we have animal friends who so obviously need legal rights, yet we ignore them
How about the rights of robot animoids? PETT (People for the Ethical Treatment of Tamagotchis) has been on my case for a decade. I just hope the SPCS (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Sims) doesn't find out about me.
Seriously, though, your concern is tangentially on-topic. What kinds of entities do we humans believe deserve to have individual civil rights? And how much are we willing to do to ensure that those rights are protected and enforced? For instance, how do each of the following stack up?
humans
humans who live in a far-away third-world country (like, say, the residents of Darfur)
You hit F2 in Windows to rename files? And that's supposed to be intuitive?
Heh. No, it's not really intuitive, but it's a convention that's been around for awhile. I don't know who started it (Lotus 1-2-3 maybe?), but most spreadsheet programs like Quattro Pro, Lotus 1-2-3 and Excel use the F2 key to put the current cell into "edit mode".
So, using F2 to put a selected filename into "edit mode" (i.e., rename) is not too much of a jump.
As a Windows & Mac user myself, I'd appreciate having F2 be a shortcut for renaming a file as well, but I haven't lost any sleep over it.
The only thing I'd add to the parent post is that the people documenting stuff have to be willing and able to communicate effectively, not just proficient in tech writing. That means, among other things, that they must be committed to maintaining the documentation, willing to taking the time to explain things clearly, and able to organize the documentation effectively.
Collections of undefined acronyms, cryptic phrases, and/or excerpts cut & pasted from e-mails without context into text documents scattered across a hundred directories and subdirectories (or printed and stuffed into a 3-ring binder) is not useful. And sometimes old/incorrect/outdated documentation is worse than no documentation.
IANAL but I thought CG depictions of child sexuality are already illegal in the United States. The relevent code, I think, is Title 18, Chapter 110 -- in particular, see Section 2252A and Section 2256.
From 18 USC 2256:
(8) "child pornography" means any visual depiction, including any photograph, film, video, picture, or computer or computer-generated image or picture, whether made or produced by electronic, mechanical, or other means, of sexually explicit conduct, where-- (A) the production of such visual depiction involves the use of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct; (B) such visual depiction is a digital image, computer image, or computer-generated image that is, or is indistinguishable from, that of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct; or (C) such visual depiction has been created, adapted, or modified to appear that an identifiable minor is engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
and
For purposes of subsection 8(B) [1] of this section, "sexually explicit conduct" means-- (i) graphic sexual intercourse, including genital-genital, oral-genital, anal-genital, or oral-anal, whether between persons of the same or opposite sex, or lascivious simulated sexual intercourse where the genitals, breast, or pubic area of any person is exhibited; (ii) graphic or lascivious simulated;
(I) bestiality;
(II) masturbation; or
(III) sadistic or masochistic abuse; or (iii) graphic or simulated lascivious exhibition of the genitals or pubic area of any person;
I'm guessing that simple nudity would not be considered child pornography, then. But, I suppose that depends on what constitutes "lascivious exhibition".
Well, saying that Microsoft is as bad as Open Source is another way of saying that Open Source is as good as Microsoft.
So, even if the Open Source community is also "a series of disconnected fiefdoms that aren't all moving in the same direction", if Microsoft isn't any better then that eliminates one reason/argument to use Microsoft products instead of Open Source products.
If/when the idea that Open Source is as good as Microsoft seeps into the zeitgeist, that will be a dark day for Microsoft, I'll wager.
FWIW, it looks like some comments to the original article suggest that MAM-A media is pretty good too, although the article's author seemed dubious. From one comment:
I have two production shops that, combined, produce over 60,000 pieces of media per year on six Rimage Protege II units. A combination of CD's (~90%) and DVD's (remainder). All of our media is MAM-A (Formerly Mitsui Advanced Media) and uses Mitsui's Phthalocyanine dye (patented by Mitsui Chemicals). That media is also produced here in the U.S.A. - at their plant in Colorado.
While I agree that TY media is extremely good, I do not feel that it is light years ahead of all other media produced. Not to the point you have made it out to be. It's good media, and I would recomend it. Their surface printing characteristics are not to our standards. That's all.
And another:
I have to agree with [the previous comment]. MAM-A media is solid stuff (I work with a large media archival group where this stuff has to last 100's of years).
And to be honest, as much as I respect the folks over at CDFreaks, it seems to have taken on a kind of Taiyo Yuden fanboy mentality. TY undoubtedly makes some of the best quality media around, but the CD community seems to have made their media into some kind sacred cow.
I tend to agree with the second comment's statement about the folks at CDFreaks, especially since the original article suggested that there was no such thing as a gold DVD (the article has since been edited). We've been using gold DVDs for awhile. So, this suggests that the article's author had not done his homework and/or was operating under old assumptions or data.
