exactly unlike a firebird or phoenix, but it would be more in keeping with the 'zilla naming scheme, and it sounds cool!
For the rubber-monster challenged, here's a picure for your reference and edification.
I wouldn't suggest holding the manufacturer of the product responsible, unless they were the ones instigating the spam.
I really don't think its that complicated. You get a piece of spam, and say you actually do what it says. Where does your money go? The recipient of that money is the direct beneficiary of the spam. That's a direct link from your credit card to someone's pocket. You can find that out since, I would assume, the recipent would want their money. It would then be in their best interstest to give up the spammer to reduce their penalties.
International concerns are a problem, however, as they always are.
Still, there should be some enabling legislation allowing lawsuits...
While I'm for this (mostly), I would still like to see good penal law against spammers. It's a very different thing when you can get law enforcement to be the heavy. And I think that most anyone pays more attention to a law person at their door than a court server.
Thunderbird has an option to junk everything from anyone who isn't in your address book. This might be something close to what you want. And if not, get the source and make it do it.
I've heard this mentioned once or twice, but haven't heard of any real law about it. How about just holding the beneficiaries of the spam accountable? That is, someone somewhere wants your money for some reason. If you can't identify who is sending the spam, etc., you sure as heck can identify who's collecting the money. If you were able to fine those that hire the spammers, then demand for generating spam would dry up right quick. Am I missing something?
Of course, it helps that the LotR films are better written than the latest Star Wars installments, which means the effects don't have to carry the film so much:)
Hear, hear! This is exactly why I'm not bothering to see the other SW films. Lucas can't write. Period. He expects special effects to carry the film. This worked with the original trilogy because no one had ever seen such things before - so we were much more interested in watching the movie than paying attention to the story. Now all the SFX are common, and we expect (demand?) more for our movie-going dollar than just a bunch of CGI stuff.
Slashdot Mirror
This is not how spam works. You're operating from the assumption that only people who ask for spam get it. The best spam filter in the world, based on solid research, still needs to be retrained fairly often because of the spammers ability to circumvent spam filters.
Spam is not free speech - its harassment hiding behind free speech and its costing everyone plenty of real dollars. Legistlation is required because its apparent only the threat of jail time will incite these miscreants to play nice. Civil suites are nice, but it alows the spammer to continue for years while the case is resolved.
Let me send you a bill for the productivity my company has lost today dealing with spam clogging up mail servers, mail boxes, and eating up bandwidth. It is not the same thing a postal mail. If spammers had to spend 14 cents per message, would they send out 120 million a day to unverified addresses?Hang your head in shame.
If we were being kept as farm animals, it would seem to me to make more sense to harvest us covertly. After all, with the exception of most politicians humnans are a sentient race and can figure out they're being eaten, while turkeys can't.
The end all is that the writers have to put in some kind of plot device to indicate iminent danger to the human race. And its all pretty shallow. They have to instill a mystery and a cover up, and a rebel force to fight against it, etc. They really need better motivation for all this to work well. Otherwise, is just another waste of celluloid.
It's been tried many times, but the only two I can think of right now that have got it right are The Twilight Zone and Predator.
I still like this idea - but it'll prob take the IATA to get it implemented.
Okay, V was an 'okay' show - just okay. I have a fundamental problem with their story premise that I just can't muster enough suspension of disbelief to swallow.
They come to Earth for two reasons:
- Water
- Food
So they're saying this alien race can build these huge inter-stellar vehicles but we can't figure out how to generate water and farm food animals? That somehow its easier to mind f*** an entire planet and dress up like humans than just flat out invade? What kind of lazy writing is that?Kinda reminds me of the pong gag on the Simpson's halloween special a few years back. "All species who have mastered inter-galactic travel raise their tentacles."
As I recall, we couldn't get much momentum on the idea. Mainly because it wasn't a revenue point - which contrary to popular belief is what drives these types of projects. Anyhow, the ap would only need power from the aircraft to function. And since they airframe-strip planes every so often (can't recall the number of flight hours), its a simple matter to install them. And yes, the protocols would have to be augmented to either adopt the function, or a new protocol would have to be defined. I lobbied for the latter, since it would be easier for existing products to support 'friendly wireless protocol a', than having to upgrade to 802.11b.1, or whatever. Also, you avoid problems with IEEE, ISO, etc. having to augment their protocols.
