. . . pity we can't say, "Sorry, but when I signed, the terms were unlimited bandwidth for $X/month. I haven't signed any changes to the agreement, so deliver, bitches. . . "
But what can you say about an ISP whose Customer Service Policy is cribbed from "50 Shades of Grey" ???
And of course, the crony set-asides, excuse me, "Disadvantaged/Woman Owned/Minority Owned" businesses.
Which always seem to be owned by the wife of a VP, or the new "owner" WAS a VP of a big contractor, but suddenly, **magical ownership** and now there are parts of contacts specifically set aside for them . . .
I've worked both sides of the Feds, and I've seen this dodge WAAAAAAAAY too often. . .
If a "basic income" program is implemented in.us, I rather suspect it will resemble the "welfare islands" concept of Jerry Pournelle or the "Terrafoam" concept of Marshall Brain. . . Massive barracks and industrial-style population management of the residents.
. . ..the trend to automation of mass manufacturing has been accelerating for decades. The REAL question is, what do we do with the displaced manufacturing workers, who are becoming increasingly replaced by robots? And the "service sector" does not have jobs for them, either.
There is a rather ominous trend when you have a surplus of workers, especially young male workers without prospects. The long term solution is fewer children, as is happening in the West. But all too often, the short-term result is war.
I'm sure someone will start suggesting "basic income", and as automation increases to the point where we transition to "prosperity economics", that may well be the long-term solution. But getting through the short term is likely to be worrisome. . .
. . . this has segued from international taxation to SJWs to guns. Although, I would argue that apparently the original SJW comment was aimed at a specific user.
But the jump to guns, where did THAT come from ??
I realize this is/., but geeze, people , at least TRY to stay on topic. . . .
But seriously, infrastructure costs money. Bandwidth costs money. And things like extending wireless internet into subways is both costly and time-consuming. The Washington DC "Metro" subway has been working towards cell coverage throughout the system for nearly a decade. . ..and still isn't there yet (ONE provider has decent coverage inside most of the system, but unless you have a Verizon Phone. . . good luck.
Municipal Internet-as-a-utility is a good idea, but entrenched telecoms and cable providers will fight it every millimeter of the way. . .
I've worked at the FBI Data Center in WV, and worked requirements on NGI.
One point you rarely hear, is that the FBI has limited rights to much of the data in their system. It is (mostly) provided to the FBI by state, tribal, and territorial agencies, all of which have separate and specific caveats on the use of the biometric data. The only data the FBI **DOES** own, is that supplied by Federal and Defense agencies.
While I never worked a FOIA claim while at FBI, consider a case where the data on a given individual comes from multiple sources. Each one would have to sign off on the FOIA release, or provide a reason why it was withheld, prior to releasing a FOIA package back to the requestor.
For other data, this is what I recall is stored (in general) at NGI
1. Fingerprint records, either scanned from 10-print cards, or directly captured via a capture device.
2. "Hand Geometry": i.e. palm lines, finger lengths, any trauma such as scarring or amputation.
3. Scars, Marks, and Tattoos: markings plainly visible, primarily on the face, head, or neck, and on the hands and arms. Don't recall if leg data was included.
4. Facial geometry (i.e. face recognition) may or may not be there. It was mentioned when I was working on the requirements team in 2005, but I wasn't working that area. Suspect it's there now, but I have no gauge of certainty on it.
All of the above is linked to an individual. The individual is then linked to records in the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database, with history, priors (if any), known associates, etc,
When a query goes in to the system (I'm familiar with the old "IAFIS" system, that just did fingerprints. ..) it matched the submitted prints to those in the databases (there was an algorithm and check-sums involved, as I recall. ..). and then reported back with all the NCIC data on the suspect.
Mind you, ALL of this is 9+ years old, and from memory. . .
Pournelle's Iron Law of Bureaucracy states that in any bureaucratic organization there will be two kinds of people":
First, there will be those who are devoted to the goals of the organization. Examples are dedicated classroom teachers in an educational bureaucracy, many of the engineers and launch technicians and scientists at NASA, even some agricultural scientists and advisors in the former Soviet Union collective farming administration.
Secondly, there will be those dedicated to the organization itself. Examples are many of the administrators in the education system, many professors of education, many teachers union officials, much of the NASA headquarters staff, etc.
The Iron Law states that in every case the second group will gain and keep control of the organization. It will write the rules, and control promotions within the organization.
And weather satellites, GPS, and simlilar, wouldn't have come about without ICBM development programs. But once the tech is achieved, why does it matter who paid for the underlying research.