Anyway, I wouldn't toss your MAM-A media just yet.:-)
What versions of Microsoft Office Word are associated with this advisory? This advisory addresses Word 2000, Word 2002, Word 2003, Microsoft Word Viewer 2003, Word 2004 for Mac, Word 2004 v. X for Mac, and Works 2004, 2005, and 2006.
Abe Simpson: I used to be with it. But then they changed what "it" was. Now what I'm with isn't "it" and what's "it" seems weird and scary to me. It'll happen to you!
A few weeks ago I was taking the bus to work in the morning -- it was one of those state-of-the-art electrical "trolley buses". We get to the bottom of the hill and the thing started jerking wildly like someone was repeatedly slamming on the accelerator and then the brakes. The bus driver tried slowing to a stop and then accelerating again but, each time, the bus started jerking violently again.
Finally, the driver pulled to a stop, turned off the bus completely, waited a few seconds, and then turned it back on. Everything was fine after that.
At least we didn't need to download a new driver.:-)
Pretexting is the practice of getting your personal information under false pretenses. Pretexters sell your information to people who may use it to get credit in your name, steal your assets, or to investigate or sue you. Pretexting is against the law.
They each face four felony counts: use of false or fraudulent pretenses to obtain confidential information from a public utility; unauthorized access to computer data; identity theft; and conspiracy to commit each of those crimes. Each charge carries a fine of up to $10,000 and three years in prison.
A lot of the debate in these comments is about the definition of various words. So, in the spirit of truthiness, we should use the term scientifish, as in "String theory is a scientifish theory."
The machine of a dream Such a clean machine With the pistons a pumpin' And the hub caps all gleam
When I'm holdin your wheel All I hear is your gear When my hands on your grease gun Oh its like a disease son
I'm in love with my car Gotta feel for my automobile Get a grip on my boy racer rollbar Such a thrill when your radials squeal
Told my girl I'll have to forget her Rather buy me a new carburetor So she made tracks sayin' This is the end now Cars don't talk back Theyre just four wheeled friends now
When I'm holdin your wheel All I hear is your gear When I'm cruisin in overdrive Don't have to listen to no run of the mill talk jive
I'm in love with my car Gotta feel for my automobile I'm in love with my car String back gloves in my automolove
I'll add a vote for Finder! Definitely a good read.
Another good (albeit, finite) indy series that is now online is Wandering Star by Teri S Wood. The first four issues are online (scanned into PDF, it looks like); the rest you can buy on CD.
Agreed. If classes were offered more frequently, that would have helped me, too.
When I attended college, the university typically would offer the first class of a series only in the Fall quarter, the second class in the series only in the Winter quarter and the third class only in Spring quarter. If you could not take the first class in the chain in Fall (either because it conficted with another class, or because the class size was too large and you were denied the opportunity), then you'd have to wait an entire year to try again.
I ran into that situation as a "senior" (during my 4th year) and ended up having to come back for two quarters of a 5th year, taking one class each quarter, because I needed them to graduate.
flag, v. 1. To hang down; to flap about loosely. 2. To become limp or flaccid. Now only of plants: To droop, fade 3. Of wings: To move feebly or ineffectually in attempting to fly. Of a bird: To move its wings feebly (in early use also trans. with wings as obj.); to fly unsteadily or near the ground. Obs. 4. To become feeble or unsteady in flight. Hence in wider sense (in early use perh. consciously transf.): To be unable to maintain one's speed; to lag, or fall into a halting pace, through fatigue; to become languid, lose vigour or energy.
The sentence I found most interesting in Wikipedia was "Kevin Martin has subsequently purged the FCC of many of Powell's staff." His response to Senator Boxer is clearly a "It wasn't me!" defense (whether or not it really was, is another matter).
FWIW, the Chief of the Media Bureau at the time appears to have been Ken Ferree.
Slashdot Mirror
Seriously, though, your concern is tangentially on-topic. What kinds of entities do we humans believe deserve to have individual civil rights? And how much are we willing to do to ensure that those rights are protected and enforced? For instance, how do each of the following stack up?
So, using F2 to put a selected filename into "edit mode" (i.e., rename) is not too much of a jump.
As a Windows & Mac user myself, I'd appreciate having F2 be a shortcut for renaming a file as well, but I haven't lost any sleep over it.
mod parent up!
The only thing I'd add to the parent post is that the people documenting stuff have to be willing and able to communicate effectively, not just proficient in tech writing. That means, among other things, that they must be committed to maintaining the documentation, willing to taking the time to explain things clearly, and able to organize the documentation effectively.