When I was working on wireless tech, and had to sit on industry consortium meetings on various initiatives for this type of stuff. One idea that was being passed around was to have an access point on the aircraft that would broadcast a 'forbidden' command to all the wireless devices which would tell them to play nice. iow - the plane would be a 'forbidden zone' where the device would know that it was not allowed to broadcast certain signals. IR would be okay, but bluetooth, 802.11[abg], cell phones, etc. would be right out. This could also be used in signal sensitive places like hospitals, etc.
Well, its no wonder that I couldn't find anything on it. Many thanks to all those who kindly responded. I also appreciate everyone's mercy for my getting the reference wrong. I hang my head in shame.
I remember reading a couple of months back that some researcher requested someo f Tolkein's papers from the Oxford archives, and found within it a line-by-line translation of Gilgamesh, in Tolkein's own hand, with his comments. The article said that the translation was to be published this summer. I can find no reference to this on the web, however.
Anyone else here of this?
Good point - but what I don't understand is why they don't put a limit on the Linux side of things? Such as - keep this secret until a judge says this is over, owtte.
So, how evil is the next guy ;-)
This behavior was justified by the need to have a sufficient patent portfolio when bartering with other technology companies. Rather than battle out an infringement claim in court, companies would just trade patent rights, like high-tech marbles in the schoolyard.
So I and my team went to work and developed some pretty nifty stuff . I got four software patents out of the deal. Not because I particularly felt the work was patent worthy, but because I got a grand for each one, and a pretty cool plaque in a Handsome Plastic Frame.
Every one of those patents are bogus. I borrowed all the technology - regular expressions, IP-IP protocols, and just plain-ol-object embedding. When I would tell this to the patent lawyers, they said the patent was viable because of the context it was presented in. That is, if the base idea for the patent itself is obvious, it can be argued that its application is not. Ergo, cha-ching!
IOW - I'm paying TiVo for the privalege of giving them valuable market information that they sell for almost pure profit.
Am I missing something?
Or is their press release from the law offices of Tarzan, Frankenstein and Tonto?
I think this shows that what they're after is a huge FUD to damage Linux, while attempting to force IBM into either paying them off to avoid the hassle of the suit and perceived bad PR.
If their intentions were to just get their due, to recover IP and lost royalties, these things are usually done outside of the press. When your position is weak, you have to solidfy public opinion before disclosure to poison the well.
This is precicely why SCO does not divulge exactly what's in question: it would be too easy for IBM et al to say "Oh. So sorry. Many regretti." and recode it, thus deflating any hope they have for the Home Run.
All SCO can be after is money - QED.
To which I would reply, "So all the other nanotechnologists don't have a degree?"
Good points all. However, I wouldn't thik a fine would be an 'automatic' thing. An investigation would have to ensue. And if no link could be shown between the company and a spammer, then its better to err on the side of justice.
For the rubber-monster challenged, here's a picure for your reference and edification.
I really don't think its that complicated. You get a piece of spam, and say you actually do what it says. Where does your money go? The recipient of that money is the direct beneficiary of the spam. That's a direct link from your credit card to someone's pocket. You can find that out since, I would assume, the recipent would want their money. It would then be in their best interstest to give up the spammer to reduce their penalties.
International concerns are a problem, however, as they always are.
Thunderbird has an option to junk everything from anyone who isn't in your address book. This might be something close to what you want. And if not, get the source and make it do it.
I've heard this mentioned once or twice, but haven't heard of any real law about it. How about just holding the beneficiaries of the spam accountable? That is, someone somewhere wants your money for some reason. If you can't identify who is sending the spam, etc., you sure as heck can identify who's collecting the money. If you were able to fine those that hire the spammers, then demand for generating spam would dry up right quick. Am I missing something?
I suppose tastes are individual in all things, languages and editors alike...
Give us a story and we'll go back to the theatre.