Hell, we wouldn't have an Internet and TCP/IP if ARPA didn't want a decentralized comms network to survive a nuclear exchange. . . .
. . . I expect generic deploys of commodity platforms and low-bidder content.
So OF COURSE it's going to be hacked. And similarly, their people tend to be persuaded by the latest plastic fantastic gear, so they'll buy a "next-gen" firewall, fail to properly configure it, and then blame the firewall when they get hacked,
As for "foreign" hackers, with the plethora of botted boxes worldwide, J. Random Hacker could be sitting in Dubuque, Iowa, and the attack would look like it's coming from all over. . .
If you look at how the Nebulas are nominated and voted for, you'd already know why that is: in fact, that's one of the Sad Puppy arguments, of a self-reinforcing in-group. . .
So it looks like the Sad Puppies aren't able to influence the Nebula awards.
Well, considering that the Nebula is nominated and voted on by the members of the Science Fiction Writers of America, that stands to reason.
The Sad Puppies were primarily a fan movement. And the Rabids, a cult of personality. While I have liked some of Beale's (aka Vox Day) books, his insistence on complete, unswerving loyalty and obedience to him to become one of his "Vile Faceless Minions (VFM)" is more than a little creept. . .
Slashdot Mirror
. . . pity we can't say, "Sorry, but when I signed, the terms were unlimited bandwidth for $X/month. I haven't signed any changes to the agreement, so deliver, bitches. . . "
But what can you say about an ISP whose Customer Service Policy is cribbed from "50 Shades of Grey" ???
And of course, the crony set-asides, excuse me, "Disadvantaged/Woman Owned/Minority Owned" businesses.
Which always seem to be owned by the wife of a VP, or the new "owner" WAS a VP of a big contractor, but suddenly, **magical ownership** and now there are parts of contacts specifically set aside for them . . .
I've worked both sides of the Feds, and I've seen this dodge WAAAAAAAAY too often. . .
At THIS point, Vermin Supreme is looking good. . .
If a "basic income" program is implemented in .us, I rather suspect it will resemble the "welfare islands" concept of Jerry Pournelle or the "Terrafoam" concept of Marshall Brain. . . Massive barracks and industrial-style population management of the residents.
It would be survivable, but not pleasant. . .
". . .the avalanche has begun. It is too late for the pebbles to vote. . . ."
. . . .the trend to automation of mass manufacturing has been accelerating for decades. The REAL question is, what do we do with the displaced manufacturing workers, who are becoming increasingly replaced by robots? And the "service sector" does not have jobs for them, either.
There is a rather ominous trend when you have a surplus of workers, especially young male workers without prospects. The long term solution is fewer children, as is happening in the West. But all too often, the short-term result is war.
I'm sure someone will start suggesting "basic income", and as automation increases to the point where we transition to "prosperity economics", that may well be the long-term solution. But getting through the short term is likely to be worrisome. . .
. . . this has segued from international taxation to SJWs to guns. Although, I would argue that apparently the original SJW comment was aimed at a specific user.
But the jump to guns, where did THAT come from ??
I realize this is /., but geeze, people , at least TRY to stay on topic. . . .
Free Calls. Free Internet. For Ever.
I saw that movie. It didn't end well.
But seriously, infrastructure costs money. Bandwidth costs money. And things like extending wireless internet into subways is both costly and time-consuming. The Washington DC "Metro" subway has been working towards cell coverage throughout the system for nearly a decade. . . .and still isn't there yet (ONE provider has decent coverage inside most of the system, but unless you have a Verizon Phone. . . good luck.
Municipal Internet-as-a-utility is a good idea, but entrenched telecoms and cable providers will fight it every millimeter of the way. . .
I've worked at the FBI Data Center in WV, and worked requirements on NGI.
One point you rarely hear, is that the FBI has limited rights to much of the data in their system. It is (mostly) provided to the FBI by state, tribal, and territorial agencies, all of which have separate and specific caveats on the use of the biometric data. The only data the FBI **DOES** own, is that supplied by Federal and Defense agencies.
While I never worked a FOIA claim while at FBI, consider a case where the data on a given individual comes from multiple sources. Each one would have to sign off on the FOIA release, or provide a reason why it was withheld, prior to releasing a FOIA package back to the requestor.
For other data, this is what I recall is stored (in general) at NGI
1. Fingerprint records, either scanned from 10-print cards, or directly captured via a capture device.
2. "Hand Geometry": i.e. palm lines, finger lengths, any trauma such as scarring or amputation.