Collections of undefined acronyms, cryptic phrases, and/or excerpts cut & pasted from e-mails without context into text documents scattered across a hundred directories and subdirectories (or printed and stuffed into a 3-ring binder) is not useful. And sometimes old/incorrect/outdated documentation is worse than no documentation.
From 18 USC 2256:
andI'm guessing that simple nudity would not be considered child pornography, then. But, I suppose that depends on what constitutes "lascivious exhibition".
Well, saying that Microsoft is as bad as Open Source is another way of saying that Open Source is as good as Microsoft.
So, even if the Open Source community is also "a series of disconnected fiefdoms that aren't all moving in the same direction", if Microsoft isn't any better then that eliminates one reason/argument to use Microsoft products instead of Open Source products.
If/when the idea that Open Source is as good as Microsoft seeps into the zeitgeist, that will be a dark day for Microsoft, I'll wager.
Anyway, I wouldn't toss your MAM-A media just yet.
I don't know if she is top ten, but she's a girl and a geek.
And, as long as they are including Lisa Simpson, why not Dana Scully?
Abe Simpson: I used to be with it. But then they changed what "it" was. Now what I'm with isn't "it" and what's "it" seems weird and scary to me. It'll happen to you!
Heh. OT, but it's not just an analogy anymore...
:-)
A few weeks ago I was taking the bus to work in the morning -- it was one of those state-of-the-art electrical "trolley buses". We get to the bottom of the hill and the thing started jerking wildly like someone was repeatedly slamming on the accelerator and then the brakes. The bus driver tried slowing to a stop and then accelerating again but, each time, the bus started jerking violently again.
Finally, the driver pulled to a stop, turned off the bus completely, waited a few seconds, and then turned it back on. Everything was fine after that.
At least we didn't need to download a new driver.
-- D
Well, it probably wasn't a cake.
Heh. Doesn't that qualify as reverse engineering?
Was it a glitch, a bug or a feature? Inquiring minds want to know...
It's a WAD
CBS created Paramount, which split off back in the 1970s, which was eventually aquired by Viacomm, which got swallowed back up by CBS.
... oh never mind.
Wait, wasn't that a Star Trek episode where the giant space amoeba
Also, from CNN:
I'll buy that for a dollar.
A lot of the debate in these comments is about the definition of various words. So, in the spirit of truthiness, we should use the term scientifish, as in "String theory is a scientifish theory."
- 1GB iPod nano = $79
- 2GB iPod nano = $99
- 4GB iPod nano = $149
- 30GB iPod = $199
- 60GB iPod = $249
And that's down from their clearance prices listed 2 weeks ago.blah blah -1 Off-Topic blah
I'll add a vote for Finder! Definitely a good read.
Another good (albeit, finite) indy series that is now online is Wandering Star by Teri S Wood. The first four issues are online (scanned into PDF, it looks like); the rest you can buy on CD.
Then we'd get Bluegills of Death instead of BSODs? Cool -- let me see if I can dig up that old fishy screensaver...
Agreed. If classes were offered more frequently, that would have helped me, too.
When I attended college, the university typically would offer the first class of a series only in the Fall quarter, the second class in the series only in the Winter quarter and the third class only in Spring quarter. If you could not take the first class in the chain in Fall (either because it conficted with another class, or because the class size was too large and you were denied the opportunity), then you'd have to wait an entire year to try again.
I ran into that situation as a "senior" (during my 4th year) and ended up having to come back for two quarters of a 5th year, taking one class each quarter, because I needed them to graduate.
Hmmm... FWIW, the online Oxford English Dictionary also has this definition:
flag, v.
1. To hang down; to flap about loosely.
2. To become limp or flaccid. Now only of plants: To droop, fade
3. Of wings: To move feebly or ineffectually in attempting to fly. Of a bird: To move its wings feebly (in early use also trans. with wings as obj.); to fly unsteadily or near the ground. Obs.
4. To become feeble or unsteady in flight. Hence in wider sense (in early use perh. consciously transf.): To be unable to maintain one's speed; to lag, or fall into a halting pace, through fatigue; to become languid, lose vigour or energy.
The sentence I found most interesting in Wikipedia was "Kevin Martin has subsequently purged the FCC of many of Powell's staff." His response to Senator Boxer is clearly a "It wasn't me!" defense (whether or not it really was, is another matter).
FWIW, the Chief of the Media Bureau at the time appears to have been Ken Ferree.
Fascinating.
The draft report and FCC Chairman Kevin Martin's response to Senator Boxer are linked on the
FCC's website.
http://developers.slashdot.org/search.pl?query=%22 Why+Johnny+Can%27t+Code%22
Actually, it's not that bad. Of course, that only makes it more curious as to why these aren't caught beforehand.