3. Scars, Marks, and Tattoos: markings plainly visible, primarily on the face, head, or neck, and on the hands and arms. Don't recall if leg data was included.
4. Facial geometry (i.e. face recognition) may or may not be there. It was mentioned when I was working on the requirements team in 2005, but I wasn't working that area. Suspect it's there now, but I have no gauge of certainty on it.
All of the above is linked to an individual. The individual is then linked to records in the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database, with history, priors (if any), known associates, etc,
When a query goes in to the system (I'm familiar with the old "IAFIS" system, that just did fingerprints. . .) it matched the submitted prints to those in the databases (there was an algorithm and check-sums involved, as I recall. . .). and then reported back with all the NCIC data on the suspect.
Mind you, ALL of this is 9+ years old, and from memory. . .
Add some gratuitously naked French chicks, and you've made a mainstream French film.
Bare Naked Ladies ? They're CANADIAN. . . .not French (grin)
How did the agencies get that way ?
The most likely answer, is Pournelle's Iron Law of Bureaucracy.
To wit:
Pournelle's Iron Law of Bureaucracy states that in any bureaucratic organization there will be two kinds of people":
First, there will be those who are devoted to the goals of the organization. Examples are dedicated classroom teachers in an educational bureaucracy, many of the engineers and launch technicians and scientists at NASA, even some agricultural scientists and advisors in the former Soviet Union collective farming administration.
Secondly, there will be those dedicated to the organization itself. Examples are many of the administrators in the education system, many professors of education, many teachers union officials, much of the NASA headquarters staff, etc.
The Iron Law states that in every case the second group will gain and keep control of the organization. It will write the rules, and control promotions within the organization.
And weather satellites, GPS, and simlilar, wouldn't have come about without ICBM development programs. But once the tech is achieved, why does it matter who paid for the underlying research.
Hell, we wouldn't have an Internet and TCP/IP if ARPA didn't want a decentralized comms network to survive a nuclear exchange. . . .
No, no, no. . . I'm talking about Jesus, the guy who does my lawn work . . . (grin)
And then there are the numerous .us Law Enforcement and Intelligence Agencies that utterly believe polygraph exams.
Makes you wonder about their analysis of other things. . .
No. **VISION** does. (evil grin)
. . . I expect generic deploys of commodity platforms and low-bidder content.
So OF COURSE it's going to be hacked. And similarly, their people tend to be persuaded by the latest plastic fantastic gear, so they'll buy a "next-gen" firewall, fail to properly configure it, and then blame the firewall when they get hacked,
As for "foreign" hackers, with the plethora of botted boxes worldwide, J. Random Hacker could be sitting in Dubuque, Iowa, and the attack would look like it's coming from all over. . .
Nah: "Amazon Gourmet Long Pig". . .
Geeky activities with diapers?
Certainly you've heard of the Raspberry Poo. . . .
There are plenty of SF authors who are NOT members of SFWA: either they let their memberships lapse, for percieved lack of value, or never joined.
I repeat my first statement: SFWA is a self-reinforcing in-group. It only very recently allowed Indie-published authors to join. . .
Ah, but to the AC, if it occurs outside .us, it doesn't count. Kind of like that famous "New Yorker" cover. . .
The Martian will definitely win "Best Sci-fi Film of 2016 To Be Ruined By Matt Damon's Terrible Acting"
OK, I admit it. I was cheering for Mars during the movie. . .
If you look at how the Nebulas are nominated and voted for, you'd already know why that is: in fact, that's one of the Sad Puppy arguments, of a self-reinforcing in-group. . .
So it looks like the Sad Puppies aren't able to influence the Nebula awards.
Well, considering that the Nebula is nominated and voted on by the members of the Science Fiction Writers of America, that stands to reason.
The Sad Puppies were primarily a fan movement. And the Rabids, a cult of personality. While I have liked some of Beale's (aka Vox Day) books, his insistence on complete, unswerving loyalty and obedience to him to become one of his "Vile Faceless Minions (VFM)" is more than a little creept. . .
Which is a pity. Still, "Fury Road" was probably the second-best "Mad Max" movie, after "The Road Warrior".
I suspect Andy Weir will get the Campbell this year, and "The Martian" will likely get the Hugo for Best Long-Form Dramatic Presentation. . .
You mean that the Computer is your Friend. Trust the Computer. . .
. . .now, why am I smelling smoking boots ??